# US 11,076,690 B2 · Shelving display system

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- Number: US 11,076,690 B2
- Document ID: US11076690B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/477,624
- Filed: 2018-01-30
- Published: 2019-11-28
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2017-01-30
- Assignees: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
- Applicants: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
- Inventors: Edwin Sudds; Jerome Morgen; Jakob Loeschke
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076690B2

## CPC

- A47B 47/00: Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features related to dismountability or building-up from elements (A47B43/00, A47B45/00 take precedence; features for adjusting shelves or partitions A47B57/00)
- A47B 47/0066: {Formed panels connected without frames (for panels mainly made of wood or plastic A47B47/042)}
- A47B 87/0246: {Shelves stackable by means of separate vertical distance-holders therebetween (A47B87/0223 takes precedence)}
- A47F 5/10: Adjustable or foldable {or dismountable} display stands {(foldable racks in general A47B43/00; dismountable racks in general A47B47/00; assemblies of elements of the same kind, e.g. stackable A47B87/00; publicity panels G09F15/0068)}
- A47B 47/047: {Modular arrangements of similar assemblies of elements}
- A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B)
- A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS

## Abstract

A shelving display system including a first shelf with left and right end portions is disclosed. The left and right end portions engage with left and right endcaps, each including a support structure for the left and right end portions of the shelf. The support structures may include slot recesses, each including a first and second slanted portion one of which engages an end portion of the shelf. The endcaps may include complementary protrusions and grooves configured for slideable engagement with one another such that the endcaps form a stacked configuration. The protrusions may include first and second tongues constructed and dimensioned such that during an assembly step when the protrusions are advanced through the complementary grooves, the first and second tongues deflect from a resting configuration to an assembled configuration. The endcaps may include an interlocking mechanism. The endcaps may have an alignment system including rails and depressions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A shelving display system, comprising:
a first shelf having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first and second end portions are on opposite ends of the first shelf;
a first endcap having a first face, a second face, a third face, and a fourth face,
wherein the first face is on an opposite side of the first endcap from the second face, and the third face is on an opposite side of the first endcap from the fourth face,
wherein the first face includes a first support structure comprising a first slot recess, wherein the first end portion of the first shelf is configured to slideably engage and be inserted within the first slot recess, and
wherein the first slot recess comprises a center, a first slanted portion and a second slanted portion each inclined upwardly from the center, a third slanted portion and a fourth slanted portion each inclined downwardly from the center respectively, wherein the first slanted portion is symmetrical to the second slanted portion about a vertical axis, and the third slanted portion is symmetrical to the fourth slanted portion about the vertical axis,
a second endcap having a fifth face, a sixth face, a seventh face, and an eighth face,
wherein the fifth face is on an opposite side of the second endcap from the sixth face, and the seventh face is on an opposite side of the second endcap from the eighth face,
wherein the fifth face includes a second support structure comprising a second slot recess, wherein the second end portion of the first shelf is configured to slideably engage and be inserted within the second slot recess,
wherein the second slot recess is substantially identical to the first slot recess, wherein the second slot recess comprises a fifth slanted portion substantially identical to the first slanted portion, a sixth slanted portion substantially identical to the second slanted portion, and at least one of a seventh slanted portion and an eighth slanted portion substantially identical to the at least one of a third slanted portion and a fourth slanted portion respectively, wherein the fifth slanted portion is symmetrical to the sixth slanted portion about a vertical axis, and
wherein the first end portion is configured to be inserted within and slideably engageable with either the first slanted portion or the second slanted portion,
wherein the second end portion is configured to be inserted within and slideably engageable with either the fifth slanted portion or the sixth slanted portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The shelving display system of claim 1,
wherein the third face includes a first protrusion,
wherein the fourth face includes a first groove complementary to the first protrusion and sized to slideably engage a third protrusion of a third endcap, where the third protrusion is substantially identical to the first protrusion,
wherein the seventh face includes a second protrusion substantially identical to the first protrusion, and
wherein the eighth face includes a second groove substantially identical to the first groove.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The shelving display system of claim 2, further comprising a first header and a second header attached to the first endcap and second endcap, respectively,
wherein the first header includes a first structure engaged with one of the first protrusion or first groove, and the second header includes a second structure engaged with one of the second protrusion or the second groove.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The shelving display system of claim 3, further comprising a light source attached to at least one of the headers or endcaps, wherein wires providing power to the light source are at least partially hidden within at least one of the endcaps.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The shelving display system of claim 2,
wherein the first groove extends through a surface of at least one of the first or second faces,
wherein the first groove includes a first width W1 at the surface of the fourth face, and a second width W2 greater than the first width W1 in an interior of the first groove,
wherein the first protrusion has a third width W3 at the surface of the third face,
wherein the first protrusion has a fourth width W4 greater than the third width W3 at a distance away from the third face, and
wherein the third width W3 is less than or equal to the first width W1, and the fourth width W4 is less than or equal to the second width W2.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The shelving display system of claim 5, further comprising a third endcap having a third groove substantially identical to the first groove of the first endcap,
wherein a portion of the first protrusion having the fourth width W4 greater than the third width W3 comprises a first tongue, and
wherein the first tongue is constructed and dimensioned such that during an assembly step when the first protrusion is advanced through the third groove, the first tongue deflects from a resting configuration to an assembled configuration as a portion of the third endcap slides between the first tongue and the third face.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The shelving display system of claim 6,
wherein the portion of the first protrusion having the fourth width W4 greater than the third width W3 further comprises a second tongue, and
wherein the second tongue is constructed and dimensioned such that during an assembly step when the first protrusion is advanced through the third groove, the second tongue deflects from a resting configuration to an assembled configuration as a portion of the third endcap slides between the second tongue and the third face.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The shelving display system of claim 2,
wherein the first protrusion protrudes from a base of a first depression on the third face,
wherein the first groove is set in a surface of a first rail, and
wherein the first depression is complementary in shape to the first rail and is sized to slideably engage the first rail.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The shelving display system of claim 1, further comprising an interlocking mechanism having a first nub on the third face and a second nub on the fourth face.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The shelving display system of claim 9, further comprising a third endcap having a third nub substantially identical to the second nub
wherein the first nub is constructed and dimensioned such that during an assembly step when the third nub is advanced past the first nub, both the first and third nubs deflect from a resting configuration to a deflected configuration as the first and third nubs slide past each other to achieve an assembled state, and
wherein both the first and third nubs return to the resting configuration in the assembled state.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The shelving display system of claim 1, further comprising a third endcap substantially identical to the first endcap and engaged with the first endcap, wherein the first and third endcaps are offset from one another.

### Claim 12

A shelving display system, including at least one unit, each unit comprising:
a first shelf having first and second ends;
first and second endcaps, each including an inward facing surface removably engageable with the respective first and second ends,
wherein the first and second endcaps each include at least one protrusion on one of a top surface or a bottom surface of each of the endcaps,
wherein the first and second endcaps each include at least one groove on a corresponding opposite side of each corresponding endcap from the at least one protrusion of each corresponding endcap,
wherein the grooves are complementary in shape to the protrusions and sized to slideably engage substantially identical protrusions on other endcaps,
wherein each groove extends through to one of the inward facing surface or an outward facing surface on an opposite side of each endcap from the inward facing surface of each endcap respectively,
wherein each groove includes a first width W1 at the exterior of each groove, and a second width W2 greater than the first width W1 in an interior of each groove respectively,
wherein each protrusion includes a third width W3 at the respective inwardly facing surface or outward facing surface of each endcap respectively,
wherein each protrusion includes a fourth width W4 greater than the third width W3 at a distance away from the respective inwardly facing surface or outward facing surface of each endcap respectively, and
wherein the third width W3 is less than or equal to the first width W1, and the fourth width W4 is less than or equal to the second width W2.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The shelving display system of claim 12, wherein the at least one unit comprises a plurality of units,
wherein each unit engages a corresponding adjacent unit
wherein portions of the protrusions having the fourth width W4 greater than the third width W3, on each of the units, comprises first and second tongues constructed and dimensioned such that when the protrusions of a first unit are advanced through the complementary grooves of a second unit, the first and second tongues deflect from a resting configuration to an assembled configuration as a portion of the second unit slides between the tongues of the first unit.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The shelving display system of claim 13,
wherein the protrusions each protrude from bases of depressions on the respective endcaps,
wherein the grooves are each set in surfaces of rails on the respective endcaps,
wherein the depressions are complementary in shape to the rails and are sized to slideably engage the rails, and
wherein the depressions of the first unit are aligned with the rails of the second unit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The shelving display of claim 13,
wherein the top and bottom surfaces of the endcaps of the plurality of units each has at least one nub,
wherein the nubs are constructed and dimensioned such that nubs on the first unit are advanced past nubs on the second unit, and both nubs deflect from a resting configuration to a deflected configuration as the nubs slide past one other to achieve an assembled state, and
wherein the nubs are configured to return to the resting configuration in the assembled state.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The shelving display system of claim 12, wherein the at least one unit comprises a plurality of units,
wherein each unit engages an adjacent unit,
wherein the inward facing surfaces of the endcaps of the units each include a support structure including a slot recess comprising
a first slanted portion engaged with one of the first or second ends of the shelf of the respective unit, and
a second slanted portion symmetrical to the first slanted portion about a vertical axis.

### Claim 17

An endcap for a shelving display, comprising:
a first face, a second face, a third face, and a fourth face,
wherein the endcap is a first endcap,
wherein the first face is on an opposite side of the first endcap from the second face, and the third face is on an opposite side of the first endcap from the fourth face,
wherein the first face includes a first slot recess comprising a center, a first slanted portion and a second slanted portion each inclined upwardly from the center, a third slanted portion and a fourth slanted portion each inclined downwardly from the center respectively, wherein the second slanted portion is symmetrical to the first slanted portion about a vertical axis, and the third slanted portion is symmetrical to the fourth slanted portion about the vertical axis,
wherein a first end portion of a shelf is slideably engageable to either the first slanted portion or the second slanted portion,
wherein the third face includes a first protrusion,
wherein the fourth face includes a first groove complementary to the first protrusion and sized to slideably engage a second protrusion on a second endcap, where the second protrusion is substantially identical to the first protrusion, and
wherein the first endcap is substantially symmetrical about a vertical axis.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The endcap of claim 17,
wherein the first protrusion protrudes from a base of a first depression on the third face,
wherein the first groove is set in a surface of a first rail on the fourth face, and
wherein the first depression is complementary in shape to the first rail and is sized to slideably engage a second rail on a second endcap that is substantially identical to the first rail.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The endcap of claim 17, further comprising an interlocking mechanism having a first nub on the third face and a second nub on the fourth face.

### Claim 20

A shelving display system, comprising:
a first shelf having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first and second end portions are on opposite ends of the first shelf;
a first endcap having a first face, a second face, a third face, and a fourth face,
wherein the first face is on an opposite side of the first endcap from the second face, and the third face is on an opposite side of the first endcap from the fourth face,
wherein the first face includes a first support structure comprising a first slot recess, and
wherein the first slot recess includes a first slanted portion, wherein the first end portion of the first shelf is configured to slideably engage and be inserted within the first slot recess,
a second endcap having a fifth face, a sixth face, a seventh face, and an eighth face,
wherein the fifth face is on an opposite side of the second endcap from the sixth face, and the seventh face is on an opposite side of the second endcap from the eighth face,
wherein the fifth face includes a second support structure comprising a second slot recess,
wherein the second slot recess is substantially identical to the first slot recess, and comprises a second slanted portion substantially identical to the first slanted portion, and
wherein the second end portion of the first shelf is configured to slideably engage and be inserted within the second slot recess,
wherein the third face includes a first protrusion,
wherein the fourth face includes a first groove complementary to the first protrusion and sized to slideably engage a third protrusion of a third endcap, where the third protrusion is substantially identical to the first protrusion,
wherein the seventh face includes a second protrusion substantially identical to the first protrusion,
wherein the eighth face includes a second groove substantially identical to the first groove,
wherein the first groove extends through a surface of at least one of the first or second faces,
wherein the first groove includes a first width W1 at the surface of the fourth face, and a second width W2 greater than the first width W1 in an interior of the first groove,
wherein the first protrusion has a third width W3 at the surface of the third face,
wherein the first protrusion has a fourth width W4 greater than the third width W3 at a distance away from the third face, and
wherein the third width W3 is less than or equal to the first width W1, and the fourth width W4 is less than or equal to the second width W2.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The shelving display system of claim 20, further comprising a third endcap having a third groove substantially identical to the first groove of the first endcap,
wherein the portion of the first protrusion having the fourth width W4 greater than the third width W3 comprises a first tongue, and
wherein the first tongue is constructed and dimensioned such that during an assembly step when the first protrusion is advanced through the third groove, the first tongue deflects from a resting configuration to an assembled configuration as a portion of the third endcap slides between the first tongue and the third face.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The shelving display system of claim 21,
wherein the portion of the first protrusion having the fourth width W4 greater than the third width W3 further comprises a second tongue, and
wherein the second tongue is constructed and dimensioned such that during an assembly step when the first protrusion is advanced through the third groove, the second tongue deflects from a resting configuration to an assembled configuration as a portion of the third endcap slides between the second tongue and the third face.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The shelving display system of claim 20,
wherein the first protrusion protrudes from a base of a first depression on the third face,
wherein the first groove is set in a surface of a first rail, and
wherein the first depression is complementary in shape to the first rail and is sized to slideably engage the first rail.

### Claim 24

An endcap for a shelving display, comprising:
a first face, a second face, a third face, and a fourth face,
wherein the endcap is a first endcap,
wherein the first face is on an opposite side of the first endcap from the second face, and the third face is on an opposite side of the first endcap from the fourth face,
wherein the first face includes a first slot recess,
wherein the third face includes a first protrusion,
wherein the fourth face includes a first groove complementary to the first protrusion and sized to slideably engage a second protrusion on a second endcap, where the second protrusion is substantially identical to the first protrusion, and
wherein the endcap is substantially symmetrical about a vertical axis,
wherein the first protrusion protrudes from a base of a first depression on the third face,
wherein the first groove is set in a surface of a first rail on the fourth face, and
wherein the first depression is complementary in shape to the first rail and is sized to slideably engage a second rail on a second endcap that is substantially identical to the first rail.