Adjustable divider base for a display rack
The present invention provides a display rack (100) having a base (103) that further includes a plurality of recessed troughs that form a plurality of slots (110) whereby each of the plurality of slots include a plurality of holes (108) therein. The display rack further includes a plurality of divider pieces (102) whereby each one of the divider pieces is adapted for insertion into a selected one of the slots of the base. The dividers also include a plurality of tabs (112) that are aligned with the plurality of holes within its respective slot so as to facilitate stability and rigidity of the dividers when mated and recessed within its respective slot of the base. The dividers take the form of a L-shaped configuration which allows the dividers to be recessed within a slot of the base in a first or a second orientation thereby allowing variable bin width adjustment with respect to adjacent dividers. The dividers may also take form of a T-shaped configuration which, when used in conjunction with L-shaped dividers, allow for even finer adjustment of adjacent bin widths.
This invention relates, in general, to a display rack having adjustable dividers and, in particular, to a display rack having a base with adjustable bin sizes for storing, allocating and managing shelf space among rows of products.
In retail stores, such as in grocery stores, products are displayed on shelves for customer inspection and selection. It is therefore desirable that products be organized on the shelves to maximize the use of the shelf space since shelf space is very valuable in the grocery store. Accordingly, efficient use of the shelf space and the organized and appealing representation of the products displayed on the shelf are important for effective sale of products. Typically when displaying such products, an elongated shelf of a standard length (for example 3 or 4 feet) will be subdivided by vertical walls or dividers to provide appropriate bins of suitable widths to accommodate various products to be displayed. However, since the shapes and sizes of products vary greatly and since inventories, promotions, and sales are constantly changing, there is a need for efficiently and quickly adjusting of the width of the bins with increased variability.
Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,694, there is described a shelf organizer that comprises a two element assembly; a front stop rail and a vertical divider whereby a plurality of such vertical dividers are adapted to be slidably and releaseably retained by the stop rail. However, although this shelf organizer is capable of bin width adjustability, the dividers are attached to the front stop rail thereby requiring it to be attached to existing conventional shelving.
Hence, there exist a need for an improved adjustable shelf organizer having bin width adjustability.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout,
Referring to
Display rack 100 also includes a plurality of dividers 102 for insertion into the plurality of slots 110. Dividers 102 are typically pieces of plastic acting as a wall or divider for separating products on the shelf and keeping the products from hitting each other on their sides. The plurality of dividers 102 form a plurality of bins where each bin is typically defined by two adjacent dividers. It is understood that dividers 102 can be made at various heights to accommodate variable types of products. Dividers 102 have locking clips 112 for mating with corresponding holes 108 of base 103. In this manner, dividers 102 are received by respective ones of slots 110 whereby locking clips 112 are designed to align with a respective hole 108 of its corresponding slot 110. In a preferred embodiment, a pair of locking clips 112 are aligned to mate with one of the holes 108 so as to provide increased stability and rigidity of divider 102.
As will be shown in more detail hereinafter, dividers 102 may be inserted into slots 110 in at least two orientations. The first orientation may be represented by divider 102a, which takes the form of an L-shaped configuration, whereby the portion 118 of divider 102 is closer to first side 114 of base 103 than the outer edge of portion 120 of divider 102a. A second orientation for insertion of a divider 102 into base 103 may be represented by divider 102b, which takes the form of a reverse L-shaped configuration, whereby the portion 122 of divider 102b is closer to second edge 116 of base 103 than the outer edge (not visible in
Display rack 100 also includes a front stop 104 for use in preventing products positioned behind it from falling off the front of the display rack when stocked. The front stop 104 is typically needed with dairy cases that are stocked from behind to prevent the product from falling off the shelf. It is understood, however, that front stop 104 is optional whereby the deli lip generally associated with a retailer's shelves may also serve as a stop for products. The front stop 104 is designed to be removable and may be attached to base 103 in a similar manner that dividers 102 are attached. That is, front stop 104 may include locking clips, similar to locking clips 112 of dividers 102, for insertion into a slot (similar to slots 110) having corresponding holes (similar to holes 108) on base 103. However, it should be understood that front stop 104 may be secured to base 103 in other ways such as by a molded pin-and-boss arrangement. Display rack 100 also includes curved member 106, which is attached to front stop 104 for securing base 103 over the deli lip and for ensuring that base 103 is in a more stable position. Front stop 104 and curved member 106 will explained in more detail hereinafter with respect to
Display rack 100 is typically formed from an injection molded flat piece of plastic but other materials may also be used. The dimensions of base 103 may be, for example, 22 inches in depth and 24 inches wide and approximately ¼ inch in height. However, it should be understood that these dimensions may be different to accommodate a variety of applications and uses. Further, through the use of break point regions, display rack 100 may be tailored for just about any application.
Referring now to
Referring to
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It should be clearly observed that distance 502 is a smaller distance than what the distance between adjacent dividers 102j and 102k would be if either one of the dividers were recessed in their opposite orientations. For example, if the orientation of divider 102k was reversed, then the bin width would be similar to distance 504. Likewise, if the orientation of dividers 102j and 102k were both reversed, then the bin width would be similar to distance 506. It is in this manner that the widths of the bins may be adjusted.
It is understood that although the adjacent dividers shown in
As is also shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
By now it should be apparent from the foregoing description that a novel display rack has been provided. The display rack includes a base having a plurality of recessed troughs that form a plurality of slots whereby each of the plurality of slots include a plurality of holes therein. The display rack further includes a plurality of divider pieces whereby each one of the divider pieces is adapted for insertion into a selected one of the slots of the base. The dividers also include a plurality of tabs that are aligned with the plurality of holes within its respective slot so as to facilitate stability and rigidity of the dividers when mated and recessed within its respective slot of the base. The dividers take the form of a L-shaped configuration which allows the dividers to be recessed within a slot of the base in a first or a second orientation thereby allowing variable bin width adjustment with respect to adjacent dividers. The dividers may also take form of a T-shaped configuration which, when used in conjunction with L-shaped dividers, allow for even finer adjustment of adjacent bin widths.
It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that have been described are illustrative of some of the applications of the principles of the present invention. However, numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A display rack, comprising:
- a base having a plurality recessed troughs for forming a plurality of slots, each one of said plurality of slots having a plurality of holes formed therein; and
- a plurality of dividers, each one of said plurality of dividers are adapted to be inserted into one of said plurality of slots of said base, each one of said plurality of dividers including at least one tab portion such that said at least one tab portion is aligned with a respective hole in said base for securing said one of said plurality of dividers to said base.
2. The display rack according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of dividers forms an L-shaped configuration having a first segment and a second segment, said first segment adapted to be recessed in one of said plurality of slots when said at least one of said plurality of dividers is inserted into said base.
3. The display rack according to claim 2 wherein a top surface of said first segment is substantially planer with a top surface of said base when said at least one of said plurality of dividers is inserted into said base.
4. The display rack according to claim 2 wherein said second segment is substantially perpendicular to said base when said at least one of said plurality of dividers is inserted into said base.
5. The display rack according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of dividers forms an L-shaped configuration having a first segment and a second segment and wherein said at least one of said plurality of dividers may be inserted into one of said plurality of slots in either a first orientation or in a second orientation for adjusting a width between adjacent ones of said plurality of dividers.
6. The display rack according to claim 5 wherein said first orientation forms an L-shaped configuration when said at least one of said plurality of dividers is inserted into said base and said second orientation forms a reverse L-shaped configuration when said at least one of said plurality of dividers is inserted into said base.
7. The display rack according to claim 1 wherein said base further includes a plurality of rails on a bottom side of said base for elevating said base.
8. The display rack according to claim 1 wherein said base further includes at least one breakpoint region for breaking off a portion of said base thereby adjusting at least one dimension of said base.
