Abstract:
A slide through shelf is provided. A slide through shelf is illustrated mounted to a vertical retail wall. A slide through shelf as disclosed allows a user to selectably position the slide through shelf&#39;s supports in an infinite number of configurations. The slide through shelf may be quickly assembled to accommodate different types of loading and may be adjusted to provide customized product partitioning.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to retail shelving and particularly to retail shelving mounted to a vertical retail wall. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Shelving has been in use since the earliest structures made by man. From organizing and displaying items in homes and offices to the use of shelves in stores or libraries, shelving is present in many aspects of society. Many shelving systems are modular, and may incorporate several components. A typical shelving system typically includes a shelf, and supports for vertically supporting the shelf. In many instances, the location of the supports is dictated and limited by the geometry and mounting locations of a vertical retail wall. Such limitation may result in the inefficient use of the shelving by reducing the amount, size, and stratification of retail merchandise that may be contained on a typical shelf. 
     There exists, therefore, a need in the art for art for a customizable shelving system in which a user may not only preassemble the system outside of the retail merchandise environment, but also have the ability to selectably adjust the amount and location of the shelf supports and optional partitions to an infinite number of locations as opposed to a finite number dictated by the overall shelving system assembly. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has several aspects that may be claimed and stand as patentable independently and individually or in combination with other aspects, including but not limited to the following. 
     In one aspect, an embodiment of the invention provides a highly customizable adjustable shelf. A slide through shelf according to this aspect comprises a shelf and a plurality of support members, wherein the shelf passes through an opening of each of the plurality of support members and the plurality of support members are adapted to be selectably positioned along a length of the shelf and relative to one another. The plurality of support members may be adjusted to correspond to and support different sizes of retail merchandise. 
     In another aspect, an embodiment of the invention provides a quickly assembled and cost effective shelving and divider system. A slide through shelf according to this aspect comprises a vertical retail wall that has a plurality of apertures or slots, a shelf, and a plurality of support members mounted to the apertures or slots, wherein the shelf is mounted to each of the plurality of support members such that two adjacent support members in combination with the shelf define a retail merchandise region adapted to receive retail merchandise. 
     In yet another aspect, an embodiment of the invention provides a method for assembling a slide through shelf comprising the steps of selecting a plurality of support members and sliding a shelf through an opening of each of the plurality of support members. An additional step of this method may include mounting the slide through shelf to a vertical retail wall. 
     Other embodiments of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is an exemplary embodiment of a slide through shelf installed on a vertical retail wall in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a support member of the slide through shelf of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial view of an opening of the support member of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an alternative embodiment of the support member of the slide through shelf of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a shelf of the slide through shelf of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an assembly perspective view of the slide through shelf of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is an end view of the slide through shelf of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a slide through shelf  10  installed on a vertical retail wall  11 , together forming a retail shelving and divider system  12  for use in a typical retail environment. The slide through shelf  10  may be loaded with a variety of retail merchandise  17  ranging from packaged products such as over the counter pharmaceuticals to loose products such as assorted hardware, e.g. screws, nails etc. As illustrated, the slide through shelf  10  may be located at a height along the vertical retail wall  11  that is optimal for product identification by a typical consumer. The slide through shelf  10  may include a plurality of support members  14 , and a shelf  16 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the vertical retail wall  11  is represented by a slatwall, however, the vertical retail wall  11  may also be a peg board, or other similar structure suitable for mounting the slide through shelf  10  thereto. 
     Turning now to the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , a support member  14  is illustrated. The support member  14  is comprised, generally, of a backing wall  18 , a support wall  24 , an opening  34 , and a mounting flange  44 . The support members  14  receive shelf  16  through openings  34  and vertically support the shelf  16 , and also provides retail merchandise dividing or partitioning along the shelf  16  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the backing wall  18  acts as a brace by stabilizing the support member  14  against the vertical retail wall  11 . The backing wall  18  extends between front and rear faces  20 ,  22 . The front face  20  is directed away from the vertical retail wall  11 , and the rear face  22  is typically in contact with the vertical retail wall  11  when mounted to the vertical retail wall  11 . In the illustrated embodiment, the backing wall  18  forms a generally right angle with the support wall  24 . However, in other embodiments, the backing wall  18  is coplanar or generally transverse with the support wall  24 , in order to facilitate mounting to various embodiments of vertical retail walls  11  and associated mounting hardware therewith. In preferred embodiments, the backing wall  18  has a length of between about 2″ and about 16″, a width of between about 1″ and about 4″, and a wall-thickness of between about 1/16″ and about ¼″, but may deviate from these values in other embodiments. 
