Roll-Up Shelves

Abstract

Roll-up shelving systems are presented herein. A roll-up shelving system may include first and second pluralities of slats that are flexible in a first direction. The first and second pluralities of slats may be connected by a plurality of hinge members that hinge to 90 degrees, forming a shelf. When the hinge members are not hinged to 90 degrees, the pluralities of slats may be rolled up such that the shelving system may be transported or stored in a compact form without disassembling the slats.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A roll-up shelf, including:
 a first plurality of sections arranged in parallel and coupled to one another at a first plurality of bend regions such that adjacent sections in the first plurality hinge in a first direction;   a second plurality of sections arranged in parallel and coupled to one another at a second plurality of bend regions such that adjacent sections in the second plurality hinge in the first direction; and   at least one hinge that connects the first and second plurality of sections and allow the first plurality of sections to hinge and come to rest at substantially a 90 degree angle with respect to the second plurality of sections.   
     
     
         2 . The roll-up shelf of  claim 1 , wherein a gap exists between successive sections in the first and second pluralities of sections that allows the successive sections to flex in a first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The roll-up shelf of  claim 1 , wherein a first section in the first plurality of sections is formed by two substantially identical elongate members sandwiching a connective material that couples the first section to an adjacent second section. 
     
     
         4 . The roll-up shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of sections acts as support for the first plurality of sections when hinged into a shelf position. 
     
     
         5 . The roll-up shelf of  claim 4 , wherein the second plurality further includes a first adhesive strip that is aligned parallel to the at least one hinge. 
     
     
         6 . The roll-up shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the bend regions of the first and second pluralities are living hinges, the living hinges each including first and second surfaces that may be pressed together to form a spine. 
     
     
         7 . The roll-up shelf of  claim 1 , wherein at least two non-adjacent sections in the second plurality of sections include holes for driving a mounting member into a wall, wherein the holes are hidden from view when the first plurality is hinged into position to act as a shelf. 
     
     
         8 . The roll-up shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second pluralities of sections are substantially aligned with one another and roll horizontally onto a wall. 
     
     
         9 . The roll-up shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hinge allows the first plurality of sections to hinge in a second direction along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a living hinge that couples first and second sections in the first plurality. 
     
     
         10 . The roll-up shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of sections includes at least one section that is wider than an adjacent two sections and includes a mounting element to mount the roll-up shelf on a wall. 
     
     
         11 . The roll-up shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hinge includes less total hinges than a total number of sections in the first plurality of sections. 
     
     
         12 . The roll-up shelf of  claim 1 , wherein a first hinge within the at least one hinge includes first and second portions, the first portion being coupled to a first section in the first plurality of sections and the second portion being coupled to a second section in the second plurality of sections, wherein the first portion is between 50 and 100 percent of a total length of the first section and the second portion is between 50 and 100 percent of a total length of the second section. 
     
     
         13 . The roll-up shelf of  claim 12 , wherein the first hinge includes a mounting member that pushes through the second portion from a side opposite to a mounting side and at a location that is concealed when the first hinge member is hinged at the 90 degree angle. 
     
     
         14 . A roll-up shelf, including:
 a first substrate including a first plurality of ruts to allow the first substrate to bend into a spiral form;   a second substrate including a second plurality of ruts to allow the second substrate to bend into the spiral form;   at least one hinge member that connects the first and second substrates, wherein the hinge member stops hinging at a position that causes at least a portion of the first substrate to form a surface for placing items.   
     
     
         15 . The roll-up shelf of  claim 14 , wherein a radius of the spiral form intersects the first substrate at least three times. 
     
     
         16 . The roll-up shelf of  claim 14 , wherein the spiral form flexes the first and second substrates in a first radial direction that lies in a first plane, wherein the at least one hinge member hinges in a second radial direction that lies in a second plane that is substantially orthogonal to the first plane. 
     
     
         17 . The roll-up shelf of  claim 14 , wherein the ruts of the first and second pluralities are part of living hinges that each include first and second inner surfaces that may be pressed together to form a spine. 
     
     
         18 . The roll-up shelf of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one hinge member folds to form a support structure having a 90 degree angle, and the ruts are kerf relief cuts. 
     
     
         19 . The roll-up shelf of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one hinge member includes a living hinge. 
     
     
         20 . A method for creating a roll-up shelf, including:
 arranging a first substrate including a first plurality of slats in parallel and flexibly coupling successive slats in the first plurality of slats to one another;   arranging a second substrate including a second plurality of slats in parallel and flexibly coupling successive slats in the second plurality of slats to one another; and   attaching a plurality of hinge members to the first and second plurality of slats, wherein each hinge member includes first and second portions, the first portion being coupled to a first respective slat in the first plurality of slats and the second portion being coupled to a second respective slat in the second plurality of slats, wherein the first portion is between 50 and 100 percent of a total length of the first respective slat and the second portion is between 50 and 100 percent of a total length of the second respective slat.