Patent Publication Number: US-11026525-B2

Title: Adjustable vertical can storage and dispenser rack

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to provisional application 62/777,864 filed on Dec. 11, 2018. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC AND AN INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL ON THE COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY AN INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Current cylindrical can storage shelves fit the average sized can and are often not adjustable to varying cans with different heights and diameters. The shelves are made to fit the most “standard” can sizes and may not adjust to smaller or larger cans with varying heights and diameters. Current storage shelves often use a gravity feed “z” shaped stair step system which allows cans to roll from high to low elevations on and through several different elevated tiers. Cans with dimensions which differ from a “standard” can may not roll down due to too much or too little space to support the can throughout the elevated tiers. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART INCLUDING INFORMATION DISCLOSED UNDER 37 CFR 1.97 AND 37 CFR 1.98 
     Not Applicable 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A storage and dispensing system for generally cylindrical items which is adjustable to accommodate items having a variety of lengths and diameters. The width of the storage and discharge areas, depth of the storage area, and height of the discharge chute are adjustable. The system holds items for removal on a first-in, first-out basis. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  shows a side perspective view of a substantially solid side member of the storage region of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows top perspective view of a substantially solid side member of the storage region of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a side perspective view of a front member of the storage region of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a top perspective view of a front member of the storage region of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows a back, bottom, and front stop member of the dispensing region of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows attachment hardware usable to mount the present invention on a vertical surface. 
         FIG. 7  shows attachment hardware, two substantially solid side members of the storage region and a back, bottom, and front stop member of the dispensing region installed on a vertical surface. 
         FIG. 8  shows one series of cans installed in a device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  shows five series of cans of various sizes installed in a device of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description and the referenced drawings provide illustrative examples of that which the inventor regards as his invention. As such, the embodiments discussed herein are merely exemplary in nature and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, or its protection, in any manner. Rather, the description and illustration of these embodiments serve to enable a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art to practice the invention. 
     The use of “e.g.,” “etc,” “for instance,” “in example,” “for example,” and “or” and grammatically related terms indicates non-exclusive alternatives without limitation, unless otherwise noted. 
     The use of “including” and grammatically related terms means “including, but not limited to,” unless otherwise noted. 
     The use of the articles “a,” “an” and “the” are meant to be interpreted as referring to the singular as well as the plural, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a rail” includes two or more such rails, and the like. 
     The use of “optionally,” “alternatively,” and grammatically related terms means that the subsequently described element, event or circumstance may or may not be present/occur, and that the description includes instances where said element, event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not. 
     The use of “preferred,” “preferably,” and grammatically related terms means that a specified element or technique is more acceptable than another, but not that such specified element or technique is a necessity, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     The use of “exemplary” means “an example of” and is not intended to convey a meaning of an ideal or preferred embodiment. 
     As used herein, the term “can” means any type of container, including but not limited to sealed metal containers, glass containers, and paper containers, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     Several exemplary can rack systems are disclosed and illustrated herein. 
     In a first exemplary embodiment, the can rack system is comprised of two regions: a storage region and a dispensing region. When viewed from the side, the storage region preferably has a generally rectangular cross section. When viewed from the side, the dispensing region preferably has a right trapezoidal cross section where the side not meeting the other sides at right angles is at the bottom and back of the can rack system. 
     Anchor System 
     The can rack system is preferably anchored to a flat vertical surface, such as a wall, using intermediate hardware mounted to the surface. In a preferred embodiment, the can rack system anchor hardware includes an upper generally horizontal rail  602  and a lower generally horizontal rail  608  both of which are attached to a fixed surface (such as a wall) using appropriate means such as “L-brackets”  604 . In a preferred embodiment, the rails  602  and  608  permit attachment at a variety of locations along the length of the rails. In a preferred embodiment, the rails  602  and  608  are T-slot extruded aluminum. 
     The anchor system is preferably mounted to the flat vertical surface with a mechanism which allows the attachment points to have adjustable centering distances to facilitate attaching the can rack system to be attached to studs spaced various distances apart. In a preferred embodiment, the mounts are L-shaped brackets  604  which mount to the top of the anchor system and a wall at a point above the anchor system using standard wood screws. In an alternative embodiment, the mounts are attached to the fixed surface using a form of drywall anchor. 
     The anchor system further preferably further comprises bottom supports  606 . The bottom supports  606  are preferably shaped and configured to support downward weight of the apparatus and/or the apparatus&#39; contents. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the can rack system is free-standing with features of a free-standing system providing one or more wall-like surfaces to which the anchor system may be attached. 
     Vertical Dividers (Sides) 
     The can rack system preferably has a plurality of vertical dividers  100 . A vertical divider  100  is characterized primarily by a vertical substantially flat surface  106 . Each adjacent pair of vertical dividers  100  define separate storage and dispensing regions with vertical dividers  100  which are not at either end of the system forming the side of two storage and dispensing regions, one on either side. The depth of the storage regions, back to front, are constrained by the depth of the vertical dividers since the vertical dividers form the left and right sides of the storage and dispensing regions. In a preferred embodiment, the vertical dividers  100  have a “serif U” cross section when viewed from the top (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). In an alternative embodiment, the vertical dividers are sufficiently thick to be sufficiently rigid and allow appropriate features to be attached to both sides of the vertical divider. In a preferred embodiment, the vertical dividers  100  are configured to allow the spacing between the vertical dividers to be adjusted. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the vertical dividers  100  are attached to the anchor system. In this preferred embodiment, the distance between vertical dividers is adjustable to accommodate cans of different heights ( 802 ,  902 ,  904 ,  906 ,  908 ). The vertical dividers are configured with features  112  which facilitate their attachment to the anchor system. When the anchor system is comprised of T-slot extruded aluminum, the features  112  preferably include holes and/or vertical slots. In the case of holes  112 , the height of the vertical dividers  100  relative to the anchor system is fixed. In the case of vertical slots, the height of the vertical dividers  100  relative to the anchor system is variable. In a preferred embodiment, the vertical dividers  100  are configured with holes at the bottom for attachment to the bottom rail  608  of the anchor system and vertical slots at the top for attachment to the top rail  602  of the anchor system. 
     Means to attach the vertical dividers  100  to the anchor system may further include captive screws. When captive screws are used in conjunction with slots in the vertical dividers  100 , the captive screws are attached to the vertical dividers  100  in a means which allows the captive screws to traverse at least a portion of the rails  602  and  608 . 
     The vertical dividers  100  further preferably contain a series of sets of guides  108  and  110  on one or both sides. The distance between the sets of guides  108  and  110  and the edge of the vertical divider configured to be installed adjacent to the anchor system is selected to correspond to common cylindrical can diameters. In a preferred embodiment, the distance between the guides  108  and  110  in a set and the back of the storage section is approximately one can diameter such that when the storage area is filled with cans, the cans  802 ,  902 ,  904 ,  906 , and  908  form a substantially vertical stack causing the majority of the weight of the cans to be directed down. In an alternative embodiment, the distance between the guides  108  and  110  in a set and the back of the storage section is between one and two can diameters such that when the storage area is filled with cans, the cans form a zig-zag pattern to allow a relatively large number of cans to be stored in a particular storage region. 
     Back 
     In a preferred embodiment of the can rack system, features in vertical dividers  100  define the back  104  of the storage regions. In this preferred embodiment, the top and bottom of cans  802 ,  902 ,  904 ,  906 , and  908  contact the “serifs”  104  of the respective vertical dividers  100 . In an alternative embodiment, the can rack system uses one or more back member to define the backs of the storage regions. In this first alternative embodiment, the back is preferably approximately the height of the storage and dispensing regions combined and narrow relative to the height of cans. In a second alternative embodiment, the fixed surface to which the can rack system is attached defines the back of the storage region. 
     Guides 
     Each guide in a set of guides  108  or  110 , in or on a vertical divider  100 , is aligned such that when a substantially straight front member  300  is attached to the guides in the set, the front member  300  will contact each guide in the set  108  or  110 . Each set of guides  108  or  110  is preferably a different distance from the back of the storage region permitting a user to alter the depth of the storage region by placing a front wall behind or in a set of guides. In a preferred embodiment, the guides are one or more slots  108  or  110  configured to cooperatively interact with features in a front member. In an alternative embodiment, the guides are a series of “L-shaped” protrusions configured to cooperatively interact with features in a front member. 
     The guides  108  or  110  are further configured, in conjunction with front members  300 , to set the lower bound of a front member  300  when a front member  300  is installed in a set of guides. 
     Front Member(s) 
     One or more front members  300  define the front of the storage region. The bottom of the front member defines the bottom of the storage region. In a preferred embodiment, the front member  300  has a “capital T” shaped cross section when viewed from the top (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). The vertical portion  304  of the “capital T” is configured to be installed parallel to a vertical divider  100 . One of the top branches of the “capital T” contains features, such as slotted ears  302 , configured to cooperatively interact with guide features  108  and  110 . The opposing top branch of the “capital T”  306  is configured to extend, approximately perpendicularly, away from the vertical divider thereby forming a front of the storage region. In a preferred variant of this embodiment, the length of the top branch  306  extending away from the vertical divider  100  is significantly less than half the height of the cans sought to be stored in the can rack system thereby leaving a gap between left and right front members  300  permitting a consumer to see information on the cans and stock level. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the front members have a “serif U” shaped cross section when viewed from the top. The serif portions of the “serif U” front members are configured to cooperatively interact with guide features  300  of the vertical dividers. In a preferred variation of this embodiment, the height of the “serif U” is significantly less than half the height of the cans sought to be stored in the can rack system thereby leaving a gap between left and right front members permitting a consumer to see information on the cans and stock level. 
