US3780876A - Shelf divider - Google Patents

Abstract

An adjustable shelf divider for shelving that includes a downwardly extending leg portion and return flange that wraps around the forward edge of a shelf and a downwardly extending leg portion and an offset irregularity thereon that engages over and pushes against the rearward edge of a shelf whereby the shelf divider is held firmly on a shelf.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Elkins SHELF DIVIDER [75] Inventor: Bobby L. Elkins, Parchment, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Lear Siegler, Inc., Santa Monica,

Calif.

[22] Filed: Jan. 18, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 221,460

[52] US. Cl. 211/184 [51] Int. Cl. A47f 5/00 [58] Field of Search 21 1/184; .40/17, 16,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,538,908 1/1951 McKeehan 211/184 2,884,139 4/1959 Dunham 504,233 8/1893 McVey et al. 40/16 X 1 Dec. 25, 1973 760,381 5/1904 Callery et al. 40/17 1,317,589 9/1919 Noziska 211/184 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 783,207 9/1957 Great Britain 211/184 Primary ExaminerRoy D. Frazier Assistant Examiner-Richard L. Stroup Attorney-Gerald E. McGlynn, Jr. et al.

[ ABS'I RACT An adjustable shelf divider for shelving that includes a downwardly extending leg portion and return flange that wraps around the forward edge of a shelf and a downwardly extending leg portion and an offset irregularity thereon that engages over and pushes against the rearward edge of a shelf whereby the shelf divider is held firmly on a shelf.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SHELF DIVIDER This invention relates to a shelf divider of the type which is disposed upon a shelf and includes an upstanding wall for dividing the length of the shelf and/or for maintaining books or the like upright on the shelf. The prior art includes a shelf divider that is not permanently secured to the shelf, that is, a shelf divider which can be disposed onto and removed from the shelf and can be slid along the surface of the shelf for adjusting its position along the shelf. Such a prior art shelf divider'is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. This prior art shelf divider includes a generally horizontal base portion and a divider portion extending upwardly from the base portion. The base portion is held on the shelf by a downwardly extending leg portion and a return flange which wraps around the leading or forward edge of the shelf and a straight leg portion which extends downwardly over the rear edge of the shelf. Holes are provided in the front leg portion to receive a leaf-type compression spring which is disposed between the front edge of the shelf and the leg portion to hold the divider on the shelf by urging the rear leg portion against the rear edge of the shelf, thereby causing the rear leg to frictionally engage the shelf.

The frictional engagement with the shelf is provided to prevent the divider from tipping or otherwise disengaging the shelf when articles on the shelf are leaned against the divider. Also, the frictional engagement maintains the position of the divider along a shelf but allows the divider to be slid along the shelf in response to a predetermined force.

The compression spring is integral with, and extends from a plate as it is stamped from the center of a plate and has one end attached to the plate with the free end inserted through one of the holes in the forward leg portion. Another stamped-out portion integral with the plate extends through a second hole in the leg portion and co-acts with the spring to'hold the plate securely on the leg portion. The separate plate is also formed into a label holder by bending the upper and lower edges to form a slot to hold a suitable label for identifying the items disposed on the shelf.

The disadvantage with this type of divider is that a separate spring element must be fabricated and assembled onto the base of the divider to provide a means to frictionally hold the shelf divider on the shelf.

It is therefore an object and feature of the instant invention to provide a divider for shelving that includes an upright divider and a base portion that has integral shelf engaging means at the front end of the base means for disposition around the front edge of a shelf and second integral shelf engaging means at the rear of said base means for urging the first shelf engaging means against the front edge of a shelf for holding the divider firmly on the shelf, thereby enabling the shelf divider to be of an integral one-piece construction, eliminating the need for extra spring elements and assembly operation.

It is another object and feature of the instant invention to provide a shelf divider that will easily snap onto or off of a shelf and one that is capable of sliding with the application of manual force for adjustment purposes while at the same time gripping the shelf to prevent unwanted movement along the shelf surface.

It is a further object and feature of the instant invention to provide label holding means on a portion of the shelf divider and that the label holding means be an integral part of the shelf divider.

lt is a further object and feature of the instant invention to provide a divider for shelving wherein the construction of the divider eliminates the need for grooves and holes disposed on the'upper surface of theshelf therefore allowing a smooth supporting surface.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein F l6. 1 is a perspective view of the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention mounted on a shelf;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 for FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a shelf divider constructed in accordance with the instant invention is generally shown at 10.

The shelf divider 10 includes a base means 12 and a divider means 14. The base means 12 defines a front end 16 and a rear end 18.

A first shelf engaging means generally indicated at 20 is integrally connected to the front end 16 of base means 12. The first shelf engaging means 20 includes a downwardly extending leg portion 22 and a return flange 24 extending laterally from the leg portion 22. The downwardly extending leg portion 22 and flange 24 coact with base means 12 to wrap around the front edge 26 of a shelf 28 to limit movement of a front 16 of the base means 12 transversely of the shelf 28.

The first shelf engaging means 20 includes a plurality of hooked portions 30 disposed on the outward face of leg portion 22 arranged in two opposing rows to define a slot whereby an identification label may be disposed and held between said hooked portions. The hooked portions 30 are formed by stamping pieces of the leg portion 22 outwardly, therefore providing receiving means for a label which is integral with the shelf divider 10.

The base means 12 includes second shelf engaging means generally indicated at 32 integrally connected at the rear of the base means 12 for urging the first shelf engaging means 20 against the front edge 26 of the shelf 28 and for holding the rear 18 of said base means 12 firmly on the rear edge of the shelf 28. The second shelf engaging means 32 includes a downwardly extending leg portion and detent means in the form of an irregularity 38 offset therefrom. The irregularity 38 as shown in the drawings, is generally V-shaped.' The irregularity 38 may take on any form such as a U-shaped bead or any other convenient shape that will hold the rear 18 of the base means 12 firmly on the rear edge 34 of the shelf 28 and provide a controlled compression whereby the divider is manually slidable along the length of the shelf.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the invented claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The embodiments of the instant invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

I. A shelf divider comprising: a base portion for overlying the upper surface of a shelf, said base portion having front and rear ends; a divider portion projecting transversely from said base portion and extending between the front and rear ends of said base portion; a first shelf engaging portion projecting from said front end of said base portion in the opposite direction from said divider portion, said first shelf engaging portion including a first leg portion depending from said front end for overlying the front edge of a shelf and a return flange on the free end of said first leg portion for projecting beneath the front edge of such shelf; a plurality of hooked portions struck integrally from said leg portion and arranged in vertical opposed relationship to define a slot for receiving a label; second shelf engaging means projecting from said rear end in the opposite direction from said divider portion, said second shelf engaging means including a second leg portion for overlying the rear edge of the shelf, and integral detent means on the free end of said second leg portion for resiliently projecting beneath the rear edge of the shelf.

2. A divider as claimed in claim 1 wherein said detent means comprises a V-shaped indentation formed integrally on the free end of said second leg portion.

Claims (2)

1. A shelf divider comprising: a base portion for overlying the upper surface of a shelf, said base portion having front and rear ends; a divider portion projecting transversely from said base portion and extending between the front and rear ends of said base portion; a first shelf engaging portion projecting from said front end of said base portion in the opposite direction from said divider portion, said first shelf engaging portion including a first leg portion depending from said front end for overlying the front edge of a shelf and a return flange on the free end of said first leg portion for projecting beneath the front edge of such shelf; a plurality of hooked portions struck integrally from said leg portion and arranged in vertical opposed relationship to define a slot for receiving a label; second shelf engaging means projecting from said rear end in the opposite direction from said divider portion, said second shelf engaging means including a second leg portion for overlying the rear edge of the shelf, and integral detent means on the free end of said second leg portion for resiliently projecting beneath the rear edge of the shelf.

2. A divider as claimed in claim 1 wherein said detent means comprises a V-shaped indentation formed integrally on the free end of said second leg portion.

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