Product organizer

• US 6,305,559 B1
• Filed: 06/20/2000
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Hardy, Stephen N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US09/597,006
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.2, 211/184, 211/43, 211/94.01, 108/60, 108/61, 312/140.3, 312/140.4, 248/223.41, 248/298.1, 248/224.61
• US Class Current: 211/184
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/005 Partitions therefore horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90

Abstract

A shelf organizer including an elongated rail member defining a channel section. The rail member includes inwardly extending legs to which are attached longitudinally extending rubber beads. A connector forming part of a shelf divider is disposed in the channel section and when the divider is located in a vertical position it will be retained in position by the beads. The divider can be readily twisted out of engagement with the beads and quickly moved to a different location with minimal effort to vary the widths of the bind whenever desired. A single bead secured to the upper or lower legs may be used in place of two beads. Also the mounting flange may include an integral portion forming a ledge that engages the bead to help retain the divider in a vertical position.

Claims

1. A shelf organizer comprising an elongated rail member having a bottom mounting portion and an upwardly shaped channel including a front wall and inwardly directed leg portions defining a space therebetween with at least one leg portion including a flexible bead secured thereto, said mounting portion being attachable to a shelf, an elongated divider member having a front edge and connecting means integral with the front edge thereof and extending normal thereto and being fittable in said channel, said divider member having a width wider than the space between said leg portions, whereby when the divider member is operationally mounted in substantially vertical orientation perpendicular to said front wall and the connecting means is disposed in said channel, the divider member will be retained in position by said bead.

2. A shelf organizer set forth in claim 1 in which both of said leg portions have a flexible bead secured thereto.

3. A shelf organizer as set forth in claim 2 in which the divider member defines grooves adjacent said connecting means into which the beads fit when the divider member is moved into position to serve as a divider.

4. A shelf organizer set forth in claim 1 in which the bead is made of rubber.

5. A shelf organizer set forth in claim 4 in which the connecting means has a height generally equal to that of the channel and a width less than the space between the leg portions so that the connecting means can readily enter said channel and the divider member can be twisted into position to engage the bead to be retained in place but can be readily released therefrom and moved to a different position to readily accommodate products of a different width.

6. A shelf organizer according to claim 1 in which the rail member is made of a transparent plastic whereby a card retained in said rail member is legible therethrough.

7. A shelf organizer comprising an elongated rail member having a bottom mounting portion and an upwardly shaped channel including a front wall and inwardly directed leg portions defining a space therebetween with at least one leg portion including a flexible bead secured thereto, said mounting portion being attachable to a shelf, an elongated divider member having a front edge and connecting means integral with the front edge thereof and extending normal thereto and being fittable in said channel, said connecting means including a transversely extending section located between said inwardly directed leg portions, whereby said section is positioned to engage said bead to help maintain the rail member in a vertical position.

8. A shelf organizer as set forth in claim 7 in which the inwardly directed leg portions consist of upper and lower leg portions and the flexible bead is part of the lower leg portion.

9. A shelf organizer as set forth in claim 8 in which the bead is made of polyvinyl chloride and is formed integral with the lower leg portion.