Composite gravity feed shelf

• US 5,577,623 A
• Filed: 11/22/1994
• Issued: 11/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bustos, Rafael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US08/343,222
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 211/187, 211/59.2, 211/153, 211/184, 211/186, 108/180, 108/181
• US Class Current: 211/187
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features for adjusting shelves or partitions shelf units with stackable uprights A47B87/00; details of cabinets, racks or shelf units in general A47B96/00; brackets adjustable in themselves A47B96/07
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/04 with means for adjusting the inclination of the shelves
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 91/00 Feet for furniture in general castors B60B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/02 Shelves movable shelves coupled to doors A47B96/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/04 air-conditioned, refrigerated refrigerators F25D; heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas H05B3/84
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0486 for charging, displaying or discharging the articles
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/103 Display shelving racks with the uprights aligned in only one plane

Abstract

The gravity feed shelf design can be supported in either the cantilever configuration or upon a warehouse-style rack and includes an upper slip surface layer. The shelf design includes dividers which can be selectively positioned on the upper slip surface layer of the shelf to provide for adjustable width channels to arrange the merchandise in a gravity feed configuration upon the shelf. The shelf design includes an open frame configuration which supports a plurality of inverted box-shaped channels coupled together to provide a stable, rigid surface to support the merchandise thereon. A slip surface layer is then positioned atop the channels and open frame for the gravity feed advance of the merchandise on the shelf.

Claims

1. A gravity feed shelf for a display rack providing access to merchandise supported thereon, said shelf comprising:

a rectangular frame having a pair of spaced side members connecting a front member spaced from a back member, said side, front and back members defining an opening therebetween;

a plurality of channels supported on said frame, said channels spanning said opening and cooperating to form a shelf surface;

a ledge on each end of each said channel, said ledge being inserted into one of said frame members; and

a slip surface layer positioned atop said shelf surface for gravity feed advance of the merchandise thereon.

2. The shelf of claim 1 further comprising:

a divider positioned atop said slip surface layer, said divider projecting upwardly from said slip surface layer and extending between said front frame member and said rear frame member to guide the gravity feed advance of the merchandise toward said front frame member.

3. The shelf of claim 2 wherein said divider is selectively attachable and detachable from said slip surface upper layer at a plurality of positions on the shelf.

4. The shelf of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of upwardly projecting spaced ribs on said slip surface layer, said ribs being generally parallel and extending between said front frame member and said rear frame member.

5. The shelf of claim 2 wherein said divider has a generally inverted Y-shaped base, each leg of said inverted Y-shaped base having a lip projecting therefrom, each said leg of said base being inserted between a pair of adjacent spaced ribs projecting upwardly from said slip surface layer, each said lip engaging one of said adjacent ribs.

12. The shelf of claim 1 wherein said channels extend laterally across the shelf.

13. The shelf of claim 1 wherein said frame is supported in a cantilever configuration on a gondola style display rack.

14. The shelf of claim 1 wherein said frame is supported by a front beam and a rear beam of a warehouse style display rack.

15. The shelf of claim 1 further comprising:

a stop at a front edge of the shelf to retain merchandise supported thereon.

16. The shelf of claim 15 wherein said stop comprises a generally inverted U-shaped bumper wire having a pair of downwardly extending legs, each said leg being inserted into a hole in said front frame member.

6. A gravity feed shelf for a display rack providing access to merchandise supported thereon, said shelf comprising:

a rectangular frame having a pair of spaced side members connecting a front member spaced from a back member, said side, front and back members defining an opening therebetween;

a plurality of channels supported on said frame, said channels spanning said opening and cooperating to form a shelf surface;

a slip surface layer positioned atop said shelf surface for gravity feed advance of the merchandise thereon;

a divider positioned atop said slip surface layer, said divider projecting upwardly from said slip surface layer and extending between said front frame member and said rear frame member to guide the gravity feed advance of the merchandise toward said front frame member;

a notch at a front end and a notch at a rear end of said divider; and

a tab projecting from each said front frame member and said rear frame member, said front frame member tab and said rear frame member tab being inserted into said front end notch and said rear end notch, respectively, to attach said divider to the shelf.

7. The shelf of claim 6 wherein said divider has an upwardly directed bowed configuration such that said front and rear ends each bow upwardly relative to a middle portion of said divider, said upwardly bowed configuration enabling said front and rear end notches to engage said front and rear frame member tabs, respectively, and secure said divider to the shelf.

8. The shelf of claim 7 further comprising:

a detent within each said notch, said detent engaging said tab when said divider is attached to said shelf.

9. A gravity feed shelf for display rack providing access to merchandise supported thereon, said shelf comprising:

a rectangular frame having a pair of spaced side members connecting a front member spaced from a back member, said side, front and back members defining an opening therebetween;

a plurality of channels supported on said frame, said channels spanning said opening and cooperating to form a shelf surface; and

a slip surface layer positioned atop said shelf surface for gravity feed advance of the merchandise thereon;

wherein each said channel has a generally inverted box shaped configuration with a pair of spaced sidewalls projecting downwardly from a top wall, said top walls of said channels cooperating to form said shelf surface.

10. The shelf of claim 9 wherein each said channel is coupled to an adjacent said channel.

11. The shelf of claim 10 further comprising:

an upwardly projecting hook extending from a bottom edge of one of said sidewalls of each said channel, one of said sidewalls of said adjacent channel being nested within said hook to thereby couple said adjacent channels.

17. A display rack comprising:

a plurality of generally upright posts having a top end and, a bottom end;

a base attached to said bottom end of each said post for bracing said post in a generally vertical orientation, said post and said base forming a frame section, each said frame section being joined to an adjacent said frame section by a connector;

at least one shelf being supported in a generally cantilever manner between an adjacent pair of said posts;

said shelf further comprising;

a rectangular frame having a pair of spaced side members connecting a front member spaced from a back member, said side, front and back members defining an opening therebetween;

a plurality of channels supported on said frame, said channels spanning said opening and cooperating to form a shelf surface;

a ledge on each end of each said channel, said ledge being inserted into one of said frame members; and

a slip surface layer positioned atop said shelf surface for gravity feed advance of the merchandise thereon.

18. The display rack of claim 17 further comprising:

a divider positioned atop said slip surface layer, said divider projecting upwardly from said slip surface layer and extending between said front frame member and said rear frame member to guide the gravity feed advance of the merchandise toward said front frame member.

19. The display rack of claim 18 wherein said divider is selectively attachable and detachable from said slip surface upper layer at a plurality of positions on the shelf.

20. The display rack of claim 17 further comprising:

a plurality of upwardly projecting spaced ribs on said slip surface layer, said ribs being generally parallel and extending between said front frame member and said rear frame member.

21. The display rack of claim 18 wherein said divider has a generally inverted Y-shaped base, each leg of said inverted Y-shaped base having a lip projecting therefrom, each said leg of said base being inserted between a pair of adjacent spaced ribs projecting upwardly from said slip surface layer, each said lip engaging one of said adjacent ribs.

25. The display rack of claim 17 wherein said channels extend laterally across the shelf.

22. A display rack comprising:

a plurality of generally upright posts having a top end and, a bottom end;

a base attached to said bottom end of each said post for bracing said post in a generally vertical orientation, said post and said base forming a frame section, each said frame section being joined to an adjacent said frame section by a connector;

at least one shelf being supported in a generally cantilever manner between an adjacent pair of said posts;

said shelf further comprising;

a rectangular frame having a pair of spaced side members connecting a front member spaced from a back member, said side, front and back members defining an opening therebetween;

a plurality of channels supported on said frame, said channels spanning said opening and cooperating to form shelf surface; and

a slip surface layer positioned to said shelf surface for gravity feed advance of the merchandise thereon;

wherein each said channel has a generally inverted box shaped configuration with a pair of spaced sidewalls projecting downwardly from a top wall, said top walls of said channels cooperating to form said shelf surface.

23. A display rack comprising:

a plurality of generally upright posts having a top end and, a bottom end;

a base attached to said bottom end of each said post for bracing said post in a generally vertical orientation, said post and said base forming a frame section, each said frame section being joined to an adjacent said frame section by a connector;

at least one shelf being supported in a generally cantilever manner between an adjacent pair of said posts;

said shelf further comprising;

a rectangular frame having a pair of spaced side members connecting a front member spaced from a back member, said side, front and back members defining an opening therebetween;

a plurality of channels supported on said frame, said channels spanning said opening and cooperating to form a shelf surface; and

a slip surface layer positioned atop said shelf surface for gravity feed advance of the merchandise thereon;

wherein each said channel is coupled to an adjacent said channel.

