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Variable planform shelving systems include a variable support platform and a support surface assembly that is supported by the variable support platform. The variable support platform includes frames that can be repositioned relative to each other to vary the planform of the variable support platfor

Variable planform shelving systems include a variable support platform and a support surface assembly that is supported by the variable support platform. The variable support platform includes frames that can be repositioned relative to each other to vary the planform of the variable support platform. The support surface assembly provides a support surface for supported items. The support surface assembly is flexible and/or comprised of a plurality of linked panels so that the support surface provided varies in response to variation in the planform of the variable support platform.

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1. A variable planform shelving system comprising a shelf having a variable planform, the shelf comprising: a first frame having a planform shape of at least a portion of one end of an ellipse and providing a first part of a variable support platform;a second frame having a planform shape of at leas

1. A variable planform shelving system comprising a shelf having a variable planform, the shelf comprising: a first frame having a planform shape of at least a portion of one end of an ellipse and providing a first part of a variable support platform;a second frame having a planform shape of at least a portion of one end of an ellipse and providing a second part of the variable support platform;a third frame having a planform shape of an ellipse, the ellipse having a perimeter continuously curving from a smallest diameter to a largest diameter that is larger than the smallest diameter, the third frame providing a third part of the variable support platform, the third frame being disposed between the first and second frames, the third frame coupled with the first and second frames so that relative positioning between the third frame and each of the first and second frames is variable to vary the planform of the variable support platform,wherein the third frame is configurable to be (i) slidingly coupled with the first frame for translation of the first frame relative to the third frame along at least one of a length or a width of the third frame, (ii) pivotally coupled with the first frame, (iii) slidingly coupled with the second frame for translation of the second frame relative to the third frame along at least one of the length or the width of the third frame, (iv) pivotally coupled with the second frame, and (v) combinations thereof. 2. The variable planform shelving system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second frames comprises a coupling pin coupled with the frame for coupling the frame with the third frame; and wherein the at least one of the first and second frames further comprises a slot in the frame that receives a portion of the third frame and wherein the coupling pin coupled with the frame extends across the frame slot and through an opening in the third frame. 3. The variable planform shelving system of claim 2, wherein the first or the second frame comprises: a top plate having a planform shape of one end of an ellipse;a bottom plate having a planform shape of one end of an ellipse and aligned relative to the top plate so that the outer perimeter of the bottom plate is aligned with the outer perimeter of the top plate; anda spacer, wherein the spacer is disposed between and joined to each of the top plate and the bottom plate, and the space between the top plate and the bottom plate defines the slot for receiving the third frame. 4. The variable planform shelving system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second frames comprises a coupling pin coupled with the frame for coupling the frame with the third frame; and wherein the third frame comprises one or two shaped apertures, each shaped aperture having a length and a variable width and configurable for receiving the coupling pin of the first or the second frame for axial movement along the length of the aperture and lateral movement within the variable width. 5. The variable planform shelving system of claim 4, wherein the third frame includes one or two distal holes, each distal hole configured to receive the coupling pin of the first or the second frame for pivotal movement of the frame about the distal hole; and wherein the third frame is configured in a first configuration to be slidingly coupled with one of the first frame and the second frame and configured in a second configuration to be pivotally coupled with the one of the first frame and the second frame, and wherein the coupling pin of the one of the first frame and the second frame may be removed and replaced to change the third frame from the first configuration to the second configuration. 6. The variable planform shelving system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second frames comprises a coupling pin coupled with the frame for coupling the frame with the third frame; and wherein at least one of the coupling pins of one of the first frame and the second frame is configurable to clamp the one of the first frame and the second frame to the third frame and inhibit movement of the one of the first frame and the second frame relative to the third frame. 7. The variable planform shelving system of claim 1, wherein the third frame comprises: a base plate in the shape of an ellipse;a spacer joined to the base plate and aligned with the base plate so that one or more features of the spacer and the base plate are aligned, wherein the spacer provides an upper surface to the third frame that is in plane with a top surface of the first frame and a top surface of the second frame. 8. The variable planform shelving system of claim 1 further comprising: a second shelf being elevated above the first shelf, the second shelf further comprising: a first frame having a planform shape of one end of an ellipse and providing a first part of a variable support platform,a second frame having a planform shape of one end of an ellipse and providing a second part of the variable support platform, anda third frame having a planform shape of an ellipse and providing a third part of the variable support platform, the third frame being disposed between the first and second frames, relative positioning between the third frame and each of the first and second frames being variable to vary the planform of the variable support platform;at least one first support column supporting the first frames of the first and second shelves; andat least one second support column supporting the second frames of the first and second shelves. 9. The variable planform shelving system of claim 8, wherein an underside of the second shelf further comprises at least one light source. 10. The variable planform shelving system of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of backing panels, each panel configured to attach to one of the support columns and to overlap with another of the backing panels, wherein the another of the backing panels is attached to another of the support columns and located adjacent to the panel so that the space between the support columns is covered by the overlapping panels. 11. The variable planform shelving system of claim 8, further comprising a movable slat as an adjustable backing between adjacent support columns, the movable slat comprising: a plurality of first links, each of the plurality of first links comprising a vertical opening through a height of the link, the opening configured to receive at least one long pin member to align the link with other links, wherein the plurality of first links is aligned into columns of vertically aligned first links;a plurality of second links, each of the plurality of second links comprising at least one vertical opening through a height of the link, each opening configured to receive at least one long pin member to align the link with other links, wherein the plurality of second links is aligned into columns of vertically aligned second links, and wherein each column of second links is disposed between adjacent columns of first links so that the columns of first links and the columns of second links are disposed in an alternating pattern;a plurality of long pin members, each pin passing through at least some first links in a first link column and passing through at least some second links in an adjacent second link column so that the first link column is joined to the adjacent second link column by a common pin. 12. The variable planform shelving system of claim 1 further comprising: a base comprising at least one variable planform shelf, each base shelf comprising: a first frame having a planform shape of one end of an ellipse and providing a first part of a variable support platform,a second frame having a planform shape of one end of an ellipse and providing a second part of the variable support platform, anda third frame having a planform shape of an ellipse and providing a third part of the variable support platform, the third frame being disposed between the first and second frames, relative positioning between the third frame and each of the first and second frames being variable to vary the planform of the variable support platform;at least one first support column supported by the first frame of the at least one variable planform shelf;at least one second support column supported by the second frame of the at least one variable planform shelf; anda top rack from which clothes can be hung, the top rack supported at least by the first and the second support columns, wherein the top rack comprises a plurality of shaped interchangeable members which together form a shape of the top rack, and at least some of the shaped interchangeable members may be replaced with other shaped interchangeable members to vary the shape of the top rack. 13. The variable planform shelving system of claim 1, further comprising a support surface assembly for use with the variable planform shelf having a variable support platform, the support surface assembly comprising a plurality of interconnected vertically-oriented flexible panels so that the support surface varies in response to variation in the planform of the variable support platform, wherein the support surface assembly is supported by the variable support platform and provides a support surface for items supported by the variable planform shelf. 14. The variable planform shelving system with a support surface of claim 13, wherein the support surface assembly can be expanded in a lengthwise direction perpendicular to the vertical direction of the vertically-oriented panels without any substantial contraction in the support surface assembly in a width-wise direction transverse to the lengthwise direction. 15. The variable planform shelving system with a support surface of claim 13, wherein the plurality of interconnected vertically-oriented flexible panels are intermittently bonded to each other to provide a sinusoidal pattern. 16. The variable planform shelving system with a support surface of claim 13, wherein the plurality of interconnected vertically-oriented flexible panels comprise at least one of polycarbonate strips, acrylic strips, or acrylic abrasion resistant strips. 17. The variable planform shelving system of claim 1, further comprising a support surface assembly for use with a variable planform shelf having a variable support platform, the support surface assembly comprising a plurality of coupled horizontally-oriented panels, each of the horizontally-oriented panels having one or more slots receiving connecting pins that couple adjacent panels of the horizontally-oriented panels so that the support surface provided varies in response to variation in the planform of the variable support platform, wherein the support surface assembly is supported by the variable support platform and provides a support surface for items supported by the variable planform shelf. 18. The variable planform shelving system of claim 1, further comprising a component included in the variable planform shelf, the component constructed as a sandwich panel comprising: a top layer;a bottom layer;a middle layer sandwiched between the top and bottom layers, the middle layer comprising a plurality of interconnected vertically-oriented parallel flexible panels. 19. The variable planform shelving system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first frame, the second frame, and the third frame further comprise features for attachment of at least one of one or more support surface assemblies, one or more support posts, one or more kick plates, one or more price displays, one or more hanger hooks, one or more height adjustable feet, or one or more additional variable planform platform frames. 20. A variable planform shelving system comprising a shelf having a variable planform, the shelf comprising: a first frame having a planform shape of at least a portion of one end of an ellipse and providing a first part of a variable support platform;a second frame having a planform shape of at least a portion of one end of an ellipse and providing a second part of the variable support platform;a third frame having a planform shape of an ellipse, the ellipse having a perimeter continuously curving from a smallest diameter to a largest diameter that is larger than the smallest diameter, the third frame providing a third part of the variable support platform, the third frame being disposed between the first and second frames;a first coupling pin coupling the first frame with the third frame so that relative positioning between the third frame and the first frame is variable to vary the planform of the variable support platform by the first frame and the third frame being pivotable relative one another about the first coupling pin and the first coupling pin being slidable along at least one of a longitudinal direction or a lateral direction of the third frame; anda second coupling pin coupling the second frame with the third frame so that relative positioning between the third frame and the second frame is variable to vary the planform of the variable support platform by the second frame and the third frame being pivotable relative one another about the second coupling pin and the second coupling pin being slidable along at least one of the longitudinal direction or the lateral direction of the third frame.