Abstract:
A protective strip for protecting a fixture includes a piece of flexible material having a first edge and a second edge, and a plurality of magnets spaced along the first edge. In another example, a system for protecting a fixture includes a protective strip having a plurality of magnets spaced along a first edge, and a cart. The cart has a vertical member configured to hold the protective strip when the protective strip is rolled. A method is also disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Many retail stores and industrial buildings have fixtures on the floor. An example of such a fixture is a shelving unit used to store and display retail merchandise, such as a gondola shelving unit. An exemplary shelving unit is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The shelving unit  20  has a vertical back panel  22 , at least one shelf  24 , a base deck  26 , and a base  28 . 
         [0002]    Many of these retail stores also have floors that require periodic maintenance. For example, concrete floors may require cleaning, polishing, stripping and waxing. Often, large, bulky machines are used to maintain these floors. When these machines bump into fixtures, such as gondola shelving units, they can leave dents and scratches, which may diminish the aesthetic appeal of the shelving display or other fixture. 
         [0003]    Typically, the person that is maintaining the floors will take measures to protect the shelving systems. One known method of protecting fixtures is applying tape around the bottom of the fixture. Another known method of protecting fixtures is attaching a protective material to the lowest shelf using clips. These processes are time consuming. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A protective strip for protecting a fixture includes a piece of flexible material having a first edge and a second edge, and a plurality of magnets spaced along the first edge. In another example, a system for protecting a fixture includes a protective strip having a plurality of magnets spaced along a first edge, and a cart. The cart has a vertical member configured to hold the protective strip when the protective strip is rolled. A method is also disclosed. 
         [0005]    The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of an embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary shelving structure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates a first embodiment of a protective strip. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates a protective strip in a rolled condition. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates a first embodiment of a cart. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  illustrates a protective strip being attached to a shelving unit. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment of a protective strip being attached to a shelving unit. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment of a protective strip being. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment of a protective sheet and the protective strip of  FIG. 7  attached to a shelving unit. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 2  a protective strip  30  is shown. The protective strip  30  is made of a flexible material and has a generally rectangular shape. In one embodiment, the flexible material is vinyl. A first permanent magnet  31  is attached at a first end  33  of the protective strip  30 . Additional permanent magnets  32  are attached along an edge  34  of the protective strip  30 . The magnets  32  may be evenly spaced along the edge  34 . In one embodiment, the magnets  32  are sewn in to the flexible material of the protective strip  30 . In another embodiment, the magnets  32  are bonded to the flexible material. In one embodiment, magnets are spaced every twelve inches. In other embodiments, however, the magnets may be spaced closer together or further apart, depending upon the specific application. The magnets  32  are attachable to an object, such as a base  28  of a shelving unit  20 , to removably secure the protective strip  30 . 
         [0015]    In an embodiment, the protective strip  30  is sized such that it will fit beneath the base deck  26  of the shelving unit  20  and a floor. In one embodiment, the width  36  of the strip  30  is about four inches. In another embodiment, the width  36  of the strip  30  is about six inches. In an embodiment, the length  38  of the flexible material is about  50  feet. 
         [0016]    The protective strip  30  may be designed such that it can be rolled about an end  40 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Rolling the protective strip  30  may make it easy to transport and attach to a shelving unit  20  or other fixture. 
         [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cart  50  designed to hold the protective strip  30  when it is rolled up. The cart  50  has wheels  51  and a vertical member  52  attached to a base  56 , and configured to hold the protective strip  30 . In one embodiment, a user secures an end  40  of the protective strip  30  to the vertical member  52 , and rotates the vertical member  52  such that the protective strip  30  is wrapped around the vertical member  52 . A handle  54  may be used to facilitate the rotating of the vertical member  52 . In another embodiment, the protective strip  30  may be rolled about an end  40  before being loaded onto the cart  50 , and then slid onto the vertical member  52 . In one embodiment, a base  56  of the cart  50  is ⅛ inch from the ground. 
         [0018]      FIG. 5  illustrates a method of using the cart  50  to facilitate the attachment of the protective strip  30  to a shelving unit  20 . A first end  33  of the protective strip  30  is attached to the base  28  of the shelving unit  20  with the first magnet  31 . The cart  50  is then rolled along a length of the shelving unit  20 , such that the protective strip  30  is unrolled from the vertical member  52 , and the magnets  32  attach to the base  28 . In a preferred embodiment, the edge  34  is adjacent the base deck  26  when the protective strip  30  is attached to the shelving unit  20 . 
         [0019]    The protective strip  30  is unrolled until either the end of the shelving unit  20  is reached, or the protective strip  30  runs out, at which point an additional protective strip  30  may be used to cover the remainder of the shelving unit  20 . The magnets  31  and  32  allow for the protective strip  30  to be attached to the base  28  more quickly than known methods that use tape or clips. The protective strip  30  protects the base  28  of the shelving unit  20  from dents and scratches that may be caused by machinery used for caring for the floor. 
         [0020]    In some applications, the protective strip  30  may be attached to the shelving unit  20  such that it is in contact with the floor, and the protective strip  30  creates a seal with the floor around the base  28  of the shelving unit  20 . In this scenario, the protective strip  30  may also protect the floor from water, waste water, chemicals, concrete slurry and other cleaning fluids flowing underneath the shelving unit  20 . In this embodiment, the protective strip  30  prevents fluids from staining or corroding the floor underneath the shelving unit  20 . 
         [0021]    In another embodiment, a plastic sheet may be attached to the shelving unit  20  using the protective strip  30 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . For applications in which it is desirable to protect items on the shelving unit  20 , a plastic sheet  60  may be attached to an edge of the shelf  24  using attachment means  62 . In one embodiment, attachment means  62  are magnets. In another embodiment, attachment means  62  are clips. After the plastic sheet  60  is attached to the shelf  24 , the protective strip  30  is attached to the base  28 , such that a lower edge of the plastic sheet  60  is captured between the base  28  and the protective strip  30 . The protective strip  30  secures the lower edge of the plastic sheet  60 , such that items on the shelving unit are protected from bumps from machinery or any fluids or dust that occurs from floor maintenance. 
         [0022]      FIG. 7  shows an alternative embodiment for securing a protective strip  62 . The protective strip  62  is the same as the protective strip  30 , except as described below. The protective strip  62  includes eyelets  64  or apertures adjacent an upper edge thereof. Securing ties or strips  66  include a magnet  68  secured or embedded at one end. The strip  66  can be looped through the eyelet  64  and then secured back to the strip  66  via hook and loop fasteners (e.g. Velcro™), snaps, buttons, or just tied back. Alternatively, the strip  66  can directly connect to the protective strip  62  via hook and loop fasteners (e.g. Velcro™), snaps, buttons or the like. The magnets  68  can then be secured to the shelving unit  20  ( FIG. 6 ) as before. One securing strip  66  is connected to each eyelet  64 . 
         [0023]    As another alternative, the securing strips  66  can be used to secure the bottom of the protective strip  62 . The securing strips  66  may be placed directly on top of the bottom edge of the protective strip  62 . The securing strip  66  makes it easier to remove the magnet  68  later. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , as another alternative, the securing strips  66  can be used secure the sheet  60  to the shelving unit  20  ( FIG. 6 ). If eyelets  74  are added to the sheet  60 , the the securing strips  66  again loop through the eyelets  64 . Alternatively, the securing strips  66  can be simply placed on the sheet  60  such that the magnets  68  secure the sheet  60  to the shelving unit  20 . 
         [0025]    Although the different examples have a specific component shown in the illustrations, embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from one of the examples in combination with features or components from another one of the examples. Also, although particular step sequences are shown, described, and claimed, it should be understood that steps may be performed in any order, separated or combined unless otherwise indicated and will still benefit from the present disclosure. 
         [0026]    Furthermore, the foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense. A worker of ordinary skill in the art would understand that certain modifications could come within the scope of this disclosure. For these reasons, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this disclosure.