A SHELF PARTITIONING DEVICE FOR STORE AND STORAGE SHELVES

Abstract: A partitioning device for partitioning shop shelves and storage shelves that are provided with at least one mounting strip (2) which extends along one longitudinal edge of the shelf (1). The partitioning device (3) includes at one end at least one plastic gripping means (5) which includes two gripping claws (6) intended for coaction with the mounting strip, said gripping claws being separated by a slot-like opening (7). The mounting strip (2) and/or at least one of the gripping claws (6) is provided with a friction enhancing elastomeric material (8; 11) for coaction with at least one gripping claw (6) or with the mounting strip (2) such as to prevent or to impede unintentional displacement of the partitioning device (3) along the strip, even when using a relatively low contact pressure between the claws and the strip. This eliminates or reduces the risk of cold flow of the plastic material in the gripping part (5, 6).

Description: A SHELF PARTITIONING DEVICE FOR STORE AND STORAGE SHELVES The present invention relates to a device for partitioning the shelves in stores, shops and storage facilities, said shelves being fitted with at least one mounting strip that extends along one longitudinal edge of the shelf, wherein the shelf partitioning device includes at one end thereof at least one plastic gripping element that includes two gripping claws for coaction with the mounting strip and separated by a slot-like opening. Shelf partitioning devices of this kind are used to a large extent in shops to divide shelves into different product accommodating compartments, among other things. The shelves may include mounting strips along both their rear and front edges, and the partitioning devices may include gripping components at both ends thereof. One partitioning device is fitted to respective strips, which normally consist of a T- section or profile, and the device is pressed down on the strip so as to cause the gripping claws to grip around the T- section with a given spring action. Removal of the partitioning device from a mounting strip can be difficult to achieve and requires the application of a relatively strong force. One drawback with known shelf partitioning devices is that they must not be allowed to grip the mounting strips with a force that will prevent the partitioning devices from being moved easily along the strips. This means that the partitioning devices can be easily moved unintentionally along the strips. This is particularly the case when the gripping means are made of a cold-flow plastic material, since the shape of the gripping part of the device will adapt to the shape of the strip and therewith reduce the frictional engagement therebetween. If the frictional engagement is initially increased by tightening the grip of said gripping part about the strips, it will be much too difficult to move the partitioning device along the strips when adjusting the sizes of respective product accommodating compartments. Furthermore, the mounting and removal of the partitioning device will be more difficult and the cold flow of the plastic material increases with time. A primary object of the present invention is to provide a shelf partitioning device with which the frictional engagement of the device with respective mounting strips has been improved without increasing the risk of cold flow which other- wise weakens the gripping action between the strip and partitioning device. This object is achieved with a shelf partitioning device of the kind defined in the first paragraph which is characterized in that the mounting strip and/or at least one of the gripping claws is provided with a friction enhancing elastomeric material for coaction with said at least one gripping claw or said mounting strip so as to prevent or to impede unintentional displacement of said device along said strip, even when utilizing a low contact pressure between the claws and the strip that eliminates or reduces the risk of cold flow in the plastic material of the gripping part of said device. Such an arrangement enables the use of frictional engagement between partitioning device and strip that will prevent unintentional displacement of said device and that will remain generally constant over the space of time. In addition to the high degree of friction generated by the elastomeric material there is also afforded the advantage that the material is able to yield as a result of its elasticity, therewith resulting in a decrease of the cold flow in the hard plastic material used in the gripping parts of the partitioning device. The body of the mounting strip, which is made of rigid material, also retains its shape in this regard. The mounting strip will preferably have the form of a generally T-shaped section or profile, where the elastomeric material is applied in the form of a longitudinally extending string on at least one side of the vertical leg of the T- shaped section. Further features of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying claims. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplifying embodiments thereof and also with reference to the drawings; in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of a shop shelf fitted with an inventive shelf partitioning device; Figure 2 illustrates the coaction between the gripping means and a mounting strip fitted to the shelf; Figure 3 is an enlarged view showing the engagement between the partitioning device and the mounting strip; and Figure 4 illustrates an alternative placement of a friction enhancing elastomeric strip. Figure 1 illustrates part of a shop shelf 1 that has a mounting strip 2 fitted along the front and rear edges thereof. Mounted on the strips 2 are two shelf partitioning devices 3 which are provided at each end with a gripping means 5 that coacts with respective strips 2. The partitioning devices 3 can be moved along the strips 2 to positions in which the product accommodating space on the shelf conforms to the product or goods 4 concerned. As an alternative to being a separate part of the arrangement, the strip 2 may comprise part of a shelf edge strip on which price labels can be shown, among other things. As will be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the upwardly projecting part of the strip 2 coacting with the gripping means 5 on the partitioning device 3 has a generally T-shape. In the illustrated case, the gripping means 5 includes two claws 6 which coact with the strip 2 and which are separated by a slot-like opening 7. Both the mounting strip 2 and the partitioning device 3 carrying the gripping means 5 are made conveniently of a compara- tively hard plastic material. This means that the plastic material will cold flow in time, particularly the material from which the gripping claws 6 of said gripping means 5 are made, the shape of the claws therewith adapting to the shape of the mounting strip. This reduces the frictional engagement of these components and therewith increases the risk of involuntary movement of the partitioning devices 3 along the shelf. If the gripper claws 6 are caused to engage the strip 2 too tightly, it will be difficult to adjust the positions of respective partitioning devices 3. Removal of the devices from the strip 2 will also be more difficult to achieve in this latter regard. These problems have been solved in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 , by virtue of a string 8 of elastomeric material applied along one side of the vertical leg of the mounting strip 2. In this regard, one gripping claw 6 of the gripping means 5 is designed to make contact with the elastomeric string 8. As a result of the elasticity of the elastomeric material, good frictional engagement can be achieved between the gripping claw 6 and the string of material 8 with the application of a relatively low contact pressure that reduces the risk of cold flow in the harder plastic materials in respective gripping parts and mounting strips. This enables a generally constant frictional engage- ment to be maintained between the gripping means 5 and the strip 2 over the passage of time. Furthermore, fitting and removal of the partitioning device is made easier by virtue of being able to use a looser grip around the horizontal leg of the T-shaped section or profile. Although an elastomeric string 8 has been shown only on one side of the strip 2 it will be understood that a similar string may be disposed on the other side of said strip. As an alternative to providing the elastomeric material on the vertical leg, said material may be disposed, for instance, on one or both edge surfaces of the horizontal leg or, alterna- tively, on those surfaces of the gripping claws 6 that coact with the strip 2. Figure 4 shows an elastomeric strip 11 connected to one gripping claw 6 so that said strip will coact with the upper horizontal surface of the strip 2. When a mounting strip is used along both the front and the rear edge of the shelf 1, as in the Figure 1 embodiment, it may be sufficient to obtain frictional enhancement in connec- tion with one of the strips. Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to certain embodiments it will be understood that these may be varied and modified in several respects within the scope of the claims. For instance, the configuration of the mounting strip and therewith also the configuration of the gripping part of said partitioning device may be varied in several respects.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A partitioning device for partitioning the shelves of shops and storage places, where said shelves (1) include at least one mounting strip (2) which extends along a longitudinal edge of its associated shelf, wherein the partitioning device (3) includes at one end at least one plastic gripping means (5) that includes two gripping claws (6) which are intended for coaction with the mounting strip and which are separated by a slot-like opening (7) , characterized in that the mounting strip (2) and/or at least one of said gripping claws (6) is provided with a friction enhancing elastomeric material (8; 11) for coaction with at least one gripping claw (6) or the mounting strip (2) such as to prevent or to impede uninten- tional displacement of the partitioning device (3) along the strip, even when using a low contact pressure between the claws and the strip that eliminates or reduces the risk of cold flow in the plastic material of the gripping means (5, 6). 2. A partitioning device according to Claim 1 intended for use together with mounting strips (2) that have a generally T- shaped profile, characterized in that the elastomeric material has the form of a longitudinal string (8) applied on at least one side of the vertical leg of the T-shaped profile (2) . 3. A partitioning device according to Claim 1 intended for use together with mounting strips (2) that have a generally T- shaped profile, characterized in that the elastomeric material has the form of an elongated strip (11) applied along one gripping claw such as to coact with the upper horizontal surface of the T-shaped profile.

Inventors: JOSEFSSON BOERJE, LANGE ANDERS, JOSEFSSON, BOERJE, LANGE, ANDERS
Applicants: HL DISPLAY AB, JOSEFSSON BOERJE, LANGE ANDERS, JOSEFSSON, BOERJE, LANGE, ANDERS
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A47B96
IPC codes: A47B57, A47F5