Shelf rail clip and shelf display system

• US 20040200793A1
• Filed: 04/10/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Hardy, Stephen Neal
• Granted Patent: US 6,932,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/119.003
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0068 Shelf extensions, e.g. fixed on price rail
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/204 specially adapted to be attached to a shelf or the like

Abstract

An attachment device for attachment to a shelf rail having a slot and an upper cavity. The attachment device includes an upper shelf rail insert for insertion into the slot, and a lower shelf rail insert for insertion into the slot beneath the upper shelf rail insert. The upper shelf rail insert has an upper lip for insertion into the upper cavity of the shelf rail. The present invention also provides a shelf display system having a shelf rail and a shelf rail clip. The shelf rail may have a female dovetail or semi-dovetail configuration. The shelf rail clip includes upper and lower shelf rail inserts that may have a male dovetail or semi-dovetail configuration for coupling the shelf rail clip to the shelf rail.

Claims

1. A shelf display system, comprising:

a shelf rail having a slot and an upper cavity; and

a shelf rail clip coupled to the shelf rail, the shelf rail clip comprising;

an upper shelf rail insert for insertion into an upper portion of the slot, the upper shelf rail insert having an upper lip that extends into the upper cavity when the upper shelf rail insert is inserted into the upper portion of the slot; and

a lower shelf rail insert for insertion into a lower portion of the slot, the lower shelf rail insert movably engaging the upper shelf rail insert.

2. The shelf display system of claim 1, wherein the shelf rail clip further comprises an operating tab coupled to the lower shelf rail insert, and the slot has a dovetail shape.

3. The shelf display system of claim 1, where the shelf rail clip further comprises a spring member disposed to bias the relative position between the upper and lower shelf rail inserts.

4. The shelf display system of claim 3, wherein the shelf rail clip further comprises an operating tab coupled to the lower shelf rail insert, and wherein the upper shelf rail insert comprises an operating tab opening through which the operating tab extends.

5. The shelf display system of claim 1, wherein the shelf rail clip consists of a single molded piece-part.

6. An attachment device comprising:

an upper engaging member;

a lower engaging member in movable contact with the upper engaging member;

a spring coupled to the lower engaging member; and

a display-holding member coupled to at least one of the upper and lower engaging members.

7. The attachment device of claim 6, further comprising an operating tab coupled to the lower engaging member.

8. The attachment device of claim 6, further comprising a lip on the upper engaging member, the lip located substantially near an end of the upper engaging member.

9. The attachment device of claim 6, further comprising a lip on the lower engaging member, the lip located substantially near an end of the lower engaging member.

10. The attachment device of claim 6, wherein at least one of the upper and lower engaging members is capable of engagement with a shelf rail.

11. A shelf rail clip comprising:

an upper shelf rail insert;

a lower shelf rail insert that movably engages the upper shelf rail insert; and

a lip disposed proximate to an end of at least one of the upper and lower shelf rail inserts.

12. The shelf rail clip of claim 11, further comprising an operating tab coupled to the lower shelf rail insert.

13. The shelf rail clip of claim 12, wherein the upper shelf rail insert comprises an operating tab opening through which the operating tab extends.

14. The shelf rail clip of claim 11, further comprising a spring member disposed to bias the relative position between the upper and lower shelf rail inserts.

15. The shelf rail clip of claim 14, wherein the spring member includes a cantilever-type spring.

16. The shelf rail clip of claim 15, further comprising an operating tab coupled to the lower shelf rail insert, and wherein the upper shelf rail insert comprises an operating tab opening through which the operating tab extends.

17. The shelf rail clip of claim 16, wherein the shelf rail clip consists of a single molded piece-part.

18. The shelf rail clip of claim 11, further comprising a display-holding member coupled to the upper shelf rail insert.

19. The shelf rail clip of claim 18, wherein the shelf rail clip consists of a single molded piece-part.

20. The shelf rail clip of claim 11, wherein the lower shelf rail insert is substantially flat.