Abstract:
A display shelf dividing and labeling assembly includes a plurality of divider strips which extend back to divide the display space on a shelf, connected to a front base member overhanging the front edge of the shelf. The divider strips are slidably received in the front base member to lock them in position. Labels may be inserted into the front base member, which may be retained on the shelf with adhesive pads.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a display shelf organizer. More particularly, the invention relates to a simple and easy to use device for organizing and labeling items on display on a shelf. 
     The large number of consumers who daily examine and handle articles on retail display invariably results in items being misplaced and the display as a whole becoming generally disordered. Retailers must attempt to maintain an orderly arrangement of this multitude of variously sized and shaped articles being displayed. Time is consumed in rearranging articles back to their proper location. 
     Further, where items are displayed side by side, confusion of the consumer between similar items may result. The consumer may wrongfully select an item improperly placed. 
     Attempts have been made at remedying this problem by sectioning off specific areas of a shelf in different ways. These include use of baskets or cumbersome dividers which may significantly reduce the shelf space available for display. In addition, these methods often require special components and fixtures and/or articles on the shelves which complicate their usage and limit dividing capabilities to pre-set sizes and locations. 
     Therefore, it is among the objects of this invention to provide a simple, low-cost shelf divider and labeling unit offering greater flexibility in the positioning of dividers in order to accommodate the various sizes and shapes of items to be displayed, while reducing to a minimum the displacement of usable display space taken up by such a unit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a display shelf organizer is formed by securing generally long, thin, parallel divider strips perpendicularly to a front base having a nameplate bearing member. The divider strips are secured in such a manner that the strips are slideable along the length of the nameplate member. The divider strips rest on a shelf to divide the space on the shelf, with the nameplate member hanging over the front edge of the shelf to display one or more labels. 
     The divider strips can be adjusted in position on the shelf so that the spacing between adjacent strips corresponds to an appropriate width for accommodating articles to be displayed. 
     The front nameplate bearing member rests against and overlaps the front edge of the shelf, providing a front planar surface at an appropriate viewing angle. A nameplate label or card may be inserted into the nameplate member to display information regarding the items on the shelf. 
     The nameplate member preferably has a front nameplate bearing surface with lipped flanges at its top and bottom edges, forming parallel upper and lower slots for slideably receiving a nameplate or nameplates. 
     The front base member, including the nameplate member, preferably is formed as one piece, and each divider strip is injection molded. 
     Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and what are now considered to be the best modes contemplated for applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing a display shelf organizer or shelf divider constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention and installed on a shelf. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the shelf divider of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view in section, taken generally alon the line and in the direction indicated by the arrows 3--3 in FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view of one of the divider strips used in the shelf divider shown in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a shelf divider constructed and assembled in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 5 shows a shelf divider with a different number of divider strips and with different spacings of the divider strips as compared with that shown in FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A preferred embodiment of a display shelf organizer in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, generally indicated by the referencenumber 10. 
     The display shelf organizer 10 includes a front base member 11 to which a plurality of generally long thin divider strips 12 are slideably secured. 
     The divider strips 12 are arranged side by side in spaced parallel fashion so as to extend perpendicularly back from the front base member 11. 
     The front base member 11 in the preferred embodiment is constructed from plastic and comprises a nameplate bearing member 14 which runs the length of the front base member 11 and is of a generally flat shape and elongatedin the horizontal direction. Both the top and bottom edges of the nameplatebearing member 14 have lipped flanges 16a and 16b which provide upper and lower slots 18a and 18b, respectively, as best seen in FIG. 3, to receive and hold a nameplate 22. The nameplate or label 22 may be changed to provide information concerning the items being displayed, simply by sliding the nameplate or label card in and out of the slots 18a and 18b. 
     On the front surface of the nameplate bearing member 14, as seen in FIGS. 2and 3, are a plurality of ribs 24 which slightly offset the nameplate 22 from the surface of the nameplate bearing member 14 in order to securely retain the nameplate within the slots 18a and 18b. 
     A lower horizontal flange 26 is attached to, preferably integrally formed with the nameplate bearing member 14, extending rearwardly from the nameplate bearing member and running the full length longitudinally of thenameplate bearing member, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The nameplate bearing member 14 is adjoined obliquely to the lower horizontal flange 26, so thatthe nameplate bearing member 14 is oriented in a position tilted back somewhat from vertical, preferably about 30 degrees. This angle of inclination may follow a similar angularity between the top and front surfaces 28 and 30 of the shelf 32 on which the divider assembly 10 is installed. 
     Adhesive pads 33 may be secured to the surfaces of the horizontal flange 26and of the nameplate bearing number 14, as shown, to secure the front base member 11 to the shelf 32. These pads may be continuous throughout the length of the front base member 11, with adhesive on both sides of the pads and preferably including a release strip on the outer side of each pad, which is to be removed when the front base member is installed. 
     An upper horizontal flange 34 is in generally spaced parallel relation to the lower horizontal flange 26 and is also attached to or integrally formed with the nameplate bearing member 14, as best seen in FIG. 3. Gripping flanges 38 and 40, respectively, extend generally at right anglesfrom the upper horizontal flange 34 and the lower horizontal flange 26, as shown in FIG. 3, to provide a relatively narrow gap or slot 42 between them at the rear of the front base member. The gripping flanges 38 and 40 extend toward one another, as shown in the drawing, and provide a means for engagement with the divider strips 12, as further explained below. An internal space or cavity 43 is formed by the nameplate bearing member 14 and the upper and lower horizontal flanges 34 and 26, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. 
     As shown in FIG. 3 and also in FIG. 4, each divider strip 12 has a front end including a locking tab 46 which is generally spade-shaped in cross-section with an enlarged head portion. The locking tab 46 is of a somewhat elongated shape as shown in FIG. 4, integrally molded with the divider strip 12 via an end flange member 48. The spade-shaped locking tab46 extends perpendicular to the length of the divider strip 12, as shown. 
     The locking tab 46 and the adjacent flange member 8, on the one hand, and the gripping flanges 38 and 40 and the slot 42, on the other hand, cooperate to form a locking mechanism which secures each divider strip 12 to the front base member 11 and holds the divider strips 12 in the proper orientation while permitting deliberate sliding movement. As shown in FIG.3 and also in FIG. 1, the spade-shaped locking tab 46 of each divider stripslides tightly into the gap or slot 42 of the front base member 11, with the end flange member 48 of the divider strip 12 abutting closely against the back sides of the gripping flanges 38 and 40 of the front base member 11. 
     The divider strips 12 are thus securely gripped by the front base member 11, but may be moved laterally with a small amount of force, for adjustingthe respective positions of all the divider strips 12. 
     As shown in the drawings, the top of each divider strip, near the front, may have an angled or beveled portion 50, providing a transition between the height of the remainder of the divider strip and the height of the front base member 11. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, each divider strip 12 may include one or more lines of reduced thickness 52, transverse to the length at the divider strip, for making the divider strip easily breakable along that line to shorten the strip appropriately for the width of the shelf. 
     While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of th following claims.