Patent Publication Number: US-6341755-B1

Title: Shelf top adapter

Description:
This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/084,854, filed May 8, 1998, and is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/078,164, filed May 13, 1998 now U.S. Pat 6,082,687; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/054,064, filed Apr. 2, 1998; Design Patent Application Ser. No. 29/099,516, filed Jan. 22, 1999, now U.S. Design Pat. No. 0,424,121 filed May 2, 2000; Design Patent Application Ser. No. 29/099,852, filed Jan. 29, 1999 now U.S. Design Pat. No. 425,134, filed May 16, 2000; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/261,874, filed Mar. 3, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to merchandising systems employed in retail stores. More particularly, it relates to an improved shelf top adapter for use with display racks and shelves employed in retail stores for displaying merchandise. The adapter enables labels with prices and other information to be displayed adjacent the merchandise held on the display racks and shelves. 
     Businesses use a wide variety of devices to display products and sale prices to consumers. One of the known ways to display products in a retail environment involves the use of horizontally oriented display shelves. Information about the products is often displayed on label or flag holders which are mounted on a forward end of the shelf or display rack for ease of visibility by consumers. Since the prices of products and the products displayed on the shelves tend to change periodically, such holders are usually removable from the shelf or display rack or adaptable to changing a sign or label gripped by the holder. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,346,166; 5,678,795; 5,683,003; and 5,722,625 disclose examples of holders which are mounted to a horizontal shelf surface and display labels or small packages of merchandise. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,003 shows a label holder with a transparent label cover which enables the label holder to carry adhesive or non-adhesive labels. A foot and post mounting provides cantilever support for the label holder. A disadvantage of this device is that the label is not easily removable. The label cover must be removed from the device in order to allow removal of a label. Another disadvantage of this and other shelf mounted devices is that they are not securely secured to the shelf in a sturdy manner. Thus, they may be dislodged from the shelf when knocked accidentally. 
     Accordingly, it has been considered desirable to develop a new and improved shelf top adapter which overcomes the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous overall results. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a shelf top adapter is provided. The adapter includes a planar support member. Spaced rearward mounting fingers extend away from a rear edge of the support member for selectively engaging suitably shaped and positioned rearward apertures in an associated fixture. Spaced forward mounting fingers extend away from the support member forward of the rearward fingers, for selectively engaging suitably shaped and positioned forward apertures in an associated fixture. A display member is mounted on a forward end of the support member. 
     In accordance with more limited aspects of this embodiment of the present invention, the rearward mounting fingers extend rearwardly from the planar support member for engaging a lower surface of the associated fixture adjacent the rearward apertures. The forward mounting fingers may comprise pegs. Alternatively, the forward mounting fingers may include laterally extending flexible fins, which preferably include camming surfaces for camming against edges of the forward apertures such that the forward fingers flex inward to allow the forward fingers to pass through the forward apertures. A rigid support wall is preferably connected with the planar support member and the display member. The display member may include a label mounting plate, which is attached to the forward end of the planar support member, and is angled upwardly for ease of viewing from above, or extends downward for sidewards display of labels. An adhesive layer is optionally provided on the display member for attaching a label, and a peelable strip is removable prior to attaching the label. Alternatively, a label holder, such as a resiliently flexible transparent sheet which has been folded to form a channel, is attached to a front face of the label mounting plate for selectively receiving a label. A package hook optionally extends from a lower end of the label mounting plate for displaying packages of merchandise. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a shelf top adapter is provided. The adapter includes a support member having a rear edge and first and second side edges which together form a pair of spaced rear corners. At least two spaced rearward feet extend downward and rearward from a respective one of the rear corners of the support member for selectively engaging suitably shaped and positioned rearward apertures in an associated fixture. A forward mounting finger extends downward and laterally from each of the support member first and second side edges forward of the rearward feet, for selectively engaging suitably shaped and positioned forward apertures in an associated fixture. A display member extends from the support member forward of the forward mounting fingers. 
     In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a shelf top adapter is provided. The adapter includes a support member having a rear edge and first and second side edges. At least one foot extends downward and rearward from the rear edge of the support member adjacent the first side edge of the support member for selectively engaging a suitably shaped and positioned rearward aperture in an associated fixture. At least one forward hook extends downward and laterally from adjacent the second side edge of the support member forward of the rear edge, for selectively engaging a suitably shaped and positioned forward aperture in an associated fixture. A display member extends from the support member forward of the hook. 
