Shelf spine system

Abstract

A shelf spine system can cover unused holes, slots or other attachment points, and can conceal wires/cables, and can easily be customized in length, and can provide accent strips to furniture or walls. The spine system includes a spine and two or more feet. The spine extends from a first end to a second end. Each foot includes a spine attachment portion that couples to the spine, and a surface attachment portion that couples to the surface. When first and second feet are coupled to the spine and to first and second holes, respectively of the furniture then the spine covers any holes of the furniture between the first and second holes. The spine attachment portion of a foot can slide between the first and second ends of the spine. The spine can include a foot attachment structure that couples to the spine attachment portion of a foot.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A spine system for a furniture piece with a plurality of holes, the spine system comprising:
 a spine with a length that extends from a first end to a second end; and   a plurality of feet, where each individual foot of the plurality of feet comprises:
 a spine attachment portion configured to couple the individual foot to the spine; and 
 a furniture attachment portion configured to fit into one or more of the plurality of holes of the furniture piece to couple the individual foot to the furniture piece; 
   wherein when a first foot of the plurality of feet is coupled to the spine and to a first hole of the plurality of holes of the furniture piece and a second foot of the plurality of feet is coupled to the spine and to a second hole of the plurality of holes of the furniture piece then the spine is configured to cover any of the plurality of holes of the furniture piece between the first and second holes.   
     
     
         2 . The spine system of  claim 1  wherein for each of the plurality of feet, when the spine attachment portion is coupled to the spine and the furniture attachment portion is not coupled to the furniture piece then the spine attachment portion is configured to slide along the length of the spine between the first and second ends of the spine. 
     
     
         3 . The spine system of  claim 2  wherein the spine comprises:
 an outer face; 
 an inner face; and 
 a foot attachment structure; 
 wherein the spine attachment portion of any foot of the plurality of feet is configured to couple to the foot attachment structure of the spine; and 
 wherein when a foot of the plurality of feet is coupled to the spine and to the furniture piece then the inner face of the spine faces towards the furniture piece and the outer face of the spine faces away from the furniture piece. 
 
     
     
         4 . The spine system of  claim 3  wherein the spine attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet comprises a base that includes an inner face, an outer face and a spine attachment structure, the spine attachment structure configured to couple to the foot attachment structure of the spine;
 wherein the furniture attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet comprises a toe coupled to the outer face of the base; and 
 wherein when a foot of the plurality of feet is coupled to the spine then the spine attachment structure of the base is coupled to the foot attachment structure of the spine, the inner face of the base faces the inner face of the spine, and the spine attachment structure of the base enables the foot to slide along the length of the spine between the first and second ends of the spine. 
 
     
     
         5 . The spine system of  claim 4  wherein the toe of the furniture attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet has a substantially cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         6 . The spine system of  claim 4  wherein the toe of the furniture attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet has a proximal end coupled to the outer face of the base and a distal end with a tip, and the tip has a substantially pointed shape. 
     
     
         7 . The spine system of  claim 4  wherein the toe of the furniture attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet has a proximal end coupled to the outer face of the base and a distal end with a tip, and the tip has a substantially rounded shape. 
     
     
         8 . The spine system of  claim 3  wherein the foot attachment structure of the spine comprises:
 a first rail that extends along the length of the spine between the first and second ends of the spine; and 
 a second rail that extends along the length of the spine between the first and second ends of the spine; 
 wherein the spine attachment portion of any foot of the plurality of feet is configured to couple to the first and second rails of the foot attachment structure, and the first and second rails are configured to enable an attached foot to slide along the length of the spine between the first and second ends of the spine. 
 
     
     
         9 . The spine system of  claim 8  wherein the spine attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet comprises a base that includes an inner face, an outer face and a circumferential notch, the circumferential notch configured to couple to the first and second rails of the foot attachment structure of the spine;
 wherein the furniture attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet comprises a toe coupled to the outer face of the base; and 
 wherein when a foot of the plurality of feet is coupled to the spine then the circumferential notch of the base is coupled to the first and second rails of the foot attachment structure of the spine, the inner face of the base faces the inner face of the spine, and the circumferential notch of the base enables the foot to slide along the length of the spine on the first and second rails of the foot attachment structure between the first and second ends of the spine. 
 
     
     
         10 . The spine system of  claim 9  wherein the base of the spine attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet has a substantially circular shape. 
     
     
         11 . The spine system of  claim 8  wherein the spine attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet comprises a base that includes an inner face, an outer face, a first notch and a second notch, the first and second notches configured to couple to the first and second rails, respectively, of the foot attachment structure of the spine;
 wherein the furniture attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet comprises a toe coupled to the outer face of the base; and 
 wherein when a foot of the plurality of feet is coupled to the spine then the first notch of the base is coupled to the first rail of the foot attachment structure, the second notch of the base is coupled to the second rail of the foot attachment structure, the inner face of the base faces the inner face of the spine, and the first and second notches of the base enable the foot to slide along the length of the spine on the first and second rails of the foot attachment structure between the first and second ends of the spine. 
 
     
     
         12 . The spine system of  claim 11  wherein the base of the spine attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet has a substantially rectangular shape. 
     
     
         13 . The spine system of  claim 3  wherein the spine attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet comprises a base that includes an inner face, an outer face and a spine attachment structure, the spine attachment structure configured to couple to the foot attachment structure of the spine;
 wherein the furniture attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet comprises a slot hook coupled to the outer face of the base and a slot tab coupled to the outer face of the base; 
 wherein when a foot of the plurality of feet is coupled to the spine then the spine attachment structure of the base is coupled to the foot attachment structure of the spine, the inner face of the base faces the inner face of the spine, and the spine attachment structure of the base enables the foot to slide along the length of the spine between the first and second ends of the spine; and 
 wherein when a foot of the plurality of feet is coupled to the furniture piece then the slot hook is hooked on a first of the plurality of holes of the furniture piece, the slot tab is inserted into a second of the plurality of holes of the furniture piece, and the outer face of the base faces the furniture piece. 
 
     
     
         14 . The spine system of  claim 3  wherein the spine comprises a first side and a second side that extend the length of the spine between the first and second ends of the spine, and the spine has a curved cross-section between the first and second sides where a center portion of the spine between the first and second sides is higher than an edge portion of the spine at the first or second side. 
     
     
         15 . The spine system of  claim 14  wherein the curved cross-section of the spine is sized to conceal a cord between the inner face of the spine and the furniture piece when a plurality of feet couple the spine to the furniture piece. 
     
     
         16 . The spine system of  claim 14  wherein the curved cross-section of the spine is sized to conceal lighting between the inner face of the spine and the furniture piece when a plurality of feet couple the spine to the furniture piece; and
 wherein the spine is made of a clear material such that the lighting is visible through the outer face of the spine. 
 
     
     
         17 . The spine system of  claim 3  wherein the spine is made of a flexible material. 
     
     
         18 . A spine system for attachment to a surface, the spine system comprising:
 a spine with a length that extends from a first end to a second end; and   a plurality of feet, where each individual foot of the plurality of feet comprises:
 a spine attachment portion configured to couple the individual foot to the spine; and 
 a surface attachment portion configured to couple the individual foot to the surface; 
   wherein for each of the plurality of feet, when the spine attachment portion is coupled to the spine and the surface attachment portion is not coupled to the surface then the spine attachment portion is configured to slide along the length of the spine between the first and second ends of the spine; and   wherein when the surface attachment portions of first and second feet of the plurality of feet are coupled to the surface and the spine is coupled to the spine attachment portions of the first and second feet then the spine is coupled to the surface.   
     
     
         19 . The spine system of  claim 18  wherein the foot attachment structure of the spine comprises first and second rails that extend along the length of the spine between the first and second ends of the spine, and the spine attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet is configured to slide the length of the spine along the first and second rails between the first and second ends of the spine;
 wherein the spine attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet comprises a base that includes an inner face, an outer face and a circumferential notch, the circumferential notch configured to couple to the first and second rails of the foot attachment structure of the spine; 
 wherein the surface attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet comprises a fastener hole that extends between the inner and outer faces of the base of the spine attachment portion, the fastener hole configured to receive a fastener; and 
 wherein when the surface attachment portions of first and second feet of the plurality of feet are coupled to the surface by first and second fasteners, respectively, and the circumferential notch of the spine attachment portions of the first and second feet are coupled to the first and second rails of the foot attachment structure of the spine then the spine is coupled to the surface. 
 
     
     
         20 . The spine system of  claim 18  wherein the foot attachment structure of the spine comprises first and second rails that extend along the length of the spine between the first and second ends of the spine, and the spine attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet is configured to slide the length of the spine along the first and second rails between the first and second ends of the spine;
 wherein the spine attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet comprises a base that includes an inner face, an outer face and a first notch and a second notch, the first and second notches configured to couple to the first and second rails, respectively, of the foot attachment structure of the spine; 
 wherein the surface attachment portion of each of the plurality of feet comprises a fastener hole that extends between the inner and outer faces of the base of the spine attachment portion, the fastener hole configured to receive a fastener; and 
 wherein when the surface attachment portions of first and second feet of the plurality of feet are coupled to the surface by first and second fasteners, respectively, and the first and second notches of the spine attachment portions of the first and second feet are coupled to the first and second rails of the foot attachment structure of the spine then the spine is coupled to the surface.