U.S. patent application number 11/445472 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-14 for shelf divider system.
Invention is credited to David Parshad.
Application Number | 20060278596 11/445472 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37523195 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060278596 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Parshad; David |
December 14, 2006 |
Shelf divider system
Abstract
A shelf divider system comprising: an elongated slide member
having a longitudinally extending channel formed therein, said
slide member being positioned at a rear edge portion of a shelf
such that said slide member extends longitudinally along said rear
edge portion of said shelf and such that said channel faces
forwardly across an upper surface of said shelf; and a divider
member having a divider panel, said panel being disposed in an
upright plane and extending forwardly over the upper surface of
said shelf; wherein said divider member is retained on said slide
member and wherein the divider member is slidable along said
channel.
Inventors: |
Parshad; David; (Markham,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RICHES, MCKENZIE & HERBERT, LLP
SUITE 1800
2 BLOOR STREET EAST
TORONTO
ON
M4W 3J5
CA
|
Family ID: |
37523195 |
Appl. No.: |
11/445472 |
Filed: |
June 2, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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09546892 |
Apr 10, 2000 |
|
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11445472 |
Jun 2, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/184 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 57/585 20130101;
A47F 5/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/184 |
International
Class: |
A47F 5/00 20060101
A47F005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 28, 1999 |
JP |
11-122357 |
Jun 1, 2006 |
CA |
2549208 |
Claims
1. A shelf divider system comprising: a shelf comprising a forward
edge portion, a rear edge portion, two side edge portions, an upper
surface and a lower surface; an elongated slide member having a
longitudinally extending channel formed therein, said slide member
being positioned at one of said edge portions of said shelf such
that said slide member and its channel extends longitudinally along
said edge portion at which said slide member is positioned, a
divider member having a generally planar divider panel and a
coupling member, the coupling member coupling the divider member to
the slide member in a plurality of different positions
longitudionally along the channel with in each of these positions
the divider member supported on the upper surface with the divider
panel disposed in an upright plane extending away from the slide
member over the upper surface and generally normal to the upper
surface, the channel having an access opening thereinto open
outwardly away from said edge portion at which said slide member is
positioned and inwardly over the upper surface, inside the channel
inwardly from the access opening the channel extending above the
access opening, the coupling member carrying a finger member
projecting generally upwardly to a distal end which finger member
extends though the access opening and upwardly into the channel
above the access opening to secure the coupling member in the
channel, the finger member engaging the channel member at locations
longitudinally spaced along the channel member to maintain the
upright plane of the divider panel at a relatively fixed angulation
relative the channel and the upper surface.
2. The shelf divider system according to claim 1, wherein the
elongated slide member is along the rear edge portion, the slide
member rising to a height above the upper surface and presenting a
forwardly directed stop shoulder a height above the upper surface
and along the rear edge portion.
3. The shelf divider system according to claim 1, wherein the
divider member is slidable along the channel.
4. The shelf divider system according to claim 1, wherein the
finger member is slidable longitudionally within the channel for
movement of the divider member from one of the positions to another
of the positions without disengagement of the finger member from
the channel.
5. The shelf divider system according to claim 1, wherein said
divider member is detachable from said slide member.
6. The shelf divider system according to claim 1, wherein said
divider member is detachable from said slide member by relative
manual pivoting of the divider member relative the channel about an
axis parallel the longitudional of the channel to move the finger
member downwardly in the channel and out through the access
opening.
7. The shelf divider system according to claim 1, wherein said
divider member is movable relative the shelf and its slide member
between a position for use as a divider and a temporary raised
position by relative manual pivoting of the divider member relative
the channel about an axis parallel the longitudional of the channel
to raise the end of the divider panel remote from channel upwardly
off the upper surface and move the finger member downwardly in the
channel and partially out through the access opening, wherein in
the temporary raised position the finger member is slidable
longitudionally within the channel for movement of the divider
member longitudionally from one of the positions to another of the
positions without fully removing the finger member from the
channel.
8. The shelf divider system according to claim 7, wherein in the
position for use as a divider the finger member is engaged within
the channel against movement longitudionally.
9. The shelf divider system according to claim 1, wherein said
divider member further comprises a foot member projecting laterally
from the divider panel for engagement with the upper surface to
support the divider panel in the upright plane generally normal to
the upper surface.
