Of Sheet Material Patents (Class 211/135)
  • Patent number: 11714926
    Abstract: Product displays are used to hold and present products. A method of manufacturing a product display can include forming display unit and cartridge blanks for assembly into a product display that has been designed using a product display design model executed on a computing device. A dataset of standardized units is created and includes products, cartridges, and display units. The product display design model generates product display design options that specify geometric arrangements of cartridges within display units, where the cartridges are each associated with a product type. The geometric arrangements are based on inputs that include combinations of a target total product count, a target mix ratio, product types, and a product display type. Display unit blanks and cartridge blanks used to construct display units and cartridges of the product display are formed by a manufacturing device based on a generated product display design option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: THE HERSHEY COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence, Christopher P. Gantz, Gregory M. Gressel
  • Patent number: 11291166
    Abstract: A system for cultivating a plurality of plants includes a tray configured to receive and support the plurality of plants, a rack that supports the tray, and a removable drainage directing insert. The rack includes a first side, an opposite second side, and first beam and a second beam that each extend between the first side and the second side to thereby define a front and a rear of the rack. The first beam and the second beam are vertically offset from each other such that the tray slopes towards the front of the rack. The removable insert is positioned between a front edge of the tray and the rack and extends along the first beam. The insert tapers in a first direction from the second side of the rack to the first side of the rack such that the tray slopes toward the first side of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Spacesaver Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth Durfee
  • Patent number: 10988087
    Abstract: A vehicle storage system may include a deck configured to span substantially a total width of a vehicle bed, four support feet including two front support feet and two rear support feet, a center support extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle bed between the support feet and configured to support the deck, and a front vertical transverse support configured to secure the two front support feet and to support the deck. Alternatively, the vehicle storage system may be configured to span approximately half a total width of a vehicle bed, and include two support feet situated in corners on a same lateral side of the vehicle bed, a center support extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle bed between the support feet and an opposing side of the vehicle bed not spanned by the deck, and a front vertical transverse support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: DECKED, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Raymond Smith, Jake Peters
  • Patent number: 10792882
    Abstract: A dunnage system may include a converting station including a converter configured for pulling in a stream of sheet material and converting the material into dunnage, and an inlet guide having an inlet surface that is coiled such that first and second ends of the inlet surface are discontinuous with each other to define a gap therebetween, the inlet surface configured to channel the sheet material into the converter. A cutter for a dunnage system may include a blade with first and second phases of serrations that are coextensive over at least a portion of the blade, the first phase providing cutting serrations for cutting the dunnage, and the second phase comprising ledges for focusing the cutting and preventing or reducing bunching of the dunnage towards a side of the blade. A method of converting dunnage may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: PREGIS INNOVATIVE PACKAGING LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Wetsch, Robert Tegel
  • Patent number: 10674828
    Abstract: A double-layered foldable storage stool, including a non-foldable stool cap and a foldable stool base. The front and back surfaces of the stool cap can be matched with the unfolded stool base. The stool base has a cuboid structure provided with a storage chamber, a foldable rectangular inner stool body is provided in the storage chamber of the stool base, and a support plate body is provided inside the inner stool body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Inventor: Hongyan Tang
  • Patent number: 10390634
    Abstract: A rack display comprising a base having a front panel with a plurality of horizontal and vertical slots included thereon; left and right side panels extending from sides of the front panel; a back panel extending between the left and right side panels; and one or more shelf members including horizontal and vertical tabs. The shelf members are secured to the base by inserting the vertical and horizontal tabs within the vertical and horizontal slots respectively. The rack display is erected from a knockdown configuration by securing the shelf members to the front panel of the base via insertion of the horizontal and vertical tabs within the horizontal and vertical slots respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: VANGUARD PACKAGING, INC.
