Abstract:
A shelf edge support is provided which strengthens the front edge of a shelf particularly for point-of-purchase displays which are typically constructed of a paper or cardboard. The shelf edge support includes two L-shaped members which are configured to be attached to the front edge of a shelf.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to product shelving and, more particularly, to a structural shelf support for point-of-purchase display shelving constructed of corrugated paper or plastic, cardboard or other lightweight construction material. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Point-of-purchase display shelves are widely used in outlet stores, discount stores and anywhere there is unused counter or floor space available which allows a vendor of goods to set up stands or displays to display the goods without having to acquire space or fixed shelving. Flexibility of design of point-of-purchase displays often result in displays with shelves having long spans. The shelf is fully supported along the back and sides. However, the front edge is often unsupported, or a metal support or brace is incorporated to strengthen the front edge of the shelf. The weakest point is at the longitudinal center of the shelf. Additionally, the middle front edge of the shelf often endures the most stress from product load, product restocking, customer use and abuse. Metal supports must be designed for the particular application and are not readily suited to retrofit a point-of-purchase display not designed to utilize a metal support. 
         [0003]    Use of metal supports is expensive, requires additional time to construct, is not readily adaptable to various shelf widths and requires disassembly if the unit is going to be replaced after use. Accordingly, there is a need for a shelf support system that is lightweight, easily applied in manufacturing or to an existing shelf system, inexpensive and recyclable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present invention provides a shelf edge beam that includes two or more structural members which are configured to slip over the front edge of point-of-purchase display shelf. The shelf edge beam attaches to the upper and lower surfaces of the shelf and transfers the load from the middle of the shelf to the outer edges which are supported by the vertical sides of the shelving system. The shelf edge beam may be applied in manufacturing or may be applied to a preexisting shelf. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of separated members of the shelf edge beam of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the members of  FIG. 1  assembled together with a wrap material shown separately. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an assembled shelf edge beam. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a left end view of the shelf edge beam of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an assembled shelf edge beam with end tabs. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational cut away view of a point-of-purchase display with products and shelf edge beams. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the point-of-purchase display of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the shelf edge team. 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of  FIG. 8  with the lower member of the shelf edge beam positioned under the front edge of the shelf. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the shelf support beam of  FIG. 8  in place on the front edge of the shelf. 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the shelf support beam of  FIG. 8  configured for a shelf with a lip on the front edge. 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of  FIG. 11  with the lower leg of the shelf edge beam positioned under the front edge of the shelf. 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the shelf edge beam of  FIG. 11  in place on the front edge of the shelf. 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the shelf edge beam. 
           [0019]      FIG. 15  is a left end view of the shelf edge beam of  FIG. 14 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-4 , a shelf edge beam is generally indicated by reference numeral  20 . The shelf edge beam  20  includes a first member  22 , a second member  24  and a film  26 . The members  22  and  24  are generally L-shaped with generally vertical legs  28  and  30  and horizontal legs  32  and  34 , respectively. The members  22  and  24  may be formed from one or more layers of paper material. Various caliper gauges of materials may be used based on the load requirements of a particular application. It should be understood that the Figures herein are for illustrative purposes only and the dimensions are not to scale. 
         [0021]    For example, two or more layers of paper material may be formed into a right angle and laminated together with an epoxy resin to form each member. 
         [0022]    The members  22  and  24  are glued together along the vertical legs  28  and  30  leaving a gap  36  between the horizontal legs  32  and  34  to receive the edge of a shelf (not shown). The upper edge  38  of the shelf edge beam  20  is trimmed and the outer surfaces  40  are wrapped with film or cover  26  for aesthetic purposes, as well as to provide some protection and strength to the front and top edges of the shelf edge beam  20 . 
