Adjustable shelving unit

• US 4,478,337 A
• Filed: 06/29/1982
• Issued: 10/23/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul Flum Ideas, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Paul Flum Ideas, Inc.
• Inventors: Flum, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Britts, Ramon S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson, Blair
• Application Number:
  US06/393,462
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 211/49 D, 211/153, 211/128, 211/72, 211/126, 206/561, 206/564, 206/562, 206/563, 220/8, 248/221.2, 108/65, 108/64, 108/114
• US Class Current: 211/59.2
• 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 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence

Abstract

A two-piece telescoping shelf adaptor construction adaptable to be supported on a shelf structure in a flat or inclined position and adjustable to accommodate varying shelf depths comprising first and second members each being formed having a similar number of spaced parallel adjacent guide channels extending thereacross, the first member having a front wall extending across the front edge thereof and the second member having a rear wall extending across the rear edge thereof, the guide channels each including a floor portion and spaced upstanding wall portions extending across the first and second members to form separators between the adjacent channels, the upstanding wall portions on the second member having cross-sectional shapes and being spaced to slidably receive and telescopingly cooperate with the upstanding wall portions on the first member whereby the first and second members can be moved relative to each other in order to achieve a desired length between the front wall of the first member and the rear wall of the second member, and at least one track member positioned in and extending along each of the channels in each of the first and second members to engage and support products positioned thereon, the floor portion associated with each of the adjacent guide channels also including a plurality of apertures located adjacent to the respective track members positioned therein for enabling air to pass therethrough for circulation around the rows of products positioned in each of the guide channels. These constructions can include self-lubricating tracks and can be used by inclining existing shelves to effect gravity feeding of products of various types, sizes and shapes.

Claims

1. An adjustable shelving unit for merchandising products arranged in rows, said unit being adapted to be positioned on a sloping surface to serve as a gravity feed product dispensing system comprising first and second relatively movable members each being formed having a similar number of spaced parallel adjacent channels extending thereacross in one direction and each having end wall means formed extending across one end thereof to form an end wall for the channels thereon, said channels including bottom wall portions and spaced upstanding side wall portions extending across said first and second members to form separators between the adjacent channels, the upstanding side wall portions on said second member having cross-sectional shapes adaptable for slidably receiving and engaging the upstanding side wall portions on said first member to enable said first and second members to be arranged in telescoping relationship with each other, said plurality of adjacent channels associated with said first member being in alignment with said plurality of adjacent channels associated with said second member when said members are engaged to form continuations thereof whereby said first and second members can be moved relative to each other to achieve a desired length for said channels, at least one product supporting track member positioned in and extending along the channels in each of said first and second members to engage and support products positioned thereon, the product supporting track members on said second member extending beyond one end of the channels formed therein to overlap portions of the respective product supporting track members on said first member.

2. The adjustable shelving unit defined in claim 1 wherein said product supporting track members are narrower than the bottom wall portions of said channels and are located therewithin such that uncovered bottom wall spaces extend along both opposite sides thereof adjacent said upstanding side wall portions, said shelving unit including openings formed through the bottom wall portions of said channels in said first and second members, said openings being positioned in said uncovered bottom wall spaces extending along and between the product supporting track members and the adjacent upstanding side wall portions.

3. The adjustable shelving unit defined in claim 1 wherein said end wall means associated with the first member includes a plurality of inverted arches uniformly disposed thereacross, one of said plurality of inverted arches being positioned respectively adjacent to one end of each of the channels formed within said first member, each of said inverted arches having a surface associated therewith to engage a product moved thereagainst.

4. The adjustable shelving unit defined in claim 1 including at least two track members positioned in and extending along each of the channels in said first and second members.

5. The adjustable shelving unit defined in claim 1 wherein said track members are integrally formed with the channels of said first and second members.

6. A product display and merchandising device adaptable to be supported on a support structure comprising a first member having front and rear edges and a floor portion extending therebetween, said floor portion being defined by a plurality of spaced channel portions and a plurality of upstanding wall portions positioned therebetween, a second member having front and rear edges and a floor portion extending therebetween, the floor portion of said second member being defined by a similar plurality of spaced channel portions and a similar plurality of upstanding wall portions positioned therebetween, a front wall portion extending substantially across the front edge of said first member, a rear wall portion extending substantially across the rear edge of said second member, the upstanding wall portions of said second member having cross-sectional shapes adaptable to slidably receive and telescopingly cooperate with the upstanding wall portions of said first member, said plurality of spaced channel portions associated respectively with said first and second members being in alignment with each other when said members are telescopingly engaged to form continuations thereof whereby said first and second members can be moved relative to each other to achieve a desired length between said front and rear wall portions, track means positioned in and extending along the channel portions in each of said first and second members to engage and support products positioned thereon, said track means being dimensioned such that uncovered floor spaces extend along opposite sides thereof adjacent said upstanding wall portions, the track means associated with said second member extending beyond the front edge thereof to overlap the track means associated with said first member, and means formed in the floor portions of said first and second members for enabling air to pass therethrough for circulation around rows of products positioned thereon.