     In a preferred embodiment, installing a front member  300  in a set of guides  108  and  110  sets the height of the bottom of the front member  300 . The height of the bottom of the front member  300  is selected based on the diameter of the cans to be stored and dispensed. The distance between the bottom of the front member  300  and the nearest portion of the dispenser  500  is preferably approximately one can diameter thereby permitting cans to pass past the bottom of the front member one at a time. 
     Bottom Support(s) 
     In a preferred embodiment, the can rack system further comprises one or more bottom support(s)  606 . The bottom support(s)  606  is/are preferably configured to be attached to the anchor system. The distance of the bottom support(s)  606  from the anchor system is selected in conjunction with the dimensions of the dispenser  500  to cause the opening at the front of the dispensing region to be the desired size when the front members  300  are attached to a particular set of guides  108  and  110 . In an alternative embodiment, the bottom support(s)  606  are attached to the same surface as the anchor system using standard wood screws. In an alternative embodiment, the bottom support(s)  606  are attached to the same surface as the anchor system using a form of drywall anchor. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the bottom support(s)  606  is/are configured to have a dispenser  500  attached to it/them. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom support  606  is configured with an embedded nut selected to accept a screw passing through the dispenser  500  to attach the dispenser  500  to the bottom support  606 . 
     Dispenser 
     In a preferred embodiment, the can rack system further comprises a dispenser  500 . In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser  500  attaches to the lower rail  608  of the anchor system. In a first alternative embodiment, the dispenser  500  is attached to the same surface as the anchor system. In a second alternative embodiment, the anchor system is attached to the bottom support(s)  606 . 
     The dispenser  500  preferably comprises a back portion  502 , a bottom portion  504 , and a stop portion  506 . The back portion  502  is preferably angled and is preferably located at the rear of the dispenser adjacent the anchor system. In a preferred embodiment, the angle between the bottom of the back portion  502  of the dispenser  500  and the flat surface to which the can rack system is attached is approximately 60 degrees. At the end of the dispenser  500  opposite the anchor system there is preferably a stop portion  506 . In a preferred embodiment, the stop portion  506  is comprised of a projection, approximately perpendicular to the bottom portion  504  with a length at least half the maximum diameter of can for which the can rack system is configured to accept, extending the length of the dispenser  500 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser  500  is configured to be attached to an anchor system. In this preferred embodiment, the dispenser  500  is configured with features, such as holes  508  through which fasteners may be passed to secure dispenser  500  to anchor system. In a preferred embodiment, the fasteners are bolts which attach to T-slot extruded aluminum  608 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser  500  is configured to be attached to an anchor system  600 . In this preferred embodiment, the dispenser  500  is configured with features, such as holes  508  through which fasteners may be passed to secure dispenser  500  to anchor system  600 . In a preferred embodiment, the fasteners are bolts which attach to T-slot extruded aluminum  608 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser  500  is configured to be attached to the bottom support(s)  606 . In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser  500  is configured with lateral slots having a height approximately the diameter of fasteners used to fasten the dispenser  500  to the bottom support(s)  606  allowing the bottom support(s)  606  to be placed in a variety of locations. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a portion  102  of the divider  100  extends into the dispenser region thereby separating adjacent portions of the dispenser region. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the assembled apparatus is comprised of anchor system, a plurality of vertical dividers  100 , front members  300 , and dispenser  500 . Cans  802 ,  902 ,  904 ,  906 ,  908  may be inserted into the assembled apparatus  800 ,  900  from the top (end opposite the dispenser). The process of filling the apparatus is 1) adjust a pair of vertical dividers  100  to be a distance apart approximately, and not less than, the height of the cans  802 ,  902 ,  904 ,  906 ,  908  to be stored and dispensed, 2) adjust the front member  300  on each vertical divider  100  to be a distance from the back  104  approximately, and not less than, the diameter of the cans  802 ,  902 ,  904 ,  906 ,  908  to be stored and dispensed, 3) insert cans  802 ,  902 ,  904 ,  906 ,  908  into the respective storage regions configured to hold them, and 4) remove cans  802 ,  902 ,  904 ,  906 ,  908  when desired from the dispensing region of the apparatus. 
     The foregoing detailed description provides exemplary embodiments of the invention and includes the best mode for practicing the invention. The description and illustration of these embodiments is intended only to provide examples of the invention, and not to limit the scope of the invention, or its protection, in any manner. 
     For purposes of this application, including claims, “substantially solid” means a surface which is rigid and which prevents the passage of articles the apparatus is designed to store and dispense. 
     For purposes of this application, including claims, “plurality” means one or more. 
     For purposes of this application, including claims, “series” means one or more. 
     For purposes of this application, including claims, distances between members are defined given their ordinary geometric meanings. When referring to substantially parallel members, the distance between the respective members is equal to length of the perpendicular lowered from a point on a plane. When referring to other than substantially parallel members, the distance between the respective members is the length of the shortest line segment having endpoints on the respective members.