NZ503954A - Shelf divider of resilent (and typically moulded) material with tongues to pass through slots in shelf and press against underside of shelf by ramping or resilience of tongues - Google Patents

Abstract

The shelf divider 1 has tongues 5 which are passed through shelf slots (not shown) and the divider is then moved along the direction of the tongues so that the tongue engages the underside of the shelf. The divider is of a moulded material with tongues being ramped as shown, or is of a material to enable the engagement to be achieved resiliently.

Description

NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No. 503954/504284 Dated: 12 April 2000/2 May 2000 lntetlectual Property Office of NZ 1 t APR 2001 RECEIVED COMPLETE SPECIFICATION 'A Shelf Dividing System' We, EUROPLAN INDUSTRIES LIMITED, a company duly incorporated under the laws of New Zealand of 3 Portage Road, New Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: T 0 G a ^ \3' <Jj TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to shelf dividers and to structures and methods that involve the use thereof.

There is frequently a need to provide dividers on a shelf so as to hold upright a variety of files that might be placed between such dividers. There is also a need sometimes to provide a back rest against which an edge of a file can be butted so that the files assume some constant appearance from the front of the shelf.

The present invention is directed to a form of shelf divider and/or to a shelf for use with such dividers and to related sub assemblies and methods which will at least provide an alternative to existing choices.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION In a first aspect the present invention consists m a shelf divider m the form of a moulded member having (preferably a substantially planar form and) a plurality of ramped tongues extending from a shelf engaging edge thereof, such ramped tongues being adapted to be first inserted through a corresponding slot in a shelf and then to be moved along the axis parallel to The term "ramped tongue" as used herein includes any tongue form with a lateral extension the upper distal edge of which is configured to facilitate sliding under the shelf once the tongue has been inserted down through said slot (i.e. can be curved, bevelled or any other appropriate form) but preferably is a form capable of providing a tongue to shelf interaction of an increasing kind as the tongue slides under the shelf.

Preferably said shelf divider includes at or adjacent its said shelf engaging edge a deformable resilient member which upon insertion of each said tongue through its corresponding slot in a shelf will engage with the surface of the shelf to provide an uplifting force for the divider.

Preferably said deformable resilient member is at least one downwardly directed flange at or adjacent to the shelf engaging edge of each shelf divider.

Preferably said shelf divider has two ramped tongues directed in the same direction.

Preferably said ramped tongue in each instance includes an upwardly directed projection adapted to project into a hole or dimple in the shelf separate from the slot through which such tongue is first inserted.

Preferably said shelf is or is to be formed of sheet metal.

Preferably said shelf divider is injection moulded the shelf.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 3 0 NOV 2001 RECS3VED Preferably said divider includes at least one ramped tongue* of a form substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Preferably said shelf divider is of a form substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings irrespective of whether or not there is a hole at either end of each slot.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a shelf divider suitable for engagement into one or more slots in a substantially planar region of a shelf, wherein said divider has a tongue for at least one said slot, such tongue after insertion through its slot, is now capable of being moved as said divider is moved relative to said shelf horizontally, to underlie the substantially planar region of said shelf region, and wherein said shelf divider is formed from a material the resilience of which provides an engagement between said shelf alongside said slot and an underlying part part of the top of said tongue.

Preferably said resilient members that are deformed provide an uplift force to bring the underlying part of said tongue into engagement with said shelf adjacent said slot.

Preferably the tongue region to underlie said shelf after said horizontal movement is ramped to facilitate such movement.

Preferably said region to underlie includes an upstanding projection to engage into a hole or dimple of said shelf.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a shelf suitable for receiving a shelf divider in accordance with the present invention, said shelf having a support surface formed of sheet metal a suitable slot for receiving each said tongue of a said shelf divider and having disposed adjacent one or each such slot a hole or dimple capable of being engaged by an upwardly directed projection of a or each said tongue.

