US20130299439A1

US20130299439A1 - Powering Assembly and Method For Adjustable Shelving

Info

Publication number: US20130299439A1
Application number: US13/890,877
Authority: US
Inventors: Alberto Sid; Jonathan W Frank; Finn O'Brien
Original assignee: MAF Technologies Corp
Current assignee: MAF Technologies Corp
Priority date: 2012-05-09
Filing date: 2013-05-09
Publication date: 2013-11-14

Abstract

A system, assembly and method for providing power to individual shelves of adjustable shelving wherein such powering, in one or more embodiments, does not require the use of exposed wiring, is adaptable and usable with existing adjustable shelving without considerable changes in the shelving hardware, and/or enables the powering to be provided in an automated basis wherein such does not rely on the mechanical or structural shelf mounting assemblies or components for transmitting power to each shelf, and therefore can be utilized with any current or future shelf mounting system and each shelf receives the per-shelf powering to power any form of shelf related power loads.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/644,635, filed on May 9, 2012. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to assemblies and methods for the display of items in a residential, office, commercial, or retail environment, and more particularly to a display system including power assemblies and methods for providing power to adjustable shelving used in such display systems.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. Adjustable shelving is commonly used wherein shelving may be desired at various vertical positions or adjustable over time.
In a retail environment it is common for merchandise to be displayed on a system of adjustable shelves such as a display or bookcase. They can have a number of holes bored into opposing sides of the case with pegs inserted into the holes of the support shelves or under the support shelves for mounting of the shelves and thereby displaying items thereon, such as merchandise or object art. Such shelves and therefore the displays can be rearranged by relocating the pegs to different sets of holes in the sides of the display case. In other systems, adjustable shelves can be wall-mounted displays or shelves. These often have a number of vertically-oriented, slotted standards or rails that are attached to a wall or walled surface component. Brackets having hooks engage the slots on the rails to support shelves. Such displays can be easily rearranged by relocating the brackets to different slots in the vertically oriented support rails.
To attract customers or draw attention to particular displayed items located on the shelves, such presentation is desired to be aesthetically pleasing so as to present the items in a highly visible and attractive manner. In many implementations, the major source of lighting is wide area illumination provided by ceiling mounted light fixtures. In some situations, the ceiling lighting is supplemented with spot lighting to accent and highlight specific areas or displayed items. When non-illuminated shelving is used, shelves nearer the ceiling cast shadows onto lower shelves which results in less than optimal lighting of those shelves and the items displayed thereon. It is therefore desirable to provide a means of illuminating merchandise on lower shelving or racks of a display.
Additionally, existing shelf lighting systems that provide illuminated displays or display shelving have been less than satisfactory because they are aesthetically displeasing. Many of the display shelving and the displayed items thereon are frequently changed for displaying an ever changing variety of goods. Existing shelf lighting systems are often cumbersome and inflexible to rearrange when adjusting the shelving. Typically, conventional power cords run from the shelf-based light fixture to an outlet. The power cord is strung under shelving, behind the displayed item, or otherwise hidden from view so that it would not detract from an otherwise pleasing display. For a system of fixed shelving, or shelving with a limited range of adjustment, the power cord may be hidden from view fairly successfully. However, when using vertically adjustable shelving, the power cord typically droops or is otherwise exposed in view unless additional measures are taken, any of which become burdensome when adjusting the shelving as well at the goods or items displayed thereon in the future.
Some existing systems have attempted to alleviate some of these difficulties by having a power source that can be moved within a limited range so that it is located adjacent to a shelf containing a light fixture. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,720 discloses a bakery display case providing vertically adjustable shelves having a light fixture mounted on the front with a plurality of electrical outlets slidably mounted in a channel at the rear of the display area. The outlets can be relocated vertically within a limited range such that a power outlet is positioned adjacent to the shelf to help minimize power cord exposure. Alternatively, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,973,796 and 5,425,648, disclose vertical shelf structural railing that includes internal power conductors. The conductors are housed within the mounting rails so that an ordinary (non-powering structure mounting) shelf bracket does not contact the internal rail powering conductors. In such embodiments, specially designed couplers with spring wires or clips provide for contacting the internal conductors of the rails when the coupler is inserted into the shelf mounting rails. In such embodiments, an illuminated shelf can be inserted into and supported by a pair of structure mounting rails and a special electrical coupler is cabled to a shelf based light fixture by insertion into one of the shelf structure rails.
While the aforementioned systems address the problem of providing power to shelf light fixtures, they involve the use of complex powered shelf structural mounting rails or standards and connectors that are electrically and mechanically complex and are therefore costly to manufacture, are susceptible to failure due to mechanical fatigue and wear, and require a complete change out of existing shelving systems and components. Furthermore, electrical connections to the internal conductors of the shelf mounting rails are made by a separate connector located adjacent to the supporting bracket of the illuminated shelf via an exposed power cord and must be rewired when one or more shelves are adjusted for a changed display arrangement.
There are some existing systems that provide power to adjustable shelves using powered mounting rails and coupled brackets, such as those disclosed in patent applications US2011/0204009 and US2011/0044030, but such systems require use of the specialized mounting rails for receiving the power and for coupled brackets. There are other systems that provide a power supply wherein power connectors and wires can be manually connected by a user by plugging in a connector and running the wires to the shelf. However, such systems are often not desirable in retail, residential, commercial and/or office display applications that use adjustable shelving as the connectors and wires are visible and not desirable from an aesthetic presentation/appearance perspective. Further, these prior art shelf lighting systems require the manual manipulation of the power connectors and wiring whenever the shelves are adjusted to a different vertical position, which often requires more complexity and skill in making adjustments to the shelves than is often available.
As such, the inventor hereof had identified the need for an improved shelf lighting system that provides per-shelf powering that is practical, available for upgrading of existing adjustable shelving assemblies, is cosmetically unobtrusive or nearly invisible, and that requires little to no manual manipulation by the user when the adjustable shelves are changed to have a different vertical position.

SUMMARY

The inventor hereof has succeeded at designing a system and method for providing power to individual shelves of adjustable shelving wherein such powering, in one or more embodiments, does not require the use of exposed wiring, is adaptable and usable with existing adjustable shelving without considerable changes in the shelving hardware, and/or enables the powering to be provided in an automated basis. Such systems do not rely on the mechanical or structural shelf mounting assemblies or components for transmitting power to each shelf, and therefore can be utilized with any current or future shelf mounting system. Each shelf receiving the per-shelf powering can include one or more forms of power loads such as lighting, air circulation, or the like.
According to one aspect, an assembly provides power to a shelf within an adjustable shelf assembly that has a shelf supporting bracket selectively coupleable with a shelf bracket mounting fixture to mount the shelf to a shelf mounting body of the adjustable shelf assembly at one of a plurality of vertical positions. The assembly has a power track with an elongated body, a mounting side for mounting to a surface of the shelf mounting body, and an exposed side on an opposing side of the body from the mounting side. The power track has two elongated power rails positioned on the exposed side and about a substantial length of the elongated body and a rail isolator positioned between the two power rails electrically isolating a first of the two power rails from a second of the two power rails. The power track also has a power receiving interface receiving power energy from a power source and providing a portion of the received power energy to the two power rails. The assembly has a shelf power coupler with a housing body, a power track connection interface and a shelf power feed interface. The power track connection interface has a first connector electrically contacting the first power rail of the power track and a second connector electrically contacting the second power rail. The first and second connectors are elastic for making first and second power connections to the first and second power rails respectively each having a biasing pressure thereto. The shelf power feed interface provides the power energy received from the first and second connectors to a shelf-based power load. The shelf power coupler has a shelf mounting fixture for mounting the shelf power coupler proximate to a rear edge of the shelf at a position that is aligned with the power track that is mounted to the shelf mounting body when the shelf is mounted onto the shelf supporting bracket that is coupled to the shelf bracket mounting fixture on the shelf mounting body.
In another aspect, a method provides power to a shelf within an adjustable shelf assembly having a shelf supporting bracket selectively coupleable with a shelf bracket mounting fixture to mount to a shelf mounting body of the adjustable shelf assembly in one of a plurality of vertical positions. The method includes attaching the shelf bracket to the shelf bracket mounting fixture and mounting a power track to the shelf mounting body. The power track has an elongated body with a mounting side for mounting to a surface of the shelf mounting body and an exposed side on an opposing side of the body from the mounting surface. The power track has two elongated power rails positioned on the exposed side and about a substantial length of the elongated body and a rail isolator positioned between the two power rails electrically isolating a first of the two power rails from a second of the two power rails. The power track also has a power receiving interface receiving power energy from a power source and providing a portion of the received power energy the two power rails. The method also includes coupling power energy to the power receiving interface of the power track providing power energy to the first and second power rails of the power track. The method further includes aligning a shelf power coupler with the mounted power track wherein the shelf power coupler having a housing body, a power track connection interface and a shelf power feed interface. The power track connection interface includes a first connector and a second connector each of which is elastic for making first and second power connections under a biasing pressure. The method includes placing the shelf with the mounted shelf power coupler on the attached shelf bracket and making a first connection between the first connector and the first power rail and a second connection between the second connector and the second power rail. The method also includes applying a biasing pressure to the shelf in the direction of the shelf mounting body and the power track and to the first and second connectors against the first and second power rails, respectively, and selectively stabilizing the shelf to the shelf mounting bracket retaining the shelf in the biased pressure position.
Further aspects of the present disclosure will be in part apparent and in part pointed out below. It should be understood that various aspects of the disclosure may be implemented individually or in combination with one another. It should also be understood that the detailed description and drawings, while indicating certain exemplary embodiments, are intended for purposes of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a prior art assembly for providing power to an adjustable shelf having a user selectable power connection and connecting power cable.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are a top view, an end view and a top perspective view of a power track according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side cross sectional view of a shelf power coupler integrated with a shelf having two collapsible connector pins according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of an assembly illustrating the powered shelf mounted on two brackets with the shelf power coupler aligned for making automated and pressurized/biased contact with the power track rails that is separate from the shelf mounting support assembly according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a power track and shelf power coupler having a different power rail configuration and attachment thereto according to another exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side cross sectional side view of the power track as illustrated in FIG. 5 according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are a perspective view and end view, respectively, of a shelf power coupler according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a power load and connection to the shelf power coupler according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C are an end view of a third embodiment of a power track having a separate data interface in the power track, a shelf power coupler for such a power track and a top view of the track of FIG. 9A, respectively, according to yet additional exemplary embodiments.

It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure or the disclosure's applications or uses.
Before turning to the figures and the various exemplary embodiments illustrated therein, a detailed overview of various embodiments is provided for purposes of breadth of scope, context, clarity, and completeness.
There are various forms of adjustable shelving used for storing and displaying shelf based items. For example, a first well known method is the use of shelf rests that are inserted in a set of common horizontally positioned holes, from among a plurality of vertically placed common horizontal holes. Shelf mounting pins are inserted into the holes and have a rest portion extending into the shelving area for placement of a shelve thereon. In such mounting systems, such as used in furniture, cabinets, closet shelf organizers, by way of example, typically four shelf rests are inserted into four common height holes. In similar arrangements, rather than use of a pinned shelf with a shelf rest, a “snapclip” shelf rest can capture the shelf to prevent vertical removal of the captured shelf. These “snapclips” typically are also inserted into a hole with a pin. In these arrangements, all four of the shelf rests must be moved to a different common vertically level (horizontally positioned) holes to change the vertical position of the shelf. The shelf is than placed on top of the four shelf rests.
In a second suitable embodiment, a prior art adjustable shelving system has a vertically mounted track having vertically spaced apart slots for receiving shelf brackets having hooks for insertion and engagement of the mounting tracks. An example of such an adjustable shelf mounting system or assembly is shown in FIG. 1. The reference coordinate system for this specification is shown in FIG. 1 for the X (lateral), Y (vertical) and Z (longitudinal) as will be referred commonly herein.
