Modular display unit

Abstract

A modular display unit that may be assembled without tools and without attachment hardware includes two or more shelves having spaced-apart elongate apertures, and two or more pairs of upright members. Each of the pairs of upright members extend through two or more of the elongate apertures. The upright members may include notches or other features that are configured to engage the associated shelf. One or more wedges extend through the elongate apertures between each of the pairs of upright members, and urge the upright members against the shelf. Optionally, one or more dowels slidably engage apertures in the shelves to provide a back support for display items. The shelves may optionally include a longitudinal groove along an upper surface to support display items such as compact and/or digital video disk cases.

1 . A modular display unit comprising:
 a plurality of upright supports;   a plurality of shelves, each shelf having a plurality of apertures, each aperture having an associated one of the plurality of upright supports disposed therethrough, and each aperture having a first end a second end;   a plurality of wedges, each wedge disposed in one of the plurality of shelf apertures and associated with one of the upright supports, wherein each wedge is operable to bias the associated upright support against the plurality of shelves.   
     
     
         2 . The modular display unit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of upright supports comprises a pair of spaced-apart, upright members. 
     
     
         3 . The modular display unit of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of upright supports each define a wedge-shaped protrusion that is positioned to extend into one of the plurality of shelf apertures when the modular display unit is assembled. 
     
     
         4 . The modular display unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a second plurality of wedges, each of the second plurality of wedges being paired with one of the first plurality of wedges, and wherein the plurality of pairs of wedges cooperatively bias the associated upright support against the plurality of shelves. 
     
     
         6 . The modular display unit of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of upright supports have notches that are configured to engage one of the plurality of shelves when the modular display unit is assembled. 
     
     
         7 . The modular display unit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of shelves further comprises a longitudinal groove extending across the length of a top surface of the at least one shelf. 
     
     
         8 . The modular display unit of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wedges each comprise a pair of single taper wedges. 
     
     
         9 . The modular display unit of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wedges are shaped as a trapezoid having a constant thickness. 
     
     
         10 . The modular display unit of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pairs of upright supports comprise a first pair of upright members that are of a different length than a second pair of upright members. 
     
     
         11 . The modular display unit of  claim 1 , wherein the modular display unit is configured to be assembled without tools and without attachment hardware. 
     
     
         12 . The modular display unit of  claim 1 , wherein the entire modular display unit is wood. 
     
     
         13 . The modular display unit of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shelves further comprise circular apertures, and further comprising a plurality of dowels that frictionally engage at least one of the circular apertures in at least two of the plurality of shelves. 
     
     
         14 . A modular display unit comprising:
 a plurality of shelves, each shelf having at least two elongate apertures;   a plurality of upright supports, wherein each upright support extends through the elongate apertures in at least two of the plurality of shelves, and further wherein each of the plurality of upright supports includes a plurality of shelf-engagement means on at least one edge; and   means for biasing the upright supports against the at least two of the plurality of shelves.   
     
     
         15 . The modular display unit of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of upright supports comprises a pair of spaced-apart, upright members. 
     
     
         16 . The modular display unit of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of upright supports each define a wedge-shaped protrusion that is positioned to extend into one of the plurality of shelf apertures when the modular display unit is assembled. 
     
     
         17 . The modular display unit of  claim 15 , wherein the means for biasing the upright supports comprises a plurality of wedges disposed between each of the pairs of upright members. 
     
     
         18 . The modular display unit of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of wedges is positioned in one of the plurality of elongate apertures in the assembled modular display unit. 
     
     
         19 . The modular display unit of  claim 14 , wherein the shelf-engagement means comprises shaped notches in the upright members. 
     
     
         20 . The modular display unit of  claim 14 , wherein the modular display unit is configured to be assembled without tools and without attachment hardware, and further wherein the entire modular display unit is wood.