Preferably said slot with a hole or dimple is substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Preferably said shelf substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Preferably a divided shelf composing or including a shelf and at least one shelf divider(s) of the present invention, where each such shelf divider is supported in an upright condition by at least one of its tongues.

Preferably said shelf has a plurality of shelf dividers.

Preferably a divided shelf substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. -4- " - Irrespective of the form of the shelf dividers m accordance with the present invention, preferably means in each such shelf divider is adapted to locate a rod or bar that will provide an abutment for the edge of each file to be located between each shelf divider.

Preferably the means for locating any such bar or rod is a recess from the edge (the top edge) of each shelf divider which preferably is provided with a constricted opening to ensure advantageous rod or bar retention.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist m the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated m the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples.

One preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; The preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred shelf divider m accordance with the present invention, such shelf divider preferably being moulded from a plastics matenal to define a substantially planar form reinforced by a peripheral and other rib features and having from the bottom edge, there is preferably provided a splayed flange feature to ramped tongues, and having in its upper surface means to locate a rod or bar, Figure 2 is the other side elevation view of the shelf divider of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a preferred form of the ramped tongue in accordance with the present invention showing a preferred upward projection substantially towards the end of the ramping feature of the tongue, Figure 4 is a sectional view at XX Figure 1, showing the downwardly directed flange on either side which together provides a splayed flange feature capable of providing an uplift force when engaged with a shelf.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a preferred ramped tongue receiving slot of a shelf surface having disposed at each end of the slot a hole each of which is to locate the upwardly directed projection of the ramped tongue of Figure 3, r ropGrty Ornc-3 of M.Z. 12 JUL 2rC! Figure 6 shows the manner of fitment of each ramped tongue down through the slot in the surface of a shelf and thereafter its movement in its ramping direction to bring the projection into engagement up into the hole (or alternatively the projection can be an upwardly directed dimple) disposed to the left of the slot, Figure 7 is an exploded view showing a shelf divider in accordance with the present invention, and a rod to act as a back rest, the ellipse depicting that region shown in Figure 6, Figure 8 is an assembly perspective view showing a shelf of Figure 7 with a plurality of shelf dividers appropriately located, and Figure 9 shows a preferred configuration for the bar retaining slots showing the constrictions to the entry thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the preferred form of the present invention the shelf divider 1 is provided substantially as a planar member capable of being injection moulded but with a peripheral strengthening rib 2 plus additional ribs 3.

Dependent from the lower peripheral rib 2 are outwardly directed flanges 4 which preferably together act as a splayed flange having an angle of about 98° from the plane of the shelf divider 1. This angling ensures that there is a prospect of some upward biasing as a result of resilient deformation of each flange upon the pressing of the tongue 5 down through each slot 6.

Each integrally formed ramped tongue 5 includes a ramped region 7 which facilitates its insertion under the metal sheet region 8 to the left of the slot 6 (see Figure 6) thereby to enable the upwardly directed projection 9 to index as a locator up into the hole 10.

The rod 11 on insertion at 13 is held in position by the dimpled constricted region 12.

In the embodiment as described with reference to the drawings it can be seen that the resilience of the preferred material from which the dividers are moulded (e.g. a suitable plastic materials such as polycarbonate can be used to form the dividers) allows a sufficient uplift force which in one mode (i.e. the shelf dividing engaged mode) holds the preferred upward projection of the tongue into engagement with a dimple or hole of the metal shelf and which in another mode (i.e when being forced downwardly) will allow the disengagement and thus sliding of the divider to allow its release from the shelf.

Other such resilient interactions are possible within the ambit of the present invention including one reliant upon the flexibility of the material in the tongue region itself i.e. in place of resilient flanges there can be sufficient flexibility to allow the engagement, disengagement upon appropriate sliding. That form however is less preferred than the direct clear release that is possible reliant upon the shelf contacting flanges which are desirable in any event for shelf divider stability.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate how sets of such dividers can be sold alone or in combination with shelf and/or cabinet units.