    Inventor: Jerry Ryan Frost
  • Patent number: 10309717
    Abstract: A variable width shelf assembly includes a shelf panel with first and second support brackets. One or more support slots and one or more relief slots are disposed on an upright portion of the support brackets. One or more coupling tabs are disposed adjacent to one of the one or more support slots and one of the one or more relief slots. The coupling tabs are flexible tabs configured to flex outwardly relative to the upright portion of the support brackets for coupling the first and second brackets to a refrigerator compartment. Mounting plates mounted on a refrigerator include mounting features that are received in the support slots of the support brackets. Abutment guides on the mounting plates are used to guide a bending motion of the coupling tabs in assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Chad J. Rotter, Trevor L. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 10174992
    Abstract: A variable width shelf assembly includes a shelf panel with first and second support brackets. One or more support slots and one or more relief slots are disposed on an upright portion of the support brackets. One or more coupling tabs are disposed adjacent to one of the one or more support slots and one of the one or more relief slots. The coupling tabs are flexible tabs configured to flex outwardly relative to the upright portion of the support brackets for coupling the first and second brackets to a refrigerator compartment. Mounting plates mounted on a refrigerator include mounting features that are received in the support slots of the support brackets. Abutment guides on the mounting plates are used to guide a bending motion of the coupling tabs in assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Chad J. Rotter, Trevor L. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 10123635
    Abstract: A shelving display system having a support structure that automatically moves into place when setting up the display. The support structure includes a shelf support panel that includes a portion glued to the back panel and a plurality of shelf bottom support braces that extend from the back panel and are glued to the front panel. Opening the glued system from a flat folded state to a useable state automatically causes the support structure move partially or completely into place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Menasha Corporation
    Inventor: Chad Michael Lilja
  • Patent number: 9986856
    Abstract: A rack display comprising a base having a front panel with a plurality of horizontal and vertical slots included thereon; left and right side panels extending from sides of the front panel; a back panel extending between the left and right side panels; and one or more shelf members including horizontal and vertical tabs. The shelf members are secured to the base by inserting the vertical and horizontal tabs within the vertical and horizontal slots respectively. The rack display is erected from a knockdown configuration by securing the shelf members to the front panel of the base via insertion of the horizontal and vertical tabs within the horizontal and vertical slots respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Vanguard Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry Ryan Frost
  • Patent number: 9918569
    Abstract: A display hutch is provided that can be made from three components adhered together to form a flat compact structure suitable for shipping. The compact structure can be positioned upright and converted into the display hutch by pushing down on support halves and by rotating inwardly shelf panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Abel
  • Patent number: 9907414
    Abstract: A two component shelving system for shipping and displaying items. The system has a plurality of shelves, with each shelf comprised of a two fold-down flaps, one from each component, connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark H. Heuer
  • Patent number: 9839314
    Abstract: A mailbox for preventing mail from contacting pooling water in the mailbox includes a mailbox body and a mailbox insert, including: a front section, including a slanted portion, a front support which is connected to the slanted portion, a middle support, and a front lateral adjustment component; and a rear section, including a rear support which is connected to a rear end of the rear section, at least one side hook, and a rear lateral adjustment component; wherein the front section is configured to be insertable into the at least one side hook such that the front section is slidably coupled to the rear section; and wherein the front lateral adjustment component and the rear lateral adjustment component are configured to expand and contract laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Inventors: Nelson R. De La Nuez, Wade A. Ragan, Joshua R. De La Nuez
  • Patent number: 9788668
    Abstract: A display system is provided and include base panel, a collapsible structure, a structure connector, and a base connector. The collapsible structure includes a pair of modular display panels with a pair of panel connectors that receive one another. The structure connector includes a pair of planar body sections angled with respect to each and connects to the pair of modular display panels. The base connector connects the collapsible structure to the base panel and includes a first planar body section secured to the collapsible structure, a second planar body section positioned adjacent to the first planar body section and secured to the collapsible structure, and a third planar body section positioned adjacent to the first planar body section and the second planar body section and secured to the base panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Atomic Design Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas McPhillips
  • Patent number: 9578978
    Abstract: A rack display having a base having a front panel with a plurality of horizontal and vertical slots included thereon; left and right side panels extending from sides of the front panel; a back panel extending between the left and right side panels; and one or more shelf members including horizontal and vertical tabs. The shelf members are secured to the base by inserting the vertical and horizontal tabs within the vertical and horizontal slots respectively. The rack display is erected from a knockdown configuration by securing the shelf members to the front panel of the base via insertion of the horizontal and vertical tabs within the horizontal and vertical slots respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Vanguard Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry Ryan Frost
  • Patent number: 9474370
    Abstract: A dual function shelf unit has identical support columns, horizontal shelf-supporting beams adjustably-mounted on the columns for vertical shelf adjustment and one or more hooks also mountable on at least one column. The columns have apertures with complementary apertures having opposed inclined edges for accepting a beam-end bracket from either side of the column and tabs for accepting mounting flanges of hooks. Both beam-end brackets and hooks are each mounted in two vertically-spaced apertures. Vertically adjustable shelf and hook storage is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Edsal Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Troyner, Antonio Luis Escalante, David J. Wojtowicz, Mitch Liss
  • Patent number: 9474389
    Abstract: The present invention provides a display unit. The unit includes a hutch formed from corrugated material. The hutch has a back wall, a first side wall extending from a first end of the back wall, and a second side wall extending from a second end of the back wall. The back wall of the hutch includes a plurality of spaced horizontal slots. The hutch also includes a first side wall support attached to the first side wall, and a second side wall support attached to the second side wall. The first and second side wall supports include shelf support tabs. The hutch further includes a plurality of shelves formed from a foldable blank of material, each shelf having a tab insertable into one of the plurality of spaced horizontal slots, and supported by the shelf support tabs. In other embodiments, the display unit further includes a shelf support pad, a bottom tray, and a riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Menasha Corporation
    Inventors: Mike Pfeifer, Keith Blake
  • Patent number: 9414678
    Abstract: A shelf has a front edge with reduced vertical dimension whereby the shelf appears to be very thin when viewed from the front. The shelf includes opposite end portions that are configured to engage spaced apart vertical support surfaces to thereby support the shelf. The shelf includes a generally planar upper portion and a lower portion structure having a generally planar horizontal rear portion and an angled front portion that extends forwardly and upwardly to provide a thin front edge of the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: William Burr Bennie, John Allen, Daniel George Parker, Bradley D. Youngs, Alvin Berdette Larson
  • Patent number: 9322124
    Abstract: The portable drier for personal articles includes a wheeled cabinet having vertically oriented front and rear compartments. The front compartment is open at the front and provides for the hanging of damp or wet clothing and the like therein. A lower shelf extends across the front of the front compartment, for drying other articles. The shelf includes a series of receptacles for holding umbrellas and the like. The rear compartment includes a sinusoidal steam pipe array, with a fan or blower in the lower portion of the cabinet drawing air through the open front and blowing the air up past the steam pipes and through a louvered panel to dry articles in the front compartment. The drier may include additional features, such as an ultraviolet light for bactericidal and fungicidal cleansing, an air circulation filter, an ironing board and steam iron, and an electronic scent dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Inventor: Khaled J. H. Al-Hasan
  • Patent number: 9212019
    Abstract: A rack display including a base having a front panel with a plurality of horizontal and vertical slots included thereon; left and right side panels extending from sides of the front panel; a back panel extending between the left and right side panels; and one or more shelf members including horizontal and vertical tabs. The shelf members are secured to the base by inserting the vertical and horizontal tabs within the vertical and horizontal slots respectively. The rack display is erected from a knockdown configuration by securing the shelf members to the front panel of the base via insertion of the horizontal and vertical tabs within the horizontal and vertical slots respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Vanguard Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry Ryan Frost
  • Patent number: 9211021
    Abstract: A collapsible, easy-to-assemble corrugated hutch for shipping and displaying products is provided. The hutch comprises a back wall, two side walls, shelves and two side wall supports. The side walls are hingedly attached to the back wall and can be folded to capture the side wall supports. The shelves extend between the side walls and have front edges that are supported by the side walls and side wall supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Andre C. Smith
  • Patent number: 9140482
    Abstract: A storage basket is configured to hold multiple product units such as blood bags within the cabinet of a freezer. The storage basket includes first and second spaced-apart sidewalls and a plurality of inclined shelves extending between and coupled to these sidewalls. The inclined shelves include a plurality of air flow apertures that defined storage receptacles for product units as well as additional flow apertures to ensure minimal hindrance of cooling air flow within the freezer. The storage basket also includes handles that enable easy grasping and movement of multiple product units at once into and out of the freezer. As a result, the amount of time needed to cool product units down to a desired temperature with the freezer is reduced and the storage density within the freezer is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC
    Inventors: Lou Spencer Popovitch, Christopher Enright Bruchs, Dan Joseph Mangan
  • Patent number: 9107517
    Abstract: A foldable display support stand is foldable easily and readily into a folded collapsed condition. The stand has a foldable pedestal panel foldable in a horizontal to maintain the stand in a stable erected condition. A pivotal brace extending between the front panel and the rear panel is operative to an extended condition to push the side panels outwards in the erection of the stand, and they are pullable outwards and downwards to initiate the folding operation together with the folding of a pedestal panel upwards to fold the stand into a folded collapsed condition. An elastic cord is connected between the rear panel and the pedestal panel to facilitate the automatic erection of the folded stand to the erected condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Inventor: Geoffrey Alan Moss
  • Publication number: 20150136720
    Abstract: A display hutch includes a hutch blank and a plurality of shelf blanks The hutch blank includes a back wall and at least two side walls. The back wall includes a plurality of back-wall slots. The at least two side walls include a plurality of side-wall slots. The plurality of shelf blanks includes a plurality of side tabs and one or more back tabs. Each of the side tabs is inserted into a respective side-wall slot and attached to the hutch blank. The plurality of shelf blanks and the hutch blank are configured to lay K.D. flat with the plurality of shelf blanks attached to the hutch blank. Each of the one or more back tabs is configured to be inserted into a respective one of the plurality of back-wall slots to form a plurality of shelves. The plurality of shelves is configured to support product for display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Scott M. Miller
  • Publication number: 20150114920
    Abstract: A display rack for displaying articles has a support frame with two walls extending at an angle from a narrow strip at the rear corner of the frame. A tubular reinforcing structure extends along the forward free edge of each wall, and aligned openings are in the strip and the reinforcing structures. A plurality of shelves having front and rear corners and opposite side corners are supported on the frame between the walls, with the rear corners engaged in respective openings in the strip and the side corners engaged in respective openings in the reinforcing structures. A forward portion of the shelves projects forwardly of the frame for greater visibility of and access to articles supported on the shelves. A reinforcing brace extends diagonally in each shelf from the rear corner to the front corner, whereby the shelves are essentially cantilevered from the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Gregory James Kula
  • Publication number: 20150096951
    Abstract: A free-standing display fixture includes a main body having a top edge, a bottom edge, a right side panel, a center panel and a left side panel. Each of the left side panel, the center panel and the right side panel include interior surfaces and the interior surfaces of the left side panel and the right side panel face each other. Located between and coupled to left side panel and right panel are a plurality of uniquely arranged display components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Laura L. Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20150068998
    Abstract: A collapsible, easy-to-assemble corrugated hutch for shipping and displaying products is provided. The hutch comprises a back wall, two side walls, shelves and two side wall supports. The side walls are hingedly attached to the back wall and can be folded to capture the side wall supports. The shelves extend between the side walls and have front edges that are supported by the side walls and side wall supports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Andre C. Smith
  • Patent number: 8967400
    Abstract: A cosmetic organizer and display assembly holds multiple cosmetic products in an organized manner that displays the cosmetics to facilitate selection of a desired product. The assembly includes a back panel, a bottom panel, and a front panel. The front panel extends upwardly from a forward edge of the bottom panel. A pair of side panels extends between the front panel and the back panel. A top panel extends between the side panels. The top panel has a top edge coupled to a front face of the back panel. The top panel extends downwardly and away from the front face of the back panel whereby a bottom face of the top panel forms an acute angle with respect to the front face of the back panel. A plurality of support panels is coupled to and extends between the side panels and outwardly from the top panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Inventors: Jennifer Mumford, Shana Smith
  • Patent number: 8944260
    Abstract: A free-standing display fixture includes a main body having a top edge, a bottom edge, a right side panel, a center panel and a left side panel. Each of the left side panel, the center panel and the right side panel include interior surfaces and the interior surfaces of the left side panel and the right side panel face each other. Located between and coupled to left side panel and right panel are a plurality of uniquely arranged display components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Laura L. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 8939091
    Abstract: A display rack capable of being transformed between a first configuration, in which a plurality of rack boxes are arranged in tiers and a second configuration, in which the plurality of rack boxes are vertically arranged in line, the display rack comprising an upper rack having an upper rack box and an upper back plate for holding the upper rack box, a lower rack having a lower rack box and a lower back plate for holding the lower rack box, and a connection member for connecting the upper rack and the lower rack the connection member being rotatably supported at a horizontal line lower than the upper rack box on a front side of the upper back plate and a horizontal line higher than the lower box on a back side of the lower back plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Tanax, Inc.
    Inventor: Akihito Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8919585
    Abstract: A decking member can have a plurality of panels each with first and second side supports. The plurality of panels can each have a plurality of slots and optional hooks. A shelving system has a frame and at least one decking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Prodeck 50, Inc.
    Inventor: William Trover
  • Patent number: 8919715
    Abstract: A folding shelf holder is strong and folds easily. A wall side member has a pin as a rotational axis of a shelf side member relative to the wall side member and a rotation limiter limiting rotation of the shelf side member relative to the wall side member. The shelf side member has a long groove for inserting the pin of the wall side member. When the folded shelf side member is opened to be approximately orthogonal to the wall side member and the shelf side member is slid toward the wall side member and in a direction where the long groove extends, the shelf side member abuts, at a back side of the pin, to the rotation limiter of the wall side member, preventing rotation of the shelf side member relative to the wall side member. Then, the shelf side member cannot fold relative to the wall side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sugatsune Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Terada
  • Patent number: 8893903
    Abstract: A retrofitting system for shelves includes shelf rack inserts rack inserts each having a product slide plate with rectangular raised edges on a front and on a rear. The raised edge on the front includes a snapped-on U-rail having openings and the raised edge on the rear includes rectangular cutouts disposed opposite from the openings. At least one separating bracket has a front side and a rear side with two parallel and joined cross-bars extending between the front side and the rear side. The front side includes a horizontal pin and the rear side includes an insertion plate that is installed perpendicularly such that the separating bracket is configured to be locked in place at a lateral distance in the product slide plate by the insertion plate being inserted into a corresponding one of the cutouts and the pin being horizontally inserted into a corresponding one of the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Rickard Nilsson
  • Patent number: 8875908
    Abstract: An item display stand including, in a substantially rigid and foldable material, a polyhedral compartment. The polyhedral compartment including a support wall and two side walls, and being articulated to change between a flat folded state and an open and operational unfolded state for receiving an item on the support wall extending between the side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventor: Francois L'Hotel
  • Patent number: 8857633
    Abstract: A shelving display system formed from a single blank of corrugated material. The display system including a plurality of shelves formed from a first shelf component and a second shelf component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Menasha Corporation
    Inventor: Doug Dewhurst
  • Patent number: 8839964
    Abstract: A display fixture includes a substantially vertical backer mounted to a wall of a gondola and a shelf unit mounted to the backer and being centrally located on the backer. The shelf unit includes a substantially vertical back wall, a pair of side walls and a plurality of shelves extending between the pair of side walls and coupled to the back wall. Each of the plurality of shelves includes a shelf surface and a lip. The lip is substantially normal to the shelf surface and the shelf surface is at an angle relative to the back wall. The relative angle between the shelf surface and the back wall is greater than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Laura L. Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20140263127
    Abstract: A shelving unit includes a crossed core unit having four walls formed of folded corrugated fiberboard. The walls are orthogonally arranged with respect to each other and define four quadrants therebetween. Floating shelves are arranged with at least one shelf disposed in each quadrant. Each of the shelves is formed of folded corrugated fiberboard. Each of the shelves is joined to two proximate walls of the crossed core unit. Support tubes are provided. Each support tube is formed of folded corrugated fiberboard and each tube is disposed though one wall of the crossed core and extends inside of two floating shelves that are located in proximate quadrants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: VINCENT MARKEE
  • Patent number: 8833573
    Abstract: A modular packaging system for shipping and displaying palletized products is provided. The packaging system comprises a plurality of vertically stacked trays for holding the products, corner posts extending between vertically adjacent trays for spacing and supporting the trays, and one or more separate elongated braces located under and supporting one or more of the trays. The ends of the braces extend into openings in the corner posts. The system is strong enough not only to support the weight of the products on the trays and withstand the vibration and impact forces that can occur during shipping, but to withstand the weight of one or more units stacked on top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignees: Sonoco Development, Inc, Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Valentine Tomaszewski, John G. Olmsted, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8826898
    Abstract: An oven rack constructed from an expanded or punched metal is provided. The oven rack can be coated with one or more coatings to e.g., protect the metal from discoloration or damage, and/or to provide certain properties to the surface of the rack that may be desirable for cooking operations. An oven appliance incorporating such an oven rack is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Lee Armstrong, Joshua Stephen Wiseman
  • Publication number: 20140217047
    Abstract: A rack display comprising a base having a front panel with a plurality of horizontal and vertical slots included thereon; left and right side panels extending from sides of the front panel; a back panel extending between the left and right side panels; and one or more shelf members including horizontal and vertical tabs. The shelf members are secured to the base by inserting the vertical and horizontal tabs within the vertical and horizontal slots respectively. The rack display is erected from a knockdown configuration by securing the shelf members to the front panel of the base via insertion of the horizontal and vertical tabs within the horizontal and vertical slots respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Vanguard Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: JERRY RYAN FROST
  • Publication number: 20140110366
    Abstract: A supporting base for an angle iron post includes an angle bar and a column. The angle bar has two walls arranged at right angle to each other to be attached to two respective walls of the angle iron post. The column is disposed in between the two walls of the angle bar and has an upper small-diameter section, a lower large-diameter section and a shoulder defined at the junction between the upper small-diameter section and the lower large-diameter section. As such, the two walls of the angle iron post are allowed to be rested on the shoulder of the column and held in position between the walls of the angle bar and the upper small-diameter section of the column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventor: Meng-Tsung Wu
  • Patent number: 8651296
    Abstract: A freestanding display rack is made of materials that can be recycled by utilizing existing fiber recycling chains and can be shipped to the point of sale in a knocked-down flattened condition. The display rack comprises a pair of spaced apart side panels each having an outer surface, and an inner surface facing an opposite side panel. A back panel is attached to the side panels by interfitting tabs and notches along adjacent edges of the back panel and the side panels. A plurality of shelves extends between and supported at their opposite ends on the side panels by mechanical interlocking engaged between the shelves and the side panels. The mechanical interlocking comprises channels formed in the inner surface of each the side panel, and depending flanges on opposite side edges of each the shelf engaged in a respective channel. A graphics header extends above the shelves and side panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: International Paper Co.
    Inventor: Travis E. Beaty
  • Patent number: 8651298
    Abstract: A freestanding display rack used for supporting and displaying product at a point of sale. The display rack can be shipped in a knocked-down flattened condition in a compact package and assembled without using tools. The display rack comprises a pair of spaced apart side panels and a plurality of shelves extend between and supported at their opposite ends on the side panels by a plurality of mechanical interlocking engaged between the shelves and the side panels. The plurality of mechanical interlocking comprises slots in the side panels and tabs integral with the shelves on opposite ends thereof extended through the slots. An opening formed in an end of each of the tabs projecting through the slots in the respective side panel. A locking pin inserted in each the opening to prevent withdrawal of the tabs from the slots. A graphics header extends above the shelves and side panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: International Paper Co.
