Shelf organizer

• US 4,460,096 A
• Filed: 09/04/1981
• Issued: 07/17/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bristol Myers Co (Bristol-Myers Squibb Company)
• Original Assignee: Bristol Myers Co (Bristol-Myers Squibb Company)
• Inventors: Ricci, Albert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lyddane, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aschenbrenner, Peter A.
• Application Number:
  US06/299,449
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 211/184, 211/183, 211/11, 211/49 R, 211/153, 206/558, 206/561, 220/22.3
• US Class Current: 211/184
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 45/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features enabling enlarging in height, length, or depth sectional furniture A47B87/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/005 Partitions therefore horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90

Abstract

A variable shelf organizer adapted to being assembled to provide shelf organizers of various sizes. The elements are constructed so that portions of them may be cut or broken away to adjust the length and/or width thereof and so that the parts interlock to give product troughs of various lengths and widths.

Claims

1. A variable shelf organizer adapted to being assembled to give shelf organizers of different overall horizontal dimensions as well as product troughs of various lengths comprising:

(a) at least one regular organizer unit having front and rear ends and at least one end strip having front and rear ends;

(b) said regular organizer unit comprising a longitudinally extending product supporting member provided with a first barrier member extending upwardly from said product supporting member adjacent a lateral margin thereof, said product supporting member also being provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves any one of which is adapted to engage a barrier member of a similar adjacent organizer unit, said barrier member being provided with means for engaging any one of the longitudinal grooves in said product supporting member whereby the product supporting troughs of variable widths may be formed;

(c) said product supporting member also being provided toward its rear end with a plurality of horizontally extending spaced grooves, said horizontally spaced grooves being adapted to be cut or broken along their extensions whereby the length of said product supporting member may be varied; and

(d) said end strip being provided with a horizontal member adapted to engage an adjacent organizer unit and an upwardly extending member adapted to serve as the guard rail marking lateral termination of the shelf organizer;

said guard rail also being provided near its rear end with horizontally extending spaced notches which correspond to the horizontally extending grooves of said product supporting member;

said notches being adapted to be cut or broken to adjust the length of said guard rail.

2. A shelf organizer according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said regular organizer units is provided with a front extension having removable stop means whereby the position of the front end of said shelf organizer may be adjusted to extend beyond the front end of a shelf or to be flush with the front end of said shelf.

3. A shelf organizer according to claim 2 in which said front extension is provided with means for supporting an information label.

4. A shelf organizer according to claim 2 in which at least one of said regular organizer units and end strip is provided with an adhesive area over a portion of the undersurface thereof.

5. A shelf organizer according to claim 4 in which each adhesive area is covered over by a protective removable element.

6. A variable shelf organizer according to claim 1 in which said horizontally extending grooves are provided with weakened portions to facilitate the breaking along the extent of said horizontally extending grooves.

7. A variable shelf organizer according to claim 1 comprising at least two organizer units in one of which said longitudinally extending grooves and said horizontally extending grooves are provided with weakened portions to facilitate the breaking along the extent of said longitudinally and horizontally extending grooves.