Supports: racks – Specially mounted – Wall or window
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-24
2001-05-22
Gibson, Jr., Robert W. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Specially mounted
Wall or window
C211S175000, C211S150000, C248S242000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234328
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adjustable display shelf for displaying retail merchandise in rows in an upright manner.
2. The Prior Art
Adjustable display shelves are generally known in the prior art. However, the adjustable shelf system of the present invention is different from the prior art since the display shelf can be adjusted based upon pitch, width, distance from a wall, or the size of its sections.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an adjustable shelf system, comprising a shelf portion having a series of alternating channels and ridges. Located in these channels is a pusher that slides down towards a front plate. Connected to the shelf are two adjustable shelf supporting brackets which connect to a slotted wall. Slotted walls are known in the art. For example, U.S. Design Pat. Nos. 395,089, 393,909, 400,270, and 393,907 assigned to International Visual Corp. disclose an array of slotted walls for connecting with adjustable brackets. In addition, there is a display plate having a price channel for displaying prices on a front end of the shelf.
The shelf system further comprises an adjustable divider for dividing the shelf into different merchandising slots. The adjustable divider is positioned in the shelf substantially parallel to the channels. This adjustable divider contains both a front plate and a back plate. The back plate has a U-shaped clip that is slidably supported in a U-shaped track extending along a back end of the shelf. A front plate is connected to the divider wherein the front plate has a front tab that extends into a receiving track. In addition, adjacent to both the front end and the back end of the divider are extension flanges that fit securely inside a front and back ridge row each extending substantially perpendicular to the divider. The divider can be secured into the shelf when the front tab is inserted into the receiving track. Next, the extension flanges are inserted into both the front and back ridge row so that the back U-shaped clip locks rigidly into the U-shaped track.
In this way, merchandise on display can be set upon this shelf and stacked between the pusher and the front display plate or channel. When one display piece or merchandise item is removed, the pusher slides down towards the front display plate to move the remaining items to the front of the display.
Connecting the shelf to a slotted wall are two shelf supporting brackets. The shelf support brackets contain a series of vertical and horizontal tracks having a series of notches which allow for adjustments in the shelf system. These notches are set so that the shelf system can be mounted at different distances from a slotted wall and at different angles to a slotted wall. For example, the shelf system could be mounted at approximately a right angle to the slotted wall or it could be mounted at a 20° to 30° down sloping angle to the slotted wall. Thus, in the downsloping positions, the shelf can be arranged at three different distances from the slotted wall. In addition, in the horizontal position the shelf can be positioned at three different distances from the slotted wall.
The shelf system also comprises a series of ridges disposed adjacent to the tracks on the shelf which define a ridge row that extends perpendicular to the extension of the tracks. These ridges interact so that they catch a divider and control its lateral adjustability.
The pusher contains a series of pellets or weighted objects so that it will slide forward based upon gravity if the shelf system tilts downward. The pusher also attaches to an L-shaped support plate for supporting merchandise upright. This L-shaped support plate can be designed to receive books, promotional materials, magazines or other self supporting merchandise.
The shelf system can also contain a connecting system which allows the shelf system to be expanded laterally. This connecting system comprises male and female connecting elements disposed on the sides of the shelf. The male connecting element is a L-shaped connecting member with a first section extending out from the shelf and a second section or ridge extending up from the first section. In addition, the female connecting element comprises a notch, cut into the shelf, for receiving the male connecting member. One benefit from this multi-adjustable shelf system is that it gives manufacturers greater flexibility in design so that it allows these manufacturers to customize these displays to match their orders.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable shelf system for displaying merchandise or other promotional materials.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a shelf system that has adjustable support brackets for adjusting its display angle.
It is still another object of the invention to provide an adjustable shelf system that is simple in design, easy to install, and inexpensive to manufacture.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 393907 (1998-04-01), Current
patent: D. 393909 (1998-04-01), Current
patent: D. 395089 (1998-06-01), Current
patent: D. 400270 (1998-10-01), Current
patent: 3167037 (1965-01-01), Mapson
patent: 3426993 (1969-02-01), Johansson
patent: 3461713 (1969-08-01), Berkowitz
patent: 3463433 (1969-08-01), Stein et al.
patent: 3508665 (1970-04-01), Goldstein et al.
patent: 4830201 (1989-05-01), Breslow
patent: 5088607 (1992-02-01), Risafi et al.
patent: 5673801 (1997-10-01), Markson
patent: 6082557 (2000-07-01), Leahy
Collard & Roe P.C.
Gibson , Jr. Robert W.
NDR Corporation
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