IP Verse

Retail Shelving System

Patent No. US12369730 (titled "Retail Shelving System") was filed by Fasteners For Retail Inc on Dec 6, 2024.

What is this patent about?

’730 is related to the field of retail shelving systems, specifically addressing the need for more customizable, easier-to-install, and cleaner shelving solutions in retail environments. Traditional shelving often involves fixed, welded grid structures that are cumbersome to ship and install, and shelves made of materials that are prone to corrosion and difficult to clean. The patent aims to overcome these drawbacks by providing a modular shelving system that can be easily adapted to various retail display needs.

The underlying idea behind ’730 is to create a modular shelving system where the support structure and the shelves themselves are assembled from separate components. This allows for easier shipping, installation, and customization. The key insight is to use independently mountable upper and lower rails with slidable upright supports, combined with shelves that can be assembled piece by piece onto these supports. This approach contrasts with the traditional welded grid structures with fixed uprights.

The claims of ’730 focus on a shelf comprising a frame including a front support bar , a rear support bar , and a first deck panel supported by the front and rear support bars. The deck panel has an upper support surface configured to support merchandise, and is formed from plastic. The deck panel has a plurality of apertures formed in the upper support surface, the plurality of apertures defining a plurality of rows, each row extending parallel to the horizontal axis, each row having apertures that are either elongated or not elongated parallel to the horizontal axis.

In practice, the shelving system involves mounting the upper and lower rails to a support structure, then sliding the upright supports into the channels of these rails. The shelves are then assembled by mounting support arms to the uprights and attaching the front and rear support bars. Finally, the deck panels, made of plastic for easy cleaning and NSF compliance, are snapped onto the support bars. The deck panels interlock with each other, preventing lateral movement and creating a stable shelving surface.

This modular design differentiates itself from prior art by eliminating the need for large, pre-assembled welded grid structures. The use of plastic deck panels offers advantages in terms of weight, corrosion resistance, and cleanability compared to traditional steel or aluminum shelves. The ability to adjust the angle of the shelf by repositioning the adjustable plate on the support arms also provides a unique feature for gravity-feed applications, enhancing the versatility of the shelving system.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the late 2010s when ’730 was filed, retail shelving systems commonly relied on vertical support structures with integrated mounting rails, often referred to as gondola uprights, to which shelves were mounted. At a time when customization of shelf arrangements was limited, and when the use of materials suitable for NSF certification in retail display applications was not trivial.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The examiner approved the application because the closest prior art failed to teach the overall combination of features as claimed. While the prior art taught a frame with front and rear support bars and a plastic deck panel with apertures, it did not disclose the benefit of having the first deck panel with apertures arranged according to the limitations of claims 1 and 4, specifically the arrangement and orientation of elongated and non-elongated apertures.

Claims

US12,369,730 has 9 claims, of which claims 1 and 4 are independent. The independent claims focus on a shelf comprising a frame and a deck panel with multiple rows of apertures. The dependent claims generally add specific details or limitations to the features described in the independent claims, such as the shape, number, or position of the apertures.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Elongated parallel
(Claim 1, Claim 4)		“With specific reference now to the drawings, the same illustrate an embodiment of a shelving system according to the teachings herein. As will be understood from the following, the shelving system provides several advantages over existing designs. Second, the shelving system according to the teachings herein utilizes shelves which may be assembled onto the upright supports once they are installed.”Refers to the shape of certain apertures in the deck panel, where the longer dimension of the aperture is oriented parallel to the horizontal axis.
First deck panel
(Claim 1, Claim 4)		“Third, the shelf or shelves of the current application utilize plastic deck panels which may be formed of a NSF compliant material. Fifth, due to the size and modular nature of the deck panels, these panels may be easily removed for cleaning in a sink or dishwasher. This is a distinct advantage over prior designs, which require removing the entirety of the shelf as a single unit and washing the same in a cleaning area which accommodates cleaning of relatively large objects.”A panel that forms the upper surface of the shelf and is supported by the front and rear support bars. It is made of plastic and has multiple rows of apertures.
Front support bar
(Claim 1, Claim 4)		“With specific reference now to the drawings, the same illustrate an embodiment of a shelving system according to the teachings herein. As will be understood from the following, the shelving system provides several advantages over existing designs. Second, the shelving system according to the teachings herein utilizes shelves which may be assembled onto the upright supports once they are installed.”A component of the shelf frame that extends horizontally and supports the deck panel.
Rear support bar
(Claim 1, Claim 4)		“With specific reference now to the drawings, the same illustrate an embodiment of a shelving system according to the teachings herein. As will be understood from the following, the shelving system provides several advantages over existing designs. Second, the shelving system according to the teachings herein utilizes shelves which may be assembled onto the upright supports once they are installed.”A component of the shelf frame that extends horizontally, parallel to the front support bar, and supports the deck panel.
Upper support surface
(Claim 1, Claim 4)		“Third, the shelf or shelves of the current application utilize plastic deck panels which may be formed of a NSF compliant material. Fifth, due to the size and modular nature of the deck panels, these panels may be easily removed for cleaning in a sink or dishwasher. This is a distinct advantage over prior designs, which require removing the entirety of the shelf as a single unit and washing the same in a cleaning area which accommodates cleaning of relatively large objects.”The top surface of the first deck panel, designed to hold merchandise.

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US12369730

FASTENERS FOR RETAIL INC
Application Number
US18972427
Filing Date
Dec 6, 2024
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
Dec 17, 2038
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents