Horizontally supported planar surfaces – Plural related horizontal surfaces – Vertically adjustable
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-22
2001-10-16
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3624)
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
Plural related horizontal surfaces
Vertically adjustable
C108S107000, C108S147170, C211S175000, C211S187000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302036
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field Of The Invention
This invention relates to display systems and shelf systems, for example systems used for displaying product in refrigerated display cases.
2. Related Art
Conventional shelving systems, for example those used in refrigerated display cases, have a number of configurations, including fixed or adjustable wire shelves, gravity feed shelving systems, and the like. Many of these shelving systems are relatively difficult to use and are costly to make. For example, wire shelving systems may have one type of shelf support structure to accommodate the wire shelves, while a gravity feed shelving system may have a different type of shelf support assembly.
In refrigerated display cases, wire shelves are common and may be stainless steel or plastic or rubber-coated wire. Wire shelves are strong, sturdy and easy to clean. They also permit ventilation of cold or refrigerated air so that all locations in the display case are preferably at the same temperature.
A gravity feed shelving configuration positions one or more shelves on an incline downwardly from the rear to the front of the display case. Inclined or slanted shelving reduces the need for stocking personnel to regularly inspect the shelves and advance product to the front of the shelves. Slanted shelves, at predetermined angles, allow gravity to move product to the front of the shelf These slanted, gravity-fed shelving arrangements are convenient, but are sometimes difficult to properly position for different product to achieve the appropriate product movement. For example, for beverage containers which are relatively heavy compared to similarly sized packages of dry goods, a lesser incline may be used to adequately advance product on a slanted shelf However, too much of an incline may apply too much pressure from rearwardly stocked product on the forward-most product, making that product more difficult to remove, and also possibly unintentionally removing or ejecting following product.
Additionally, different shelving systems may or may not be adjustable, and the mode of adjustability in one shelving system may not be related to the mode of adjustability in another. For example, some wire shelving systems are adjustable upwardly or downwardly, but are not adjustable in depth. Also, some wire shelving systems have little or no adjustability in shelf angle to permit variability in gravity feed. Moreover, some gravity feed shelving systems often require labor-intensive or complicated procedures to adjust or define the amount of gravity feed in the shelving system.
Some shelving systems include shelf divider arrangements to improve product alignment on the shelf and to insure proper advancement of product toward the front of the shelf either manually or through gravity feed. These divider arrangements may differ from one shelf system to another, and may not serve the intended function uniformly for different shelf systems. Additionally, some divider systems are not as stable as others because their mounting or support structures are inadequate, or other limitations prevent optimal functioning of the divider arrangement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS
A shelving system, shelf support and shelf are disclosed which include embodiments where the shelves are adjustable front to back, adjustable in angle for gravity feed, that may include dividers or product stops to improve product presentation and stocking procedures, or which are generally easier to use. Some of the embodiments include an improved mounting bracket or shelf mounting arrangement making it easier to adjust shelves, or easier to position shelves at the desired levels on shelf posts or other shelf supports.
In one preferred embodiment, a shelving system includes a shelf support structure and a shelf having a shelf support element wherein the shelf support element engages at least one of several support surfaces on the shelf support structure. For example, the shelf support structure may be shelf posts having a shelf mounting bracket with a number of slots or other shelf support surfaces for the shelf support element. In one embodiment, the shelf mounting bracket includes a number of angled slots spaced apart from each other in a direction which is preferably horizontal to allow the shelf to be positioned and supported by any one of the slots, thereby allowing adjustments in depth for the shelf. The bracket can also take a number of other configurations, for example the slots may be arranged, with respect each other, other than along a horizontal line. Additionally, the slots can be inverted T-shaped or other shapes suitable for positioning, adjusting and supporting shelves.
In one aspect of the inventions, the shelf mounting bracket is supported by first and second shelf posts, wherein the shelf posts include vertically oriented openings or holes to permit vertical adjustment of the bracket. The holes may permit not only vertical adjustability of the shelf, but also adjustment in the angle of the shelf to permit gravity feed at a number of desired angles. Preferably, the bracket engages a number of holes in each shelf post to enhance stability of the assembly. Moreover, each shelf post preferably includes two sets of vertically arranged holes to permit shelves to be placed side-by-side and still be vertically adjustable. The bracket also preferably includes a lock, latch or other retaining element for keeping the bracket in place on the shelf posts until the bracket is to be manually repositioned or removed.
In another aspect of the inventions, a shelf support system may include a base for positioning and supporting a shelf and a shelf support element having first and second portions. The first portion engages the base and the second portion engages a shelf wherein the second portion includes a curved receiving element, such as for receiving and supporting a rail portion of a wire shelf In one embodiment, the base includes one or more shelf posts having openings for receiving a first portion of the shelf support element and wherein the second portion of the shelf support element is a substantially closed loop for supporting a rail or other wire portion on a shelf. Using a loop to support a portion of the shelf permits easy adjustment of the shelf as well as more flexibility in positioning the shelf. This shelf support element also preferably includes a lock, latch or other retaining element for holding the shelf support element in place until manually repositioned or removed.
In another aspect of the inventions, a shelf is provided for supporting and displaying products. It includes a substantially planar shelf portion and a longitudinally extending element extending across the front, rear or other portion of the shelf and having a number of engagement surfaces for engaging the product support. The longitudinally extending element may be an aperture bar extending across the front of the shelf, and the product support may be a divider or other bar or wire for positioning product or making it easier to move product on the shelf. The aperture bar may be adjustably fixed to the shelf so that the bar may be raised, lowered or otherwise repositioned as desired. The aperture bar preferably accepts and holds in position one or more dividers having hooks, prongs or other mounting elements for engaging the aperture bar. The aperture bar can also serve as a product stop at the front of the shelf. An aperture bar can also be placed at the rear of the shelf for holding one or more dividers and also for minimizing the possibility of product being pushed off the rear of the shelf Preferably, the rear aperture bar is spaced from the surface of the shelf to permit insertion of a glide or slide sheet under the rear aperture bar and across the top of the shelf. The glide sheet may be used to ease movement of product in a gravity feed arrangement.
In another aspect of the inventions, a wire shelf may include a divider having a front portion for engaging a front of the wire shelf and a rear portion for engaging a rear portion of the wire shelf. Prefe
Calderon Raymundo
Carson Tim
Downing Bennie Reed
Nicholson Jeffery
Ondrasik V. John
Anthony Inc.
Cuomo Peter M.
Henricks, Slavin & Holmes
Tran Hanh V.
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