    Inventor: Travis E. Beaty
  • Patent number: 8651297
    Abstract: A freestanding display rack for supporting and displaying product at a point of sale comprises a pair of spaced apart side panels. A back panel is attached to the side panels by interfitting tabs and notches along adjacent edges of the back panel and the side panels. A plurality of shelves extends between and supported at their opposite ends on the side panels by mechanical interlocking engaged between the shelves and the side panels. The mechanical interlocking comprises a slot formed through the side panels adjacent each of the shelves and a tongue projecting outwardly from each end of the shelves. The tongues extend through the respective slot in the side panels and being folded against an outer surface of the respective side panel. A graphics header extends above the shelves and side panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: International Paper Co.
    Inventor: Travis E. Beaty
  • Publication number: 20140014606
    Abstract: The fold-out shelving unit comprises a rear panel (1), side panels (2) movable between a folded position, wherein said panels are coplanar, and an expanded position, wherein the side panels (2) are perpendicular to the rear panel (1), a moving support panel (3) extending from one to the other of the side panels (2) and a shelf panel (4) foldable over the rear panel (1). The support panel (3) and the shelf panel (4) are cinematically linked to one another and to the side panels (2) by first and second cinematic linking means so that the support panel (3) gets closer and away parallel to the rear panel (1) and the shelf panel (4) pivots relative to the rear panel (1) when the side panels (2) move between the folded position and the expanded position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Ferran MESTRES ARMENGOL, Francisco LOPEZ FERNANDEZ
  • Publication number: 20130292350
    Abstract: A merchandising fixture that maximizes the density of product merchandise per square foot of store space while displaying excellent durability and minimal weight characteristics is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventor: Frank Trotta
  • Publication number: 20130277324
    Abstract: A shelving display system formed from a single blank of corrugated material. The display system including a plurality of shelves formed from a first shelf component and a second shelf component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: Doug Dewhurst
  • Patent number: 8540091
    Abstract: A blank for a rack with at least one shelf designed as a starting plate with at least one bending region in the form a number of segments and openings. The starting plate includes a number of elements which each have a side extending along a bending region while the other sides of the element are free whereby the rack is quickly and easily formed by bending these elements about their bending regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventor: Teddy Kristensen
  • Publication number: 20130213915
    Abstract: The present invention provides a display unit. The unit includes a hutch formed from corrugated material. The hutch has a back wall, a first side wall extending from a first end of the back wall, and a second side wall extending from a second end of the back wall. The back wall of the hutch includes a plurality of spaced horizontal slots. The hutch also includes a first side wall support attached to the first side wall, and a second side wall support attached to the second side wall. The first and second side wall supports include shelf support tabs. The hutch further includes a plurality of shelves formed from a foldable blank of material, each shelf having a tab insertable into one of the plurality of spaced horizontal slots, and supported by the shelf support tabs. In other embodiments, the display unit further includes a shelf support pad, a bottom tray, and a riser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: MENASHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: MENASHA CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130206715
    Abstract: Elongated metal risers are oriented perpendicular to the front end of a shelf, and extend from proximate the front edge of the shelf to at least the rear edge of the shelf. The risers are roughly from one and a half inches to four and a half inches (forty to one hundred fifteen millimeters) in height, and three to six inches (seventy five to one hundred fifty millimeters) in width. A package stored on the shelf is advantageously supported by left and right side risers and a center riser disposed beneath therebetween, thereby forming left and right insertion channels adjacent the center riser. In storing and retrieving objects from the shelf, a forklift machine advances with its left and right forks aligned with the left and right insertion channels, until the forks are securely under the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventor: Payge Hamby