As a reference for discussion herein, the term lateral is referred to as side by side along the x-axis when viewing the mounted shelf from a front position or in front of the end to end of the shelf, e.g., right to left on the shelf or wall or cabinet on which the shelf is mounted. The vertically mounted mounting track are in vertical plane or the Y-axis. The brackets for a shelf are laterally spaced apart but are vertically mounted but protrude from the mounting surface longitudinally. A pair of shelf brackets are positioned at substantially level vertical Y-axis positions so that the shelf brackets and shelves placed thereon are horizontal or level. The reference to longitudinal positioning refers to the position that is along a line that is perpendicular to the mounting surface, i.e., back to front of the bracket and back to front of the shelf, and therefore perpendicular to the lateral positioning of the shelving.
The shelf 10 is mounted and supported by mounting brackets 12 that are selectively coupled to mounting tracks 14 that are fixedly mounted to a mounting surface 16. Typically two mounting tracks 14 are mounted to the mounting surface 16 in a spaced apart manner such as by a fixed or predetermined lateral (X-direction or along the x-axis) distance. The two spaced apart mounting tracks 14 are usually in parallel to each other. Each mounting track 14 has at least one set of spaced apart slots 18 positioned vertically along an outer face for receiving one or more hooks (not shown but commonly known) of one of the shelf mounting brackets 12. The vertically spaced apart slots 18 can also be in horizontal sets or pairs so that brackets 12 placed on two parallel mounting tracks 14 are level with each other. The hooks of a first bracket 12 can be mounted in a left side mounting track 14 and the hooks of a second bracket 12 can be mounted in a right side mounting track 14 and the two brackets 12 will be mounted or placed horizontal to each other so that the shelf 10 placed upon the two brackets 12 is generally level for use.
The mounting track 14 can be made of any type of material but is generally made of a metal that is screwed or otherwise affixed to the mounting surface in two or more locations for supporting the weight of the shelves 10 mounted thereon. FIG. 1 shows four screws 15, by way of example for each mounting track 14 to mounting surface 16. The brackets 12 can also be made of metal or a synthetic such as a plastic or composite. However, as will be generally described herein, the present adjustable shelf powering system and method does not require that the mounting track 14 or the brackets 12 attachable thereto are conductive or that they are fee of conductive reducing surface coverings, such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent Publications US 2011/0204009 and US2011/0044030. As shown in FIG. 1 for future reference, each shelf 10 has two opposing ends 22, a front edge 24, a rear edge 26, a top surface 28 and a bottom surface 30. Each bracket 12 has a footer 32 that includes the one or more hooks for coupling to the slots 18, and shelf support 34 on which the shelf 10 is placed and supported.
In a third exemplary suitable embodiments, an adjustable shelving system for use with the shelf powering system as described herein can include a prior art “slatwall” or slat based mounting system and method. Slatwall is a building material for covering a wall. It is generally a panel made with horizontal grooves that are designed to accept a variety of hanger or hanging devices that can often be used in retail merchandizing and is becoming more popular in home storage systems as well. The mounting surface is typically covered in a slatwall panel. The panels are made of a plastic or medium density fiberboard such as a moisture resistant medium density fiberboard (MDF). The MDF is typically covered with a paper or laminate for a finished look and feel. The grooves in the MDF board can be machined therein, or the entire slatwall can be formed from a pressing or plastic forming process. Various shelf brackets for mounting shelves on slatwalls can be made of plastic or of a metal, which is often aluminum. The horizontal slats on the slatwall are what the brackets hang on. The brackets are used for shelving and can be metal or plastic. See for example. http://usslatwall.com/slatwall/slatwall_accessory.php; and http://www.allendesigners.com/c/slatwall.
These are three examples of adjustable shelving that are suitable for use with the present adjustable shelving powering systems and methods.
FIG. 1 also illustrates a prior art shelf powering system. As shown, one exemplary current shelf powering system includes a vertically mounted power strip 40. The power strip 40 is mounted to the mounting surface 16 often using mounting clips 42. The power strip 40 receives AC or Dc power from an external power source via power input 44 which is usually an AC outlet or DC power supply connected to an AC outlet. These can include low voltage AC or DC power supplies or any suitable source of power as required by the load 50 being powered. The power strip 40 is adapted for attachment of one or more shelf power connectors 46 that have wires 48 that can be routed to the underside or lower surface 30 of shelf 10. Each shelf 10 has a lighting unit 50 that can be connected via connector 52 to wire 48 for receiving electrical energy. As shown, the top shelf 10 lighting unit 50 can include a plurality of LED lights 54 or can be a fluorescent tube 56 as shown in the lower shelf 10 of FIG. 1. As shown, the connectors 46 for each shelf have a length of wire 48 that must be routed from the connector 46 to the shelf 10 around and by the bracket 12 and over to a load connector 52. When each shelf 10 needs to be adjusted to change the height of the shelf 10 or a distance between two shelves 10, the user is required to rerun wire 48 and possible disconnect and reposition shelf connector 46 which may also require that the shelf load 50 be disconnected from the wire 48 at the load connector 52. These often need to be disconnected and reconnected and the wire 48 may or may not be the desired length and are often too long and therefore the surplus wire 48 is often in the way, hanging too low or needs to be bundled to get it out of the way and out of visual sight.
In contrast to the above described prior art system of FIG. 1, the present disclosure provides various exemplary embodiments of an assembly providing power to a shelf within an adjustable shelf assembly that automatically coupled and decouples power to each shelf upon the installation of the shelf on brackets. As described herein, the present disclosed assembly is adaptable for use with existing adjustable shelving without the need for special mounting brackets or a change to the bracket mounting tracks. The various embodiments of the shelf powering assembly herein will work with any adjustable shelf assembly having a shelf supporting bracket selectively coupleable with a shelf bracket mounting fixture to mount the shelf to a shelf mounting body of the adjustable shelf assembly at one of a plurality of vertical positions.
Generally, in one embodiment, a shelf powering assembly has a power track with an elongated body, a mounting side for mounting to a surface of the shelf mounting body, and an exposed side on an opposing side of the body from the mounting side. The assembly has a power track with an elongated body, a mounting side for mounting to a surface of the shelf mounting body, and an exposed side on an opposing side of the body from the mounting side. The power track has two elongated power rails positioned on the exposed side and about a substantial length of the elongated body and a rail isolator positioned between the two power rails electrically isolating a first of the two power rails from a second of the two power rails. The power track also has a power receiving interface receiving power energy from a power source providing the received power energy to the two power rails. The assembly has a shelf power coupler with a housing body, a power track connection interface and a shelf power feed interface. The power track connection interface has a first connector electrically contacting the first power rail of the power track and a second connector electrically contacting the second power rail. The first and second connectors are elastic for making first and second power connections to the first and second power rails respectively each having a biasing pressure thereto. The shelf power feed interface provides the power energy received from the first and second connectors to a shelf-based power load. The shelf power coupler has a shelf mounting fixture for mounting the shelf power coupler proximate to a rear edge of the shelf at a position that is aligned with the power track that is mounted to the shelf mounting body when the shelf is mounted onto the shelf supporting bracket that is coupled to the shelf bracket mounting fixture on the shelf mounting body.
In one embodiment, an adjustable shelving system and method for automatically providing power to a shelf when mounted includes various components, each of which will be described in more detail herein. These can include a local AC power source or a DC power source. When the DC power is provided, the DC power can be provided by a low voltage DC power source. However, as described herein, the presently described disclosure includes all types of power from all types of power sources.
A power track is coupled to the power source that can be mounted vertically for providing power to one or more shelves that can be mounted at various heights or vertical positions on the mounting surface. The power track is separate and distinct from the structural shelf mounting systems, mounting tracks or brackets as described above. A shelf coupler is associated with each shelf for which power is to be provided. The shelf coupler and power track are configured so that the shelf coupler automatically electrically couples with the power track upon placement of the shelf with the shelf coupler onto the shelf mounting brackets. The shelf coupler and power track, as will be described, do not require any special attachment or wiring and are not conductively coupled or connected to the shelf mounting rails, tracks, pins brackets or mounting surface. The power track is configured for use with new and existing shelving systems, for example the three as described above. The shelf coupler is configured for use with any new or existing shelf or shelving system.
Each shelf can then be configured with one or more shelf power loads. The shelf power load is of course the reason and purpose for the powering of each adjustable shelf. The shelf power loads can include lighting such as lights, LED lights or lighting strips, spot lights, fans, media players that play attract clips with the purpose of explaining the displayed items or merchandise (such as audio clips or videos) associated therewith, or sensors associated with such or with shelf or product security devices, by ways of example, and not limited thereto. The shelf can be configured with an interface between the shelf coupler and the shelf power load so as to standardize such powering on the shelf basis on a plug and play basis and without having to run wires. In some embodiments, the shelf power distribution assembly can be via flat or ribbon having two strands. In other embodiments, the per-shelf powering assembly can include a connectable power strip that can be mounted on or built into the shelf for allowing the variable placement of shelf power loads therein. Such shelf powering assembly will provide for the placement such as a snap or plug and power for any lighting, spot light or security device at any lateral position along the shelf.

Power Track.

Adjustable shelving automatic power track hereinafter simply referred to as power track. Various examples of a power track are shown is FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, as well as FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. The power track can take a variety of forms but generally is an elongated body having at least two powering rails, one each of a different polarity and each being electrically isolated from the other contained therein via an Isolator. Each powering rail of the power track is accessible via a front cavity or slot in the power track body for receiving a contact pin of a connecting shelf power coupler. The power track is mounted vertically and parallel to the mechanical mounting tracks on a mounting surface such as a wall or rear wall of a shelf or cabinet by attachment thereto at one or more locations such as the top or bottom. The power track has a power source interface for receiving power from the power supply for providing the powering rails with power energy. The power receiving interface can be at either the top end, the bottom end or anyway in between on the power track. Of course, one skilled in the art will understand that while the present application addresses a vertical mounting of the power track, such a power track can also be mounted and used in a horizontal configuration as well and still be within the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the power receiving interface can be adapted so that the polarity of the power track is maintained regardless of where the power receiving interface is mounted.
FIG. 2 (See FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C) provides exemplary embodiments of one power track 60 suitable for use with the present shelf powering assembly. The power track 60 has an elongated body 62 having a length D_Rwith an exposed top surface 64 and a mounting surface 66 that is on the opposing side to the top surface 64. Two parallel electrically conducting power rails 70 (shown as 70A and 70B) are positioned about the length of the elongated body 62 and are separated by an isolator 72 also referred herein as a power rail isolator 72. As shown in this exemplary embodiment (see FIG. 2B), the elongated body 62 has two mounting portions 74 and a powering portion 76. The two mounting portions can also be configured for added mechanical strength of the power track 60 to minimize flex thereof. The powering portion 76 includes the two power rails 70 and the isolator 72. As shown, each power rail 70A, 70B, is mounted to the elongated body 60 by rail mounting fixtures 78 (that may have a lip 79 forming a rail cavity) and a retaining lip 80 of the isolator 72. In this illustrated exemplary embodiment, the power rails 70 are mounted on protrusions 82 in a spaced apart relation to the elongated body 60. The protrusions 82 can be configured to provide mechanical pressure to the power rails 70A, 70B to prevent or suppress the power rails 70A, 70B from sliding out of the power track 60 Further, protrusions 82 can provide an elastic biasing force to the rails 70A, 70B when placed under pressure from connecting pins 102A, 102B. The power rails 70 can be further coupled to the power source 92 via fix rail retainers 84 to the mounting surface 16.
