Shelf tray system

• US 6,227,385 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1999
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Retail Space Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: DCI Marketing Inc (IMI PLC)
• Inventors: Nickerson, Terry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, Erica B.
• Application Number:
  US09/454,784
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.3, 211/59.2, 211/175, 211/184, 108/61
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means

Abstract

A self-facing, add-on shelf system is made up of universal base, divider, front, and rear sections. Universal in the sense that these sections form basic building sections for constructing shelf systems of various sizes and operational mode. The front and rear track sections are identical and can be combined with various combinations of bases, dividers and end sections to provide systems of different, desired widths. The depth of the self-facing shelf is generally set by the depth of the shelf with which it is to be used. The individual sections can be selected and combined to provide center pusher, side pusher, and gravity feed types of self facing systems. The bases, dividers and end sections are configured such that they can be extruded and interlock in assembly.

Claims

1. A shelf unit comprising, in combination,

a front track section having a planar, generally vertical panel and a generally horizontal panel attached to and extending from said vertical panel, said front vertical and horizontal panels being elongated and linear along their respective extensions,

a rear track section having a generally vertical panel and a generally horizontal panel attached to and extending from said vertical panel, said rear vertical and horizontal panels being elongated and linear along their respective extensions,

said front and rear vertical panels being generally parallel and said front and rear horizontal panels being generally co-planar,

a divider section having a generally vertical panel positioned between and arranged generally perpendicular to said front and rear vertical panels,

means on said divider section defining a generally horizontal product support surface extending generally coextensive with said divider section vertical panel,

said divider section vertical panel and said product support surface extruded to be elongated and linear along their respective extensions, and

releasable interlocking means including an elongated rib and mating slot arrangement comprising an elongated, linear rib located on each of said front and said rear horizontal panels and a pair of spaced slots located on said divider section so that when said ribs are engaged in said slots said front and rear panels are held in relatively spaced relation a distance corresponding to the length of said divider section.

2. The shelf unit of claim 1 including

a front horizontal lip on and extending from said front vertical panel toward rear vertical panel,

a rear horizontal lip on and extending from said rear vertical panel toward front vertical panel, and

said front and rear horizontal lips each being disposed in overlying relation with a portion of said product support surface to hold said divider section against vertical movement relative to said front and rear panels.

3. The shelf unit of claim 2 including

two of said divider sections relatively spaced in the direction of the longitudinal extension of said front and rear panels, and

wherein said product support surfaces of each extend toward each other for support product therebetween and behind said front panel.

4. The shelf unit of claim 3 wherein said front vertical panel includes two sections arranged one above the other, and

wherein the uppermost of said two sections is made of a clear, transparent material.

5. The shelf unit of claim 4 including a plurality of relatively spaced, elongated, pointed ribs on and, extending the length of the product support surfaces, said ribs being generally parallel to the longitudinal extension of said divider sections for engagement with product supported on said product support surfaces.

6. The shelf unit of claim 5 including elongated, ribs on the horizontal panels of said front and rear sections, said ribs extending generally parallel to the longitudinal extension of said front and rear sections and engaging said divider sections.

7. The shelf unit of claim 6 wherein said front and rear track sections are extruded members and said ribs on said horizontal panels thereof are extruded with said front and rear sections and are of a different material than the front and rear sections.

8. The shelf unit of claim 2 including

two of said divider sections relatively spaced in the direction of the elongation of said front and rear tracks, said front and rear track sections extending between spaced divider sections,

an elongated, linear pusher track positioned between said front and rear track sections and said divider sections, said pusher track including means defining elongated, linear ledges and an elongated recess between and defined by said ledges, said linear ledges and said recess extending between said front and rear track sections,

a pusher assembly engaged in and movable relative to recess and said pusher track, said pusher assembly including a base engaged in said recess, a generally planar panel connected to and above said base, and a spring connected between the end of said pusher track adjacent said front track section and said pusher assembly panel and biasing said pusher assembly panel and said base toward said front track section and movable against said bias toward said rear track section, and

wherein said elongated, linear edges of said pusher are generally co-planar with the horizontal surfaces of said divider sections so that product can be supported thereon.

9. The shelf unit of claim 8 wherein said pusher track includes a pair of generally aligned slots located adjacent the opposite ends of the pusher track and wherein said pusher track slots are engaged with said front and rear track ribs.

10. The shelf unit of claim 8 wherein said elongated, linear ledges include opposite ends and said opposite ends are positioned with said lips on said vertical panels of said front and rear tracks overlying said opposite ends of said elongated, linear ledges.

11. The shelf unit of claim 1 including

two of said divider sections relatively spaced in the direction of the elongation of said front and rear tracks, said front and rear track sections extending between spaced divider sections,

an elongated, linear pusher track provided on the vertical panel of one of said divider sections, said pusher track including means defining an elongated, linear slot on and extending the length of said divider section to which it is attached,

a pusher assembly engaged in and movable relative to divider section slot, said pusher assembly including a base engaged in said slot, a generally planar panel connected to and extending laterally from said base and said divider to which it is attached, and a spring connected between the end of said divider section adjacent said front track section and said generally planar pusher panel and biasing said pusher assembly planar panel and said base toward said front track section and movable against said bias toward said rear track section.

12. The shelf unit of claim 1, wherein said vertical panel of said divider section defines a slot extending along said extension of said divider, said shelf unit further comprising a pusher having a portion received in said slot for sliding along said extension of said divider, said pusher adapted to engage product on said shelf unit and slide the product along said product support surface.

13. The shelf unit of claim 12, wherein said slot is substantially T-shaped and wherein said portion of said pusher is substantially T-shaped to compliment the shape of said slot.

14. The shelf unit of claim 12, wherein said slot is defined by a back wall that is substantially parallel to and non-coplanar with the rest of said vertical panel of said divider section, and is further defined by a pair of generally L-shaped members having a first leg extending substantially perpendicular to said vertical panel of said divider section and a second leg extending substantially parallel to said vertical panel of said divider section, said second legs of said L-shaped members extending toward one another but terminating in spaced relationship to define an opening to said slot, said portion of said pusher extending through said opening to said slot.

15. The shelf unit of claim 12, farther comprising a spring biasing said pusher toward said front track section.

16. The shelf unit of claim 15, further comprising a channel defined by said pusher, said spring being at least partially housed within said channel.

17. The shelf unit of claim 15, wherein said spring is a coil spring having a U-shaped free end interconnected with a front edge of said divider.