Patent Application
20180153303
The present invention relates generally to a stackable can rack assembly. More so, the present invention relates to a can rack assembly that provides a plurality of modular racks that serve to facilitate both the loading of cans and the presentation of the cans for removal by a consumer, while also enabling multiple modular racks to be configured into multiple stacked arrangements through the use of side panels comprising flat bars having convex and concave humps, and further brackets that help fasten the flat bars together.
The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
Typically, wire racks and shelves consists of wire mesh supported by metal supports and is intended to be load-bearing. The mesh is usually welded to the supports, but may be attached in other ways as well. In commercial and industrial applications, the wire mesh usually has a minimum wire gauge of 0.105 inches when round wire is used. The most common shelf size is 42 inches deep by 46 inches wide, while two such shelves placed side-by-side can usually be combined to allow for a single shelf of 8 feet wide.
Generally, supermarkets and similar merchandising establishments display and sell a great deal of merchandise contained in cans such as soups, soft drinks or other products. In such large volume establishments it is necessary from time to time to maintain a proper supply of cans on the shelves and at the same time to display them with maximum advantage both for convenience so that the customer can find a desired canned product, as well as to promote any particular canned items.
Often, cans stacked on end on top of each other on ordinary rigid supermarket shelves do not readily dispense from the shelf, sometimes fall when the customer attempts to remove them, and requires some amount of care in stacking or tumbling will result. Due to shelf space concerns in supermarkets, the can racks are not large enough to accommodate all the cans available for display and sale.
Other proposals have involved racks for displaying and dispensing canned items. The problem with these racks is that they have limited space and surface area. Even though the above cited racks devices meets some of the needs of the market, a can rack assembly that provides a plurality of modular racks that serve to facilitate both the loading of cans and the presentation of the cans for removal by a consumer, while also enabling multiple modular racks to be configured into multiple stacked arrangements through the use of side panels comprising flat bars having convex and concave humps, and further brackets that help fasten the flat bars together is still desired.
Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to a stackable can rack assembly. The stackable can rack assembly provides a plurality of modular racks that join together in various stacked and adjacent arrangements to facilitate both the loading of cans and the presentation of the cans for removal by a consumer. The stackable can rack assembly also utilizes flat bars with flat surfaces to provide stable stacking arrangements, and a concave-convex hump configuration, along with at least one bracket to further enhance stability for stacking the modular racks.
In some embodiments, the stackable can rack assembly comprises a plurality of modular racks. The modular racks are configured to display cans and enable facilitated access to the cans. The modular racks utilize a sloped disposition to enhance viewing the sides of the cans, and also to allow the cans to be gravity fed for dispensing.
The modular racks can be stacked in various arrangements. In one embodiment, the modular racks are stacked in a vertical stacked configuration. In another embodiment, two modular racks can support a single modular rack. The modular racks utilize flat surface to enable stable stacking. The modular racks also utilize a coupling effect between convex and concave humps the form along the length of the flat bars to further stabilize the stacked configuration. The modular racks also utilize at least one bracket operable along the flat bars to further stabilize the stacked configuration.
In some embodiments, the modular racks may include a plurality of shelves. The shelves are load bearing to support the cans on their sides for display and dispensing. In one embodiment, the cans are arranged in series and roll along the plane of the shelves through a gravity fed configuration. The shelves are defined by wire mesh arranged in a spaced-apart relationship. The shelves are further defined by a pair of side edges, a rear edge, and a front edge having a lip. The edges are disposed at opposing ends of the wire mesh.
The shelves are disposed in a generally parallel, spaced-apart relationship, such that cans display vertically. Further, the shelves are disposed at an angle, such that the rear edge is elevated above the front edge. This allows the cans to roll form the rear edge to the front edge. The lip on the front edge restricts further rolling by the cans.
The modular racks further comprises a pair of side panels configured to join with the pair of side edges of the plurality of shelves to help support the plurality of shelves. The pair of side panels also work to support subsequent modular racks in the stacked configuration.
In one embodiment, the side panels comprise a top flat bar defined by a convex hump having a flat surface. The entire length of the top flat bar, including the upper and lower surfaces of the convex hump are substantially flat. The side panels further comprise a bottom flat bar defined by a concave hump having a flat surface. The entire length of the bottom flat bar, including the upper and lower surfaces of the concave hump are substantially flat. In this manner, the convex hump couples to the concave hump to enable stacking of the plurality of modular racks.
In some embodiments, at least one bracket joins with the concave hump of the bottom flat bar. The bracket is configured to help fasten the bottom flat bar to the top flat bar, such that stability is enhanced for stacking the modular racks. In one embodiment, the bracket includes a generally U-shape that is sized and dimensioned to at least partially encapsulate the top flat bar in the stacked arrangement, such that the bracket snugly fits around the sides of the bottom and top flat bars.
In some embodiments, a pair of support bars are disposed in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship, extending between the top flat bar and the bottom flat bar. The support bars are disposed generally perpendicular to the flat bars.
In some embodiments, the modular rack further comprises a back panel disposed generally perpendicular to the pair of side panels. The back panel joins with the rear edge of the plurality of shelves to help support the plurality of shelves. The back panel, the pair of side panels, and the plurality of shelves are detachably attachable to enable compacting for stowage and easy assembly for operation. Various fasteners, friction fit coupling arrangements, and the like may be used to join the panels and shelves.
In another aspect, the plurality of shelves are generally rectangular.
In another aspect, the wire mesh of the plurality of shelves are disposed in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship.
In yet another aspect, the lip extends upwardly in the direction of the rear edge of the plurality of shelves.
In yet another aspect, the wire mesh of the plurality of shelves are configured to enable carrying multiple cans.
In yet another aspect, the multiple cans are gravity fed from the rear edge to the front edge of the plurality of shelves.
In yet another aspect, the pair of side panels are generally rectangular and flat.
In yet another aspect, the top flat bar and the bottom flat bar are generally elongated.
In yet another aspect, the pair of side panels comprises side wire mesh configured to enhance structural integrity of the pair of side panels.
In yet another aspect, the convex hump and the concave hump are configured to form a friction fit relationship.
In yet another aspect, the at least one bracket comprises a generally U-shape that is sized and dimensioned to at least partially encapsulate the top flat bar when multiple modular racks are in a stacked arrangement.
In yet another aspect, the pair of support bars are disposed generally perpendicular to the flat bars.
In yet another aspect, the back panel is generally rectangular and flat.
In yet another aspect, the back panel comprises a pair of back support bars disposed in a spaced-apart relationship.
In yet another aspect, the back panel comprises back wire mesh configured to extend between the pair of back support bars for enhancing structural integrity of the back panel.
One objective of the present invention is to facilitate both the loading of cans and the presentation of the cans for removal by a consumer.
Another objective is to stack multiple can racks on flat bars having concave and convex humps.
Another objective is to provide brackets at the ends of the humps to fasten the flat bars together.
Yet another objective is to configure the modular racks in multiple stacked arrangements.
Yet another objective is to stack the modular racks with minimal amount of tools and fasteners.
Yet another objective is to provide an inexpensive to manufacture can rack.
Other systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims and drawings.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
A stackable can rack assembly 100 is referenced in
The various panels of the modular racks 102a utilizes flat bars with flat surfaces to provide stable stacking arrangements. The flat bars are configured with a concave-convex hump configuration, along with at least one bracket 126a, 126b, 126c, 126d, to further enhance stability for stacking the modular racks 102a, 102b. The modular racks 102a, 102b also provide sloped shelves 104a-c that enable cans to roll to the front for enhanced visibility and facilitated access.
As referenced in
As
Turning now to
The shelves 104a, 104b, 104c are further defined by a pair of side edges 108a, 108b, a rear edge 110, and a front edge 112 having a lip 114. The edges 108a, 108b, 110, 112 are disposed at opposing ends of the wire mesh 106. The edges 108a, 108b, 110, 112 form a perimeter for the wire mesh 106. Looking ahead to
Looking ahead to
The shelves 104a, 104b, 104c are disposed in a generally parallel, spaced-apart relationship, such that cans display vertically. Further, the shelves 104a, 104b, 104c are disposed at an angle, such that the rear edge 110 is elevated above the front edge 112. The angle may be sloped at about between 15° to 45°. The slope of the shelf allows the cans to roll form the rear edge 110 to the front edge 112 through a gravity fed configuration. The lip 114 on the front edge 112 restricts further rolling by the cans. The lip 114 may be oriented upwardly towards the rear edge 110.
Looking at
As referenced in
Looking at
Because of the flat surfaces, the convex hump 120a, 120b couples to the concave hump 124a, 124b to enable stacking of the plurality of modular racks 102a, 102b. Additionally, the coupling effect between the humps works to create structural integrity in the stacked configuration. In one embodiment shown in
As the close up view of
In one embodiment, the bracket 126a, 126b, 126c, 126d includes a generally U-shape that is sized and dimensioned to at least partially encapsulate the top flat bar 118a, 118b in the stacked arrangement, such that the bracket 126a, 126b, 126c, 126d snugly fits around the sides of the bottom and top flat bar 118a, 118bs.
As
In some embodiments, the modular rack further comprises a back panel 132 disposed generally perpendicular to the pair of side panels 116a, 116b. The back panel 132 joins with the rear edge 110 of the plurality of shelves 104a, 104b, 104c to help support the plurality of shelves 104a, 104b, 104c. In some embodiments, the back panel 132 comprises a pair of back support bars 136a, 136b are disposed in a spaced-apart relationship.
In some embodiments, the back panel 132 may further include a back wire mesh 134 configured to enhance structural integrity of the back panel 132 by extending between the pair of back support bars 136a, 136b. The back wire mesh 134 may be arranged longitudinally or transversely across the pair of back support bars 136a, 136b.
The back panel 132, the pair of side panels 116a, 116b, and the plurality of shelves 104a, 104b, 104c are detachably attachable to enable compacting for stowage and easy assembly 100 for operation. Various fasteners, friction fit coupling arrangements, and the like may be used to join the panels and shelves 104a, 104b, 104c.
As referenced in
These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings.
Because many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.
