US3112143A

US3112143A - Compartment divider

Info

Publication number: US3112143A
Application number: US162355A
Authority: US
Inventors: Zacharias Benjamin; Glenn D Zacharias
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-12-27
Filing date: 1961-12-27
Publication date: 1963-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1980-11-26

Description

Nov. 26, 1963 B. ZACHARIAS ET AL COMPARTMENT DIVIDER Filed DeG. 27, 1961 3,112,143 COMPARTIVEENT DWIDER Benjamin Zacharias, S E. 58th St., and Glenn D. Zacharias, 4620 Harriet S., both of Minneapolis, Minn. Filed Dec. Z7, 1961, Ser. No. 162,355 3 Claims. (Cl. 31210lll.3)

This invention relates to a compartment divider device for use in adjustably and readily dividing a display counter type receptacle into a plurality of compartments.

An object of this invention is the provision of a novel compartment divider device, of simple and inexpensive construction, for use in adjustably and readily dividing a display counter type receptable, such as a meat display counter structure and the like, into a plurality of shallow, open topped compartments, thereby permitting products to be more efficiently displayed in a display counter structure for ready access by customers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved compartment divider device including a horizontally disposed support member having a plurality of divider wall members adjustably supported in upright relation thereon so that :adjacent wall members deiine therebetween a compartment of preselected size, the divider device therefore being especially adaptable for use in dividing a meat type receptacle counter structure into a plurality of open top readily `accessible compartments for receiving therein the products to be displayed.

A more specific object of this invention is the provision of a compartment divider device for readily dividing a display counter receptacle into a plural-ity of compartments and wherein the compartment divider device is constructed of a rigid material capable of i ithstanding and bein-g unaffected by cold temperatures, the divider wall device including a flat support member positioned within the display counter receptacle, and a plurality of divider wall members disposed in upstanding relation upon a support member, with means for adjustably, slidably mounting the wall members upon the support member to permit the space between adjacent wall members to be readily varied.

These `and other objects and advantages of this inveni tion will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like character references refer to Ithe same or similar parts throughout the various views, and in which:

FIG. l is a cross sectional View of a conventional meat display counter type receptacle advantageously .incorporating our novel divider wall device therein;

FlG. 2 is a top plan view of our novel divider wall device;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view on an enlarged scale of a portion of our novel divider wall device;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale of the divider wall device taken approximately along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a modified form of the divider wall member; and

FIG. 6 is -a side view of the modified wall member illustrated in FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawing and more specifically to FIG. l, it wil be seen that one embodiment of our novel divider wall device, designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 1o is illustrated in cooperating relation with a conventional display counter type receptacle |11.

This display counter type lreceptacle 11 is of the type normally utilized in self service type markets for containing -meats and other refrigerated products. lt will be seen that the display counter receptacle structure 11 includes a rear wall-12, a front wall 13 and a bottom 'wall 14 which dene an open top interior 15 for receiving therein the various products displayed to the customers. It is pointed s' i .a i. i@

2 out that the display counter receptacles structure 11 is also provided with end walls, not shoavn, and may be provided with refrigeration means for maintaining the bottom wall surface 14 at a low temperature for the purpose of preserving the various products.

In the type of display counter receptacle illustrated in FlG. l, the interior Iof the receptacle counter is normally left undivided except perhaps wall elements extending between the front and rear walls and the portions merely divide a relatively long display counter into sections. The various products displayed within the receptacle counter are packaged and the various packages of a given product are presented in a group or batch. Thus, a plurality of batches in the groups are displayed for examination and selection by the customer.

Generally speaking, for example, the various kinds of sandwich meats are arranged in packaged batches as are the various cuts of packaged meat, other meat products, and dairy products such yas cheeses. Quite often, the customer will examine 4several packages of a given product before making `a selection requiring handling of the packages which results sometirnes in lthe package containing the meat of a given product not being returned to its proper batch o-r group. On the other occasions a heap or stack of a given product will collapse causing the various packages to fall and mingle with the packaged products of another stack.

`Referring again to FIGS. l and 4, it will be seen that our novel compartment divider device 1li includes a substantially dat, elongated support member 16 which is of substantially rectangular configuration. It should be pointed out that our divider wall device is preferably constructed of a polystyrene plastic material since this material will withstand low temperatures which are present in the meat display counters and also because polystyrene plastic is substantially white in -the cured fini-shed state. Therefore, even if the surface of the device becomes nicked or otherwise marred, a white surface will always be presented. It is also pointed out that `any suitable metallic material such as steel or the like may be used.

