Patent ID: 8499942

Claim:
A gravity-fed display system comprising: a rack having front support legs and rear support legs disposed opposite the front support legs; and at least one display shelf disposed within the rack, the display shelf comprising: a front rail, a rear rail disposed opposite the front rail, and two side rails disposed between the front rail and the rear rail; a plurality of cross-rails, wherein each cross-rail extends from the front rail to the rear rail parallel to and between the side rails, along the length of the front and rear rails; a plurality of horizontal rails disposed under the plurality of cross-rails, wherein each horizontal rail extends from one side rail to the other side rail parallel to and between the front and rear rails, the plurality of cross-rails and the plurality of horizontal rails forming a surface of the shelf, the surface of the shelf having an underside; and a reinforcement system disposed on the underside of the shelf, the reinforcement system including: a plurality of support rails disposed perpendicular to and under the plurality of horizontal rails, wherein each support rail is welded to at least one horizontal rail; and a plurality of reinforcement rails disposed perpendicular to and under the plurality of support rails, wherein each reinforcement rail includes a first end, a second end disposed opposite the first end, and a middle section disposed between the first and second ends, and wherein the first and second ends of the reinforcement rails are bent in one direction and welded to one horizontal rail of the plurality of horizontal rails and the middle sections of the reinforcement rails are welded to at least one support rail, the reinforcement system thereby bending the surface of the shelf such that a center region of the shelf bows in an upward direction when unloaded to offset downward deflection of the center region of the shelf due to weight of product to be displayed thereon.