10. The shelf divider system according to claim 1, wherein said
divider member further comprises a back wall member projecting
laterally relative the divider panel and carrying the coupling
member.
11. The shelf divider system according to claim 9, wherein said
divider member further comprises a back wall member extending
upwardly from a rear of the foot member and projecting laterally
relative the divider panel, the back wall member carrying the
coupling member.
12. The shelf divider system according to claim 11, wherein the
divider member is formed by bending a thin planar sheet of metal, a
bottom edge of the divider panel joined to a side edge of the foot
member at a first fold line and an end edge of the foot member
joined to a lower edge of the back wall member at a second fold
line.
13. The shelf divider system according to claim 11, wherein said
back wall member extends upwardly to an upper edge forming the
finger member.
14. The shelf divider system according to claim 12, wherein back
wall member is a generally planar member which extends upwardly to
an upper edge, said coupling member comprising an elongate U-
shaped member with a downwardly open longitudionally extending
slotway therein between a forward arm and a rearward arm to
receiving the upper edge of the back wall member in the slotway and
with the finger member extending upwardly and rearwardly from the
rear arm.
15. The shelf divider system according to claim 14, wherein the
said coupling member comprises is formed as an extrusion of
constant cross-sectional shape normal its longitudional.
16. The shelf divider system according to claim 15, wherein the
said coupling member is extruded from a material selected from the
group consisting of plastic and nylon.
17. The shelf divider system according to claim 1, wherein said
shelf is an element of office furniture selected from the group
consisting of an office partition and a slidable drawer in a filing
cabinet.
18. The shelf divider system according to claim 1, wherein said
shelf divider system comprises two or more divider members for each
shelf.
19. The shelf divider system according to claim 1, wherein the
slide member comprises a hook member having an outer support leg
portion, an upper bight portion and an inner tab leg portion, a
lower end of the support leg portion secured to the shelf and
extending upwardly to merge with the bight portion which extends
inwardly of the edge portion and from which the tab leg portion
extends downwardly toward the upper surface inwardly of the edge
portion, inwardly from the support leg portion with a lower end of
the tab leg portion spaced from the upper surface forming the
access opening therebetween.
20. The shelf divider system according to claim 19, wherein the
finger member forms an outer leg portion of a hook member having an
upwardly opening defined on an outerside by the finger member which
merges into a bight portion from which an inward leg portion
extends upwardly on the innerside of the channelway, the tab leg
portion extending downwardly into the channelway and received in
the channelway when the finger member is received in the
channel.
21. The shelf divider system according to claim 17, wherein the
elongated slide member is along the rear edge portion, the tab arm
portion presenting a forwardly directed stop shoulder a height
above the upper surface and along the rear edge portion adabted to
engage articles slid rearwardly along the upper surface of the
shelf from being slid rearwardly past the slide member.
22. A shelf divider system comprising: a shelf comprising a forward
edge portion, a rear edge portion, two side edge portions, an upper
surface and a lower surface; an elongated slide member having a
longitudinally extending channel formed therein, said slide member
being positioned at one of said edge portions of said shelf such
that said slide member extends longitudinally along said edge
portion at which said slide member is positioned, and is such that
said channel faces away from said edge portion at which said slide
member is positioned; a divider member having a divider panel, said
panel being disposed in an upright plane and extending over the
upper surface of said shelf; and a finger attached to said divider
member, said finger projecting generally upwardly; wherein said
slide member has an elongated longitudinally extending tab
projecting generally downwardly over a portion of said channel;
wherein said finger and said tab cooperate to mount the divider
member to the slide member; and wherein the divider member is
slidable along the channel.
Description
SCOPE OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a shelf divider, and in
particular, to a shelf divider system for mounting to a wall or
office partition.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Shelf dividers are known to provide partitions between
different types of articles on a single shelf. Examples of shelf
dividers are shown in U.S. Design Pat. No. 285,152 to Smith and
U.S. Design Pat. No. 308,394 to Smith. These shelf dividers
comprise: (i) a panel; and (ii) a structure for maintaining the
panel in an upright plane when resting on the upper surface of a
shelf. A user places the shelf divider on the upper surface of a
shelf at the desired location in order to serve as a partition
between different types of articles.
