U.S. patent application number 13/244322 was filed with the patent office on 2013-03-28 for display shelf with adjustable divider walls.
This patent application is currently assigned to B-O-F Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Joseph Coretti, JR., Tracy M. Groholski, Scott R. Hammac, J. Patrick Mitten. Invention is credited to Joseph Coretti, JR., Tracy M. Groholski, Scott R. Hammac, J. Patrick Mitten.
Application Number | 20130075352 13/244322 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47910091 |
Filed Date | 2013-03-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130075352 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mitten; J. Patrick ; et
al. |
March 28, 2013 |
DISPLAY SHELF WITH ADJUSTABLE DIVIDER WALLS
Abstract
A divider wall for use with a gravity-fed shelf assembly
includes an elongate wall portion and a first front leg extending
from a first end of the wall portion. The first front leg has a
body portion and an engagement protrusion extending from the body
portion. The divider wall further includes a rear leg extending
from a second end of the wall portion. The first front leg and the
rear leg are each adapted to be received into a front slot and a
rear slot, respectively, of the shelf assembly. Gravity acts on the
divider wall and displaces it within the front and rear slots
toward a front end of the shelf assembly such that an undersurface
of the shelf assembly adjacent the front slot is in contact with or
immediately adjacent to the engagement protrusion to prevent the
removal of the first front leg from the front slot.
Inventors: |
Mitten; J. Patrick;
(Barrington, IL) ; Coretti, JR.; Joseph; (Wheaton,
IL) ; Hammac; Scott R.; (Joliet, IL) ;
Groholski; Tracy M.; (Mount Prospect, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mitten; J. Patrick
Coretti, JR.; Joseph
Hammac; Scott R.
Groholski; Tracy M. |
Barrington
Wheaton
Joliet
Mount Prospect |
IL
IL
IL
IL |
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
B-O-F Corporation
Aurora
IL
|
Family ID: |
47910091 |
Appl. No.: |
13/244322 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/59.2 ;
211/133.6; 211/183 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 5/005 20130101;
B65G 1/023 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/59.2 ;
211/183; 211/133.6 |
International
Class: |
A47F 1/04 20060101
A47F001/04; A47B 23/00 20060101 A47B023/00; A47B 96/04 20060101
A47B096/04 |
Claims
1. A divider wall for use with a gravity-fed shelf assembly, the
divider wall comprising: an elongate wall portion extending along a
longitudinal axis, the wall portion having a first end and a second
end; a first front leg extending from the wall portion adjacent the
first end, the first front leg extending normal to the longitudinal
axis of the wall portion, the first front leg having a body portion
and an engagement protrusion extending from the body portion, the
engagement protrusion extending in a direction parallel to the
longitudinal axis towards the first end of the wall portion; and a
rear leg extending from the wall portion adjacent the second end,
the rear leg extending normal to the longitudinal axis of the wall
portion, wherein the first front leg is adapted to be received into
a front slot disposed at or adjacent to a front end of the shelf
assembly and the rear leg is adapted to be received into a rear
slot disposed at or adjacent to a rear end of the shelf assembly,
and wherein gravity acting on the divider wall causes the divider
wall to displace within the front slot and the rear slot toward the
front end of the shelf assembly such that an undersurface of the
shelf assembly adjacent the front slot is in contact with or
immediately adjacent to the engagement protrusion to prevent the
removal of the first front leg from the front slot.
2. The divider wall of claim 1, wherein the front leg and the rear
leg each extend from a bottom edge of the wall portion.
3. The divider wall of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate
leg extending from the wall portion between the first end and the
second end, the intermediate leg extending normal to the
longitudinal axis of the wall portion.
4. The divider wall of claim 1, wherein the wall portion is
substantially planar.
5. The divider wall of claim 1, wherein the wall portion includes a
rigidifying portion that longitudinally extends along the wall
portion.
6. The divider wall of claim 5, wherein the rigidifying portion
comprises a single intermediate oblique portion.
7. The divider wall of claim 5, wherein the rigidifying portion
comprises a top oblique portion, a bottom oblique portion, and an
intermediate planar portion extending between the top oblique
portion and the bottom oblique portion.
8. The divider wall of claim 1, further comprising a second front
leg extending from the wall portion adjacent the first end, the
second front leg having a body portion and an engagement protrusion
extending from the body portion, the engagement protrusion
extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis towards
the first end of the wall portion, and wherein the first front leg
is coupled to a first surface of the wall portion and the second
front leg is coupled to a second surface of the wall portion.
9. The divider wall of claim 1, wherein each of the first front leg
and the rear leg is integrally formed with the wall portion.
10. The divider wall of claim 1, wherein each of the first front
leg and the rear leg is coupled to the wall portion.
11. A divider wall for use with a gravity-fed shelf assembly, the
divider wall comprising: an elongate wall portion extending along a
longitudinal axis, the wall portion having a first end and a second
end, the wall portion adapted to be removably coupled to the shelf
assembly; and a rigidifying portion longitudinally disposed along
the wall portion, the rigidifying portion reducing transverse
deformations of the wall portion when the wall portion is subjected
to lateral loads.
12. The divider wall of claim 11, wherein the rigidifying portion
comprises a single intermediate oblique portion that extends
between top planar portion of the wall portion and a bottom planar
portion of the wall portion.
13. The divider wall of claim 11, wherein the rigidifying portion
comprises a top oblique portion, a bottom oblique portion, and an
intermediate planar portion extending between the top oblique
portion and the bottom oblique portion.
14. The divider wall of claim 11, wherein the rigidifying portion
extends from the first end of the wall portion to the second end of
the wall portion.
15. The divider wall of claim 11, further comprising: a first front
leg extending from the wall portion adjacent the first end, the
first front leg extending normal to the longitudinal axis of the
wall portion, the first front leg having a body portion and an
engagement protrusion extending from the body portion, the
engagement protrusion extending in a direction parallel to the
longitudinal axis towards the first end of the wall portion; and a
rear leg extending from the wall portion adjacent the second end,
the rear leg extending normal to the longitudinal axis of the wall
portion, wherein the first front leg is adapted to be received into
a front slot disposed at or adjacent to a front end of the shelf
assembly and the rear leg is adapted to be received into a rear
slot disposed at or adjacent to a rear end of the shelf assembly,
and wherein gravity acting on the divider wall causes the divider
wall to displace within the front slot and the rear slot toward the
front end of the shelf assembly such that an undersurface of the
shelf assembly adjacent the front slot is in contact with or
immediately adjacent to the engagement protrusion to prevent the
removal of the first front leg from the front slot.
16. A shelf system for supporting containers, the shelf system
comprising: a shelf assembly coupled to a support frame, the shelf
assembly having a plurality of transversely-aligned rear slots at
or adjacent to a rear end of the shelf assembly and a plurality of
transversely-aligned front slots disposed at or adjacent to a front
end of the shelf assembly, wherein the front end of the shelf
assembly is disposed vertically lower than the rear end of the
shelf assembly; and a divider wall adapted to be removably coupled
to the shelf assembly, the divider wall comprising: an elongate
wall portion extending along a longitudinal axis, the wall portion
having a first end and a second end; a first front leg extending
from the wall portion adjacent the first end, the first front leg
extending normal to the longitudinal axis of the wall portion, the
first front leg having a body portion and an engagement protrusion
extending from the body portion, the engagement protrusion
extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis towards
the first end of the wall portion; and a rear leg extending from
the wall portion adjacent the second end, the rear leg extending
normal to the longitudinal axis of the wall portion, wherein the
first front leg is adapted to be received into one of the plurality
of front slots and the rear leg is adapted to be received into one
of the plurality of rear slots, and wherein gravity acting on the
divider wall causes the divider wall to displace within the one of
the plurality of front slots and the one of the plurality of rear
slots toward the front end of the shelf assembly such that an
undersurface of the shelf assembly adjacent the one of the
plurality of front slots is in contact with or immediately adjacent
to the engagement protrusion to prevent the removal of the first
front leg from the one of the plurality of front slots.
17. The shelf system of claim 16, wherein the shelf assembly
includes a plurality of transversely-aligned intermediate slots
disposed between the plurality of front slots and the plurality of
rear slots, and wherein the wall divider further comprises an
intermediate leg extending from the wall portion between the first
end and the second end, the intermediate leg extending normal to
the longitudinal axis of the wall portion, and wherein the
intermediate leg is adapted to be received into one of the
plurality of intermediate slots.
18. The shelf system of claim 16, wherein the wall portion includes
a rigidifying portion that longitudinally extends along the wall
portion.
19. The shelf system of claim 18, wherein the rigidifying portion
comprises a single intermediate oblique portion.
20. The shelf system of claim 18, wherein the rigidifying portion
comprises a top oblique portion, a bottom oblique portion, and an
intermediate planar portion extending between the top oblique
portion and the bottom oblique portion.
21. A spill tray for use with a shelf assembly adapted to support a
plurality of containers, the spill tray comprising: a planar bottom
wall that extends along a longitudinal axis from a first end of the
spill tray to a second end of the spill tray, the bottom wall being
laterally defined by a first side edge and a second side edge, the
first side edge and the second side edge each being parallel to the
longitudinal axis and each extending from the first end of the
spill tray to the second end of the spill tray; a planar first side
channel wall extending from the first side edge of the bottom wall
such that the first side channel wall forms an acute angle with the
bottom wall, the first side channel wall extending from the first
end of the spill tray to the second end of the spill tray; a planar
first top channel wall extending from a top portion of the first
side channel wall such that the first top channel wall forms an
acute angle with the first side channel wall, the first top channel
wall extending from the first end of the spill tray to the second
end of the spill tray; a planar first side wall upwardly extending
from an outermost portion of the first top channel wall, the first
side wall extending from the first end of the spill tray to the
second end of the spill tray; a planar second side channel wall
extending from the second side edge of the bottom wall such that
the second side channel wall forms an acute angle with the bottom
wall, the second side channel wall extending from the first end of
the spill tray to the second end of the spill tray; a planar second
top channel wall extending from a top portion of the second side
channel wall such that the second top channel wall forms an acute
angle with the second side channel wall, the second top channel
wall extending from the first end of the spill tray to the second
end of the spill tray; a planar second side wall upwardly extending
from an outermost portion of the second top channel wall, the
second side wall extending from the first end of the spill tray to
the second end of the spill tray; and a front lip extending normal
to the longitudinal axis along the first end of the spill tray, the
front lip establishing a first gap adjacent to the first side
channel wall and a second gap adjacent to the second side channel
wall, wherein the first top channel wall and the second top channel
wall are each adapted to support a lateral portion of the shelf
assembly adapted to support the plurality of containers, and
wherein fluid spilled onto a top surface of the bottom wall is
adapted to exit the spill tray through one or both of the first gap
and the second gap when the first end of the spill tray is disposed
vertically lower than the second end of the spill tray.
22. The spill tray of claim 21, wherein the front lip is planar and
is normal to the bottom wall.
23. The spill tray of claim 22, wherein the front lip extends from
a front edge of the bottom wall, the front lip being laterally
defined by a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein each
of the first side edge and the second side edge intersects the
front edge of the bottom wall at a right angle.
24. The spill tray of claim 23, wherein the first gap is at least
partially defined by the first side edge of the front lip and the
first side channel wall and the second gap is at least partially
defined by the second side edge of the front lip and the second
side channel wall.
25. The spill tray of claim 21, wherein each of the first top
channel wall and second top channel wall is parallel to the bottom
wall.
26. The spill tray of claim 21, wherein the first top channel wall,
the first side channel wall, and a portion of the bottom wall
adjacent to the first side edge form a Z-shape when viewed along
the longitudinal axis, and wherein the second top channel wall, the
second side channel wall, and a portion of the bottom wall adjacent
to the second side edge form a Z-shape when viewed along the
longitudinal axis.
27. The spill tray of claim 21, wherein the spill tray is
symmetrically formed about the longitudinal axis.
28. The spill tray of claim 21, wherein each of the first side wall
and the second side wall is normal to the bottom wall.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to shelving systems and,
more particularly, to divider walls that are removably coupled to
shelf assemblies of such shelving systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Gravity-flow shelving systems are commonly used in retail
food outlets to both store and display consumable items, such as
individual-serving food containers or beverage containers.
Gravity-flow shelving systems generally include one or more display
shelves (also called shelf assemblies) supported by a support
frame, and each such shelf assembly is inclined relative to a
horizontal plane such that items stored on the shelf assembly slide
towards a visible and accessible area at the front of the shelf
assembly. Each shelf assembly may have a plurality of channels that
are formed by divider walls disposed along the length of the shelf
assembly. The width of each of the channels may correspond to the
width of the containers stored on the respective channel of the
shelf assembly to group the containers in a visually appealing
array of rows.
[0003] However, when the shelf assemblies are initially configured,
or subsequently reconfigured to store the containers described
above, the channel widths must be carefully calculated for each row
of containers. This process of calculating channel widths and
repositioning divider walls is time consuming, especially
considering the large number of shelves that are typically
restocked or reconfigured each day at retail food outlets. Once the
position of each of the divider walls is determined, the divider
walls must be secured to the shelf assembly to prevent accidental
disengagement of the divider wall from the shelf assembly during
use. Typically, it is time-consuming to engage and disengage the
divider walls using conventional securing mechanisms, thereby
reducing the efficiency of the employees tasked with reconfiguring
the channel widths.
[0004] Moreover, the divider walls are typically planar walls or
rods that longitudinally extend across the length of the shelf
assembly. Such elongate divider walls offer little resistance to
lateral (i.e., normal to the wall or rod) loads that result from
the shifting of larger containers, such as gallons of milk. As
such, divider walls may laterally deform, or "bow," resulting in
the lateral shifting of containers in the longitudinal channels,
creating a disorganized visual product presentation to the consumer
and also potentially disrupting the flow of containers in adjacent
channels. In addition, significant lateral loads may permanently
deform the divider wall, requiring the repair or replacement of the
damaged divider wall.
[0005] The adjustable divider wall of the present disclosure
overcomes these and other shortcomings of conventional divider
walls. As compared with typical divider walls, the divider wall of
the present disclosure provides for the fast and accurate creation
of channels for accommodating gravity-influenced inventory control
of products while providing increased stiffness to resist lateral
loads. Additionally, the divider wall of the present disclosure
includes a gravity-driven engagement feature that prevents the
divider wall from being inadvertently disengaged from the shelf
assembly while allowing for the fast and easy intentional removal
of the divider wall from the shelf assembly.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] The divider wall of the present disclosure includes an
elongate wall portion that may extend along a longitudinal axis
such that the wall portion includes a first end and an
oppositely-disposed second end. The wall portion may be planar,
substantially planar, or partially composed of planar segments. The
wall portion may be defined by a top edge that horizontally extends
(relative to a plane of a shelf to which the divider wall is to be
secured) between the first end and the second end, and a bottom
edge may be parallel to and vertically offset from the top edge.
The wall portion may be further defined by a rear edge disposed at
or adjacent to the second end of the wall portion. The rear edge
may be vertical (again, relative to a plane of a shelf to which the
divider wall is to be secured) and may extend between the top edge
and the bottom edge. The wall portion may be additionally defined
by a front edge disposed at or adjacent to the first end of the
wall portion. The front edge may be vertical such that the front
edge is parallel to the rear edge. A front rounded edge may extend
between the top edge and the front edge, and a rear rounded edge
may extend between the top edge and the rear edge. The front edge
and the rear edge may be separated by any suitable distance that
allows the divider wall to extend from the front end of the shelf
assembly to the rear end. The edges may each form a corresponding
edge segment of a continuous perimeter surface that extends in a
transverse direction around the perimeter of the wall portion.
[0007] The wall portion may also include a rigidifying portion that
increases the bending stiffness of the wall portion. More
specifically, the rigidifying portion reduces transverse
deformation or bending of the wall portion when the wall portion is
subjected to transverse loads. The rigidifying portion may
longitudinally extend along the entire length of the wall portion,
or the rigidifying portion may extend along one or more
longitudinal segments of the wall portion. The rigidifying portion
may include a top oblique portion that obliquely extends from the
first surface of the wall portion such that the top oblique portion
forms an obtuse angle with a top planar portion. The rigidifying
portion may also include a bottom oblique portion that obliquely
extends from the first surface of the wall portion such that the
bottom oblique portion forms an obtuse angle with a bottom planar
portion, wherein the bottom planar portion and the top planar
portion are each bisected by a longitudinal plane. An intermediate
planar portion may extend between the inwardly-disposed ends of the
top oblique portion and the bottom oblique portion such that the
intermediate planar portion is transversely offset from both the
top planar portion and the bottom planar portion. In another
embodiment, the rigidifying portion may include a single
intermediate oblique portion that obliquely extends from the first
surface of the wall portion such that the intermediate oblique
portion forms an obtuse angle with the bottom planar portion. A top
planar portion may extend from an end of the intermediate oblique
portion such that the top planar portion is parallel to and
transversely offset from the bottom planar portion.
[0008] The divider wall also includes a first front leg a disposed
adjacent to the first end of the wall portion. The first front leg
may vertically extend downwardly from the wall portion. The first
front leg may be integrally formed with the wall portion, and the
first front leg includes a body portion that may have a first end
that is in contact with or adjacent to the bottom edge of the wall
portion. The body portion may also have a second end opposite to,
and spaced vertically downward from, the first end. The body
portion may be defined by a vertical or substantially vertical
first side edge and a second side edge that may be parallel to and
offset from the first side edge. At the second end of the body
portion, a bottom edge may extend from the second side edge towards
the first side edge. The first end of the body portion may include
a step side edge that vertically extends from the bottom edge of
the wall portion. A second step bottom edge may horizontally extend
from the step side edge to the second side edge. A first step
bottom edge may horizontally extend from the front edge of the wall
portion to the first side edge of the first front leg, and the
second step bottom edge and the first step bottom edge may be
horizontally aligned.
[0009] The first front leg also includes an engagement protrusion
that extends from the body portion, and the engagement protrusion
may extend in a horizontal direction from the first side edge at or
adjacent to the second end of the body portion. The engagement
protrusion may be defined by the bottom edge of the body portion
and may be further defined by a front engagement edge that
vertically extends from a frontward, terminal end of the bottom
edge. The engagement protrusion may also be defined by a top
engagement edge that horizontally extends between the front
engagement edge and the first side edge such that the top
engagement edge forms an undercut surface of the engagement
protrusion. With the first front leg integrally formed with the
wall portion, the edges defining the first front leg may each form
a corresponding edge segment of the continuous perimeter surface
that extends in a transverse direction around the perimeter of the
first front leg.
[0010] The first front leg may not be integrally formed with the
wall portion, but may instead be coupled to the wall portion. Such
an embodiment of the first front leg may have a substantially
planar top leg portion that is bisected by a first leg longitudinal
plane. As such, the top leg portion has a first top leg surface and
a second top leg surface that are each parallel to and equidistant
from the first leg longitudinal plane. The first top leg surface
may be coupled to a first surface of the wall portion. The top leg
portion may be further defined by a vertical first side edge and a
second side edge that is parallel to and offset from the first side
edge. A horizontal top edge may extend between the first side edge
and the second side edge at a first end of the top leg portion. A
leg transition portion may extend from a second end of the top leg
portion, and the leg transition portion may transversely and
obliquely extend from the second top leg surface at the second end
of the top leg portion. The leg transition portion may be laterally
defined by the first side edge and second side edge of the top leg
portion. The first front leg may additionally include a
substantially planar bottom leg portion that may extend from a
terminal end of the leg transition portion such that a second leg
longitudinal plane that bisects the bottom leg portion may be
parallel to and offset from the first leg longitudinal plane. A
second bottom leg surface that is parallel to and offset from the
second leg longitudinal plane may be transversely separated from
the first top leg surface. The bottom leg portion includes a body
portion and an engagement protrusion that are identical to the body
portion and the engagement protrusion previously described. The
edges defining the first front leg may each form a corresponding
edge segment of a continuous perimeter surface that extends in a
transverse direction around the perimeter of the first front
leg.
[0011] The divider wall may also include a second front leg coupled
to the first end of the wall portion. The second front leg may be a
minor image of--but otherwise identical to--the first front leg. As
such, the first top leg surface of the second front leg may be
coupled to a second surface of the wall portion.
[0012] The divider wall may also include a rear leg that vertically
extends from the wall portion adjacent the second end. The rear leg
may be integrally formed with the wall portion or may be coupled to
the wall portion. The rear leg may be substantially identical to
the first front leg that is integrally formed with or coupled to
the wall portion, with the exception being the absence of an
engagement protrusion on the rear leg and a potential difference in
the horizontal distance between the first side edges and the second
side edges of the body portions of the first front leg and the rear
leg, respectively. A second rear leg may also be included that is
substantially identical to the second front leg.
[0013] The divider wall may also include an intermediate leg that
is disposed between the rear leg and the first front leg and the
intermediate leg may vertically extend from the wall portion. The
intermediate leg may be identical to the rear leg. However, when
the intermediate leg is coupled to the wall portion instead of
integrally formed with the wall portion, the intermediate leg may
not have a leg transition portion and may instead be planar.
[0014] Configured as described, the divider wall may be removably
coupled to a shelf assembly that may be used to support and display
disposable food containers, and multiple shelf assemblies that are
vertically offset may be supported by a support frame. Each shelf
assembly has a rectangular shape and includes a plurality of
transversely-aligned rear slots at or adjacent to the rear end of
the shelf assembly. The shelf assembly also includes a plurality of
transversely-aligned front slots disposed at or adjacent to the
front end of the shelf assembly. Each of the plurality of front and
rear slots may have a uniform width and a uniform length, and each
of the plurality of rear slots may be horizontally aligned with a
corresponding one of the front slots. Optionally, and particularly
in the case of shelf assemblies having a front-to-rear length of at
least four feet or approximately four feet, a transversely-aligned
intermediate row of slots is disposed between the front slots and
the rear slots. The intermediate row of slots may be centered or
approximately centered between the front slots and the rear slots.
The shelf assembly may include an additional transversely-aligned
intermediate row of slots for each foot of length in excess of four
feet. For example, if the front-to-rear length of the shelf
assembly is five feet or approximately five feet, the shelf
assembly may include two parallel and offset intermediate rows of
slots that are disposed between the front and rear slots. The shelf
assembly may also include a plurality of support tracks that
longitudinally extends from the front end to the rear end of the
shelf assembly. A plurality of elongate rollers may be transversely
disposed between and rotatably coupled to adjacent support tracks.
Due to the rotatable rollers, containers disposed on the shelf
assembly will (or will have a tendency to) translate towards the
front end of the shelf assembly under the influence of gravity when
the front end of the shelf assembly is disposed lower than the rear
end of the shelf assembly. When two or more divider walls are
longitudinally disposed on the shelf assembly, one or more channels
may be formed between adjacent divider walls. The channels may have
a transverse width that generally corresponds to the width of the
container located in a particular channel to maintain the
containers in uniform longitudinal rows.
[0015] To removably couple a divider wall to the shelf assembly,
the first front leg is vertically aligned with a suitable front
slot and the rear leg is vertically aligned with a suitable
corresponding rear slot. If a transversely-aligned row of
intermediate slots is disposed between the front slots and the rear
slots, and the divider wall includes an intermediate leg, then the
intermediate leg is vertically aligned with a corresponding
intermediate slot. If more than one transversely-aligned row of
intermediate slots is disposed between the front slots and the rear
slots of the shelf assembly, the divider wall may include at least
two longitudinally offset intermediate legs. If such longitudinally
offset intermediate legs are disposed on the divider wall, each
intermediate leg may be vertically aligned with a corresponding one
of the slots of each of the transversely-aligned intermediate row
of slots. The divider wall is then vertically displaced towards the
shelf assembly such that the first front leg is received into the
front slot and the rear leg is received into the rear slot (and, if
applicable, each of the intermediate legs is received into a
corresponding intermediate slot). The divider wall is continued to
be displaced towards the shelf assembly until one or both of the
first step bottom edge and the second step bottom edge contacts an
upper surface of the shelf assembly adjacent the front slot, and
until one or both of the first step bottom edge and the second step
bottom edge contacts an upper surface of the shelf assembly
adjacent the rear slot (and, if applicable, the intermediate slot
or slots).
[0016] When the first front leg and the rear leg (and, if
applicable, the intermediate leg or legs) are fully inserted into
the front slot and the rear slot (and the intermediate slot or
slots), respectively, the divider wall is released and is allowed
to displace towards the front end of the shelf assembly under the
influence of (or with the assistance of) gravity. Eventually, a
portion of the perimeter surface that is bounded by the first side
edge of the first front leg comes into contact with a forward wall
that partially defines the front slot, thereby preventing further
forward displacement of the divider wall within the slot. At this
time, a portion of the perimeter surface that is bounded by the
first side edge of the rear leg may come into contact with (or may
be closely adjacent to) a forward wall that defines the rear slot,
and, if appropriate, a portion of the perimeter surface that is
bounded by the first side edge of each of the intermediate legs may
come into contact with (or may be closely adjacent to) a forward
wall that defines each of the intermediate slots. So positioned, an
undersurface of the shelf assembly adjacent the front slot is in
contact with or immediately adjacent to the engagement protrusion
of the first front leg. More specifically, the undersurface of the
shelf assembly is in contact with or immediately adjacent to the
portion of the perimeter surface that is bounded by the top
engagement edge of the engagement protrusion. With the undersurface
in contact with or immediately adjacent to the top engagement edge
of the engagement protrusion, the divider wall is prevented from
upwardly displacing relative to the shelf assembly, thereby
securing the divider wall to the shelf assembly.
[0017] To disengage the divider wall from the shelf assembly, the
divider wall is horizontally displaced towards the rear end of the
shelf assembly until the top engagement edge of the engagement
protrusion is no longer in contact with or immediately adjacent to
the undersurface of the shelf assembly. In this position, the
divider wall may be upwardly displaced relative to the shelf
assembly such that the first front leg is no longer received into
the front slot and the rear leg is no longer received into the rear
slot (and, if applicable, each of the intermediate legs are no
longer received into the corresponding intermediate slot or
slots).
[0018] In embodiments having a first front leg and a second front
leg, each of the first front leg and the second front leg are
aligned with a corresponding front slot as described above. A rear
leg (and a second rear leg, if applicable) is aligned with a
corresponding rear slot and, if applicable, one or more
intermediate legs are aligned with a corresponding intermediate
slot. The first front leg and the second front leg are inserted
into the corresponding front slots as previously described, and
under the influence of gravity, the divider wall translates towards
the front end of the shelf assembly such that a portion of the
perimeter surface of the first front leg that is bounded by the
first side edge comes into contact with a forward wall that
partially defines the first corresponding front slot and a portion
of a perimeter surface of the second front leg that is bounded by
the first side edge comes into contact with a forward wall that
partially defines the second corresponding front slot. At this
time, a portion of a perimeter surface that is bounded by the first
side edge of the rear leg may come into contact with (or may be
closely adjacent to) a forward wall that defines a second
corresponding rear slot, and a portion of a perimeter surface that
is bounded by the first side edge of the second rear leg may come
into contact with (or may be closely adjacent to) a forward wall
that defines a corresponding rear slot. Additionally, if
appropriate, a portion of a perimeter surface that is bounded by
the first side edge of each of the corresponding intermediate legs
may come into contact with (or may be closely adjacent to) a
forward wall that defines each of the intermediate slots.
[0019] So positioned, the undersurface of the shelf assembly
adjacent the front slots is in contact with or immediately adjacent
to the engagement protrusion of each of the first front leg and the
second front leg. More specifically, the undersurface of the shelf
assembly is in contact with or immediately adjacent to the portion
of a perimeter surface that is bounded by the top engagement edge
of the each of the engagement protrusions of the first front leg
and the second front leg. With the undersurface in contact with or
immediately adjacent to the top engagement edges of the engagement
protrusions, the divider wall is prevented from upwardly displacing
relative to the shelf assembly, thereby securing the divider wall
to the shelf assembly. To disengage the divider wall from the shelf
assembly, the engagement process is reversed.
[0020] When secured to the shelf assembly as described, the
engagement protrusion prevents the accidental or inadvertent
disengagement of the divider wall from the shelf assembly. In
addition, the rigidifying portion that horizontally extends along
the wall portion increases the stiffness of the divider wall to
more effectively resist lateral loads caused by shifting containers
while maintaining an ultra-thin profile. In addition, the use of
both a first front leg and a second front leg increases the
engagement strength between the divider wall and the shelf assembly
to effectively prevent damage to or disengagement of the divider
wall when relatively large containers subject the divider wall to
lateral loads.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1A is a side plan view of an embodiment of the divider
wall of the present disclosure;
[0022] FIG. 1B is a partial plan view of a rear leg of the
embodiment of the divider wall illustrated in FIG. 1A;
[0023] FIG. 1C is a partial plan view of a first front leg of the
embodiment of the divider wall illustrated in FIG. 1A;
[0024] FIG. 1D is a sectional view along section line 1D-1D in FIG.
1A;
[0025] FIG. 2A is a side plan view of an embodiment of the divider
wall of the present disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 2B is a partial plan view of an intermediate leg of the
embodiment of the divider wall illustrated in FIG. 2A;
[0027] FIG. 3A is a side plan view of an embodiment of the divider
wall of the present disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 3B is a plan view of a first front leg of the
embodiment of the divider wall illustrated in FIG. 3A;
[0029] FIG. 3C is a sectional view along section line 3C-3C in FIG.
3B;
[0030] FIG. 3D is a plan view of a rear leg of the embodiment of
the divider wall illustrated in FIG. 3A;
[0031] FIG. 3E is a sectional view along section line 3E-3E in FIG.
3D;
[0032] FIG. 3F is a side view along line 3F-3F in FIG. 3D;
[0033] FIG. 3G is a sectional view along section line 3G-3G in FIG.
