NZ616236B2 - Earthquake-activated shelf security system - Google Patents

Abstract

earthquake activated shelf security system which includes two guide rails attached to both sides of a shelf (100). At least one retainer is moveably constrained to move along the guide rails by a rotating loop located on each end of a retainer (160). The guide rail has a retainer rest portion (198) and allows the retainer to rest in a prepared configuration without moving down the rail unless acted upon by a shaking event such as an earthquake. A movable backstop (195) is located along a back portion of the retainer rest portion. The position of the backstop can be adjusted to adjust the sensitivity of the system to earthquakes. The guide rails have retainer stops (185,140) located at selected positions to keep the retainer from moving past. In one embodiment, two retainers are provided and in another embodiment, a mesh is provided to contain items that would otherwise fall through. In the event of shaking caused by an earthquake, the retainer portion will move in the direction of the slope of the rest potion and fall in front of merchindise thus preventing the merchandise from falling. 198) and allows the retainer to rest in a prepared configuration without moving down the rail unless acted upon by a shaking event such as an earthquake. A movable backstop (195) is located along a back portion of the retainer rest portion. The position of the backstop can be adjusted to adjust the sensitivity of the system to earthquakes. The guide rails have retainer stops (185,140) located at selected positions to keep the retainer from moving past. In one embodiment, two retainers are provided and in another embodiment, a mesh is provided to contain items that would otherwise fall through. In the event of shaking caused by an earthquake, the retainer portion will move in the direction of the slope of the rest potion and fall in front of merchindise thus preventing the merchandise from falling.

Description

INVENTION TITLE EARTHQUAKE-ACTIVATED SHELF SECURITY SYSTEM CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [00013 This application claims priority and herein incorporates by reference U,S. utility patent application 13/445,729, filed April 12 , 2012 , which claims priority to Provisional Application Serial Numbers 61/474,7 15, filed on April 12, 2011, 61/483 ,577, filed on May 6, 2011, 61/491 ,145, filed on May 27, 2011 > 61 ,498,698, filed on June 20, 2011 , 61/540,431 , filed on September 28, 2011 and 61/560,668, filed on November 16, 2011 , the complete disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are generally over a million earthquake events every year with over a thousand of them being over magnitude 5.0, The National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) reports about 50 earthquakes per day. We have made great progress in building our structures to be able to withstand most earthquakes which has helped to lower the cost in human life during these events, however, earthquakes still cause a tremendous amount of economic damage.

Grocery and other retail stores, laboratories, lumber yards, and warehouses and almost anyone who stores things on shelves can lose a lot of money when even a minor earthquake hits.

Many items can be damaged or destroyed when falling from the shelves on which they are stored on. To help with this problem, it is known to add straps, bars and other barriers across the front of the shelves; however, these fixes make the items stored on the shelves harder to access and detract from the esthetic look of the shelves. Since earthquake events are random events, having to put up with these disadvantages are difficult since most of the time, the protections are not needed. Some systems require user activation on the first warning of the quake and this is an obvious disadvantage since most earthquakes are not predictable.

There is a need for an easy to use, non-obtrusive earthquake-activated shelf security system that is reliable, cost efficient and not esthetically distractive. There is also a need for an earthquake-activated shelf security system that can be used with existing shelf systems. 194759NZ Replacement Spec 29 July 2015 in this specification unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date/ publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned, It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved earthquake- activated shelf security system; that ameliorates some of the disadvantages and limitations of the known art or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An earthquake-activated shelf security system has two guide rails attached to both sides of a shelf or pallet rack, At least one retainer is moveably constrained to move along the guide rails bya rotating loop located on each end of the retainer. The guide rail has a retainer rest portion and allows the retainer to rest in a prepared configuration without moving down the rail unless acted upon by a shaking event such as an earthquake. A movable backstop is located along a back portion of the retainer rest portion. The position of the rest stop can be adjusted to adjust the sensitivity of the system to earthquakes. The guide rails have retainer stops located at selected positions to keep the retainer from moving past. In one embodiment two retainers are provided and in another embodiment/ a mesh is provided to contain items that would otherwise fall through, In a first aspect the invention resides in an earthquake-activated shelf security system wherein, a first guide rail having a first retainer rest portion disposed along a top portion thereon; wherein, a second guide rail having a second retainer rest portion disposed along a top portion thereon; wherein, said first and second retainer rest portion are substantially non-vertical or forming a selected angle from a horizontal axis wherein a front portion of said retainer rest portion is lower than a rearward portion; wherein, a first lower retainer stop disposed along a lower portion of said first guide rail; wherein, a second lower retainer stop disposed along a lower portion of said second guide rail; 194759NZ Replacement Spec 29 July 2015 2 wherein, a retainer having a first and second end; wherein, a looped end disposed on said first and second end; wherein, said looped ends movabty disposed on said first and second guide rails wherein said retainer is constrained to move along said first and second guide rails; wherein, an attachment means for attaching said first and second guide rails to a shelf; and said first and second guide rails having a portion that is generally perpendicular to said shelf, Preferably, the earthquake-activated shelf security system of the first aspect of the invention wherein said looped ends are rotably secured within said retainer.

Preferably, the earthquake-activated shelf security system of the first aspect of the invention wherein said attachment means for attaching said first and second guide rails to a shelf comprises using bolts to attach them therein.

Preferably, the earthquake-activated shelf security system of the first aspect of the invention further comprising a third and fourth upper retainer stop disposed above said first and second retainer stops wherein said third and fourth retainer stops are smaller in diameter than said first and second retainer stops wherein said looped ends are adapted to fit over said third and fourth retainer stops.

Preferably, the earthquake-activated shelf security system of the first aspect of the invention wherein said selected angle is between two and five degrees.

Preferably, the earthquake-activated shelf security system of the first aspect of the invention further comprising; a first backstop disposed along a rearward portion of said first retainer rest portion; a second backstop disposed along a rearward portion of said second retainer rest portion; said first and second backstop being adapted to position said retainer when said retainer is placed in said retainer rest portion. 194759NZ Replacement Spec 29 July 2015 3 Preferably, the earthquake-activated shelf security system of the first aspect of the invention wherein said first and second retainer stops and said first and second backstops being adapted to frictionally slide along said guide rails.

Preferably, the earthquake-activated shelf security system of the first aspect of the invention wherein said retainer is adapted to moveably retain said looped end within an opening defined along a longitudinal axis passing through the center of said retainer wherein said looped ends are free to rotate as well as move along said longitudinal axis.

Preferably, the earthquake-activated shelf security system of the first aspect of the invention further comprising; a first upper retainer stop; the first lower retainer stop disposed on a lower portion of said first guide rail; said first upper retainer stop being disposed above said first lower retainer stop; said first upper retainer stop being smaller in diameter than said first lower retainer stop; a second upper retainer stop; the second lower retainer stop disposed on a lower portion of said second guide rail; said second upper retainer stop being disposed above said second lower retainer stop; said second upper retainer stop being smaller in diameter than said second lower retainer stop; the retainer includes an upper retainer having a first and second end; an upper looped end disposed on said first and second end; said upper looped ends movably disposed on said first and second guide rails wherein said upper retainer is constrained to move along said first and second guide rails; the retainer further includes a tower retainer having a third and fourth end; a lower looped end disposed on said third and fourth end; said lower retainer being disposed below said upper retainer; 1947S9NZ Replacement Spec 29 July 2015 4 said lower looped ends movably disposed on said first and second guide rails wherein said lower retainer is constrained to move along said first and second guide rails; said upper looped ends having a smaller diameter than said lower looped ends wherein said lower looped ends being adapted to fit over said upper retainer stops and being adapted to stop on said lower retainer stops; and said upper looped ends being adapted to stop on said upper retainer stops; wherein said retainers hold and protect items on said shelf from falling during a shaking event, The earthquake-activated shelf security system of the second aspect further comprising a mesh net disposed between said upper and lower retainers wherein said mesh net is adapted to further restrain items from falling from said shelf during a shaking event.

The earthquake-activated shelf security system of the second aspect further comprising a backstop disposed on each of said retainer rest portions wherein said upper and lower retainers rest against said backstops when in a non-activated configuration.

The earthquake-activated shelf security system of the second aspect wherein said retainer stops are adjustable.

The earthquake-activated shelf security system of the second aspect wherein said looped ends are rotably secured or are able to rotate while being secured within said retainers.

The earthquake-activated shelf security system of the second aspect wherein said upper and lower retainers are adapted to moveably retain said upper and lower looped end within an opening defined along a longitudinal axis passing through the center of said upper and lower retainers wherein said upper and lower looped ends are free to rotate as well as move along said longitudinal axis.

Other features and advantages of the instant invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings, 194759NZ Replacement Spec 29 July 2015 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG, 1 is a side view of a guide rail of an earthquake-activated shelf security system according to an embodiment of the invention. is a side view of the guide rail shown in figure 1 in an activated configuration. is a side view of the guide rail shown in figure 1 with two retainers.

