Abstract:
A shelf organizing system for dividing flat merchandise display shelving. An extruded front rail member typically of generally L-shaped configuration is secured to the front of a shelf, providing a vertical barrier wall. A retention channel, preferably including one or more resilient retention flanges, is formed integrally with the front rail member. Divider elements, extruded in continuous lengths and cut to desired length for particular shelf width, are formed with a vertical flange and a horizontal stabilizing flange. The stabilizing flange is insertable in the retention channel, at any point along its length, and is tightly gripped therein to hold the divider element in any desired position. The divider element may be easily installed by pressing laterally into contact with merchandise to be segregated, and then moving the divider into the retention channel. Divider elements may also be formed advantageously of wire instead of plastic. The system facilitates maintenance of neat shelf displays, which has been proven to increase sales.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to shelf organizing systems of the type typically used in large retail stores, and more particularly to an improved and economical design and construction of such shelf organizing systems. 
     Retail stores make extensive use of display shelving, typically in the form of so-called gondolas, which are self-standing units, usually in sections of four feet, provided with means for supporting display shelving at various heights. The individual shelf sections, which usually run the full four foot width of the gondola, may be of various depths, depending upon the requirements of the retailer. 
     Retailers frequently like to divide the surfaces of the shelf sections to provide front-to-rear confinement of individual products. This provides for a neater appearing display, and also keeps the merchandise properly aligned with the pricing and other information provided at the front of the shelf. It is well established that nicely organized shelves lead to greater sales. Some of the widely used organizing systems involve the use of an extruded plastic front rail, at the front of the shelf, which is associated with molded plastic divider elements, which attach to the front rail and extend rearward. To accommodate shelves of different depths, the plastic dividers typically are molded to the maximum shelf depth, and are provided with break-off sections at suitable increments, e.g., every two inches. For narrow shelves, portions of the molded dividers are broken off to fit. This results in some wastage and extra labor, but the cost of making separate molds for different lengths of shelf dividers is prohibitively high. Moreover, for relatively tall, narrow merchandise it is desirable to provide lateral support to prevent the merchandise from being tipped over accidentally. With molded divider elements, the cost of providing tall dividers suitable for this purpose is extremely high, because of the mold costs. 
     The present invention provides a shelf management system of exceptional simplicity and economy, in which the divider elements can be extruded in continuous lengths, and then cut to any lengths appropriate to the shelving. By this means, a simple, relatively inexpensive extrusion die is suitable for a shelf divider of given height and configuration, regardless of length. 
     The system of the present invention also enables the divider elements to be formed inexpensively of wire, which can be especially beneficial when providing for dividers with a substantial height dimension. 
     In a particularly advantageous form of the invention, an extruded front rail member is provided, which extends along the full width of the shelving. The front rail member is provided with a horizontal base wall which is secured at the front of the shelf, and a vertical wall portion which extends upwardly therefrom and forms a front barrier. A channel-forming wall is associated with one of the base or barrier walls of the front rail member and provides a retention channel for the reception and retention of individual divider elements at any point along the length of the front rail. To particular advantage, one or more elastic retaining flanges is co-extruded internally of the retention channel. The arrangement is such that a portion of a divider element is insertable into the retention channel, against the resistance of the elastic retaining flanges, which then serve to tightly grip and retain the divider element in its assembled position. 
     To particular advantage, the front rail member can be co-extruded of an opaque, colored plastic in the lower portion and clear, transparent plastic in the upper portion. The opaque lower portion conceals the interior of the retention channel, providing a neater appearing installation the color of the opaque portion can advantageously be matched to the color of the shelving. 
     In any of its various forms, the shelf management system of the invention is economical to produce, yet easy to assemble and adjust, providing optimum efficiency in shelf management for the retailer. 
     For a more complete understanding of the above and other features and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention and to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front perspective view of a typical shelf gondola, showing two forms of the shelf management system of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view showing one advantageous form of the system of the invention, employing extruded plastic divider elements. 
