Patent Publication Number: US-11026524-B2

Title: Accessory shelf rail system

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING GOVERNMENT INTEREST 
     None. 
     CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates retail shelves, and more specifically to an accessory shelf rail system. 
     In general, where metal shelving is used to display goods in retail stores, it is usually required to provide a means for displaying price and other information relating to the products on display. One way that this has been accomplished is by providing labels that attach to a flat outside edge of the shelf by means of double-sided tape. 
     Other implementations include providing a shelf with a C-shaped channel formed from an extension of an upper surface of the shelf, bent to form a channel and spot-welded to the exposed outer edge of the shelf. Where a channel is provided, a card or label may be retained directly within the channel. 
     Still other implementations provide a clear covering or holder for labels to eliminate a need to tape labels directly to shelves and protect the labels from tampering. The simplest of these is a simple plastic panel that is removably inserted into the C-channel, typically by sliding the panel into the channel from its end. 
     What is needed is a simple system of flexibly positioned components for organization and messaging on retail shelves. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following presents a simplified summary of the innovation in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the invention nor delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     In general, in one aspect, the invention features a shelf system including a retail shelf, the retail shelf including a generally planar surface having rear facing portion and a front facing portion, the planar surface including a series of apertures, and an accessory shelf rail system removably secured to the front portion of the retail shelf with at least one step-shaped securing bracket. 
     In another aspect, the invention features an accessory shelf rail system including a generally planar top portion, a generally planar front portion, a lower portion of the front portion angled inwardly, a rear portion of the top portion including a top channel and a lip forming a lip channel, the top channel and the lip channel are contained in an entire length of the top portion, and a step-shaped securing bracket slidably positioned in the lip channel, the step-shaped securing bracket configured to removably attach the top portion to a horizontal retail shelf. 
     In still another aspect, the invention features a method including providing a retail shelf, the retail shelf including a generally planar surface having rear facing portion and a front facing portion, the planar surface including a series of apertures, and providing an accessory shelf rail system removably secured to the front portion of the retail shelf with at least one step-shaped securing bracket. 
     Embodiments of the invention may have one or more of the following advantages. 
     Merchandise sales increase when products are well organized, easily identifiable and accompanied by relevant features and benefits information. The present invention provides a system of flexibly positioned components for organization and messaging on retail shelves. 
     The present invention features a shelf rail capable of supporting product dividers and messaging components. 
     Additional components in the system of the present invention expand the messaging capabilities with messaging frames that affix to a shelf without interference from and/or to a shelf rail. 
     These and other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory only and are not restrictive of aspects as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary shelf system. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a side view of an exemplary accessory shelf rail system. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates multiple securing brackets. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a securing bracket. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary securing bracket. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates prongs of securing brackets. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an accessory shelf rail system including a rail. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an accessory shelf rail system including a rail having a slide accessory. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The subject innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It may be evident, however, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an exemplary shelf system  100  includes an accessory shelf rail system  110  secured to a front portion of a standard retail shelf  120 . In this implementation, the shelf  120  is suspended horizontally with respect to the ground by a shelf bracket  130 . Although only a single shelf bracket  130  is shown, it should be appreciated that the shelf  120  is generally supported by two or more shelf brackets. Moreover, a length of the accessory shelf rail system  110  is matched to a length of the shelf  120 . In other embodiments, the length of the accessory shelf rail system  110  may vary. Spaced apart on the shelf  120  are number of apertures  140 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , a side view of the exemplary accessory shelf rail system  110  is illustrated (a) before secured to the shelf  120  and (b) secured to the shelf  120 . The accessory shelf rail system  110  includes a generally planar top portion  200  and a generally planar front portion  210 . In the embodiment illustrated, a lower portion  220  of the front portion  210  is angled inwardly. 
     A rear portion  230  of the top portion  200  includes a top channel  240  and a lip  250  forming a lip channel  260 . Both the top channel  240  and the lip channel  260  are contained in the entire length of the top portion  200 . A step-shaped securing bracket  270 , described below, is positioned as needed in the lip channel  260  to removably attach the accessory shelf rail system  110  to shelf  120 . 
     In the embodiment shown of the exemplary accessory shelf rail system  110 , it is manufactured by extrusion as a one piece system. 
     In  FIG. 3 , three securing brackets  310 ,  320 ,  330  are shown that are used to secure the accessory shelf rail system  340  to the shelf  350 . As described above, the number of securing brackets can vary. In addition, the each of the securing brackets  310 ,  320 ,  330  is configured to slide in the lip channel (not shown) to enable proper alignment to corresponding apertures  360  in the shelf  350 . 
     Also shown are optional endcaps  370 ,  380 , which may be added to prevent the accessory shelf rail system  340  from unintentional sliding along the shelf  350 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , a perspective view illustrates a securing bracket  410  ( a ) positioned separate from an accessory shelf rail system  410  and a securing bracket  420  ( b ) positioned within a lip channel of the accessory shelf rail system  410 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , an exemplary securing bracket  500  includes two prongs  510 ,  520  offset from a flat stabilizing portion  530 , which is offset from an upper channel member  540  and a lower channel member  550 . The two prongs  510 ,  520  are configured to mate with correspondingly apertures in a shelf. The upper channel member  540  and the lower channel member  550  are configured to engage above and below a lip channel, described above. In a preferred embodiment, the securing bracket  500  is constructed of metal. 
     In  FIG. 6 , twin prongs contained on each of the three securing brackets  600 ,  610 ,  620  are shown positioned for placement in corresponding apertures of the shelf  630 . Also shown is an optional display mount  640 . The display mount  640  may be secured to the shelf  630  with a bracket as described above and used to display information on an outward facing side in greater size and/or detail, such as signage. In one embodiment, the securing brackets  600 ,  610 ,  620  are hinged to enable lifting of the accessory shelf rail system up so that the display mount  640  may be secured to the shelf  630  before the accessory shelf rail system is closed down. More specifically, the prongs may be secured to the flat stabilizing portion with a hinge mechanism. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , an accessory shelf rail system  700  includes a rail  710 . A front portion  720  of the rail  710  is configured to slide within a top channel  730  of the accessory shelf rail system  700 . Here the rail  710  is positioned ninety degrees relative to a top portion  740  of the accessory shelf rail system  700 . In embodiments, multiple rails are used to contain and separate items positioned on the shelf  750 . In still other embodiments, other fixtures may be adapted to slide within the top channel  730 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , an accessory shelf rail system  800  includes multiple rails  810 ,  820 ,  830 . Rail  820  is configured flat and includes a slide accessory  840  configured to attach to and slide back and forth along a length of the rail  820 . This slide accessory  840 , for example, can be used to manage retail items placed on the shelf  850 . The slide accessory  840  is moved to a rearward position, distant from the accessory shelf rail system  800 , and the shelf populated with retail items. As the inventory of retail items are consumed near the accessory shelf rail system  800 , the slide accessory  840  can manually be moved toward the accessory shelf rail system  800 , pushing the remaining inventory of retail items towards the accessory shelf rail system  800  for easier consumer consumption. 
     It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be within the scope of the present invention except as limited by the scope of the appended claims.