Shelving system divider having improved placement features

Abstract

A shelving system, including: (a) a shelf having a main body, a front receptacle bar having a series of apertures passing therethrough; a rear receptacle bar having a series of apertures passing therethrough; (b) a divider with a front locating wire extending forwardly from the front of the divider body, the front locating wire being receivable into one of the series of apertures in the front receptacle bar, and (c) a pair of rear hooks extending downwardly from the rear of the divider body, the pair of rear hooks each being receivable into one of the series of apertures in the rear receptacle bar.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 762,304, of same title, filed February 24, 2025, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to dividers in shelving units for dispensing products such as milk, beverages and food products from refrigerated store cabinets.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present inventor has patented U.S. Patent 11,944,213 (hereafter “the ’213 patent”) entitled SHELVING RACK WITH MOVEABLE DIVIDERS AND LOCKING FRONT BAR. This patented system provides moveable dividers for placement on a shelf which can typically but not necessarily be positioned in a refrigerated storage cabinet.

[0004] The ‘213 patent provides a divider having a rear hook and a front leg. During installation, the rear hook is pulled forwards to lock it into position in an opening in a rear support bar. Next, while holding the rear hook in position, the front of the shelf is rotated downwardly such that the front leg can then be inserted into an opening in a front support bar. Finally, a front stop bar is placed across the front of the shelf passing through a front hole in the divider. The front support bar is then held in position by a locking column and a support column on either side. This front support bar prevents the divider from moving backwards such that the rear hook would unlock.

[0005] Although the ‘213 patent discloses an excellent system, it is always preferable to make continuous improvements to divider systems. As will be shown, the present system provides a variety of new and non-obvious improvements over the system of the ‘213 patent.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present system provides improved dividers for use on a shelf. It is to be understood that the present invention encompass both a novel divider design and a novel shelving system that incorporates the novel divider.

[0007] In one preferred aspect, the present system provides a shelving system, comprising:

[0008] (a) a shelf having:

[0009] a main body,

[0010] a front receptacle bar running across the front of the main body, the front receptacle bar having a series of apertures passing therethrough (i.e.: passing through one or both sides of the front receptacle bar);

[0011] a rear receptacle bar running across the rear of the main body, the rear receptacle bar having a series of apertures passing therethrough (i.e.: passing through one or both sides of the rear receptacle bar); and

[0012] (b) a divider comprising:

[0013] a divider body,

[0014] a front locating wire extending forwardly from the front of the divider body, the front locating wire being receivable into one of the series of apertures in the front receptacle bar,

[0015] a pair of rear hooks extending downwardly from the rear of the divider body, the pair of rear hooks each being receivable into one of the series of apertures in the rear receptacle bar.

[0016] In preferred aspects, a front stop is receivable through a front end of the divider body and a rear stop receivable through a rear end of the divider body. Preferably, the pair of rear hooks project outwardly on opposite sides of the rear of the divider body to support the rear of the divider body. This pair of rear hooks can support the divider in an upright position before the rear horizontal stop is received through the rear end of the divider body.

[0017] In optional embodiments, at least one end of the divider body is made from a clear plexiglass, and the series of apertures in either or both of the front or rear receptacle bars comprise a repeating pattern of differently shaped holes to assist in aligning the front and rear of the divider on the shelf.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of the shelf prior to the front locating wire being inserted into one of the apertures in the front receptacle bar.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but after the front locating wire has been inserted into one of the apertures in the front receptacle bar.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front of the shelf after a stop has been installed to prevent the front of the divider from moving.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rear of the shelf prior to the pair of rear hooks being inserted into the apertures in the rear receptacle bar.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4, but after the pair of rear hooks have been inserted down into a pair of apertures in the rear receptacle bar.

[0023] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the front of the shelf showing an alternate divider having a clear plexiglass front end.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a rear elevation view of the shelf showing a rear stop being inserted to hold the rear of the divider in position.

[0025] FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but the rear stop is now positioned fully across the shelf.

[0026] FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but showing locking supports for the rear stop.

[0027] FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 9, but showing the rear stop being inserted.

[0028] FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 10, but with the rear stop fully across the back of the shelf.

[0029] FIG. 12 is an illustration one of the front or rear receptacle bars, having a repeating pattern of differently shaped holes therein.

[0030] FIG. 13 is a simplified top and side views of sliding rails extending outwardly from the sides of the shelf for positioning the shelf in a frame or cabinet.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] As seen in the attached Figures, the present invention provides a shelving system 10, comprising:

[0032] a shelf 20 having:

[0033] a main body 22,

[0034] a front receptacle bar 24 running across the front of the main body, the front receptacle bar 24 having a series of holes or apertures 25 passing therethrough (i.e.: passing through one or both sides of the front receptacle bar);

[0035] a rear receptacle bar 26 running across the rear of the main body, the rear receptacle bar having a series of holes or apertures 27 passing therethrough (i.e.: passing through one or both sides of the rear receptacle bar);

[0036] a divider 40 comprising:

[0037] a divider body 42,

[0038] a front locating wire 44 extending forwardly from the front of the divider body, the front locating wire 44 being receivable into one of the series of apertures 25 in the front receptacle bar 24,

[0039] a pair of rear hooks 46 extending downwardly from the rear of the divider body, the pair of rear hooks 46 each being receivable into one of the series of apertures 27 in the rear receptacle bar 26.

[0040] Also provided are a front horizontal stop 50 receivable through a front end of the divider body, and a rear horizontal stop 52 receivable through a rear end of the divider body.

[0041] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of the shelf 20 prior to the front locating wire 44 being inserted into one of the apertures 25 in the front receptacle bar 24. To install the divider, a user first moves front locating wire 44 horizontally to the position shown in FIG. 2. Next, as seen in FIG. 3, the user installs front stop 50 across the front of the shelf, passing the front stop 50 through one of the holes in the support 48 of the divider. Front stop 50 is held in position by a cotter pin 28 at support 29. This prevents divider 40 from moving such that front locating wire 44 remains in one of apertures 25. Next, the rear of the divider 40 is secured in position, as follows.

[0042] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rear of the shelf prior to the pair of rear hooks 46 being inserted into the apertures 27 in the rear receptacle bar 26. In preferred embodiments, apertures 47 go fully through receptacle bar 26, such that the bottom ends of the rear hooks 46 project out the bottom of rear receptacle bar 26. As can be seen, rear hooks 46 preferably project outwardly on opposite sides of the rear of the divider body 42 to support the rear of the divider body. As such, the rear of the divider body will be prevented from tipping over even before rear stop 52 is installed. FIG. 5 illustrates the insertion of rear hooks 46 into a pair of the apertures 27.

[0043] FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate divider having a clear plexiglass front end 43 extending from the wire body of the divider. Such an optional clear plexiglass end may be installed at either or both of the ends of the divider. When installed at the front of the shelf as shown, they allow increased visibility through the shelf (for example to see cans or containers on the other side of the divider). In optional embodiments, most or all of the body of the divider can be made from such a clear plastic material, as desired. In addition, front stop 50 can also optionally be made of a clear plexiglass material to further increase visibility.

[0044] FIG. 7 shows an optional rear stop 52 being installed (i.e.: passing through holes or apertures in a series of dividers 40). Rear stop 52 can prevent the divider from being accidently lifted out of the rear receptacle bar. As the sides of the shelf, supports 29 have cotter pins 28 passing through and holding the ends of rear stop 52. FIG. 8 shows rear stop 52 running fully across the back of the shelf (i.e.: running from one support 29 to the other). FIG. 9 shows further details of the invention with rear stop 52 removed to show rear hooks 46 received downwardly into holes 27 in rear receptacle bar 26. FIG. 10 shows rear stop 52 partially inserted (similar to FIG. 7). FIG. 11 shows it fully inserted (similar to FIG. 8).

[0045] FIG. 12 shows the series of apertures 25 or 27 in either or both of the front or rear receptacle bars 24 or 26 may comprise a repeating pattern of differently shaped holes. The advantage of this embodiment is that (if the odd-shaped holes are aligned at the front and back of the shelf), it is easy to align both ends of the dividers. For example, the front and back ends of the dividers may both be placed at the odd-shaped hole, or two holes to the left of the off-shaped hole or 3 holes to the right of the off shaped holes. Prior to the present invention, this sort of alignment was quite difficult, given the fact that the dividers are quite long and the holes in the front and rear receptacle bars are quite close together.

