Modular gravity actuated rolling shelving assembly

• US 8,376,154 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2009
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sungal Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sungal Corporation
• Inventors: Sun, Yeyang
• Primary Examiner(s): Michener, Joshua J
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARNETT, DEVIN K
• Application Number:
  US12/626,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20100133219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 211/151, 211/126.15, 211/189, 211/59.2, 211/59.3, 211/184, 312/91, 108/57.15, 193/35.R, 193/35.F, 193/35.J, 414/276
• US Class Current: 211/151
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/125 with an article-pushing device

Abstract

A shelving assembly comprises a unit that comprises a base plate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The base plate has an integral one-piece configuration including a plurality of strengthening or reinforcing vertical and/or horizontal ribs disposed on the second side. A plurality of securing members are disposed in a parallel relationship on the first side. Each of the plurality of securing members has a plurality of snap fit openings. A plurality of rollers that each comprises a centrally disposed cylindrical portion and a pair of connection rods extending from opposite ends of the cylindrical portion. The connection rods are removably and fixedly insertable into a pair of oppositely disposed snap fit openings of adjacent securing members, thereby forming a row of rollers disposed on the base plate.

Claims

1. A shelving assembly comprising:

at least one unit that comprises;

a base plate;

a plurality of securing members disposed in a parallel relationship on said base plate, wherein each said securing member includes a plurality of snap fit openings; and

a plurality of rollers that each comprise a centrally disposed cylindrical portion and a pair of connection rods extending from opposite ends of said cylindrical portion, wherein each said roller is securely disposed within a pair of oppositely disposed snap fit openings disposed on adjacent securing members, wherein the secured rollers are capable of radial rotation within said openings, and wherein each said snap fit opening comprises adjacent arm portions, each said arm portion having a first end integrally formed together with a base portion of said securing members and a second end having at least one projecting perturbation portion, wherein each of said at least one perturbation portion of said arm portion is disposed opposite said at least one perturbation portion of said adjacent arm portion, wherein said connection rods of each said roller are disposed within each said snap fit opening such that each said roller rotates within said opening, while also prohibiting the removal of each said roller from each said opening without the application of a force sufficient to urge respective perturbation portions of the oppositely disposed arm portions apart such that said connection rod passes through respective perturbation portions of each arm portion, wherein each said securing member comprises a first row of at least four said arm portions and a horizontally spaced apart second row of at least four said arm portions.

2. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein said base plate further comprises a first and a second edge portion disposed substantially perpendicular to said securing members, wherein said first and second edge portion each comprise a plurality of slots.

3. The shelving assembly of claim 2, further comprising at least one divider, wherein said at least one divider comprises a pair of protrusions that are removably insertable into oppositely disposed slots, one from each of said first and second edges, and such that said divider is disposed substantially parallel to said securing members.

4. The shelving assembly of claim 3, wherein said at least one divider has ribs on a planar divider portion.

5. The shelving assembly of claim 3, wherein said at least one divider is adjustable by placement of said protrusions into corresponding slots of said first and second edge portion.

6. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein said base plate has a bottom side with one or more ribs for stability.

7. The shelving assembly of claim 1 wherein each said securing member includes at least one fastener, wherein said at least one fastener affixes each said securing member to receiving of said base plate.

8. The shelving assembly of claim 7, wherein said at least one fastener is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

screws, pins, clips, adhesives, and rivets.

9. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein said arm portion further comprises a space creating a separated pair of perturbation portions.

10. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein said securing members allow insertion or removal of each of said plurality of rollers without disconnecting another of said plurality of rollers from said securing members.

11. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein said securing wherein each said securing member comprises a fill bar disposed between the first and second rows of arm portions.

12. The shelving assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said units attached in a parallel relationship to one another.

13. The shelving assembly of claim 12, wherein said plurality of said units are attached by a protruding connector on a first side edge of a first base plate and a receiving recess on a second side edge of a second base plate.

14. The shelving assembly of claim 2, further comprises a first channel member attached to said first edge portion of said base plate and a second channel member attached to said second edge portion of said base plate.

15. The shelving assembly of claim 14, wherein said first channel member has an inclined portion for stability and use for advertisement and/or pricing.

16. The shelving assembly of claim 14, wherein said first and second channel members further comprise a base channel, wherein said base plate is removably disposed within said base channel, and said base channel has a ridge to secure to a recess of said base plate.

17. The shelving assembly of claim 14, wherein said first and second channel members further comprise a retainer channel, and wherein a first retainer is removably disposed within said retainer channel of said first channel member substantially perpendicular to said securing members and a second retainer is removably disposed within said retainer channel of said second channel member substantially perpendicular to said securing members.

18. The shelving assembly of claim 17, wherein said first and second retainer have a clip corresponding with a ridge disposed within said retainer channel of said first and second channel members to form a snap fit.

19. The shelving assembly of claim 17, wherein said second retainer has a plurality of spaces to secure a weight-pusher assembly.

20. The shelving assembly of claim 19, wherein said weight-pusher assembly comprises a weight, a tether, and at least one hook, and wherein said tether connects said weight to said hook and said hook connects said tether to said spaces of said second retainer.

21. The shelving assembly of claim 19, wherein said weight-pusher assembly provides an appropriate amount of weight or pressure to an item on said shelving assembly to continuously maintain an item at the front of said shelving assembly.

22. The shelving assembly of claim 20, wherein the mass, height and width of said weight are adjustable.

23. The shelving assembly of claim 14, further comprising a pair of support panels disposed on opposite sides of said unit, wherein each said support panel includes a first tab and a second tab disposed about each end.

24. The shelving assembly of claim 23, wherein said first and second channel members further comprise a tab channel, and wherein said first and second tabs are removably disposed within said tab channels to attach to said support panel.

25. The shelving assembly of claim 23, wherein said support panels have one or more hooks to attach said unit to a tracks on a wall.

26. The shelving assembly of claim 23, further comprising at least one support beam under said base plate and attached to said support panels;

said support beam being parallel to said first and second channel members.

27. The shelving assembly of claim 23, further comprising a front mount and a rear mount attached to said support panels, wherein said front mount has at least one front post positioned at an angle in relation to said front mount, and wherein said rear mount has at least one rear post positioned perpendicular to said rear mount.

28. The shelving assembly of claim 27, wherein said front post and said rear post lock said shelving assembly into holes on a deck or shelf.

29. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein said unit further comprises one or more legs attached to said base plate to set said unit on a deck or shelf.

30. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein said shelving assembly is at an angle between about 3 degrees to about 10 degrees.

31. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein said base plate has a roller storage area for spare rollers, and wherein said spare rollers are held within a storage bracket that is removably inserted into said roller storage area.

32. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein said base plate has a length of between about 2 inches to about 48 inches and a width between about 8 inches to about 36 inches.