Shelf unit

• US 7,419,062 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEW Dimensions Research Corporation (Westminster Capital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NEW Dimensions Research Corporation (Westminster Capital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mason, Timothy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US11/334,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20070080123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.2, 211/59.3, 211/184, 211/74, 211/51, 211/126.1, 312/61, 312/71, 312/9.1, 312/185, D64/07, D64/75, D64/08, D64/49, D64/66, D64/76, D66/29, D66/30, D65/11, 206/307, 206/307.1, 206/310, 206/308.1
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means

Abstract

A shelf unit for displaying products in a space saving manner includes brackets for securing to a support and a tray extending between the brackets. The tray has a front portion with edges arranged so that adjacent edges are disposed at alternating angles to form a sawtooth pattern. A face portion configured to conform to the front portion is disposed over the front portion and has a window for viewing a product disposed behind the window. Adjustable partitions are disposed on the tray and define rows for displaying the products. A biasing mechanism biases the products in the row toward a front of the shelf unit. Each biasing mechanisms has a biasing element and a slidable product advancing member. The products are arranged in adjacent rows at alternating angles to form a sawtooth pattern corresponding to the edges of the front portion of the tray.

Claims

1. A shelf unit for displaying a plurality of products in a space saving manner, the shelf unit comprising:

a) plurality of brackets for securing the shelf unit to a support;

b) a tray extending between said plurality of brackets, said tray comprising a front portion comprising a plurality of edges arranged with adjacent edges disposed at alternating angles to form a sawtooth pattern;

c) a face portion disposed over said front portion and configured to conform substantially to said front portion, said face portion comprising a window for viewing a product disposed behind said window;

d) a plurality of adjustable partitions disposed on said tray arranged substantially parallel to said plurality of brackets to define a plurality of rows for displaying the plurality of products; and

e) a plurality of biasing mechanisms, each biasing mechanism disposed in a respective row of said plurality of rows for biasing the products in the row toward a front of the shelf unit, each of said biasing mechanisms comprising a biasing element and a slidable product advancing member;

wherein when products are arranged in adjacent rows, the products are arranged at alternating angles to form a sawtooth pattern corresponding to the plurality of edges of said front portion of said tray.

2. The shelf unit according to claim 1, further comprising a cross-bar secured to said plurality of brackets and disposed over said tray.

3. The shelf unit according to claim 1, wherein said tray further comprises a floor portion and said plurality of edges extend upwardly from said floor portion to form a plurality of walls arranged with adjacent walls disposed at alternating angles to form a sawtooth pattern.

4. The shelf unit according to claim 1, wherein said slidable product advancing member further comprises a face disposed substantially parallel to an edge from said plurality of edges, said edge disposed at a front of the respective row wherein the biasing mechanism is disposed.

5. The shelf unit according to claim 1, wherein said face portion is secured to said front portion of said tray with a hinge for pivoting between an open position for loading and a closed position.

6. The shelf unit according to claim 5, further comprising a locking mechanism for locking said face portion in said open position.

7. The shelf unit according to claim 5, further comprising a locking mechanism for locking said face portion in said closed position.

8. The shelf unit according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of paddles, each paddle disposed in a respective row of said plurality of rows, wherein each of said paddles is pivotally mounted to said tray for pivoting downwardly when the product is loaded into the respective row and wherein each of said paddles is upwardly biased for pivoting upwardly when the product is pushed past said paddle.

9. The shelf unit according to claim 1, wherein said window has an aperture to facilitate loading of the products.

10. The shelf unit according to claim 1, further comprising a wire grid disposed over said tray.

11. A shelf unit for displaying a plurality of products in a space saving manner, the shelf unit comprising:

a) plurality of brackets for securing the shelf unit to a support;

b) a tray extending between said plurality of brackets, said tray comprising a front portion comprising a plurality of edges arranged with adjacent edges disposed at alternating angles to form a sawtooth pattern;

c) a cross-bar secured to said plurality of brackets and disposed over said tray;

d) a face portion disposed over said front portion and configured to conform substantially to said front portion, said face portion comprising a window for viewing a product disposed behind said window, wherein said window has an aperture to facilitate loading of the products;

e) a plurality of adjustable partitions disposed on said tray arranged substantially parallel to said plurality of brackets to define a plurality of rows for displaying the plurality of products; and

f) a plurality of biasing mechanisms, each biasing mechanism disposed in a respective row of said plurality of rows for biasing the products in the row toward a front of the shelf unit, each of said biasing mechanisms comprising a biasing element and a slidable product advancing member, said slidable product advancing member comprising a face disposed substantially parallel to an edge disposed at a front of the respective row wherein the biasing mechanism is disposed;

wherein when products are arranged in adjacent rows, the products are arranged at alternating angles to form a sawtooth pattern corresponding to the plurality of edges of said front portion of said tray.