IMPACT RESISTANT, EASY ATTACHMENT SHELF-EDGE RAILS FOR SHELF EDGE MOUNTED ELECTRONIC DISPLAYS

• US 20090134103A1
• Filed: 11/26/2007
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Altierre Corp.
• Original Assignee: Altierre Corp.
• Inventors: Kumar, Shan, Saxena, Sunit
• Application Number:
  US11/945,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20090134103A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/153
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/208 Electronic labels, Labels integrating electronic displays

Abstract

A shelf-edge rail device and method are provided that can be easily attached to existing shelves over the built-in C-channels or can be built into the shelves at manufacturing time. In addition to providing the capability for mounting a variety of display devices within the shelf-edge rail device, the shelf-edge rail device is impact resistant and adjustable to configure the angle of display by the display devices. Thus, the shelf-edge rail devices can be angled differently for shelves of different heights to maximize view-ability by a shopper.

Claims

1. A shelf edge device, comprising:

a shelf edge rail device rotatably mounted on a shelf edge that has an adjustable angular position, the shelf edge rail device capable of retaining one or more display devices at an angle based on a height of the shelf relative to a floor of a store;

the shelf edge rail device further comprising a C-shaped mounting channel capable of receiving the one or more display devices and a mounting bracket located one end of the mounting channel that secures the mounting channel to a shelf; and

wherein the shelf edge rail device protects the display device from damage.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the mounting channel further comprises a first and second end portion at each end of the mounting channel, a curved top portion attached to the first and second end portions, a curved bottom portion attached to the first and second end portions and a biasing strip located inside of the mounting channel that is capable of biasing a display device in the mounting channel against at least one of the curved top portion and curved bottom portion to securely hold the display device in the mounting channel.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the first and second end portions are metal, the curved top portion is plastic and the curved bottom portion is plastic.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the shelf edge rail device has a fixed angular position.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a ratcheting mechanism and a set of teeth wherein the ratcheting mechanism and the set of teeth cooperate to maintain the shelf edge rail device in a particular adjustable angular position.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the angular position of the shelf edge rail device is manually adjustable.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the C-shaped mounting channel further comprises a mounting channel inside of the C-shaped mounting channel that holds a paper tag or a paper strip inside of the C-shaped mounting channel.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a biasing mechanism that biases the shelf edge rail device to a straight position.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a tab for removable securing the shelf edge rail device to the shelf.

10. A shelving system of a floor of a store, comprising:

a plurality shelf units, each shelf unit having one or more shelves wherein each shelf has a shelf edge located adjacent an aisle and each shelf is capable of displaying an item to a consumer;

each shelf having a shelf edge mounted on the shelf that has an adjustable angular position, the shelf edge capable of retaining one or more display devices at an angle based on a height of the shelf relative to a floor of the store; and

wherein the shelf edge protects the display device from damage.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein each shelf unit has one or more bays and each bay has the one or more shelves.

12. The shelving system of claim 10, wherein each shelf edge further comprises a C-shaped mounting channel capable of receiving the one or more display devices and a mounting bracket located on C-shaped mounting channel that secures the C-shaped mounting channel to the shelf.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the mounting channel further comprises a first and second end portion at each end of the mounting channel, a curved top portion attached to the first and second end portions, a curved bottom portion attached to the first and second end portions and a biasing strip located inside of the mounting channel that is capable of biasing a display device in the mounting channel against at least one of the curved top portion and curved bottom portion to securely hold the display device in the mounting channel.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first and second end portions are metal, the curved top portion is plastic and the curved bottom portion is plastic.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the C-shaped mounting channel further comprises a mounting channel inside of the C-shaped mounting channel that holds a paper tag or a paper strip inside of the C-shaped mounting channel.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the shelf edge has a fixed angular position.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a ratcheting mechanism and a set of teeth wherein the ratcheting mechanism and the set of teeth cooperate to maintain the shelf edge in an adjustable angular position.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the angular position of the shelf edge is manually adjustable.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a biasing mechanism that biases the shelf edge to a straight position.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a tab for removable securing the shelf edge to the shelf.

21. A method for shelving items in a floor of a store, the method comprising:

providing a plurality shelf units, each shelf unit having one or more shelves wherein each shelf has a shelf edge located adjacent an aisle and each shelf is capable of displaying an item to a consumer;

providing, for each shelf, a shelf edge rail device rotatably mounted on the shelf edge that has an adjustable angular position;

adjusting the angular position of each shelf edge rail device based on a height of the shelf relative to a floor of the store; and

inserting a display device into the shelf edge rail device having the predetermined angular position to provide an optimal viewing angle for a display device in the shelf edge rail device and to protect the display device from damage.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein adjusting the angular position of each shelf edge rail device further comprises manually adjusting the angular position of each shelf edge rail device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein manually adjusting the angular position of each shelf edge rail device further comprises manually adjusting the angular position of each shelf edge rail device to a predetermined position.