Collapsible shelves

Abstract

A collapsible shelving unit includes a front frame and a rear frame. A pair of opposed side walls are each hingeably connected to the front frame and to the rear frame. A plurality of shelves supported between the side walls. The side walls may each include a plurality of side panels hingeably connected to one another. The plurality of side panels may be capable of pivoting inward such that the side walls move inward toward one another as the shelving unit is being collapsed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible shelving unit comprising:
 a front frame;   a rear frame;   a pair of opposed side walls each hingeably connected to the front frame and to the rear frame; and   a plurality of shelves supported between the side walls.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible shelving unit of  claim 1  wherein the side walls each include a plurality of side panels hingeably connected to one another. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible shelving unit of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of side panels are capable of pivoting inward such that the side walls move inward toward one another as the shelving unit is being collapsed. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible shelving unit of  claim 1  further including a top wall hingeably connected to one of the front frame and the rear frame. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible shelving unit of  claim 4  further including a bottom wall hingeably connected to one of the front frame and the rear frame. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible shelving unit of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of shelves are supported directly on the front frame and the rear frame. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible shelving unit of  claim 6  wherein the front frame and the rear frame each include a plurality of supports projecting laterally inward toward one another and wherein the plurality of shelves are supported on the plurality of supports. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible shelving unit of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of supports each have a recess opening upward. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible shelving unit of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of shelves each include a plurality of feet received in the plurality of recesses in the plurality of supports. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible shelving unit of  claim 1  wherein the front frame and the rear frame are formed of plastic and wherein the plurality of shelves are wire shelves. 
     
     
         11 . A collapsible shelving unit comprising:
 a front frame including a plurality of front supports projecting laterally inward toward one another;   a rear frame including a plurality of rear supports projecting laterally inward toward one another;   a pair of opposed side walls each hingeably connected to the front frame and to the rear frame, the side walls each including a plurality of side panels hingeably connected to one another, the plurality of side panels being capable of pivoting inward such that the side walls move inward toward one another as the shelving unit is being collapsed;   a top wall and a bottom wall each hingeably connected to one of the front frame and the rear frame; and   a plurality of shelves supported on the plurality of front supports of the front frame and the plurality of rear supports on the rear frame.   
     
     
         12 . The collapsible shelving unit of  claim 11  wherein the plurality of front supports and the plurality of rear supports each have a recess opening upward. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible shelving unit of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of shelves each include a plurality of feet received in the plurality of recesses in the plurality of front supports and the plurality of rear supports. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible shelving unit of  claim 13  wherein the front frame and the rear frame are formed of plastic and wherein the plurality of shelves are wire shelves.