Abstract:
The present invention comprises a shelf management device that may be used to organize and secure merchandise on a retail shelf. The device can function as either a shelf divider or a fence and is reusable. The device may have a unitary structure preferably fabricated from plastic and requires no hardware or adhesive for installation. It has a unique arrangement of clips or anchors that engage the perforations formed in a shelf. The anchors may include rounded catches that fit into the perforations and engage the underside of the shelf to keep the device in place. The device can engage various shapes of perforations, including round, square, rectangular or diamond.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/118,319, filed Feb. 19, 2015, and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/151,496, filed Apr. 23, 2015, in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §119(e). 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a device for managing products on retail shelving. More specifically, it relates to a reusable shelf management device having a unitary construction and including anchors to mount the device into perforations in the shelving. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Various types of shelf management systems exist for organizing and managing merchandise on retail shelving. Such systems include wire or plastic dividers and fences that attach to shelving in various ways. Shelf dividers are barriers installed transversely (i.e., front to back) across a shelf. Dividers may be used to separate merchandise on a shelf or keep products from falling off the end of the shelf. Shelf fences are usually longer than dividers and may be installed along the front edge of the shelf to keep merchandise from falling off the shelf. 
         [0004]    Some dividers and fences are reusable and others are for single-use applications. Reusable dividers and fences generally connect to shelves using fasteners such as bolts or push rivets. The fasteners engage small holes or perforations in the shelf. Single-use dividers and fences may be attached to the shelf using an adhesive or double-sided tape. One type of single-use divider uses thin push tabs to engage the shelf perforations. All of these dividers and attachment methods have significant drawbacks. Most require keeping and transporting multiple tools and fasteners to attach a single divider or fence to a shelf. The push tab method uses tabs that are flimsy and unable to securely maintain the divider in place on the shelf. What are needed in the industry are durable and reusable shelf dividers and fences that are capable of being fastened securely to retail shelving without the need for additional fasteners or adhesives. The present invention addresses this need. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present invention comprises a shelf management device for organizing products on a retail shelf. The shelf has a display surface and perforations formed therein that are designed to accept anchoring members from various types of shelf dividers and fences. The present shelf management device may include a vertical partition and a base panel extending perpendicular to the vertical partition. The base panel may be secured to the shelf using a plurality of anchors located proximate the longitudinal centerline of the base panel, each anchor having a trunk integrally formed with the base panel to create a unitary or monolithic structure and a catch or protuberance extending away from said trunk. The trunk may have a rectangular transverse cross section and the catch may be attached to a planar first side of the trunk. The planar first side could be angled between zero and ninety degrees with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the base panel or its bottom surface. The trunk and its associated catch are receivable into the perforations formed in the display surface. When the base panel is secured to the shelf, the catch or protuberance will be below the display surface and the catch will extend outwardly beyond the periphery of the perforation in which it is installed. The shelf management device may be constructed of plastic. 
         [0006]    The shelf management device could utilize an anchor having a planar first side and a planar second side opposite and generally parallel to said first side. When the shelf management device is secured in a shelf perforation, the planar first side is proximate a first side of the perforation and the planar second side is proximate a second side of the perforation that is opposite the first side of the perforation. The distance between the planar first side and planar second side is less than the shortest distance between the first and second sides of the perforation. The anchor may have a protuberance extending away from the planar first side of the anchor, wherein the distance between an outer surface of the protuberance and the planar second side of the anchor is greater than the previously referenced shortest distance between the first and second sides of the perforation. The protuberance may be spaced below the bottom surface by a distance that is greater than the depth of the perforation in which the anchor is installed. An anchor for the shelf management device may be located proximate the longitudinal centerline of the bottom surface and, as previously noted, the anchor may be integrally formed with the base panel as a unitary structure. The anchor may be proximate a first end of the base panel and a second anchor may be proximate a second end of the base panel. The base panel on the shelf management device may include an upper surface that slopes downwardly away from the vertical partition. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of three shelf management devices arranged as dividers and a fence on a shelf; one of the dividers is shown in an exploded view above the shelf. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of a shelf management device. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of a shelf management device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of a shelf management device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of an alternate embodiment of the shelf management device in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an angled elevation view of a shelf management device taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is angled elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the shelf management device in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of a shelf management device installed in a shelf perforation. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view of an alternate embodiment of the shelf management device in  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
         [0017]    Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “rightwardly,” “leftwardly,” “upper,” and “lower” will refer to the installed position of the item to which the reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the item being described and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of a similar import. 