Persons can also appreciate how, whilst an engagement such as a projection 9 into an opening 10 is desirable that other forms of interengagement can instead be used. Persons will also appreciate by reference to the figures such as figures 5 and 6 how such openings 10 can be on either end of a slot 6 if desired to allow universality of orientation of a shelf unit. Indeed such universality preferably leads to the provision of such holes or dimples 10 for each slot although a person skilled in the art will appreciate how a single engagement is sufficient to ensure adequate divider location even though there may be reliance on a plurality of tongues being inserted through a slot for each tongue.

JNTELLECTUAL PROPERTY O^ICE OF N.Z. "7" 3 0 NOV 2001

Claims (24)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A shelf divider in the form of a moulded member having a plurality of ramped tongues extending from a shelf engaging edge thereof, such ramped tongues each being adapted to be first inserted through a slot in a shelf and then to be moved along an axis parallel to the shelf.

2. A divider as claimed in claim 1 wherein said moulded member is substantially planar.

3. A divider as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein said shelf divider includes at or adjacent to its said shelf engaging edge a deformable resilient member which upon insertion of each said tongue through a said slot in a shelf will engage with the surface of the shelf to provide an uplifting force for the divider.

4. A divider as claimed in claims 1 to 3 wherein said deformable resilient member is at least one downwardly directed flange at or adjacent to the shelf engaging edge of each shelf divider.

5. A divider as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said shelf divider has two ramped tongues directed in the same direction.

6. A divider as claimed in claim 5 wherein said ramped tongue in each instance includes an upwardly directed projection adapted to project into a suitable hole or dimple in the shelf separate from the slot through which such tongue is first inserted.

7. A divider as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said shelf divider is injection moulded.

8. A divider as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said at least one ramped tongue is of a form substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A shelf divider substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings irrespective of whether or not there is a hole at either end of each slot.

10. A shelf divider suitable for engagement into one or more slots in a substantially planar region of a shelf, wherein said divider has a tongue for at least one said slot, such tongue after insertion through its slot, is now capable of being moved as said divider is moved relative to said shelf horizontally, to underlie the substantially planar region of said shelf region, and wherein said shelf divider is formed from a material the resilience of which provides an engagement between said shelf alongside said slot and an underlying part part of the top of said tongue.

11. A shelf divider as claimed in claim 10 wherein said shelf divider is formed as resilient engagement with said shelf adjacent said slot.

12. A shelf divider as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein the tongue region to underlie said shelf after said horizontal movement is ramped to facilitate such movement.

13. A shelf divider as claimed in claim 12 wherein said region to underlie includes an upstanding projection to engage into a hole or dimple of said shelf.

14. A shelf suitable for receiving a shelf divider in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, said shelf having a support surface formed of sheet metal including a suitable slot for receiving each said tongue of a said shelf divider and having disposed adjacent one or each such slot a hole or dimple capable of being engaged by an upwardly directed projection of a or each said tongue.

15. A shelf as claimed in claim 14 wherein each said slot with a hole or dimple is substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A shelf substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A divided shelf comprising or including a shelf of any one of claims 14 to 16 and at least one shelf divider(s) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, where each such shelf divider is supported in an upright condition by at least one of its tongues.

18. A divided shelf as claimed in claim 17 wherein said shelf has a plurality of shelf dividers.

19. A divided shelf substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

20. In combination, the components of a divided shelf of claim 17 or 18.

21. A divided shelf comprising or including a shelf of any one of claims 17 to 18 where means in each such shelf divider is adapted to locate a rod or bar that will provide an abutment of the edge of each file to be located between each shelf divider.

22. A shelf as claimed in claim 21 wherein said means for locating any such bar or rod is a recess from the edge of each shelf divider.

23. A shelf as claimed in claim 22 wherein said edge is the top edge of the shelf divider.

24. A shelf as claimed in claim 22 wherein said recess is provided with a constricted opening to ensure advantageous rod or bar retention.