Abstract:
A device for use with a wire shelf includes a planar top portion and a foot extending from the top portion and adapted to secure the top portion to the wire shelf. The foot has a base that extends orthogonally from the top portion and a catch for engaging the wire shelf. Two of the devices can be combined to support a longitudinal beam along a wire shelf, with a divider being supported by the longitudinal beam.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates generally to a vertical support for use in a wire shelving system, and more particularly to movable dividers adapted for use with wire shelves.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Wire shelving systems have found wide use in commercial and residential applications. In a typical adjustable wire shelving system of the knockdown type, a plurality of support posts, usually four, are provided for supporting a shelf at the corners. Each pole includes spaced, horizontal grooves for receiving a tapered sleeve. The shelf is formed to have frustro-conically shaped openings, or collars, at each corner. The sleeves are positioned on the posts and then received within the collars to support the shelf. The shelf may be supported horizontally, or it may have a slope.  
           [0003]    A conventional formed wire shelf includes a plurality of longitudinally extending wire members and a plurality of transversely extending wire members welded to one another at their respective intersecting points to form a rigid structure. For additional support, a vertically oriented edge beam is provided around the perimeter of the shelf by a serpentine-like member and a lower support member cooperating with a peripheral top wire.  
           [0004]    Shelving systems as described above can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,424,111, 3,523,508 and 3,757,705. These shelving systems are sold and marketed under the trademark SUPER ERECTA SHELF by InterMetro Industries Corporation of Wilkes-Barre, Pa.  
           [0005]    Shelving systems with wire shelves are readily adaptable for storing and supporting a wide array of items, such as food items, boxes, tools, etc.  
           [0006]    There is a need, however, for dividers readily adaptable for use with wire shelves. The wire shelves can be part of a shelving system such as described above or a cantilevered shelving system. Such dividers will further increase the versatility of the wire shelves.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a divider for use with a wire shelf.  
           [0008]    In one aspect of the invention, a device for use with a wire shelf includes a top planar portion and a foot extending from the top portion and adapted to secure the top portion to the wire shelf. The foot has a base extending from the top.  
           [0009]    In another aspect of the present invention, the foot includes a catch depending from the base adapted to engage a wire of the wire shelf.  
           [0010]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, the top portion and foot are integrally formed.  
           [0011]    In another aspect of the present invention, a shelving system includes at least one wire shelf, vertical support posts to support the shelf, and a vertical panel removably attached to the wire shelf. The panel includes a planar top portion and a foot extending therefrom to secure the panel to the wire shelf. The foot includes a base extending from the top portion.  
           [0012]    In another aspect of the present invention, a device for use with a wire shelf includes first and second panels, a longitudinal beam and a divider movably attached to the longitudinal beam. Each panel includes a planar top portion and a foot extending therefrom to secure the panel to the wire shelf. The longitudinal beam is supported between the first panel and the second panel.  
           [0013]    In still another aspect of the present invention, the panel includes a plurality of key holes and a plurality of oblong holes.  
           [0014]    In yet another aspect of the invention, the longitudinal beam is supported in one of the plurality of key holes and one of the plurality of oblong holes.  
           [0015]    In still another aspect of the invention, the longitudinal beam includes an upper rail having a notch at both ends and a lower rail. The notch of the upper rail is adapted to mate with one of the plurality of key holes and the lower rail is supported by one of the plurality of oblong holes.  
           [0016]    In another aspect of the invention, a shelving system includes at least one wire shelf, support posts for supporting the shelf, first and second panels, a longitudinal beam and a divider. The first and second panels each include a planar top portion and a foot extending therefrom to secure the panel to the wire shelf. The beam is supported between the first panel and the second panel, and the divider is movably attached to the longitudinal beam.  
           [0017]    These and other aspects, objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, read in conjunction with the reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing a shelving system with a panel according to a first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 shows a side elevation view of the panel shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the panel shown in FIG. 1 engaging a wire shelf;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a shelving system with panels according to a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a divider according to the present invention; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a partial side elevation view of a longitudinal support beam according to the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    The invention relates generally to a vertical support panel for use with a shelving system including at least one open wire shelf.  
         [0025]    As shown in FIG. 1, a vertical support panel, or simply panel,  2  according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown engaged to a wire shelf  8 . The panel generally includes a planar top portion  4  and a foot  6 .  
