US3501020A - Bin construction - Google Patents

Description

. March 17, 1970 a. KRIKORIAN BIN CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1967 .Z'iznZaT Georye Fri/ 07 ad 3 G. KRIKORIAN BIN cousmucnon 7 0 March 17, 1970 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed. Dec. 27, 1967 G. KRIKORIAN BIN CONSTRUCTION March 17, 1970 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 27. 1967 United States Patent 3,501,020 BIN CONSTRUCTION George Krikorian, Spencer Products Inc., 64 Main St., Spencer, Mass. 01562 Filed Dec. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 697,556 Int. Cl. A47f /0], 5/00 US. Cl. 211-484 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Bin construction particularly for already existing shelving providing a front retaining fence to contain goods in helter-skelter relation on the shelf and a set of adjustable dividers which extend at right angles to the front fence providing compartmentation for different kinds of goods along a single shelf, wherein each adjustable divider comprises a pair of parts which are exactly alike and which are easily assembled manually and longitudinally adjustably accommodating different widths of shelving, and including certain new and improved means interengaging with the fence for detachably maintaining the dividers anchored in upright position against the possibility of sidewise motion or dislodgment, and in some cases including means for maintaining one portion of the adjustable divider in upright position at a point remote from the front fence or alternatively including means for securing the same to a rear member such as a rear fence if present.

These dividers also have advantages in being placed at right angles to each other (parallel to the fencing), or at inclinations relative thereto, the dividers taking advantage of their capability to be adjusted, to suit the angle desired, relative to the fencing or to each other.

The present invention has for its basic object to provide for a substantially universal binning system for all kinds of shelves ordinarily encountered so that the pieces may be kept in stock and delivered immediately upon order and avoiding the necessity as in the prior art for the provision of special orders and special parts to be made.

Where retaining fencing or basket front is desired to be applied to a shelf, it is necessary for the manufacturer to provide the customer with a variable range of lengths as for instance two feet, two-and-a-half feet, three feet, three-and-a-half feet, four feet, five feet, etc., and in each range a series of different heights in about a dozen different sizes ranging from one inch to eight or nine inches.

This invention provides means for completely avoiding the necessity for also providing partitions or dividers in such a great variety of lengths and to this end a new and improved divider preferably made of a pair of wire frames is provided having a new and improved construction whereby the frames are quickly and easily slid together to provide adjustments from for instance eight or ten inches to thirty-six inches, and have means for firmly attaching them to the front fencing.

As an example, a pair of sliding wire divider frames ten inches long may be extended from ten inches to eighteen inches; a pair of wire divider frames twelve inches long may be adjusted from a length of twelve inches to a length of twenty-two inches, and a pair of such frames sixteen inches long may be adjusted from sixteen inches to thirty inches. In addition, all three sizes may be combined with the other two in order to provide different ranges in shorter lengths where it is desired to have the engaging ends of the divider frames overlap to a greater degree to provide additional vertical strength.

In addition to the above, the individual frames may be 3,501,020 Patented Mar. 17, 1970 used as dividers without the other frame of its pair by providing interengaging means at both ends, to engage with the front fencing and also to engage with the rear fence or alternatively with interengaging means on the shelf itself in the absence of a rear fence; and additional vertical strengthening wires may be applied to the divider frames if it should be found to be desirable and the end connection means with the fencing are very inexpensively manufactured and at the same time prevent any sidewise motion or accidental dislodgment of the dividers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a binning arrangement according to the present invention applied to a shelf;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view on a larger scale illustrating the adjustable divider;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are detail views showing modifications of the end structure for the adjustable divider for attaching to fencing;

FIGS. 6 to 10 inclusive are detail views showing various means of attaching an end of a divider to a shelf in the absence of a rear fence, and

FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrammatic views similar to FIG. 1, but showing variations in the use of the novel dividers.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 10 indicates a shelf of any nature which is supported in any way desired. In order to provide bins for the shelf there is provided a front fence 12 consisting of a frame 14 and spaced uprights 16 loop connected at their top ends. In some instances, such fencing would consist merely of a pair of spaced longitudinal members interconnected by plain uprights without the loops 16 and without the end connections 18 of the frame 14 as shown. Such fencing is secured in various multiples along the forward edge of the shelf 10, in this case by screws or rivets 20 located in wire loops for the purpose. The fence as shown is in a single piece with three such loops, but could be in two or more pieces with two loops each. The fencing in different forms is provided in a great number of lengths and heights to suit most conditions.

In the event that the shelf 10 is not directly connected with respect to an upright wall member, a similar rear fence generally indicated at 22 may also be provided, but often the rear fence is not used.

The dividers shown in FIG. 2 are utilized to provide partitions and also end members for different widths of shelf. Each of these adjustable dividers is made of two like parts comprising a continuous frame 24 and longitudinal connecting wire members 26, 28, 30, so that in the present case as shown there are e.g, five longitudinal wire members although of course this may be varied.

Each wire member 26 is provided at the corresponding end 32 with a projection having a turned-down end 34, these being of course at One side of the general plane of the frame 24 because the wire members 26, 28 and 30 are all located to one side thereof and are welded thereto at the ends.

At the opposite side surface of end members 32 a projection such as 36 is provided and it will be seen that the down-turned ends 34 and the members 36 are at opposite sides of the general central plane of the respective part of the adjustable member.

Adjacent the ends of the frame which are indicated at 38, Le, those opposite to or at the other end of the frames from the ends 32, there are fixed barrier members 40, 40 which are conveniently provided at the same side of the 3 ;eneral plane of frame 24 as are the longitudinal wires nd have hooked-over end members 42 which slidingly eceive the outermost wires forming the top and bottom of rames 24 of the opposite frame members.

Looking at FIG. 2 it will be seen that the two parts of he divider can be drawn apart until the hooks 42 of the members 40 engage each other and this is the fullest exension to which the divider can be adjusted. On the other land the device can be used to provide a partition length .t any intermediate point down to a length where the W frames exactly coincide. Again referring to FIG. 2, he two parts of the divider may be easily disassociated by queezing inwardly on the outer wire members of one rame 24 to disengage them from the hooks of the op- )osite frame, and the parts can be quickly and easily re- .ssembled in the same manner. On the other hand, if he parts are pushed into their relatively shortest dimenion, they can then be pushed past each other to be dis- .ngaged in a longitudinal direction by slightly springing 'or instance end member 32 of frame '24 over the memer 36 on the opposite frame and the same action being [one at the opposite end of the frame. The frames can re re-associated by the opposite actions.

If the width of the shelf 10 is substantially the same as the length of the partition of FIG. 2 at its least or .mallest adjustment, then the two parts can be taken apart tl'ld used as two separate partitions. In any event, whether lsed singly or in combination, the downturned ends 34 orm hook-like members and are hooked over the upper vire of frame 14 to one side of one of the uprights 12,

.nd the corresponding member 36 is engaged at the oposite side of said upright. At the opposite end of the livider a corresponding hook is hooked over the upper ongitudinal wire of the rear fencing at the opposite side elatively speaking of a corresponding upright 12, and ts member 36 is then engaged at the side of the same ipright opposite to the member 36 at the front. This proides a construction which prevents the dividers from any Lind of lateral motion and they are solidly locked in posiion and will not accidentally shake loose even though the ence in general at each side of the shelf should be outvardly bowed to some extent by the great weight of heavy merchandise therein. Thus it will be seen that the dividers .ctually connect the two fences together as well as proide for separate bins and end members for the com- )artments.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 all show means vhich may be a part of the wire frame for entering in a role in a shelf, these various projections being shown as 'ertical in FIG. 6 at 44', at an angle inclining toward the ear as at 46', as a pegboard type of curved member 48 [1 FIG. 8; and as a forwardly projected foot 50 in FIG. 9, .lthough this could extend to the rear as at 52 as shown 1 dotted lines in FIG. 9. These various constructions vill be entered into a hole in the shelf adjacent the rear dge thereof in the case that the rear fence 22 is not .sed, and at the same time will hold the partition upight at the rear end thereof, the forward end being interonnected with the front fence as above explained.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the member which is ndicated at 36 may take various forms. In FIG. 3 it is hown in the form of an upturned member 54 located on he extended end of the wire member 30 and has to be vffset as by a jog 56 extending around the end 31 of the espective partition member, so that it is offset with relaion to the downturned end 32 which is the same as before .escribed in order to achieve the gripping action on the vprights of the fence. This part could be flat as shown 1 dotted lines at 58 in order to make the construction perate smoother and hold better.

