IE61793B1

IE61793B1 - A merchandising shelf assembly

Info

Publication number: IE61793B1
Application number: IE369988A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Francis Alfred Carroll
Original assignee: Carroll Prod & Designs Ltd
Priority date: 1988-12-12
Filing date: 1988-12-12
Publication date: 1994-11-30
Also published as: GB2225710A; GB8927985D0; GB2225710B; IE883699L; ZA899487B

Abstract

A merchandising shelf assembly comprises a shelf 4 for mounting on an upright support surface 1 so as to project from the upright support surface. The short 4 comprises a front wall 4a, a base 4b, a rear wall 4c and load bearing elements 5 for supporting the shelf. Each load bearing element 5 comprises a single flat sheet of material for orientation in a non- horizontal plane so as to be engageable between the base of the shelf and the upright support surface whereby in use weight on the shelf is transferred on to the upright support surface. The shelf 4 and the load bearing elements 5 are provided with complementary engageable slots 6 & 7 for mutual engagement of the shelf and load bearing elements to form an elongate cruciform connection.

Description

A, MERCHANDISING SHELF ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a merchandising shelf assembly.

A major problem with merchandising is to have a display 5 system which is strong enough to support merchandise while at the same time presenting an attractive display. In the prior art, these two requirements can conflict.

The object of the invention is to alleviate the above disadvantage’ associated with prior art merchandising assemblies.

The invention provides : a merchandising shelf assembly comprising at least one shelf having a rear wall and a base, means for mounting the shelf on an upright support surface so that it projects from the upright support surface, and one or more load bearing elements for supporting the shelf, each load bearing element comprising a single flat sheet of material for orientation in a non-horizontal plane so as to be engagabl® between the base of the shelf and the upright support surface, wherein the shelf and the or ι.; 7 ? each load bearing element are provided with complementary engagable slots for mutual engagement of the shelf and the or each load bearing element, whereby, in use, weight on the shelf is transferred on to the upright support surface.

Preferably, the shelf and the or each load bearing element form an elongate cruciform connection when engaged.

Preferably, the means for mounting the shelf on the upright support surface is located at the upper edge of the rear wall.

Preferably, the mounting means includes a hook formed at the upper edge of the rear wall, whereby the assembly may be readily mounted on and dismounted from the upright support element.

Preferably, the load bearing element additionally acts as an end wall to the shelf or a divider within the shelf.

Preferably, the shelf includes a front wall.

Preferably, the base of the shelf is at right angles to the rear wall.

Preferably, the base of the shelf is at an obtuse angle to the rear wall so as to provide a sloping shelf when the assembly is mounted on a vertical support surface. preferably, the base of the shelf is at an acute angle to the rear wall.

Preferably, the merchandising shelf assembly includes one or more movable dividers locatable on the shelf so as to enable compartments to be formed on the shelf.

Preferably, the merchandising shelf assembly is manufactured from a transparent plastics material.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described more particularly, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment, in which the shelf has a horizontal base; Figure 2 is a sectional end view thereof; Figure 3 is a sectional front elevation on III-III of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional front elevation on IV-IV of Ficure 2? and Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the shelf and element support only, illustrating their mutual interlocking engagement; and Figures are views similar to Figures 1-5 respectively 6 to 10 but showing the second embodiment in which the shelf has a slooed base.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 5, the assembly comprises; an upright support 1 provided with mutually parallel slots 2 one above the other; a hook 3 for engaging in a slot 2; a shelf 4 comprising a sheet of clear acrylic material 15 which has been shaped to form a front wail 4a, a base 4b, a rear wail 4c and a hook 4d for engaging hook 3; and a number of clear acrylic support elements 5 for bearing the weight of the shelf when laden. The shelf 4 and the support elements 5 interlock by means of complementary interengaging slots 6 and 7 respectively. The support elements 5 serve not only to bear the weight of the shelf but also to divide the shelf into compartments and to provide end walls for the shelf. The shelf 4 may be further divided into compartments by dividers 8 which may be moved along inside the shelf to any desired location.

Referring now to Figures 6 to 10 the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment except that the shelf 104 has a sloped base 104b; and the support elements 105 and dividers 108 are of corresponding appropriate shapes.

In both of the embodiments shown, for the length of shelving involved, only two support elements 5 are necessary to support the assembly. The bends formed in the shelf 4 give the structure sufficient rigidity.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1 . A merchandising shelf assembly comprising at least one shelf having a rear wall and a base, means for mounting the shelf on an upright support surface so that it projects from 5 the upright support surface, and one or more load bearing elements for supporting the shelf, each load bearing element comprising a single flat sheet of material for orientation in a non-horizontal plane so as to be engagable between the base of the shelf and the upright support surface, wherein the 1θ shelf and the or each load bearing element are provided with complementary engagable slots for mutual engagement of the shelf and the or each load bearing element, whereby, in use, weight on the shelf is transferred on to the upright support surface. 1 5

2. A merchandising shelf assembly as claimed in Claim 1, in which the shelf and the or each load bearing element when engaged form an elongate cruciform connection.

3. A merchandising shelf assembly as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, in which the means for mounting the shelf on the upright support surface is located at the upper edge of the rear wall.

4. A merchandising shelf assembly as claimed in Claim 3, in which the mounting means includes a hook formed at the upper edge of the rear wall whereby the assembly may be readily mounted on and dismounted from the upright support surface.

5. 5. A merchandising shelf assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the or each load bearing element additionally acts as an end wall to the shelf or a divider within the shelf.

6. A merchandising shelf assembly as claimed in any one of 10 the preceding claims, in which the shelf includes a front wall.

7. A merchandising shelf assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which -the base of the shelf is at right angles to the rear wall. 158. A merchandising shelf assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the base of the shelf is at an obtuse angle to the rear wall so as to provide a sloping shelf when the assembly is mounted on a vertical support surface.

8. 9. A merchandising shelf assembly as claimed in any one of 20 Claims 1 to 6, in which the base of the shelf is at an acute angle to the rear wall.

9. 10. A merchandising shelf assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes one or more movable dividers locatable on the shelf so as to enable compartments 5 to be formed on the shelf.

10. 11. A merchandising shelf assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, manufactured from a transparent plastics material.

11.

12. A merchandising shelf assembly substantially in 10 accordance with either of the embodiments herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.