Modular shelving and step assembly

Abstract

An assembly includes a plurality of shelving components and posts. The shelving components include a body, a male portion that extends from a first end of the body and a female portion that defines a void in an opposite, second end. The male portion is narrower and shorter than the body. The female portion is sized and shaped to receive the male portion of another shelving component. The shelving components also include first apertures defined by and extending through the male portion, and second apertures defined by and extending through the female portion. The posts are sized and shaped to be inserted into overlapping apertures of first and second shelving components, the overlapping apertures comprising (i) a first aperture in a male portion of the first component inserted into a female portion of the second component and (ii) a second aperture in the female portion of the second component.

1 - 24 : (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A modular shelving assembly comprising:
 a plurality of shelving components comprising a first shelving component having a first length, a second shelving component having a second length that is shorter than the first length, and a third shelving component having a third length that is shorter than the second length, each of the shelving components defining a plurality of apertures on at least a surface of the shelving component; and   a plurality of posts, wherein at least a portion of each post of the plurality of posts is positioned within an aperture of the plurality of apertures;   wherein the plurality of shelving components are assembled into a plurality of rows, each of the rows including one of the shelving components, and wherein from at least a second row of the assembly upward, the included shelving component for a given row is longer than the included shelving component for the row above the given row.   
     
     
         26 . The modular assembly of  claim 25 , wherein at least one shelving component from the group consisting of the first shelving component, the second shelving component, and the third shelving component defines a first aperture on a top side of the at least one shelving component and defines a second aperture on a bottom side of the at least one shelving component, the second aperture having a size that is different from a size of the first aperture. 
     
     
         27 . The modular assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the size of the second aperture is smaller than the size of the first aperture. 
     
     
         28 . The modular assembly of  claim 27 , wherein at least one post of the plurality of posts includes a top portion of the at least one post that is sized smaller than a bottom portion of the at least one post, and wherein at least a portion of the top portion of the at least one post is positioned within the second aperture. 
     
     
         29 . The modular assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the top portion of the at least one post includes a first attachment feature that is configured to engage with a second attachment feature of another post of the plurality of posts. 
     
     
         30 . The modular assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the first attachment feature is selected from the group consisting of: a protrusion, a tab, a hole, and a groove; and wherein the second attachment feature is selected from the group consisting of: a protrusion, a tab, an aperture, and a groove. 
     
     
         31 . The modular assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the size of the second aperture is larger than the size of the first aperture. 
     
     
         32 . The modular assembly of  claim 31 , wherein at least one post of the plurality of posts includes a bottom portion of the at least one post that is sized smaller than a top portion of the at least one post, and wherein at least a portion the bottom portion of the at least one post is positioned within the first aperture. 
     
     
         33 . The modular assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the bottom portion of the at least one post includes a first attachment feature that is configured to engage with a second attachment feature of another post of the plurality of posts. 
     
     
         34 . The modular assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the first attachment feature is selected from the group consisting of: a protrusion, a tab, a hole, and a groove; and wherein the second attachment feature is selected from the group consisting of: a protrusion, a tab, an aperture, and a groove. 
     
     
         35 . The modular assembly of  claim 25 , wherein at least one shelving component of the plurality of shelving components includes an upper surface that includes a textured feature. 
     
     
         36 . The modular assembly of  claim 25 , wherein at least one shelving component of the plurality of shelving components includes an upper surface that includes a non-slip feature. 
     
     
         37 . The modular assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising a base element attached to a lower portion of the modular shelving assembly, wherein the base element includes a non-slip feature. 
     
     
         38 . The modular assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of rows comprise steps and shelves. 
     
     
         39 . The modular shelving assembly of  claim 25 , wherein:
 at least a first post of the plurality of posts includes a first attachment feature near a first end of the first post;   at least a second post of the plurality of posts includes a second attachment feature near a second end of the second post; and   the first attachment feature of the first post is configured to engage with the second feature of the second post.   
     
     
         40 . The modular assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the first attachment feature is selected from the group consisting of: a protrusion, a tab, a hole, and a groove; and wherein the second attachment feature is selected from the group consisting of: a protrusion, a tab, an aperture, and a groove. 
     
     
         41 . The modular assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising one or more lighting members, wherein the one or more lighting members is selected from the group consisting of: a light strip, a light mat, and a light element sized for an aperture in the body of the shelving component. 
     
     
         42 . The modular assembly of  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the shelving components includes, on an underside of its body, a plurality of post-receiving features, each configured to secure, for storage, a post of the plurality of posts. 
     
     
         43 . The modular assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising a panel that includes a panel attachment feature configured to secure the panel to at least one post of the assembly. 
     
     
         44 . The modular assembly of  claim 43 , wherein the panel attachment feature is selected from the group consisting of: a hook configured for a compression fit with the post, a curved end configured for a compression fit with the post, and a tab sized to be received by a slit in the post. 
     
     
         45 . The modular assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising a railing attached to one or more shelving components of the modular assembly. 
     
     
         46 . The modular assembly of  claim 25 , wherein each component in the plurality of shelving components has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         47 . The modular assembly of  claim 25 , wherein each component in the plurality of shelving components has a wedge shape. 
     
     
         48 . The modular assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising a fastening mechanism configured to affix the modular shelving assembly to another structure. 
     
     
         49 . The modular assembly of  claim 48 , wherein the fastening mechanism is selected from the group consisting of: a zip tie, a cable tie, a rope, a chain, a string, a strap, a rigid fastener, a rubber band, and an elastic band. 
     
     
         50 . The modular assembly of  claim 48 , wherein the another structure is selected from the group consisting of: a bunk bed frame, a bed frame, a dresser, a desk, and a wall.