[0003] Another example of a known shelf divider is shown in U.S.
Pat. No. 6,705,477 to Narkis et al. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of
Narkis et al., the shelf divider comprises a divider panel having a
pair of tabs extending from the panel's lower edge. This pair of
tabs can be inserted into a corresponding pair of slots appearing
at various longitudinal locations along the shelf.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] To at least partially overcome the disadvantages of
previously known shelf dividers, the present invention provides a
shelf divider system which comprises a shelf and a divider member
which is mounted to a slide member positioned at an edge portion of
the shelf, wherein the divider member is slidable along the slide
member to any desired longitudinal location along the shelf.
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved
shelf divider system.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
shelf divider system wherein the divider panel can be adjusted to
any desired longitudinal location along a shelf.
[0007] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
shelf divider system wherein the divider panel resists being moved
from its position extending in a direction normal to the front and
rear edge portions of the shelf.
[0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
shelf divider system, wherein the divider panel is securely mounted
to the shelf and is not easily removed from the shelf by accidental
physical contact.
[0009] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
shelf divider system wherein the divider panel is, when desired,
easily detachable from the shelf.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
shelf divider system wherein the divider panel is, when desired,
easily mounted to the shelf.
[0011] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
shelf divider system which provides a mechanism for preventing
articles stored on the upper surface of the shelf from contacting a
wall or office partition to which the shelf is mounted.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
shelf divider system wherein the mechanism for allowing the divider
panel to slide is protected from being damaged.
[0013] In one aspect the present invention provides a shelf divider
system comprising: a shelf comprising a forward edge portion, a
rear edge portion, two side edge portions, an upper surface and a
lower surface; an elongated slide member having a longitudinally
extending channel formed therein, said slide member being
positioned at one of said edge portions of said shelf such that
said slide member and its channel extends longitudinally along said
edge portion at which said slide member is positioned, a divider
member having a generally planar divider panel and a coupling
member, the coupling member coupling the divider member to the
slide member in a plurality of different positions longitudionally
along the channel with in each of these positions the divider
member supported on the upper surface with the divider panel
disposed in an upright plane extending away from the slide member
over the upper surface and generally normal to the upper surface,
the channel having an access opening thereinto open outwardly away
from said edge portion at which said slide member is positioned and
inwardly over the upper surface, inside the channel inwardly from
the access opening the channel extending above the access opening,
the coupling member carrying a finger member projecting generally
upwardly to a distal end which finger member extends though the
access opening and upwardly into the channel above the access
opening to secure the coupling member in the channel, the finger
member engaging the channel member at locations longitudinally
spaced along the channel member to maintain the upright plane of
the divider panel at a relatively fixed angulation relative the
channel and the upper surface.
[0014] In another aspect, the present invention provides a shelf
divider system comprising: a shelf comprising a forward edge
portion, a rear edge portion, two side edge portions, an upper
surface and a lower surface; an elongated slide member having a
longitudinally extending channel formed therein, said slide member
being positioned at one of said edge portions of said shelf such
that said slide member extends longitudinally along said edge
portion at which said slide member is positioned, and such that
said channel faces away from said edge portion at which said slide
member is positioned; a divider member having a divider panel, said
panel being disposed in an upright plane and extending over the
upper surface of said shelf; and a finger attached to the divider
member, wherein the finger projects generally upwardly; wherein
said slide member has an elongated longitudinally extending tab
projecting generally downwardly over a portion of the channel. The
finger attached to the divider member and the tab on the slide
member cooperate to mount the divider member to the slide member,
and allow the divider member to easily slide along the channel.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the edge portion at which said
slide member is positioned is the rear edge portion of said
shelf.
[0016] The divider member is preferably detachable from the slide
member. Specifically, the divider member can be detached from the
slide member by pivoting the divider member such that the attached
finger passes underneath the tab of the slide member and is removed
from the channel.
[0017] The divider member preferably also comprises a laterally
projecting foot member which rests on the upper surface of the
shelf and supports the divider member such that the divider panel
is maintained in an upright plane.
[0018] In one preferred embodiment, the shelf is mounted to an
office partition such that the slide member of the shelf divider
system is adjacent to a rear edge of the surface of the partition
and acts as a stop mechanism to prevent articles on the shelf from
contacting the surface of the partition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Further aspects and advantages will become apparent from the
following description taken together with the accompanying drawings
in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shelf divider system in
accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present
invention, wherein the shelf divider system is mounted to an office
partition;
[0021] FIGS. 2 and 3 are bottom and top pictorial views,
respectively, of the divider member shown in FIG. 1 with an
attached finger;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a side view of the shelf divider system shown in
FIG. 1, where the divider member is in the process of being mounted
to the slide member;
[0023] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the circled region of FIG.
4;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a side view of the shelf divider system shown in
FIG. 1, where the divider member has been mounted to the slide
member;
[0025] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the circled region of FIG.
6;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a shelf divider system in
accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a shelf divider system in
accordance with a third embodiment mounted in a cabinet;
[0028] FIG. 10 is a view the same as FIG. 5 but of a fourth
embodiment of the invention;
[0029] FIG. 11 is a view the same as FIG. 7 but of the fourth
embodiment of FIG. 10; and
[0030] FIG. 12 is a view the same as FIG. 11 but of a fifth
embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] Throughout all the drawings in the disclosure, similar parts
are indicated by the same reference numerals.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0032] Reference is made to FIGS. 1 to 10 which show preferred
embodiments of the present invention.
[0033] In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention
shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 to 7, a shelf 10 is mounted to an office
partition 12 by a first pair of brackets 40 attached to the rear
edge portion 18 of the shelf 10 and extending between two removable
covers 14 of the office partition 12 for connection to an internal
framework of the office partition 12. A pair of angled support
members 16 extend diagonally from the front edge portion 44 of the
shelf 10. A second pair of brackets 42 are attached to the upper
end of the angled support members 16 and extend inwardly above the
removable cover 14 for connection to an internal framework of the
office partition 12.
[0034] The first and second pair of brackets 40 and 42 used for
mounting the shelf 10 to the office partition 12 are shown in FIGS.
4 and 6. A first pair of brackets 40 is attached to the rear edge
portion 18 of the shelf. A second pair of brackets 42 is attached
to the angled support member 16. The partition 12 shown in FIG. 1
is of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,760 to Edwards
issued Apr. 18, 1995 with a vertical post 11 at each end spanned by
pairs of horizontal beams 13 on each outer side of the post 11.
Both the first and second pair of brackets 40 and 42 are adapted to
clamp onto the horizontal beams 11 for mounting the shelf 10 to the
office partition 12. Specifically, each bracket 40, 42 comprises an
upper jaw 46 and a lower jaw 48. The upper jaw 46 and lower jaw 48
clamp onto the horizontal beams 13 of the internal framework of the
office partition 12 such that the beams 13 are positioned in
between the upper jaw 46 and the lower jaw 48. Thus, the shelf 10
is securely mounted to the office partition 12.
[0035] The shelf 10 has a front edge portion 44, a rear edge
portion 18, and two side edge portions 50. The length of the shelf
10 between each of the edge portions 50 is not particularly
limited. Similarly the width of the shelf 10 between the front edge
portion 44 and the rear edge portion 18 is not particularly
limited. The shelf divider system of the present invention can be
designed to accommodate shelves of any length. The shelf 10 has a
flat upper surface 52 and a flat lower surface 54.
[0036] The rear edge portion 18 includes an elongated slide member
20 which extends longitudinally along the rear edge portion 18. A
divider member 22 is mounted to the slide member 20 and rests on
the upper surface 52 of the shelf 10.
[0037] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the divider member 22 in greater
detail. The divider member 22 includes a divider panel 24, and a
laterally projecting foot member 26. In the preferred embodiment,
the divider member 22 is manufactured from a single metal sheet.
The metal sheet is bent at a 90.degree. angle about a fold line 25
to define the divider panel 24 and the laterally projecting foot
member 26 on each side of the fold line with a bottom edge of the
divider panel 24 joined to a side edge of the foot member 26. At
the rear end of the foot member 26, the sheet is bent up at a
90.degree. angle about a fold line 27 to form a back wall 56 with a
rear edge of the foot member 26 joined to a lower edge of the back
wall 56. When the divider member 22 is placed on the upper surface
52 of the shelf 10, as shown in FIG. 1, the foot member 26 rests
flat on the upper surface 52 of the shelf 10 and supports the
divider member 22 such that the divider panel 24 is disposed in an
upright plane. Secured to the bottom of the front member 26 as by
adhesive are two slider plates 80 each preferably of low friction
plastic material which serve the purpose of assisting the front
member 26 to the slid over the upper surface 52 of the shelf
10.
