Sliding and Tilting Shelves, Especially for Use in a Refrigerated Mechandise Display

Abstract

A shelf system for use in displaying and storing merchandise is especially suited for use in a refrigerated or chiller compartment that can be used with other conventional display sections. The shelving system or unit includes a squared frame that is mounted in a refrigeration compartment. Side or knife brackets are mounted on opposite sides of the frame and shelves on which items of merchandise are stored in spring loaded pusher track systems are mounted on the side brackets. Guide members mounted on the side brackets allow the shelves to slide between a retracted and an extended position on a planar path, but when the shelves reach the extended position, the glide members tilt allowing the shelves to tile for easier access to items stored thereon.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR CO-PENDING APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of prior co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/626,844 filed on Oct. 4, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is directed to a retail merchandise display unit that can be used to display and store merchandise in the form of individual items that will be removed from the shelves forming the retail display unit. More particularly, this invention is directed to a refrigerated retail display unit or chiller that can replace a standard shelving unit without disturbing standard retail shelving sections that would remain on either side of the refrigerated retail display unit.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Merchandise is commonly displayed and stored on shelves. Spring loaded pusher systems are also mounted on the shelves to push items in different rows forward when the item at the front of a particular row is removed. These conventional displays are typically used with items that can be displayed and stored at room temperature. In some cases, new and different premium items, which may compete with or be superior to the standard item, may require special storage conditions. For example it may be necessary to maintain these items at temperatures that are lower than room temperature. Thus refrigeration or chiller equipment must be employed.

However, since the premium refrigerated items may be competitive with the standard items that require no special storage, a retailer or a product manufacturer may wish to display these items with standard items. Small cabinet mounted refrigeration units or countertop refrigerated or chiller units have been employed. However, these smaller units do not provide significant display space. A larger refrigeration unit or chiller could display more product, but if it is substituted for a standard display unit or section, it may not be cost effective unless the new refrigeration unit is capable of storing a large number of items in an available display space. Furthermore, the overall dimensions of such a unit will need to be similar to standard display sections if they are to be interchangeable.

One problem with prior are shelf display systems 100, such as that shown in FIG. 11 is the presence of straps 110 that extend either below side brackets 106 and 108 on which a shelf will ride. When items or product are stored for display in pusher systems 104 located on shelves 102, the straps 110 can obstruct the product on the shelves 102 during movement. For example, a relatively tall product on a shelf 102 might be wedged against a strap 110 located on the side or knife brackets 106, 108 on which the shelf above rides. This would require greater clearance and therefore reduce the storage density of product stored therein. Tilting of the shelves 110 to enhance access to product or items on the shelves would also be restricted by the presence of these straps 110. If the straps extending between a frame on which side brackets 106, 108 are mounted the side brackets and therefore the shelves 102 could only be mounted at select locations, limiting the versatility of the storage display system. The present invention eliminated the necessity for these straps and is therefore referred to as a strapless system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of this invention, a shelf assembly is used to store and display merchandise. This shelf assembly includes a pair of side brackets mountable on a frame. Each side bracket includes glide members on an interior surface. A shelf subassembly is positioned between and supported by the pair of side brackets. Each shelf assembly includes outwardly facing slide channels extending along the side of each shelf subassembly. The glide members on the side brackets are received within the slide channels so that the shelf subassembly can travel fore and aft relative to the pair of side brackets as the glide members ride within the slide channels.

The glide members are pivotally secured to the side bracket on which it is mounted. Movement of the shelf subassembly to an extended position imparts rotation to the glide members while the glide members remain within the slide channels. The shelf subassembly will then tilt, due to gravity, relative to the side brackets when in this extended position.

A retail product display and storage assembly according to another aspect of this invention is used in a refrigerated compartment. This assembly includes a plurality of sliding shelves, stacked one above the other on multiple levels. A squared frame can be positioned in the refrigerated compartment. The frame includes four upright frame corner posts that form squared vertical reference lines not solely dependent upon interior surfaces of the refrigerated compartment. Side brackets are each secured to a rear frame corner post and a front frame corner post on one side of the frame. Two side brackets on the same level, one on each side of the frame, are held in position by the frame corner posts to form a planar path along which the sliding shelves will slide between a retracted and an extended position. Glide members on the side brackets are received in side channels on the shelves to allow the shelves to slide between the retracted to the extended positions.

This invention also can comprise a strapless merchandise assembly for displaying and storing merchandise and providing an item storage volume equal to a large percentage of available display space. This assembly includes a plurality of slidable and tiltable shelves. Each shelf is mountable between two side brackets. These side brackets are independently held in fixed positions. Each shelf is mounted between pairs of side brackets, without straps extending laterally between side brackets forming a pair of side brackets either above or below each shelf. Each shelf slides relative to the pair of side brackets on which it is mounted between retracted and extended positions. Each shelf tilts relative to the pair of side brackets on which it is mounted only when the shelf is in the extended position. Each shelf has a channel on each side receiving glide members mounted on each side bracket. Each shelf slides along a planar path relative to the pair of side brackets on which it is mounted between the retracted and extended positions. Each glide member tilts when the shelf reaches the extended position so that the shelf will tilt due to gravity. The extended position at which each shelf tilts is dependent upon distribution of weight of items stored on that shelf. Each shelf is free to tilt without obstruction of items stored on the shelf by straps above and below the shelf so that shelves can be positioned relatively close together to increase the percentage of item storage volume relative to display space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of a retail display showing a refrigerated display unit located between two standard product display sections as they would be employed in a retail establishment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a refrigerated display unit including a refrigerated compartment and the shelf assembly that can be positioned within the refrigerated compartment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the components of a shelf assembly according to this invention that would be employed in the refrigerated display unit as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4A is an exploded unit of a frame that is part of the shelf assembly of FIG. 2 showing a single self that would be mounted in the frame by side or knife brackets attached to the frame. FIG. 4B is a fragmentary view showing a side or knife bracket mounted on the frame and FIG. 4C is a similar fragmentary view showing the opposite side of the side or knife bracket from that shown in FIG. 4B.

FIG. 5A shows a single shelf assembly mounted in a frame in a retracted position. FIG. 5B is a fragmentary view showing the attachment of a side or knife bracket to a rear corner post on the frame. FIG. 5C is a fragmentary view showing the attachment of the side or knife bracket to a front corner post on the frame.

FIG. 6A is a view showing a single shelf assembly in an extended position in which the shelf assembly is tilted relative to the frame. FIG. 6B is a fragmentary view showing the shelf assembly tilted relative to the side or knife bracket and showing the attachment of the side or knife bracket at the rear of the frame. FIG. 6C is a fragmentary view showing the shelf assembly tilted relative to the front end of one of the side or knife brackets.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing a shelf assembly, with a pusher subassembly mounted thereon, and the two side or knife brackets on which the single shelf assembly would be mounted.

FIG. 8A shows the interior surface of one of the assembled side or knife brackets. FIG. 8B shows the two components of the side or knife brackets prior to assembly.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view showing a single shelf and the components forming the pusher subassembly that will be mounted on the shelf.