3A;
[0034] FIG. 4A is a side plan view of an embodiment of the divider
wall of the present disclosure;
[0035] FIG. 4B is a partial sectional view along section line 4B-4B
in FIG. 4A;
[0036] FIG. 4C is a plan view of an intermediate leg of the
embodiment of the divider wall illustrated in FIG. 4A;
[0037] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the divider
wall of the present disclosure secured to a shelf assembly;
[0038] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a plurality of shelf
assemblies secured to a support frame;
[0039] FIG. 7A is a partial sectional schematic front view of a
first front leg being inserted into a front slot of a shelf
assembly and a rear leg being inserted into a rear slot of the
shelf assembly;
[0040] FIG. 7B is a partial sectional schematic front view of the
first front leg being inserted into the front slot of the shelf
assembly and the rear leg being inserted into the rear slot of the
shelf assembly;
[0041] FIG. 7C is a partial sectional schematic front view of the
first front leg being inserted into the front slot of the shelf
assembly and the rear leg being inserted into the rear slot of the
shelf assembly;
[0042] FIG. 7D is a partial sectional schematic front view of the
first front leg having an engagement protrusion that engages the
undersurface of the shelf assembly adjacent the front slot;
[0043] FIG. 8A is a front view of an embodiment of the spill tray
of the present disclosure;
[0044] FIG. 8B is a side view of the embodiment of the spill tray
illustrated in FIG. 8A;
[0045] FIG. 8C is a perspective view of the embodiment of the spill
tray illustrated in FIG. 8A;
[0046] FIG. 9 is a front view of the embodiment of the spill tray
illustrated in FIG. 8A supporting a shelf assembly; and
[0047] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a plurality of spill trays
and shelf assemblies secured to a support frame.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 1A, a divider wall 10 for use with a
gravity-fed shelf assembly 12 includes an elongate wall portion 14
extending along a longitudinal axis 16, the wall portion 14 having
a first end 18 and a second end 20. The divider wall 10 also
includes a first front leg 22 extending from the wall portion 14
adjacent the first end 18, the first front leg 22 extending normal
to the longitudinal axis 16 of the wall portion 14, the first front
leg 22 having a body portion 24 and an engagement protrusion 26
extending from the body portion 24, the engagement protrusion 26
extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 16
towards the first end 18 of the wall portion 14. The divider wall
10 further includes a rear leg 28 extending from the wall portion
14 adjacent the second end 20, the rear leg 28 extending normal to
the longitudinal axis 16 of the wall portion 14.
[0049] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7A to 7D, the first front leg
22 is adapted to be received into a front slot 30a disposed at or
adjacent to a front end 32 of the shelf assembly 12 and the rear
leg 28 is adapted to be received into a rear slot 30b disposed at
or adjacent to a rear end 33 of the shelf assembly 12. So
positioned, gravity acting on the divider wall 10 causes or assists
the divider wall 10 to displace within the front slot 30a and the
rear slot 30b toward the front end 32 of the shelf assembly 12 such
that an undersurface 34 of the shelf assembly 12 adjacent the front
slot 30a is in contact with or immediately adjacent to the
engagement protrusion 26 to prevent the removal of the first front
leg 22 from the front slot 30a. Configured as described, the
divider wall 10 provides a self-locking locking mechanism to retain
the divider wall 10 within the desired slots 30a, 30b of the shelf
assembly 12. The divider wall 10 is also easy to remove.
Specifically, the divider wall 10 is displaced towards the rear end
33 of the shelf assembly 12 such that the engagement protrusion 26
is not disposed in operative engagement with the undersurface 34 of
the front slot 30a, and the first front leg 22 can be vertically
removed from the front slot 30a, thereby disengaging the divider
wall 10 from the shelf assembly 12.
[0050] As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the divider wall 10 includes the
wall portion 14, and the wall portion 14 may be elongate and may
extend along the longitudinal axis 16 such that the wall portion 14
includes the first end 18 and the oppositely-disposed second end
20. The wall portion 14 may be planar, substantially planar, or
partially composed of planar segments that will be described in
more detail below. As such, a longitudinal plane 48 may extend
through the entire wall portion 14 or a planar segment of the wall
portion 14 such that the longitudinal plane 48 bisects the entire
wall portion 14 or the planar segment of the wall portion 14. For
example, as illustrated in FIG. 1D, the longitudinal plane 48
bisects a bottom planar portion 84 that comprises a longitudinal
bottom portion of the wall portion 14. The longitudinal plane 48
may extend in a vertical or substantially vertical direction. As
used herein, the term vertical refers to a direction co-linear with
or parallel to the Y axis in the reference coordinate system
provided in FIGS. 1A, 1D, 3A, and 5. The longitudinal axis 16 may
be confined to the longitudinal plane 48, and the longitudinal axis
16 may extend in a horizontal or substantially horizontal
direction. As used herein, the term horizontal refers to a
direction co-linear with or parallel to the X axis in the reference
coordinate system provided in FIGS. 1A, 1D, 3A, and 5. The wall
portion 14 may be defined by a top edge 50 that horizontally
extends between the first end 18 and the second end 20. A bottom
edge 52 may be parallel to and vertically offset from the top edge
50. The top edge 50 and the bottom edge 52 may be separated by any
suitable distance that allows the divider wall 10 to separate
adjacent rows of shelved containers. For example, the top edge 50
and the bottom edge 52 may be separated by a distance of 1.000'' or
3.500''.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 1A, the wall portion 14 may be further
defined by a rear edge 54 disposed at or adjacent to the second end
20 of the wall portion 14. The rear edge 54 may be vertical or
substantially vertical, and the rear edge 54 may extend between the
top edge 50 and the bottom edge 52. The wall portion 14 may be
additionally defined by a front edge 56 disposed at or adjacent to
the first end 18 of the wall portion 14. The front edge 56 may be
vertical or substantially vertical such that the front edge 56 is
parallel to the rear edge 54. A front rounded edge 58 may extend
between the top edge 50 and the front edge 56, and a rear rounded
edge 60 may extend between the top edge 50 and the rear edge 54.
The front edge 56 and the rear edge 54 may be separated by any
suitable distance that allows the divider wall 10 to extend from
the front end 32 of the shelf assembly 12 to the rear end 33. For
example, front edge 56 and the rear edge 54 may be separated by a
distance of approximately 38.2'' or 43.8''. The edges 50, 52, 54,
56, 58, 60 may each form a corresponding edge segment of a
continuous perimeter surface 66 that extends in a transverse or
substantially transverse direction around the perimeter of the wall
portion 14. As used herein, the term transverse refers to a
direction co-linear with or parallel to the Z axis in the reference
coordinate system provided in FIGS. 1A, 1D, 3A, and 5. As
illustrated in FIG. 1D, all or a portion of the perimeter surface
66 may be bisected by the longitudinal plane 48 such that the wall
portion 14 has a first surface 68 and a second surface 70.
[0052] As illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 4C, the wall portion 14 may
also include a rigidifying portion 64 that increases the bending
stiffness of the wall portion. More specifically, the rigidifying
portion 64 reduces transverse deformation or bending of the wall
portion 14 when the wall portion is subjected to transverse loads.
The rigidifying portion 64 may longitudinally (i.e., horizontally)
extend along the entire length of the wall portion 14, or the
rigidifying portion 64 may extend along one or more longitudinal
segments of the wall portion 14. The rigidifying portion 64 may
extend along or adjacent to a vertical midpoint of the wall portion
14. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3F, the rigidifying portion 64 may
include a top oblique portion 72 that obliquely extends from the
first surface 68 of the wall portion 14 such that the top oblique
portion 72 forms an obtuse angle with a top planar portion 74. The
rigidifying portion 64 may also include a bottom oblique portion 76
that obliquely extends from the first surface 68 of the wall
portion 14 such that the bottom oblique portion 76 forms an obtuse
angle with a bottom planar portion 78, wherein the bottom planar
portion 78 and the top planar portion 74 are each bisected by the
longitudinal plane 48. In other embodiments, one or both of the top
oblique portion 72 and the bottom oblique portion 76 may form a
right angle with the top planar portion 74 and the bottom planar
portion 78, respectively. An intermediate planar portion 80 may
extend between the inwardly-disposed ends of the top oblique
portion 72 and the bottom oblique portion 76 such that the
intermediate planar portion 80 is transversely offset from both the
top planar portion 74 and the bottom planar portion 78. The
transverse distance between the second surface 70 at the top planar
portion 74 and the first surface 68 at the intermediate planar
portion 80 may be any suitable value, such as 0.140'' to 0.160'',
for example. In other embodiments, the top oblique portion 72, the
bottom oblique portion 76, and the intermediate planar portion 80
may extend from the second surface 70 of the wall portion 14
instead of the first surface 68 of the wall portion 14.
[0053] In another embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1D, the
rigidifying portion 64 may include a single intermediate oblique
portion 82 that obliquely extends from the first surface 68 of the
wall portion 14 such that the intermediate oblique portion 82 forms
an obtuse angle with the bottom planar portion 84. In other
embodiments, the intermediate oblique portion 82 may form a right
angle with the bottom planar portion 84. The bottom planar portion
84 may be bisected by the longitudinal plane 48. A top planar
portion 86 may extend from an end of the intermediate oblique
portion 82 such that the top planar portion 86 is parallel to and
transversely offset from the bottom planar portion 84 (and the
longitudinal plane 48). The transverse distance between the second
surface 70 at the bottom planar portion 84 and the first surface 68
at the top planar portion 86 may be any suitable value, such as
0.160'', for example. In other embodiments, the intermediate
oblique portion 82 may extend from the second surface 70 of the
wall portion 14 instead of the first surface 68 of the wall portion
14.
[0054] As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1C, the divider wall 10
includes the first front leg 22 disposed adjacent to the first end
18 of the wall portion 14. The first front leg 22 may vertically
extend (i.e., extend normal to the longitudinal axis 16) from the
wall portion 14. The first front leg 22 may be integrally formed
with the wall portion 14 or may be coupled to the wall portion 14
by any method known in the art, such as by welding, adhesives,
mechanical fastening, or a combination thereof, for example. For
example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 2B, the first
front leg 22 is integrally formed with the wall portion 14, and the
first front leg 22 vertically extends from the first end 18 of the
wall portion 14. As shown in FIG. 1C, the first front leg 22
includes a body portion 24 that may have a first end 86 that is in
contact with or adjacent to the bottom edge 52 of the wall portion
14. The body portion 24 may also have a second end 88 that is
vertically opposite to the first end 86. The body portion 24 may be
defined by a vertical or substantially vertical first side edge 90
and a second side edge 92 that may be parallel to and offset from
the first side edge 90. At the second end 88 of the body portion
24, a bottom edge 98 may extend from the second side edge 92
towards the first side edge 90. The first end 86 of the body
portion 24 may include a step side edge 94 that vertically extends
from the bottom edge 52 of the wall portion 14. A second step
bottom edge 96 may horizontally extend from the step side edge 94
to the second side edge 92. A first step bottom edge 97 may
horizontally extend from the front edge 56 of the wall portion 14
to the first side edge 90 of the first front leg 22, and the second
step bottom edge 96 and the first step bottom edge 97 may be
horizontally aligned. The first step bottom edge 97 and the second
step bottom edge 96 may both be any suitable vertical distance from
the bottom edge 52 of the wall portion 14, such as 0.156'', for
example. In addition, the first step bottom edge 97 and the second
step bottom edge 96 may both be any suitable vertical distance from
the bottom edge 98 of the body portion 24, such as 0.447'', for
example. Moreover, the front edge 56 of the wall portion 14 and the
step side edge 94 may be separated by any suitable horizontal
distance, such as 0.634'', for example.
[0055] As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the first front leg 22 also
includes the engagement protrusion 26 that extends from the body
portion 26. More specifically, the engagement protrusion 26 may
extend in a horizontal direction (i.e., in a direction parallel to
the longitudinal axis 16) from the first side edge 90 at or
adjacent to the second end 88 of the body portion 24. The
engagement protrusion 26 may be defined by the bottom edge 98 of
the body portion 24 and may be further defined by a front
engagement edge 100 that vertically extends from a frontward,
terminal end of the bottom edge 98. The engagement protrusion 26
may also be defined by a top engagement edge 102 that horizontally
extends between the front engagement edge 100 and the first side
edge 90 such that the top engagement edge 102 forms an undercut
surface of the engagement protrusion 26. The first side edge 90 of
the body portion 24 and the front engagement edge 100 may be
separated by any suitable horizontal distance, such as 0.052'', for
example. In addition, the top engagement edge 102 and the bottom
edge 98 of the body portion 24 may be separated by any suitable
vertical distance, such as 0.100'', for example.
[0056] In alternative embodiments, either or both of the top
engagement edge 102 and the front engagement edge 100 may be curved
edges, or may be partially curved and partially linear. In other
alternative embodiments, both of the top engagement edge 102 and
the front engagement edge 100 may be a single curved edge that
extends between the first side edge 90 and the bottom edge 98 of
the body portion 24. In further alternative embodiments, either or
both of the top engagement edge 102 and the front engagement edge
100 may be linear edges that are obliquely disposed relative to the
first side edge 90 of the body portion 24.
[0057] When the first front leg 22 is integrally formed with the
wall portion 14, the edges 90, 92, 94, 96, 97, 98, 100, and 102
defining the first front leg 22 may each form a corresponding edge
segment of the continuous perimeter surface 66 that extends in a
transverse or substantially transverse direction around the
perimeter of the first front leg 22. As such, the first front leg
22 may be bisected by the longitudinal plane 48, as shown in FIG.
1D. Accordingly, a first surface of the first front leg 22 may be
coextensive with the first surface 68 of the wall portion 14 and a
second surface of the first front leg 22 may be coextensive with
the second surface 70 of the wall portion 14.
[0058] As illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C and as discussed
above, the first front leg 22 may not be integrally formed with the
wall portion 14, but may instead be coupled to the wall portion 14.
Such an embodiment of the first front leg 22a may have a
substantially planar top leg portion 104a that is bisected by a
first leg longitudinal plane 106a. As such, the top leg portion
104a has first top leg surface 108a and a second top leg surface
110a that are each parallel to and equidistant from the first leg
longitudinal plane 106a. The top leg portion 104a may be further
defined by a vertical first side edge 112a and a second side edge
114a that is parallel to and offset from the first side edge 112a.
The first side edge 112a and the second side edge 114a may be
separated by any suitable horizontal distance, such as 0.625'', for
example. A horizontal top edge 116a may extend between the first
side edge 112a and the second side edge 114a at a first end 118a of
the top leg portion 104a. A leg transition portion 120a may extend
from a second end 122a of the top leg portion 104a. More
specifically, the leg transition portion 120a may transversely and
obliquely extend from the second top leg surface 110a at the second
end 122a of the top leg portion 104a. Alternatively, the leg
transition portion 120a may orthogonally extend from the second top
leg surface 110a. The leg transition portion 120a may be laterally
defined by the first side edge 112a and second side edge 114a of
the top leg portion 104a.
[0059] Still referring to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, the first front leg
22a may additionally include a substantially planar bottom leg
portion 124a that may extend from a terminal end of the leg
transition portion 120a such that a second leg longitudinal plane
126a that bisects the bottom leg portion 124a may be parallel to
and offset from the first leg longitudinal plane 106a. A second
bottom leg surface 127a that is parallel to and offset from the
second leg longitudinal plane 126a may be transversely separated
from the first top leg surface 108a by any suitable distance, such
as 0.131'', for example. The bottom leg portion 124a includes a
body portion 24a and an engagement protrusion 26a that are
identical or substantially identical to the body portion 24 and the
engagement protrusion 26 previously described. Specifically, the
first side edge 112a and second side edge 114a of the top leg
portion 104a and the leg transition portion 120a vertically define
the bottom leg portion 124a adjacent the first end 86a of the body
portion 24a. A second step bottom edge 96a and a first step bottom
edge 97a may each horizontally and inwardly extend from the first
side edge 112a and second side edge 114a, respectively. The second
step bottom edge 96a and the first step bottom edge 97a may be
horizontally aligned, and the second step bottom edge 96a and the
first step bottom edge 97a may be separated from the top edge 116a
by any suitable vertical distance, such as 1.000'', for example.
The body portion 24a may be defined by a vertical or substantially
vertical first side edge 90a and a second side edge 92a that may be
parallel to and offset from the first side edge 90. At the second
end 88a of the body portion 24a, a bottom edge 98 may extend from
the second side edge 92a towards the first side edge 90a.
[0060] The first front leg 22a also includes an engagement
protrusion 26a that extends from the second end 88a of the body
portion 24a, and the engagement protrusion 26a may extend in a
horizontal direction (i.e., in a direction parallel to the
longitudinal axis 16) from the first side edge 90a at or adjacent
to the second end 88a of the body portion 24a. The engagement
protrusion 26a may be identical or substantially identical to the
engagement protrusion 26 previously described. In particular, the
engagement protrusion 26a may be defined by the bottom edge 98a of
the body portion 24a and may be further defined by a front
engagement edge 100a that vertically extends from a frontward,
terminal end of the bottom edge 98a. The engagement protrusion 26a
may also be defined by a top engagement edge 102a that horizontally
extends between the front engagement edge 100a and the first side
edge 90a such that the top engagement edge 102a forms an undercut
surface of the engagement protrusion 26a, and such an undercut
surface will be described in more detail below. The edges 90a, 92a,
96a, 97a, 98a, 100a, 102a, 112a, 114a, and 116a defining the first
front leg 22a may each form a corresponding edge segment of a
continuous perimeter surface 129a that extends in a transverse or
substantially transverse direction around the perimeter of the
first front leg 22a.
[0061] As previously discussed, the first front leg 22a may be
coupled to the wall portion 14 in any manner known in the art. For
example, as illustrated in FIG. 3F, the first top leg surface 108a
may be immediately adjacent to or in contact with the first surface
68 of the wall portion 14 adjacent to the first end 18. More
particularly, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the first side
edge 112a of the first front leg 22a may be vertically aligned with
the front edge 56 of the wall portion 14, and the first step bottom
edge 97a and the second step bottom edge 96a of the first front leg
22a may be disposed a suitable vertical distance from the bottom
edge 52 of the wall portion 14, such as approximately 0.156'' for
example. The top leg portion 104a may then be welded, mechanically
fastened, bonded with an adhesive, or otherwise secured to the wall
portion 14. To assist in welding, one or more welding projections
128 may be formed on the top leg portion 104a, as illustrated in
FIG. 3B. Each of the one or more welding projections 128 may be an
elongate blister that has a horizontal longitudinal axis. Each
welding projection 128 may outwardly protrude from the second top
leg surface 110a and each may have a corresponding elongate
depression formed on the first top leg surface 108a. Preferably,
two welding projections 128 are disposed on the top leg portion
104a, and the welding projections 128 may have longitudinal axes
that are vertically offset such that the welding projections 128
are vertically aligned. As understood by one having ordinary skill
in the art, the welding projections 128 allow the focus of welding
energy to be transferred consistently and evenly through multiple
layers of materials to be welded (such as through the first front
leg 22a and the wall portion 14), thereby creating a strong bond
between the multiple layers of materials. One having ordinary skill
in the art would recognize that the first top leg surface 108 may
be immediately adjacent to or in contact with the second surface 70
of the wall portion 14 instead of the first surface 68, and the
first front leg 22a may be identical to the second front leg 22b
described below.
[0062] As shown in FIG. 3F, the divider wall 10 may also include a
second front leg 22b coupled to the first end 18 of the wall
portion 14. The second front leg 22b may be a minor image of--but
otherwise identical to--the first front leg 22a (and corresponding
features have corresponding reference numbers). Specifically, the
first top leg surface 108b of the second front leg 22b may be
immediately adjacent to or in contact with the second surface 70 of
the wall portion 14 adjacent to the first end 18. More
particularly, the first side edge 112b of the second front leg 22b
may be vertically aligned with the front edge 56 of the wall
portion 14, and the first step bottom edge 97b and the second step
bottom edge 96b of the second front leg 22b may be disposed a
suitable vertical distance from the bottom edge 52 of the wall
portion 14. In particular, the first step bottom edge 97a and the
second step bottom edge 96a of the first front leg 22a and the
first step bottom edge 97b and the second step bottom edge 96b of
the second front leg 22b may be vertically and horizontally
aligned. The top leg portion 104b may be welded, mechanically
fastened, bonded with an adhesive, or otherwise secured to the wall
portion 14 in the manner previously described. So secured, the
second leg longitudinal plane 126a of the first front leg 22a and
the second leg longitudinal plane 126b of the second front leg 22b
may be equidistant from the longitudinal plane 48 bisecting the
wall portion 14. As such, the second side edges 92, the first side
edges 90a, 90b, the bottom edges 98a, 98b, the front engagement
edge 100a, 100b, and the top engagement edges of the first front
leg 22a and the second front leg 22b are transversely offset but
vertically and horizontally aligned. The second bottom leg surface
127a of the first front leg 22a and the second bottom leg surface
127b of the first front leg 22b may be separated by any suitable
transverse distance to allow the first front leg 22a and the second
front leg 22b to be inserted into corresponding front slots 30a,
and that distance may be 0.310'', for example.
[0063] Referring to FIGS. 1A and 3A, the divider wall 10 may also
include a rear leg 28 extending from the wall portion 14 adjacent
the second end 18. The rear leg 28 may vertically extend (i.e.,
extend normal to the longitudinal axis 16) from the wall portion
14. The rear leg 28 may be integrally formed with the wall portion
14 or may be coupled to the wall portion 14 by any method known in
the art, such as the methods previously discussed, for example. In
one embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1D, the rear leg 28
may be integrally formed with the wall portion 14, and the rear leg
28 vertically extends from the second end 20 of the wall portion
14. The rear leg 28 may include a body portion 130 that may have a
first end 132 that is in contact with or adjacent to the bottom
edge 52 of the wall portion 14. The body portion 130 may also have
a second end 134 that is vertically opposite to the first end 132.
The body portion 130 may be defined by a vertical or substantially
vertical first side edge 136 and a second side edge 138 that may be
parallel to and offset from the first side edge 136. At the second
end 134 of the body portion 130, a bottom edge 140 may extend from
the second side edge 138 towards the first side edge 136.
[0064] Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the first end 132 of the body
portion 130 may include a step side edge 142 that vertically
extends from the bottom edge 52 of the wall portion 14. A first
step bottom edge 144 may horizontally extend from the step side
edge 142 to the first side edge 136. A second step bottom edge 146
may horizontally extend from the rear edge 54 of the wall portion
14 to the second side edge 138 of the rear leg 28. The second step
bottom edge 146 and the first step bottom edge 144 of the rear leg
28 may be horizontally aligned with the second step bottom edge 96
and the first step bottom edge 97 of the first front leg 22. In
addition, the bottom edge 140 of the rear leg 28 may be
horizontally aligned with the bottom edge 98 of the first front leg
22. However, the horizontal distance between the first side edge 90
and the second side edge 92 of the first front leg 22 may be
slightly shorter than the horizontal distance between first side
edge 136 and the second side edge 138 of the rear leg 28. For
example, the horizontal distance between the first side edge 90 and
the second side edge 92 of the first front leg 22 may be 0.312
inches and the horizontal distance between first side edge 136 and
the second side edge 138 of the rear leg 28 may be 0.325 inches.
The longitudinal plane 48 that bisects the wall portion 14 (or a
portion of the wall portion 14 as described above) may be coplanar
with a longitudinal plane that bisects the rear leg 28 and a
longitudinal plane that bisects the first front leg 22. The
thicknesses (i.e., the transverse length of the perimeter wall 66)
of the wall portion 14, the first front leg 22, and the rear leg 28
may all be equal.
[0065] As illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3D, 3E, and 3G and as discussed
above, an embodiment of the rear leg 28a may be a separate
component that is coupled to the wall portion 14. Such a rear leg
28a may be identical or substantially identical to the first front
leg 22a with the only exceptions being the absence of an engagement
protrusion 26a on the rear leg 28a and a potential difference in
the horizontal distance between the first side edges 90a, 136 and
the second side edges 92a, 138 of the body portions 24a, 130 of the
first front leg 22a and the rear leg 28a, respectively. Unless
otherwise noted, identical features of the first front leg 22a will
have the same reference numbers of the rear leg 28a. A further
potential difference between the first front leg 22a and the rear
leg 28a may be a difference in the transverse distance between the
first leg longitudinal plane 106a and the second leg longitudinal
plane 126a of the first front leg 22a and the transverse distance
between the first leg longitudinal plane 148a and the second leg
longitudinal plane 150a of the rear leg 28a. This difference may
exist if the plurality of slots 30b that transversely extends
across the rear end 33 of the shelf assembly 12 are not
longitudinally (i.e., horizontally) aligned with the plurality of
slots 30a that transversely extends across the front end 32 of the
shelf assembly 12. When secured to the wall portion 14 as described
above and as illustrated in FIG. 3G, the first top leg surface 108a
of the rear leg 28a may be immediately adjacent to or in contact
with the first surface 68 of the wall portion 14. In addition, as
illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3D, the second side edge 114a of the
rear leg 28a may be vertically aligned with the rear edge 54 of the
wall portion 14, and the first and second step bottom edges 144a,
146a of the rear leg 28a may be horizontally aligned with the first
and second step bottom edges 97a, 96a. The top leg portion 104a may
include one or more welding projections 128 as previously
described.
[0066] In another embodiment (illustrated by dashed lines in FIG.
3G), the divider wall may have a second rear leg 28b, and the
second rear leg 28b is a minor image of--but otherwise identical
to--the rear leg 28a. As such, the first top leg surface 108b of
the second rear leg 28b may be immediately adjacent to or in
contact with the second surface 70 of the wall portion 14. The
second rear leg 28b may be used instead of, or in addition to, the
rear leg 28a. If both the first rear leg 28a and the second rear
leg 28b are coupled to the second end 20 of the wall portion 14,
corresponding features of the first rear leg 28a and the second
rear leg 28b may be transversely offset but horizontally and
vertically aligned in a manner identical to the arrangement of
first front leg 22a and the second front leg 22b at the first end
18 of the wall portion 14.
[0067] Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 4A, 4B, and 4C, the divider wall
10 may also include an intermediate leg 152, 152a that is disposed
between the rear leg 28, 28a and the first front leg 22, 22a, and
the intermediate leg 152, 152a may vertically extend (i.e., extend
normal to the longitudinal axis 16) from the wall portion 14. The
intermediate leg 152, 152a may be identical to the rear leg 28,
28a, 28b, and identical features share the same reference numbers.
In one embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the intermediate
leg 152 may be integrally formed with the wall portion 14, and a
first step side edge 154 and a second step side edge 156 may
vertically extend from the bottom edge 52 of the wall portion 14. A
first step bottom edge 144 and a second step bottom edge 146 may
horizontally and inwardly extend from the first step side edge 154
and the second step side edge 156. The first step bottom edge 144,
the second step bottom edge 146, and the bottom edge 140 of the
rear leg 28 may be horizontally aligned with the bottom edge 144,
the second step bottom edge 146, and the bottom edge 140,
respectively, of the intermediate leg 152. The longitudinal plane
48 that bisects the wall portion 14 (or a portion of the wall
portion as described above) may be coplanar with a longitudinal
plane that bisects the rear leg 28, a longitudinal plane that
bisects the first front leg 22, and a longitudinal plane that
bisects the intermediate leg 152. The thicknesses (i.e., the
transverse length of the perimeter wall 66) of the wall portion 14,
the first front leg 22, the rear leg 28, and the intermediate leg
152 may all be equal.
[0068] As illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C and as discussed
above, an embodiment of the intermediate leg 152a may be a separate
component that is coupled to the wall portion 14. Such an
intermediate leg 152a may be identical or substantially identical
to the rear leg 28a, 28b discussed above. However, the intermediate
leg 152a may not have a leg transition portion 120a, and the top
leg portion 104a may be vertically aligned with the bottom leg
portion 124a of the intermediate leg 152a. The top leg portion 104a
may include one or more welding projections 128 as previously
described. The divider wall 10 may include a second intermediate
leg 152b, and the second intermediate leg 152b is a minor image
of--but otherwise identical to--the intermediate leg 152a.
[0069] Configured as described, the divider wall 10 may be
removably coupled to a shelf assembly 12 that may be used to
support and display disposable containers, such as individual sized
containers of yogurt, fruit, or beverages. As illustrated in FIG.
6, multiple shelf assemblies 12 that are vertically offset may be
supported by a support frame 158, and each shelf assembly 12 may be
identical. Each shelf assembly 12 may be directly or indirectly
coupled to the support frame 158 in any manner known in the art. In
the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the shelf assembly 12 has a
rectangular shape and includes a plurality of transversely-aligned
rear slots 30b at or adjacent to the rear end 33 of the shelf
assembly 12. The shelf assembly 12 also includes a plurality of
transversely-aligned front slots 30a disposed at or adjacent to the
front end 32 of the shelf assembly 12. Each of the plurality of
front and rear slots 30a, 30b may have a uniform width (in the
transverse direction) and a uniform length (in the horizontal
direction). Each of the plurality of rear slots 30b may be
horizontally aligned with a corresponding one of the front slots
30a. However, each of the plurality of rear slots 30b may not be
horizontally aligned with a corresponding one of the front slots
30a, and the widths and or lengths of the front slots 30a and rear
slots 30b may not be equal.
[0070] Still referring to FIG. 5, the shelf assembly 12 may also
include a plurality of support tracks 160 that longitudinally
extend from the front end 32 to the rear end 33 of the shelf
assembly 12. A plurality of elongate rollers 162 may be
transversely disposed between and rotatably coupled to adjacent
support tracks 160. Due to the rotatable rollers 162, containers
disposed on the shelf assembly 12 will translate towards the front
end 32 of the shelf assembly 12 under the influence of gravity when
the front end 32 of the shelf assembly 12 is disposed vertically
lower than the rear end 33 of the shelf assembly 12. When the shelf
assembly 12 is so declined, the reference coordinate system
provided in FIGS. 1A, 1D, 3A, and 5 may be correspondingly declined
such that the X axis is parallel to or co-linear with a
longitudinal reference axis that centrally extends from the front
end 32 of the shelf assembly 12 to the rear end 33 of the shelf
assembly 12. The Z axis of the reference coordinate system may be
normal to the X axis such that the X-Z plane of the reference
coordinate system is parallel to or co-planar with a plane defined
by the perimeter of the shelf assembly. When two or more divider
walls 10 are longitudinally (i.e., horizontally) disposed on the
shelf assembly 12, one or more channels may be formed between
adjacent divider walls 10. The channels may have a transverse width
that generally corresponds to the width of the container located in
a particular channel to maintain the containers in uniform
longitudinal rows.
[0071] As illustrated in FIG. 10, each of the shelf assemblies 12
may be received into a spill tray 170, and the spill tray 170 may
be supported by the support frame 158. As illustrated in FIGS. 8A
to 8C, the spill tray 170 may include a planar bottom wall 172, and
the bottom wall 172 may generally extend along a reference axis A
from a first end 174 of the spill tray 170 to a second end 176 of
the spill tray 170. The bottom wall 172 may be laterally defined by
a first side edge 178 that is parallel to the longitudinal
reference axis A, and the first side edge 178 may extend from the
first end 174 of the spill tray 170 to the second end 176. The
bottom wall 172 may be further laterally defined by a second side
edge 180 that is parallel to and offset from the first side edge
178, and the second side edge 178 also may extend from the first
end 174 of the spill tray 170 to the second end 176. A front edge
182 may extend from the first side edge 178 to the second side edge
180 adjacent to the first end 174 of the spill tray 170, and the
front edge 182 may be normal to the longitudinal reference axis A.
A rear edge 184 may extend from the first side edge 178 to the
second side edge 180 adjacent to the second end 176 of the spill
tray 170, and the rear edge 184 may be parallel to and offset from
the front edge 182. The rear edge 184 and the front edge 182 may be
longitudinally separated by any distance suitable to accommodate a
shelf assembly 12 that is vertically offset from a top surface of
the bottom wall 172, and this longitudinal distance may be
47.500'', for example. A planar first side channel wall 186a may
longitudinally extend from the first end 174 of the spill tray 170
to the second end 176, and a bottom portion of the first side
channel wall 186a may be adjacent to the first side edge 178 of the
bottom wall 172. The first side channel wall 186a may be obliquely
disposed relative to the bottom wall 172. More specifically, when
viewed along the longitudinal reference axis A, the first side
channel wall 186a may form an acute angle with the bottom wall 172,
and this acute angle may be 77.degree., for example.
[0072] Still referring to FIGS. 8A to 8C, a planar first top
channel wall 188a may longitudinally extend from the first end 174
of the spill tray 170 to the second end 176. The first top channel
wall 188a may transversely extend from a top portion of the first
side channel wall 186a in a direction away from the longitudinal
reference axis A. The first top channel wall 188a may be parallel
to the bottom wall 172, and the first top channel wall 188a may be
offset from the bottom wall 172 by any suitable distance. For
example, a top surface of the top channel wall 188a may be offset
from a top surface of the bottom wall 172 by a vertical distance of
0.850''. When viewed along the longitudinal reference axis A, the
first top channel wall 188a may form an acute angle with the first
side channel wall 186a such that the first top channel wall 188a,
the first side channel wall 186a, and a portion of the bottom wall
172 adjacent to the first side edge 178 form a Z-shape. The acute
angle between the first top channel wall 188a and the first side
channel wall 186a may be 77.degree., for example. A planar first
side wall 190a may longitudinally extend from the first end 174 of
the spill tray 170 to the second end 176, and the first side wall
190a may be normal or substantially normal relative to the bottom
wall 172. More specifically, a bottom portion of the first side
wall 190a is adjacent to an outermost portion (i.e., a portion of
the first side wall 190a that is farthest from the longitudinal
reference axis A) of the first top channel wall 188a. A first side
wall top edge 192a longitudinally extends along the top portion of
the first side wall 190a, and the first side wall top edge 192a may
be vertically offset from the first side edge 178 of the bottom
wall 172. When viewed normal to the planar bottom wall 172, a first
front edge 194a of the first side wall 190a may be coplanar with
the front edge 182 of the bottom wall 172, and a first rear edge
196a of the first side wall 190a may be coplanar with the rear edge
184 of the bottom wall 172. The vertical distance (i.e., the
distance normal to the plane of the bottom wall 172 when viewed
along the longitudinal reference axis A) between the first side
wall top edge 192a and a bottom surface of the bottom wall 172 may
be any suitable distance that allows the first side wall 190a to
act as an outermost divider wall when a shelf assembly 12 is
disposed on the spill tray 170 in a manner that will be described
in more detail below. For example, the vertical distance may be
4.750''. One having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that
the cross-sectional Z-shape of the first top channel wall 188a, the
first side channel wall 186a, and the portion of the bottom wall
172 adjacent to the first side edge 178 provides stiffness against
transverse forces acting normal to the first side wall 190a.
[0073] The spill tray 170 may be symmetrically formed about the
longitudinal reference axis A such that the spill tray 170 has
second side channel wall 186b, a second top channel wall 188b, and
a second side wall 190b that are a mirror image of, but otherwise
identical to, the first side channel wall 186a, the first top
channel wall 188a, and the first side wall 190a, respectively. So
configured, the transverse distance (i.e., the distance parallel to
the plane of the bottom wall 172 and normal to the longitudinal
reference axis A when viewed along the longitudinal reference axis
A) between an inner surface of the first side wall 190a and an
inner surface of the second side wall 190b may have any suitable
value to accommodate the width of a shelf assembly as will be
described in more detail below. For example, the transverse
distance may be 26.625''. In addition, the transverse distance
between the top portion of the oblique first side channel wall 186a
and a top portion of the oblique second side channel wall 186b may
have any suitable value to accommodate the width of shelf assembly
12 that rests on a top surface of each of the first and second top
channel walls 188a, 188b.
[0074] Still referring to FIGS. 8A to 8C, the spill tray 170 may
further include a front lip 198 that vertically extends from the
front edge 182 of the bottom wall 172. The front lip 198 may be
planar, and the planar front lip 198 may be normal to each of the
bottom wall 172, the first side wall 190a, and the second side wall
190b. The front lip 198 may be defined by a top edge 200 that is
parallel to and offset from the front edge 182 of the bottom wall
172. In addition, the front lip 198 may be laterally defined by a
first side edge 202a that intersects the top edge 200 at a right
angle. The front lip 198 may be further defined by a second side
edge 202b that is parallel to and transversely offset from the
first side edge 202a. The first side edge 202a and the second side
edge 202b may be offset by any suitable distance, such as 25.000'',
for example.
[0075] The spill tray 170 may be made from any suitable material,
such as aluminum having a thickness of 0.040''. The spill tray 170
may be first formed from a single sheet of material or may be
comprised of two or more component parts that are coupled to form
the spill tray 170.
[0076] In use, a spill tray 170 may be directly or indirectly
coupled to the support frame 158 in any manner known in the art,
and the spill tray 170 may provide support for a corresponding
shelf assembly 12, as illustrated in FIG. 10. As illustrated,
multiple spill trays 170 that are vertically offset may be used,
and each spill tray 170 may be identical. Each spill tray 170 may
be secured to the support frame 158 such that the first end 174 of
the spill tray 170 is disposed vertically lower than the second end
176 of the spill tray 170. So configured, when the shelf assembly
12 is disposed on the spill tray 170, the longitudinal reference
axis A of the spill tray 170 is parallel to the longitudinal axis
(i.e., the X axis) of the shelf assembly 12.
[0077] To secure a shelf assembly 12 in a corresponding spill tray
170, the shelf assembly is positioned such that the front end 32 of
the shelf assembly 12 is disposed adjacent to the first end 174 of
the spill tray 170 and the rear end 33 of the shelf assembly 12 is
disposed adjacent to the second end 176 of the spill tray 170. As
illustrated in FIG. 9, a first longitudinal lateral portion 208a
(illustrated in FIG. 5) of the shelf assembly 12 may rest on the
first top channel wall 188a and a second longitudinal lateral
portion 208b of the shelf assembly 12 may rest on the second top
channel wall 188b such that the shelf assembly is vertically offset
from the top surface of the bottom wall 172 of the spill tray
170.
[0078] So positioned, a first shelf sidewall 204a (illustrated in
FIG. 5) longitudinally disposed along a first lateral perimeter of
the shelf assembly 12 may be positioned adjacent to an inner
surface of the first side wall 190a and a second shelf sidewall
204b (illustrated in FIG. 5) longitudinally disposed along a second
lateral perimeter of the shelf assembly 12 may be positioned
adjacent to an inner surface of the second side wall 190b, as
illustrated in FIG. 9. Accordingly, contact with the inner surfaces
of one or both of the first and second sidewalls 190a, 190b may
prevent or limit transverse displacement of the shelf assembly 12
relative to the spill tray 170. A forward stop (not shown) may be
secured to the support frame 158 to prevent or limit longitudinal
displacement of the shelf assembly 12 relative to the spill tray
170 due to the influence of gravity. One having ordinary skill in
the art would recognize that the cross-sectional Z-shape of the
first top channel wall 188a, the first side channel wall 186a, and
the portion of the bottom wall 172 adjacent to the first side edge
178 strengthens the first and second top channel walls 188a, 188b
to support the shelf assembly 12 and also provides stiffness
against transverse forces acting normal to the first and second
side walls 190a, 190b.
[0079] With each spill tray 170 secured to the support frame 158
such that the first end 174 of the spill tray 170 is disposed
vertically lower than the second end 176 of the spill tray 170, one
having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that liquid
spilling or leaking from products supported on the shelf assembly
12 would flow on the top surface of the bottom wall 172 towards the
first end 174 of the spill tray 170. The front lip 198 acts as a
barrier that allows such spilled fluid to exit the spill tray 170
between one or both of a first gap 210a defined by the first side
edge 202a of the front lip 198 and the first side channel wall 186a
and a second gap 210b defined by the second side edge 202b of the
front lip 198 and the second side channel wall 186b. The liquid
exiting the first and/or second gap 210a, 210b under the influence
of gravity may spill into a drip tray (not shown) coupled to the
support frame 158. By positioning the shelf assembly 12 vertically
offset from the bottom wall 172 of the spill tray 170, and by
providing the first and second gaps 210a, 210b, spilled liquid may
be directed away from a customer's view. In addition, the vertical
offset directs spilled liquids away from the shelf assembly 12,
simplifying the cleaning of spills and resulting in a more sanitary
product display environment. Additionally, in conjunction with the
slim-profile divider walls 10 and the first and second side walls
190a, 190b that vertically extend to act as outmost divider walls,
the spill tray 170 enables maximum product facings because the
entire shelf assembly 12 is received into a single spill tray 170.
This configuration can lead to an additional product facing on a
single shelf assembly 12, for example.
[0080] Turning again to the divider walls 10, each divider wall 10
may be removably coupled to the shelf assembly 12 by inserting the
first front leg 22 into a desired front slot 30a and the rear leg
28 into a corresponding rear slot 30b. For example, when the front
slot 30a is longitudinally aligned with the rear slot 30b, the rear
leg 28 of the divider wall 10 may be horizontally aligned with the
first front leg 22, as illustrated in FIG. 5. The horizontal length
of each of the front slots 30a is greater than the horizontal
distance between the front engagement edge 100 of the engagement
protrusion 26 and the second side edge 92 of the body portion 24 of
the first front leg 22. In addition, the horizontal length of each
of the rear slots 30b is greater than the horizontal distance
between the first side edge 136 and the second side edge 138 of the
body portion 130 of the rear leg 28 by an amount that is larger
than the horizontal distance between the first side edge 90 and the
front engagement edge 100 of the first front leg 22. As such, to
couple a divider wall 10 to the shelf assembly 12, the first front
leg 22 is vertically aligned with the front slot 30a and the rear
leg 28 is vertically aligned with the rear slot 30b, as illustrated
in FIG. 7A. If a transversely-aligned row of intermediate slots 30c
(not shown) is disposed between the front slots 30a and the rear
slots 30b, an intermediate leg 152 is vertically aligned with a
corresponding intermediate slot 30c. In embodiments in which the
intermediate leg 152 does not have a leg transition portion 120,
the plurality of intermediate slots 30c may not be horizontally
aligned with the plurality of front slots 30a and the plurality of
rear slots 30b.
[0081] Once aligned as described, the divider wall 10 is vertically
displaced towards the shelf assembly 12 such that the first front
leg 22 is received into the front slot 30a and the rear leg 28 is
received into the rear slot 30b (and, if appropriate, the
intermediate leg 152 is received into the intermediate slot 30c),
as shown in FIG. 7B. The divider wall 10 is continued to be
displaced towards the shelf assembly 12 until one or both of the
first step bottom edge 97 and the second step bottom edge 96
contacts an upper surface 164a of the shelf assembly 12 adjacent
the front slot 30a, and until one or both of the first step bottom
edge 144 and the second step bottom edge 146 contacts an upper
surface 164b of the shelf assembly 12 adjacent the rear slot 30b,
as illustrated in FIG. 7C. In addition, if appropriate, the divider
wall 10 is continued to be displaced towards the shelf assembly 12
until one or both of the first step bottom edge 144 and the second
step bottom edge 146 of the intermediate leg 152 contacts an upper
surface 164c of the shelf assembly 12 adjacent the intermediate
slot 30c.
[0082] When the first front leg 22 and the rear leg 28 (and, if
appropriate, the intermediate leg 152) are fully inserted into the
front slot 30a and the rear slot 30b (and the intermediate slot
30c), respectively, the divider wall 10 is released and is allowed
to displace towards the front end 32 under the influence of (or
with the assistance of) gravity. Eventually, a portion of the
perimeter surface 66 that is bounded by the first side edge 90 of
the first front leg 22 comes into contact with a forward wall 166a
that partially defines the front slot 30a, thereby preventing
further forward displacement of the divider wall 10 within the slot
30a. At this time, a portion of the perimeter surface 66 that is
bounded by the first side edge 136 of the rear leg 28 may come into
contact with (or may be closely adjacent to) a forward wall 166b
that defines the rear slot 30b, and, if appropriate, a portion of
the perimeter surface 66 that is bounded by the first side edge 136
of the intermediate leg 152 may come into contact with (or may be
closely adjacent to) a forward wall 166c that defines the
intermediate slot 30c. So positioned, as illustrated in FIG. 7D,
the undersurface 34a of the shelf assembly 12 adjacent the front
slot 30a is in contact with or immediately adjacent to the
engagement protrusion 26 of the first front leg 22. More
specifically, the undersurface 34 of the shelf assembly 12 is in
contact with or immediately adjacent to the portion of the
perimeter surface 66 that is bounded by the top engagement edge 102
of the engagement protrusion 26. With the undersurface 34 in
contact with or immediately adjacent to the top engagement edge 102
of the engagement protrusion 26, the divider wall 10 is prevented
from upwardly displacing relative to the shelf assembly 12, thereby
securing the divider wall 10 to the shelf assembly 12.
[0083] To disengage the divider wall 10 from the shelf assembly 12,
the divider wall 10 is horizontally displaced towards the rear end
33 of the shelf assembly 12 until the top engagement edge 102 of
the engagement protrusion 26 is no longer in contact with or
immediately adjacent to the undersurface 34 of the shelf assembly
12, as illustrated in FIG. 7C. In this position, the divider wall
10 may be upwardly displaced relative to the shelf assembly 12 such
that the first front leg 22 is no longer received into the front
slot 30a and the rear leg 28 is no longer received into the rear
slot 30b (and, if appropriate, the intermediate leg 152 is no
longer received into the intermediate slot 30c), as shown in FIGS.
7A and 7B.
[0084] In embodiments having a first front leg 22a and a second
front leg 22b, as illustrated in FIG. 3F, each of the first front
leg 22a and the second front leg 22b are aligned with a
corresponding front slot 30a as shown in FIG. 7A and as described
above. A rear leg 28a (and a second rear leg 28b, if applicable) is
aligned with a corresponding rear slot 30b and, if applicable, an
intermediate leg 152a is aligned with a corresponding intermediate
slot 30c. The first front leg 22a and the second front leg 22b are
inserted into the corresponding front slots 30a as previously
described and as illustrated in FIG. 7A, and under the influence of
gravity, the divider wall 10 translates towards the front end 32 of
the shelf assembly 12 such that a portion of the perimeter surface
129a of the first front leg 22a that is bounded by the first side
edge 90a comes into contact with a forward wall 166a that partially
defines the first corresponding front slot 30a and a portion of a
perimeter surface 129b of the second front leg 22b that is bounded
by the first side edge 90b comes into contact with a forward wall
166a that partially defines the second corresponding front slot
30a, as illustrated in FIG. 7D. At this time, a portion of a
perimeter surface that is bounded by the first side edge 136a of
the rear leg 28a may come into contact with (or may be closely
adjacent to) a forward wall 166b that defines a second
corresponding rear slot 30b, and a portion of a perimeter surface
that is bounded by the first side edge 136b of the second rear leg
28b may come into contact with (or may be closely adjacent to) a
forward wall 166b that defines a corresponding rear slot 30b.
Additionally, if applicable, a portion of a perimeter surface that
is bounded by the first side edge 136 of the corresponding
intermediate leg 152 may come into contact with (or may be closely
adjacent to) a forward wall 166c that defines the intermediate slot
30c.
[0085] So positioned, the undersurface 34 of the shelf assembly 12
adjacent the front slots 30a is in contact with or immediately
adjacent to the engagement protrusion 26a, 26b of each of the first
front leg 22a and the second front leg 22b. More specifically, the
undersurface 34 of the shelf assembly 12 is in contact with or
immediately adjacent to the portion of a perimeter surface 129a,
129b that is bounded by the top engagement edge 102a, 102b of the
each of the engagement protrusions 26a, 26b of the first front leg
22a and the second front leg 22b. With the undersurface 34 in
contact with or immediately adjacent to the top engagement edges
102a, 102b of the engagement protrusions 26a, 26b, the divider wall
10 is prevented from upwardly displacing relative to the shelf
assembly 12, thereby securing the divider wall 10 to the shelf
assembly 12.
[0086] When secured to the shelf assembly 12 as described, the
engagement protrusion 26, 26a, 26b prevents the accidental or
inadvertent disengagement of the divider wall 10 from the shelf
assembly 12. In addition, the simple disengagement and
gravity-driven engagement provides for quick and efficient
reconfigurations (or initial configurations) of a shelf assembly 12
to accommodate desired containers of various sizes. Moreover, the
rigidifying portion 64 that horizontally extends along the wall
portion 14 increases the stiffness of the divider wall 10 to more
effectively resist lateral loads caused by shifting containers
while maintaining an ultra-thin profile. In addition, the use of
both a first front leg 22a and a second front leg 22b, particularly
in conjunction with the use of an intermediate leg 152, increases
the engagement strength between the divider wall 10 and the shelf
assembly 12 to effectively prevent damage to or disengagement of
the divider wall 10 when relatively large containers subject the
divider wall to lateral loads.
[0087] The divider wall 10, including subcomponents such as the
first front legs 22a, 22, for example, may be formed from a steel
blank. In addition, the rigidifying portion 64 of the wall portion
14 and/or the leg transition portion 120a of the first front leg
22a (and other similarly formed transition portions) may be formed
in one or more secondary bending operations. However, other
materials or manufacturing process may be used to form the divider
wall 10 and appropriate subcomponents, including forming all or
part of the divider wall 10 of injection-molded plastic.
[0088] While various embodiments have been described above, this
disclosure is not intended to be limited thereto. Variations can be
made to the disclosed embodiments that are still within the scope
of the appended claims.
* * * * *