US 6,332,547 B1 · Indexable gravity flow shelving system

Abstract

An indexable gravity flow shelving system provides resilient comb members along the front and rear rails of each inclined shelf to removably and releasably secure track members to the inclined shelf. Each resilient comb includes a row of downwardly-extending tangs that define slots therebetween to receive elongated flow ribs extending the length of the upper surface of each track member. The tangs contact the sides of the elongated flow ribs and prevent transverse movement of the track members. The spacing of the tangs allow for the shelving system to be used effectively with track members besides track members having elongated flow ribs. The resilient comb members deform and rebound to readily allow for rearrangement of track members within each inclined shelf. The resilient comb members can cooperate with price tag moldings along the front and rear rails of the inclined shelf. The price tag moldings provide means for mounting labeling indicia in close proximity to columns of product units stored on the shelf, as well as means for receiving stop plates along the front and, if desired, the rear of the shelf to prevent unwanted spillage of product units. A desirable alternate embodiment utilizes adapter means to allow retrofitting an existing cantilevered gondola-type shelf with resilient comb members to form front and rear track interface means and convert the existing shelf into an indexable gravity flow shelf.

Claims40

Dependent claims

An indexable shelf comprising a front flexible track securement means and a rear flexible track securement means, each of said front and rear flexible track securement means comprising a resilient comb member having a plurality of track member receiving apertures, each of said resilient comb members being adapted to deform in a direction away from the opposite of said resilient comb members to releasably receive a portion of a track member, and being further adapted to spring back so as to restrain a track member received in said indexable shelf against transverse movement relative to the indexable shelf.

An indexable shelf for a gravity flow shelving system comprising:

a front track interface means including a plurality of downwardly-extending, rearwardly-projecting front rail resilient tangs, each pair of adjacent said front rail resilient tangs defining a slot therebetween;
a rear track interface means including a plurality of downwardly-extending, forwardly-projecting rear rail resilient tangs and each pair of adjacent said rear rail resilient tangs defining a slot therebetween;
a pair of side rails extending between said front and rear track interface means;
means for mounting said indexable shelf on vertical support members of a shelf rack at an inclined angle;
at least one track member having a lower surface and an upper surface having plurality of upwardly-extending elongated ribs along the length of said upper surface, said track member being removably located and extending between said front and rear track interface means, each of said upwardly-extending elongated ribs engaging one of said slots defined by said front rail resilient tangs and one of said slots defined by said rear rail resilient tangs, whereby lateral movement of said track member is prevented.

2 more elements

A method for indexably arranging a track member including a flat track strip having an upper surface, a lower surface, a plurality of elongated flow ribs extending substantially the length of said upper surface of the flat track strip, and a vertical track wall member extending substantially the length of said upper surface, in an indexable shelf for a gravity flow shelving system comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning a leading edge of said vertical track wall member against a front track interface means of said shelf, said front track interface means including a plurality of downwardly-extending, rearwardly-projecting front rail resilient tangs, each pair of adjacent said front rail resilient tangs defining a slot therebetween and each of said slots including a peak;
(b) aligning each of said elongated ribs of said track member with a corresponding one of said slots, with said leading edge of the vertical track wall member in contact with the peak of one of said slots;
(c) applying force to said track member in a direction of said front track interface means, thereby causing a region of said front track interface means to temporarily deform in a forward direction, until said flat track strip passes below said resilient tangs, whereupon said elongated ribs are received in said corresponding slots and said front track interface means returns to its original shape;
(d) applying force substantially perpendicularly to a rear end of said track member and toward a rear track interface means including a plurality of downwardly-extending, forwardly-projecting rear rail resilient tangs, and each pair of adjacent said rear rail resilient tangs defining a rear slot therebetween, thereby causing said rear track interface means to temporarily deform in a rearward direction until said flat track strip passes below said rear rail resilient tangs, whereupon said elongated ribs are received in said corresponding rear slots and said rear track interface means returns to its original shape, whereby transverse movement of said track member is prevented.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Indexable gravity flow shelving system

Life of this patent

Indexable gravity flow shelving system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims40