Shelf divider

• US 20070175844A1
• Filed: 01/23/2007
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marmon Foodservice Technologies Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Display Technologies, Inc. (Rhode Island)
• Inventors: Schneider, Raymond M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,104,630 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/184
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/005 Partitions therefore horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90

Abstract

A display apparatus for holding a plurality of items and including a base and at least one shelf divider is disclosed. The base includes a front end, a back end, a left end, a right end, and an upper surface for supporting the items. The shelf divider is removably installable on the base and defines at least one channel dimensioned for accommodating an associated column of the items. The shelf divider includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a front edge, a rear edge and at least one compliant member depending from the bottom surface. The compliant member is deflectable towards the top surface upon engagement with a portion of the base.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for holding a plurality of items, comprising:

a base including a front end, a back end, a left end, a right end, and an upper surface for supporting items;

at least one shelf divider removably installable on the base to define at least one channel, the channel dimensioned for accommodating an associated column of items and the shelf divider including a top surface, a bottom surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and at least one compliant member depending from the bottom surface, the at least one compliant member being deflectable towards the top surface upon engagement with a portion of the base.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compliant member is biased away from the top surface of the shelf divider.

3. The display apparatus of claim 1, further including a void disposed adjacent the compliant member.

4. The display apparatus of claim 1, further including at least one hook depending from the bottom surface of the shelf divider and configured to engage a portion of the base.

5. The display apparatus of claim 4, wherein the hook is disposed adjacent the compliant member.

6. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein a transition between the front edge and the top surface includes a radius r.

7. The display apparatus of claim 6, wherein the radius r is between about 0.0625 inches and about 3 inches.

8. The display apparatus of claim 5, wherein a transition between the front edge and the top surface includes a radius r and wherein the radius r is between about 0.0625 inches and about 3 inches.

9. The display apparatus of claim 1, further including a rail extending between the right end and the left end of the base.

10. The display apparatus of claim 9, wherein the compliant member is deflectable towards the top surface of the shelf divider upon engagement with the rail.

11. A shelf divider for use with a base, comprising:

a body portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, a front edge and a rear edge; and

at least one compliant member depending from the bottom surface, the at least one compliant member being deflectable towards the top surface;

wherein the shelf divider is installable on the base and wherein the compliant member helps maintain the shelf portion in a desired position.

12. The shelf divider of claim 11, wherein the compliant member is biased away from the top surface.

13. The shelf divider of claim 11, further including a void at least partially within the body and being disposed adjacent the compliant member.

14. The shelf divider of claim 11, wherein the shelf divider is removably installable on a base having at least one rail.

15. The shelf divider of claim 14, further including at least one hook depending from the bottom surface and configured to engage the rail of the base.

16. The shelf divider of claim 15, wherein the hook is disposed adjacent the compliant member.

17. The shelf divider of claim 11, wherein a transition between the front edge and the top surface includes a radius r.

18. The shelf divider of claim 17, wherein the radius r is between about 0.0625 inches and about 3 inches.

19. The display apparatus of claim 16, wherein a transition between the front edge and the top surface includes a radius r and wherein the radius r is between about 0.0625 inches and about 3 inches.