FIG, 4 is a side view of the guide rail shown in figure 3 in an activated configuration.

FIG, 5 is a side view of the guide rail shown in figure 1 with a mesh net. is a side view of the guide rail shown in figure 5 in an activated configuration. is a side view of the guide rail shown in figure one in a less sensitive selected initial position. is a side view of the guide rail shown in figure one in a more sensitive selected initial position, FIG, 8 is a side view of the guide rail shown in figure one having a smaller retainer stop.

FIG, 9 is a side view of the guide rail shown in figure one having an additional retainer stop, is a side view of the guide rail shown in figure 9 in an activated configuration. is a side view of a guide rail of an earthquake-activated shelf security system according to an embodiment of the invention, FIG, 12 is a side view of the guide rail shown in figure 11 in an activated configuration. is a perspective view of a shelf unit having an earthquake-activated security system installed according to an embodiment of the invention. is a perspective view of the shelf unit having an earthquake-activated security system shown in figure 13 in an activated configuration. is a perspective view of a shelf unit having an earthquake-activated security system with a mesh net installed according to an embodiment of the invention.

Is a perspective view of the shelf unit having an earthquake-activated security system shown in figure 15 in an activated configuration, is a side view of the guide rail shown in figure 1 attached to another guide rail using a bolt, is a side view of the guide rail shown in figure 1 attached to another guide rail using a channel bracket.

A is a detailed side view of the retainer in a selected position. 1947S9NZ Replacement Spec 29 July 2015 6 FIG, 19B is a detailed side view of the retainer in a second selected position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the drawings in which reference numerals refer to like elements, and which are intended to show by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Referring to figures 1, 2 and 1 9A and 19B an earthquake-activated shelf security system 100 is shown having a pair of guide rails 105 that are located on either side of a shelf 120. A retainer 11 5 has a looped end 110 that is rotably held in place on each of its ends. As looped end 110 engages with guide rail 105, it is free to rotate as well as moving in and out as shown in position A and then to position B, Of course an infinite number of positions are available and the two positions shown are not meant to limit this disclosure, In the embodiment shown, looped end 110 fits within a hollow portion of retainer 11 5 which allows this movement, Of course other means of allowing movement are useable as long as the desired movement is achieved, Other means include, but not limited to, bushings, bearings, pistons, etc. as is known in the art, (n the embodiment shown, the shank portion of looping end 110 is long enough so that even if one side of retainer 11 5 were at a different height than the other; looped ends 100 would not fall out. This length may be different depending on the height of the shelf protected by the instant invention, Now referring to figures 1, 2 and 7A and 7B, a back stop 3.95 is provided to allow the user to adjust the sensitivity by sliding back and forth along a retainer rest portion 198. The further from the front back stop 195 is placed (position A), the more shaking required to activate it.

Likewise, as back stop 195 is moved forward (position B), the less shaking is required to activate.

Additionally, back stop 195 provides the user with a convenient way to reset after activation, Again with reference to figures 1 and 2, a retainer stop 125 is provided to limit the travel of retainer 11 5 as it moves along guide rail 105. Retainer stop 125 is user moveable by sliding up and down along guide rail 105. Retainer stop 125 is made of a compressible material like rubber or other material which frictional makes contact with guide rail 105 yet still allowing the user to move it to a selected position depending on what is being stored on shelf 120. Of course other 194759NZ Replacement Spec 29 July 2015 retainer stops could be used such as using a set screw, pin or even permanently attached without departing from the instant invention, Retainer rest portion is selected to be in the range of 1 degree to 10 degrees with a selected angle of 3 degrees from the horizontal working well in many environments. The steeper the angle, the more sensitive to shaking; however, if the angle is too great, the system may be accidentally activated. In the embodiment shown, fasteners 130 are used to secure guide rails 105 to shelf 120 as is known in the art. If desired, a top faster may be used to secure the upper portion of guide rail 105 to the lower portion of another guide rail 105. Additionally, a tab slot may be used to hold the upper portion without actually using a fastener. The tab slot is a channel that is shaped to hold the top portion of the guide rail.

As is shown in figure 2, retainer 115 is shown activated after an earthquake. Retainer 11 is now in place to prevent any items (not shown) stored on shelf 120 from falling.

Now referring to figures 3 and 4, earthquake-activated shelf security system 100 is shown having multiple retainers. An upper retainer 135 has an upper looped end 155 that rotates as discussed above, A lower retainer 140 has a lower looped end 160. Upper looped end 155 has a smaller diameter opening than lower looped end 160. Lower looped end 160 fits over and upper retainer stop 145 and continues down guide rail 105 until it is stopped by a larger lower retainer stop 150. In this embodiment, two retainers are implemented to provide additional protection to items stored on shelf 120 such as bottles which could tip over or roll under a single retainer, After activation, the user simply pushes retainers 135 and 140 back up to retainer rest 198 against back stop 195 and it is ready for the next event, Referring now to figures 5 and 6, a mesh net 165 is connected to upper retainer 135 and a lower retainer 140. Mesh net 165 is rolled around lower retainer 140 and then placed on retainer rest portion 198. During an event, mesh net 165 unrolls as upper retainer 135 is stopped by upper retainer stop 145 and lower retainer 140 continues down to lower retainer stop 150 and mesh net 165 is then in place to protect objects that would fall through if only the retainers were used. After activation, the user rolls mesh net 165 back up and placed back in retainer rest portion 198, Mesh net 165 is made of a netting material such as nylon or other suitable material.

Of course mesh netting 165 could also be a solid plastic or cloth sheet as long as it is flexible enough to roll up.

Now referring to figure 8, earthquake-activated shelf security system 100 is shown having a small retainer stop 128 that is used to increase the esthetic appeal, Retainer 115 uses a 194759N2 Replacement Spec 29 July 2015 g small looped end 112 to interact with retainer stop 128 which allows a user to work With the items stored on shelf 120 while minimizing any distraction caused by the system. In other ways, this embodiment is like the ones discussed above, Referring now to figures 9 and 10, earthquake-activated shelf security system 100 is shown having an extra retainer stop 128 disposed close to a larger retainer stop 185. Retainer stop 185 stops retainer 115 from falling any further when activated and retainer stop 128 is used to further stabilize retainer 115 when activated thus preventing retainer 115 from being pushed upward when items from shelf slide into lower retainer 140 or mesh net 165. Again, except as discussed above, this embodiment performs like the embodiments shown in figures 1-6.

Now referring to figures 11 and 12, earthquake-activated shelf security system 100 is shown mounted on an inside portion of shelf 122 to minimize the intrusiveness of the system by only having a small portion of a guide rail 108 showing and retainer rest portion 198 being placed out of the way. An intermediate portion of guide rail 108 is used to allow this configuration with retainer rest portion 198 using the ideal angle that allows retainers 135 and 140 to continue falling into place once activated by an earthquake.

In figures 13 and 14, earthquake-activated shelf security system 100 is shown attached to a shelf unit 205, Although for simplicity; the system is only shown attached to one shelf, it is understood that the system can be placed on each and every shelf, In figure 13, the system is prepped by placing retainers 135 and 140 in retainer rest portion 198. In an earthquake, shelf unit 205 may shake in any direction which will immediately cause retainers 135 and 140 respectively to fall along guide rails 105, Lower retainer 140 falls past upper retainer stop 145 and is stopped by lower retainer stop 185 while upper retainer 135 is stopped by upper retainer stop 145.

Referring to figures 15 and 16, earthquake-activated shelf security system 100 is shown using net mesh 165 which is attached between upper retainer 135 and lower retainer 140, As discussed above/ mesh net 165 is used when additional protection is needed.

Referring now to figures 17 and 18, guide rails 105 are attached to another guide rail 105 using a bolt 132 (figure 17) or a channel bracket 134 (figure 18} attached to shelf 120, Of course other fastening methods may be used as long as guide rails 105 are securely held in place.

The distance between guide rails 105 and shelves 120 may be adjusted by providing slots in the portion of guide rails 105 that attach to shelves 120. Other methods of adjusting the 194759NZ Replacement Spec 29 July 2015 distance may be used including mounting adjusting brackets (not shown) or other acceptable adjusting means as is known in the art.

The guide rails used in this invention are generally round metal bars but could be made of other suitable materials including, but not limited to, plastic, composites, wood, etc. Again, although round stock are used , other shapes would be usable such as hexagonal, oval or even square stock as long as the looped ends can travel down the guide rails smoothly and reliably.