         [0023]    The members  22  and  24  may be manufactured as one continuous member, cut into matching lengths then glued together and trimmed. Alternatively, member  22  may be manufactured separately from member  24  and the vertical leg  28  of member  22  sized to match the inside dimension of the vertical leg  32  of member  24  together with the gap  36  to reduce waste and eliminate the trimming step. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , tabs  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54  and a rear tab (not shown) may be attached to the free ends of the shelf edge beam  20  to provide additional support for the shelf edge beam  20 . The tabs may include an outside adhesive layer with a peel-off film or paper to make installation of the shelf edge beam  20  quick and convenient. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  6  and  7 , a point-of-purchase display case is generally indicated by reference numeral  60 . Display case  60  includes a generally rectangular container or box  62  and a number of shelves  64 . The shelves  64  are secured to the inside surface of the container  62  along the sides  66  and  68  and the back  70 . The shelves  64  support a product  72 , such as T-shirts, for example. 
         [0026]    A shelf edge beam  20  is fastened to the front edge of each shelf  64 . A small amount of glue (not shown) is squeezed into the channel  36  of the shelf edge beam  20 . The shelf edge beam  20  is slipped over the front edge of the shelf  64 . The strength of the shelf edge beam  20  comes from the two angled members  22  and  24 . The force of the weight of the products  72  being supported in the middle of the shelf  64  is transferred along the shelf edge beam  20  to the outer ends to the sides  66  and  68  of the display case  60  preventing deflection and structural failure of the shelf  64 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 8-10 , a hinged shelf edge beam is generally indicated by reference numeral  80 . Hinged shelf edge beam  80  includes members  82  and  84  which are the same as members  22  and  24  described hereinabove. Members  82  and  84  are joined together by a flexible film or fabric  86  which forms a hinged joint  88  between the vertical legs  90  and  92  of members  82  and  84 , respectively. The lower surface  94  of member  82  includes a double-sticky layer of tape  96 . The upper surface  98  of member  84  includes a double-sticky layer of tape  100 . 
         [0028]    When applying the hinged shelf edge beam  80  to the front edge  102  of a shelf  104 , a protective film or paper (not shown) is removed from the tape  96  to expose the adhesive. The hinged shelf edge beam  80  is applied to the lower surface of the front edge  102  of the shelf  104  with the front edge  102  in contact with the vertical surface  92  and the tape  100  in contact with the lower surface of the shelf  104  (See  FIG. 9 ). The adhesive of tape  92  is exposed and angled member  82  is rotated about hinge  88  until the tape  96  is in contact with the upper surface of shelf  104  (See  FIG. 10 ). It should be understood that glue may be used in place of the tape  96  and  100 , and a thin layer of glue may also be applied to surfaces  90  and/or  92  to provide additional rigidity and strength to the hinged shelf edge beam  80 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 11-13 , an offset hinged shelf edge beam is generally indicated by reference numeral  120 . The offset hinged shelf edge beam  120  may be used for applications where a shelf  122  has a front lip  124 . The front lip  124  of shelf  122  provides additional rigidity to the shelf  120  but often does not provide enough strength. The offset hinged shelf edge beam  12  is generally identical to the hinged shelf edge beam  80  ( FIGS. 8-10 ) with the exception of hinge  126  which is made of a film or fabric material. Hinge  126  is offset a sufficient distance to accommodate for the thickness of the front lip  124  of shelf  122 . It should be understood that for the hinged shelf edge beam  80  and the offset shelf edge beam  120 , the wrap  86  may be applied after the members  82  and  84  are applied to the shelf. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , another embodiment of a shelf edge beam is generally indicated by reference numeral  150 . Shelf edge beam  150  includes L-shaped members  152  and  154  which are in a mirror image arrangement to present a T-shaped layout for the shelf edge beam  150 . Each of the members  152  and  154  includes a layer of double-sided tape  156  and  158  respectively. Shelf  104  is sandwiched between the members  152  and  154 . A backing member  160 , which includes two layers of double-sided tape  162  and  164 , may be applied to the vertical legs of the members  152  and  154 . A wrap  166  may then be applied to cover the exposed upper and lower edges of the members  152 ,  154  and  160  and to provide additional strength to the shelf edge beam  150 . The shelf edge beam  150  may be assembled as shown using double-sided tape, with or without backing member  160 , or may be glued together and fully assembled and applied to the front edge  102  of shelf  104 . 
         [0031]    It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, is it not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims.