MODULAR GRAVITY ACTUATED ROLLING SHELVING ASSEMBLY

• US 20100133219A1
• Filed: 11/25/2009
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sungal Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sungal Corporation
• Inventors: Sun, Yeyang
• Granted Patent: US 8,376,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/151
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/125 with an article-pushing device

Abstract

A shelving assembly comprises a unit that comprises a base plate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The base plate has an integral one-piece configuration including a plurality of strengthening or reinforcing vertical and/or horizontal ribs disposed on the second side. A plurality of securing members are disposed in a parallel relationship on the first side. Each of the plurality of securing members has a plurality of snap fit openings. A plurality of rollers that each comprises a centrally disposed cylindrical portion and a pair of connection rods extending from opposite ends of the cylindrical portion. The connection rods are removably and fixedly insertable into a pair of oppositely disposed snap fit openings of adjacent securing members, thereby forming a row of rollers disposed on the base plate.

Claims

1. A shelving assembly comprising:

at least one unit that comprises;

a base plate;

a plurality of securing members disposed in a parallel relationship on said base plate, wherein each said securing member includes a plurality of snap fit openings; and

a plurality of rollers that each comprise a centrally disposed cylindrical portion and a pair of connection rods extending from opposite ends of said cylindrical portion, wherein each said roller is securely disposed within a pair of oppositely disposed snap fit openings disposed on adjacent securing members, wherein the secured rollers are capable of radial rotation within said openings.

2. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein said base plate further comprises first and second edge portion disposed substantially perpendicular to said securing members, wherein said first and second edge portion each comprises a plurality of slots.

3. The shelving assembly of claim 2, further comprising at least one divider, wherein said divider comprises a pair of protrusions that are removably insertable into oppositely disposed slots, one from each of said first and second edges, and such that said divider is disposed substantially parallel to said securing members.

4. The shelving assembly of claim 3, wherein said divider has ribs on a planar divider portion.

5. The shelving assembly of claim 3, wherein said divider is adjustable along its length.

6. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein said base plate has a bottom side with one or more ribs for strength and/or stability.

8. The shelving assembly of claim 5, wherein said fastener is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

screws, pins, clips, adhesives, rivets and the like.

9. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein each said snap fit opening comprise adjacent arm portions, each said arm portion having a first end integrally formed together with a base portion of said securing member and a second end having at least one projecting perturbation portion, wherein each said perturbation portion of said arm portion is disposed opposite said perturbation portion of an adjacent arm portion, wherein said connection rod of said roller is disposed within said snap fit opening such that it rotates within said opening, while also prohibiting its removal from said opening without the application of a force sufficient to urge said perturbation portions of the oppositely disposed arm portions apart such that said connection rod passes through said perturbation portion of each arm portion.

10. The shelving assembly of claim 9, wherein said arm portion further comprises a space creating a separated pair of perturbation portions.

11. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein said securing members allow insertion or removal of each of said plurality of rollers without disconnecting another of said plurality of rollers from said securing members.

12. The shelving assembly of claim 9, wherein said securing member comprises a first row of said arm portions and a second row of said arm portions having a fill bar disposed therebetween without covering said openings.

13. The shelving assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said units attached in a parallel relationship to one another.

14. The shelving assembly of claim 13, wherein said plurality of said units are attached by a protruding connector on a first side edge of a first base plate and a receiving recess on a second side edge of a second base plate.

15. The shelving assembly of claim 2, further comprises a first channel member attached to said first edge portion of said base plate and a second channel member attached to said second edge portion of said base plate.

16. The shelving assembly of claim 15, wherein said first channel member has an inclined outwardly facing portion for advertisement and/or pricing displays.

17. The shelving assembly of claim 15, wherein said first and second channel members further comprise a base channel, wherein said base plate is removably disposed within said base channel, and said base channel has a ridge to secure to a recess of said base plate.

18. The shelving assembly of claim 15, wherein said first and second channel members further comprise a retainer channel, and wherein a first retainer is removably disposed within said retainer channel of said first channel member substantially perpendicular to said securing members and/or a second retainer is removably disposed within said retainer channel of said second channel member substantially perpendicular to said securing members.

19. The shelving assembly of claim 18, wherein said first and second retainers have a protruding portion which corresponds with a lip disposed within said retainer channel of said first and second channel members, thereby allowing said retainer to be securely and removably disposed within said retainer channel.

20. The shelving assembly of claim 18, further comprising a mass-pusher assembly.

21. The shelving assembly of claim 20, wherein said mass-pusher assembly comprises a mass and a tether wherein said tether connects said mass to said unit.

22. The shelving assembly of claim 20, wherein said mass-pusher assembly provides an appropriate amount of weight or pressure and/or surface area to an item disposed on said shelving assembly, thereby ensuring that said item remains in contact with a surface of said first retainer facing said rollers.

23. The shelving assembly of claim 21, wherein the mass, height, width and/or a surface of said mass in contact with said item are adjustable.

24. The shelving assembly of claim 15, further comprising a pair of support brackets disposed on opposite sides of said unit, wherein each said support bracket includes a first tab and a second tab disposed about each end.

25. The shelving assembly of claim 24, wherein said first and second channel members further comprise a tab channel, and wherein said first and second tabs are removably disposed within said tab channels, thereby affixing each said support panel to said unit.

26. The shelving assembly of claim 24, wherein said support brackets have one or more mounting members which attach said unit to a wall assembly.

27. The shelving assembly of claim 24, further comprising at least one support beam under said base plate and attached to said support brackets;

said support beam being substantially parallel to said first and second channel members, and substantially perpendicular to said support brackets.

28. The shelving assembly of claim 24, further comprising a front mount and a rear mount attached to said support brackets, wherein said front mount has at least one front post positioned at an angle in relation to said front mount, and wherein said rear mount has at least one rear post positioned perpendicular to said rear mount.

29. The shelving assembly of claim 28, wherein said front post and said rear post lock said shelving assembly into holes on a deck or shelf.

30. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein said unit further comprises one or more legs attached to said base plate to set said unit on a deck or shelf.

31. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein said shelving assembly is at an angle between about 3 degrees to about 10 degrees.

32. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein said base plate has a roller storage compartment for the storage of at least one spare roller, wherein said storage compartment is dispose on the surface of said base plate opposite said rollers and securing members.

33. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein said base plate has a length of between about 2 inches to about 48 inches and a width between about 8 inches to about 36 inches.

7. The shelving assembly of claim 7, wherein said securing member includes at least one fastener, wherein said fastener affixes said securing member to a receiving portion of said base plate.