     FIG. 3 is a further enlarged, fragmentary illustration of the system of FIG. 2, illustrating a divider element in position to be inserted into the front rail element. 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the elements of FIG. 3, shown in an installed position. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view as taken generally on line  5 — 5  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating a modified form of the invention, in which means are provided to help secure the divider elements in position. 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating a further modified form of the shelf management system, in which the divider elements are formed of wire, provided with retention plates for engagement with the front rail member. 
     FIG. 8 is a further enlarged, fragmentary elevational view of the system of FIG. 7, showing details of the manner in which the wire divider elements are retained in the front rail member. 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a still further modified form of the invention, in which the dividing elements are formed of wire, and an integral portion of the wire is used for retention of the divider in the front rail member. 
     FIG. 10 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the system of FIG. 9, showing the wire divider element in its installed position. 
     FIG. 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of the system of FIG. 9, with the wire divider element in its installed position. 
     FIG. 12 is a further modified form of wire divider element provided with a metal tongue plate arranged for horizontal insertion. 
     FIG. 13 is a fragmentary top plan view of the divider element of FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of a modified form of wire divider element intended for insertion in a horizontally oriented retention channel. 
     FIG. 15 is a fragmentary top plan view of the divider element of FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 16 is a highly simplified form of wire divider element intended for horizontal insertion. 
     FIG. 17 is a fragmentary top plan view of the divider element of FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 18 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of front rail member comprising a rearwardly opening retention channel, utilized without a barrier wall. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, the reference numeral  20  designates generally a typical gondola shelf structure widely used for the display of merchandise. The gondola structure typically includes a plurality of flat merchandise display shelves  21 ,  22 ,  23 , adjustably mounted at desired levels by means of vertical rails  24  mounted on a back panel  25 . 
     In accordance with the invention, a front rail member  26  of generally L-shaped cross sectional configuration is mounted at the front of the shelf. Each of the front rail members has a horizontal base wall  27  and a vertical barrier wall  28 . The barrier wall is typically located at the front edge extremity of the shelf and serves as a forward barrier for merchandise displayed on the shelf. The rail member advantageously extends along the full length of the shelf, as reflected in FIG.  1 . 
     In one advantageous form of the invention, shown in use in conjunction with the bottom shelf  21 , the front rail member  26  is provided with an integral, rearwardly extending channel-forming wall  29  (see FIGS. 2 and 3) which extends rearwardly from the barrier wall  28 , parallel to and spaced a short distance above the base wall  27 . The channel-forming wall  29 , together with the base wall  27 , defines a rearwardly opening retention channel  30  intended for the reception of lateral divider elements  31 , to be further described. 
     To advantage, the retention channel  30  is provided with one or more retaining flanges  32  which project into the retaining channel generally opposite a pair of opposing ribs  33 . 
     The principal walls of the front rail member, that is the base wall  27 , the barrier wall  28  and the channel-forming wall  29  are extruded of a rigid plastic material, such as rigid polyvinyl chloride. The retaining flanges  32  and ribs  33  are co-extruded of a softer, resilient plastic material, such as soft polyvinyl chloride. 
     In a preferred form of the invention, the lower portions of the front rail member  26 , including the elements forming the retention channel  30  (i.e., the base wall  27  and the channel-forming wall  29 ) are formed by an opaque material to conceal the interior of the channel  30  from view. The color of the opaque material can be chosen to be similar to that of the shelving. Upper portions of the barrier wall  28  are formed of a clear, transparent material, which can be polyvinyl chloride but advantageously can be co-extruded of material currently marketed by Eastman Chemical under its trademark “PROVISTA” which has a particularly high level of clarity and transparency. 
     In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, divider elements  31 , which are extruded in continuous lengths of a rigid plastic material, such as polyvinyl chloride, are of generally L-shaped configuration, comprising a vertical dividing wall  34 , and a horizontal stabilizing wall  35 . The individual extruded sections are cut to appropriate length for the width of the shelving and, in conjunction with cutting to length, are provided at one or both ends (preferably both) with a notch  36 , opening at the end of the divider section and defined on the lower side thereof by the stabilizing wall  35  of the divider element. 
     In the normal use of the new divider system, the front rail element  26  is permanently or semi-permanently affixed to the front of the shelf, by means of adhesive or push pins  37 , for example. A divider element  31  is moved laterally along the shelf to a desired position and then pushed in a forward direction, such that the forward portion of the stabilizing flange  35  is forced into the retention channel  30 . The spacing between the flexible retaining flanges  32  and the opposing ribs  33  is less than the thickness of the stabilizing flange  35 , such that these elements are distorted during insertion of the stabilizing flange into the retaining channel, in the manner indicated in FIG.  4 . Advantageously, the depth of the notch  36  is such as to allow the forward end  38  of the stabilizing flange to be seated firmly against the barrier wall  28 . As shown in FIG. 4, the divider element  31  is thus tightly secured in the retention channel. It has a great deal of stability against accidental lateral tilting, for example, because of the width of the front face  38 , which in a typical embodiment, may be on the order of ¾ of an inch. If necessary, the back end of the divider element may be secured by tape  39  (FIG.  2 ), but normally this is not required. 
     Of course, the divider element  31  may be removed and repositioned as frequently as desired. Once installed in a desired position, however, it tends to resist accidental dislodgment. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, modified divider elements  40  may be provided with an inverted T-shaped configuration, in which the vertical dividing wall  41  is centered on a stabilizing wall or flange  42 . As also indicated in FIG. 1, by notching the divider elements  31  at both ends, they may be turned end for end where desired, so that the stabilizing flanges  35  (in dividers of L-shaped configuration) can be oriented to extend in either direction. Additionally, where the dividers are notched at both ends, the option is available to insert a barrier rail (not shown) at the back ends of selected dividers, for confinement at the back and/or increased stability of the back ends of the dividers. 
     In a slightly modified form of the invention shown in FIG. 6, the channel-forming flange  29  of the front rail member  26  is formed with an upwardly projecting rib  43  arranged for cooperation with a small recess  44  formed in the upper wall  45  of the notch  36  provided at the end of the divider element  31 . When the divider element is fully inserted into the retention channel  30 , in the manner of FIG. 4, the rib  43  engages the recess  44 , providing a locking detent action to further resist accidental dislodgment of the divider element. 
     In any of its embodiments, the extruded divider elements  31  may be co-extruded of an opaque material forming at least the stabilizing flange portions  35 ,  42 , preferably using a color to match that of the shelving. In a typical embodiment, the opaque material may extend upward to form the lower portion of the dividing wall  34 ,  41 , for example up to a level  46  in FIG. 2, approximately at the level of the opaque material of the front rail member  26 . Upper portions of the dividing walls may advantageously be formed of an ultra clear material, such as “PROVISTA”. 
     A modified form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in which divider elements  50  are formed of wire instead of plastic. The use of wire dividers, in place of plastic, may be desirable in some instances, especially where the dividers are used in connection with tall articles of merchandise, such as bottles. Although extruded plastic dividers are far more economical than molded plastic dividers, even extruded dividers can have an undesirable cost factor when the vertical dividing wall is of significantly extended height. Using wire dividers, the height of the divider is not a significant cost factor. 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, an extruded front rail member  51  is formed of rigid plastic, in a generally L-shaped configuration, with a base wall  52  and a vertical barrier wall  53 . A channel-forming wall  54  extends vertically from the base wall, in spaced relation to the front or barrier wall  53 . The channel-forming wall  54  and the barrier wall  53  define a retention channel  55 . As in the previous embodiment, the retention channel, which may be of opaque material, is provided with one or more co-extruded, flexible retaining flanges  56  and opposed ribs  57 . 
     The wire divider element  50  advantageously comprises a rearwardly extending, generally horizontal divider section  58  which joins at the back with a vertical leg  59  and, preferably, a short, forwardly extending support leg  60 . At the front end of the divider section  58 , is a downwardly extending leg  61  that is welded or otherwise secured to a tongue plate  62 , preferably of inverted T-shaped configuration, as seen in FIG.  7 . The divider  50  is installed by vertical insertion of the tongue plate  62  into the retention channel  55 . 
