Shelf system for elongated articles

Abstract

Disclosed are shelf systems, in particular shelf systems which are used to support, display and/or organize articles having a length substantially greater than their width or diameter. Such elongated articles include, but are not limited to, the following: construction materials, such as pipes, moldings, lumber, extrusions and the like; garden tools, such as rakes, hoes, shovels, picks and the like; and home cleaning tools, such as brooms, mops and the like.

1 . A shelf system comprising: (i) at least two panels of predetermined size and shape; and (ii) means for maintaining said panels substantially parallel to one another at a predetermined distance apart,
 wherein each of said panels has a first surface and a second surface and an edge and contains a plurality of holes extending completely through said panel from said first surface to said second surface,   wherein each of said plurality of holes is dimensioned to accept a plurality of articles to be stored,   wherein each of said panels comprises a material having a bending modulus sufficient to maintain said panel in a substantially planer form even when placed under a load, and   wherein said panels are arranged such that at least one hole on one of said panels is substantially aligned with at least one hole on the other of said panels.   
     
     
         2 . The shelf system according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for maintaining said panels parallel to one another at a predetermined distance apart comprises a plurality of substantially rigid members, each of said substantially rigid members having a first end and a second end and a length equal to said pre-determined distance. 
     
     
         3 . The shelf system according to  claim 2 , wherein said means for maintaining said panels parallel to one another at a predetermined distance apart further comprises one or more means for affixing an end of each of said rigid members to a surface of each of said panels. 
     
     
         4 . The shelf system according to  claim 2 , wherein each of said panels further contains a second plurality of holes dimensioned to accept and hold an end of each of said rigid members. 
     
     
         5 . The shelf system according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for maintaining said panels parallel to one another at a pre-determined distance apart comprises a plurality of rigid members, each of said rigid members having a first end and a second end and a length greater than said pre-determined distance. 
     
     
         6 . The shelf system according to  claim 5 , wherein said means for maintaining said panels parallel to one another at a pre-determined distance apart further comprises one or more means for affixing each of said rigid members to an edge of each of said panels. 
     
     
         7 . The shelf system according to  claim 2 , wherein each of said rigid members contains at least one groove dimensioned to accept and hold an edge of one of said panels. 
     
     
         8 . The shelf system according to  claim 2 , wherein said means for maintaining said panels parallel to one another at a pre-determined distance apart comprises a base member having at least two grooves dimensioned to accept and hold an edge of one of said panels. 
     
     
         9 . The shelf system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of holes is substantially the same size. 
     
     
         10 . The shelf system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of holes is not substantially the same size. 
     
     
         11 . The shelf system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of holes in one panel is substantially the same size as the hole in the other panel with which said hole is aligned. 
     
     
         12 . The shelf system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said panels individually comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: woods, plastics, resins, polymers, metals, alloys and combinations of any two or more thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The shelf system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third panel of predetermined size and shape, wherein said panel has a first surface and a second surface and an edge and contains a plurality of holes extending completely through said panel from said first surface to said second surface, and wherein each of said plurality of holes is dimensioned to accept a plurality of articles to be stored, and wherein said panel comprises a material having a bending modulus sufficient to maintain said panel in a substantially planer form even when placed under a load, and wherein said panel is arranged such that at least one hole on said panel is substantially aligned with at least one hole on another panel. 
     
     
         14 . The shelf system of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined distance between said third panel and one of said at least two panels is substantially equal to the predetermined distance between said at least two panels. 
     
     
         15 . The shelf system of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined distance between said third panel and one of said at least two panels is substantially less than the predetermined distance between said at least two panels. 
     
     
         16 . The shelf system of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined distance between said third panel and one of said at least two panels is substantially greater than the predetermined distance between said at least two panels. 
     
     
         17 . The shelf system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a fourth panel of predetermined size and shape, wherein said panel has a first surface and a second surface and an edge and contains a plurality of holes extending completely through said panel from said first surface to said second surface, and wherein each of said plurality of holes is dimensioned to accept a plurality of articles to be stored, and wherein said panel comprises a material having a bending modulus sufficient to maintain said panel in a substantially planer form even when placed under a load, and wherein said panel is arranged such that at least one hole on said panel is substantially aligned with at least one hole on another panel. 
     
     
         18 . The shelf system of  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined distance between any two adjacent panels is substantially equal to the predetermined distance between any other two adjacent panels. 
     
     
         19 . The shelf system of  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined distance between any two adjacent panels is not substantially equal to the predetermined distance between any other two adjacent panels. 
     
     
         20 . The shelf system according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for maintaining said panels parallel to one another at a predetermined distance apart can be adjusted to change said predetermined distance. 
     
     
         21 . The shelf system according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for maintaining said panels parallel to one another at a predetermined distance apart comprises a pallet rack.