Patent Abstract:
An earthquake-activated shelf security system has two guide rails attached to both sides of a shelf or pallet rack. At least one retainer is moveably constrained to move along the guide rails by a rotating loop located on each end of the retainer. The guide rail has a retainer rest portion and allows the retainer to rest in a prepared configuration without moving down the rail unless acted upon by a shaking event such as an earthquake. A movable backstop is located along a back portion of the retainer rest portion. The position of the rest stop can be adjusted to adjust the sensitivity of the system to earthquakes. The guide rails have retainer stops located at selected positions to keep the retainer from moving past. In one embodiment two retainers are provided and in another embodiment, a mesh is provided to contain items that would otherwise fall through.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 13/445,729, filed on Apr. 12, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,107,501 issued Aug. 18, 2015, and claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 61/474,715, filed on Apr. 12, 2011, 61/483,577, filed on May 6, 2011, 61/491,145, filed on May 27, 2011, 61/498,698, filed on Jun. 20, 2011, 61/540,431, filed on Sep. 28, 2011 and 61/560,668, filed on Nov. 16, 2011, the complete disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There are generally over a million earthquake events every year with over a thousand of them being over magnitude 5.0. The National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) reports about 50 earthquakes per day. We have made great progress in building our structures to be able to withstand most earthquakes which has helped to lower the cost in human life during these events, however, earthquakes still cause a tremendous amount of economic damage. 
         [0003]    Grocery and other retail stores, laboratories, lumber yards, and warehouses and almost anyone who stores things on shelves can lose a lot of money when even a minor earthquake hits. Many items can be damaged or destroyed when falling from the shelves on which they are stored on. To help with this problem, it is known to add straps, bars and other barriers across the front of the shelves; however, these fixes make the items stored on the shelves harder to access and detract from the esthetic look of the shelves. Since earthquake events are random events, having to put up with these disadvantages are difficult since most of the time, the protections are not needed. Some systems require user activation on the first warning of the quake and this is an obvious disadvantage since most earthquakes are not predictable. 
         [0004]    There is a need for an easy to use, non-obtrusive earthquake-activated shelf security system that is reliable, cost efficient and not esthetically distractive. There is also a need for an earthquake-activated shelf security system that can be used with existing shelf systems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    An earthquake-activated shelf security system has two guide rails attached to both sides of a shelf or pallet rack. At least one retainer is moveably constrained to move along the guide rails by a rotating loop located on each end of the retainer. The guide rail has a retainer rest portion and allows the retainer to rest in a prepared configuration without moving down the rail unless acted upon by a shaking event such as an earthquake. A movable backstop is located along a back portion of the retainer rest portion. The position of the rest stop can be adjusted to adjust the sensitivity of the system to earthquakes. The guide rails have retainer stops located at selected positions to keep the retainer from moving past. In one embodiment two retainers are provided and in another embodiment, a mesh is provided to contain items that would otherwise fall through. 
         [0006]    Other features and advantages of the instant invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a guide rail of an earthquake-activated shelf security system according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the guide rail shown in  FIG. 1  in an activated configuration. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the guide rail shown in  FIG. 1  with two retainers. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the guide rail shown in  FIG. 3  in an activated configuration. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the guide rail shown in  FIG. 1  with a mesh net. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the guide rail shown in  FIG. 5  in an activated configuration. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7A  is a side view of the guide rail shown in figure one in a less sensitive selected initial position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7B  is a side view of the guide rail shown in figure one in a more sensitive selected initial position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the guide rail shown in figure one having a smaller retainer stop. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the guide rail shown in figure one having an additional retainer stop. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the guide rail shown in  FIG. 9  in an activated configuration. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a side view of a guide rail of an earthquake-activated shelf security system according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the guide rail shown in  FIG. 11  in an activated configuration. 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a shelf unit having an earthquake-activated security system installed according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the shelf unit having an earthquake-activated security system shown in  FIG. 13  in an activated configuration. 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a shelf unit having an earthquake-activated security system with a mesh net installed according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the shelf unit having an earthquake-activated security system shown in  FIG. 15  in an activated configuration. 
