Gravity-feed storage and delivery system

• US 4,372,451 A
• Filed: 06/26/1980
• Issued: 02/08/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Interlake Material Handling, Inc. (United Fixtures Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Interlake Companies, Inc.
• Inventors: Rasmussen, George E., Donkle, Lucius B. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zugel, Francis K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US06/163,342
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 211/490, 211/184, 211/151, 211/189, 211/186, 108/60, 108/61
• US Class Current: 211/187
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/023 Arrangements of article supporting rollers on racks

Abstract

A gravity-feed merchandise storage and delivery rack includes upstanding support columns and a plurality of vertically-spaced storage shelves mounted upon the support columns by means of mounting clips; each storage shelf includes rearward and forward side frame members interconnected by splice members including offset portions so that the forward side frame member is offset outwardly with respect to the rearward side frame member to facilitate passage of merchandise thereby; an intermediate guide member on the storage shelf having a pin adjustably positioned thereon and extending downwardly therefrom to engage in openings in a channel member extending transversely of the storage shelf; and a shelf support infinitely adjustable upon an intermediate support column for supporting an elongated storage shelf intermediate the front and rear thereof.

Claims

1. A storage shelf for use in a gravity-feed merchandise storage and delivery rack comprising two spaced-apart side frame members interconnected by front and rear frame members, merchandise support tracks mounted between said front and rear frame members and defining parallel rows of merchandise, a cross frame member interconnecting said side frame members between said front and back frame members and below said support tracks, an intermediate guide member mounted between said front and rear frame members and upon said cross frame member and separating adjacent rows of merchandise from each other, and attachment structure adjustable longitudinally of said intermediate guide member and readily removably interconnecting said intermediate guide member and said cross frame member to prevent lateral displacement between said intermediate guide member and said cross frame member as a result of contact with merchandise while permitting quick adjustment of the position therebetween with access only to the ends of said intermediate guide member.

2. The storage shelf set forth in claim 1, wherein the distance between said cross frame member and said front and rear frame members is at least about four feet, whereby said cross frame member and the attachment structure on said intermediate guide member are not accessible from the ends of said storage shelf.

3. A storage shelf for use in a gravity-feed merchandise storage and delivery rack comprising two spaced-apart side frame members interconnected by front and rear frame members, merchandise support tracks mounted between said front and rear frame members and defining parallel rows of merchandise, a cross frame member interconnecting said side frame members between said front and back frame members and below said support tracks, an intermediate guide member mounted between said front and rear frame members and upon said cross frame member and separating adjacent rows of merchandise from each other, and attachment structure readily removably interconnecting said intermediate guide member and said cross frame member, said attachment structure including a pin mounted on said intermediate guide member and a plurality of holes in said cross frame member, said pin engaging in a selected one of said holes to prevent lateral displacement between said intermediate guide member and said cross frame member as a result of contact with merchandise while permitting quick adjustment of the position therebetween with access only to the ends of said intermediate guide member.

4. The storage shelf set forth in claim 3, wherein the position of said pin is infinitely adjustable along the length of said intermediate guide member.

5. The storage shelf set forth in claim 3, wherein said cross frame member has laterally extending flanges having aligned holes therein for receiving the associated pin therethrough.

6. A storage shelf for use in a gravity-feed merchandise storage and delivery rack comprising two spaced-apart side frame members interconnected by front and rear frame members, merchandise support tracks mounted between said front and rear frame members and defining parallel rows of merchandise, a cross frame member interconnecting said side frame members between said front and rear frame members and below said support tracks, an intermediate guide member mounted between said front and rear frame members and upon said cross frame member and separating adjacent rows of merchandise from each other, said intermediate guide member including two longitudinally extending side walls having one of the edges thereof joined by a connecting wall and having inturned flanges on the other edges of said side walls directed inwardly toward each other, a nut supported between said side walls on said inturned flanges and having a threaded opening therein and being capable of being positioned at any place along the length of said intermediate guide member, and a pin having a threaded portion engaging in said threaded nut and extending upwardly and engaging the inner surface of said connecting wall thus to fix the position of said nut and said pin along the length of said intermediate guide member and having an engaging portion extending beyond said nut, said cross frame member having a plurality of holes therein for receiving the engaging portion of said pin at any one of a number of adjusted lateral positions with respect to said storage shelf, the pin on said intermediate guide member when engaged in one of the openings in said cross frame member serving fixedly to position said intermediate guide member with respect to said cross frame member to prevent lateral displacement therebetween as a result of contact with merchandise, said pin being readily removable from the associated opening in said cross frame member to permit quick adjustment of the position between said intermediate guide member and said cross frame member while having access only to the ends of said intermediate guide member.

7. The storage shelf set forth in claim 6, wherein said cross frame member has laterally extending flanges having aligned holes therein for receiving the associated pin therethrough.

8. The storage shelf set forth in claim 6, wherein the side walls of said intermediate guide member converge toward said connecting wall with said connecting wall having an internal dimension only slightly greater than the adjacent end of said pin.

9. The storage shelf set forth in claim 6, wherein said nut is rectangular in shape and fits snugly between said side walls upon said inturned flanges.

10. The storage shelf set forth in claim 6, wherein the engaging portion of said pin is pointed to facilitate insertion thereof into the holes in said cross frame member.

11. The storage shelf set forth in claim 6, wherein the surface of said engaging portion of said pin is knurled to facilitate tightening and loosening thereof manually.

12. An intermediate guide member comprising two longitudinally extending side walls joined on one edge thereof by a connecting wall, inturned flanges on the other edges of said side walls directed inwardly toward each other, a nut supported between said side walls on said inturned flanges and having a threaded opening therein and being capable of being positioned at any place along the length of said inturned flanges, and a pin having a threaded portion engaging in said threaded nut and extending upwardly and engaging the inner surface of said connecting wall thus to fix the position of said nut and said pin along the length of said inturned flanges, said pin having an engaging portion extending beyond said nut in a direction opposite to said threaded portion.

13. The intermediate guide members set forth in claim 12, wherein the side walls of said intermediate guide member converge toward said connecting wall with said connecting wall having an internal dimension only slightly greater than the adjacent end of said pin.

14. The intermediate guide member set forth in claim 12, wherein said nut is rectangular in shape and fits snugly between said side walls upon said inturned flanges.

15. The intermediate guide member set forth in claim 12, wherein the engaging portion of said pin is pointed to facilitate insertion thereof into the holes in an associated member.

16. The intermediate guide member set forth in claim 12, wherein the surface of said engaging portion of said pin is knurled to facilitate tightening and loosening thereof manually.