[0038] The back wall 56 and a finger carrying member 70 mounted to
the back wall 56 together form a coupling member for coupling the
divider member to the slide member. The finger carrying member is
best seen in side view in FIG. 7 is an extruded member having a
U-shaped clamp portion formed from a forward arm 71 and a rearward
arm 72 joined by an upper bight 73 and adapted to fixedly receive
the back wall 56 between its forward arm 71 and rear arm 72 as in a
friction fit against removal. The rear arm 72 carries a finger
member 28 which is joined at a front end to the rear arm 72 and
extends upwardly and rearwardly therefrom to a distal end 75
forming a gap 58 rearward of the finger member 28 and forward of
the rear arm 72.
[0039] The finger member 28 projects generally upwardly when the
divider member 22 is placed on the upper surface 52 of the shelf 10
with the divider panel 24 disposed in an upright plane.
[0040] FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrate how the divider member 22 is
securely mounted to the slide member 20. As best seen in FIGS. 5,
the slide member 20 has a rear wall 60, a top wall 62 and a tab 32
of the slide member 20. The rear wall 60 is attached to and extends
upwardly from the rear edge portion 18 of the shelf 10 above the
upper surface 52. The slide member is bent at a 90.degree. angle
between the rear wall 60 and the top wall 62. The top wall 62
extends horizontally forwardly away from the rear edge portion 18
spaced above the upper surface 52 of the shelf 10. The slide member
20 is bent at a 90.degree. angle between the top wall 62 and a
front wall or tab 32 projects generally vertically downwardly to a
lower distal end 33. An access opening 34 is provided between the
lower distal end 33 of the tab 32 and the upper surface 52 of the
shelf 10. The slide member 20 defines a longitudinally extending
channel 30 therein. The channel 30 is formed inside the slide
member 20 bounded by the upper surface 52, the rear wall 60, the
top wall 62 and the tab 32. The access opening 34 of the channel 30
opens outwardly. The channel 30 faces away from the rear edge
portion 18 out the opening 34 and inwardly across the upper surface
52 of the shelf 10. As seen in FIG. 6, inside the channel, inwardly
from the access opening 34 the channel extends above the access
opening upwardly past the distal end of the tab 32.
[0041] To mount the divider member 22 to the slide member 20, as
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the divider member 22 is tilted and moved
rearwardly such that the finger member 28 is inserted underneath
the tab 32 through the opening 34 and into the channel 30 with the
tab 32 to become received in the gap 58 between the finger member
28 and the back wall 56. To finish mounting the divider member 22
to the slide member 20, the divider member 22 is then pivoted
clockwise as seen to the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0042] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the divider member 22 rests
on the upper surface 52 of the shelf 10 with the foot member 26 on
the upper surface 52. The finger member 28 on to the divider member
22 cooperates with the tab 32 of the slide member 20 to securely
mount the divider member 22 to the slide member 20. The tab 32 is
received preferably in a snug fit, into the gap 58 between the
finger 28 and the back wall 56 of the divider member 22. In this
configuration, the divider panel 24 is maintained normal to the
rear edge portion 18 as well as generally vertical, and while
securely mounted to the slide member 20, resists being moved from
normal to the rear edge portion 18.
[0043] The finger carrying member 70 with the finger member 78 and
it's associated gap 58 are shown to extend longitudinally on the
back wall member that is with the finger member engaging the
channel at longitudinally spaced locations along the channel to
maintain the upright right plane of the divide panel at a
relatively fixed angulation relative the channel and the upper
surface. Providing increased length of longitudinal engagement
between the tab 32 of the slide member 20 and the finger carrying
member 70 is advantageous in maintaining the divider panel 24 to
extend forwardly normal to the slide member 20 even if there may be
a slip fit of the tab 32 within the gap 58. The interaction of the
tab 32 and the finger member 28 and the gap 58 may be characterized
as a removable clip structure. The divider member 22 may be located
in any one of a plurality of different positions longitudinally
along the slide member 20. The engagement of the finger carrying
member 70 with the slide member 20 may preferably in the use
position of FIGS. 6 and 7 permit the divide member 22 to be slid
longitudinally relative the slide member 20 to any position along
the slide member 20. Alternatively, when in the temporary raised
position of FIGS. 6 and 7 the finger carrying member 70 and the
slide member 20 may engaged so as to prevent longitudinal sliding
and the divide member 22 must be tilted to assume the temporary
raised position of FIGS. 4 and 5 in which the divider member 27 may
side longitudinally relative the slide member 20 for
repositioning.
[0044] The divider member 22 is present on the upper surface 52 of
the shelf 10 and mounted to the slide member 20. The foot member 26
rests flat on the upper surface 52 of the shelf 10 such that the
divider panel 24 is disposed in an upright plane. The divider
member 22 is mounted to the slide member 20 such that the divider
panel 24 extends forwardly over the upper surface 52 of the shelf
10 in a direction normal to the rear edge portion 18 of the shelf
10.
[0045] While mounted to the slide member 20, the longitudinal
location of the divider member 22 can be manually adjusted by
sliding the divider member 22 along the slide member 20. For
example, the divider member 22 can be moved from the middle
longitudinal location shown in FIG. 1 to a right hand longitudinal
location simply by manually sliding the divider member 22 to the
right.
[0046] Advantageously, the shelf divider system of the present
invention allows for the divider member 22 to be slid to any
desired longitudinal location along the upper surface 52 of the
shelf 10. Further, the cooperation between the finger 28 member and
the tab member 32 securely mount the divider member 22 to the slide
member 20 such that the divider member 22 is not susceptible to
being accidentally knocked off of the shelf 10. The finger member
28 and the tab 32 cooperate to also prevent the divider panel 24
from being moved from its position of extending in a direction
normal to the rear edge portion 18 of the shelf 10.
[0047] If desired, even though the divider member 22 is securely
mounted on the slide member 20, the divider member 20 can also be
easily detached from the slide member 20. Beginning at the position
shown in FIG. 6, the divider member 22 is manually pivoted to the
position shown in FIG. 4, such that the finger member 18 can pass
through the opening 34 underneath the tab 32 of the slide member
20, and the divider member 22 is thus removed from the channel
30.
[0048] The shelf divider system of the present invention allows for
both easy mounting of the divider member 22 to the slide member 20
and easy detachment of the divider member 22 from the slide member
20.
[0049] An advantage of the first preferred embodiment of the
present invention is that the slide member 20 serves as an
effective rear stop mechanism at the rear edge portion 18 of the
shelf 10. As seen in FIG. 1, the slide member 20 extends upwardly
above the upper surface 52 of the shelf 10 along the rear of the
shelf 10 presenting a forwardly directed stop surface. An article
such as a book which may be placed on the upper surface 52 of shelf
10 and slide rearwardly will come to engage the tab 32 of the slide
member 20 with the tab 32 acting as a forwardly directed surface of
as a stop shoulder. This prevents articles on the upper surface 52
of the shelf 10 from contacting, for example, the surface of an
office partition 12 to which the shelf 10 is mounted, as in FIG. 1,
as can be advantageous to prevent books and the like on the shelf
being pushed rearwardly into potentially damaging contact with the
cover 14.
[0050] In the first preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the slide member 20 is positioned at the rear edge portion 18 of
the shelf 10. The slide member 20 when located is along the rear
edge portion as contrasted with along the front edge portion of the
shelf, has the advantage that the rear edge portion is less exposed
and therefore, less likely to be damaged by physical contact as by
dropping heavy books on the like on top of the slide member 20.
Furthermore, the presence of articles such as books on the upper
surface 52 of the shelf 10 provides additional protection to the
slide member 20 on the rear edge portion from physical contact. A
similar slide member 20 to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 could in
another embodiment be placed along the forward edge portion 44.
[0051] Reference is made to FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrating another
embodiment of the invention which is the same as the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 however in which the back plate member 26
includes inner leg portion 90, a horizontal flange 91 which extends
rearwardly to a downwardly extending rear tab 93. The back plate
member 26 with inner leg portion 90, its top flange 91 and rear tab
92 serve as a coupling member or finger member which is received in
the channel 30 by tilting the divide member 22 from the temporary
raised portion of FIG. 10 to the rear position of FIG. 11. The rear
tab 92 may preferably flare rearwardly at its lower end such that
the width between the front surface of the inner leg portion 90 and
the rear surface of the rear tab 92 will exceed the width of the
channel 30 between the tab 32 and the rear wall 60 to provide a
friction fit against longitudinally sliding in the use position. As
seen in FIGS. 10 and 11 the back plate member 26 provides finger
member in the form of an outwardly and downwardly open hook member
with the back plate member 26 forming an inner leg portion 90
merging with the top flange 90 as a bight portion from which an
outer leg, the rear tab 92, extends downwardly.
[0052] FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in a
view the same as FIG. 11 in which the back plate member 26 is bent
to form an inwardly and downwardly open hook member with the back
plate member 26 having an outer leg portion 94 with a bight portion
94 extending inwardly to an inner leg portion 96. In FIG. 12 the
guide member 20 may also be characterised as a hook member with an
outer support leg portion, the rear wall 60; a bight portion, the
top wall 62, and an inner leg, the tab 32, with the access opening
34 between the inner leg and the upper surface 52. Further
modification of the guide member 20 and the finger member may be
provided, as for example with the embodiment of FIG. 12 modified to
eliminate the bight portion 95 and the inner leg portion 96 and the
channel 30 merely having a width between the tab 32 and the rear
wall 60 equal to the width of the outer leg portion 94.
[0053] FIG. 8 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the
shelf divider system of the present invention. The embodiment of
FIG. 8 has a construction of the slide member 20 and the divide
member 22 identical to that in the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to
7. As illustrated in FIG. 8, two or more divider members 22 can be
mounted to the same slide member 20, thus dividing the shelf 10
into three or more separate sections. In FIG. 8, the two divider
members 22 have been positioned one at a left hand longitudinal
location and the other at a middle longitudinal location. FIG. 8
differs from FIG. 1 in that brackets 64 are attached to the two
side edge portions 50 of the shelf 10. Each side bracket 64 has a
back edge 66 from which a pair of tabs 68 extend. These tabs 68 are
adapted to be engaged into corresponding slots 67 provided in the
posts 11 on each end of the office partition laterally of the cover
panels 14 as seen in FIG. 2 to which the shelf 10 may be mounted.
Such tab and slot arrangements are well known and slot carrying
channels may for example be mounted to building walls, in cabinets,
or other furniture items.
[0054] Whereas the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7 is adapted for
off-modular connection between posts 11 of the partition, the
embodiment of FIGS. 8 is for modular connection spanning
longitudinally between the posts 11.
[0055] Reference is made to FIG. 9 which schematically shows a
pictoral view of a storage cabinet 80 having two forward open
horizontal upper shelves 81 and 82 and a filing drawer 83
therebelow adopted to be slid horizontally between an extended
position as shown and a retracted storage position not shown within
the confines of the cabinet 80. Four divider members 22 in
accordance with the invention are schematically illustrated as
coupled to the cabinet 80 via four corresponding guide member 20.
On the top shelve 81 a first guide member 20 extends along one side
edge of the shelf 81 with its divide member 22 to the slideable
forwardly and rearwardly. Another guide member 20 extends along a
rear edge of the shelf 85 with its divider member 22 to be slidable
laterally side to side. The drawer 83 has a bottom support surface
85 with one guide member 20 extending along a side edge of the
bottom surface 85 and its divider member 22 slidable forwardly and
rearwardly and another guide member 20 extending along a forward
edge of the bottom surface 85 with its divider member 22 slidable
laterally side to side.
[0056] The finger member 28 may have many different forms than that
shown in the various embodiments. It may be attached to the divider
member 22 by various methods including welding, an adhesive, screws
or the like. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the
finger 28 is attached to the back wall 56 of the divider panel
22.
[0057] Although this disclosure has described and illustrated
preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that
the invention is not restricted to these particular embodiments.
Rather, the invention includes all embodiments that are functional
or mechanical equivalents of the specific embodiments and features
that have been described and illustrated herein. Many modifications
and variations will now occur to those skilled in the art. For a
definition of the invention, reference is made to the following
claims.
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