     In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, a method of supporting a display member on a shelf is provided. The method includes angling a support member adjacent an upper surface of the shelf, the display member being connected with a forward end of the support member. The method further includes inserting a pair of spaced rearward feet of the support member into suitably positioned rearward apertures in the shelf such that an upward facing surface of each of the feet engages a lower surface of the shelf and pivoting the forward end of the support member until a pair of spaced forward mounting fingers are received in suitably positioned forward apertures in the shelf. 
     In accordance with a more limited aspect of this embodiment of the present invention, the forward mounting fingers are hooks, each having a laterally extending resiliently flexible fin and the method further includes camming each of the fins against an outer edge of one of the forward apertures such that the fin flexes and the hook enters the aperture. 
     One advantage of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved shelf top adapter with spaced rearward and spaced forward mounting fingers which resist accidental dislodging of the adapter from an associated shelf. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a shelf top adapter in which the forward mounting fingers comprise hooks with resiliently flexible fins which flex to allow the hooks to enter suitably placed apertures in the shelf and then return to an unflexed position in which an upper surface of each fin engages a lower surface of the shelf. 
     Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a display member with a label mounting plate, which is angled upwardly for ease of viewing from above. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a display member which extends downward for sidewards display of labels. The display member may also have one or more hooks for holding merchandising strips of the type known in the art. 
     Still other benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention takes form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, preferred embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shelf top adapter according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the shelf top adapter of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the shelf top adapter of FIG. 4 holding a first type of label mounting means; 
     FIG. 4 is bottom plan view of the shelf top adapter of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the shelf top adapter of FIG. 1 holding a second type of label mounting means; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the shelf top adapter of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a shelf top adapter according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the shelf top adapter of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the shelf top adapter of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of a shelf top adapter according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
     FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the shelf top adapter of FIG.  10 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiments of the invention only and are not for purposes of limiting same, FIG. 1 shows a shelf top adapter A according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The shelf top adapter of this and other embodiments is preferably molded from a relatively rigid, but resiliently yielding plastic, such as polypropylene of course, other types of conventional plastic materials can also be used. As will be described in greater detail herein, the shelf top adapter can have a variety of configurations for displaying labels in different orientations. The shelf top adapters of the present invention are all configured for attachment to a rigid support, such as a horizontal shelf having vertically extending apertures therein. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the shelf top adapter A includes a generally rectangular, horizontal plate member  10 , adapted to fit against an upper surface of the shelf. With reference also to FIGS. 2-4, mounting fingers or protrusions  12  for the plate member  10  preferably include a rearward pair of feet  14  and a forward pair of hooks  16 . These extend generally downwardly and radially outwardly from a lower surface  17  of the plate member  10 , and are preferably formed integrally with the plate member. As shown in FIG. 1, the feet  14  depend from a rear edge  18  of the plate adjacent opposed side edges  20  and  22  and extend rearwardly beyond the rear edge of the plate. The hooks  16  depend from the plate adjacent a mid point of the side edges  20  and  22  and extend transversely beyond the side edges on either side of the plate. The adapter could include more than two feet by using a wider plate. Also, if the plate were longer, more than one hook on each side could be provided. 
     With reference also to FIG. 5, the rearward pair of feet  14  are dimensioned to be received into a selected spaced pair of rearward apertures  26  in a second row of apertures in a shelf  30 . The pair of hooks  16  snap into a corresponding pair of forward apertures  32  in a first row of apertures in the shelf  30 . 
     To insert the shelf top adapter into apertures  26 ,  32  in the shelf  30 , the plate member  10  is held at a slight angle from the horizontal and the rearward feet  14  are slid into the two spaced rearward apertures  26  in the second row of apertures to position the shelf top adapter A on the shelf  30 . The plate member is then brought into a horizontal orientation and the forward hooks  16  snapped into the two forward apertures  32  in the first row of apertures on the shelf. 
     The hooks  16  preferably include laterally extending fins  36  which tend to grip a lower surface  38  of the shelf, restricting upward movement of the plate member  10 . Specifically, the fins each include a camming surface  40  which engages an outer edge of the aperture  32  as the hooks are snapped into position. This pushes the resilient hook inwards so that the hook can pass through the aperture. Once the fin  36  is below the lower surface  38  of the shelf, the resilient hook springs outward and an upper surface  42  of the fin engages the lower surface of the shelf. This provides the adapter with a firm grip on the shelf to resist accidental removal of the adapter. Similarly, the feet  14  each include a flat upper surface  44  which engages the lower surface of the shelf. The feet and hooks  14  and  16  provide a simple means of supporting the plate member  10  in a generally horizontal position on the shelf  30  without the need for screws or other fixing means. The combined positioning of the feet (adjacent opposite corners of the rear edge  18 ) and hooks (on opposite side edges  20  and  22 , and longitudinally spaced from the feet) provide four points of stability which resist displacement of the adapter A from the shelf due to a force being applied to the adapter from the front, rear, or sides. The adapter can thus withstand accidental knocks from any direction and angle without being dislodged from the shelf. Of course, with sufficient upwardly-directed force at the front end of the plate  10  on the bottom surface  17  thereof, the adapter can be detached from the shelf by reversing the attachment process mentioned above. 
