Abstract:
A shelf having a light rail extending along a front edge of the shelf which comprises a cover adapted to reflect light onto displayed merchandise while permitting light to pass through selected window portions to illuminate product and pricing information printed on transparent or translucent signage. Signage may also be supported on a sign strip behind the light rails, and along the front edge of the shelf board. In the preferred embodiment wire management is provided by a raceway formed between a cover support and a backing strip for the fluorescent tube. A receptacle in communication with the wiring within the raceway is adapted to receive a connector from the ballust transformer, so that all permanent wiring for the fluorescent tube is concealed within the raceway. The ballust transformer can be unplugged from the wall receptacle and from the raceway receptacle, to thus completely remove the ballust transformer from the shelf for repair or replacement.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to shelving systems. In particular, this invention relates to a light rail for a shelf and a shelf embodying the light rail, having novel product signage capability. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many different types of shelving systems are used for displaying retail merchandise. The most common standard system used for supporting shelves in retail shelving systems utilizes a slotted standard, which is essentially a metal channel with a main face having a column of vertical slots. Various shapes and styles of brackets are designed with one, two or three barbed or hooked flanges spaced to fit into the slots in the standard. An example is described and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,444 issued Nov. 19, 1996 to Otema, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     The success of many types of retail merchandise, for example perfumes, cosmetics and the like, is heavily dependent upon presentation. Much of the cost of manufacturing these types of product is devoted to the retail packaging, with a large portion of the cost attributable to the artwork, design and fabrication that goes into the retail packaging. Accordingly, it is desirable to display such products in a manner that accents the form and presentation of the retail packaging. 
     For this purpose, lighted shelving systems have been developed which cast a uniform light onto displayed merchandise. In many such systems the merchandise is front-lit, highlighting the front of the packaging and reducing the effects of shadows, which detract from the aesthetic appeal of the product. 
     However, such shelving systems present a number of disadvantages. The light rail bordering the exposed sides of the shelving takes up valuable signage space which is conventionally used for product and pricing information displayed immediately above or beneath the product with which it is associated. The electrical lights typically used in lighted shelving systems are fluorescent tubes, which require a ballust transformer and wires extending along the entire length of the tube. Managing the wiring for such a lighting system is awkward, and wires can interfere with both the functionality and the desirable anesthetics of the shelving. Permanently connecting the lighting to a power source renders maintenance and replacement of the ballast transformer difficult, and the available flexibility in repositioning the shelves, which is one of the main reasons that the slotted standard is favored as a shelving system, can be significantly reduced. 
     It would accordingly be advantageous to provide a shelving system having a light rail that adequately illuminates displayed merchandise but still allows for product and pricing information displayed immediately adjacent to the product with which it is associated. It would further be advantageous to provide a shelving system having wire management capabilities, to both conceal and protect the wiring for the light, while at the same time allowing for easy maintenance and replacement of the ballust transformer and maintaining available flexibility in repositioning the shelves in the shelving system as desired to accommodate new merchandise. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing a light rail for a shelf and a shelf incorporating the light rail. The light rail of the invention illuminates both displayed merchandise and product and pricing information, which can be displayed immediately adjacent to the product with which it is associated. In the preferred embodiment the light rail and shelf of the invention further incorporates a wire management raceway to conceal and protect the wiring for the light, which thus does not obstruct the display area. 
     In the preferred embodiment the ballust transformer is integrated as a plug-in component, allowing for easy maintenance and replacement of the ballast transformer, and the lighting system is adapted to be connected to a conventional duplex receptacle through a standard power cord, so as to maintain flexibility in repositioning the shelves of the shelving system. The ballust transformer may alternatively be an electronic transformer concealed within the wire management channel. 
     The invention accomplishes this by providing a shelf having a light rail extending along a front edge of the shelf. The light rail comprises a cover adapted to reflect light onto displayed merchandise while permitting light to pass through selected window portions to illuminate product and pricing information on translucent or transparent signage. In the preferred embodiment the signage is supported between a pair of opposed flanges inside the cover, which facilitates replacing product and pricing information as new merchandise is loaded into the display. The cover is preferably hinged to the light rail so as to be pivotable between a closed position in which the cover reflects light onto the merchandise, and an open position which allows access to the product and pricing signage and to the fluorescent tube for replacement. 
