Clip-on divider device for supporting and organizing objects on a shelf
First Claim
1. A shelf divider adapted to mount on a shelf which has an upper surface, a lower surface and an exposed edge surface, said shelf divider operative when in a mounted state to support and organize objects located on the shelf, comprising;
- (a) a web portion adapted to be positioned against the exposed edge surface of said shelf when in the mounted state, said web portion having upper and lower web edges;
(b) a base plate extending from the upper web edge perpendicularly to said web portion and having a bottom surface adapted to rest on the upper surface of said shelf and a top surface opposite said bottom surface;
(c) a clamp arm extending from the lower web edge in opposed relation to said base plate to terminate in a free-end portion, said clamp arm movable between a closed position wherein said free-end portion is proximate to said base plate and an open position wherein said free-end portion is spaced from said base plate, said clamp arm being biased toward said closed position so that, when in the mounted state, said free-end portion bears against the lower surface of said shelf whereby a portion of said shelf is resiliently clamped between said clamp arm and said base plate;
(d) a relatively flat divider panel connected to an located centrally of said base plate, said divider panel extending perpendicularly to said base plate to define a divider plane that is perpendicular to said web portion, said divider panel having opposite side surfaces and a peripheral edge with said side surfaces adapted to be in facing relationship with the objects on the shelf when in the mounted state; and
(e) a first stiffening rib on each of the side surfaces of said divider panel, each said first stiffening rib projecting outwardly from the divider plane and formed integrally with said divider panel, said first stiffening ribs operative to resist deflection of said divider panel when in the mounted state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shelf divider adapted to support and organize objects located on the shelf. The shelf divider includes an upper and a lower web portion adapted to be positioned against the exposed edges surface of the shelf, a base plate extending perpendicularly from the upper web and a clamp arm extending from the lower web in opposed relation to the base plate. The clamp arm is movable between a closed position and an open position. The clamp arm is biased toward the closed position so that, when in the mounted state, the clamps free-end portion bears against the lower surface of the shelf. The base plate has connected to it a relatively flat divider panel. The divider panel is adapted to have sides which are in facing relationship with the objects of the shelf. Further, the divider panel includes stiffening ribs on each side of the divider panel. The stiffening ribs project outwardly from the divider plane to resist deflection of the divider panel when it is mounted on the shelf.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A shelf divider adapted to mount on a shelf which has an upper surface, a lower surface and an exposed edge surface, said shelf divider operative when in a mounted state to support and organize objects located on the shelf, comprising;
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(a) a web portion adapted to be positioned against the exposed edge surface of said shelf when in the mounted state, said web portion having upper and lower web edges; (b) a base plate extending from the upper web edge perpendicularly to said web portion and having a bottom surface adapted to rest on the upper surface of said shelf and a top surface opposite said bottom surface; (c) a clamp arm extending from the lower web edge in opposed relation to said base plate to terminate in a free-end portion, said clamp arm movable between a closed position wherein said free-end portion is proximate to said base plate and an open position wherein said free-end portion is spaced from said base plate, said clamp arm being biased toward said closed position so that, when in the mounted state, said free-end portion bears against the lower surface of said shelf whereby a portion of said shelf is resiliently clamped between said clamp arm and said base plate; (d) a relatively flat divider panel connected to an located centrally of said base plate, said divider panel extending perpendicularly to said base plate to define a divider plane that is perpendicular to said web portion, said divider panel having opposite side surfaces and a peripheral edge with said side surfaces adapted to be in facing relationship with the objects on the shelf when in the mounted state; and (e) a first stiffening rib on each of the side surfaces of said divider panel, each said first stiffening rib projecting outwardly from the divider plane and formed integrally with said divider panel, said first stiffening ribs operative to resist deflection of said divider panel when in the mounted state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A shelf divider adapted to mount on a shelf which has an upper surface, a lower surface and an exposed edge surface, said shelf divider operative when in a mounted state to support and organize objects located on the shelf, comprising;
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(a) a web portion adapted to be positioned against the exposed edge surface of said shelf when in the mounted state, said web portion having upper and lower web edges and a web width along the exposed edge surface in the mounted state; (b) a base plate extending from the upper web edge perpendicularly to said web portion and having a bottom surface adapted to rest on the upper surface of said shelf and a top surface opposite said bottom surface and having a thickness that is tapered as measured between the top and bottom surfaces thereof; (c) a clamp arm extending from the lower web edge in opposed relation to said base plate to terminate in a free-end portion, said clamp arm movable between a closed position wherein said free-end portion is proximate to said base plate and an open position wherein said free-end portion is spaced from said base plate, said clamp arm being biased toward said closed position so that, when in the mounted state, said free-end portion bears against the lower surface of said shelf whereby a portion of said shelf is resiliently clamped between said clamp arm and said base plate, said free-end portion of said clamp arm including lateral wing portion projecting oppositely one another on either side of said divider plane so that said free-end portion has a width that is greater than the web width; (d) a relatively flat divider panel connected to and located centrally of said base plate, said divider panel extending perpendicularly to said base plate to define a divider plane that is perpendicular to said web portion, said divider panel having opposite side surfaces and a peripheral edge with said side surfaces adapted to be in facing relationship with the objects on the shelf when in the mounted state; and (e) a first stiffening rib on each of the side surfaces of said divider panel, each said first stiffening rib projecting outwardly from the divider plane and formed integrally with said divider panel, said first stiffening ribs operative to resist deflection of said divider panel when in the mounted state.
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17. A combination shelf and shelf divider system, comprising:
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a shelf system including a plurality of shelf elements supported relative to a back wall in such a manner that a gap of selected depth is created between an exposed back edge surface of at least some of said shelf elements and said back wall; and a plurality of shelf dividers each having a clip structure including a web portion, a base plate, a clamp arm and a divider panel formed integrally with one another and dimensioned so that each said shelf divider may be manipulated to abut the web portion thereof against the exposed back edge surface of a respective shelf with a marginal portion of said shelf adjacent the back edge surface being clamped between the base plate and clamp arm thereof and with said divider panel extending forwardly of said back edge surface along an upper surface of the shelf.
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Specification