IP Verse

Retail Shelving System

Patent No. US12390024 (titled "Retail Shelving System") was filed by Fasteners For Retail Inc on Dec 6, 2024.

What is this patent about?

’024 is related to the field of retail shelving systems, specifically addressing the need for customizable and easily assembled shelving, particularly in environments like refrigerated cases where traditional gondola uprights are absent or unsuitable. Existing solutions often involve large, welded grid structures with fixed uprights, leading to shipping and installation challenges, limited customization, and material limitations such as corrosion and lack of NSF certification.

The underlying idea behind ’024 is to create a modular shelving system that overcomes the limitations of welded grid structures by using separate, mountable upper and lower rails that allow for adjustable positioning of slidable upright supports . This design facilitates easier installation, greater customization in shelf arrangement, and the use of lighter, NSF-compliant materials for the shelf deck panels.

The claims of ’024 focus on a shelf comprising a frame with first and second support arms, a front support bar and a rear support bar extending between the support arms, and a plurality of deck panels supported by the support bars. The claims also cover a front fence that extends across multiple deck panels and includes a top wire, a bottom wire, an intermediate wire, and vertically directed wire portions, where an intermediate section of the bottom wire extends across the interface between adjacent deck panels.

In practice, the system allows an installer to mount the upper and lower rails independently to a support structure. The upright supports are then slid into channels within the rails, allowing for flexible positioning. The shelf itself is assembled piece by piece, with support arms attaching to the uprights and deck panels interlocking to form a continuous surface. This modular design simplifies installation and allows for easy removal of deck panels for cleaning.

This design differentiates itself from prior approaches by eliminating the need for a large, pre-welded grid structure. The slidable uprights and modular shelf components enable greater customization and easier handling. The use of plastic deck panels, particularly those made from NSF-compliant materials, addresses concerns about corrosion and hygiene, making the system suitable for environments where the shelving comes into direct contact with food products. The interlocking deck panels and front fence design further enhance stability and prevent lateral movement of the panels.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the late 2020s when ’024 was filed, retail shelving systems were at a time when modularity and ease of assembly were increasingly valued, and when systems commonly relied on standardized mounting interfaces to allow for flexible configuration of shelves and accessories. At this time, the use of lightweight, durable materials was also prevalent, especially in environments requiring frequent cleaning or NSF certification.

Novelty and Inventive Step

Claims were pending in the application. Claim 1 was allowed. Claims 2-6 and 8-14 were rejected. Claim 7 was objected to. The drawing(s) and specification were also objected to by the Examiner.

Claims

This patent contains 9 claims, with claims 1 and 2 being independent. The independent claims are directed to a shelf comprising a frame, deck panels, and a front fence. The dependent claims generally add further details and limitations to the shelf described in the independent claims.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Deck panels
(Claim 1, Claim 2)		“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.”Plastic panels that form the upper surface of the shelf for supporting merchandise.
Front fence
(Claim 1, Claim 2)		“With specific reference now to”A structure extending parallel to the horizontal axis that engages at least two deck panels to prevent items from falling off the front of the shelf.
Front support bar
(Claim 1, Claim 2)		“The shelving system according to the teachings herein utilizes shelves which may be assembled onto the upright supports once they are installed. This is a distinct advantage over prior designs which require lifting a shelf as a unit onto a grid structure. Instead, according to the teachings herein, the shelf is rapidly assembled piece by piece in place. As a result, relatively light parts are lifted during installation, which are also far less cumbersome.”A component of the shelf frame that extends horizontally and supports the deck panels.
Rear support bar
(Claim 1, Claim 2)		“The shelving system according to the teachings herein utilizes shelves which may be assembled onto the upright supports once they are installed. This is a distinct advantage over prior designs which require lifting a shelf as a unit onto a grid structure. Instead, according to the teachings herein, the shelf is rapidly assembled piece by piece in place. As a result, relatively light parts are lifted during installation, which are also far less cumbersome.”A component of the shelf frame that extends horizontally, is positioned rearward of the front support bar, and supports the deck panels.
Support arms
(Claim 1)		“The shelving system according to the teachings herein utilizes shelves which may be assembled onto the upright supports once they are installed. This is a distinct advantage over prior designs which require lifting a shelf as a unit onto a grid structure. Instead, according to the teachings herein, the shelf is rapidly assembled piece by piece in place. As a result, relatively light parts are lifted during installation, which are also far less cumbersome.”Components of the shelf frame that support the front and rear support bars.

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US12390024

FASTENERS FOR RETAIL INC
Application Number
US18972016
Filing Date
Dec 6, 2024
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
Dec 17, 2038
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents