Extendable shelf dividers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9700156-B1
Application number	US-24836108-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 9, 2008
Priority date	Oct 9, 2008
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments of an extendable divider system. In one embodiment, such a divider system includes a base. A shelf divider extends from a surface of the base, the shelf divider having an extension connector component on at least one free end. A divider extension having a divider connector component configured to mate with the extension connector component is also disclosed. The divider connector component is configured to removably attach the divider extension to the extension connector component of the shelf divider.

First claim

Therefore, the following is claimed:

1. A divider system, comprising:
a base having a shelf anchor configured to anchor the divider system to a shelf;
a shelf divider extending from a surface of the base and having a body with a plurality of apertures through the shelf divider, the plurality of apertures being staggered in position from a free end of the shelf divider; and
a divider extension configured to mate with the shelf divider to lengthen the shelf divider in a direction away from the base when the divider extension is mated with the shelf divider,
wherein the divider extension comprises a plurality of connector tabs extending from an end of the divider extension, each of the plurality of connector tabs having at least one snap fit projection configured to snap into at least one of the plurality of apertures of the shelf divider; and
wherein the shelf divider includes a first alignment marking that aligns with a second alignment marking on the divider extension.

2. A divider system, comprising:
a base;
a shelf divider extending from a surface of the base, the shelf divider having a plurality of apertures through the shelf divider, the plurality of apertures being staggered in position from a free end of the shelf divider; and
a divider extension configured to removably mate with the shelf divider, the divider extension comprising a plurality of connector tabs, each connector tab including a snap fit projection configured to snap into one of the plurality of apertures of the shelf divider,
wherein the divider extension is configured to further extend the shelf divider in a direction perpendicular to the base when the divider extension is mated with the shelf divider.

3. The divider system of claim 2 , wherein:
the shelf divider includes a first distinct alignment marking and a second distinct alignment marking; and
the divider extension includes a first marking that matches and aligns with said first distinct alignment marking and a second marking that matches and aligns with said second distinct alignment marking.

4. The divider system of claim 3 , wherein the first distinct alignment marking and the second distinct alignment marking assist a user in attaching the shelf divider to the divider extension.

5. The divider system of claim 2 , wherein:
at least one of the plurality of connector tabs includes a first snap fit projection that extends from the at least one of the plurality of connector tabs in a first direction and is configured to snap into a first one of the plurality of apertures at a first distance from the free end of the shelf divider; and
at least one other of the plurality of connector tabs includes a second snap fit projection that extends from the at least one other of the plurality of connector tabs in a second direction and is configured to snap into a second one of the plurality of apertures at a second distance from the free end of the shelf divider.

6. The divider system of claim 5 , wherein:
the first snap fit projection is configured to snap into the first one of the plurality of apertures from a first direction; and
the second snap fit projection is configured to snap into the second one of the plurality of apertures from a second direction opposite to the first direction.

7. The divider system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of apertures comprise a plurality of apertures staggered about alternating regions of a corrugated body of the shelf divider.

8. The divider system of claim 7 , wherein the divider extension comprises a plurality of apertures staggered in position from a free end of the divider extension and staggered about alternating regions of a corrugated body of the divider extension.

9. The divider system of claim 2 , wherein the shelf divider further comprises a corrugated body, and the divider extension comprises a corrugated body.

10. The divider system of claim 2 , wherein the base further comprises a shelf anchor configured to anchor the divider system to a shelf.

11. The divider system of claim 10 , wherein:
the base is disposed on an upper surface of the shelf; and
the shelf anchor further comprises a first anchor configured to extend around at least a portion of a first side of the shelf.

12. The divider system of claim 11 , wherein:
the shelf anchor further comprises a second anchor configured to extend around at least a portion of a second side of the shelf; and
the first anchor is further configured and extend over at least a portion of a bottom surface of the shelf.

13. The divider system of claim 10 , wherein:
the base is disposed on a wire frame shelf having at least one longitudinal member and a plurality of cross members; and
the shelf anchor further comprises a first anchor configured to secure the base to the at least one longitudinal member and to at least one of the plurality of cross members.

14. The divider system of claim 2 , wherein the shelf divider is constructed from at least one of: a resin, rubber, silicone, plastic, wood, metal, metal alloy, and fiberglass.

15. The divider system of claim 2 , wherein the base further comprises a first side configured to receive a label having product identifying information.

16. A storage system, comprising:
at least one divider system of claim 2 ; and
a shelf, wherein the at least one divider system is coupled to the shelf.

17. A divider system, comprising:
a base that extends along a plane;
a shelf divider extending from a surface of the base, the shelf divider having a plurality of apertures through the shelf divider, the plurality of apertures being staggered in position from a free end of the shelf divider; and
a divider extension configured to removably mate with the shelf divider, the divider extension comprising a plurality of connector tabs, each connector tab including a snap fit projection configured to snap into one of the plurality of apertures of the shelf divider,
wherein the divider extension is configured to further extend the shelf divider in a direction away from the plane of the base.

18. The divider system of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of connector tabs include a first snap fit projection configured to snap into a first of the plurality of apertures from a first direction and a second snap fit projection configured to snap into a second of the plurality of apertures from a second direction.

19. The divider system of claim 17 , wherein the divider extension comprises a plurality of apertures staggered in position from a free end of the divider extension.

20. The divider system of claim 19 , further comprising a second a divider extension configured to mate with the divider extension, the second divider extension comprising a plurality of connector tabs, each connector tab including a snap fit projection configured to snap into one of the plurality of apertures of the divider extension.

Assignees

• Hance Christopher D
• Jensen Darryl
• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Hance Christopher D
• Jensen Darryl

Classifications

• A47B57/583

  by sliding · CPC title

• A47F5/005 Primary

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

• A47B45/00

  Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features enabling enlarging in height, length, or depth (sectional furniture A47B87/00) · CPC title