[0046] Lastly, FIG. 13 illustrates a simplified view of shelf 20 with the wireframe structure of the shelf and the dividers 40 removed. To position shelf 20 in any frame or cabinet, a pair of front sliding rails 60 and a pair of rear sliding rails 62 are provided. In operation, sliding rails 60 and 62 are received into or through holes in vertical posts (not illustrated) for positioning the shelf at a preferred height, angle or orientation in a frame or cabinet. In accordance with the present system, one of the two front sliding rails 60 projects slightly forwards of the other (as seen by the dotted line in FIG. 13). The advantage of having one of sliding rails being longer (i.e.: projecting farther forwards) is that it makes placement of the shelf in the frame or cabinet faster. This is because an operator only has to first secure one of the shelf’s sliding rails into an aperture in one of the vertical support posts and then slightly rotate or move the shelf such that the other sliding rail 60 goes into an aperture in the other vertical post (on the other side of the shelf). Further side details of each of the sliding rails 60 and 62 are also shown in FIG. 13.

[0047] The present divider and shelving system offers several advantages. For example, it is possible to fully fasten in the front end of the divider before beginning to fasten in the rear end of the divider. Secondly, stops are provided at both the front and rear ends of the divider. These stops 50 and 52 both prevent the dividers from moving and also stabilize the dividers such that they do not fall over. Third, the use of paired rear hooks 46 ensures that the divider is able to stand even before the rear stop 52 is attached. Lastly, and importantly, there is no “spring action” in assembling the present invention. Specifically, the user does not have to pull or bend any mechanism to make it lock into position. Rather, the present system of first positioning the front locating wire 44 into one of holes 25 and then rotating the back end of the divider down to insert rear hooks 46 into the holes 27 in rear receptacle bar 26. This provides a steady assembly.

[0048] In preferred aspects, therefore, the front locating wire 44 can be fully received into one of the apertures 25 on the front receptacle bar 24 before the pair of rear hooks 46 are inserted down into the apertures 27 in the rear receptacle bar 26.

[0049] Overall, the dividers’ positions are quickly and easily adjustable. This is very convenient since the separation distance between the dividers typically corresponds to the widths of the products being dispensed. For example, the dividers are closer together when dispensing soda cans and farther apart when dispensing gallon jugs of milk. As different products are sold at different times, the dividers can be moved on the shelf accordingly.

Claims

1. A shelving system, comprising:a shelf havinga main body,a front receptacle bar running across the front of the main body, the front receptacle bar having a series of vertical apertures passing therethrough;a rear receptacle bar running across the rear of the main body, the rear receptacle bar having a series of horizontal apertures passing therethrough; a divider comprising:a solid non-bending divider body,a front locating wire extending forwardly from the front of the solid, non-bending divider body, the front locating wire being receivable into one of the series of vertical apertures in the front receptacle bar,a pair of rear hooks extending downwardly from the rear of the divider body, the pair of rear hooks each being receivable into one of the series of horizontal apertures in the rear receptacle bar, wherein the divider body does not bend when the front locating wire is received into one of the vertical apertures in the front receptacle bar.

2. The shelving system of claim 1, further comprising:a front horizontal stop receivable through a front end of the divider body, anda rear horizontal stop receivable through a rear end of the divider body.

3. The shelving system of claim 1, wherein the pair of rear hooks project outwardly on opposite sides of the rear of the divider body to support the rear of the divider body.

4. The shelving system of claim 1, wherein at least one end of the solid, non-bending divider body is made from a clear plexiglass.

5. The shelving system of claim 1, wherein the series of apertures in either or both of the front or rear receptacle bars comprise a repeating pattern of differently shaped holes.

6. The shelving system of claim 1, wherein the front locating wire can be fully received into one of the apertures on the front receptacle bar before the pair of rear hooks are inserted down into the apertures in the rear receptacle bar.

7. The shelving system of claim 2, wherein the pair of rear hooks support the divider in an upright position before the rear horizontal stop is received through the rear end of the divider body.

8. The shelving system of claim 2, wherein the front horizontal stop can be received through the front end of the divider body before the pair of rear hooks are received into the apertures in the rear receptacle bar.

9. The shelving system of claim 1, wherein the front locating wire is moved in a horizontal direction into one of the apertures in the front receptacle bar.

10. The shelving system of claim 1, wherein the pair of rear hooks are moved in a vertical direction into two of the apertures in the rear receptacle bar.

11. The shelving system of claim 1 wherein the shelf has:a pair of front sliding rails, anda pair of rear sliding rails, andwherein one of the front sliding rails projects farther forward than the other.

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