Universal Shelving Unit

Abstract

A shelving unit made from universal components. The shelving unit can include components including one or more brackets, beams, and support arms. Each of these components is shaped and includes apertures that provide for usage in different configurations. This provides for the different components to be assembled in a variety of different arrangements. The shelving unit can also include one or more corner brackets to support the shelving unit in a corner formed by two walls.

1 . A universal shelving unit comprising:
 a plurality of brackets each comprising:
 first and second sides that are aligned at 90 degrees relative to each other; 
 apertures that extend through the first and second sides of the bracket, the apertures being arranged in sets of at least two and that are symmetrical about a centerline of the bracket; 
   a plurality of beams each comprising:
 first and second sides that are aligned at 90 degrees relative to each other; and 
 apertures that extend through the first and second sides of the beam, the apertures being arranged in sets of at least two and that are symmetrical about a centerline of the beam; and 
   a plurality of support arms each comprising an elongated shape with opposing first and second ends and apertures positioned at the first and second ends.   
     
     
         2 . The universal shelving unit of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one corner bracket comprising:
 a top side;   first and second sides that are connected and extend from the top side and aligned at 90 degrees relative to each other; and   a junction wall that is connected to and extends from the top side and is positioned between and connected to each of the first and second sides.   
     
     
         3 . The universal shelving unit of  claim 2 , wherein an outer side of each of the first side, the second side, the top, and the junction wall is flat. 
     
     
         4 . The universal shelving unit of  claim 1 , wherein the sets of apertures that extend through the bracket comprise:
 a first set of the apertures on the first side that comprises a pair of apertures;   a second set of apertures on the second side that comprises eight apertures.   
     
     
         5 . The universal shelving unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a single aperture that extends through one of the first and second sides of the bracket on the centerline. 
     
     
         6 . The universal shelving unit of  claim 1 , wherein a first set of the set of apertures in the bracket comprises the apertures aligned in a pattern that is repeated on each side of the centerline of the bracket. 
     
     
         7 . The universal shelving unit of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures of a first set of apertures that extend through the bracket are larger than the apertures of a second set of apertures that extend through the bracket. 
     
     
         8 . A universal shelving unit comprising:
 a plurality of brackets that each comprise:
 a first side and a second side positioned at a 90° angle relative to each other; 
 a first end and a second end; 
 a centerline that extends across each of the first side and the second side at a midpoint between the first end and the second end; 
 a first set of apertures that extend through the first side and are arranged in a first pattern that is symmetrical about the centerline; 
   a second set of apertures that extend through the second side and are arranged in a second pattern that is symmetrical about the centerline, the second set of apertures being smaller than the first set of apertures and with a greater number than the first set of apertures;   a plurality of beams that each comprise:
 a first side and a second side positioned at a 90° angle relative to each other; 
 a first end and a second end with a length measured between the first and second ends that is greater than the brackets; 
 a centerline that extends across each of the first side and the second side at a midpoint between the first end and the second end; 
 a first set of apertures that extend through the first side and are arranged in a third pattern that is symmetrical about the centerline; and 
 a second set of apertures that extend through the second side and are arranged in a fourth pattern that is symmetrical about the centerline. 
   
     
     
         9 . The universal shelving unit of  claim 8 , wherein the first set of apertures of the brackets is arranged in a different pattern than the second set of apertures of the brackets. 
     
     
         10 . The universal shelving unit of  claim 9 , wherein the first set of apertures of the beams is arranged in a different pattern than the second set of apertures of the beams. 
     
     
         11 . The universal shelving unit of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of beam and each of the plurality of brackets comprises flat inner and outer surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . The universal shelving unit of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one corner bracket comprising:
 a top side;   first and second sides that are connected and extend from the top side and aligned at 90 degrees relative to each other; and   a junction wall that is connected to and extends from the top side and is positioned between and connected to each of the first and second sides.   
     
     
         13 . The universal shelving unit of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of support arms each comprising an elongated shape with opposing first and second ends and apertures positioned at the first and second ends. 
     
     
         14 . The universal shelving unit of  claim 13 , wherein each of the support arms further comprises:
 a first notch that extends into a side of the support arm a predetermined distance from the first end;   a second notch that extends into the side of the support arm the predetermined distance from the second end.   
     
     
         15 . A universal shelving unit comprising:
 a plurality of brackets;   a plurality of beams;   a plurality of support arms;   a plurality of corner brackets;   each of the plurality of brackets and the plurality of beams comprising first and second sides that are aligned at 90 degrees relative to each other;   each of the plurality of brackets and the plurality of beams comprising a first set of apertures that extends through the first side, the first set of apertures that extend through the brackets being aligned in a first pattern that is symmetrical about a centerline of the bracket and the first set of apertures that extend through the beams are aligned in a second pattern that is symmetrical about a centerline of the beam;   each of the plurality of brackets and the plurality of beams comprising a second set of apertures that extends through the second side, the second set of apertures that extend through the brackets are aligned in a third pattern that is symmetrical about a centerline of the bracket and the second set of apertures that extend through the beams are aligned in a fourth pattern that is symmetrical about a centerline of the beam.   
     
     
         16 . The universal shelving unit of  claim 15 , wherein each of the corner brackets comprises:
 a top side;   first and second sides that are connected and extend from the top side and aligned at 90 degrees relative to each other; and   a junction wall that is connected to and extends from the top side and is positioned between and connected to each of the first and second sides.   
     
     
         17 . The universal shelving unit of  claim 16 , wherein the first set of apertures that extends through the brackets comprises groups of four apertures that are positioned on each side of the centerline of the brackets. 
     
     
         18 . The universal shelving unit of  claim 15 , wherein each of the first set, the second set, the third set, and the fourth set of apertures comprises a different pattern. 
     
     
         19 . The universal shelving unit of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of beams and the plurality of brackets comprises flat outer sides and flat inner sides. 
     
     
         20 . The universal shelving unit of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of beams and the plurality of brackets comprises a bend that extends between the first and second sides.