FIG. 10 is a view of one of the tiltable glide members.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a prior art assembly in which side brackets are attached together by straps extending below a shelf mounted on the side brackets, and therefore extending above a shelf positioned below the shelf depicted therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a retail product display and storage unit or section 2 that includes a refrigerated compartment 10 that can be referred to as a chiller. This refrigerated unit 2 can be employed in combination with standard merchandise display sections 16 and 18 on either side. This allows merchandise items 8 that should be maintained at a lower temperature than normal to be stored and displayed next to other merchandise that may not require special care, but which may not offer the margins to the retailer that can be realized from these refrigerated items 8. However, these refrigerated items 8 can be part of the same general product category as the other items that should be displayed in close proximity. Since the volume of product displayed is an important consideration, the substitution of a refrigerated product display and storage unit 2 for a standard display section cannot significantly reduce the number of items on display. Furthermore, overall dimensions of the refrigerated product display and storage unit 2 should be within a range which would allow the refrigerated unit 2 to be interchangeable with one of the conventional sections 16 or 18. Although additional refrigeration components are necessary, it follows that the item storage volume should be a very high percentage of the available display space or volume. In other words, the shelf assembly 20 in the refrigerated storage compartment 10 should allow as much of the available space to be filled with product or items 8 as possible. It follows that the items 8 will be stored together as closely as possible. The shelf assembly 20 should nevertheless provide product handling capabilities, such as product pusher subassemblies 90 in which product or items 8 stored in rows are advanced after the front product is removed by a customer or by a store employee. In addition, the shelf assembly 20 must allow items to be stocked and to be recycled or rearranged as appropriate. The instant invention is intended to increase product storage and display space by placing shelves 40 close together so that only the front item is accessible, and these closely spaced shelves 40 will slide out for restocking. In addition these shelves 40 will tilt when the shelf is in its extended position as shown in FIG. 1. In the representative embodiment, nine shelf levels 22, as seen in FIG. 2 are provided resulting in minimal product headroom between shelves 40. Tilting not only facilitates restocking, but may be necessary for the upper rows of a shelf assembly 20, which might not be conveniently accessible to a person of normal height, either to restock the merchandise or in some cases even to remove an item 8 located on the front of a row.

FIG. 2 shows a shelf subassembly 20 and a mounting frame 30 on which the shelves 40 are mounted. This mounting frame 30 comprises squared mounting member on which the individual shelves 40 can slide smoothly between a retracted position and an extended position along a planar path to prevent binding and so that the shelves 40 will not be canted, especially during extraction. In the configuration depicted herein, this planar path will be level, although it should be understood that the shelves 40 can be angled, but the planar path on which they travel should also be at the same angle.

For normal construction, the interior surfaces 12 of a refrigerated compartment 10 do not exhibit the dimensional tolerances that will allow the shelves 40 to be mounted directly to the refrigerated unit or to the walls of the refrigerated compartment 10 while achieving the same storage and product density while allowing smooth operation of the shelves 40. This is believed to be due to the need to insulate the refrigerated compartment 10, which results in the need for large clearances in a standard refrigerated compartment. The mounting frame 30 can be positioned in the refrigerated compartment 10, close to the interior surfaces 12, and then be leveled or squared independent of the contour of the refrigerated compartment interior surfaces 12. This squared frame 30 will then properly position the shelf subassembly 20 and its components for reliable movement of the shelves 40, while utilizing a large percentage of the available refrigerated storage space for the items 8 themselves. In the embodiment depicted herein the four corner posts 32 and 34 are connected by braces 36 so that the entire frame 30 remains fairly rigid. However the important aspect of this frame is that the corner posts 32 and 34 remain square. In alternate embodiments these corner posts could be assembled individually or in pairs and then oriented so the posts 32 and 34 would be square forming true vertical reference lines.

The mounting frame 30 can be inserted through the front door 14 of the refrigerator or chiller, and leveled or squared once inside the refrigerated compartment. The shelves 40 can then be mounted on the mounting frame 30, which includes two front corner posts 32 and two rear corner posts 34. Corner posts 32 and 34 are connected by frame braces 36 and by a frame base 38. The braces 36 and the base 38 are located on the periphery of the mounting frame 30, which does not include any straps extending between the sides of the mounting frame 30 within the periphery of the mounting frame 30. The absence of these straps eliminates interference with the shelves 40 and items 8 stored thereon during movement between an retracted position, in which the shelf is fully inserted, and an extended position. Furthermore, the absence of any straps extending over or above the shelves 40 prevents interference when the shelves 40, and the items 8 stored thereon, are tilted, when the shelf 40 is in an extended position. The absence of straps means the less vertical spacing is necessary between shelf levels 22, thus increasing item storage volume. In the preferred embodiment, the mounting frame 30 is fabricated from metal members to provide sufficient rigidity to this structure. Furthermore, the absence of straps extending over the shelves 40 or between side brackets 50 means that the side brackets 50 can be positioned at virtually any point along the corner posts 32 and 34. Thus the side brackets 50 and the shelves riding thereon can be positioned as a function of the size of the items or product to be stored thereon.