     Disposed above the backing wall  18  and integral thereto is the mounting flange  44 . The mounting flange  44  functions to mount the support member  14  to a typical vertical retail wall  11 . As illustrated, the mounting flange  44  has a first radius  46 , an offset portion  48  extending generally horizontally from the first radius, a second radius  50  beginning at a distal end of the offset portion  48 , and a retaining portion  52  extending generally vertically from a distal end of the second radius  50 . The first radius  46 , offset portion  48 , second radius  50 , and retaining portion  52  may be unitarily formed or supplied as a sub assembly. When unitarily formed, the first radius  46 , offset portion  48 , second radius  50 , and retaining portion  52  extend between front and rear faces  54 ,  56 . When unitarily formed, the front face  54  forms a single continuous surface with the front face  20  of the backing wall  18 , and the rear face  56  forms a single continuous surface with rear face  22  of the backing wall  18 . As will be discussed in more detail below, the mounting flange  44  in the illustrated embodiment is adapted to mount to a slatwall, however, the mounting flange  44  may be adapted to mount to other types of vertical retail walls  11  and the associated hardware therewith. The mounting feature may have an overall height of between about ½″ and about 3″, a width of between about 1″ and about 4″, and a thickness between about 1/16″ and about ¼″, but may deviate from these values in other embodiments. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the support wall  24  has a general contoured profile and extends beyond the shelf  16  once the shelf is received by the opening  34 . By virtue of its shape, the support wall  24  functions not only to support the shelf  16 , but also provide retail merchandise  17  partitioning. The support wall  24  is generally at a right angle with respect to the backing wall  18 , and extends between left and right faces  26 ,  28 . The size of the contour of the support wall  24  is adjustable so as to vary the extent of retail merchandise  17  partitioning offered by the support member  14 . In other embodiments, the support wall  24  is reduced in size and shape such that it provides minimal retail merchandise  17  partitioning. In further embodiments, the support wall  24  has a more regular profile, e.g. a rectangular profile, as opposed to a contoured shape or profile as illustrated. The support wall may extend transversely away from the backing wall between about 4″ to about 26″, but may deviate from this value in other embodiments. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , the opening  34  is shown extending through left and right faces  26 ,  28  of the support wall  24 . The opening  34  is adapted to receive a corresponding profile of the shelf  16 , and once the shelf  16  is installed, the shelf  16  is limited to one axial degree of freedom along a longitudinal axis  74  (See  FIG. 6 ) of the shelf  16 . The opening  34  is bounded, at least in part, by front and rear edges  36 ,  38  in opposed lateral space relation to one another, and top and bottom edges  40 ,  42  in opposed spaced vertical relation to on another, and generally transverse to the front and rear edges  36 ,  38 . As illustrated, the opening  34  has a generally “U” shaped profile, but can also be generally straight in other embodiments, whereby the front and rear edges  36 ,  38  have a maximum height equal to that of the top edge  40 . 
     In one embodiment, the opening  34  is sized to provide a slip fit having minimal clearance with respect to the shelf  16  when the shelf  16  is received by the opening  34 . As such, the opening  34  typically takes the shape of a profile of the shelf  16 . When the shelf  16  is installed, it is substantially limited to displacement along longitudinal axis  74  (See  FIG. 1 ) by virtue of the top, bottom, front, and rear edges  40 ,  42 ,  36 ,  38  acting as stops or barriers. The shelf may have some limited movement along other directions and still be considered to be “substantially limited to displacement along longitudinal axis  74 .” As will be discussed in further detail below, when the shelf  16  is loaded with retail merchandise  17 , it will elastically deform to such an extent as to no longer maintain a slip fit with the opening  34 , and thus be prevented from axial displacement along axis  74 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the opening  34  is angled such that the bottom edge  42  of the opening  34  forms a shelf angle with the backing wall  18 . By angling the opening  34 , the shelf  16  will typically be similarly angled causing retail merchandise  17  situated upon the shelf  16  to be biased by gravity either forward and away from the vertical retail wall  11 , or backward and toward the vertical retail wall  11 . The shelf angle may range from between about 25° to about 155°. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the backing wall  18  extends generally to the left of the support wall  24  when viewing the front face  20  of the backing wall  18 . Turning now to  FIG. 4  and as will be explained in more detail below, in another embodiment, the backing wall  18  extends generally to the right of the support wall  24  when viewing the front face  20  of the backing wall  18 . A slide through shelf  10  may incorporate either embodiment of support member  14  disclosed above, or a combination of the embodiments. In one embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 6 , the slide through shelf  10  uses several support members  14  having leftwardly extending backing walls  18  while moving from right to left along the length of the shelf  16 , followed by a single support member  14  having a rightwardly extending backing wall  18  at the left most end of the shelf  16 . In this embodiment, the support walls  24  of the support members  14  located at the extremities of the shelf  16  may function as end caps for the slide through shelf  10 . 