On the other hand, two members such as at 36 as shown .t 36' and 36" in FIG. 4 can be used, one at either side vf the end member 31; and as shown in FIG. the lownturned end member 32 could be located the same as efore but with two members 36a and 36b one at either 4 side of end member 31, operating more or less'in the same manner as above described to hold the divider upright by engagement with the fence.

It is also possible as shown in FIG. 10 to provide two separate wire members generally indicated at 60, 62 having downturned ends 64, 66 located on even one or two inch centers to enter corresponding holes in the shelf with a friction hold.

In the event that the dividers are not rigid enough centrally, especially in the case of wide shelves with long dividers, additional uprights can be secured to the frame parts of the dividers by welding, or temporarily by being snapped over the top and bottom wires.

The ends of all of the wire extensions shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 inclusive can be bent to encompass the elements of wire shelving also, and this is illustrated in dotted lines at 64 and 66 in FIG. 10, with reference to wire elements 68, 68 of a generally wire shelving, such as shown at 72 in FIG. 12.

Referring to FIG. 11, a shelf is indicated at 10a, and fencing at 12a. The adjustable dividers are indicated generally at 70, and it is illustrated how these dividers can be used at A, as shown in FIG. 1; at B across like pairs of dividers forming bins in multiples from front to rear of the shelf; and at C, arranged diagonally. In the last case, the dividers can be connected to the fencing, or to the adjacent dividers, or both, i.e., at different ends.

FIG. 12 shows a wire shelf 72, with fencing 12b, and a pair of adjustable dividers 74 at different degrees of adjustment are connected to the fence as before described, and at their other ends to the wire shelf as at 76, which is equivalent to that connection shown at 64' and 66 in FIG. 10.

The lateral connecting divider 78 can be fixed or adjustable, but its position in FIG. 12 illustrates a variation in the binning size and position, and by reason of all the variations possible, substantially infinite binning arrangement can be made.

What is claimed is:

1. Binning structure comprising a support including a generally flat member having a generally free edge, upright fencing arranged on the member adjacent and along at least a portion of the free edge thereof,

a divider extending transversely relative to the fence, means detachably connecting the divider to the fence, said divider comprising an open rectangular frame and a plurality of longitudinal spaced members extending the length of the frame and being connected thereto in the confines thereof, said frame including a forward upright at one end and a rear upright at the other end, interengaging means on the divider and the fence for holding the divider upright, the means on the fence comprising a longitudinal member and an upright, and the means on the divider including a pair of extensions associated with the forward frame upright, at least one of said extensions including a hook, said extension being at opposite sides of the frame and being mutually spaced along the frame upright, the hook extending over the fence'longitudinal member and the other projection engaging the fence upright at the opposite side thereof from the hook,

a second divider frame, hooks at the opposite edges of both divider frames, each frame being slidably held by and between the hooks of the other frame for adjustably extending the divider, the frames overlapping.

2. The binning structure of claim 1 including means to hold the hooks of each frame substantially rigid, the frames each including a pair of longitudinal outer wire members that are slidably received in the hooks of the other frame, said wire members being flexed inwardly of the frame to release one frame from the other.

3. The binning structure of claim 1 wherein the frames overlap, said frames being relatively endwise movable in one direction to be separated.

4. The binning structure of claim 1 wherein the frames overlap, said frames being relatively endwise movable in one direction to be separated and stopped at their full extent of adjustability by the mutual impingement of the hooks of the respective frames.

5. The binning structure of claim 1 including a second divider extending at an angle to the first divider, said second divider including means for detachably connecting it thereto.

6. The binning structure of claim 1 including a second divider extending at an angle to the fencing, said second divider including means for detachably connecting it thereto.

7. The binning structure of claim 1 including a second divider generally parallel to and spaced from the first divider and a third divider extending between the first and second dividers in spaced relation to the fencing.

6 8. The binning structure of claim 1 including a second divider generally parallel to and spaced from the first divider, and a third divider extending between the first and second dividers in spaced relation to the fencing, the third divider being at an incline relative to the fencing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,006,328 10/1911 Widenhofer 211-43 2,910,188 10/1959 Skolfield et a1. 211-184 2,933,195 4/1960 Radek 211-184 3,015,399 1/1962 Radek 211-184 3,194,528 7/1965 Chesley 211-184 FOREIGN PATENTS 752,699 2/ 1967 Canada.

MARION PARSONS, 1a., Primary Examiner

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