Supports: racks – Special article – Stacked articles
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-01
2001-08-14
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Special article
Stacked articles
C211S153000, C211S090030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273276
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Art
The present invention relates generally to container storage racks and more particularly to gravity flow shelving systems adapted for the display and storage of a variety of merchandise. The present invention features a versatile shelving system having easily adjustable and insertable racks to adapt to a variety of merchandising arrangements. The system is particularly useful for gravity feed shelving applications.
2. Prior Art
Gravity flow shelving systems are known in the merchandising art. Prior art gravity flow racks generally include an assembly of vertically spaced racks angled downwardly and forwardly, providing more shelf space than flat shelving units. During gravity flow, substantial slidable contact is made between the bottom surface of the merchandise and the upper surface of the rack. To expedite the sliding movement, each rack typically features a low friction track surface so that when a purchaser removes merchandise from the front of the rack, the remainder of the merchandise slides forward to facilitate handling by the next purchaser. This provides a natural first in first out (FIFO) movement to ensure that earlier-dated items are sold first.
Shelving systems need to be adaptable to accommodate various types of merchandise containers, product profiles, and seasonal merchandise. For instance, fresh liquids are primarily packaged in square paper-product containers coated with suitable plastics or paraffin. Other merchandise may include canned beverages, along with glass or plastic bottles and encompass a wide range of container sizes and shapes. As merchandising needs change, the prior shelving system or arrangement may be unsuitable for a new product.
Further, packaged liquids and beverages will leak when mishandled or when product integrity fails. When liquids collect on the gravity flow racks, unsightly and unsanitary bacteria-breeding conditions are created. Accumulations of such liquids also leave sticky residues that adversely affect low friction sliding surfaces and may soil fresh product beneath the gravity feed shelf. Such problems often require extensive product removal and shelf disassembly for effective cleaning of the shelves and merchandise.
One solution to these problems is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,243, to Doll, incorporated herein by reference, where Doll discloses a gravity flow rack in which wire shelves are coated with an epoxy enamel. Triangular bent-wire divider-track members are mountable on each shelf, forming parallel merchandise channels or rows. Containers stocked in the rows are supported beneath by only two thin wire tracks, thereby requiring minimal surface contact between the bottoms of the containers and the rack surface, and thus substantially reducing the problems associated with the commercial handling of fresh liquids. However, the shelving and dividers of the Doll gravity flow rack are secured using wing nuts and bolts, making it relatively difficult to assemble or vary the configuration of the Doll gravity flow rack.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,600 to Bustos, incorporated herein by reference, provides a cooler gravity feed rack in which divider panels are placed onto shelves supported in a cantilevered fashion between adjacent support posts. The shelves of Bustos requires significant structural detail and additional engagement pieces to be operative as taught.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a gravity flow rack that may be easily and quickly configured and cleaned.
Another object of the invention is to provide a gravity flow rack in which the rack is made from predominantly inexpensive wire or inexpensive plastics.
A further object is to provide a gravity feed shelf in which advertising or pricing labels may be easily inserted to facilitate the merchandising of the containers.
Yet another object is to provide an insertable organizing rack which may be used with both conventional gravity feed and flat wire shelving to organize the shelf merchandise.
A still further object is to provide a organizing rack for a shelf having component parts that are easy to assemble and interchange so as to accommodate different types and sizes of containers.
Still another object is to provide a rack and shelf assembly that is relatively inexpensive to make.
A further object is to provide a rack that is easy to disassemble and clean.
Yet another object is to provide a gravity flow rack that will be compatible with existing gravity shelves.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a gravity flow rack that is attractive and decorative.
Another object of this invention is to provide a rack insert which is reversible to accommodate merchandise of varying height.
Another object is to provide shelving for a gravity flow rack that is lightweight yet durable and relatively strong.
An additional object is to provide a gravity flow rack in which the racked items automatically are maintained in the proper order and in which the front of each succeeding item automatically moves into place on the front face of the rack when a preceding item is removed from the rack.
These and other objects and advantages will become apparent as the specification proceeds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing and other objects are achieved by the present invention of a gravity flow shelf assembly comprising: a rack having a first rail and a second rail, the first and the second rails positioned a spaced distance apart and defining a sleeve therebetween, the first rail having a front shank, a rear shank, and an inter-connecting segment, the interconnecting segment connected to the front shank along the first bend and further connected to the rear shank along a second bend; the second rail having a front shank, a rear shank, and an interconnecting segment, the inter-connecting segment connected to the front shank along the first bend and further connected to the rear shank along the second bend; a first stop member, carried by and positioned between the first front shank and the second rail front shank; a second stop carried by and positioned between the first rail rear shank and the rail rear shank; a first engaging member defined by a terminal free end of at least one of the first or the second front shank and a second engaging member defined by a terminal free end of at least one of the first or the second rear shanks; a gravity feed shelf having an outer frame, a portion of a front frame and a rear frame being respectively engaged by the first engaging member and the second engaging member of rack. Alternatively, the rack element alone may be provided and secured to existing gravity feed shelves.
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Brancheau Harry A.
Upton Ronald D.
Novosad Jennifer E.
Specialty Equipment, Inc.
Stodola Daniel P.
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