     Additional indicia such as product and pricing information may be featured on a tag or label affixed to a sign strip disposed behind the light rail, and/or along a front edge of the shelf board or a front shelf support. 
     In the preferred embodiment wire management is provided by a channel formed between a cover support extending across the front edge of the shelf, and a backing strip for the fluorescent tube. A connector in communication with the wiring within the raceway is adapted to receive a complimentary connector from the ballust transformer, so that the ballust transformer can be unplugged from the wall receptacle and from the raceway receptacle, to thus completely remove the ballust transformer from the shelf for repair or replacement. Alternatively an electronic ballust transformer may be disposed in the channel, so that all permanent wiring for the fluorescent tube is concealed within the wire management channel. 
     The present invention thus provides a light rail for a shelf mountable on a display, the shelf comprising a frame having spaced apart mounting members, the light rail being mounted along a front portion of the frame and comprising a cover having one or more windows for allowing the passage of light through the cover and one or more receptacles for a light source, wherein when transparent or translucent signage is mounted adjacent to or in a window light emitted by a light source passes through the signage to illuminate the signage from the rear and reflects off of the cover to illuminate articles stored on the shelf from the front. 
     The present invention further provides a light rail for a shelf mountable on a display, the shelf comprising a frame having spaced apart mounting members, the light rail comprising a light support member comprising a front ridge and a rear ridge defining a wire management channel, a light support plate forming a cover for the wire management channel, and one or more receptacles for a light source mounted in fixed relation to the light support plate, wherein wires conveying power to the receptacles are disposed within the wire management channel. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In drawings which illustrate by way of example only a preferred embodiment of the invention, 
     FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the light rail and frame for an illuminated shelf of the invention, 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the frame of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the frame of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the frame of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the frame of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 6 is a rear elevation of the frame of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the frame of FIG. 1 showing the shelf in position on the frame, 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional elevation of a first preferred embodiment of the light rail, 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-section of a further preferred embodiment of the light rail cover. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to  6 , a frame  10  for the shelf of the invention comprises a pair of mounting members  12  connected together by a rear crossbar  13  and a front crossbar  14 . The front crossbar  14  includes a shelf retainer  14   a  for retaining a shelf board  2  in position, and a floor  14   b  at the level of the underside of the shelf board  2 , to support the front of the shelf board  2 . In the embodiment shown the mounting members  12  form sides of the frame  10 , and are preferably configured to complement the profile of the shelf board  2  and the light rail  20 . However, the mounting members  12  may alternatively be inset from the sides of the frame, as suitable for the intended application. 
     The mounting members  12  also each provide a rear shelf support  16  at the level of the floor  14   a  to support the shelf board  2  in a horizontal orientation. The shelf supports  16  may have an opening to facilitate lifting the shelf board  2  from beneath the frame  10  when the sides of the shelf board  2  are inaccessible. 
     The mounting members  12  provide any suitable structure for mounting the shelf to a standard or display unit, for example hooks  18  for mounting the shelf to a slotted standard (not shown) or any other compatible mounting structure. It will be appreciated that the manner of mounting the shelf of the invention may be in any suitable fashion and the invention is not intended to be restricted thereby. 
     The shelf board  2  may be made of any suitable material, including wood, plastic, metal or glass, and preferably extends from the rear shelf supports  16  to the front shelf support  14   b,  preferably to fit snugly against the shelf retainer  14   a,  spaced from the light rail  20 , which allows signage to be positioned along the front of the shelf retainer  14   a  (and/or along the front of the shelf board  2 , if it projects above the shelf retainer  14   a ) where the signage is illuminated by the light rail  20 . The shelf board  2  is shown in position on the frame  10  in FIG.  7 . 
     An embodiment if the light rail  20  for a straight shelf is shown in detail in FIG.  8 . The light rail  20  comprises a curvate cover  22  preferably extending approximately 180 degrees from a hinge  24  at the bottom of the cover  22  to the free edge  23  of the cover  22 . The cover  22  is mounted at hinge  24  along the front edge of a light support member  30 , to thus pivot between a closed position in which the cover conceals the fluorescent light tube  4  and reflects light onto the merchandise, as shown in phantom in FIG. 8, and an open position which allows access to signage  8  and to the fluorescent tube  4  for replacement, as shown in solid lines in FIG.  8 . Optionally a stop  29  projects from each side member  12  into the path of the cover  22 , to prevent the cover  22  from collapsing onto the fluorescent tube  4  if excess weight is applied to the cover  22 . 
     The cover  22  has at least one front window  26  which allows light to escape through the cover  22 , the number of windows being a matter of selection according to the length of the shelf and the variety of merchandise to be stocked on the shelf. Translucent or transparent signage  8  containing product information, pricing information and/or any other desired indicia, described below, is mounted adjacent to the windows  26  in any convenient fashion. In the embodiment shown lips  28   a,    28   b  extending along the interior of the cover  22  about the region of the windows  26  are provided for mounting the translucent signage  8  in slip-fit relation. Optionally an acrylic or other transparent lens (not shown) may cover or nest within the windows  26 . Also, if the cover  22  is a dark color, optionally a white or other light colored translucent backing strip (not shown) can be mounted between the lips  28   a,    28   b  extending across substantially the entire cover  22 , to reflect light from the light source  4  back onto articles stored on the shelf. 
     The signage  8  may alternatively be mounted within the windows  26 , or on the front of the cover  22 , so long as light passing through the windows  26  back-lights the signage  8  for illumination thereof. 
     The light support member  30  preferably comprises an extrusion which is attached to the front of the frame  10  by being screwed or otherwise affixed to the mounting members  12 , or otherwise affixed to the frame  10 . The light support member  30  comprises a front ridge  32 , which preferably provides a return lip  31  to capture the light support plate  40 , and a rear ridge  36  provided with a slot  38  for affixing the light support plate  40  to the support member  30  using self-tapping screws  38   a.  A wire management channel  50  is thus formed between the ridges  32 ,  36 , for concealing and protecting wires  3  conveying power to the light tube  4 . 
     The fluorescent tube sockets  42  are mounted to brackets  44  welded or otherwise affixed to the light support plate  40  at the ends thereof, shown in FIG. 8 immediately inside the mounting members  12 . Wires  3  conveying power to the receptacles  42  are disposed within the wire management channel  50  before the light rail  20  is assembled, and are connected within the channel  50  to a receptacle  52  (shown in FIG.  2 ). A ballust transformer  56  (shown in phantom in FIG. 2) may be mounted on a transformer support plate  54  formed with or attached to the rear crossbar  13 , or on the crossbar  13  itself, and a cord  58  with compatible connector  56   a  electrically connects the transformer  56  to the fluorescent tube wiring  3  through a wire  61  disposed along wire raceway  63 . The line side of the transformer  56  is provided with a conventional power cord  59  for plugging the transformer  56  into a duplex wall receptacle, floor monument or the like (not shown) to power the light. Alternatively, an electronic ballust transformer (not shown) may be mounted directly in the wire management channel  50 . 
     The cover  22  is preferably biased to the open and closed positions by leaf springs  78  lodged in a recess or channel  80  formed in the light support member  30 . The spring  78  may be configured to engage the upper lip  28   a  of the cover, and the profile of the recess  80  allows the lower edge of the spring  78  to toggle between the upper wall of the recess  80  (when the cover  22  is open) and the lower wall of the recess  80  (when the cover  22  is closed), as shown in FIG.  8 . Thus, the spring  80  biases the cover  22  to the open position when the cover  22  is fully open, and biases the cover  22  to the closed position when the cover  22  is fully closed. The spring  78  is mounted in a position where it does not obscure the windows  26 . 
     In operation, the wires  3  are connected to the fluorescent tube sockets  42  and installed into the channel  50  of the light support member  30 , and the light support plate  40  is inserted into slot  31  and screwed to the light support member  30  by screws  38   a.  A fluorescent tube  4  is installed into the sockets  42  and the cover  22  is pivoted to the closed position shown in solid lines in FIG. 8. A suitable ballust transformer  56  is placed on the transformer support plate  54  and the load side connector  56   a  is connected to the complimentary connector  52 . 
     The frame  10  is mounted to a standard, for example by engaging hooks  18  to a slotted standard (not shown). The power cord  59  is plugged into a duplex wall receptacle, floor monument, extension cord or any other suitable power source to energize the light tube  4 . The shelf board  2  is placed on the frame  10  overlapping both the floor  14   b  of the front shelf support  14  and the rear shelf supports  16 , snugly against the shelf retainer  14   a  and thus spaced from the light rail  20 . 
     The invention provides signage  8  in the form of a translucent sheet of preferably (but not necessarily) flexible material, for example Mylar™, which is removably fixed over the window  26  and diffuses light emitted from the light tube  4 , which back-lights the signage  8 . In the embodiment shown the signage  8  slip-fits into the lips  28   a,    28   b,  which in an extrusion such as that shown may extend along the length of the cover  22 , however the signage  8  may alternatively be screwed, taped or otherwise suitably affixed, preferably removably, in a position where it covers the window  26 . The signage  8  may have opaque indicia such as lettering, or translucent indicia in a contrasting color, or may consist of multiple sheets, for example a translucent sheet backing opaque indicia or transparent sheet having cutout indicia, etc., in any way which allows light to escape through the signage  8  and provides a contrast between the signage background and indicia. 
     Optionally a sign strip  70  is affixed to the light support member  30 , to support signage  9  with additional indicia behind the light rail  20 . In the embodiment shown sign strip  70  comprises a lower return flange  72  which seats in a slot  71  in the bottom of the light support member  30 , and a body  73  from which lips  74 ,  76  project for receiving signage  9 . The sign strip  70  may be mounted in other ways, for example by screws, tape etc., it being preferably positioned so as to be front-lit by the light tube  4 . Additional signage may be disposed along the front edge of the shelf retainer  14   a,  and/or the front edge of the shelf board  2 , also front-lit by the light tube  4 . 
     FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the invention for a curvate shelf, having a snap-on removable cover  20 , providing ridges  27  for grasping to remove the cover  20 . A retaining bracket  81  screwed to the light support member  30  secures the cover  20  in position. 
     This embodiment shows a transparent or translucent filler strip  9  formed from a flexible sheet, extruded or otherwise configured so that a front portion  79   a  of the sheet and the crease respectively fit into the lips  28   a,    28   b,  while a free end  79   c  of a rear portion  79   b  of the sheet remains free for grasping. This embodiment facilitates mounting, removal and replacement of signage  8 , which is inserted between the overlapping portions of the insert strip  79 . The free end  79   c  preferably includes a barb, which retains the signage  8  and compressively urges the signage  8  against the inner wall of the cover  22 . The barb also facilitates removal of the signage  8 , which springs partly out of the filler strip  79  when the barb is depressed and dislodged from the edge of the signage  8 . The insert strip  9  may also have indicia, for use by itself or to compliment indicia on signage  8  inserted into the filler strip  9 . 
     Product and or pricing information can thus be displayed in a plurality of locations which are highly visible to a viewer Translucent or transparent signage  8  (or a combination thereof) may be mounted to the light rail cover  22  by opening the cover  22  and sliding the signage strip between the mounting lips  28 , back-lit by the light rail  20  so that light escaping through the windows  26  illuminates the signage  8 . Signage  9  may be supported on the sign strip  70  to be front-lit by the light rail  20 , and additional signage (not shown) may be mounted along the front edge of the shelf board  2  to be front-lit by the light rail  20 , either or both of which may advantageously be opaque or reflective. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention having been thus described by way of example only, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain modifications and adaptations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as set out in the appended claims.