         [0026]    As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the planar top portion  4  includes two rows of holes  5  and  7  that will be discussed in more detail below in connection with the second embodiment of the invention. The foot  6  protrudes orthogonally from the top portion  4  and is formed to have a base  10  and an L-shaped catch  12  depending from both ends of the base  10 .  
         [0027]    Although the panel  2  is preferably formed as a single, integral piece, it may be comprised of several parts joined together. For example, the base  10 , the catch  12  and the planar top portion  4  may be separate pieces joined to one another by welding, epoxy or any other suitable means for joining. Moreover, while the panel  2  is preferably formed from punched and stamped sheet metal, alternative materials such as wire, mesh, molded plastic, etc., can be used without departing from the scope of the invention.  
         [0028]    Although illustrated as an L-shape, the catch  12  may have a variety of shapes. Such shapes include, but are not limited to, an S-shape, a hook-shape, or clip-shape or any other shape capable of engaging the wire shelf.  
         [0029]    When the panel  2  is attached to the shelf  8 , the bottom surface of the base  10  and the top and outside surfaces of the catch  12  engage the wires  14  of the shelf  8 . The base  10  and catch  12  cooperate to create a tensioning force to secure the panel in place. In addition, the width of the base  10  and catch  12  enable the panel  2  to resist lateral forces, such as from a book resting against the panel  2 . With this arrangement, the panel  2  is self-supported on the shelf but can be easily moved along the length of the shelf.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 4 illustrates the second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, two panels  2 , as disclosed above with regard to the first embodiment, are provided to support a longitudinal support beam  16  above the shelf  8 . The beam  16  in turn supports a divider  18 .  
         [0031]    As illustrated in FIG. 5, the divider  18  has a wire frame  20  and a clip  22  attached thereto. The divider is preferably designed to slide along the beam, with the clip allowing the divider to be easily removed from the beam. In this embodiment, the clip  22  has a substantially flat back  24  and two prongs  26  depending from the back  24 . Stamped in the back  24  are two protrusions  28 . Of course, clips or hooks of varying types may be used to secure the divider  18  to the beam  16  without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, the frame  20  may be, by way of nonlimiting example, a solid piece, rather than a wire frame, or a wire mesh. Moreover, the divider  18  may be made from materials other than metal, such as plastic or wood.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 6 illustrates one end of the beam  16 . The beam  16  generally comprises an upper rail  30 , a lower rail  32  and a central rail  34  bent back and forth in a serpentine manner between the upper rail  30  and the lower rail  32 . The upper rail  30  of the beam  16  has a notch  36  at both of its ends. The beam  16  may span the entire length of the shelf  8  as illustrated in FIG. 4, or the beam  16  may be shorter and the panels  2  brought closer together to span only part of the length of the shelf  8 .  
         [0033]    Referring back to FIG. 2, the planar top  4  of the panel  2  includes a plurality of keyholes  5  and a plurality of oblong holes  7  disposed beneath the keyholes  5 . The bottom portion of each keyhole  5  is smaller than the full diameter of the upper rail  30  of the beam  16 , while the diameter of each oblong hole  7  and the top portion of each keyhole  5  is larger than the diameter of the rails  30 ,  32 .  
         [0034]    In operation, the upper rail  30  is inserted into the top of the keyhole  5  and the lower rail  32  is inserted into the oblong hole  7 . The beam  16  is then allowed to rest in the holes so that notch  36  mates with a side portion of the keyhole  5 . In this way the beam is supported from below and also prevented from sliding laterally.  
         [0035]    Although a keyhole and oblong hole arrangement is described, other shapes and arrangements for the holes may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.  
         [0036]    As illustrated in FIG. 4, one end of the beam  16  fits into the holes of one panel  2 , and the other end of the beam  16  fits into the corresponding holes of another panel  2 . Dividers  18  clip onto the beam  16 , with the protrusions  28  in the back  24  of the clip  22  serving as detents to help prevent the dividers  18  from slipping off of the beam  16 . In addition, the divider  18  may be slid along the beam  16  when manipulated by an operator, but will snag and remain in place when pressed by an uneven force such as one side of a book. Several dividers  18  may be placed on a single beam  16 , allowing a single shelf to be divided into a number of discrete sections.  
         [0037]    While the present invention has been described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Rather, the present invention covers various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the appended claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.