Selectable width track apparatus and method for a gravity fed shelving system

• US 7,200,903 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2003
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: B-O-F Corporation
• Original Assignee: B-O-F Corporation
• Inventors: Knorring, Edward I. Jr., Massett, Henry, Coretti, Joseph Jr., Shaw, Kenneth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder; Jack W.
• Application Number:
  US10/624,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20040094384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 242/97, 244/53, 244/58, 245/811, 242/87, 242/88, 245/941, 245/941.1, 245/951, 249/10, 403/169, 403/217, 403/408.1, 403/292, 403/294, 403/295, 403/298, 193/35.R, 211/51.2, 211/51.3, 211/51.4, 211/151
• US Class Current: 24/453
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/023 Arrangements of article supporting rollers on racks
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 13/12 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/42 Independent, headed, aperture pass-through fastener

Abstract

An apparatus and method that effects selectable width of a roller track conveyance system having multiple roller tracks with asymmetric wall heights. The system includes a clip that connects lower or mating walls of two single roller tracks together. The connected roller tracks each have their own set of rollers, which form respective dispensing surfaces. A removable divider bar, which is capable of being selectively placed into the clips between the connected roller tracks, may be placed to divide the dispensing surfaces into separate surfaces or may be selectively removed to form a larger, single dispensing surface.

Claims

1. A clip assembly for joining a plurality of roller trays in a gravity feed roller system, wherein each of the roller trays comprises a side defining a plurality of apertures, the clip assembly comprising:

a clip including first and second sides each having first and second protruding tines flanking a guide post, each of the first and second tines configured to engage with respective ones of the plurality of apertures to connect two or more of the plurality of roller trays, each guide post being longer than each tine;

wherein the clip further comprises a slot extending generally perpendicularly to the guide post; and

a divider bar selectively engaged in the slot to divide the plurality of roller trays into two dispensing roller surfaces.

2. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the protruding tines comprises a center section and a pair of flexible arms each joined at one end to the center section, wherein the flexible arms have a normal biased position.

3. A clip assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein the flexible arms are configured to move toward the center section when being inserted into the respective apertures and return to the normal biased position when the tines are fully inserted into the aperture such that the tines are locked into the apertures.

4. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the apertures further comprise guide apertures receiving the guideposts to locate the clip in a prescribed position.

5. A clip assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein the prescribed position comprises a position where the tines may properly engage with the respective ones of the apertures.

6. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1, the clip having a thickness that causes a gap to be defined between the first and second roller trays such that the slots are engageable with the divider bar.

7. A clip assembly for joining a first member to a second member, the clip assembly comprising:

a body having a top side, a front side, a back side, and two opposing lateral sides, the body extending along a first axis;

a slot disposed in the top side of the body and extending along the first axis, the slot being configured to receive a divider bar;

a guide post and a first tine extending out from each of the lateral sides, wherein the guide post and first tine are disposed at an angle from the first axis and can extend into apertures in the first member and the second member to join the first member to the second member; and

a divider bar selectively engaged in the slot to divide the plurality of roller trays into two dispensing roller surfaces.

8. The clip assembly as defined in claim 7, further comprising a partial slot, wherein the slot and the partial slot are engageable with a cutout in the divider bar to positively hold the divider bar in place.

9. The clip assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein the partial slot extends through the front side.

10. The clip assembly as defined in claim 7, further comprising a second tine extending from each lateral side, each of the first tine and the second tine flanking each guide post.

11. The clip assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein the guide post and first tine are disposed generally perpendicularly from the first axis.

12. The clip assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein the clip has a thickness perpendicular to the first axis wide enough to allow the divider bar to extend between the first and second member.

13. A clip for joining a first member to a second member, the clip comprising:

a body having a top side, a front side, a back side, and two opposing lateral sides, the body extending along a first axis;

a slot disposed in the top side of the body and extending along the first axis, the slot being configured to receive a divider bar;

a guide post and a first tine extending out from each of the lateral sides, wherein the guide post and first tine are disposed at an angle from the first axis and can extend into apertures in the first member and the second member to join the first member to the second member; and

a second tine extending from each lateral side, each of the first tine and the second tine flanking each guide post;

wherein the guide post, the first tine, and the second tine are disposed generally perpendicularly to the first axis.

14. A clip for joining a first member to a second member, the clip comprising:

a body having a top side, a front side, a back side, and two opposing lateral sides, the body extending along a first axis;

a slot disposed in the top side of the body and extending along the first axis, the slot being configured to receive a divider bar;

a guide post and a first tine extending out from each of the lateral sides, wherein the guide post and first tine are disposed at an angle from the first axis and can extend into apertures in the first member and the second member to join the first member to the second member; and

a second tine extending from each lateral side, each of the first tine and the second tine flanking each guide post;

wherein each of the first tine and the second tine include a center section and a pair of flexible arms each joined at one end of the center section, the flexible arms having a normal biased position.

15. A clip for joining a first member to a second member, the clip comprising:

a body having a top side, a front side, a back side, and two opposing lateral sides, the body extending along a first axis;

a slot, a first partial slot, and a second partial slot each disposed in the top side of the body and extending along the first axis, the slot and first and second partial slots each being configured to receive a divider bar; and

a guide post and a pair of tines flanking the guide post extending out from each of the lateral sides, wherein the guide post and tines are disposed generally perpendicularly to the first axis.

16. The clip as defined in claim 15, wherein the first partial slot extends through the front side and the second partial slot extends through the back side.

17. The clip as defined in claim 15, wherein each of the tines include a center section and a pair of flexible arms each joined at one end of the center section, the flexible arms having a normal biased position.