The individual shelves 40 are supported on the mounting frame 30 by side or knife brackets 50. Knife brackets 50 will engage each shelf 40 on opposite sides. A number of knife brackets 50 equal to the number of shelf levels 22 will be mounted on opposite sides of the mounting frame 30. Each side or knife bracket 50 has a front portion or end 52 attached to a front frame corner post 32 and a rear portion or end 54 attached to a rear frame corner post 34. As shown in FIG. 8B, each knife bracket 50 comprises an upright section 56 extending between the front and rear ends 52, 54, and a mounting piece 66 attachable to the interior of the upright section 56 at the rear end 54. A lower flange 58 extends from the upright section 56, and extends inward from the interior surface of upright section 56. The lower flange 58 can provide support for the rear of the shelf 40 in its retracted position.

Two arcuate slots 60 extend through the upright bracket section 56 adjacent the front end 52. These arcuate slots 60 are of different lengths, with the forward slot 60 being shorter than the rearward slot 60, although it should be noticed that these arcuate slots 60 subtend a common angle measured relative to an opening 86, which will form a pivot point for a glide member 70 that will be mounted on each side bracket 50, as will be subsequently discussed in greater detail.

The bracket mounting piece 66 includes three rearwardly extending, but downwardly facing hooks 62. These hooks 62 are insertable into openings 35, shown in FIG. 4B to mount the side or knife bracket 50 to a corresponding rear corner post 34. Since there are a row of openings 35 located on each rear corner post 34, the side brackets 50 can be mounted at different heights, depending upon the particular application, including the height of the items to be stored on specific shelves 40. Spacing between shelves 40 is therefore a function of the relatively close spacing between these openings 35. Each side bracket 50 also includes a tongue 64 that is struck from the upright section 56 closer to the front end 52 than to the rear end. This tongue 64 has a rearwardly facing free end, and the tongue 64 extends outwardly from the upright section 56. This tongue 64 will extend over the front edge of the corresponding front frame corner post 32 to attach the side bracket 50 to the front post 32 while the hooks 62 secure the side bracket 50 to the rear post 34. The tongue 64 will provide lateral positioning between the side bracket 50 and its corresponding front corner post 32, but there is significance leeway for the fore and aft relationship between the side bracket 50 and a corresponding front corner post 32, because it is not necessary to fully inset the leading edge of the front corner post 32 in the slot formed by the tongue 64. FIG. 4B shows the rear of the side bracket fully inserted so that the hooks 62 will be secured in three appropriate openings 35 in the rear corner post. FIG. 4C shows the tongue 64 engaging the front frame corner post 32. Each side bracket 50 will then be attached to front and rear corner posts 32, 34 of the squared frame 30, and will form a planar path along which the shelves 40 can be moved in a straight line during insertion and extraction. Side brackets 50 on each level will thus be accurately aligned.

Each shelf 40 includes metal side or slide channels 42 forming the sides of the shelf 40. These channels are joined at the front and rear by lateral supports 44 and 46 to form a rigid member. The side channels 42 have a U-shaped cross section and each channel 42 opens outwardly. The side channels 42 are dimensioned to receive a single glide member 70 as the shelf 40 moves between a retracted and extended position. The lower lip of each channel 42 will be positioned between the glide member 70 and the lower flange 58 on the side bracket 50.

