COVER FOR STORE SHELVES

Abstract

A cover for gondola style shelves is inexpensively constructed and quickly and easily installed by providing a decoratively treated blank that lies flat, but has outer sections that can be bent down and tabs that can be bent inwardly to attach the cover to the shelf.

Claims

1. A cover comprising: (a) a blank adapted to be coupled to a shelf of a gondola style shelving system, said blank having a rectangular center section having a front edge, a back edge, and two side edges, a first pair of opposing sections comprising a first side section and a second side section, said first side section projecting from a first of the two side edges and said second side section projecting frcm a second of the two side edges, a second pair of opposing sections comprising a front section projecting from the front edge and a back section projecting from the back edge, the sections of at least one of the first and second pair of opposing sections having tabs, wherein each of the side, front and back sections and said tabs have a first position co-planar with the center section permitting the blank to lay flat, wherein said side, front and back sections and said tabs are configured to have a second position extending downwardly from the center section, and wherein said tabs are configured to have a third position extending inwardly beneath the center section; and (b) a decorative blank cover comprising at least one panel of pre-printed polymeric film adapted to be fixed to the blank and remain fixed to the blank when the side, back and front sections are in the first position and the second position, said at least one panel of pre-printed polymeric film comprising a polymeric material selected from a group consisting of: polyolefin, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, and linear low-density polyethylene.

2. The cover of claim 1 wherein the blank further comprises scored lines between the center section and each of the front, back and side sections.

3. The cover of claim 2 wherein at least one of the scored lines comprises two rows of slots.

4. The cover of claim 1 wherein a scored line associated with each of the tabs facilitates bending of the tabs inwardly beneath the center section.

5-7. (canceled)

8. The cover of claim 1 wherein said at least one panel of pre-printed polymeric film is a stretch wrap material.

9. (canceled)

10. The cover of claim 1 wherein said at least one panel of pre-printed polymeric film is a shrink wrap material.

11-12. (canceled)

13. The cover of claim 1 wherein said decorative blank cover is in the form of a printed bag adapted to receive the blank.

14. (canceled)

15. A cover for a shelf of a gondola style shelving system, said cover comprising: (a) a blank formed from a sheet metal material, said blank having a rectangular center section having a front edge, a back edge, and two side edges, a first pair of opposing sections comprising a first side section and a second side section, said first side section projecting from a first of the two side edges and said second side section projecting from a second of the two side edges, a second pair of opposing sections comprising a front section projecting from the front edge and a back section projecting from the back edge, each of the sections of at least one of the first and second pair of opposing sections having tabs, wherein each of the side, front and back sections and tabs have a first position co-planar with the center section, wherein said side, front and back sections, and said tabs are configured to have a second position extending downwardly from the center section, and wherein said tabs are configured to have a third position inwardly beneath the center section to attach the cover to a shelf of a gondola style shelving system; and (b) a decorative blank cover comprising at least one panel of polymeric pre-printed film adapted to be fixed to the blank and remain fixed to the blank when the side, back and front sections of the blank are in both the first position and the second position, said polymeric film selected from a group consisting of shrink wrap films and stretch wrap films comprising a material selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, and linear low-density polyethylene.

16. The cover of claim 15 wherein the blank cover comprises a bag adapted to shrink about the blank when subjected to elevated temperatures.

17. A cover for a shelf of a gondola style shelving system, said cover comprising: (a) a blank formed from a sheet metal material, said blank having a rectangular center section having a front edge, a back edge, and two side edges, a first pair of opposing sections comprising a first side section projecting from a first of the pair of side edges and a second side section projecting from a second of the pair of side edges, a second pair of opposing sections comprising a front section having a first tab and a back section having a second tab, wherein each of the side, front and back sections, and said first and second tabs have a first position co-planar with the rectangular center section and are configured to have a second position extending downwardly from the center section, and wherein the first tab and the second tab are configured to have a third position in which the first tab and second tab extends inwardly beneath the center section to attach the cover to a shelf of a gondola style shelving system; and (b) a decorative blank cover comprising at least one panel of polymeric pre-printed film fixed to the blank when the side, back and front sections and the first and second tabs are in their first position, when the side, back and front sections are in their second position, and when the first and second tabs are in the third position.

18. (canceled)

19. The cover of claim 17 wherein the blank further comprises at least one row of slots along the front edge, back edge, and two side edges of the rectangular center section of the blank.

20. The cover of claim 18 wherein the pre-printed film is printed with a plurality of colors.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The foregoing features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments, especially when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals depict like parts:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a standard gondola shelving system well-known in the prior art;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a prior art shelf of a type used as part of the prior art gondola system of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a metal blank used in the assembly of a cover for a shelf of the type shown in FIG. 2;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a top view of the blank of FIG. 3, the bottom view being the mirror image of FIG. 4;

[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG. 3 with the front, back and side sections bent into the installed position;

[0025] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an assembled cover with the front, back and side sections bent into the installed position around the shelf of FIG. 2;

[0026] FIG. 7 is a first cross-sectional view of the blank of FIG. 5;

[0027] FIG. 8 is a partial top view of the blank of FIG. 3 showing a bend line between the central section of the blank and the front section of the blank prior to bending;

[0028] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view showing the central section and front section of the blank of FIG. 3 after bending;

[0029] FIG. 10 shows a bag of shrink wrap material printed with a checked pattern used to provide a finish for the blank of FIG. 3;

[0030] FIG. 11 shows the blank of FIG. 3 positioned within the bag of FIG. 10; and

[0031] FIG. 12 is a top view of the completed cover prior to bending about a shelf as shown in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0032] This description of the preferred embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description of this invention. In the description, relative terms such as lower, upper, horizontal, vertical, above, below, up, down, top and bottom as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., horizontally, downwardly, upwardly, etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as connected., connecting, attached, attaching, join and joining are used interchangeably and refer to one structure or surface being secured to another structure or surface or integrally fabricated in one piece, unless expressively described otherwise.

[0033] Referring first to FIG. 1, a typical gondola style shelving system 1 well-known in the prior art is shown. An exemplary shelf 10 used as part of a gondola style shelving system 1 is shown in FIG. 2.

[0034] Shelf 10 has a top plate 12, depending and opposing sidewalls 14 and front and back depending walls 16. Integrated or attached to the sidewalls 14 and extending rearwardly of the back wall are hooks 18. The hooks 18 are adapted to engage slots in adjacent vertical rails 20 to secure the shelves in place.

[0035] The present invention relates to a cover 30 for such a shelf. See FIGS. 6 and 12. The cover 30 is integrally formed from a thin metal blank 31. See, e.g., FIGS. 3-5. The blank 31 has a central section 32. The dimensions of the central section 32 correspond to the dimensions of the top plate 12 of shelf 10.

[0036] The blank 31 also comprises side sections 34 and 36. Side sections 34 and 36 project from the side edges 35 and 37 of the central section 32 of the blank 31. The side sections 34 and 36 are defined, in part, by score lines 38 and 39 at the boundaries between the side sections 34/36 and the central section 32. These lines are scored in the sense that the blank 31 from which the cover 30 is formed is treated along each of these lines to make it easier for the user to bend the side sections 34 and 36 relative to the central section 32. More specifically, the user can bend the side sections 34 and 36 from a first position co-planar with center section 32 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) downwardly relative to the center section 32 along lines 38 and 39 to a second position (see FIGS. 5-7) generally perpendicular to center section 32.

[0037] The blank 31 further comprises a front section 40 projecting from the front of the central section 32. The front section 40 includes a front cover section 42 immediately adjacent the central section 32. The front cover section 42 is attached to the central section 32 along a scored line 44. The metal along line 44 is treated to enable a user to bend the front section 40 from a first position (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) in which the front section 40 is co-planar with the center section 32 downwardly along the line 44 to a second position (shown in FIGS. 5-7 and 9) in which the front section 40 is generally perpendicular to the central section 32. The front section 40 also includes a tab 46 projecting from the front cover section 42 along a scored line 48. When the cover 30 is being installed, the front section 40 is folded down along line 44 as discussed above. The tab 46 is then folded along line 48 (as shown in FIGS. 5-7) back and under the shelf 10. This couples the front of the cover 30 to the front 16 of the shelf 10 so the cover 30 cannot lift off of the front 16 of the shelf 10.

[0038] The blank 31 of cover 30 also comprises a back section 50. The back section 50 includes a back cover section 52 joined to the central section 32 along a first back scored line 54. Extending from the back cover section 52 along a second back scored line 58 is a back tab 56. The first back scored line 54 allows the back section 50 to be bent from a first position (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) in which the back section 50 is substantially co-planar with the central section 32 along line 54 to a second position. The second position (shown in FIGS. 5 and 7) of the back cover section 52 is generally perpendicular to the central section 32. The second back scored line 58 allows the user to fold the back tab 56 inwardly to the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 7.

[0039] From the foregoing, one will appreciate that the cover 30 is easily installed in a matter of seconds without any tools by centering the center section 32 of the cover 30 over the top plate 12 of the shelf, bending side sections 34 and 36 downwardly along the associated scored lines 38 and 39 to prevent side to side movement of the cover 30 relative to the shelf. Installation is completed by bending the front section 40 and back section 50 downwardly along the associated scored lines 44 and 54 and the tabs 46 and 56 inwardly along their associated scored lines 48 and 58. The front section 40 and the back section 50 cooperate to prevent back and forth movement of the shelf cover 30 relative to the shelf 10. The tabs 46 and 56 further cooperate to prevent the cover from lifting off of the shelf 10 inadvertently.

[0040] When a user wishes to remove the cover, the user simply bends the tabs 46 and 56 downwardly along scored lines 48 and 58 and lifts the cover 30 off the shelf 10. The cover can then be recycled with other metal items or stored for future use.

