Decorative shelving unit

Abstract

A shelving unit is provided including a post with a bottom end and a top end, The top end has a cross-sectional area that is different than a cross-sectional area of the remainder of the post, A ledge is defined at the top end of the post by the difference in cross-sectional area. A support ring is sized to rest on the ledge. A shelf is coupled to the support ring so that the shelf is rotatable about the post, The top end of the post is attachable to the bottom end of another post.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shelving unit comprising:
 a post including a bottom end and a top end, the top end including a cross-sectional area that is different than a cross-sectional area of the remainder of the post;   a ledge defined at the top end of the post by the difference in cross-sectional area;   a support ring having a sleeve sized to rest on the ledge;   a shelf supported by the support ring so that the shelf is rotatable about the post,   wherein the top end of the post is removably attachable to the bottom end of another post.   
     
     
         2 . The shelving unit of  claim 1 , wherein the support ring is secured to the post in a fixed position. 
     
     
         3 . The shelving unit of  claim 2 , wherein the support ring comprises:
 a center portion that is secured to the post in a fixed position; and   a flange that extends outward from the center portion, the shelf resting on the flange.   
     
     
         4 . The shelving unit of  claim 1 , wherein the ledge extends outward from the post and forms a cup at the top end of the post. 
     
     
         5 . The shelving unit of  claim 4 , wherein the support ring rests within the cup. 
     
     
         6 . The shelving unit of  claim 5 , wherein the shelf is formed integrally with the support ring and extends outward therefrom. 
     
     
         7 . The shelving unit of  claim 1 , wherein the top end of the post includes a screw extending therefrom and the bottom end of the post includes a threaded cavity sized to receive the screw extending from the top end of another post. 
     
     
         8 . The shelving unit of  claim 1 ,, wherein the bottom end of the post is threaded and the top end of the post includes a threaded cavity sized to receive the threaded bottom end of another post. 
     
     
         9 . The shelving unit of  claim 1  further comprising a stand configured to secure to the bottom end of the post, 
     
     
         10 . The shelving unit of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of posts are joined together to form a shelving unit including a plurality of shelves. 
     
     
         11 . A shelving unit comprising:
 a center post including a plurality of ledges formed along a length thereof, wherein the ledges are defined by portions of the center post including a cross-sectional area that is different than the cross-sectional area of the remainder of the post; and   a plurality of shelves, each shelf including a support ring having a sleeve sized to rest on one of the plurality of ledges.   
     
     
         12 . The shelving unit of  claim 11 , wherein each support ring comprises:
 a center portion that is secured to the center post in a fixed position; and   a flange that extends outward from the center portion, the shelf resting on the flange.   
     
     
         13 . The shelving unit of  claim 11 , wherein each ledge extends outward from the center post and forms a cup around the center post, each support ring resting within the cup, and the shelf being formed integrally with the support ring and extending outward therefrom. 
     
     
         14 . The shelving unit of  claim 11 , wherein the center post is formed from a plurality of posts secured together, wherein each post includes a ledge to support a shelf. 
     
     
         15 . The shelving unit of  claim 11  further comprising a stand configured to secure to the bottom end of the center post. 
     
     
         16 . A shelving unit comprising:
 a plurality of posts that are joined together to form a center post, each post including a ledge formed at an end thereof, the ledge being defined by an end segment of the post including a cross-sectional area that is different than the cross-sectional area of the remainder of the post, the posts being joined so that the center post includes a plurality of ledges along a length thereof; and   a plurality of shelves, each shelf including a support ring sized to rest on one of the plurality of ledges.   
     
     
         17 . The shelving unit of  claim 16 , wherein each support ring comprises:
 a center portion that is secured to the center post in a fixed position; and   a flange that extends outward from the center portion, the shelf resting on the flange.   
     
     
         18 . The shelving unit of  claim 16 , wherein each ledge extends outward from the center post and forms a cup around the center post, each support ring resting within the cup, and the shelf being formed integrally with the shelf support and extending outward therefrom. 
     
     
         19 . The shelving unit of  claim 16 , wherein a top end of each post includes a screw extending therefrom and a bottom end of each post includes a threaded cavity sized to receive the screw extending from the top end of an adjacent post. 
     
     
         20 . The shelving unit of  claim 16 , wherein a bottom end of each post is threaded and a top end of each post includes a threaded cavity sized to receive the threaded bottom end of an adjacent post.