Glide member 70 comprise one piece members which preferably are fabricated from a plastic that will provide sufficient lubricity to allow the glide member to slide within the shelf side channel 42 with little friction. These glide members 70 can also be referred to as slide members since slide or guide in the side channels 42. Glide members 70 are mounted adjacent the front end 52 of each side bracket 50 to the interior surface of the upright bracelet section 56. The glide members 72 will fit within a corresponding side channel 42 on a shelf 40. As the shelf 40 moves from a rear, retracted position, the glide members 72 will move along a straight path allowing the shelf to move in a straight line along a planar path. The shelf 40 will tilt as it reaches its extended position because the glide members, supporting the shelf 40, will pivot relative to the side bracket 50 on which it is mounted. Each glide member 70 is mounted to a side bracket 50 by a pivot pin 84 that extends from the front housing end 78 into a pivot opening 86 on the side bracket 50. As the shelf 40, with items of merchandise 8 stored thereon, moves forward it will ultimately reach a point where the center of gravity of the loaded shelf 40 moves past the axis formed by the pivot pin 84, and then gravity acting upon the loaded shelf 40 will cause the two glide members 70 supporting it to rotate about this axis of rotation, thus allowing the loaded shelf to tilt to the position shown in FIG. 6A. When the shelf 40 reaches this extended position, it can rotate or tilt because there are no straps or cross pieces extending above the shelf 40, which might obstruct items 8 stored on the shelf 40. The straps 110, shown in the prior art configuration of FIG. 11 are absent from the strapless configuration of this invention, and the pair of side brackets 50 are not connected by straps extending above or below the corresponding shelf 40. The rigidity that might have been provided by a strap has been replaced, in this strapless configuration by the rigid, peripheral mounting frame 30 or by squared and anchored corner posts 32 and 34 to which the immovable side or knife brackets 50 are secured. Of course, the weight and number of items 8 that are present on the shelf 40 will differ depending upon the loaded condition of the shelf. However, the pusher subassemblies 90 on each shelf will insure that the items 8 are moved forward, and the center of gravity of a partially loaded shelf 40 may even be further forward than a fully loaded shelf 40. Thus although the extended position at which the loaded shelf 40 begins to tilt can vary depending upon the weight and number of items 8 on the shelf 40, the shelf 40 will still be sufficiently clear of shelves 40 above and below the tilting shelf, so that there will be no interference.

The glide member 70 extends rearwardly from the front pivot pin 84. Pins 88 extend beyond the inner surface of the glide members 70. As can be seen in FIG. 5C, each of this pins 88 extend through the guide member 70 into one of the arcuate slots 60 on the side or knife bracket 50. The ends of the arcuate slots 60 thus serve to limit the movement of pins 88 and therefore limit the angle through which the glide member 70 can tilt. The tilt of the glide member 70 determines the degree of tilt of the shelf 40, because the glide members 70 are captured in the shelf channels 42. A stop pin 89 extending through the rear shelf lateral support 46 will engage the rear of the glide members 70 when the shelf 40 is in a fully extended position so that the shelf 40 will not fall free of the side brackets 50. The glide members 70 also include a notch 82 located on its upper surface. A downwardly extending lip on the front shelf lateral support 44 will engage this notch 82 when the shelf 40 is in its retracted position, to hold the shelf 40 in place. Thus removal of an item 8 from the shelf 40 will not cause the shelf to move forward from its normally operative retracted position. A slight upward movement of the front end of the shelf 40 will clear this notch 82 so that the shelf 40 is free to slide from the retracted position toward the extended position.

This strapless shelf assembly can employ a conventional pusher subassembly 90 for storing the merchandise items in parallel rows. The representative embodiment of a pusher subassembly 90 includes a pusher track 92 that can be mounted on a front strip 91 and a rear strip 93. Mounting strips 91 and 93 can be secured respectively to the front and rear lateral shelf supports 44 and 46. A tape or an adhesive can be employed. In the representative embodiment shown herein, the individual tracks 92 are snapped into place in the front and rear strips 91 and 93. Dividers 98 are also snapped into the strips 91 and 93 between the tracks 92. A pusher 94 spring loaded by a coil spring 96 is mounted on each track, and the spring loaded pusher 94 will bias or push items in front of the pusher 94 toward the front of the shelf 40 so that as a front item 8 is removed those behind it are urged forward so that items in all rows are readily accessible. The pusher subassembly 90 depicted herein is merely representative and this invention is suitable for use with other conventional pusher systems. For example, the pusher system could employ one-piece components with multiple tracks. Pusher systems similar to the representative embodiment depicted herein are discussed in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,201,281, which is incorporated by reference herein. The representative embodiment also shows a pusher system in which the larger frontal surface of the item faces forward. Another pusher system in which the items are positioned with narrower sides facing forward and which is also suitable for use in this invention, is shown in US Provisional Patent Application (Attorney's Docket Number 11034) filed Sep. 30, 2011 by Brian Welker and Greg Isaacs and entitled System for Advancing Merchandise in Different Orientations, which application is incorporated herein by reference.

The items 8 depicted herein are disk shaped. It should be understood however that the items with which this invention can be employed can have other shapes. For example, this invention is especially suited for rectangular items or packages. This invention is also suited for applications in which the height of the various items can be different, and this invention can even be employed in situations in which the height of items in different rows of the same shelf may be different. It should also be understood that this shelving system can be employed with room temperature displays as well as displays in which the items may maintained at an elevated temperature or subject to other restrictions.

In an alternate embodiment the single piece glide members 70, which merely slide along channels 42 without rotation, could be replaced by a member having wheels or rollers that rotate relative to a housing in which they are located. Thus the term glide members is not limited to bearing members that merely translate or slide without rotation.

Claims

1. A shelf assembly for use in storing and displaying merchandise, the shelf assembly comprising:

a pair of side brackets mountable on a frame, each side bracket including a glide member mounted on an interior surface;

at least one shelf subassembly positioned between and supported by the pair of side brackets, each shelf subassembly including outwardly facing slide channels extending along the side of each shelf subassembly, the glide members on the side brackets being received within the slide channels so that the shelf subassembly can travel fore and aft, between a retracted position and an extended position, relative to the pair of side brackets as the glide members ride within the slide channels;

the shelf assembly being characterized in that the glide members are pivotally mounted on the side brackets, wherein each shelf subassembly moves only horizontally during initial movement from the retracted position toward the extended position, movement of the shelf subassembly to the extended position imparting rotation to the glide members while the glide members remain within the slide channels so that the shelf subassembly will tilt, due to gravity, relative to the side brackets when in the extended position.

2. The shelf assembly of claim 1 wherein the side brackets are mounted to the frame adjacent a rear portion of the side brackets and adjacent to a front portion of the side brackets, so that the side brackets are immobile relative to the frame, the shelf subassembly sliding and tilting relative to both the frame and the side brackets.

3. The shelf assembly of claim 2 wherein the side brackets are mounted to the frame in columns on the sides of the shelf assembly so that multiple shelf subassemblies can be mounted, one above the other relative to the frame.

4. The shelf assembly of claim 3 wherein two of the side brackets comprising a pair of side brackets are only attached to the frame along sides of the frame so that shelf assemblies and merchandise items located on the shelves can slide and rotate without abutting members extending between the side brackets forming a pair of side brackets.

5. The shelf assembly of claim 1 wherein the glide members are pivotally secured to the side brackets at one end of each glide member with at least one pin extending from an opposite end of each glide members through an arcuate slot in the side bracket on which the glide member is mounted so that the pin moves within the arcuate slot as the glide member tilts due gravity acting on the shelf subassembly in the extended position.

6. The shelf assembly of claim 5 wherein the pin extends through an axis of rotation of each glide member and into a pivot point on the side bracket on which the glide member is mounted.

7. The shelf assembly of claim 6 wherein multiple pins extend into multiple arcuate slots in the bracket on which the bracket on which the glide member is mounted, the multiple pins being spaced from an axis around which the glide member rotates through and angle subtended by the arcuate slots.

8. The shelf assembly of claim 5 wherein the glide members are pivotally mounted on the side brackets adjacent a forward end of the glide members.

9. The shelf assembly of claim 1 wherein the side brackets comprise knife brackets including an upright wall forming the interior surface on which the glide members are mounted.

10. The shelf assembly of claim 1 wherein a rearward facing notch on the glide members is engaged by the shelf subassembly when in a retracted position to form a stop retaining the shelf subassembly in the retracted position, upward movement of the shelf subassembly disengaging the shelf subassembly from the notch so that the shelf subassembly can move from the retracted to the extended position.

11. The shelf assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one shelf tilts relative to the side brackets only after the shelf has moved to a position in which its center of gravity is positioned beyond a glide member pivot point.

12. A retail product display and storage assembly for use in a refrigerated compartment, the assembly comprising:

a plurality of sliding shelves, stacked one above the other on multiple levels;

a squared frame positionable in the refrigerated compartment, the frame including four upright frame corner posts positioned to define vertical reference lines not solely dependent upon interior surface contours of the refrigerated compartment;

side brackets, each securely attachable to and detachable the frame at a rear frame corner post and a front frame corner post on one side of the frame, two side brackets on the same level, one on each side of the frame, being held in position by the frame to form a planar path along which the sliding shelves will slide between a retracted and an extended position; and

glide members mounted on the side brackets and received in side channels on the shelves to allow the shelves to slide between the retracted to the extended positions.

13. The retail product display and storage assembly of claim 12 wherein the frame is removable from the refrigerated compartment through a front door on the refrigerated compartment.

14. The retail product display and storage assembly of claim 13 wherein the four upright frame corner posts are interconnected by braces only extending around a periphery of the frame, the braces being separate from the side brackets.

15. The retail product display and storage assembly of claim 14 wherein each side bracket is secured only to the frame, and side brackets on the same level are connected only to the frame, with the exception of to the sliding shelf extending therebetween on the same level, to form a strapless assembly.

16. The retail product display and storage assembly of claim 12 wherein the sliding shelves are tiltable when located in the extended position, but not when sliding between the retracted and extended positions.

17. The retail product display and storage assembly of claim 16 wherein the glide members are tiltable glide members located adjacent a front end of each side bracket.

18. The retail product display and storage assembly of claim 17 wherein all of the sliding shelves include channels along opposite sides thereof, tiltable glide members being received within adjacent channels on adjacent sliding shelves.

19. The retail product display and storage assembly of claim 12 wherein the side channels each sliding shelf comprise rigid side channels interconnected by front and rear lateral supports.

20. The retail product display and storage assembly of claim 19 wherein pusher track subassemblies are mounted on the front and rear lateral supports to store rows of products on each shelf.

21. The retail product display and storage assembly of claim 20 wherein each side bracket comprises a knife bracket with rearwardly extending hooks mountable in openings on a frame rear corner post and a tongue formed adjacent a bracket front end for engaging a frame front corner post to immovably mount each side bracket to the frame.

22. A strapless merchandise assembly for displaying and storing merchandise and providing an item storage volume equal to a large percentage of available display space, the assembly comprising;

a plurality of slidable and tiltable shelves, each shelf being mountable between two side brackets, wherein the side brackets are independently held in fixed positions, each shelf being mounted between pairs of side brackets, without straps extending laterally between side brackets forming a pair of side brackets either above or below each shelf, each shelf being slidable relative to the pair of side brackets on which it is mounted between retracted and extended positions, and each shelf being tiltable relative to the pair of side brackets on which it is mounted only when the shelf is in the extended position;

each of the shelves has a channel on each side receiving glide members mounted on each side bracket, adjacent a front portion of each side bracket, so that each shelf slides along a planar path relative to the pair of side brackets on which it rides between the retracted and extended positions, and

wherein each of the shelves moves only horizontally during initial movement from the retracted position toward the extended position and wherein each glide member tilts when the shelf reaches the extended position and the shelf tilts due to gravity, the extended position at which each shelf tilts being dependent upon distribution of weight of items stored on that shelf, initial horizontal movement of each shelf from the retracted position toward the extended position allowing each shelf to move without engaging adjacent shelves closely spaced thereabove and therebelow each shelf during initial movement from the retracted position, each shelf being free to tilt without obstruction of items stored on the shelf by straps above and below the shelf so that shelves can be positioned relatively close together to increase the percentage of item storage volume relative to display space.

23. The strapless merchandise assembly of claim 22 wherein the side brackets are mounted on a frame, wherein the frame does not extend over a shelf mounted on side brackets mounted on the frame.

24. The strapless merchandise assembly of claim 23 wherein straps do not extend between portions of the frame over or below the shelves.

25. The strapless merchandise assembly of claim 23 wherein straps do not extend over or above any shelf between side brackets on which said shelf rides.