24. The display rack of claim 23 further comprising:

an upwardly projecting hook extending from a bottom edge of one of said sidewalls of each said channel, one of said sidewalls of said adjacent channel being nested within said hook to thereby couple said adjacent channels.

33. The display rack of claim 23 further comprising:

an upwardly projecting hook extending from a bottom edge of one of said sidewalls of each said channel, one of said sidewalls of said adjacent channel being nested within said hook to thereby couple said adjacent channels.

26. A display rack comprising:

a pair of front posts;

a pair of back posts;

a front beam connecting said front posts;

a back beam connecting said back posts;

at least one shelf being supported in a gravity feed configuration by said front and back beams such that a front edge of said shelf is lower than a back edge of said shelf;

said shelf further comprising;

a rectangular frame having a pair of spaced side members connecting a front member spaced from a back member, said side, front and back members defining an opening therebetween;

a plurality of channels supported on said frame, said channels spanning said opening and cooperating to form a shelf surface; and

a slip surface layer positioned atop said shelf surface for gravity feed advance of the merchandise thereon.

27. The display rack of claim 26 further comprising:

a divider positioned atop said slip surface layer, said divider projecting upwardly from said slip surface layer and extending between said front frame member and said rear frame member to guide the gravity feed advance of the merchandise toward said front frame member.

28. The display rack of claim 27 wherein said divider is selectively attachable and detachable from said slip surface upper layer at a plurality of positions on the shelf.

29. The display rack of claim 26 further comprising:

a plurality of upwardly projecting spaced ribs on said slip surface layer, said ribs being generally parallel and extending between said front frame member and said rear frame member.

30. The display rack of claim 27 wherein said divider has a generally inverted Y-shaped base, each leg of said inverted Y-shaped base having a lip projecting therefrom, each said leg of said base being inserted between a pair of adjacent spaced ribs projecting upwardly from said slip surface layer, each said lip engaging one of said adjacent ribs.

31. The display rack of claim 26 wherein each said channel has a generally inverted box shaped configuration with a pair of spaced sidewalls projecting downwardly from a top wall, said top walls of said channels cooperating to form said shelf surface.

32. The display rack of claim 26 wherein each said channel is coupled to an adjacent said channel.

34. The display rack of claim 26 further comprising:

a ledge on each end of each said channel, said ledge being inserted into one of said frame members.

35. The display rack of claim 26 wherein said channels extend laterally across the shelf.

36. A gravity feed shelf for a display rack providing access to merchandise supported thereon, said shelf comprising:

a frame having a pair of spaced side members connecting a front member spaced from a back member, said side, front and back members defining an opening;

a plurality of channels supported on said frame, said channels spanning said opening and cooperating to form a shelf surface, each said channel having a generally inverted box shaped configuration with a pair of spaced sidewalls projecting downwardly from a top wall, said top walls of said channels cooperating to form said shelf surface, an upwardly projecting hook extending from a bottom edge of one of said sidewalls of each said channel, one of said sidewalls of said adjacent channel being nested within said hook to thereby couple said adjacent channels;

a slip surface layer positioned atop said shelf surface for gravity feed advance of the merchandise thereon; and

a plurality of upwardly projecting spaced ribs on said slip surface layer, said ribs being generally parallel and extending between said front frame member and said rear frame member.

37. The shelf of claim 36 further comprising:

a divider positioned atop said slip surface layer, said divider projecting upwardly from said slip surface layer and extending between said front frame member and said rear frame member to guide the gravity feed advance of the merchandise toward said front frame member.

38. The shelf of claim 37 wherein said divider is selectively attachable and detachable from said slip surface layer at a plurality of positions on the shelf.

39. The shelf of claim 37 wherein said divider has a generally inverted Y-shaped base, each leg of said inverted Y-shaped base having a lip projecting therefrom, each said leg of said base being inserted between a pair of adjacent spaced ribs projecting upwardly from said slip surface layer, each said lip engaging one of said adjacent ribs.

40. The shelf of claim 36 further comprising:

a ledge on each end of each said channel, said ledge being inserted into one of said frame members.

41. The shelf of claim 36 wherein said channels extend laterally across the shelf.