US4828121A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shelf expander for supermarkets
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-12-14
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Granted: 1989-05-09
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Expires: 2007-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A flat blank formed of transparent, synthetic plastic material which when erected creates an open bin that is readily secured to the front edge of a supermarket shelf to enlarge its capacity to store and display additional merchandise. The blank is constituted by a rectangular base panel whose opposing long sides are joined by living hinges to the corresponding sides of rear and front panels, the opposing ends of the rear panel being joined by living hinges to end panels. By folding up the front and rear panels and swinging in the end panels and latching them to the front and base panels, a three-dimensional bin is created whose rear panel can then be adhesively attached to holding clips received in the existing price channel at the front edge of the shelf.
Inventors
- 👤 Reginald Willcocks, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:18
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47F; A47F5/00; A47F5/0043; A47F5/0068
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
A shelf expander attachable to the exposed edge of a supermarket shelf having a price channel thereon defined by upper and lower rails to provide additional space to display and store merchandise, said expander being formed from a flat blank of synthetic plastic material having a rectangular base panel whose opposing long sides are joined by living hinges to corresponding sides of rectangular rear and front panels, the opposing ends of the rear panel being joined by living hinges to end panels whereby erection of the blank is effected by folding up the front and rear panels and swinging in the end panels and latching them to the front and base panels to create a three-dimensional bin, said expander being attachable to said price channel by means of at least two spaced holding clips received in the channel, each holding clip having a high-tack adhesive band to which the rear panel of the expander is attached, each holding clip being provided with a slide plate received between the rails of said channel and a support plate cantilevered from the slide plate to extend above the upper rail of the channel and having said adhesive band thereon, each holding clip having a stiffening ridge spaced below the support plate to contact the rear panel of the expander and thereby help to maintain the expander in a generally level attitude with respect to the shelf, each end panel being provided with an end flange which when the blank is erected overlies the front panel and an edge flange which overlies the base panel to stabilize the bin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
265 words
A shelf expander attachable to the exposed edge of a supermarket shelf having a price channel thereon defined by upper and lower rails to provide additional space to display and store merchandise, said expander being formed from a flat blank of synthetic plastic material having a rectangular base panel whose opposing long sides are joined by living hinges to corresponding sides of rectangular rear and front panels, the opposing ends of the rear panel being joined by living hinges to end panels whereby erection of the blank is effected by folding up the front and rear panels and swinging in the end panels and latching them to the front and base panels to create a three-dimensional bin, said expander being attachable to said price channel by means of at least two spaced holding clips received in the channel, each holding clip having a high-tack adhesive band to which the rear panel of the expander is attached, each holding clip being provided with a slide plate received between the rails of said channel and a support plate cantilevered from the slide plate to extend above the upper rail of the channel and having said adhesive band thereon, each holding clip having a stiffening ridge spaced below the support plate to contact the rear panel of the expander and thereby help to maintain the expander in a generally level attitude with respect to the shelf, each end panel being provided with an end flange which when the blank is erected overlies the front panel and an edge flange which overlies the base panel to stabilize the bin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An expander as set forth in claim 1, wherein said blank is molded of transparent plastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
An expander as set forth in claim 2, wherein said material is acrylic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An expander as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base panel is provided with a row of clean-out holes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An expander as set forth in claim 1, wherein the upper edge of the front panel has an elongated U-shaped cut out to facilitate access to the merchandise held in the bin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An expander as set forth in claim 1, wherein latching is effected by detent fingers formed on the end panels which snap into complementary detent recesses on the base panel and the front panel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-05-08 | 1992-11-07 | 1993-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-08 | 1996-11-07 | 1997-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-08 | 2000-11-07 | 2001-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |