Supports: racks – Knockdown
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-27
2001-09-18
Redman, Jerry (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Knockdown
C211S184000, C211S059400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290077
ABSTRACT:
FIELD
The present invention relates to display racks and, more particularly, to racks for displaying a variety of items such as produce, meat, and the like.
BACKGROUND
Display racks are widely used by a variety of merchandisers. Grocers, for example, use a variety of rack systems to organize and display grocery goods. As an illustration, produce, meat, and other perishable goods typically are displayed on racks mounted in refrigerated cases. Such racks often are configured to provide an appearance of greater stock quantities. In other words, the rack can provide the customer with a perception of increased size and bulk of goods in stock.
For example, a rack may include a series of steps that elevate and support the displayed goods. Alternatively, a rack may include one or more horizontal dividers that similarly operate to elevate and support the goods. Although such dividers may occupy an orientation other than horizontal, they are generally known in the art as horizontal dividers so long as they extend laterally across the support surface of the rack and act like shelves.
Some racks combine both a stepped profile and horizontal dividers. Also, racks can be mounted within the refrigerated case with sloping orientations. Moreover, some racks and divider systems are adjustable, allowing the stock person to select a desired arrangement and orientation. Steps and horizontal dividers also can be useful in supporting and organizing produce. For example, different varieties of produce, e.g., apples and oranges, can be displayed on different shelves or steps within a single display rack.
Horizontal dividers or steps serve to vertically separate the produce from one another at different elevations for ease of selection and product rotation. In addition, horizontal dividers or steps allow efficient use of a single rack for different types of produce when stock quantities are limited. Some racks incorporate dividers that laterally separate the produce. Such dividers are generally known in the art as vertical dividers, even though they may occupy different orientations depending on the orientation of the rack support surface. Vertical dividers can be used to provide added organization and further facilitate product rotation, and often are adjustable.
Existing display racks provide a wide variety of display options. However, display racks providing added display options and enhanced versatility continue to be desirable. At the same time, ease of installation and readjustment between display options remain a concern.
SUMMARY
The present invention, in one aspect, is directed to a display rack having an interlocking divider system that facilitates convenient installation and flexible adjustment of vertical dividers to separate and organize displayed items while providing structural integrity for a selected configuration. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a display rack that incorporates a divider array system having two or more horizontal dividers arranged in laterally adjacent mounting sections, providing an added number of display options for greater versatility.
As used herein, “horizontal divider” generally refers to any divider mounted to extend laterally across a support surface of a display rack such that displayed items can be displayed at different elevations, regardless of any deviation of the divider support plane from an exactly horizontal orientation. A horizontal divider, in many cases, may function in part as a shelf to support displayed items. A “vertical divider” generally refers to any divider mounted to extend across a vertical, tilted, or reclined support surface of a display rack at an angle relative to any horizontal divider or relative to the lateral extent of the support surface, such that displayed items can be displayed at different lateral positions.
An interlocking divider system in accordance with the present invention allows easy installation of vertical dividers at different lateral positions along the display rack. Each vertical divider is configured for interlocking engagement with one or more horizontal dividers. In particular, each vertical divider and horizontal divider can define one or more mounting slots. The slots can be spaced apart at regular intervals along the edges of the vertical and horizontal dividers, providing a comb-like pattern. The slots defined by the vertical and horizontal dividers interlock with one another to provide selective mounting of the vertical divider at different positions along the length of one or more horizontal dividers and along the length of the vertical divider.
The vertical divider is readily removable from engagement with the horizontal divider, enabling convenient adjustment to achieve a variety of divider arrangements. However, the interlocking slots generally restrain the vertical divider against movement. Specifically, each slot defines a pair of opposing side surfaces. The side surfaces defined by the slots in the horizontal divider are oriented to bear against the vertical divider. In this manner, the horizontal divider limits the movement of the vertical divider in a direction along the length of the horizontal divider. Similarly, the side surfaces defined by the slots in the vertical divider are oriented to bear against the horizontal divider, thereby limiting the movement of the vertical divider in a direction transverse to the length of the horizontal divider. Consequently, the vertical divider remains generally fixed in a desired position, and resists inadvertent movement, for example, by shoppers removing items from the rack.
The interlocking arrangement is particularly effective when the vertical divider is mounted to engage two or more horizontal dividers disposed at different positions. In this arrangement, the slots defined by the horizontal dividers engage two or more slots in the vertical divider, securing the vertical divider at two or more points and providing added structural stability. The vertical divider is readily removable or adjustable, however, by simply lifting it out of engagement with the horizontal dividers. Also, the slots in the vertical divider can be spaced according to the spacing between various mounting positions for the horizontal dividers. Thus, the horizontal dividers can be selectively mounted at different heights on the surface of the support member, and still engage a corresponding slot on the vertical divider. As an alternative, the orientation of the dividers could be modified such that vertical dividers are mounted on the rack support surface, and the horizontal dividers are removably engaged with the vertical dividers.
The horizontal dividers can be formed with a unique configuration that allows ready selection of vertical divider depth. In particular, each horizontal divider can be formed as a bracket that includes two horizontal divider sections. Each horizontal divider section is selectively mountable against the surface of the support member, while the other horizontal divider section extends outward to support the displayed items and engage the slots in the vertical divider. Each horizontal divider section can be manufactured with a different depth, i.e., width extending outward from the surface of the support member. Different horizontal divider depths can be selected by simply selecting one of the horizontal divider sections to be mounted on the surface support member. In other words, the orientation of the horizontal divider bracket on the surface of the support member can be switched to select a desired horizontal divider depth. Different horizontal divider depths may be desirable for different types of items, such as differently sized fruits or vegetables.
A divider array system in accordance with the present invention incorporates two or more horizontal divider mounting sections disposed laterally adjacent one another in a single rack. This configuration allows two or more horizontal dividers to be mounted not only at different heights, but also at different lateral positions along the rack. For example, two horizontal dividers can be d
Fish & Richardson P.C. P.A.
Novosad Jennifer E.
Redman Jerry
Stein Industries Inc.
LandOfFree
Display rack with interlocking dividers does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Display rack with interlocking dividers, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Display rack with interlocking dividers will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2501663