Horizontally supported planar surfaces – Plural related horizontal surfaces – Terraced
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-24
2001-11-27
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
Plural related horizontal surfaces
Terraced
C211S195000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321663
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to apparatus for displaying goods for sale, for example, crated goods such as supermarket produce; more particularly, to shelving apparatus having a plurality of shelves disposed on an inclined surface so that goods on higher shelves do not obscure viewing of goods on lower shelves; and most particularly to a system of shelves wherein the shelves are supported on an adjustable, articulated frame so that the display angle and height may be easily altered, and so that the system may be easily collapsed to facilitate storage or shipping, all manually and without the use of tools.
Inclined, or stepped, shelving for displaying various different lots of items together is well known, especially crated lots such as supermarket produce (citrus fruits, lettuce, tomatoes, etc.). Stepped shelving is a more efficient mode of display than a simple inclined surface, permitting more material to be displayed per length of incline.
It is generally desirable to be able to vary the angle of incline according to the changing display needs of the materials being displayed, to vary the distance of those materials from a customer standing in front of the display, and to vary the height of the materials. It is further desirable, for efficient use of display space, that shelving be formed to accommodate standard shipping crate sizes. In typical prior art displays varying these display parameters can be difficult or not possible, and can require special tools. Further, typical prior art displays are known to have a rigid frame, making storage and shipping of the display means cumbersome and consumptive of valuable storage space.
What is needed is a system of adjustable inclined shelving having a plurality of modular stepped shelves which provide a readily accessible display to a customer, wherein the angle of display, height of display, and distance of display from the customer may be easily changed without the need for any tools, and wherein an articulated supportive frame may be collapsed for storage and shipping.
It is a principal object of the invention to provide a system of improved adjustable inclined shelving wherein the angle and height of display may be changed without the need for tools.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system of improved adjustable inclined shelving for crates wherein the depth of the shelves is optimal for displaying modular crates.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a system of improved adjustable inclined shelving wherein the system may be collapsed for storage or shipping.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly described, an adjustable inclined shelving system of the present invention has an adjustable, articulated frame comprising a rigid tubular horizontal frame portion and an articulated portion removably connected to the horizontal frame portion as by pins, preferably U-shaped, insertable and removable into matching holes in the respective frame members by hand without the need for tools. The adjustable frame includes front and rear generally vertical legs of unequal heights, the front legs proximal to a customer being shorter than the rear legs distal from the customer. The adjustable frame further includes a shelf support frame extending at an angle of incline between the front and rear legs for supporting a plurality of shelves. The shelf support frame is removably pinned to the legs. The legs may be pivoted on the horizontal frame to change the system from a collapsed configuration, as for shipping or storage, to an erected upright configuration or kneeling configuration for display, and return. In the upright and kneeling configurations, the system is afforded structural rigidity by one or more removable diagonal braces extending between the legs and the horizontal frame, which braces are held in place by removable pins. The front legs may be pivoted from vertical to horizontal by unpinning of the braces to lower the shelving to the kneeling configuration. The rear legs are telescopic and may be extended or retracted vertically to change the display angle as desired. The shelving is attached, preferably removably as by pins, to the shelf support frame and is configured in width and disposition of the individual shelves to optimize the display of a plurality of crates. Optionally, the legs may be further provided with transverse horizontal members for supporting detachable auxiliary shelves for displaying additional crates at the front and/or rear of the system.
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Anderson Jerry A.
Cuomo Peter M.
Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel LLP
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