Shelf shipping clip
A shipping clip is configured to secure at least one shelf within a cabinet having walls and a base. The shipping clip includes a main beam having first and second side, and a biasing tab outwardly extending from the first side at an angle. The biasing tab is configured to exert a force into the shelf to compressively secure the shelf within the cabinet during shipping.
This application relates to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/726,358 entitled “Shelf Shipping Clip,” filed Oct. 13, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONEmbodiments of the present invention generally relate to shipping clips, and more particularly to shipping clips for shelves.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various cabinets and bookcases include a plurality of shelves that may be secured within the cabinets and bookcases through a plurality of pins.
After a cabinet, for example, is manufactured, it is shipped to a distributor, retailer, or customer. Because the shelves may not be permanently secured within the cabinet, the manufacturer typically ensures that the shelves are safely shipped. For example, the cabinet and shelves may be separately shipped so that the shelves do not shift about the cabinet during shipping. However, separately shipping the shelves and cabinet increases the costs of shipping, because two separate packing assemblies are shipped. In order to minimize shipping costs, some cabinets are shipped with the shelves temporarily secured therein.
Referring to
Thus, a need exists for a shipping clip capable of securing a plurality of shelves during shipping. Additionally, a need exists for a shipping clip that prevents the shelves from banging into cabinet walls during shipping.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONCertain Embodiments of the present invention provide a shipping clip configured to secure at least one shelf within a cabinet having walls and a base. The shipping clip may include a beam having a shelf side and a cabinet-abutting side, and a resilient biasing tab outwardly extending proximate a mid-section of said shelf side at an angle. The biasing tab is configured to exert a force into the at least one shelf to compressively secure the at least one shelf within the cabinet during shipping.
The biasing tab may include an extension tab integrally connected to a blunted shelf-abutting end, wherein the blunted shelf-abutting end is configured to abut against a top surface of the at least one shelf.
The shipping clip may also include a cabinet securing post extending from the cabinet-abutting side, wherein the cabinet securing post is configured to be retained within a reciprocal opening formed in at least one of the walls of the cabinet.
Additionally, a grasping handle may extend from an upper portion of the shelf side. The grasping handle may include a fin extending from the shelf side, and a cylindrical post integrally connected to the fin.
Further, a shelf-stabilizing ramp may extend from the shelf side below the biasing tab. The shelf-stabilizing ramp may be configured to abut against a top surface of the at least one shelf.
A shim may extend from the beam and be configured to be positioned between the at least one shelf and at least one of the walls of the cabinet. The shim is configured to prevent lateral shifting of the at least one shelf within the cabinet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A handle 48 extends from a shelf side 50 (which is opposite the wall-abutting side), and proximate the top of the main beam 42. That is, the handle 48 and the post 44 extend from opposite sides 50 and 46, respectively, of an upper portion of the main beam 42. The handle 48 may include a vertical fin 52 extending outwardly from the side 50. The vertical fin 52 may be integrally formed with a cylindrical post 54. The vertical fin 52 and the cylindrical post 54 may be ergonomically configured to allow easy grasping of the handle 48. For example, the cylindrical post 54 acts as a barrier that prevents fingers from sliding off the handle 48 in the direction of arrow A.
Proximate a mid-section 55 of the main beam 42, a resilient biasing tab 56 extends outwardly from the side 50 at an angle 0. The biasing tab 56 includes extension beam 58 integrally formed with a rounded, or blunted shelf-abutting end 60, that is distally located from the main beam 42. As shown in
A shelf-stabilizing ramp 62 extends from the side 50 of the main beam 42 below the biasing tab 56. The ramp 62 includes a lower surface 64 that extends perpendicularly from the side 50 of the main beam 50. The lower surface 64 is integrally connected to a ramped surface 66 that extends toward the midsection 55 of the main beam 42.
The lower portion of the main beam 42 terminates in a shim 68 that extends below the ramp 62. The shim 68 is configured to be positioned between a cabinet wall (not shown in
The shipping clip 40 is secured into the cabinet wall 76. That is, the post 44 is secured within a reciprocal opening 78 formed in the cabinet wall 76.
The shim 68 of the shipping clip 40 is positioned between the shelves 70 and the cabinet wall 76. The shim 68 provides a barrier between the shelves 70 and the cabinet wall 76 that prevents lateral shifting of the shelves 70 within the cabinet 72. Thus, the shelves 70 and cabinet walls 76 are protected against scratching or other damage that may be caused by the shelves 70 banging into the cabinet walls 76 during shipping.
The lower surface 64 of the ramp 62 is positioned over a top edge of the top shelf 70, while the shim 68 may overlay a lateral surface of the top shelf 70. The ramp 62 and the shim 68 may cooperate to secure the shelves 70 from vertical and lateral shifting.
The shelf-abutting end 60 of the biasing clip 56 exerts a force into the top surface of the top shelf 70. The force exerted by the biasing clip 56 into the top shelf compresses the shelves 70 into the base 74 of the cabinet, thereby restricting movement of the shelves 70.
As shown in
Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a shipping clip capable of securing a plurality of shelves during shipping. As shown in
Additionally, embodiments of the present invention provide a shipping clip that prevents shelves from banging into the cabinet walls during shipping. The shims and ramps of the shipping clips act as barriers that minimize the shelves from shifting during shipping.
While various spatial terms, such as upper, lower, mid, lateral, horizontal, vertical, and the like are used to describe portions of the shipping clip with respect to a cabinet, it is understood that such terms are merely used with respect to the orientations shown in the drawings. The orientations may be inverted, rotated, or otherwise changed, such that an upper portion is a lower portion, and vice versa, horizontal becomes vertical, and the like.
Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A shipping clip configured to secure at least one shelf within a cabinet having walls and a base, the shipping clip comprising:
- a main beam having first and second sides; and
- a biasing tab outwardly extending from said first side, wherein said biasing tab is configured to exert a force into the at least one shelf to compressively secure the at least one shelf within the cabinet during shipping.
2. The shipping clip of claim 1, wherein said biasing tab is spring-biased.
3. The shipping clip of claim 1, wherein said biasing tab comprises an extension tab integrally connected to a blunted shelf-abutting end, wherein said blunted shelf-abutting end is configured to abut against a top surface of the at least one shelf.
4. The shipping clip of claim 1, further comprising a cabinet securing post extending from said second side, wherein said cabinet securing post is configured to be retained within a reciprocal opening formed in at least one of the walls of the cabinet.
5. The shipping clip of claim 1, further comprising a grasping handle extending from said first side, wherein said grasping handle comprises a fin extending from said first side, and a cylindrical post integrally connected to said fin.
6. The shipping clip of claim 1, further comprising a shelf-stabilizing ramp extending from said first side, wherein said shelf-stabilizing ramp is configured to abut against a top surface of the at least one shelf.
7. The shipping clip of claim 1, wherein said main beam further comprises a shim configured to be positioned between the at least one shelf and at least one of the walls of the cabinet, said shim configured to prevent lateral shifting of the at least one shelf within the cabinet.
8. The shipping clip of claim 1, wherein the at least one shelf comprises a plurality of shelves.
9. The shipping clip of claim 1, wherein the shipping clip is configured to securely retain the at least one shelf against the base of the cabinet.
10. A shipping clip configured to secure at least one shelf within a cabinet having walls and a base, the shipping clip comprising:
- a beam having a shelf side and a cabinet-abutting side; and
- a resilient biasing tab outwardly extending proximate a mid-section of said shelf side at an angle, wherein said biasing tab is configured to exert a force into the at least one shelf to compressively secure the at least one shelf within the cabinet during shipping.
11. The shipping clip of claim 10, wherein said biasing tab is spring-biased.
12. The shipping clip of claim 10, wherein said biasing tab comprises an extension tab integrally connected to a blunted shelf-abutting end, wherein said blunted shelf-abutting end is configured to abut against a top surface of the at least one shelf.
13. The shipping clip of claim 10, further comprising a cabinet securing post extending from said cabinet-abutting side, wherein said cabinet securing post is configured to be retained within a reciprocal opening formed in at least one of the walls of the cabinet.
14. The shipping clip of claim 10, further comprising a grasping handle extending from an upper portion of said shelf side, wherein said grasping handle comprises a fin extending from said shelf side, and a cylindrical post integrally connected to said fin.
15. The shipping clip of claim 10, further comprising a shelf-stabilizing ramp extending from said shelf side below said biasing tab, wherein said shelf-stabilizing ramp is configured to abut against a top surface of the at least one shelf.
16. The shipping clip of claim 10, wherein said beam further comprises a shim configured to be positioned between the at least one shelf and at least one of the walls of the cabinet, said shim configured to prevent lateral shifting of the at least one shelf within the cabinet.
17. The shipping clip of claim 10, wherein the at least one shelf comprises a plurality of shelves.
18. The shipping clip of claim 10, wherein the shipping clip is configured to securely retain the at least one shelf against the base of the cabinet.
19. A shipping clip configured to secure at least one shelf within a cabinet having walls and a base, the shipping clip comprising:
- a beam having a shelf side, a cabinet-abutting side, and a shim configured to be positioned between the at least one shelf and at least one of the walls of the cabinet, said shim configured to prevent lateral shifting of the at least one shelf within the cabinet;
- a cabinet securing post extending from said cabinet-abutting side, wherein said cabinet securing post is configured to be retained within a reciprocal opening formed in at least one of the walls of the cabinet;
- a grasping handle extending from an upper portion of said shelf side, wherein said grasping handle comprises a fin extending from said shelf side, and a cylindrical post integrally connected to said fin;
- a resilient biasing tab outwardly extending proximate a mid-section of said shelf side at an angle, wherein said biasing tab is configured to exert a force into the at least one shelf to compressively secure the at least one shelf within the cabinet during shipping, said biasing tab comprising an extension tab integrally connected to a blunted shelf-abutting end, wherein said blunted shelf-abutting end is configured to abut against a top surface of the at least one shelf; and
- a shelf-stabilizing ramp extending from said shelf side below said biasing tab, wherein said shelf-stabilizing ramp is configured to abut against a top surface of the at least one shelf.
20. The shipping clip of claim 10, wherein the at least one shelf comprises a plurality of shelves, and wherein the shipping clip is configured to securely retain the at least one shelf against the base of the cabinet.
Type: Application
Filed: May 10, 2006
Publication Date: Apr 26, 2007
Inventor: Mark Downing (Palatine, IL)
Application Number: 11/431,478
International Classification: A47G 29/02 (20060101);