     A still further modification of the invention is shown in FIGS. 9-11, utilizing a front rail element  51  of the type shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, provided with a vertical retention channel  55 . In the embodiment of FIGS. 9-11, a wire divider element  70  is constructed with a horizontally extending divider section  71 , a vertical leg  72  and a support portion  73  at the back. At the front, the divider element  70  is provided with a downwardly extending leg  74 , which extends the full height of the divider and joins integrally at the bottom with a horizontally extending portion  75 , which serves the dual purpose of a front support and as a retention element. To install the divider element  70 , the divider is positioned laterally as desired, and then the retention element  75  is forced downwardly into the retention channel  55 , to a position as shown in FIG.  10 . The retaining element  75  is pressed beyond the flexible retaining flanges  56  until it enters the bottom of the retention chamber  55 . The front vertical leg  74  of the divider is tightly gripped by the deflected retaining flanges  56 , as is indicated in FIG. 11, so that the divider is tightly held in its adjusted position. 
     As will be understood, a wire divider element of the general type described in FIGS. 7 and 8 can be modified for use in combination with a front rail element of the type shown in FIGS. 1-5, provided with a rearwardly opening, horizontally disposed retention channel  30 . Such a modification is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, where a downwardly extending front element  81  of the wire divider  80  would be extended downward for the full height of the divider, and then bent either forward or (preferably) rearward as at  82  and secured to a horizontally disposed tongue plate  83 . The horizontally disposed tongue plate  83  is arranged to be joined with the retention channel by forward movement in the same manner as the extruded plastic divider elements  31 . 
     Additional simplified forms of wire divider elements are illustrated in FIGS. 14-17. In the modification of FIGS. 14,  15 , a wire divider element  90 , designed for horizontal insertion, is provided with a front vertical leg  91  which joins at its bottom with a forwardly extending support element  92 . At its forward end, the support element  92  joins with a horizontal stabilizing section  93 , which consists of a first portion  94  extending at right angles, and a loop portion  95 . The divider element  90  is installed by forward insertion into the retention channel  30 , in the same manner as the embodiment of FIGS. 12,  13 . 
     The embodiment of FIGS. 16,  17  is even more simplified than the embodiment of FIGS. 14,  15 . In the last mentioned embodiment, a divider  100  has a vertical leg  101  which joins at the bottom with a forwardly extending support portion  102 . At its forward extremity, the support portion  102  joins with a horizontally disposed portion  103  disposed at right angles to the principal plane of the divider. The divider element  100  is also installed by forward insertion into the retention channel  30 . 
     For certain purposes, merchandisers may prefer to eliminate a barrier wall at the front, in order to facilitate access to the product displayed on the shelving. For such applications, the system of the invention may advantageously employ a front rail member  110 , as shown in FIG. 18, which comprises only a retention channel  111 . Thus, in the modification of FIG. 18, the front rail member  110  advantageously is secured to a display shelf  112  by means of an adhesive strip  113  extending along the length of the rail member  110 . The rail member comprises upper and lower rearwardly extending flanges  114 ,  115  and a short vertical front wall  116  joining the two in spaced relation. The rail member  110  advantageously may be extruded of opaque polyvinyl plastic, colored appropriately to blend with the shelving  112 , and is provided internally with retaining flanges  117 , co-extruded of a soft flexible material, and cooperating with co-extruded ribs  118 , also formed of resilient material. 
     Various of the described forms of divider elements may be installed in the front rail member  110  by forward insertion in the manner previously described to provide shelving which is divided laterally, yet substantially open at the front for easy access. Product items are, at the same time, prevented from accidentally falling off the forward edge of the shelf, by reason of the short barrier provided by the retention channel itself. 
     The embodiments of FIGS. 9-10 and  14 - 17  are very economical to manufacture, because they involve only simple operations of bending and cutting of wire which can be highly automated. 
     In any of its various forms, the shelf management system of the invention has important advantages over systems currently in use. It is far more economical to produce than systems now utilized. At the same time, the new system provides exceptional ease and flexibility of use in setting up organized shelving arrangements. The divider elements, whether of extruded plastic or metal, can be easily and quickly moved to desired lateral positions, for example, by simply pressing the elements laterally against a line of product items. The elements may then be installed by pressing forwardly or downwardly, as the case may be, to insert the divider elements into the continuous retention channel provided by the front rail. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the specific forms of the invention herein illustrated and described are intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.