DUAL PLANE SELF-ADJUSTING SHELF

• US 20120118840A1
• Filed: 11/12/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frito-Lay North America Incorporated (PepsiCo Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Frito-Lay North America Incorporated (PepsiCo Incorporated)
• Inventors: HOWLEY, Michael Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,016,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/04 Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles , e.g. by means of gravity or springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/005 Partitions therefore horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/01 made of tubes or wire A47F5/0807 takes precedence foldable or adjustable A47F5/13

Abstract

An apparatus for storing and displaying packages. The invention discloses a self-adjusting shelf comprising a sled coupled to a track, and at least two product supports located in a plane above the track. The product supports are aligned substantially parallel to the track and are coupled to the track. Packages rest upon the product supports. The sled slides along the length of the track. The sled urges, via either gravity or a biasing device, the sled forward against downstream packages. Thus, when one package is removed, the sled forces the remaining packages to the front of the shelf.

Claims

1. A self-adjusting shelf comprising:

a track;

a sled, wherein said sled is coupled to said track, and wherein said sled slides upon said track;

at least two product supports located above said track, wherein said product supports are aligned substantially parallel to said track, and wherein said product supports are coupled to said track.

2. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 1 wherein said track is inclined relative to a horizontal plane.

3. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 2 wherein said track is inclined at an angle of about 5 degrees to about 8 degrees.

4. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 2 wherein said sled comprises a substantially vertical back and two substantially vertical wings coupled to said back.

5. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 4 wherein said sled further comprises a base, wherein said base sits upon said track.

6. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 1 further comprising a stand coupled to a rear end of said roller track.

7. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 1 wherein said at least two product supports comprise at least two parallel rods.

8. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 1 wherein said product supports are coupled to a track support which is coupled to said track.

9. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 1 further comprising a shelf lip.

10. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 9 wherein said shelf lip comprises a U-shaped member that connects the at least two product supports.

11. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 1 further comprising at least one side rail, wherein said side rail is coupled to said track, and wherein said at least one side rail is oriented parallel to said track.

12. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 1 further comprising at least two side rails, wherein said at least two side rails are coupled to said track, and wherein said at least two side rails are oriented parallel to said track.

13. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 12 wherein said sled comprises a back and two wings coupled to said back.

14. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 13 wherein said product supports are separated by a distance, wherein said at least two side rails are separated by a distance, and wherein said the width of said back and said wings of said sled is greater than the distance between said product supports but is less than the distance between said at least two side rails.

15. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 1 further comprising a biasing device coupled to said sled.

16. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 15 wherein said biasing device comprises a spring.

17. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 1 wherein said track comprises a plurality of rollers.

18. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 1 wherein said product supports comprise a powder coated finish.

19. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 1 wherein said product supports are located about ¼

of an inch to about 5 inches above the track.

20. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 1 comprising at least one package loaded in said sled.

21. The self-adjusting shelf of claim 1 wherein said sled comprises a plurality of rollers.