[0041] The blank 31 of cover 30 may be created in a variety of ways from thin gauge sheet metal such as steel or aluminum. For example, the blank 31 may be formed using a punch and die. The blank may also be formed using a laser jet cutter, a water jet cutter or a torch. Either as part of the same step as forming the blank 31 of as a subsequent step, the scored bend lines the 38, 39, 44, 48, 54 and 58 are formed in the blank. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, each scored line either comprises a series of slots 60 formed along the scored line and separated by a short length of metal 62 weakening the blank 31 along the line where the metal will bend when a bending force is applied. Alternatively, and as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, two rows 64/66 of slots 60 are formed leaving metal sections 62 between the slots of a row and a metal section 68 between the two rows of slots 64 and 66.

[0042] Once construction of the blank 31, including formation of the scored lines, is complete, the surfaces of the blank are treated with a finish 70 to complete the cover 30. The finish 70 may provide the blank 31 with a solid color or a patterned finish. The finish 70 may also include a solid background with letters, numbers, shapes, trademarks, or images superimposed over the background. The finish 70 may be paint applied to the blank 31. The finish 70 may also be a film laminated onto the blank 31.

[0043] When paints are used, the paints may be a latex paint or an oil based paint. A wide variety of colors are commercially available. When latex paint is used, acrylics, vinyl or rubber based compounds may be added. These compounds will give the paint the ability to bend with the metal because they allow the paint to stretch after it is applied and dried. These compounds will also quicken the drying process. When latex paint is used, it is generally advisable to first apply a primer. This not only will cause the paint to adhere better to the metal blank 31, but will also reduce the risk of oxidation of the metal caused by the paint.

[0044] Many consider oil based paint to be a better option when painting metal because oil based paints tend to be more resistant to chipping. Also, the need to use a primer is avoided. Of course, proper ventilation is essential when using oil based paint. Cost can also be an issue because the solvents used to make oil based paint are expensive. Oil based paints typically require more labor to apply and clean up than latex paints.

[0045] Whether the paint used is latex or oil based paint, the paint can be applied to the blank 31 in a variety of ways. Preferably, the blanks are either dipped into the paint or the paint is sprayed onto the blank 31 to form a base coat. Spraying is generally preferred when a finish other than a single solid color is desired. A finishing method involving both dipping and spraying may be used. For example, the blank 31 can be dipped to provide a background color and a sprayer used to apply patterns, letters, numbers, trademarks or images over the background color. Alternatively, a base coat of paint can be applied and, when the paint is dry, one or more decals made of a printed thermoplastic material may be applied using a suitable clear adhesive. Further, the background colors can be applied at the factory by the manufacturer of the cover and decals applied at the store by store personnel.

[0046] The finish may also be applied using an electrostatic powder coating process. Various thermoplastic or thermoset polymer powders may be used to create a hard finish typically more durable than conventional liquid latex or oil-based paints. Also, several differently colored powders may be applied before curing to provide desirable visual affects. Powder coat finishes are often less likely to chip, scratch, corrode or fade than liquid painted finishes.

[0047] Instead of using a painted or powder coated finish, the finish may be a polymeric film applied to the top and bottom surfaces of the blank 31. The film is ideally pre-preprinted and then applied to the blank 31. In some embodiments, an adhesive is used to apply panels of the film to the top and bottom surfaces of the blank 31. In other embodiments, no adhesive is required.

[0048] For example, a variety of stretch wrap and shrink wrap films suitable for use are available. Stretch wrap films are highly stretchable polymeric films having elastic recovery properties that tightly bonds the stretch wrap to the blank 31. Shrink wrap films, on the other hand, are applied loosely around the blank 31. Heat is then applied and the wrap shrinks tightly around the blank 31. Linear low-density polyethylene is an example of a stretch wrap material. Examples of shrink wrap materials include polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and polypropylene. Shrink wrap films are useful in the construction of the covers 30, particularly shrink wrap films that are mono-directional, i.e., they shrink in only one direction. This is because it is easier to prevent and control distortion of images printed on the wrap material.

[0049] Shrink wrap materials may be formed into bags 100 of a suitable size to hold a blank as illustrated in FIG. 10. The bag 100 then may be printed with a finish 70. The printing can be a single color, two colors or even more. For examples, polyolefin and low density polyethylene shrink bags may be custom printed with three or more colors. Polyvinylchloride shrink bags may easily be custom printed with up to eight (or more) colors.

[0050] The mess, cleanup and drying time associated with applying a paint finish to the blanks 31 is avoided by simply placing the blank 31 in a pre-printed shrink bag 100 made of one of these materials as shown in FIG. 11 and then running the assembly of the blank 31 and bag 100 past one or more heat guns or through a heat tunnel to heat and shrink the bag 100 tightly around the blank 31 as shown in FIG. 12.

[0051] The lightweight, flat, finished covers 31 can then be packaged for shipment. A stack comprising a predetermined number of such covers 31 may be boxed or shrink wrapped together for shipment.

[0052] This invention has been described herein in considerable detail to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use embodiments of the example as required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different devices and that various modifications can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.