Patent Grant
7448504
This invention relates to a shelf device for a cooler, and more particularly, to a device for more fully utilizing space in the cooler.
In a cold vault or other cooler, shelves are used to display containers such as beverage bottles and cans. Gravity feed shelves urge a lead container to the front of the shelf for removal by a consumer. The shelves are attached to vertical upright posts for support and are divided so that the containers are arranged in columns. A column cannot exit behind a post so that there is unused spaced at each side edge of a shelf. While space in a cooler has always been at a premium, it is even more critical today. Energy conservation concerns require a more efficient use of the cooled space in a cooler. It is desirable to have a shelf device for a cooler that utilizes previously unused space.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the present the invention, a shelf device for a cooler comprises an upright left front frame member and an upright right front frame member spaced from the left front frame member, and an upright left rear frame member and an upright right frame member spaced from the left rear frame member. The left front frame member is also spaced from the left rear frame member, and the right front frame member is also spaced from the right rear frame member. A shelf, attached to the front and rear frame members, has a central panel, a front edge portion extending transversely from the central panel through a space between the left and right front frame members, a rear edge portion extending transversely from the central panel through a space between the left and right rear frame members, a left edge portion extending laterally from the central panel through a space between the left front frame member and the left rear frame member, and a right edge portion extending laterally from the central panel through a space between the right front frame member and the right rear frame member. A left guide panel extends from the left edge portion toward the front edge portion creating a left diagonal channel, and a right guide panel extends from the right edge portion toward the front edge portion creating a right diagonal channel.
The diagonal channels form a pathway for containers from behind the upright posts to the front of the shelf for removal. Prior to moving through the diagonal channels, containers reside in the space between posts that was heretofore not used for containers.
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
Referring to
A shelf 22 is attached to the front and rear frame members for holding containers 24 in an upright position. Shelf 22 has a central panel 26, and a front edge portion 28 extending transversely from the central panel 26 through a space between the left and right front frame members 14, 16. A rear edge portion 30 extends transversely from the central panel 26 through a space between the left and right rear frame members 18, 20. A left edge portion 32 extends laterally from the central panel 26 through a space between the left front frame member 14 and the left rear frame member 18. A right edge portion 34 extends laterally from the central panel 26 through a space between the right front frame member 16 and the right rear frame member 20.
Shelf 22 is divided into channels 36 which arrange containers 24 into columns extending from front to rear on the shelf. A left guide panel 38 extends from the left edge portion 32 toward the front edge portion 28 creating a left diagonal channel. The left diagonal channel directs containers on left edge portion 32 behind left front frame member 14 into the left main channel for exiting between front frame members 14, 16. A right guide panel 40 extends from the right edge portion 34 toward the front edge portion 28 creating a right diagonal channel. The right diagonal channel directs containers on right edge portion 34 behind right front frame member 16 into the right main channel for exiting between front frame members 14, 16.
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. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details of the examples illustrated, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications will occur to those skilled in the art. 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.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20080000852 A1 | Jan 2008 | US |
