Cooler door shelf device with raised panels

Abstract

A shelf device for an inside surface of a cooler door has a tray with a bottom panel, opposed front and rear panels connected to and extending upward from the bottom panel, and opposed end panels connected to and extending upward from the bottom panel and extending from the front panel toward the rear panel. The rear panel has a front face opposite the front panel and a rear face. A partition adjacent the front panel divides the bottom panel into a plurality of compartments. Openings in tray flanges receive hooks or studs for attaching the tray to the inside surface of the cooler door.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to co-pending application Ser. No. 10/929,975 filed Aug. 20, 2004 entitled “Cooler Door Shelf Device With Removable Product Panel” and to co-filed application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Cooler Door Shelf Device With Stick-On Display Panels”.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a cooler, and, more particularly, to a door shelf device for a transparent cooler door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Upright coolers in supermarkets and convenience stores typically have transparent glass doors so that the products inside are visible. It is now common to use the inside of the door for shelving as is done in household refrigerators. Door shelving fits against the door so that the product containers are visible, however the product labels do not always face forward for easy identification of the product. Some shelves have a small area for affixing product identification, but such small areas lack the impact needed, especially for impulse purchases. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to have a door shelf device with a large area for product labeling and identification.

Sometimes, a consumer will remove an article or articles from the door shelf device with the remaining articles left on the shelf in the cooler making it more difficult to identify the product. Where all the products are the same as the identification on the shelf device, there is little confusion. However, when the cooler contains several different products, the shelf device labeling does not always coincide with what is on the shelf. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to have a door shelf device that identifies the product behind it on the cooler shelf.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to the present invention a shelf device for mounting on an inside surface of a cooler door comprises a tray and a partition. The tray has a bottom panel, opposed front and rear panels connected to and extending upward from the bottom panel, and opposed end panels connected to and extending upward from the bottom panel and extending from the front panel toward the rear panel.

A partition positioned adjacent the front panel divides the bottom panel into a plurality of compartments to fit the configuration of articles therein. Slots in the partition facilitate providing an indication of the product in the compartment and on the shelf behind the compartment.

A left flange is attached to the left end panel adjacent the rear panel above the bottom panel and a right flange is attached to the right end panel adjacent the rear panel above the bottom panel. Each flange has at least one opening.

The tray is attached to the inside surface of the cooler door using suction cups with a protrusion. The protrusions fit through the openings in the flanges in the tray to anchor the tray to the door. The shelf device utilizes space in the cooler that would otherwise be wasted and increases visual appeal product identification at the door where it is more readily seen than that on the containers in the cooler.

These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a shelf device for attaching to the inside surface of an upright cooler door according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic top view of the shelf device of FIG. 1. attached to the inside surface of an upright cooler door.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic front view of the shelf device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a shelf device 10 is attached to an inside surface of an upright cooler door 12. Articles, such as beverage containers for example, can be placed on shelf device 10 for easy viewing through the cooler door 12 which minimizes the need to open the door to view the contents. It also utilizes the door space for storing additional product in a space that would otherwise be wasted.

Shelf device 10 has a tray 14 with a bottom panel 16, opposed front and rear panels 18, 20 connected to bottom panel 16, and opposed left and right end panels 22, 24 connected to bottom panel 16, front panel 18 and rear panel 20. Front panel 18 has a rear face opposite rear panel 20 and also has a front face facing cooler door 12. Tray 14 is open at the top to receive containers. The rear tray panel 20 and end panels 22, 24 each have a height sufficient for preventing a container from tipping as the door is opened or closed. Front panel 18 preferably extends upward from bottom panel 16 a greater distance than rear panel 20 to accommodate a front display panel 32.

Referring to FIG. 4, a rear display panel 26 may be attached to the rear face of rear panel 20 by an adhesive or the like. More preferably, rear panel 20 has top and bottom flanges or lips 28, 30 that form a slot for slidably receiving rear display panel 26 that is inserted in the slot. Similarly, front panel 18 may also have a front display panel 32 held between top and bottom lips 34, 36 that form a slot for slidably receiving front display panel 32.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, means are provided for attaching tray 14 to the inside surface of cooler door 12 which includes left and right flanges 38, 40. Left flange 38 has at least one, but preferably two, openings 42 for receiving a stud or protrusion of a suction cup 44 and is attached to left end panel 22 adjacent rear panel 20. A left brace 46 along the top end of left flange 38 and front panel 18 stiffens left end panel 22 and left flange 38. Opening 42 is preferably a slotted opening larger at the bottom than the top.

Similarly, right flange 40 has at least one, but preferably two, openings 48 for receiving a stud or protrusion of a suction cup 50 and is attached to right end panel 24 adjacent rear panel 20. A right brace 52 along the top end of right flange 40 and front panel 18 stiffens right end panel 24 and right flange 40. Opening 48 is preferably a slotted opening larger at the bottom than the top.

Left flange 38 extends from left end panel 22 inward toward right end panel 24. Right flange 40 extends form right end panel 24 inward toward left end panel 22. By this construction, shelf devices can be mounted side by side on the inside of a cooler door to display different sets of product.

It is advantageous for each product on the shelf device to have a dedicated area, therefore, a partition 54 is provided to divide tray 14 a plurality of compartments. Partition 54 is preferably adjacent front panel 20 dividing bottom panel 16 into compartments. Preferably, partition 54 is a double walled panel forming an interior slot for slidably receiving an insert 56. Alternatively, insert 56 may be a decal or other panel that is affixed to a surface of partition 54. For cylindrical beverage containers, partition 54 may be an arcuate panel where the arcuate panel is double walled forming an interior slot for slidably receiving insert 56. For other container configurations, the partition shape may be adjusted to accommodate the container configuration.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements of the preferred embodiments without departing from invention. For example, while it is anticipated that the shelf device will be integrally molded of transparent plastic, opaque plastic could be used where transparency is not necessary for viewing product information. It is accordingly intended that the claims shall cover all such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

ELEMENT LIST

• 10 shelf device
• 12 upright cooler door
• 14 tray
• 16 tray bottom panel
• 18 tray front panel
• 20 tray rear panel
• 22 tray left end panel
• 24 tray right end panel
• 26 rear display panel
• 28 top lip of rear panel
• 30 bottom lip of rear panel
• 32 front display panel
• 34 top lip of front panel
• 36 bottom lip of front panel
• 38 left flange
• 40 right flange
• 42 opening in left flange
• 44 left suction cup
• 46 left brace
• 48 opening in right flange
• 50 right suction cup
• 52 right brace
• 54 partition
• 56 insert

Claims

1. A shelf device for an inside surface of a cooler door, comprising:

a tray having a bottom panel, opposed front and rear panels connected to and extending upward from said bottom panel, and opposed end panels connected to and extending upward from said bottom panel and extending from said front panel toward said rear panel;

a partition adjacent said front panel dividing said bottom panel into a plurality of compartments; and

means for attaching said tray to said inside surface of said cooler door with said rear panel adjacent said inside surface of said cooler door.

2. A shelf device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein means for attaching said tray to said inside surface of said cooler door includes:

a left flange having at least one opening for receiving a hanging device and being attached to said left end panel adjacent said rear panel and above said bottom panel; and

a right flange having at least one opening for receiving a hanging device and being attached to said right end panel adjacent said rear panel and above said bottom panel.

3. A shelf device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said hanging device is a suction cup.

4. A shelf device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said left flange extends from said left end panel inward towards said right end panel, and said right flange extends from said right end panel inward towards said left end panel.

5. A shelf device, as set forth in claim 4, including:

a left brace connected to said front panel and a top edge of said left flange; and

a right brace connected to said front panel and a top edge of said right flange.

6. A shelf device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said front panel extends upward from said bottom panel a greater distance than said rear panel.

7. A shelf device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said front panel includes top and bottom lips forming a slot for slidably receiving a front insert.

8. A shelf device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rear panel includes top and bottom lips forming a slot for slidably receiving a rear insert.

9. A shelf device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said partition is an arcuate panel.

10. A shelf device, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said arcuate panel is double walled forming an interior slot for slidably receiving an insert.

11. A shelf device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said partition is double walled forming an interior slot for slidably receiving an insert.