FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure relates to the field of shelving assemblies. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a shelving assembly with shelving dividers.
BACKGROUND
Shelving assemblies are commonly used in, although not limited to, stores, warehouses, and other commercial establishments to display or store consumer products or other articles. Shelving assemblies sometimes include one or more shelving dividers to divide a shelf space into multiple regions.
SUMMARY
In accordance with one embodiment, a shelving divider includes a base plate having a main body with apertures, and a lip extending from the main body. The shelving divider further includes a center arm coupled to the base plate, a first side arm rotatably coupled to the center arm, and a second side arm rotatably coupled to the center arm.
In accordance with another embodiment, a shelving divider includes a base plate, a center arm fixed to the base plate, a first side arm rotatable relative to the center arm, and a second side arm rotatable relative to the center arm. The shelving divider is adjustable between a first configuration where the first side arm extends perpendicular to the center arm and the second side arm extends parallel to the center arm, a second configuration where the first side arm extends parallel to the center arm and the second side arm extends perpendicular to the center arm, and a third configuration where both the first and second side arms extend perpendicular to the center arm
Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top view of a shelving divider according to one embodiment, the shelving divider illustrated in a first configuration.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the shelving divider in the first configuration.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the shelving divider in the first configuration.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shelving divider in the first configuration.
FIG. 5 is a top view of the shelving divider of FIG. 1, the shelving divider illustrated in a second configuration.
FIG. 6 is a front view of the shelving divider in the second configuration.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the shelving divider in the second configuration.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the shelving divider in the second configuration.
FIG. 9 is a top view of the shelving divider of FIG. 1, the shelving divider illustrated in a third configuration.
FIG. 10 is a front view of the shelving divider in the third configuration.
FIG. 11 is a side view of the shelving divider in the third configuration.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the shelving divider in the third configuration.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a shelving assembly according to one embodiment, the shelving assembly including a shelf and the shelving divider of FIG. 1.
FIGS. 14 and 15 are perspective and enlarged perspective views, respectively, of an assembly process for coupling the shelving divider to the shelf.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the shelving assembly, illustrating a second shelving divider.
FIGS. 17 and 18 are perspective and enlarged perspective views, respectively, of an assembly process for coupling the second shelving divider to the shelf.
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the shelving assembly, illustrating a third shelving divider.
FIGS. 20 and 21 are perspective and enlarged perspective views, respectively, of an assembly process for coupling the third shelving divider to the shelf.
FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the shelving assembly, illustrating six shelving dividers coupled to the shelf.
Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of supporting other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limited.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1-12 illustrate a shelving divider 10. The shelving divider 10 is adjustable between various configurations. Depending upon the chosen configuration, the shelving divider 10 may be used to divide a shelf space into multiple regions, may be used as a shelf end on a first end of a shelf, or may be used as a shelf end on a second, opposite end of the shelf. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-12, the shelving divider 10 includes a base plate 14, a center arm 18 coupled to the base plate 14, a first side arm 22 rotatably coupled to the center arm 18, and a second side arm 26 rotatably coupled to the center arm 18.
The base plate 14 includes a main body portion 30 having four apertures 34 extending therethrough. The main body portion 30 is generally rectangular, although other embodiments include different profiles than that shown (e.g., circular, trapezoidal, etc.), as well as different numbers of apertures 34 than that shown (e.g., one, two, three, five, six, seven, eight, etc.) and different locations and patterns of apertures 34 than that shown. The base plate 14 includes a raised lip 38 extending from one end of the main body portion 30. Some embodiments do not include a raised lip 38, or include more than one raised lip 38, or include a raised lip or lips 38 having profiles other than that illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment the base plate 14 is made entirely from metal, although other embodiments include base plates 14 made only partially of metal or made entirely of a non-metal material (e.g., plastic, etc.).
With continued reference to FIGS. 1-12, a portion of the center arm 18 is coupled (e.g., welded) to the base plate 14 between the four apertures 34, with a remaining portion of the center arm 18 extending away from the base plate 14. The center arm 18 is in the form of an elongate metal wire frame. In other embodiments the center arm 18 is in the form of a thin plate or other elongate structure, and/or a structure made only partially of metal or entirely of a non-metal material (e.g., plastic, etc.). The center arm 18 has a generally trapezoidal profile, although other embodiments include different profiles than that shown (e.g., square, rectangular, triangular, etc.).
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the center arm 18 further includes connectors 42 that couple the first and second side arms 22, 26 to the center arm 18 and permit the first and second side arms 22, 26 to rotate relative to the center arm 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the connectors 42 are open, cylindrical tubes (e.g., metal) that receive ends 46 (e.g., cylindrical ends such as those illustrated in FIG. 4) of the first and second side arms 22, 26. Other embodiments include different types of connectors 42 than that shown (e.g., various types of hinge elements, bearings, etc. that permit rotation of the first and second side arms 22, 26 relative to the center arm 18). In some embodiments, the connectors 42 are disposed on or otherwise form part of the first and second side arms 22, 26, and the center arm 18 includes projections or other structures that are received by the connectors 42 on the first and second side arms 22, 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second side arms 22, 26 are each rotatable up to 90 degrees relative to the center arm 18 between the center arm 18 and the raised lip 38. Other embodiments include different values and ranges of rotation for the first and second side arms 22, 26 (e.g., up to 80 degrees, up to 100 degrees, etc.). The center arm 18 and raised lip 38 also serve to limit rotational travel of the respective arms 22, 26 beyond the aforementioned range.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1-12, the first and second side arms 22, 26 are each in the form of metal wires having a generally rectangular or C-shaped profile, and are equal in size and shape. In other embodiments the first and second side arms 22, 26 are made partially of metal, or entirely of a non-metal material (e.g., plastic). In some embodiments, the side arms 22, 26 are in the form of thin plates or other elongate structures, and/or have other profiles than that shown (e.g., square, rectangular, triangular, etc.). In some embodiments, the first side arm 22 has a different size and/or shape than the second side arm 26.
FIGS. 13-22 illustrate a shelving assembly 54 that includes a shelf 58 and one or more of the shelving dividers 10 described above releasably coupled to the shelf 58. The shelf 58 includes a first end 62, a second opposite end 66, and a main shelf platform 70 that extends between the first end 62 and the second end 66. The main shelf platform 70 is planar, although other embodiments include a non-planar main shelf platform 70, or various main shelf platforms 70 disposed between the first and second ends 62, 66. As illustrated in FIGS. 13-22, the main shelf platform 70 includes apertures 74 (e.g., rows of apertures 74).
With reference to FIGS. 13-15, one of the shelving dividers 10 may be coupled to the shelf 58 and used as a shelf end on the first end 62 of the shelf 58. To assemble the shelving divider 10 to the shelf 58, the first side arm 22 is rotated away from the center arm 18 until the first side arm 22 extends perpendicular to the center arm 18. The second side arm 26 is rotated toward the center arm 18 such that the second side arm 26 is positioned adjacent the center arm 18 and extends parallel to the center arm 18. The apertures 34 on the main body portion 30 of the base plate 14 are aligned with four of the apertures 74 on the main shelf platform 70 at the first end 62 of the shelf 58. Fasteners 78 (pins, screws, bolts, etc.) are then inserted through the apertures 34, 74 to lock (e.g., releasably lock) the shelving divider 10 to the shelf 58. The fasteners 78 include heads 82. Once the fasteners 78 have been inserted through the apertures 34, 74, the heads 82 block rotation of the first side arm 22 back toward the center arm 18, and block rotation of the second side arm 26 away from the center arm 18. Additionally, the raised lip 38 blocks rotation of the first side arm 22 further away from the center arm 18, and the center arm 18 itself blocks rotation of the second side arm 26 away from the heads 82. Thus, once the fasteners 78 have been inserted, the first and second side arms 22, 26 are rotationally restrained, and as illustrated in FIG. 15 the shelving divider 10 takes the form of a shelf end on the first end 62 of the shelf 58.
With reference to FIGS. 16-18, another one of the shelving dividers 10 (referenced as 10′) may be coupled to the shelf 58 and used a shelf end on the second end 66 of the shelf 58. To assemble the shelving divider 10′ to the shelf 58, the second side arm 26′ is rotated away from the center arm 18′ until the second side arm 26′ extends perpendicular to the center arm 18′. The first side arm 22′ is rotated toward the center arm 18′ such that the first side arm 22 is positioned adjacent the center arm 18′ and extends parallel to the center arm 18′. The apertures 34′ on the main body portion 30′ of the base plate 14′ are aligned with four of the apertures 74 on the main shelf platform 70 at the second end 66 of the shelf 58. Fasteners 78 (pins, screws, bolts, etc.) are then inserted through the apertures 34′, 74 to lock (e.g., releasably lock) the shelving divider 10′ to the shelf 58. As noted above, the fasteners 78 include heads 82. Once the fasteners 78 have been inserted through the apertures 34, 74, the heads 82 block rotation of the second side arm 26′ back toward the center arm 18′, and block rotation of the first side arm 22′ away from the center arm 18′. Additionally, the raised lip 38′ blocks rotation of the second side arm 26′ further away from the center arm 18′, and the center arm 18′ itself blocks rotation of the first side arm 22′ away from the heads 82. Thus, once the fasteners 78 have been inserted, the first and second side arms 22′, 26′ are rotationally restrained, and as illustrated in FIG. 18 the shelving divider 10′ takes the form of a shelf end on the second end 66 of the shelf 58.
With reference to FIGS. 19-21, another one of the shelving dividers 10 (referenced as 10″) may be coupled to the shelf 58 and used to divide the shelf 58 and the main shelf platform 70 into separate shelving spaces. To assemble the shelving divider 10′ to the shelf 58, the first side arm 22″ is rotated away from the center arm 18″ until the first side arm 22″ extends perpendicular to the center arm 18″. The second side arm 26″ is also rotated away from the center arm 18″ until the second side arm 26″ extends perpendicular to the center arm 18″. The apertures 34″ on the main body portion 30″ of the base plate 14″ are aligned with four of the apertures 74 on the main shelf platform 70 between the first and second ends 62, 66 of the shelf 58. Fasteners 78 (pins, screws, bolts, etc.) are then inserted through the apertures 34, 74 to lock (e.g., releasably lock) the shelving divider 10″ to the shelf 58. As noted above, the fasteners 78 include heads 82. Once the fasteners 78 have been inserted through the apertures 34, 74, the heads 82 block rotation of the first side arm 22″ back toward the center arm 18″, and block rotation of the second side arm 26″ back toward the center arm 18″. Additionally, the raised lip 38 blocks rotation of both the first side arm 22″ and the second side arm 26″ further away from the center arm 18″. Thus, once the fasteners 78 have been inserted, the first and second side arms 22″, 26″ are rotationally restrained, and as illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21 the shelving divider 10 divides the shelf 58 and the main shelf platform 70 into separate shelving spaces.
The shelving assembly 54 may include a variety of different configurations. For example, in some embodiments the shelving assembly 54 may include only the single shelving divider 10 illustrated in FIG. 14, may include the two shelving dividers 10, 10′ illustrated in FIG. 17, or may include the three shelving dividers 10, 10′, 10″ illustrated in FIG. 20. With reference to FIG. 22, in some embodiments the shelving assembly 54 may include six shelving dividers 10, 10′, 10″, 10′″, 10″″, 10′″″, two of which serve as shelf ends, and four of which divide the shelf 58 and the main shelf platform 70 into five separate shelving spaces. Other embodiments include various other numbers and arrangements of shelving dividers 10.
Although the disclosure has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the disclosure as described.
Patent Grant
10159341