           [0024]      FIG. 17  is a side view of the guide rail shown in  FIG. 1  attached to another guide rail using a bolt. 
           [0025]      FIG. 18  is a side view of the guide rail shown in  FIG. 1  attached to another guide rail using a channel bracket. 
           [0026]      FIG. 19A  is a detailed side view of the retainer in a selected position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 19B  is a detailed side view of the retainer in a second selected position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the drawings in which reference numerals refer to like elements, and which are intended to show by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  19 A and  19 B an earthquake-activated shelf security system  100  is shown having a pair of guide rails  105  that are located on either side of a shelf  120 . A retainer  115  has a looped end  110  that is rotably held in place on each of its ends. As looped end  110  engages with guide rail  105 , it is free to rotate as well as moving in and out as shown in position A and then to position B. Of course an infinite number of positions are available and the two positions shown are not meant to limit this disclosure. In the embodiment shown, looped end  110  fits within a hollow portion of retainer  115  which allows this movement. Of course other means of allowing movement are useable as long as the desired movement is achieved. Other means include, but not limited to, bushings, bearings, pistons, etc. as is known in the art. In the embodiment shown, the shank portion of looped end  110  is long enough so that even if one side of retainer  115  were at a different height than the other, looped ends  100  would not fall out. This length may be different depending on the height of the shelf protected by the instant invention. 
         [0030]    Now referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a backstop  195  is provided to allow the user to adjust the sensitivity by sliding back and forth along a retainer rest portion  198 . The further from the front backstop  195  is placed (position A), the more shaking required to activate it. Likewise, as backstop  195  is moved forward (position B), the less shaking is required to activate. Additionally, backstop  195  provides the user with a convenient way to reset after activation. 
         [0031]    Again with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a retainer stop  125  is provided to limit the travel of retainer  115  as it moves along guide rail  105 . Retainer stop  125  is user moveable by sliding up and down along guide rail  105 . Retainer stop  125  is made of a compressible material like rubber or other material which frictional makes contact with guide rail  105  yet still allowing the user to move it to a selected position depending on what is being stored on shelf  120 . Of course other retainer stops could be used such as using a set screw, pin or even permanently attached without departing from the instant invention. 
         [0032]    Retainer rest portion is selected to be in the range of 1 degree to 10 degrees with a selected angle of 3 degrees from the horizontal working well in many environments. The steeper the angle, the more sensitive to shaking; however, if the angle is too great, the system may be accidentally activated. In the embodiment shown, fasteners  130  are used to secure guide rails  105  to shelf  120  as is known in the art. If desired, a top faster may be used to secure the upper portion of guide rail  105  to the lower portion of another guide rail  105 . Additionally, a tab slot may be used to hold the upper portion without actually using a fastener. The tab slot is a channel that is shaped to hold the top portion of the guide rail. 
         [0033]    As is shown in  FIG. 2 , retainer  115  is shown activated after an earthquake. Retainer  115  is now in place to prevent any items (not shown) stored on shelf  120  from falling. 
         [0034]    Now referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , earthquake-activated shelf security system  100  is shown having multiple retainers. An upper retainer  135  has an upper looped end  155  that rotates as discussed above. A lower retainer  140  has a lower looped end  160 . Upper looped end  155  has a smaller diameter opening than lower looped end  160 . Lower looped end  160  fits over upper retainer stop  145  and continues down guide rail  105  until it is stopped by a larger lower retainer stop  150 . In this embodiment, two retainers are implemented to provide additional protection to items stored on shelf  120  such as bottles which could tip over or roll under a single retainer. After activation, the user simply pushes retainers  135  and  140  back up to retainer rest portion  98  against backstop  195  and it is ready for the next event. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a mesh net  165  is connected to upper retainer  135  and a lower retainer  140 . Mesh net  165  is rolled around lower retainer  140  and then placed on retainer rest portion  198 . During an event, mesh net  165  unrolls as upper retainer  135  is stopped by upper retainer stop  145  and lower retainer  140  continues down to lower retainer stop  150  and mesh net  165  is then in place to protect objects that would fall through if only the retainers were used. After activation, the user rolls mesh net  165  back up and placed back in retainer rest portion  198 . Mesh net  165  is made of a netting material such as nylon or other suitable material. Of course mesh net  165  could also be a solid plastic or cloth sheet as long as it is flexible enough to roll up. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , another embodiment of earthquake-activated shelf security system  100  is shown having a shelving unit  170  with a guide rail  190  mounted on shelving unit  170 . As discussed above, backstop  195  is provided to allow the user to adjust the sensitivity by sliding back and forth along retainer rest portion  198 . A retainer  175  has a looped end  180  that is rotably held in place on each of its ends. As looped end  180  engages with guide rail  190 , it is free to rotate as well as moving in and out as shown in position A and then to position B. 
         [0037]    Now referring to  FIG. 8 , earthquake-activated shelf security system  100  is shown having a small retainer stop  129  that is used to increase the esthetic appeal. Retainer  115  uses a small looped end  112  to interact with small retainer stop  129  which allows a user to work with the items stored on shelf  120  while minimizing any distraction caused by the system. In other ways, this embodiment is like the ones discussed above. 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , earthquake-activated shelf security system  100  is shown having an extra retainer stop  128  disposed close to a larger retainer stop  185 . Extra retainer stop  128  is tapered so that its upper portion has a smaller diameter than its bottom portion thus trapping looped end  110  between extra retainer stop  128  and retainer stop  185  until reset. Retainer stop  185  stops retainer  115  from falling any further when activated and extra retainer stop  128  is used to further stabilize retainer  115  when activated thus preventing retainer  115  from being pushed upward when items from shelf slide into lower retainer  140  or mesh net  165  ( FIG. 5 ). Again, except as discussed above, this embodiment performs like the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
         [0039]    Now referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , earthquake-activated shelf security system  100  is shown mounted on an inside portion of shelf  122  to minimize the intrusiveness of the system by only having a small portion of a guide rail  108  showing and retainer rest portion  198  being placed out of the way. An intermediate portion of guide rail  108  is used to allow this configuration with retainer rest portion  198  using the ideal angle that allows retainers  135  and  140  to continue falling into place once activated by an earthquake. 
         [0040]    In  FIGS. 13 and 14 , earthquake-activated shelf security system  100  is shown attached to a shelf unit  205 . Although for simplicity, the system is only shown attached to one shelf, it is understood that the system can be placed on each and every shelf. In  FIG. 13 , the system is prepped by placing retainers  135  and  140  in retainer rest portion  198 . In an earthquake, shelf unit  205  may shake in any direction which will immediately cause retainers  135  and  140  respectively to fall along guide rails  105 . Lower retainer  140  falls past upper retainer stop  145  and is stopped by lower retainer stop  185  while upper retainer  135  is stopped by upper retainer stop  145 . As discussed above extra retainer stop  128  is used to provide extra stability by preventing lower retainer  140  from simply sliding back up guide rail  105 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , earthquake-activated shelf security system  100  is shown using mesh net  165  which is attached between upper retainer  155  and lower retainer  185 . As discussed above, mesh net  165  is used when additional protection is needed. As discussed above extra retainer stop  128  is used to provide extra stability by preventing lower retainer  140  from simply sliding back up guide rail  105 . 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIGS. 17 and 18 , guide rails  105  are attached to another guide rail  105  using a bolt  132  ( FIG. 17 ) or a channel bracket  134  ( FIG. 18 ) attached to shelf  120 . Of course other fastening methods may be used as long as guide rails  105  are securely held in place. 
         [0043]    The distance between guide rails  105  and shelves  120  may be adjusted by providing slots in the portion of guide rails  105  that attach to shelves  120 . Other methods of adjusting the distance may be used including mounting adjusting brackets (not shown) or other acceptable adjusting means as is known in the art. 
         [0044]    The guide rails used in this invention are generally round metal bars but could be made of other suitable materials including, but not limited to, plastic, composites, wood, etc. Again, although round stock are used, other shapes would be usable such as hexagonal, oval or even square stock as long as the looped ends can travel down the guide rails smoothly and reliably. 
         [0045]    Although the instant invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0