         [0018]    Referring to the figures, the present invention comprises a shelf management device  5  that may be used to organize and secure merchandise on a retail shelf  8 . The shelf management device  5  comprises a unitary structure having a horizontal base panel  9  attached to a vertical partition  11 . Attached to the underside of base panel  9  is a unique arrangement of clips or anchors  12  that fit into perforations  15  formed in shelf  8  to secure the device  5  to the shelf. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the shelf management device  5  may be used as a shelf divider  16  when installed transversely across the shelf  8  or as a fence  17  when installed at the front or ends of shelf  8 . The shelf management device  5  preferably comprises a unitary or monolithic structure constructed of plastic formed from either injection molding, or a vacuum or thermal forming process. It is foreseen that shelf management device  5  may also be formed as separate parts and assembled. It is possible that durable and lightweight materials other than plastic may also be used, such as rubber or aluminum. One reason plastic is preferable is because it can be made translucent or colored depending on the needs of the end user. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the shelf management device  5  includes a generally rectangular horizontal base panel  9  that rests on shelf  8  when the device  5  is installed. Base panel  9  has a flat bottom surface  22  and a sloped upper surface  25 . The upper surface  25  slopes slightly down from a longitudinal interior corner  27  of base panel  9  to a longitudinal distal edge  30  of base panel  9  such that base panel  9  is thicker near corner  27  than it is near edge  30 . The corner  27  is located at the point of attachment between vertical partition  11  and base panel  9 . Corner  27  may take and inverted curve or radiused form. If corner  27  is curved, it preferably has a radius of less than one-eighth of an inch. The angle of upper surface  25  is usually approximately three degrees from horizontal but other angles may also be used. Base panel  9  is relatively thin at edge  30  so that when the shelf management device  5  is installed on shelf  8 , merchandise adjacent device  5  can slide over edge  30  and onto panel  9  without catching on edge  30 . Base panel  9  also has a posterior edge  32  disposed opposite distal edge  30 . 
         [0020]    Attached to and extending perpendicularly upward from base panel  9  is a generally rectangular vertical partition  11 . Partition  11  is integrally attached to base panel  9  at interior corner  27 . It is foreseen that partition  11  may also be formed apart from base panel  9  and adhered or bonded to the panel. The partition  11  extends upwardly from corner  27  and is a uniform height for the length of the partition  25 . It is foreseen that partition  11  may also vary in height along its length. Partition  11  has two upper corners  45  that may be rounded if desired to prevent objects or clothing from snagging on the corners  45  and reduce the chance that a sharp corner  45  could cause injury. In the preferred embodiment, base panel  9  and partition  11  form an L-shaped structure but it is foreseen that partition  11  could be attached to other locations on base panel  9 . For example, partition  11  could attach to the middle of panel  9  to form an inverted T-shape. Furthermore, base panel  9  could be narrow and only slightly wider than the thickness of partition  11 , in which case base panel  9  would extend away from partition  11  only slightly. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , attached to and extending downwardly from the bottom surface  22  of base panel  9  is a plurality of anchors  12 . Each anchor  12  comprises a trunk  55  and a protuberance or catch  60  attached to and extending away from a side of trunk  55 . As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , protuberance  60  is typically rounded or curved to allow anchor  12  to slide in and out of a perforation  15 . However, it is foreseen that the protuberance or catch  60  may also be squared or barbed to better grip the shelf  8 . Trunk  55  preferably has a rectangular transverse cross section, but other trunk shapes may be used such as cylindrical or triangular. 
         [0022]    If a rectangular trunk  55  is used, it has a generally planar first side or face  61  and a parallel generally planar second side or face  62  opposite the first side  61 . The first side  61  and second side  62  are arranged generally perpendicular to bottom surface  22 . The protuberance  60  is located on the first side  61  between an upper end  63  of trunk  55  and a distal end  64  of trunk  55 . It is foreseen that the protuberance  60  could be placed on any other side of trunk  55  that would engage an edge of a perforation  15 . Trunk  55  is taller than the depth of perforations  15  on shelf  8 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , all or a substantial portion (i.e., a majority or more than half) of protuberance  60  is spaced below upper end  63  and bottom surface  22  by a distance that is equal to or greater than the depth of a perforation  15 . Anchor  12 , and specifically trunk  55 , is integrally attached to base panel  9  at upper end  63 . 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the distance between the first side  61  and the second side  62  of trunk  55  is less than the shortest distance between opposite edges  80  of a perforation  15  in shelf  8 , which is considered the width of perforation  15 . The distance between the outer surface  66  of protuberance  60  and the second side of  62  of trunk  55  is greater than the shortest distance between opposite edges  80  of the perforation  15 . It is foreseen that in some situations the distance between the outer surface  66  and the second side of  62  may be equal to or slightly greater than the width of perforation  15  if anchor  12  is desired to be secured in the perforation  15  by friction fit only. Anchor  12  may be formed integral to base panel  9  as a unitary structure or it may be formed apart from base panel  9  and adhered or bonded to the panel. In either case, the anchor  12  (i.e., trunk  55  and protuberance  60 ) is preferably constructed to have a solid rather than hollow structure. 
         [0024]    The anchors  12  are typically arranged such that there is at least one anchor  12  proximate each end of base panel  9  ( FIG. 2 ). There may also be an anchor located near the middle of base panel  9  ( FIG. 1 ). The exact number and position of the anchors  12  will depend on the configuration of the perforations  15  on shelf  8  and how securely the shelf management device  5  needs to be secured to the shelf. As explained below, the protuberance  60  helps secure the shelf management device  5  on shelf  8  because the protuberance extends beyond the edge of the perforation  15  after being inserted through the perforation  15 . Each anchor  12  is attached to the bottom surface  22  of base panel  9  proximate the longitudinal centerline  65  of surface  22 . 
         [0025]    Typically, each anchor  12  is angled or rotated about its longitudinal axis which extends perpendicular to the panel  9  and passes through the center of the anchor  12 . The anchor  12  is rotated with respect to distal edge  30  of base panel  9  such that first side  61  of trunk  55  is not parallel to edge  30 . The angle of rotation may vary to match the shape and orientation of the perforations  15  on shelf  8 , however a 45 degree rotation is appropriate for most applications. This results in more than half of the first side  61  and protuberance  60  being located on one side of the longitudinal centerline  65  and more than half of the second side  62  being located on the other side of the centerline  65 . Each anchor  12  on the shelf management device  5  need not be rotated at the same angle. For example, the anchors  12  located proximate each end of base panel  9  may be mirrored about the transverse centerline of surface  22  ( FIG. 4 ). 
         [0026]    An alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 5, 7 and 9 . The alternate embodiment comprises a shelf management device with similar features to those described above except that the alternate embodiment includes anchors  112  instead of anchors  12 . The anchors  112  are attached to the bottom surface  22  of base panel  9  like anchors  12 , but unlike anchors  12  they are arranged in pairs. Typically, a pair of anchors  112  will be located where each single anchor  12  would be as described above. 
         [0027]    Each anchor  112  includes a trunk  120  and a protuberance or catch  125 . The trunk  120  preferably comprises a rectangular transverse cross section, but other shapes may also be used such as cylindrical or triangular. If a rectangular trunk  120  is used, the protuberance  125  is located on an outer side or face  130  of the trunk  120  similar to anchor  12 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , protuberance  125  is typically rounded to allow anchor  112  to slide in and out of a perforation  15 . Like anchor  12 , it is foreseen that the protuberance or catch  125  may also be squared or barbed to better grip the shelf  8 . 
         [0028]    Each pair of anchors comprises two anchors  112  arranged in an opposing configuration such that the protuberances  125  on each anchor  112  face away from the other anchor  112 . The opposing anchors  112  are spaced apart such that the distance between the outer sides  130  of the trunks  120  equals the width of a perforation  15 . This is typically one-quarter of an inch. The distance between the surfaces  135  of the protuberances  125  on opposing anchors  112  will therefore be further apart than the width of the perforation  15 . As explained below, this spacing helps secure shelf management device  5  on shelf  8  because the protuberances  125  extend beyond the edge of the perforation  15  after being installed in the perforation  15 . Like anchors  12 , each pair of anchors  12  is integrally attached to the bottom surface  22  of base panel  9  proximate the longitudinal centerline  65  of the surface  22 . Anchors  112  may also be rotated similar to anchors  12  as described above. 
