Roller shelf

• US 9,266,678 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2015
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Marco Company
• Original Assignee: The Marco Company
• Inventors: Nickell, Craig Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Randazzo, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US14/589,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20150114918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/125 with an article-pushing device
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0043 Show shelves shelves in general A47B96/02; brackets or similar shelf-supporting means A47B96/06; advertising or price indication G09F
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/023 Arrangements of article supporting rollers on racks
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 13/11 Roller frames

Abstract

A roller track comprising a base, a tray, and a plurality of rollers. The tray is configured to slide into the base, and comprises a first end, a center portion comprising a plurality of notches, and a second end. The first end is removably engaged to a first end of center portion. The second end is removably engaged to a second end of center portion. The first end and the second end comprise a plurality of slots. The plurality of rollers is configured to engage the plurality of notches.

Claims

1. A roller track comprising:

a base;

a configurable tray configured to slide into the base, the configurable tray comprising;

a first end that comprises a ledge that extends from a side of the first end that engages one end of a center portion of the configurable tray, the ledge comprising a tab that extends from a bottom surface of the first end, such that the center portion comprises a plurality of notches and the one end of the center portion comprises a first slot connector that comprises a shape that removably engages with a shape of the tab that extends from the bottom surface of the first end;

a second end that comprises a ledge that extends from a side of the second end that engages an opposite end of the center portion of the configurable tray, the ledge comprising a tab that extends from a bottom surface of the second end, such that the opposite end of the center portion comprises a second slot connector that comprises a shape that removably engages with a shape of the tab that extends from the bottom surface of the second end; and

a plurality of rollers, the plurality of rollers configured to engage the plurality of notches, wherein the first end and the second end comprise a plurality of slots.

2. The roller track of claim 1, wherein the base extends past a beginning of at least one slot of the plurality of slots, wherein the beginning of the at least one slot of the plurality of slots comprises a location of the at least one slot of the plurality of slots closest to the center portion.

3. The roller track of claim 1, wherein the plurality of slots comprises at least two sizes of slots.

4. The roller track of claim 1, wherein a projection of a divider resides in a slot of the plurality of slots, and wherein the projection comprises a different shape than a shape of the slot of the plurality of slots.

5. The roller track of claim 1, wherein the first end and the second end comprise respectively different lengths.

6. The roller track of claim 1, wherein the configurable tray is substantially composed of a polymer.

7. A roller shelf comprising:

a first roller track, the first roller track comprising;

a first base;

a first configurable tray configured to slide into the first base, the first configurable tray comprising;

a first end that comprises a ledge that extends from a side of the first end that engages one end of a first center portion of the configurable tray, the ledge comprising a tab that extends from a bottom surface of the first end, such that the first center portion comprises a first plurality of notches and the one end of the first center portion comprises a first slot connector that comprises a shape that removably engages with a shape of the tab that extends from the bottom surface of the first end; and

a second end that comprises a ledge that extends from a side of the second end that engages an opposite end of the first center portion of the configurable tray, the ledge comprising a tab that extends from a bottom surface of the second end, such that the opposite end of the first center portion comprises a second slot connector that comprises a shape that removably engages with a shape of the tab that extends from the bottom surface of the second end;

a first plurality of rollers, wherein the first plurality of rollers are configured to engage the first plurality of notches;

a second roller track, the second roller track comprising;

a second base;

a second configurable tray configured to slide into the second base, the second configurable tray comprising;

a third end that comprises a ledge that extends from a side of the third end that engages one end of a second center portion of the configurable tray, the ledge comprising a tab that extends from a bottom surface of the third end, such that the second center portion comprises a second plurality of notches and the one end of the second center portion comprises a first slot connector that comprises a shape that removably engages with a shape of the tab that extends from the bottom surface of the third end; and

a fourth end that comprises a ledge that extends from a side of the fourth end that engages an opposite end of the second center portion of the configurable tray, the ledge comprising a tab that extends from a bottom surface of the fourth end, such that the opposite end of the second center portion comprises a second slot connector that comprises a shape that removably engages with a shape of the tab that extends from the bottom surface of the fourth end;

a second plurality of rollers, wherein the second plurality of rollers are configured to engage the second plurality of notches such that the first plurality of rollers are axially offset from the second plurality of rollers.

8. The roller shelf of claim 7, wherein the first end comprises a plurality of slots and at least one slot in the plurality of slots comprises a zigzag shape.

9. The roller shelf of claim 7, wherein:

the first end comprises a plurality of slots; and

the first base extends past a beginning of at least one slot of the plurality of slots, wherein the beginning of the at least one slot of the plurality of slots comprises a location of the at least one slot of the plurality of slots closest to the first center portion.

10. The roller shelf of claim 7, wherein:

the first end comprises a plurality of slots; and

the plurality of slots comprises at least two sizes of slots.

11. The roller shelf of claim 7, wherein:

the first end comprises a plurality of slots; and

a projection of a divider resides in a slot of the plurality of slots, and wherein the projection comprises a different shape than a shape of the slot of the plurality of slots.

12. The roller shelf of claim 7, further comprising a back rail, wherein the first end and the third end engage the back rail and the first end and the third end comprise respectively different lengths.

13. The roller shelf of claim 7, wherein an orientation of the first roller track in relation to the second roller track axially offsets the first plurality of rollers from the second plurality of rollers.

14. A roller track comprising:

a base;

a configurable tray configured to slide into the base, the configurable tray comprising;

a first end that comprises a ledge that extends from a side of the first end that engages one end of a center portion of the configurable tray, the ledge comprising a tab that extends from a bottom surface of the first end, such that the center portion comprises a plurality of notches and the one end of the center portion comprises a first slot connector that comprises a shape that removably engages with a shape of the tab that extends from the bottom surface of the first end;

a second end that comprises a ledge that extends from a side of the second end that engages an opposite end of the center portion of the configurable tray, the ledge comprising a tab that extends from a bottom surface of the second end, such that the opposite end of the center portion comprises a second slot connector that comprises a shape that removably engages with a shape of the tab that extends from the bottom surface of the second end such that each of the first end and the second end comprise a plurality of slots and at least one slot in the plurality of slots comprises a zigzag shape; and

a plurality of rollers, the plurality of rollers configured to engage the plurality of notches.

15. The roller track of claim 14, wherein the base extends past a beginning of at least one slot of the plurality of slots, wherein the beginning of the at least one slot comprises a location of the at least one slot closest to the center portion.

16. The roller track of claim 14, wherein the plurality of slots comprises at least two sizes of slots.

17. The roller track of claim 14, wherein a projection of a divider resides in a slot of the plurality of slots, and wherein the projection comprises a different shape than a shape of the slot of the plurality of slots.

18. The roller track of claim 14, wherein the first end and the second end comprise respectively different lengths.

19. The roller track of claim 14, wherein the configurable tray is substantially composed of a polymer.