It will be seen that the support member 16 has a pair of elongate slots 17 formed therein and these slots eX- tend longitudinally of the support members. One of the longitudinal edges bounding each slot 1.7 is serrated as at 17a, the function of which will be fully explained hereinbelow. It will also be noted that slots 17 are disposed in substantially parallel relationship and each terminates adjacent but short of the ends of the support member 16. The support member 16 in use is positioned upon the bottom 14 and each support member 16 which is of predetermined width, is of a length to substantially traverse the width of counter receptacles between the front 'and rear wall. The distance between the front and rear walls of a conventional display counter of receptacles is substantially thirty inches and we prefer to construct the supporting member 16 to have a length of approximately twenty-seven inches. It will be noted that each of the slots 17 terminates at its respective ends and is in communicating relation with a large opening 18.

A plurality of divider Wall members 19 are detachably and slidably mounted on the support member 16 for longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto. It will be noted that when the support member 16 is positioned along the bot-tom 14 of the counter receptacle, the divider wall members 19 will be disposed in substantially upright relationship as best seen in FIG. l. It is also pointed out that these divider wall members 19 are similarly constructed of polystyrene plastic and may be formed by a molding operation. The wall members 1d may also be constructed of a suitable metal.

It will be noted that the lower terminal portion of the member 19 includes a product engaging portion Zt) o integrally formed therewith and extending in lsubstantially right angular relationship therefrom. Th1s product engaging portion 2G is disposed upon the support member 16 in slidable engaging relation therewith, as best seen in FIG. 1, and is adapted to be engaged by the product disposed thereupon. This means for sltdably retaining each of the wall members 19 upon this support member 16 includes a pair of substantially elongate guide or slide elements 21 integrally formed with the underside of the product engaging portion 2t) and depending therefrom so that each guide element extends through one of the slots 17. Each of these guide elements Z1 is of a width slightly less than the width of the slots 17 and each of the guide elements is also of a length to prevent twisting of these elements so that the divider wall elements may be readily and effectively moved in sliding fashion along a support 16.

Means are also provided for retaining the divider wall members 19 on the support member and this means includes a pair of substantially round retaining members or lugs 22 each being integrally formed with one of the guide or slide elements 21. Referring now to FIG. 3 it will be noted that the retaining lugs 22 which are of a size substantially larger than the width of the slots 17 underlie and engage tl e under surface of the support member 16. It will also be noted that the guide elements 21 and their associated retaining lugs, as best seen in FIG. 3, are located midway between the longitudinal dimension of the product engaging portion 20 of each of the divider wall members 19. It is also pointed out that each of the retaining members or lugs 22 while being of a size substantially larger than the slots 17 are of a size slightly smaller than the openings 18 thus permitting each of the divider wall members 19 to be readily removed from the support member 16'.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 it will be seen that a different embodiment of the divider wall member is there shown. This embodiment of the wall member 19 does not have a product engaging portion 2t) and it will be noted that the guide or slide elements 21a are integrally formed or affixed to the lower edge portion of the divider wall member 19a to depend therefrom through the slots 17 of the support member 16. Each guide element 21a has aiiixed thereto a retaining lug 22a as in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4.

In use, a plurality of the compartment divider devices will preferably be placed in side-by-side relation. Each of the department divider devices will include one or more of the divider wall members 19. With this arrangement, the divider wall members are moved lengthwise along the support members 16 until the desired spacing between adjacent divider wall members is obtained. The spacing between adjacent divider wall members 19 will define therebetween a compartment for receiving therein a plurality of packages of a given product as best illustrated in FIG. l. Preferably the upper front terminal portion of the divider wall members 19 will be left exposed so that the kind, brand and price of the product displayed within the compartment formed by two adjacent divider wall members may be applied to the surface thereof. This enables a customer to be readily apprised of the kind of produce and the price thereof without examination of the labels on the package. The serrated edge 17a cooperates with the guide elements 21 to retain the divider wall members 19 in an adjusted position even though the bottom wall 14 may be slightly inclined as illustrated in FIG. l. Further, products disposed on the product-engaging portion will tend to tilt the divider wall members slightly in a direction towards the product engaging member 2t), this relationship tending to prevent accidental sliding of the divider wall member 19 longitudinally of the support member 16. It will be noted that the product or packages engaging the upright surface of the divider wall member 19 oppositely of the product engaging portion 253 also tends to cause the divider Wall member 19 to tilt slightly thus resulting in a slight binding action of the retaining lugs 22 against the bottom of the support member 16. It will, therefore, be seen that the lugs tend to retain the divider wall member 19 in its present position.

It is pointed out that the width of the support member 16 and the divider wall members 19 may be selectively varied while the compartment detned by adjacent divider wall members 19, or between a divider wall member 19 and the front or rear walls of the receptacle counter may be selectively varied very nicely and to neatly accommodate the batch or group of packages to be placed therein. With this arrangement, it will be seen that not only are the products which are displayed more orderly presented but that the products may be readily positioned, and removed from the display counter more effectively than was heretofore possible.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that We have provided a novel and improved compartment divider device which permits a conventional display counter type receptacle to be readily divided into a plurality of compartments of preselected size for accommodating batches or groups of packages.

It will also be seen from the preceding paragraphs that we have provided a novel compartment divider device which is not only of simple and inexpensive construction, but which functions in a more eicient manner than any heretofore comparable devices.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangements and proportions of the various parts without departing from the general scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. Compartment divider apparatus for use in readily and adjustably dividing a display counter type receptacle, such as meat display counters and the like, into a plurality of compartments,

said compartment divider apparatus comprising an elongate substantially at support membed adapted to be positioned upon the bottom of a display counter type receptacle and being of a length to substantially traverse the same,

said support member having a plurality of elongate slots formed therein and extending longitudinally thereof, said slots being disposed in substantially parallel relation,

a divider wall member adjustably mounted in substantially upright transverse relation on said support member for sliding movement relative thereto,

said divider wall member including a substantially horizontally disposed, product-supporting element aixed to the lower portion thereof and extending laterally therefrom upon the upper surface of said support member and presenting a smooth uninterrupted upper surface,

a plurality of guide elements rigidly connected to said product supporting element and depending therefrom, each of said guide elements projecting through one of said slots and cooperating therewith for guiding said wall member in upright transverse relation along the support member,

and a plurality of retaining elements each being aflixed to one of said guide elements and being positioned against the underside of said support member and cooperating with the latter to retain said divider wall member in upright transverse relation in an adjusted position on said support member.

2. Structure as defined in claim l wherein at least one of the edges bounding one of the slots in said support member is serrated.

3. Apparatus as described in claim l and a plurality of enlarged openings formed in said support member adjacent one end thereof and each opening communicating with one of said slots, said enlarged opening being of a size larger than said retaining elements to permit ready removal of said divider Wall member from said support member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Darby Oct. 16, 1928 Vanderveld Feb. 18, 1930 Vsel Sept. 1, 1931 Mapson May 30, 1933 Wesbrook Dec. 9, 1941 Lowensten July 27, 1954 Ingelson May 29, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain June 7, 1940

Claims

1. COMPARTMENT DIVIDER APPARATUS FOR USE IN READILY AND ADJUSTABLY DIVIDING A DISPLAY COUNTER TYPE RECEPTACLE, SUCH AS MEAT DISPLAY COUNTERS AND THE LIKE, INTO A PLURALITY OF COMPARTMENTS, SAID COMPARTMENT DIVIDER APPARATUS COMPRISING AN ELONGATE SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT SUPPORT MEMBED ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED UPON THE BOTTOM OF A DISPLAY COUNTER TYPE RECEPTACLE AND BEING OF A LENGTH TO SUBSTANTIALLY TRAVERSE THE SAME, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATE SLOTS FORMED THEREIN AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, SAID SLOTS BEING DISPOSED IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION, A DIVIDER WALL MEMBER ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED IN SUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT TRANSVERSE RELATION ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, SAID DIVIDER WALL MEMBER INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED, PRODUCT-SUPPORTING ELEMENT AFFIXED TO THE LOWER PORTION THEREOF AND EXTENDING LATERALLY THEREFROM UPON THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND PRESENTING A SMOOTH UNINTERRUPTED UPPER SURFACE, A PLURALITY OF GUIDE ELEMENTS RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO SAID PRODUCT SUPPORTING ELEMENT AND DEPENDING THEREFROM, EACH OF SAID GUIDE ELEMENTS PROJECTING THROUGH ONE OF SAID SLOTS AND COOPERATING THEREWITH FOR GUIDING SAID WALL MEMBER IN UPRIGHT TRANSVERSE RELATION ALONG THE SUPPORT MEMBER, AND A PLURALITY OF RETAINING ELEMENTS EACH BEING AFFIXED TO ONE OF SAID GUIDE ELEMENTS AND BEING POSITIONED AGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND COOPERATING WITH THE LATTER TO RETAIN SAID DIVIDER WALL MEMBER IN UPRIGHT TRANSVERSE RELATION IN AN ADJUSTED POSITION ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER.