Shelving assembly

Abstract

A shelving system includes a retaining wall having a panel of integrally formed flanges extending therefrom in spaced columns and rows, with each flange defining a pocket with the panel. The system includes one or more shelves, with each shelf including a support platform, opposing side panels, and a back panel extending from the support platform. A portion of the back panel forms a hook configured for engagement with one of the pockets.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A shelving system, comprising:
 a retaining wall having a panel of integrally formed flanges extending therefrom in spaced columns and rows, each flange defining a pocket with the panel; and   one or more shelves, each shelf including
 a support platform, 
 opposing side panels, and 
 a back panel extending from the support platform, a portion of which forms a hook configured for engagement with one of the pockets. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the panel further includes a plurality of integrally formed tabs extending therefrom in spaced columns, each column of tabs separating the columns of flanges into shelf-receiving spaces, each tab defining a first and second side orthogonal to the panel. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each tab is disposed on the panel to restrict lateral movement of one of the one or more shelves across the panel when the shelves are engaged with one of the pockets. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a second retaining wall having a second panel of integrally formed flanges extending therefrom in spaced columns and rows, each flange defining a pocket with the second panel, wherein the first and second panels are adjacent one another and separated by a partition plate. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the partition plate is positioned to restrict lateral movement of one of the one or more shelves across the first and second panels when the shelves are engaged with one of the pockets. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is a first panel, and wherein the wall includes a second opposing parallel panel of integrally formed flanges extending therefrom in spaced columns and rows, each flange defining a pocket with the second panel. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further including an end panel configured to be orthogonally coupled to the wall, the end panel having integrally formed flanges extending therefrom in spaced columns and rows, each flange defining a pocket with the end panel. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the back panel of one or more shelves further includes a plurality of lances extending therefrom, each lance formed to position the support platform at an angle a of less than 90° with respect to the panel of the wall. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each lance is configured to contact one of the integrally formed flanges. 
     
     
         10 . A shelving unit comprising:
 a wall having a panel of integrally formed flanges extending therefrom in spaced columns, each flange defining a pocket with the panel; and   at least one shelf, each shelf including
 a support platform and 
 a back panel extending from the support platform, a portion of which forms a hook, wherein the hook is received in one of the pockets. 
   
     
     
         11 . The unit of  claim 10 , wherein the wall panel further includes a plurality of integrally formed tabs extending therefrom in spaced columns, each column of tabs separating the columns of flanges into shelf-receiving spaces, each tab defining a first and second side orthogonal to the wall panel, wherein the hook of each shelf is positioned adjacent one of the first and second sides of the tabs to restrict lateral movement of the shelf across the panel. 
     
     
         12 . The unit of  claim 10 , further including a second wall having a second panel of integrally formed flanges extending therefrom in spaced columns and rows, each flange defining a pocket with the second panel, wherein the first and second panel are adjacent one another and separated by a partition plate. 
     
     
         13 . The unit of  claim 12 , wherein the plate is positioned to restrict lateral movement of each shelf across the first and second panels. 
     
     
         14 . The unit of  claim 10 , further including an end panel orthogonally coupled to the wall, the end panel having integrally formed flanges extending therefrom in spaced columns and rows, each flange defining a pocket with the end panel. 
     
     
         15 . The unit of  claim 10 , wherein the back panel of each of the one or more shelves further includes a plurality of lances extending therefrom, the lances positioning the support platform of the shelf at an angle a of less than 90° with respect to the panel of the wall. 
     
     
         16 . The unit of  claim 15 , wherein the pocket within which the hook is received is defined by a first integrally formed flange, and wherein the lance of the plurality of lances aligned with the hook directly contacts a second integrally formed flange adjacent the first integrally formed flange. 
     
     
         17 . A method of constructing a shelving unit, the method including:
 integrally forming a plurality of flanges from a metal panel, the flanges extending therefrom in parallel columns and each defining a pocket with the panel;   forming a plurality of shelves from another metal panel, each shelf including a support platform, opposing side panels, and a back panel extending from the support platform; and   folding a portion of the back panel of each shelf to form a hook configured for engagement with one of the pockets.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein integrally forming a plurality of flanges includes a punching process to form the flanges. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further including integrally forming a plurality of tabs from the metal panel, the tabs extending therefrom in spaced columns, each column of tabs separating the columns of flanges into shelf-receiving spaces. 
     
     
         20 . The unit of  claim 17 , further including integrally forming a plurality of lances from the back panel of each shelf.