     A typical support member  14  may be constructed of a formed plastic, metal, wood, or a combination thereof. Although illustrated as unitarily formed (i.e. as a single or one-piece construction), the support member  14  may be supplied as an assembly, wherein the backing wall  18 , support wall  24 , and mounting flange  44  are mechanically or adhesively joined to one another. The support member  14  may be transparent or opaque, but is not limited thereto. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , a shelf  16  is illustrated. The shelf  16  supports the retail merchandise  17 , and in combination with two adjacent support members  14  and the vertical retail wall  11 , defines a retail merchandise region for the receipt of retail merchandise  17 . The shelf profile has front and rear edges  60 ,  62  in opposed spaced relation to one another, and top and bottom edges  64 ,  66  in opposed spaced relation to one another and generally transverse to the front and rear edges  60 ,  62 . The shelf extends between top and bottom surfaces  65 , and  67 . Top surface  65  is typically in contact with the retail merchandise  17 , while bottom surface  67  is in contact with the bottom edge  42  of the opening  34  of each of the plurality of support members  14  supporting the shelf  16 . This arrangement also prevents substantial vertical movement of shelf  16  within opening  34 . 
     Although illustrated as having a generally “U” shaped profile, the shelf  16  may also have a generally planar profile in other embodiments. Also, the front and rear edges  60 ,  62  may extend downwardly past the bottom edge  66  in other embodiments, as opposed to extending upwardly past the top edge  66  as illustrated. Also in other embodiments, the front and rear edges  60 ,  62  may be generally transverse to the top and bottom edges  64 ,  66  as opposed to generally perpendicular as illustrated. Edges  60 ,  62  typically contact edges  36 ,  38  of opening  34  to substantially prevent lateral movement (i.e. front and back) of shelf  16 . 
     The shelf may have an overall length of between about 6″ to about 120″, and a width of between about 2″ to about 24″. The shelf may be constructed of a formed plastic, metal or wood or a combination thereof. The shelf may be transparent or opaque, but is not limited thereto. Although illustrated as unitarily formed, the shelf may also be formed by mechanically joining several segments. However, the shelf  16  will typically be formed from extruded plastic. 
     Moving now to  FIG. 6 , the slide through shelf  10  is shown in a partially assembled view. The slide through shelf  10  is assembled by first determining how many support members  14  will be utilized. This determination may be based upon weight load intended to be carried by the shelf once loaded with retail merchandise  17 , the desired retail merchandise  17  partitioning, a combination thereof, and/or other factors. Once an appropriate number of support members  14  has been selected, each support member  14  is successively installed by sliding the shelf  16  through the opening  34  of each of the support members  14  along axis  74 . Once all of the selected support members  14  have been installed along the shelf  16 , the support members  14  are then be selectably positioned along the longitudinal axis  74  of the shelf  16  to accommodate different sizes of retail merchandise  17  and to vary the support capabilities of the shelf  16 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a support member  14  with a rightwardly extending backing wall  18  (See  FIG. 4 ) is first to be installed on the shelf  16 , then support members  14  with leftwardly extending backing walls  18  (See  FIG. 2 ) are installed on the shelf  16 . However, in other embodiments the shelf  16  is received by support members  14  having exclusively rightwardly or leftwardly extending backing walls  18 , or a combination thereof. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 7 , once the support members  14  have been installed and adjusted along the length of the shelf  16 , the slide through shelf is then to be installed upon the vertical retail wall  11 . In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting flange  44  locates and maintains the slide through shelf  10  at a height along the retail wall by virtue of the offset portion  48  engaging a generally horizontal surface  76  of the vertical retail wall  11 . As illustrated, the retaining portion  52  then engages an interior surface  78  of the vertical retail wall  11 , thus preventing the slide through shelf  10  from displacement away from the vertical retail wall  11 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , as illustrated, the shelf  16  in combination with two adjacent support members  14  and the vertical retail wall  11  defines a retail merchandise region. Once the slide through shelf  10  has been installed upon the vertical retail wall  11 , retail merchandise  17  is then loaded/unloaded out of each retail merchandise region. As described above, the shelf  16  forms an angle of greater than, less than or equal to 90° with the vertical retail wall  11  due to the shelf angle of the opening  34 . The shelf angle thus allows the retail merchandise  17  to be biased by gravity forward or away from the front wall  60  of the shelf  16 . When loaded, the shelf  16  is resilient enough to support the retail merchandise  17  but also has enough elasticity to slightly deform under the load of the retail merchandise  17 . This deformation results in an interference fit between the opening  34  and the shelf  16 , thus preventing the shelf  16  from displacement along the longitudinal axis  74  when the shelf is loaded. 
     The slide through shelf  10  is described above as being assembled sequentially by the steps of first determining an appropriate number of support members  14 , then sliding and adjusting the support members  14  upon the shelf  16 , and then installing the slide through shelf  10  on the vertical retail wall  11 . However, the steps of the above process may be performed in other orders as well, for example by first installing all the support members  14  on the vertical retail wall  11  and then sliding the shelf  16  through the support members  14 . 
     As described herein, the slide through shelf  10  allows a user to selectably position the support members  14  in an infinite number of positions along the length of the shelf  16 . Moreover, the slide through shelf  10  has a quicker assembly time because the support members  14  not only support the shelf  16 , but also serve as partitions, thus reducing the amount of components required for assembly. Additionally, the slide through shelf  10  may be supplied in a preassembled state, also reducing the assembly time required in a typical retail environment. 
     All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.