Although the instant invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. 194759NZ Replacement Spec 29 July 2015 10

Claims (14)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS; 1.
1. [Claim 1] An earthquake-activated shelf security system a first guide rail having a first retainer rest portion disposed along a top portion thereon; a second guide rail having a second retainer rest portion disposed along a top portion thereon; said first and second retainer rest portion are substantially non-vertical wherein a front portion of said retainer rest portion is lower than a t'earward portion; a first lower retainer stop disposed along a lower portion of said first guide rail; a second lower retainer stop disposed along a lower portion of said second guide rail; a retainer having a first and second end; a looped end disposed on said first and second end; said looped ends movably disposed on said first and second guide rails wherein said retainer is constrained to move along said first and second guide rails; an attachment means for attaching said first and second guide rails to a shelf; and said first and second guide rails having a portion that is generally perpendicular to said shelf.
2. [Claim 2] The earthquake-activated shelf security system of claim 1 wherein said looped ends are rotably secured within said retainer.
3. [Claim 3] The earthquake-activated shelf security system of claim 1 wherein said attachment means for attaching said first and second guide rails to a shelf comprises using bolts to attach them therein.
4. [Claim 4] The earthquake-activated shelf security system of claim 1 further comprising a third and fourth upper retainer stop disposed above said first and second retainer stops wherein said third and fourth retainer stops are smaller in diameter than said first and second retainer stops wherein said looped ends are adapted to fit over said third and fourth retainer stops.
5. [Claim 5] The earthquake-activated shelf security system of claim 1 wherein said selected angle is between two and five degrees. 194759NZ Replacement Spec 29 July 2015 H
6. [Claim 6] The earthquake-activated shelf security system of claim 1 further comprising: a first backstop disposed along a reaward portion of said first retainer rest portion; a second backstop disposed along a rearward portion of said second retainer rest portion; said first and second backstop being adapted to position said retainer when said retainer is placed in said retainer rest portion.
7. [Claim 7] The earthquake-activated shelf security system of claim 6 wherein said first and second retainer stops and said first and second bacl<stops being adapted to frictionalty slide along said guide rails.
8. [Claim 8] The earthquake-activated shelf security system of claim 1 wherein said retainer is adapted to moveably retain said looped end within an opening defined along a longitudinal axis passing through the center of said retainer wherejn said looped ends are free to rotate as well as move along said longitudinal axis.
9. [Claim 9] The earthquake-activated shelf security system of claim 1 further comprising: a first upper retainer stop; the first lower retainer stop disposed on a lower portion of said first guide rail; said first upper retainer stop being disposed above said first lower retainer stop; said first upper retainer stop being smaller in diameter than said first lower retainer stop; a second upper retainer stop; the second lower retainer stop disposed on a lower portion of said second guide rail; said second upper retainer stop being disposed above said second lower retainer stop; said second upper retainer stop being smaller in diameter than said second lower retainer stop; the retainer includes an upper retainer having a first and second end; an upper looped end disposed on said first and second end; said upper looped ends movably disposed on said first and second guide rails wherein said upper retainer is constrained to move along said first and second guide rails; 194759NZ Replacement Spec 29 July 2015 12 the retainer further includes a lower retainer having a third and fourth end; a lower looped end disposed on said third and fourth end; said lower retainer being disposed below said upper retainer; said lower looped ends movably disposed on said first and second guide rails wherein said lower retainer is constrained to move along said first and second guide rails; said upper looped ends having a smaller diameter than said lower looped ends wherein said lower looped ends being adapted to fit over said upper retainer stops and being adapted to stop on said lower retainer stops; and said upper looped ends being adapted to stop on said upper retainer stops; wherein said retainers hold and protect items on said shelf from falling during a shaking event.
10. [Claim 10] The earthquake-activated shelf security system of claim 9 further comprising a mesh net disposed between said upper and lower retainers wherein said mesh net is adapted to further restrain items from falling from said shelf during a shaking event.
11. [Claim 11] The earthquake-activated shelf security system of claim 9 further comprising a backstop disposed on each of said retainer rest portions wherein said upper and lower retainers rest against said backstops when in a non-activated configuration.
12. [Claim 12] The earthquake-activated shelf security system of claim 9 wherein said retainer stops are adjustable.
13. [Claim 13] The earthquake-activated shelf security system of claim 9 wherein said looped ends are able to rotate while being secured within said retainers.
14. [Claim 14] The earthquake-activated shelf security system of claim 9 wherein said upper and lower retainers are adapted to moveably retain said upper and lower looped end within an opening defined along a longitudinal axis passing through the center of said upper and lower retainers wherein said upper and lower looped ends are free to rotate as well as move along said longitudinal axis.