Shelf gap spacer device for a merchandise display system

• US 8,939,521 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2013
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Barenbrugge, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US13/847,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20130248476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 211/134, 211/183, 211/57.1, 211/184, 312/140.4, 312/140.1, 108/90, 108/27, 522/871, 524/61, 524/59, 524/71, 527/161, 527/162, 527/163, 297/182
• US Class Current: 312/140.4
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 77/022 Work tops
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 95/043 Protecting rims, buffers or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/02 Shelves movable shelves coupled to doors A47B96/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 97/00 Furniture or accessories for furniture, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 13/00 Shop or like accessories devices for drawing-off and cutting paper from a roll B65H; movably-mounted ladders E06C9/06
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/00 Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/005 Partitions therefore horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/103 Display shelving racks with the uprights aligned in only one plane

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a spacer device for use with a merchandise display. The merchandise display may include a first upright and a second upright opposite the first upright, a pegboard mounted between the two uprights, and at least one shelf mounted to the two uprights, wherein the configuration includes a gap between a back of the shelf and the pegboard. The spacer device may include two opposing ends. Each of the opposing ends may include a support arm that extends downward towards the gap, a mounting arm that extends downward towards the gap, and a tab that projects outward and away from the mounting arm. The spacer device may also include a gap filler portion extending between the two opposing ends wherein when the device is secured in the gap, the gap filler portion fills the gap.

Claims

1. A device for use with a shelving system that defines a gap between a pegboard and a shelf, the device comprising:

two opposing ends, wherein each of the opposing ends includes a support arm and a mounting arm configured to extend downward towards the gap; and

a gap filler portion extending between the two opposing ends and located between the two opposing ends,

wherein the mounting arms are configured to engage a back of a shelf to secure and lock the device in the gap and the support arms are configured to flex against a pegboard providing biasing pressure against the pegboard, and wherein when the device is secured in the gap, the gap filler portion is configured to fill the gap.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the mounting arms include flared projections configured to engage a back of the shelf to secure and lock the device in the gap.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the gap filler portion includes a plurality of teeth extending upward and configured to engage with a pegboard.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of teeth flex and are configured to receive a peg hook mounted on the pegboard.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the gap filler portion includes an opening sized and configured to receive a peg hook mounted on a pegboard.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the ends includes a tab that projects outward and away from the mounting arm.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the tab is rectangular and sized such that a user can use their fingers to grasp the tab.

8. The device of claim 1, further including a shelf lip projecting outward from the gap filler portion toward the user and away from the pegboard, wherein the shelf lip is configured to engage a top of a shelf edge when the device is installed in a shelving system.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the shelf lip is continuous throughout the length of the gap filler portion.

10. A shelving system for merchandise comprising:

a first upright and a second upright opposite the first upright;

at least one pegboard mounted to and between the first upright and the second upright;

at least one shelf mounted to the first upright and the second upright, thereby spanning the entire length of the pegboard between the first upright and the second upright, wherein the configuration includes a gap between a back of the shelf and the pegboard; and

a gap spacer device extending between the first upright and the second upright, wherein when installed in the shelving system, the gap spacer device fills the gap and is configured to prevent or block merchandise from falling between the gap,

wherein the gap spacer device comprises;

two opposing ends, wherein each of the opposing ends engage and mount between shelf and the pegboard, thereby locking the gap spacer device in the gap; and

a gap filler portion extending between the two opposing ends and located between the two opposing ends, wherein when the gap spacer device is secured in the gap, the gap filler portion covers the gap.

11. The shelving system of claim 10, wherein the gap spacer device is constructed as a one-piece, molded plastic piece.

12. The shelving system of claim 10, wherein each of the two opposing ends include a support arm and a mounting arm, wherein the support arms extend downward towards the gap and flex against the pegboard providing biasing pressure against the pegboard and the mounting arms extend downwards towards the gap engaging the back of the shelf.

13. The shelving system of claim 12, wherein the mounting arms include flared projections that engage the back of the shelf to secure and lock the gap spacer device in the gap.

14. The shelving system of claim 10, wherein the gap filler portion includes a plurality of teeth extending upward and engaged with the pegboard, wherein the plurality of teeth flex and are configured to receive a peg hook mounted on the pegboard.

15. The shelving system of claim 10, wherein the gap spacer device includes one or more stability tabs that extend from a lower portion of the gap filler portion, wherein the stability tabs engage the pegboard to keep a middle of the gap spacer device stable and secure within the shelving system.

16. The shelving system of claim 10, wherein the gap spacer device includes a shelf lip projecting outward from the gap filler portion toward a user and away from the pegboard, wherein the shelf lip engages a top of the shelf when the device is installed in the shelving system.

17. A spacer device for use with a merchandise display that includes a first upright and a second upright opposite the first upright, a pegboard mounted to and between the first upright and the second upright, and at least one shelf mounted to the first upright and the second upright, thereby spanning the entire length of the pegboard between the first upright and the second upright, wherein the configuration includes a gap between a back of the shelf and the pegboard, the device comprising:

two opposing ends, wherein each of the opposing ends includes a support arm that extends downward towards the gap, a mounting arm that extends downward towards the gap, and a tab that projects outward and away from the mounting arm;

a gap filler portion extending between the two opposing ends and located between the two opposing ends;

a shelf lip projecting outward from the gap filler portion and away from the pegboard, wherein the shelf lip is configured to engage a top of a shelf edge when the device is installed in the merchandise display;

wherein the mounting arms include flared projections that are configured to engage a back of the shelf to secure and lock the device in the gap and the support arms are configured to flex against the pegboard providing biasing pressure against the pegboard, and wherein when the device is secured in the gap, the gap filler portion is configured to fill the gap.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the gap filler portion includes a plurality of teeth extending upward and configured to engage with the pegboard.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the shelf lip is continuous throughout the length of the gap filler portion.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the shelf lip is non-continuous throughout the length of the gap filler portion.