Item alignment tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10506887-B2
Application number	US-201815997076-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2018
Priority date	Aug 2, 2017
Publication date	Dec 17, 2019
Grant date	Dec 17, 2019

Abstract

Example item alignment tools for aligning items on a shelf are described. The item alignment tools include an elongated planar body defining a proximal end, a distal end, a bottom straight edge, a top edge, and first and second opposing sides extending between the bottom straight edge and the top edge. The item alignment tools include a handle coupled to the proximal end of the elongated planar body. The item alignment tools include a wrap positioned over and covering at least a portion of the bottom straight edge of the elongated planar body to provide a protective layer for sliding along a surface of a shelf to facilitate alignment of items on the shelf.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An item alignment tool for aligning items on a shelf, comprising:
an elongated planar body defining a proximal end, a distal end, a bottom straight edge, a top edge, and first and second opposing sides extending between the bottom straight edge and the top edge, the proximal and distal ends of the elongated planar body defining opposing endpoints of the item alignment tool;
a handle coupled to the proximal end of the elongated planar body; and
a wrap permanently secured to the elongated planar body, the wrap positioned over and covering at least a portion of the bottom straight edge of the elongated planar body to provide a protective layer for sliding along a surface of a shelf to facilitate alignment of items on the shelf,
wherein:
the wrap extends over at least a portion of the first and second opposing sides of the elongated planar body;
the handle comprises a first handle half and a second handle half coupled on opposing sides of the elongated planar body; or
the wrap is permanently secured to the elongated planar body with adhesive to prevent removal of the wrap from the elongated planar body.

2. The item alignment tool of claim 1 , wherein the bottom straight edge is uniformly flat between a point near the proximal end of the elongated planar body and a point near the distal end of the elongated planar body.

3. The item alignment tool of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the elongated planar body includes a cutout extending therethrough defining a passage configured to receive a hand of a user during gripping of the handle.

4. The item alignment tool of claim 3 , wherein the handle includes an opening extending therethrough, the opening in the handle further defining the passage configured to receive the hand of the user during gripping of the handle.

5. The item alignment tool of claim 4 , wherein the opening of the handle is complementary to the cutout of the elongated planar body.

6. The item alignment tool of claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a distal edge extending at an angle relative to the bottom edge of the elongated planar body.

7. The item alignment tool of claim 6 , wherein the angle is an acute angle.

8. The item alignment tool of claim 1 , wherein the elongated planar body defines a rigid structure.

9. The item alignment tool of claim 1 , wherein the bottom straight edge and the top edge of the elongated planar body define planar or linear surfaces.

10. The item alignment tool of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the bottom straight edge and the top edge is equal between a point near the proximal end of the elongated planar body and a point near the distal end of the elongated planar body.

11. The item alignment tool of claim 1 , comprising a magnet incorporated into the handle.

12. The item alignment tool of claim 1 , comprising an illumination source incorporated into the handle.

13. The item alignment tool of claim 1 , wherein the top edge of the elongated planar body comprises graduations for distance measurement.

14. The item alignment tool of claim 1 , comprising a label attached to at least one of the first or second side of the elongated planar body.

15. The item alignment tool of claim 1 , wherein one or more corners at the distal end of the elongated planar body are curved.

16. An item alignment tool for aligning items on a shelf, comprising:
an elongated planar body defining a proximal end, a distal end, a bottom straight edge, a top edge, and first and second opposing sides extending between the bottom straight edge and the top edge, the bottom straight edge and the top edge of the elongated planar body defining planar or linear surfaces, the proximal and distal ends of the elongated planar body defining opposing endpoints of the item alignment tool;
a handle coupled to the proximal end of the elongated planar body; and
a wrap positioned over and covering at least a portion of the bottom straight edge of the elongated planar body, the wrap being fixedly and permanently attached to the portion of the bottom straight edge, and the wrap providing a protective layer for sliding along a surface of a shelf to facilitate alignment of items on the shelf;
wherein:
the wrap extends over at least a portion of the first and second opposing sides of the elongated planar body;
the handle comprises a first handle half and a second handle half coupled on opposing sides of the elongated planar body; or
the wrap is permanently attached to the portion of the bottom straight edge of the elongated planar body with adhesive to prevent removal of the wrap from the elongated planar body.

17. A method of aligning items on a shelf having a supporting surface, comprising:
positioning an item alignment tool on the supporting surface of the shelf, the item alignment tool including (i) an elongated planar body defining a proximal end, a distal end, a bottom straight edge, a top edge, and first and second opposing sides extending between the bottom straight edge and the top edge, (ii) a handle coupled to the proximal end of the elongated planar body, and (iii) a wrap permanently secured to the elongated planar body, the wrap positioned over and covering at least a portion of the bottom straight edge of the elongated planar body;
extending the distal end of the elongated planar body between items on the supporting surface of the shelf; and
laterally sliding the elongated planar body along the supporting surface to urge the items towards a specific side of the shelf.

18. An item alignment tool for aligning items on a shelf, comprising:
an elongated planar body defining a proximal end, a distal end, a bottom straight edge, a top edge, and first and second opposing sides extending between the bottom straight edge and the top edge, the proximal and distal ends of the elongated planar body defining opposing endpoints of the item alignment tool;
a handle coupled to the proximal end of the elongated planar body; and
a wrap permanently secured to the elongated planar body, the wrap positioned over and covering at least a portion of the bottom straight edge of the elongated planar body to provide a protective layer for sliding along a surface of a shelf to facilitate alignment of items on the shelf,
wherein the proximal end of the elongated planar body includes a cutout extending therethrough defining a passage configured to receive a hand of a user during gripping of the handle.

19. The item alignment tool of claim 18 , wherein the handle includes an opening extending therethrough, the opening in the handle further defining the passage configured to receive the hand of the user during gripping of the handle.

20. The item alignment tool of claim 19 , wherein the opening of the handle is complementary to the cutout of the elongated planar body.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Bellar Jason
• Propes William Mark

Classifications

• A47F13/08 Primary

  Hand implements, e.g. grocers' scoops, ladles, paper-bag holders · CPC title