7. The product display and merchandising device defined in claim 6 wherein said means formed in the floor portions of said first and second members include a plurality of apertures positioned within each of said channel portions, said apertures being positioned in the uncovered floor spaces extending along and between the opposite sides of said track means and the adjacent upstanding wall portions.

8. The product display and merchandising device defined in claim 6 wherein each of said track means includes an elongated member having a substantially flat base portion with a plurality of longitudinal runners extending outwardly from one side thereof, said runners extending in parallel relation in position to support and guide the movement of products positioned thereon.

9. The product display and merchandising device defined in claim 8 wherein said plurality of runners are formed of a material comprised of a mixture of a plastic substance and a lubricant material.

10. The product display and merchandising device defined in claim 9 wherein said runners are formed from a mixture of materials including an impact polystyrene and a silicone resin material, the silicone resin being present in a range from about 0.5% to 5% by weight.

11. The product display and merchandising device of claim 6 wherein the support structure is oriented at an angle between about 3°

to about 11°

relative to the horizontal so that products positioned on the display and merchandising device will slide by gravity toward the front wall portion thereof.

12. A product display merchandising device adaptable to be supported on a support structure comprising a first member having front and rear edges and a floor portion extending therebetween, said floor portion being defined by a plurality of spaced channel portions and a plurality of wall dividers positioned therebetween extending between the front and rear edges, a second member having front and rear edges and a floor portion extending therebetween, the floor portion of said second member being defined by a similar plurality of spaced channel portions and a similar plurality of wall dividers positioned therebetween extending between the front and rear edges, means forming a first abutment surface extending substantially across the front edge of said first member, a second abutment surface extending substantially across the rear edge of said second member, the wall dividers of said first member having cross-sectional shapes adaptable to slidably receive and cooperate with the wall dividers of said second member to form adjustable length continuous channel portions extending between the rear abutment surface of said second member and the front abutment surface of said first member, said plurality of spaced channel portions associated respectively with said first and second members being in alignment with each other when said members are in cooperation with each other to form continuations thereof whereby said first and second members can be moved relative to each other to achieve a desired overall length for said spaced channel portions, track means positioned in and extending along the channel portions in each of said first and second members to engage and support products positioned thereon, said track means being narrower than said channel portions such that elongated spaced parallel floor portions are formed between both opposite sides of the track means in each channel portion and the adjacent wall dividers, and a plurality of apertures formed within each of said channel portions for enabling air to pass therethrough for circulation around products positioned thereon, said apertures being positioned in the spaced parallel floor portions along and between said track means and said adjacent wall dividers.

13. An adjustable shelving unit adaptable to be supported on a load carrying shelf having spaced front and rear edges and spaced side edges, said load carrying shelf to be adjustable to be in an inclined position supported by a plurality of vertical support members located adjacent to the front and rear edges thereof, said shelving unit comprising first and second members each being formed having a similar number of spaced parallel adjacent guide channels extending thereacross, front wall means forming an abutment surface extending across the front edge of said first member to stop the forward movement of products positioned thereon and rear wall means extending across the rear edge of said second member, said guide channels including bottom wall portions and spaced upstanding wall portions extending across said first and second members to form separators between said adjacent channels, the upstanding wall portions on said second member having cross-sectional shapes adaptable to slidably receive and telescopingly engage the upstanding wall portions on said first member, said plurality of guide channels associated respectively with said first and second members being in alignment with each other when said members are telescopingly engaged to form continuations thereof whereby said first and second members can be moved relative to each other to achieve a desired length for said guide channels, at least one track member positioned in and extending along each of said guide channels in each of said first and second members to engage and support products positioned thereon, said track members being narrower than said guide channels and being located therewithin such that uncovered bottom wall spaces are formed between the opposite sides of said track members and the adjacent upstanding wall portions, the track members on said second member extending beyond the front edge thereof to top the track members on said first member, opening means formed in the bottom wall portions of said guide channels outwardly of said track members in the spaces extending along and between the opposite sides of said track members and the adjacent upstanding wall portions to enable air to circulate therethrough and around products positioned therein, the vertical support members positioned adjacent to the rear edge of said load carrying shelf each including an elongated member having a plurality of vertically spaced attachment means formed therein, and means for attaching the load carrying shelf adjacent the rear edge thereof to the vertical support members, each of said means including an elongated formed wire member having a first loop portion engagable with the load carrying shelf adjacent the rear edge thereof and a second loop portion angularly related to the first loop portion engagable with a selected one of the vertically spaced attachment means on one of said vertical support members.

14. The adjustable shelving unit defined in claim 13 including a pair of hanger members hingedly attached to said load carrying shelf adjacent to opposite ends of the rear edge thereof, each of said hanger members having an opening therethrough adaptable to receive the first loop portion of respective ones of said elongated formed wire members.

15. A two-piece telescoping shelf construction for supporting products in parallel rows comprising a first member having front and rear edges and a floor portion extending therebetween, said floor portion being defined by a plurality of spaced channel portions and a plurality of wall dividers positioned therebetween, a second member having front and rear edges and a floor portion extending therebetween, the floor portion of said second member being defined by a similar plurality of spaced channel portions and a similar plurality of wall dividers positioned therebetween, front wall means extending substantially across the front edge of said first member and rear wall means extending substantially across the rear edge of said second member, the wall dividers of said first member having cross-sectional shapes adaptable to slidably receive and telescopingly cooperate with the wall dividers of said second member to form adjustable length continous channel portions extending between the rear wall means of said second member and the front wall means of said first member, said plurality of spaced channel portions associated respectively with said first and second members being in alignment with each other when said members are placed in cooperation with each other to form continuations thereof whereby said first and second members can be moved relative to each other to achieve a desired overall length for said spaced channel portions between the front wall means of the first member and the rear wall means of the second member, elevated product supporting track means including a central track portion positioned in and extending along the channel portions in each of said first and second members to engage and support products positioned thereon, said central track portion being narrower than said channel portions and being located within said channel portions such that elongated spaced parallel floor portions are formed therealong on opposite sides of the central track portion in each channel portion between the opposite sides thereof and the adjacent wall dividers, and a plurality of apertures formed within each of said channel portions for enabling air to pass therethrough for circulation around rows of products positioned therewithin, said apertures being positioned in the elongated spaced floor portions.

16. The shelf construction defined in claim 15 wherein said track means are integrally formed with said channel portions.

17. An adjustable shelving unit for merchandising products arranged in rows comprising first and second members each having spaced opposed front and rear edges, spaced opposed side edges, and a floor portion extending therebetween, a plurality of upstanding wall portions extending between the front and rear edges of said first and second members at spaced locations thereacross dividing said members into a similar plurality of product supporting channels extending thereacross, front wall means extending substantially across the front edge of said first member and rear wall means extending substantially across the rear edge of said second member, the upstanding wall portions on said second member having cross-sectional shapes adaptable to slidably receive and telescopingly cooperate with the upstanding wall portions on said first member, said plurality of product supporting channels associated with said first member being in alignment with said plurality of product supporting channels associated with said second member when said members are placed in cooperation with each other to form continuations thereof whereby said first and second members can be moved relative to each other to enable adjusting the overall length of said product supporting channels between the front wall means on said first member and the rear wall means on said second member to accommodate varying shelf depths, a pair of elongated runners positioned respectively in and extending along each of the product supporting channels in said first and second members, each of said pairs of elongated runners being located within said product supporting channels such that spaced elongated exposed floor areas are formed in each channel along opposite sides of the runners therein and between said runners, and a plurality of aperatures formed in each of the product supporting channels for enabling air to pass therethrough for circulation around products positioned therein, said apertures being positioned in the elongated exposed floor area formed between each pair of elongated runners.

18. The adjustable shelving unit defined in claim 17 wherein additional apertures are positioned in the spaced elongated exposed floor areas extending respectively along said elongated runners adjacent said upstanding wall portions.

19. The adjustable shelving unit defined in claim 17 wherein the front wall means associated with said first member includes a plurality of inverted arches uniformly disposed thereacross, one of said plurality of inverted arches being positioned respectively adjacent to one end of each of said product supporting channels formed within said first member, each of said inverted arches having a surface associated therewith to engage a product moved thereagainst.