Sliding shelf containment system and method
OwnerGerald W. Pirklinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Mechanisms and methods to install upper restrictive barriers onto existing pull-out shelves to prevent or decrease the likelihood of the shelf contents from falling over the back or sides of the shelf.
Claims20
A kit to be retro-fit onto a sliding shelf, wherein the sliding shelf includes a bottom area and a plurality of walls that form a containment perimeter of the sliding shelf to a first height above the bottom area, wherein each wall of the plurality of walls has an inward-facing surface and an outward-facing surface, wherein each wall of the plurality of walls has a plane that passes vertically through the wall, wherein the kit is configured to increase the first height of the containment perimeter to a second height above the bottom area, and
- wherein the kit comprises:
- a plurality of straight vertical containment-member supports including a first containment-member support and a second containment-member support,
- wherein each respective containment-member support of the plurality of containment-member supports has an inward-facing surface and an outward-facing surface,
- wherein each respective containment-member support has holes for receiving a plurality of fasteners, and
- wherein each respective containment-member support is configured to be attached, using the plurality of fasteners, to the inward-facing surface of a respective wall of the plurality of walls such that an entirety of the respective straight containment-member support extends along a line that parallels the plane of the respective wall;
- and
- a plurality of overlapping containment members including a first containment member and a second containment member, wherein each respective one of the plurality of overlapping containment members include a first flat piece and a second flat piece that each have a planar shape such that each respective one of the plurality of overlapping containment members forms a panel that overlaps the first flat piece and the second flat piece,
- wherein at least the first containment member is configured to be affixed to at least the first containment-member support,
- wherein each one of the plurality of containment members has holes for receiving a plurality of fasteners,
- wherein the first flat piece of each one of the plurality of overlapping containment members is configured to be attached directly to a respective wall of the sliding shelf, and
- wherein the second flat piece of each one of the plurality of overlapping containment members is configured to be attached to the respective wall with one of the plurality of containment-member supports located between the second flat piece and the respective wall.
An apparatus for containing objects on a sliding shelf, wherein the sliding shelf includes a bottom area and a plurality of walls that form a containment perimeter of the sliding shelf to a first height above the bottom area, wherein each wall of the plurality of walls has an inward-facing surface and an outward-facing surface, and
- wherein the apparatus comprises:
- at least a first spacer strip, wherein the first spacer strip has an inward-facing surface and an outward-facing surface;
- at least a first containment member, wherein the first containment member includes a first flat piece and a second flat piece that each have a planar shape such that the first containment member forms a panel that overlaps the first flat piece and the second flat piece,
- wherein the first containment member is configured to be affixed to at least the first spacer strip,
- wherein the first flat piece of the first containment member is configured to be attached directly to a respective wall of the sliding shelf, and
- wherein the second flat piece of the containment member is configured to be attached to the respective wall with the first spacer strip located between the second flat piece and the respective wall.
A method for installing a containment system onto a sliding shelf, wherein the sliding shelf includes a bottom area and a plurality of walls that form a containment perimeter of the sliding shelf to a first height above the bottom area, wherein each wall of the plurality of walls has an inward-facing surface and an outward-facing surface, wherein each wall of the plurality of walls has a plane that passes vertically through the wall, wherein the containment system is configured to increase the first height of the containment perimeter to a second height above the bottom area, wherein the containment system includes:
- at least a first containment-member support,
- wherein the first containment-member support has an inward-facing surface and an outward-facing surface,
- wherein the inward-facing surface of the first containment-member support includes glue,
- at least a first containment member, wherein the first containment member includes a first flat piece and a second flat piece that each have a planar shape such that the first containment member is configured to forms a panel that overlaps the first flat piece and the second flat piece, wherein the first flat piece and the second flat piece each have an inward-facing surface and an outward-facing surface,
- the method comprising:
- measuring the sliding shelf to determine a spacing for the first containment member;
- marking the spacing for the first containment member on the sliding shelf;
- attaching, using the glue, the inner surface of the first containment-member support to the outward-facing surface of the second flat piece at a support location where the second flat piece does not overlap the first flat piece;
- removably affixing, using a first plurality of fasteners, the first flat piece to the second flat piece at an overlap location where the first flat piece overlaps the second flat piece to form the panel;
- removably affixing, using the first plurality of fasteners, the overlap location of the panel to the inner surface of a respective wall of the plurality of walls;
- and
- removably affixing, using a second plurality of fasteners, the support location of the outward-facing surface of the second flat piece to the respective wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.