Shelf organizing system

• US 6,299,004 B1
• Filed: 12/10/1999
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trion Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Trion Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Nagel, Thomas O., Thalenfeld, David R., Wildrick, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US09/459,057
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59-- 5, 211/51, 211/184, 211/90.01, 108/60-61, 406/420.2, 406/49, 406/51, 406/53, 406/57--58, 406/47--48, 406/68--69
• US Class Current: 211/184
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/005 Partitions therefore horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90

Abstract

A shelf organizing system for dividing flat merchandise display shelving. An extruded front rail member typically of generally L-shaped configuration is secured to the front of a shelf, providing a vertical barrier wall. A retention channel, preferably including one or more resilient retention flanges, is formed integrally with the front rail member. Divider elements, extruded in continuous lengths and cut to desired length for particular shelf width, are formed with a vertical flange and a horizontal stabilizing flange. The stabilizing flange is insertable in the retention channel, at any point along its length, and is tightly gripped therein to hold the divider element in any desired position. The divider element may be easily installed by pressing laterally into contact with merchandise to be segregated, and then moving the divider into the retention channel. Divider elements may also be formed advantageously of wire instead of plastic. The system facilitates maintenance of neat shelf displays, which has been proven to increase sales.

Claims

1. A shelf organizing system for use in combination with generally flat merchandise display shelving having a top surface and a front edge region, which comprises,

(a) a front rail member, extruded from relatively rigid plastic material, fixed to the top surface of the display shelving and extending longitudinally along the front edge region thereof to provide a barrier against outward movement of merchandise from said shelving,

(b) said front rail member having an upwardly extending confining wall adjacent said front edge region and a generally horizontal base wall joined to a lower portion of said front rail member and extending rearwardly over and being supported by said shelving top surface,

(c) a first channel-forming wall integral with said front rail member and extending in spaced parallel relation to a second channel-forming wall formed by one of said confining wall or base wall and defining therewith a narrow open-sided longitudinally extending retention channel for engagement of a lateral divider element,

(d) a lateral divider element, separate from said front rail member and having an engagement portion insertable into said open-sided retention channel in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said front rail member,

(e) said engagement portion being of a size and shape to be firmly gripped in said retention channel,

(f) one of said engagement portion and retention channel being formed with integrally co-extruded gripping elements of resilient material for frictional gripping engagement of the said divider element with said front rail member, and

(g) said lateral divider element being formed to a desired length suitable for front-to-back dimensions of said shelving.

2. A shelf organizing system according to claim 1, wherein

(a) said first channel-forming wall extends parallel to and is spaced above said base wall,

(b) said first channel-forming wall and said base wall defining a horizontally disposed, rearwardly opening retention channel, and

(c) said lateral divider element having a flat, horizontally disposed, forwardly extending engagement portion received in and gripped on top and bottom surfaces thereof by said retention channel.

3. A shelf organizing system according to claim 2, wherein

(a) said lateral divider element comprises an extruded section of relatively rigid plastic material configured to form a generally horizontal stabilizing flange supported by said shelving top surface and a generally vertically extending dividing wall integral with said stabilizing flange, and

(b) a forward portion of said stabilizing flange forms said engagement portion and extends into and is gripped by a portion of said open-sided retention channel.

4. A shelf organizing system according to claim 3, wherein said vertically extending dividing wall is formed with a forwardly opening notch at a forward end thereof, above said engagement portion for the reception of said first channel-forming wall.

5. A shelf organizing system according to claim 4, wherein said vertical dividing wall is formed with a rearwardly opening recess at a rearward end thereof, to accommodate assembly of either end of said lateral divider element with said front rail member.

6. A shelf organizing system according to claim 1, wherein

(a) at least one gripping and retaining flange is co-extruded of flexible plastic material, integral with one of said channel-forming walls, and extends toward the other of the channel forming walls, and

(b) said gripping and retaining flange is resiliently deformed by insertion of said engagement portion into said retention channel.

7. A shelf organizing system according to claim 1, wherein lower portions of said front rail member, including said retention channel, are formed of opaque plastic material.

8. A shelf organizing system according to claim 7, wherein

(a) said lateral divider element is formed of extruded plastic material, and

(b) lower portions of said divider elements are formed of opaque material.

9. A shelf organizing system for use in combination with generally flat merchandise display shelving having a top surface and a front edge region, which comprises,

(a) a front rail member, extruded from relatively rigid plastic material, fixed to the top surface of the display shelving and extending longitudinally along the front edge region thereof to provide a barrier against outward movement of merchandise from said shelving,

(b) said front rail member having a generally horizontal base wall extending rearwardly over and being supported by said shelving top surface,

(c) a first channel-forming wall integrally joined with said base wall and extending above and in spaced relation thereto and defining with said base wall a narrow rearwardly opening retention channel for engagement of a lateral divider element,

(d) a lateral divider element, separate from said front rail member and having a flat, horizontally disposed engagement portion insertable into said rearwardly opening retention channel in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis thereof,

(e) said engagement portion being of a size and shape to be firmly gripped in said channel,

(f) said lateral divider element being formed to a desired length suitable for front-to-back dimensions of said shelving,

(g) at least one gripping and retaining flange being co-extruded of flexible plastic material, integral with one of the walls defining said retention channel and extending toward the other wall defining said retention channel,

(h) said gripping and retaining flange being resiliently deformed by insertion of said engagement portion into said retention channel and serving to frictionally grip said engagement portion.

10. A shelf organizing system according to claim 9, wherein

(a) said lateral divider element comprises an extruded section of relatively rigid plastic material configured to form a generally horizontal stabilizing flange supported by said shelving top surface and a generally vertically extending dividing wall integral with said stabilizing flange, and

(b) a forward portion of said stabilizing flange forms said engagement portion and extends into and is frictionally gripped in said rearwardly opening retention channel by said gripping and retaining flange.

11. A shelf organizing system according to claim 10, wherein portions of said front rail member forming said retention channel are formed of opaque plastic material.

12. A shelf organizing system according to claim 11, wherein

(a) said front rail member includes a vertically extending barrier wall projecting above said retention channel, and

(b) said barrier wall is formed in substantial part of transparent plastic material.

13. A shelf organizing system for use in combination with generally flat merchandise display shelving having a top surface and a front edge region, which comprises,

(a) a front rail member, extruded from relatively rigid plastic material, fixed to the top surface of the display shelving and extending longitudinally along the front edge region thereof to provide a barrier against outward movement of merchandise from said shelving,

(b) said front rail member having an upwardly extending confining wall adjacent said front edge region and a generally horizontal base wall joined to a lower portion of said front rail member and extending rearwardly over and being supported by said shelving top surface,

(c) a first channel-forming wall integral with said front rail member and extending in spaced parallel relation to a second channel-forming wall formed by one of said confining wall or base wall and defining therewith a narrow open-sided retention channel for engagement of a lateral divider element,

(d) a lateral divider element, separate from said front rail member and having an engagement portion insertable into said open-sided retention channel,

(e) said engagement portion being of a size and shape to be firmly gripped in said channel,

(f) said lateral divider element being formed to a desired length suitable for front-to-back dimensions of said shelving,

(g) said first channel-forming wall extending parallel to and being spaced above said base wall,

(h) said first channel-forming wall and said base wall defining a horizontally disposed, rearwardly opening retention channel,

(i) said lateral divider element having a horizontally forwardly extending engagement portion received in and gripped by said retention channel,

(j) said lateral divider element comprising an extruded section of relatively rigid plastic material configured to form a generally horizontal stabilizing flange supported by said shelving top surface and a generally vertically extending dividing wall integral with said stabilizing flange,

(k) a forward portion of said stabilizing flange extending into and being gripped by a portion of said open-sided retention channel, and

(l) a forward portion of said dividing wall being formed with a forwardly opening slot immediately above said stabilizing flange for the reception of a portion of said first channe-forming wall.

14. A shelf organizing system according to claim 13, wherein

(a) said first channel-forming wall is provided on an upper surface thereof with a longitudinally extending retaining rib, and

(b) said forwardly opening slot in said dividing wall is formed with a recess in an upper side thereof positioned for snug reception of a portion of said longitudinally extending retaining rib.

15. A shelf organizing system for use in combination with generally flat merchandise display shelving having a top surface and a front edge region, which comprises,

(a) a front rail member, extruded from relatively rigid plastic material, fixed to the top surface of the display shelving and extending longitudinally along the front edge region thereof to provide a barrier against outward movement of merchandise from said shelving,

(b) said front rail member having an upwardly extending confining wall adjacent said front edge region and a generally horizontal base wall joined to a lower portion of said front rail member and extending rearwardly over and being supported by said shelving top surface,

(c) a first channel-forming wall integral with said front rail member and extending in spaced parallel relation to a second channel-forming wall formed by one of said confining wall or base wall and defining therewith a narrow open-sided retention channel for engagement of a lateral divider element,

(d) a lateral divider element, separate from said front rail member and having an engagement portion insertable into said open-sided retention channel,

(e) said engagement portion being of a size and shape to be firmly gripped in said channel,

(f) said lateral divider element being formed to a desired length suitable for front-to-back dimensions of said shelving,

(g) said first channel-forming wall extending parallel to and being spaced above said base wall,

(h) said first channel-forming wall and said base wall defining a horizontally disposed, rearwardly opening retention channel,

(i) said lateral divider element having a horizontally forwardly extending engagement portion received in and gripped by said retention channel,

(j) said lateral divider element comprising an extruded section of relatively rigid plastic material configured to form a generally horizontal stabilizing flange supported by said shelving top surface and a generally vertically extending dividing wall integral with said stabilizing flange,

(k) a forward portion of said stabilizing flange extending into and being gripped by a portion of said open-sided retention channel,

(l) said vertically extending dividing wall being formed with a forwardly opening notch at a forward end thereof for the reception of said first channel-forming wall,

(m) said first channel-forming wall being formed with a continuously extending detent rib along an upper surface thereof, and

(n) said forwardly opening notch being formed with a detent recess therein for reception of a portion of said detent rib.