         [0029]    The shelf management device  5  is secured to shelf  8  by engaging the perforations  15  in shelf  8 . Shelf  8  typically comprises a display surface  75  supported by brackets (not shown). The display surface  75  is typically a sheet of metal only a couple of millimeters thick. Perforations  15  are formed in the display surface  75  and are usually clustered in groups or bands near the front, middle and rear of shelf  8 . Perforations  15  come in many different shapes and sizes, but they are most commonly circular or square (or diamond when angled). 
         [0030]    To install shelf management device  5  on shelf  8 , the device  5  is positioned at the desired location on the shelf and each anchor  12  is positioned above a perforation  15  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The anchors  12  are then pushed into the perforations  15 . When an anchor  12  is inserted into a perforation  15 , it displaces or compresses as the protuberances  60  on the anchor  12  is forced inward toward the center of the perforation  15  due to the protuberance  60  moving over the edge  80  of the perforation  15 . The protuberance  60  is curved to help it slide over edge  80  while the protuberance  60  is being forced inward. The edge  80  of perforation  15  also deforms slightly when protuberance  60  is sliding over the edge. The slight displacement of anchor  12  combined with the slight deformation of edge  80  allows protuberance  60  to fit through perforation  15 . It is foreseen that, instead of a round shape, a tapered or angled protuberance  60  could also be utilized to help it slide over edge  80 . As the anchor  12  is pushed further into the perforation  15 , the anchor will decompress as the protuberance  60  finishes moving over the edge  80  of the perforation  15 . 
         [0031]    When an anchor  12  is completely installed in a perforation  15 , its protuberance  60  will be below the display surface  75  of shelf  8  and the anchor  12  will not be displaced or will be only slightly displaced to frictionally engage the edge  80  of the perforation  15 . Because the protuberance  60  extends past the edge  80  of the perforations  15 , the anchor  12  is retained in its respective perforation  15  resulting in anchor  12  securing the shelf management device  5  to shelf  8 . Anchors  12  may be located on shelf management device  5  such that when the device  5  is installed on shelf  8 , the device  5  may be under tension. The tension would be longitudinal in nature and run the length of the device  5  between anchors. The tension would be the result of anchors  12  being located slightly closer together than the perforations  15  in which they are inserted. If the distance between the anchors  12  is slightly less than the distance between their respective perforations  15 , the anchors  12  will grip the edges  80  of the perforations  15  is a way that places shelf management device  5  under tension. The difference in distances between anchors and perforations may be caused intentionally (e.g., if tension is desired for the shelf management device  5 ) or unintentionally (e.g., if the shelf  8  lacks uniformity in the spacing of its perforations  15 ). 
         [0032]    The alternate embodiment of the shelf management device is installed and used in the same fashion as the primary embodiment described above. To install the alternate embodiment, the anchors  112  are pushed into the perforations  15 . As the anchors  112  are inserted into perforations  15 , they displace or flex toward their respective paired anchor  112 . This flexing is due to the protuberance  125  on each anchor  112  being forced inward toward the center of the perforation  15  as the protuberance  125  moves over the edge  80  of the perforation  15 . The displacement of the anchor  112  may be due to the trunk  120  flexing or base panel  9  near the anchor flexing or a combination of both. As the anchors  112  are pushed further into the perforation  15 , they will begin to straighten as their respective protuberances  125  finish moving over the edge  80  of the perforation  15 . 
         [0033]    When a pair of anchors  112  is completely installed in a perforation  15 , their protuberances  125  will be below the display surface  75  of shelf  8  and the anchors  112  will not be flexed or will be only slightly flexed to frictionally engage the edge  80  of the perforation  15 . For square perforations  15 , each pair of anchors  112  can be arranged on panel  9  to either engage opposing sides of the square ( FIG. 9 ) or opposing corners of the square. 
         [0034]    The anchors  12  and  112  can be pulled out of the perforations  15  so that the shelf management device  5  can be removed and reused. The protuberances  60  and  125  are preferably shaped such that the anchors can slide out of the perforation  15  similar to the way in which they are inserted. The size and shape of the protuberances  60  and  125  and the stiffness of trunks  55  and  120  will dictate how much force is required to install and remove the shelf management device  5 . If protuberances  60  with squared or barbed edges are used, a user may need to reach below the shelf  8  and manipulate the anchors  12  or  112  to unlatch the protuberances  60  and release the shelf management device  5 . 
         [0035]    It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.