9. The display rack according to claim 1 wherein said base further includes a front stop secured to a front portion of said base for preventing items stored on said display rack from falling over a front edge of said base.
10. A display rack having a plurality of bins for displaying items, the display rack comprising:
- a base having a plurality of slots formed therein, each one of said plurality of slots having a plurality of holes formed thereon; and
- a plurality of dividers for insertion into said plurality of slots thereby forming the plurality of bins of the display rack, at least one of said plurality of dividers being capable of insertion into a selected one of said plurality of slots in either a first orientation or a second orientation, wherein when said at least one of said plurality of dividers is inserted into said selected one of said plurality of slots in said first orientation a first distance between said at least one of said plurality of dividers and an adjacent one of said plurality of dividers is achieved, and wherein when said at least one of said plurality of dividers is inserted into said selected one of said plurality of slots in said second orientation a second distance between said at least of said plurality of dividers and said adjacent one of said plurality of dividers is achieved thereby allowing for adjustment of a width of a bin.
11. The display rack according to claim 10 wherein said at least one of said plurality of dividers includes a first segment and a second segment, said first segment being recessed in said selected one of said plurality of slots such that a top surface of said first segment is substantially planer with a top surface of base when said at least one of said plurality of dividers is inserted into said selected one of said plurality of slots.
12. The display rack according to claim 10 wherein said at least one of said plurality of dividers includes a plurality of locking clips such that said plurality of locking clips align and mate with said plurality of holes of said selected one of said plurality of slots upon insertion of said at least one of said plurality of dividers into said selected one of said plurality of slots.
13. The display rack according to claim 10 wherein said at least one of said plurality of dividers includes a pair of said locking clips that align and mate with at least one of said plurality of holes of said selected one of said plurality of slots.
14. The display rack according to claim 10 wherein said at least one of said plurality of dividers has an L-shaped configuration.
15. The display rack according to claim 10 wherein at least one of said plurality of dividers has a T-shaped configuration being capable of insertion into another one of said plurality of slots, wherein the use of said T-shaped configuration divider along with said L-shaped configuration divider allows for even greater adjustment of a width of a bin.
16. The display rack according to claim 10 further including a plurality of drainage holes in said base and a plurality of rails on a bottom side of said base to allow leaky products displayed on said base to drain thereby maintaining said products in a cleaner and dryer condition.
17. The display rack according to claim 10 wherein said base further includes at least one breakpoint region for breaking off a portion of said base thereby adjusting at least one dimension of said base
18. A display rack, comprising:
- a base having a plurality of slots formed on a first surface of said base, each one of said plurality of slots having a plurality of holes formed thereon, said base further includes a plurality of rails on a second side of said base for elevating said base; and
- a plurality of dividers for insertion into said plurality of slots thereby forming a plurality of bins of the display rack, at least one of said plurality of dividers having an L-shaped configuration and being capable of insertion into a selected one of said plurality of slots in either a first orientation or a second orientation, wherein when said at least one of said plurality of dividers is inserted into said selected one of said plurality of slots in said first orientation a first distance between said at least one of said plurality of dividers and an adjacent one of said plurality of dividers is achieved, and wherein when said at least one of said plurality of dividers is inserted into said selected one of said plurality of slots in said second orientation a second distance between said at least one of said plurality of dividers and said adjacent one of said plurality of dividers is achieved thereby allowing for adjustment of a width of a bin.
19. The display rack according to claim 18 wherein said at least one of said plurality of dividers that forms an L-shaped configuration has a first segment and a second segment, said first segment adapted to be recessed in said selected one of said plurality of slots when said at least one of said plurality of dividers is inserted into said base, and wherein a top surface of said first segment is substantially planer with a top surface of said base when said at least one of said plurality of dividers is inserted into said base.
20. The display rack according to claim 18 wherein said base includes a plurality of drainage holes.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 12, 2004
Publication Date: Jul 14, 2005
Inventor: Rodney Hawkinson (Dripping Springs, TX)
Application Number: 10/755,766