Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
  • A47F5/00—Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features
  • A47F5/0043—Show shelves
  • A47F5/005—Partitions therefore
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B47/00—Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features related to dismountability or building-up from elements
  • A47B47/04—Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features related to dismountability or building-up from elements made mainly of wood or plastics
  • A47B47/042—Panels connected without frames
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
  • A47F5/00—Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features
  • A47F5/0081—Show stands or display racks with movable parts
  • A47F5/0093—Show stands or display racks with movable parts movable in a substantially horizontal direction
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B2230/00—Furniture jointing; Furniture with such jointing
  • A47B2230/0074—Mortise and tenon joints or the like including some general male and female connections
  • A47B2230/0085—Mutually slotted furniture joints

Definitions

• the present invention relates to modular shelf system, more particularly, relates to a modular shelf system for displaying retail products to consumers.
• Selves for displaying products can be divided into several sections. For example, in selves for displaying retails products to consumers in retail stores, one divided section is used for displaying one brand products or one category products, and another divided section is used for displaying another brand products or another category products. In such selves, it is expected to adjust the width of each section according to sales circumstances. For example, the width of one section of a certain product/brand may be expected to be broadened only for its sales promotion period. In another example, the width of a section for products/brands having larger sales volumes may be expected to be broadened, while the width of a section for products/brands having reduced sales volumes may be expected to be narrowed.
• the present invention is directed to a modular shelf system comprising: at least one shelf board defined between a first side end, a second side end, a front end, and a rear end, and having an upwardly facing surface and a downwardly facing surface, and having a space to display products on the upwardly facing surface; and at least one middle side wall which is configured to divide the space to display products between the first and second side end of the shelf board, wherein the middle side wall has at least one slit which is configured to accept the shelf board, and wherein the middle wall is configured to move laterally while accepting the shelf board through the slit.
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the modular shelf system of the present invention.
• Fig. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of a middle side wall used in the modular shelf system of Fig. 1.
• the modular shelf system of the present invention comprises: at least one shelf board defined between a first side end, a second side end, a front end, and a rear end, and having an upwardly facing surface and a downwardly facing surface, and having a space to display products on the upwardly facing surface; and at least one middle side wall which is configured to divide the space to display products between the first and second side end of the shelf board, wherein the middle side wall has at least one slit which is configured to accept the shelf board, and wherein the middle wall is configured to move laterally while accepting the shelf board through the slit.
• the modular shelf system can further comprise at least one of the folio wings: one or two end side walls; a rear wall; a base shelf board; a signing element; and a lighting element.
• the modular shelf system of the present invention comprises at least one shelf board.
• the shelf boards of the present invention are those defined between a first side end, a second side end, a front end, and a rear end, and having an upwardly facing surface and a downwardly facing surface, and having a space to display products on the upwardly facing surface.
• each shelf board can have a same or different size, i.e., the width between the first and second side ends, the depth between the front and rear ends, and/or the height between the upwardly facing and downwardly facing surfaces.
• the one shelf board can be one piece.
• the one shelf board can comprise two or more pieces, for example, for at least one of the following purposes:
• shelf board can change its size, i.e., the width, the depth, and/or the height; and so that the shelf board can easily connect with other elements such as signing elements and lighting elements.
• the piece can be configured to be detachably connected with at least one another piece, in order to form one shelf board.
• the connection means can be anything known in the art, for example, tabs and tab receivers wherein the tabs can be interlocked with, engaged with, press-fit and/or snap-fit with the tab receivers.
• the modular shelf system of the present invention comprises four shelf boards (First shelf board 1.1, Second shelf board 1.2, Third shelf board 1.3, and Fourth shelf board 1.4).
• Each shelf board is defined between a first side end, a second side end, a front end, and a rear end, and having an upwardly facing surface and a downwardly facing surface, and having a space to display products on the upwardly facing surface.
• First shelf board's First side end 1.1.1, Second side end 1.1.2, Front end 1.1.3, and Rear end 1.1.4 are specifically shown in Fig. 1.
• each shelf board has the same width between the first and second side ends.
• Fig. 1 While not clearly shown in Fig.
• First shelf board 1.1 has a slightly lower height between the upwardly facing and downwardly facing surfaces, compared to heights of Second, Third, Fourth shelf boards (1.2, 1.3, and 1.4) which have the same height.
• each shelf board has different depth between the front and rear ends, such that a lower shelf board has a deeper depth.
• each shelf board comprises three pieces to change the width between the first and second side ends of the shelf board, while border lines between the pieces are not shown in Fig. 1.
• the middle and side pieces are configured such that the middle piece is detachably connected with two side pieces, by connection means of tabs and tab receivers wherein the tabs are press-fit with the tab receivers.
• the modular shelf system of the present invention comprises at least one middle side wall.
• the middle side wall is configured to divide the space to display products between the first and second side end of the shelf board.
• the middle side wall has at least one slit which is configured to accept the shelf board.
• the middle wall is configured to move laterally while accepting the shelf board through the slit.
• the middle side wall is defined by a top end, a bottom end, front end, rear end, first side surface and second side surface. One of such ends can smoothly connect to another end.
• the slit is formed between the front end and the rear end.
• the slit can be formed as follows:
• the middle side wall can have a closed front end and an open rear end, wherein the slit has an opening edge at the rear end which is preferred for easiness to assemble and/or move;
• the middle side wall can have a open front end and a closed rear end, wherein the slit has an opening edge at the front end;
• the middle side wall can have a closed front end and a closed rear end, wherein the slit has no opening edge.
• the middle side wall prefferably has slits such that the number of the slits corresponding to the number of the shelf broads.
• Each slit can have a same or different size, i.e., height which approximately corresponds to the height of the shelf board, width which approximately corresponds to the width of the middle side wall, and /or depth which approximately correspond to the depth of the shelf board.
• each middle side wall can have a same or different size, i.e., the height between the top and bottom ends, the width between the first and second side surface, and/or the depth between the front and rear ends.
• the one middle side wall can be one piece.
• the one middle side wall can comprise two or more pieces, for example, for at least one of the following purposes:
• middle side wall can change its size such as height, width, and/or depth
• middle side wall can change the number of slits; and so that the middle side wall can change the size of slits such as height, width, and/or depth.
• the piece can be configured to be detachably connected with at least one another piece, in order to form one middle side wall.
• the connection means can be anything known in the art.
• the middle side and the shelf board can be configured to be detachably connected each other.
• the connection means can be anything known in the art.
• the modular shelf system of the present invention comprises five Middle side walls 2.
• the middle side wall is configured to move laterally while accepting the shelf boards through the slit.
• the slits can be seen more clearly in Fig. 2.
• each Middle side wall 2 is configured to divide the space to display products between the first and second side end of the shelf board.
• the display space is divided into six sections by five Middle side walls 2.
• the Middle side wall is defined by a top end, a bottom end, front end, rear end, first side surface and second side surface.
• Middle side wall's Top end 2.1, Bottom end 2.2, Front end 2.3, Rear end 2.4 are specifically shown in Fig. 2.
• Front end 2.3 smoothly connects to Top end 2.1.
• all middle side walls have the same size.
• each middle side wall has four slits corresponding to four shelf boards, and the slit being configured to accept the shelf board.
• Such four slits are shown in Fig. 2 as First slit 2.5.1, Second slit 2.5.2, Third slit 2.5.3, Fourth slit 2.5.4.
• each Middle side wall 2 has the closed front end and the open rear end wherein the slit has an opening edge at the rear end.
• First slit 2.5.1 has a slightly lower height, and has an enlarged front end portion for accepting a signing element which is explained later, while Second, Third and Fourth slits (2.5.2, 2.5.3, and 2.5.4) have a same height which is higher than that of First slit 2.5.1.
• each middle side wall comprises one piece.
• the modular shelf system of the present invention preferably further comprises a base shelf board.
• the base shelf board is defined by a first side end, a second side end, a front end, and a rear end, and having an upwardly facing surface and a downwardly facing surface, and preferably having a space to display products on the upwardly facing surface.
• the base shelf board is preferably that can stably accept the weights of all other parts of the modular shelf system, including the weights of products displayed on the shelf board.
• the base shelf board can have a variety of sizes, i.e., the width between the first and second side ends, the depth between the front and rear ends, and/or the height between the upwardly facing surface and either of downwardly facing surface or floor on which the modular shelf system is placed.
• the base shelf board can be one piece.
• the base shelf board can comprise two or more pieces, for example, for at least one of the following purposes:
• the base shelf board can change its size, i.e., the width, the depth, and/or the height;
• the base shelf board can further comprises other elements such as signing elements and lighting elements.
• the piece can be configured to be detachably connected with at least one another piece, in order to form one base shelf board.
• the connection means can be anything known in the art, for example, tabs and tab receivers wherein the tabs can be interlocked with, engaged with, press-fit and/or snap-fit with the tab receivers.
• the base shelf board and the middle side wall can be configured to detachably connect each other.
• the middle side wall can be located in an approximately fixed position and/or can be supported by, at least partially, the base shelf board.
• the connection means can be anything known in the art, for example, tabs and tab receivers wherein the tabs can be interlocked with, engaged with, press-fit and/or snap-fit with the tab receivers.
• the modular shelf system of the present invention comprises Base shelf board 3.
• the Base shelf board 3 is defined by a first side end, a second side end, a front end, and a rear end, and having an upwardly facing surface and a downwardly facing surface, and having a space to display products on the upwardly facing surface.
• the Base shelf board 3 has the same width as that of the shelf boards, and a deeper depth than those of the shelf boards.
• the Base shelf board 3 comprises three pieces to change the width between the first and second side ends of the base shelf board, while border lines between the pieces are not shown in Fig. 1. While also not shown in Fig.
• the middle and side pieces are configured such that the middle piece is detachably connected with two side pieces, by connection means of tabs and tab receivers wherein the tabs are press-fit with the tab receivers.
• the base shelf board and each middle side wall are connected each other by the connection means of tabs and tab receivers wherein the tabs are press-fit with the tab receivers.
• the modular shelf system of the present invention preferably further comprises one or two end side walls.
• the end side walls do not have any slit, the slit allowing the walls to move laterally while accepting the shelf board through.
• the end side wall is defined by a top end, a bottom end, front end, rear end, first side surface and second side surface. One of such ends can smoothly connect to another end.
• each end side wall can have a same or different size, i.e., the height between the top and bottom ends, the width between the first and second side surface, and/or the depth between the front and rear ends.
• the end side wall can be one piece.
• the end side wall can comprise two or more pieces, for example, for at least one of the following purposes:
• the middle side wall can change the size of slits such as height, width, and/or depth.
• the piece can be configured to be detachably connected with at least one another piece, in order to form one end side wall.
• the connection means can be anything known in the art, for example, tabs and tab receivers wherein the tabs can be interlocked with, engaged with, press-fit and/or snap-fit with the tab receivers.
• the end side wall and the shelf board can be configured to be detachably connected each other.
• the connection means can be anything known in the art, for example, tabs and tab receivers wherein the tabs can be interlocked with, engaged with, press-fit and/or snap-fit with the tab receivers.
• the shelf board can be supported by, at least partially, the end side wall.
• the end side wall and the base shelf board can be configured to be detachably connected each other.
• the connection means can be anything known in the art, for example, tabs and tab receivers wherein the tabs can be interlocked with, engaged with, press-fit and/or snap-fit with the tab receivers.
• the end side wall can be supported by, at least partially, the base shelf board.
• the modular shelf system of the present invention comprises two End side walls 4.
• the End side wall 4 is defined by a top end, a bottom end, front end, rear end, first side surface and second side surface.
• the front end smoothly connects to the top end.
• each End side wall 4 has the same size, and also have approximately same sizes as those of the Middle side walls 2.
• each End side wall 4 comprises one piece.
• the End side walls 4 are not connected with the Shelf boards (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4) or with the Base shelf board 3.
• the modular shelf system of the present invention preferably further comprises a rear wall.
• the rear wall is defined by a first end, a second end, a top end, a bottom end, a front side surface and a rear side surface.
• the rear wall can have any size as long as meeting the purpose of the present invention, i.e., width between the first and second ends, height between the top and bottom ends, and/or depth between the front and rear side surfaces.
• the rear wall can be one piece.
• the rear wall can comprise two or more pieces, for example, for at least one of the following purposes:
• the rear wall can change the size of slits such as height, width, and/or depth.
• the piece can be configured to be detachably connected with at least one another piece, in order to form one rear wall.
• the connection means can be anything known in the art.
• the rear wall and the shelf board can be configured to be detachably connected each other.
• the connection means can be anything known in the art, for example, brackets and screws wherein the bracket can be screwed to the shelf board and to the rear all.
• the shelf board can be supported by, at least partially, the rear wall.
• the rear wall and the middle side wall can configured to be detachably connected each other.
• the connection means can be anything known in the art.
• the middle side wall can be supported by, at least partially, the rear wall.
• the rear wall and the base shelf board can be configured to be detachably connected each other.
• the connection means can be anything known in the art, for example, tabs and tab receivers wherein the tabs can be interlocked with, engaged with, press-fit and/or snap-fit with the tab receivers.
• the rear wall can be supported by, at least partially, the base shelf board.
• the rear wall and the end side wall if present, can be configured to be detachably connected each other.
• the connection means can be anything known in the art, for example, brackets and screws wherein the bracket can be screwed to the end side wall and to the rear all, or screws only. By this connection, the rear wall and end side wall can be supported, at least partially, each other.
• the modular shelf system of the present invention comprises Rear wall 5.
• the Rear wall is defined by a first end, a second end, a top end, a bottom end, a front side surface and a rear side surface.
• the Rear wall 5 has an approximately same width as those of the Shelf boards (1.1, 1.2,
• the Rear wall 5 comprises three pieces to change the width between the first and second side ends of the rear wall, such that the rear wall has an approximately same width as that of the shelf boards, while border lines between the pieces are not shown in Fig. 1. While also not shown in Fig. 1, the middle and side pieces are configured such that the middle piece is detachably connected with two side pieces, by connection means of tabs and tab receivers wherein the tabs are press-fit with the tab receivers. In this embodiment, while not shown in Fig.l, the Rear wall 5 is detachably connected with each Shelf board (1.1, 1.2.
• the Rear wall 5 is also detachably connected with the two End side walls 4 by the connection means of brackets and screws wherein the brackets are screwed to the end side wall and to the rear all.
• the modular shelf system of the present invention may further contain a singing element.
• Such signing elements can be figured to display any information relating to the displayed products, for example, product's brand, source, logo and/or price.
• the signing elements can contain a monitor to air advertisements and/or demonstrate benefits of the product.
• the singing element can be configured to detachably or non-detachably connect with other parts of the modular shelf system, for example, the shelf board and rear wall, by any known connection means.
• the modular shelf system of the present invention may further contain a lighting element.
• Such lighting elements can be figured to illuminate any parts of the modular shelf system including the displayed products.
• the lighting element can be configured to detachably or non-detachably connect with other parts of the modular shelf system, for example, the shelf board and rear wall, by any known connection means.
• the modular shelf system of the present invention comprises First signing element 6.1, Second signing element 6.2, and Third signing element 6.3, and First Lighting element 7.1.
• the First signing element 6.1 is, for example, that for showing a brand name and accommodating the First lighting element 7.1 inside, and they are connected with the Rear wall 5 by any known connection means.
• the Second singing element 6.2 is, for example, that for showing brand image and/or equity, and it is connected with the Rear wall 5 by any known connection means.
• the Third signing element 6.3 is, for example, that for showing product prices and/or product benefits.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Display Racks (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=44310268

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Citations (4)

• 2010
  • 2010-10-21 CA CA2813945A patent/CA2813945A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-10-21 AU AU2010362676A patent/AU2010362676A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-10-21 MX MX2013004458A patent/MX2013004458A/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2010-10-21 WO PCT/US2010/053466 patent/WO2012054033A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2010-10-21 BR BR112013008222A patent/BR112013008222A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (4)

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