Latch assembly for securing tracks and dividers to a front rail

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10260545-B2
Application number	US-201514884421-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2015
Priority date	Apr 8, 2013
Publication date	Apr 16, 2019
Grant date	Apr 16, 2019

Abstract

A connector assembly which is adapted to selectively attach a cooperating member to a rail of a merchandising shelf includes a U-shaped lip including a first end and an opposite second end such that the first end is adapted to be selectively attached to the cooperating member and the second end is adapted to be selectively attached to the rail. The clip includes a first arm, a second arm and a bridge portion joining the two arms. The clip includes a resilient material and wherein the first arm is spaced from the second arm such that the first arm is movable in relation to the second arm. A protrusion extends in a direction generally perpendicular to a plane of the first arm. The protrusion includes a section configured to selectively cooperate with an engagement portion of the rail. The first engagement portion of the rail includes a layer of a flexible thermoplastic material having a Shore A hardness of less than 75.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A connector assembly that is adapted to selectively attach a cooperating member to a rail of a merchandising shelf, the connector assembly comprising:
a U-shaped clip including a first end and an opposite second end such that the first end is adapted to be selectively attached to the cooperating member and the second end is adapted to be selectively attached to the rail, the clip including a first arm, a second arm and a bridge portion joining the first arm to the second arm, with the second arm of the U-shaped clip engaging the cooperating member, wherein the clip comprises a resilient material and wherein the first arm is spaced from the second arm such that the first arm is movable in relation to the second arm;
a protrusion extending in a direction generally perpendicular to a plane of the first arm, the protrusion including a section configured to selectively cooperate with a first engagement portion of the rail; and
wherein the first engagement portion of the rail includes a layer of a flexible thermoplastic material having a Shore A hardness of less than 75.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the rail includes:
a flange extending rearwardly from a rear face of the rail;
a slot defined between the flange and a rear face of a vertical section of the rail; and
wherein the first engagement portion is positioned in the slot.

3. The connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein the merchandising shelf comprises a shelf platform with the rail configured to be positioned along a front edge of the shelf platform, the rail including a front face adapted to be viewed by potential customers.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the clip is a unitary, one-piece body.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the second arm includes a front end comprising at least one tooth.

6. The connector assembly according to claim 5 wherein the second arm front end comprises a plurality of spaced teeth.

7. The connector assembly of claim 5 wherein the rail further comprises a second engagement portion space from the first engagement portion, wherein the second engagement portion of the rail includes a layer of flexible thermoplastic material having a Shore A hardness of less than 75.

8. The connector assembly according to claim 1 wherein the rail first engagement portion includes a material that is co-extruded with a material of the rail.

9. The connector assembly according to claim 1 wherein the rail includes a vertical section and a horizontal section that is connected to the vertical section and wherein the horizontal section is configured to support the rail on the merchandising shelf.

10. The connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first arm is oriented generally parallel to the second arm in an unbiased position of the clip.

11. A connector assembly that is adapted to selectively attach a cooperating member to a rail of a merchandising shelf, comprising:
an elongated rail including a surface;
a layer of a flexible thermoplastic material having a Shore A hardness of less than 75 mounted to the rail surface;
a U-shaped clip including a first arm, a bridge and a second arm wherein the second arm of the clip is mounted to the cooperating member;
a protrusion extending from one of the first and second arms of the clip; and
wherein the protrusion is adapted to engage the layer of flexible thermoplastic material on the surface of the rail to retard a movement of the cooperating member along a length of the elongated rail.

12. The connector assembly of claim 11 wherein a press surface is defined on one of the first and second arms of the clip, the press surface being configured to be contacted by an associated user in order to urge the first arm toward the second arm.

13. The connector assembly of claim 11 wherein the protrusion is mounted to the first arm and extends in a direction generally perpendicular to a plane of the first arm.

14. The connector assembly of claim 13 wherein the rail includes a flange and a slot is defined between a rear face of the rail and the flange such that the layer of flexible thermoplastic material is located in the slot and wherein the protrusion extends into the slot.

15. The connector assembly of claim 11 wherein the protrusion is mounted to one of the first and second arms and comprises at least one tooth.

16. The connector assembly of claim 15 wherein the rail includes a rear face on which is located the layer of flexible material and wherein the at least one tooth contacts the layer of flexible material.

17. The connector assembly of claim 11 wherein the clip is a unitary, one-piece body.

18. The connector assembly according to claim 11 wherein the rail includes a vertical section and a horizontal section that extends from the vertical section and wherein the horizontal section is configured to support the rail on the merchandising shelf.

19. The connector assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the first arm is oriented generally parallel to the second arm in an unbiased position of the clip.

Assignees

• Fasteners For Retail Inc

Inventors

• Obitts Shane
• Szpak Gerald Matthew

Classifications

• A47F1/125

  with an article-pushing device · CPC title

• F16B12/26 Primary

  using snap-action elements · CPC title

• A47F5/005

  Partitions therefore (horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90) · CPC title

• A47B57/58

  with means for adjusting partitions horizontally (book-ends A47B65/00) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49876

  by snap fit · CPC title