Patent Grant
7306106
This invention relates generally to a cooler, and, more particularly, to a door shelf device for a transparent cooler door.
Upright coolers in supermarkets and convenience stores typically have transparent glass doors so that the products inside are visible. It is now common to use the inside of the door for shelving as is done in household refrigerators. Door shelving fits against the door so that the product containers are visible, however the product labels do not always face forward for easy identification of the product. Some shelves have a small area for affixing product identification, but such small areas lack the impact needed, especially for impulse purchases. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to have a door shelf with a large area for product labeling and identification.
A display shelf which employs a mounting or support panel for attachment to one face of a transparent wall is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,433. The display shelf has a floor which projects from the top edge of the support panel and a containment wall which projects upwardly from the floor. The support panel does not extend above the floor in the area which supports displayed product so that the product is visible through the transparent wall. Advertising material may be displayed on the support panel below the floor, and the containment wall and/or floor may be appropriately shaped to provide individual compartments for each unit of product displayed. The display shelf is supported on a cooler door by suction cups which anchor in openings in flanges wherein one opening is above the floor and the other opening is below the floor. Advertising on the support panel cannot be changed while the shelf is attached to the cooler door because the lower openings and suction cups block access. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to have a display shelf device that allows the advertising to be changed while the shelf device is attached to the cooler door.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to the present invention, a shelf device for a vertical surface of a cooler door comprises a bottom panel having front, rear, left and right side edge portions. A left mounting flange is connected to the bottom panel along the left side edge portion and extends upward therefrom. The left mounting flange defines a left recess. A right mounting flange is connected to the bottom panel along the right side edge portion and extends upward therefrom. The right mounting flange defines a right recess. An upstanding partition panel is connected to the bottom panel and the left and right mounting flanges forming a plurality of compartments along the bottom panel. A plurality of vertically extending ribs are formed at junctions of the compartments with each rib defining a slot. A display panel insert is received in the slots of the ribs and extends laterally toward the left and right recesses of the mounting flanges.
The shelf device utilizes space in the cooler that would otherwise be wasted. The shelf device increases visual appeal and places product identification at the door where it is more readily seen than that on the containers further back in the cooler. The display panel insert is slidably received by the slots in the ribs with ends of the insert disposed in the recesses of the flanges. Because the shelf device is supported via openings in the flanges above and below the display panel and is spaced from the door by suction cups, the insert can be inserted and removed while the shelf device is mounted on the cooler door. The recesses allow the display panel to be inserted and removed but retains the insert against inadvertent removal.
A partition panel is connected to the bottom panel and both mounting flanges dividing the bottom panel into a plurality of compartments. A plurality of vertically extending ribs are attached to the partition panel at junctions of adjacent compartments. A display panel is spaced from the bottom panel and attached to the ribs and extends laterally between the flanges.
The slots and recesses allow the display panel insert to fit flush with the mounting flanges. Positioning the display panel above the bottom panel creates a space for improved air circulation. Ventilation openings also promote increased air flow.
These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate similar or identical features that are common to the figures.
Referring to
Shelf device 10 has a bottom panel 12 with front, rear, left and right side edge portions. A left mounting flange 14 is connected to bottom panel 12 along the front and left side edge portions and extends upward therefrom. Upstanding left mounting flange 14 preferably has a pair of slotted openings or keyways 16 therein vertically spaced from one another and adapted to mount and support the shelf device in conjunction with suction cups or the like. Left flange 14 has a slot or recess 18 preferably positioned between the keyways 16 above bottom panel 12, but which can be located at any point along left flange 14.
Similarly, a right mounting flange 20 is connected to bottom panel 12 along the front and right side edge portions and extends upward therefrom. Upstanding right mounting flange 20 preferably has a pair of slotted openings or keyways 22 therein vertically spaced from one another and adapted to mount and support the shelf device in conjunction with suction cups or the like. While suction cups are preferred, an adhesive or other connecting or attaching means may be used where the shelf device is to be installed and there is no need to change the display panel insert 32. Right flange 20 has a slot or recess 24 preferably positioned between the keyways 22 above bottom panel 12, but which can be disposed at any point along right flange 20. Preferably, the front faces of the mounting flanges are flush with the front edge of bottom panel 14. The recesses 18, 24 of mounting flanges 14, 20 may contain bores for accepting screws, adhesive or other fasteners. Alternatively, the bores may be omitted and an adhesive used as a fastener.
A partition panel 26 is connected to bottom panel 12 and the left and right mounting flanges 14, 20 dividing bottom panel 12 into a plurality of compartments. Panel 26 extends upward from bottom panel 12. As illustrated, the compartments are curved to fit the contour of beverage bottles, but can be contoured to fit other container shapes. Preferably, a bridging member 30 spans the spaces at the top between the outside curves of the compartments. Also, where desired, bottom panel 12 can extend between similar spaces at the bottom of the outside curves of the compartments.
A supporting rib 28 is formed at the junction of adjacent segments of partition panel 24 and is preferably flush with the front edge of bottom panel 12.
A flexible display panel insert 32 is seated in the left and right mounting flanges 14, 20 in their respective recesses 18, 24. Display panel insert 32 is spaced from bottom panel 12 and is not required to contribute to the support of the shelf device 10. The spacing improves air circulation. Each rib 28 has top and bottom flanges, protrusions or lips 34, 36 forming a slot for slidably receiving a display panel insert 38. Each lip or protrusion may be a single lip or may be a series of shorter lips extending laterally across display panel 32. A single lip provides a continuous profile for aesthetic appeal. The lips prevent the insert from falling forward toward the cooler door. While the display panel insert is flexible, it does not have to flex to provide a vertical force fit because the lips retain the display panel insert in the slots. Flange recesses do not extend across the entire faces of the flanges to retain display panel insert in the slot behind the lips.
Partition panel 26 is connected to bottom panel 12 and the left and right mounting flanges 14, 20 dividing bottom panel 12 into a plurality of compartments. Panel 26 extends upward from bottom panel 12. The front edge of bottom panel 12 is flush with the left and right ends of partition panel 26 and flush with the front faces of left and right flanges 14, 20. As illustrated, the compartments are curved to fit the contour of beverage cans or bottles, but can be contoured to fit other container configurations. A bridging member 30 spans spaces at the top between the outside curves of the compartments giving a more finished appearance and increasing structural integrity. Also, where desired, bottom panel 12 can extend between similar spaces at the bottom of the outside curves of the compartments.
While the invention has been described with particular reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements of the preferred embodiments without departing from invention. For example, a display shelf device with three compartments for holding three beverage containers has been illustrated, but any number of compartments can be formed to fit the width of the cooler door. It is accordingly intended that the claims shall cover all such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.
This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 10/990,815 filed Nov. 17, 2004, entitled “cooler Door Shelf Device” and is related to commonly assigned co-pending application Ser. No. 10/929,975 filed Aug. 20, 2004 entitled “Cooler Door Shelf Device With Removable Product Panel”; Ser. No. 10/944,246, filed Sep. 16, 2004 entitled “Cooler Door Shelf Device With Stick-On Display Panels”; Ser. No. 10/944,295, filed Sep. 16, 2004 entitled “Cooler Door Shelf Device With Raised Panels”; Ser. No. 10/947,467, filed Sep. 22, 2004, entitled “Neck-Hanging Cooler Door Shelf Device”; and Ser. No. 10/947,472, filed Sep. 22, 2004, entitled “Vented Cooler Door Shelf Device”.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20060102572 A1 | May 2006 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10990815 | Nov 2004 | US |
| Child | 11196014 | US |