     While a combination of feet and hooks provides both lateral and axial support by contact with the underside  38  of the shelf, other embodiments are also contemplated. For example, the fingers  12  could comprise both rear and forward hooks. In this embodiment, the fins of the rear hooks would extend axially, while the forward fins would continue to extend laterally (i.e. the rear pair facing rearwardly and the forward pair facing sideways), or combinations of the above. 
     Due to the resilient material from which the bracket A is made, the plate member  10  can be disengaged from the shelf  30  by lifting up on a front end  46  of the plate member  10  until the hooks  16  snap out of the forward apertures  32  and then lifting the plate member forwardly and upwardly to release the feet  14 . In use, the front end  46  extends forwardly of the shelf  30 , as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the plate member  10  optionally includes a securing aperture  48  in addition to the feet  14  and hooks  16 , for attaching the plate member to the shelf  30 . The securing aperture  48  is positioned generally centrally on the plate member, between the two hooks  16 , and extends vertically through the plate member. A conventional clip, screw, or other suitable fixing member, passes through the securing aperture and a suitably positioned aperture in the shelf  30 . For example, the aperture can be one of the apertures  32  in the first row of apertures. Depending on the location of the securing aperture, the shelf aperture could also be positioned between the forward and rearward apertures, to attach the adapter A to an upper surface of the shelf. The clip provides another means for securing the plate member  10  to a shelf. 
     A label mounting member  50  in the form of a generally rectangular plate is attached at a rear face  52  thereof to a forward edge  54  of the plate member  10 . Support walls  56  and  58  extend generally vertically from an upper horizontal surface  60  of the plate member adjacent the side edges  20  and  22  at the front end  46  of the plate, and are integrally molded with the label mounting member So and the front end. The support walls  56  and  58  extend to, and are connected with, the rear face  52  of the label mounting member  50  and provide rigidity to a front end of the shelf top adapter A. The support walls support the label mounting member  50  and resist angular movement of the label mounting member relative to the plate member  10 . 
     The label mounting member may be used in a number of ways. In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, a label, such as an adhesively backed label  64 , is attached to a front face  66  of the label mounting member. 
     Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, a transparent label holder  68  is adhesively, or otherwise attached to the front face  66  of the label mounting member. The label holder comprises a resiliently flexible sheet of transparent plastic or similar material which is bent double to define a channel  70  for receiving a label. A cover portion  72  of the label holder can be flexed forwardly for ease of insertion or removal of the label. Of course, a label holder can also be formed from two different kinds of plastic materials where only the cover portion is transparent, whereas the base sheet is not. The two materials may be coextruded in the shape of the label holder. The size of the label holder can be selected according to the size of labels to be displayed. The adapter can thus be used for a variety of labels of different sizes. 
     Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a layer of adhesive  74  is provided on the front face  66  of the label mounting member, with a peelable strip  76  covering the adhesive. The strip  76  is removed prior to adhesively attaching a label  78 . 
     The embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 are particularly suited to displaying labels on shelves below eye level as the front face  66  of the label mounting member is angled upward, towards a person viewing the shelf from above. Of course, for shelf top adapters mounted on shelves situated above a person&#39;s head, the label mounting member could alternatively be angled downwards, or even aligned with a vertical axis. 
     With reference to FIGS. 7-8, a second preferred embodiment of a shelf top adapter B is thereshown. For ease of illustration and comprehension of this alternative, like components are identified with like numerals with a primed suffix (′) and new components are identified by new numerals. 
     The adapter B is similar in configuration to the sign holder of FIGS. 1-6 in that a plate member  10 ′ has mounting fingers  12 ′ for attaching the adapter to a shelf  30 . The mounting fingers of adapter B comprise rear feet  14 ′ and forward pegs  80 . The rear feet  14 ′ extend downwardly and rearwardly from a lower surface  17 ′ of the plate member  10 ′ adjacent a rear edge  18 ′ thereof. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the forward pegs  80  depend from the plate adjacent a mid point of side edges  20 ′ and  22 ′. The forward pegs may be cylindrically shaped or have four faces, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. The plate member  10 ′ lacks a central aperture, although a central aperture of the type shown in embodiment A could, of course, be included. 
     As for the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, the rearward pair of feet  14 ′ are dimensioned to be received into a selected spaced pair of rearward apertures in a second row of apertures in a shelf  30  of the type shown in FIG.  5 . The feet  14 ′ each include a flat upper surface  44 ′ which engages the lower surface of the shelf. The adapter B is inserted into the shelf in a similar manner to adapter A, except in that the forward pegs  80  are lowered, rather than snapped into the two forward apertures  32  in the first row of apertures on the shelf, following insertion of the rear feet  14 ′ into the rearward apertures  26 . Optionally, the pegs  80 ′ are tapered inward towards their lower ends, as best shown in FIG. 9, so that they can be easily inserted into the shelf. 
     The feet and pegs  14 ′ and  80 ′ support the plate member  10  in a generally horizontal position on the shelf  30  without the need for screws or other fixing means. They resist displacement of the adapter B from the shelf due to a force being applied to the adapter from the rear or sides. Accidental upward knocks on the front end may partially displace the adapter B. However, the rear feet  14 ′ tend to return the adapter to its original position on the shelf provided the knock is not too severe. Removal of the adapter B involves simply lifting up on a front end  46 ′ of the plate member  10 ′. The pegs  80  slide out of the forward apertures  32 . The plate member is then lifted forwardly and upwardly to release the feet  14 ′. 
     A label mounting member  50 ′ is attached at a rear face  52 ′ thereof to a forward edge  54 ′ of the plate member  10 ′. Support walls  56 ′ and  58 ′ extend generally vertically from an upper horizontal surface  60 ′ of the plate member adjacent the side edges  20 ′ and  22 ′ at a front end  46 ′, as for the shelf top adapter A. As shown in FIG. 9, the mounting member  50 ′ of adapter B is aligned vertically, although angled mounting members, as for adapter A, are also contemplated. 
     With reference to FIGS. 10-11, a third preferred embodiment of a shelf top adapter C is shown. The adapter C is similar in configuration to the sign holder of FIGS.  1 - 6  in that a plate member  110  has mounting fingers  112  comprising rear feet  114  and forward hooks  116 . The fingers extend downwardly and outwardly from a lower surface  117  of the plate member for attaching the adapter to a shelf  30 , of the type shown in FIG.  5 . The plate member includes a rear edge  118  and side edges  120  and  122 . In addition to axially extending fins  136 , the hooks  116  may also include laterally extending projections  140 , one of the projections on each hook facing forwardly and one facing rearwardly. The projections fit the shelf aperture snugly, gripping the periphery of the aperture. Optionally, the projections are tapered, such that they engage the aperture periphery primarily at their upper ends. Of course, such projections may also be included on the pegs  80  of adapter B or on the hooks  16  of adapter A. 
     A forward end  146  of the plate member  110  defines a tapering support portion  148  for supporting a side-facing label mounting plate  150 . The support portion  148  extends forwardly of the shelf when in use and in the same plane as the rest of the plate  110 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the support portion  148  is triangular in shape, although other configurations are also contemplated. The triangular support portion is preferably integrally formed with the rest of the plate  110 . Optionally, an intermediate portion  152  of the plate member which extends between the hooks  116  and the support portion is also inwardly tapered. 
     The label mounting plate  150  extends downwardly from a lower surface of the support portion  148 , with a forward end  154  of the label mounting plate  150  positioned beneath an apex  156  of the triangular support portion. Labels, such as adhesively backed labels or adhesive-free labels may be attached to left and right side-facing surfaces  160  of the label mounting plate  150 , as described for the shelf top adapter A. 
     In this embodiment, a pair of merchandise hooks  164  extend laterally from adjacent a lower end  166  of the label mounting plate for receiving and displaying small packets of merchandise thereon. The hooks can also hold merchandising strips which, in turn, hold packets of merchandise. 
     To provide rigidity, a support rib  170  preferably extends vertically from an upper surface  172  of the plate member  110 . As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the support rib extends axially along the plate member from adjacent a midpoint of the rear edge  118  of the plate member to the apex  156  of the triangular support portion, although other configurations for a support member are also contemplated, such as a support wall which runs adjacent each side edge  120  and  122  of the plate member. 
     The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. It should be apparent that modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding specification. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such alterations and modifications insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.