Adjustable shelf divider

• US 5,803,276 A
• Filed: 05/27/1997
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vogler, Michael N.
• Original Assignee: Vogler, Michael N.
• Inventors: Vogler, Michael N.
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, BLAIR M
• Application Number:
  US08/863,131
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 108/60, 108/61, 211/184, 211/175
• US Class Current: 211/184
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/586 with connection means movable by sliding on the outside of a rail
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/005 Partitions therefore horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90

Abstract

The present invention is a shelf divider for separating groups of products arranged on display shelves or the like and takes the form of a relatively thin vertical panel or partition which is self-maintained in upstanding condition on the shelf surface by laterally extending stabilizing feet adjacent each end and is preferably molded from tough, durable plastic. The partition is made of two (or more) co-planar sections interconnected in adjacent abutting pairs by at least one telescoping longitudinally extending mating elongated U-shaped tongue and slot connection permitting lengthwise adjustment of the sections to fit different shelving widths. The tongue and slot are held against lateral disengagement by shaping their proximate upper and lower edges as V-shaped (in cross-section) protrusions and grooves which mate together while permitting relative longitudinal movement of the sections. Free ends of the slotted section legs are fixed against vertical separation by small vertical straps attached at their ends to opposite sides of the slot legs and defining therebetween a vertically directed narrow channel slidably penetrated by the tongue of another section.

Claims

1. An adjustable shelf divider comprising at least two elongated panel sections arranged in co-planar relation to form together a partition for separating groups of products displayed on a generally horizontal shelf surface, said panel sections being connected together by an elongated longitudinal telescoping tongue and slot connection between adjacent ends of said panel sections, said tongue projecting from one section and the slot being formed in the other section, to permit the sections to be extended lengthwise apart to accommodate to different shelf widths while remaining connected together in said co-planar relation, said tongue and slot having pairs of upper and lower edge surfaces in close proximity, each said pair of edge surfaces being shaped with a groove and protrusion for mating lengthwise slidable engagement for retaining said tongue in said slot, and a stabilizing foot adjacent an outer end of each said panel section and extending laterally on opposite sides of such section for contact with said shelf surface to maintain the connected together sections in upright generally vertical condition on said shelf surface, wherein the slot of said tongue and slot connection is defined between two generally parallel vertically spaced apart longitudinal legs extending along an end portion of one section and on each of the opposite sides of said leas a reinforcing strap is affixed at its ends to corresponding sides of said two legs adjacent free ends thereof to thereby bridge between the spaced apart legs, the two straps preventing said legs from moving vertically out of parallel relation while defining therebetween a narrow vertical channel for reception of the tongue of the other section.

2. A shelf divider as in claim 1 wherein each said foot is generally in the shape of a triangle affixed to a lower outer corner of each divider section, the base of said triangle being disposed for supporting contact wits said shelf surface.

3. A shelf divider as in claim 2, wherein said triangle is a substantially isosceles triangle bisected by the divider section to which it is affixed.

4. A shelf divider as in claim 1 in combination with a cooperating elongated track arranged adjacent an outer end of at least one section of the divider in perpendicular relation to the divider length and having a generally flat base for resting contact on said shelf surface and an elongated rail upstanding from said base, and wherein the stabilizing foot adjacent said outer end is bifurcated in the length direction of the divider to define an inverted substantially U-shaped recess for releasable clamping engagement with said rail permitting bodily sliding movement of the divider along the length of the track to change the location thereof lengthwise of the shelf.

5. A shelf divider-track combination as in claim 4 wherein said rail is of generally T-shape with lateral flanges and the bifurcations of said foot have adjacent their lower ends mutually opposed notches for clamping engagement with the rail flanges.

6. A shelf divider-track combination as in claim 4 wherein the base of said track is extended laterally of the track length beyond the outer end limit of the divider section when engaged on the rail of the track and means are on the extended base for receiving a descriptive sign or the like.

7. A shelf divider as in claim 1 wherein said other section is provided with shoulders extending angularly above and below said tongue at the base thereof for abutting contact with the free ends of said legs on said one section and said tongue has a free end which makes abutting contact with an inner end of said slot when said tongue and slot connection is in fully telescoped condition.

8. A shelf divider as in claim 6 wherein said sign-receiving means extends generally at an angle to the plane of the divider.