Dual plane self-adjusting shelf
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A self-adjusting shelf comprising:
- an inclined roller track having a plurality of rollers configured for low friction sliding of a sled thereon;
a sled coupled to said roller track, the sled having a forward-extending base and the sled having a mass to permit sliding along the rollers, the sled having a back extending upwardly from the base and wings on each side of the back, the back having a width greater than a width of the base; and
at least two product supports with upper surfaces, each of the at least two product supports substantially aligned with the roller track on opposing sides of the roller track, and located above the roller track, the at least two product supports are elevated above the base of the sled and are configured to support product packages on the upper surfaces above the roller track when the self-adjusting shelf is in use displaying product packages thereon;
whereby, when in use displaying product packages, an angle of inclination of the inclined roller track operatively cooperates with the rollers, the mass of the sled, and the upper surfaces of the product supports to enable the sled to move forward under gravitational force to urge packaged products to a front of the shelf when a packaged product in front of the sled is removed from the shelf.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for storing and displaying packages. The invention discloses a self-adjusting shelf comprising a sled coupled to a track, and at least two product supports located in a plane above the track. The product supports are aligned substantially parallel to the track and are coupled to the track. Packages rest upon the product supports. The sled slides along the length of the track. The sled urges, via either gravity or a biasing device, the sled forward against downstream packages. Thus, when one package is removed, the sled forces the remaining packages to the front of the shelf.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A self-adjusting shelf comprising:
-
an inclined roller track having a plurality of rollers configured for low friction sliding of a sled thereon; a sled coupled to said roller track, the sled having a forward-extending base and the sled having a mass to permit sliding along the rollers, the sled having a back extending upwardly from the base and wings on each side of the back, the back having a width greater than a width of the base; and at least two product supports with upper surfaces, each of the at least two product supports substantially aligned with the roller track on opposing sides of the roller track, and located above the roller track, the at least two product supports are elevated above the base of the sled and are configured to support product packages on the upper surfaces above the roller track when the self-adjusting shelf is in use displaying product packages thereon; whereby, when in use displaying product packages, an angle of inclination of the inclined roller track operatively cooperates with the rollers, the mass of the sled, and the upper surfaces of the product supports to enable the sled to move forward under gravitational force to urge packaged products to a front of the shelf when a packaged product in front of the sled is removed from the shelf. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A self-adjusting shelf comprising:
-
an inclined roller track having a plurality of rollers configured for low friction sliding of a sled thereon; a sled coupled to the roller track, the sled having a forward-extending base, the sled having a mass to permit sliding along the rollers, the sled having a back extending upwardly from the base of the sled and wings on each side of the back, the back with the wings having a width greater than a width of the base of the sled; and a pair of product supports, each one of the pair of product supports having an upper surface extending along opposing sides of the base of the sled, the product supports are located above the roller track and the base of the sled, the product supports support product packages on the upper surfaces when the self-adjusting shelf is in use displaying product packages; whereby, when in use, an angle of inclination of the inclined roller track operatively cooperates with the rollers of the track, the mass of the sled, and the upper surfaces of the product supports to enable the sled to move forward under gravitational force to urge packaged products to a front of the shelf when a packaged product in front of the sled is removed from the shelf. - View Dependent Claims (23)
-
Specification