The power track 60 has a power rail interface 85 on a powering end 86. The power rail interface 85 has two power inputs 88A and 88B, each separately electrically coupled to one of the two rails 70A and 70B. Each power input 88A, 88 b is coupled to an electrical wire 90A, 90B that is coupled to an external power source 92 that provides power to the power track 60.
The power track 60 is mounted vertically on the mounting surface 16 in a spaced apart lateral position either between the two laterally spaced bracket mounting fixtures 14, or can be laterally spaced anywhere along the lateral length of the shelf 10. The shelf brackets 12 are mounted to the bracket mounting fixtures 14 and extend longitudinally from the bracket mounting fixture 14 and the mounting surface 16 outward for receiving and supporting a shelf 10 placed thereon.

Shelf Power Coupler.

The shelf powering assembly also includes a shelf power coupler 100, as shown by way of example in FIG. 3 that is associated with a shelf 10 and couples to the power track 60. The coupler 100 can be configured as an integrated component of the shelf 10 or as an attachable component. In the example as shown in FIG. 3, the coupler 100 has two connectors 102A and 102B, each of which are electrically separate, and each of which are spaced apart to correspond to the spaced apart relation of the power rails 70A, 70B of power track 60. Each connector 102A, 102B in the example of FIG. 3 is integrated into the body of the shelf 10 with the connecting portions 104A, 104B extending longitudinally from the read edge 26 of the shelf 10. Each connector has a shelf powering portion 106A, 106B that is coupled to shelf power wires 108A, 108B for delivering power received from the power rails 70A, 70B via connecting portions 104A, 104B to shelf power loads (not shown). The shelf power wires 104A, 104B can be implement as a wire, a ribbon cable or other means including a mating jack assembly. The power load 70 has a mating feature for the provided power wire 104A, 108, such as a jack and plug arrangement. FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of connectors 102A, 102B that are formed of interlocking portions with internal springs for providing for the collapsing of the connectors 102A, 102B under pressure against the power rails 70A, 70B and thereafter providing a biasing forced there against. Each connector 102A, 102B is shown having three tube portions 108A, 108B, and 108C that form each connector 102A, 102B and have an extended non-compressed length d₀. The tube portions 108B and 108C are biased outwardly by force F₁so that the uncollapsed connector has the length d₀such as when the coupler 100 is not mounted to a power track 60 in a biased position therewith. When a force F₂is applied to the powering end 104A such as by a shelf 10 with the coupler 100 mounted on a rear edge 26 during mounting on brackets 12, the coupler 100 engages the shelf power rail 70, and tube portions 108B and/or 108C at least partially collapse under pressure by a distance d₁and thereafter apply an outward biasing force F₃. The biased tube portions 108A, 108, and 108C apply pressure or biasing force F3 so that connecting portions 104A, 104B electrically engage the power rails 70A, 70B and remain under a biasing contact pressure.
FIG. 3 illustrates a coupler 100 having connector formed in a read edge 26 of shelf 10, however, in other embodiments coupler 100 can be a separate attachable component as shown in FIG. 4. In this example, coupler 100 is shown when mounted to a shelf lighting panel 110 having an elongated body 114 with a plurality of power loads 112, shown in this example as LED lights 112. In this example, the elongated body 114 of the shelf lighting panel 110 is mounted to two opposing brackets 12 at each end that are coupled to the mounting rails 14 via slots 18. The mounting rails 14 are mounted to mounting surface 16. The power track 60 is also mounted to the mounting surface 16 via fasteners 84. The coupler 100 with the two connectors 102A, 102B is mounted to the elongated body 114 and positioned so that the connectors 102A, 102B are aligned to engage the power rails 70A, 70B when the brackets 12 are mounted on the mounting rails 14. As the brackets 12 are selectively coupled to the mounting rails 14 by placement of hooks into slots 18, the shelf lighting panel 110 is positioned parallel to the mounting surface 16 and the connectors 102A, 102B are biased against the power rails 70A, 70B and held in that biased position by the brackets 12 being held in position on the mounting rails 14.
FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another exemplary embodiment of a shelf powering assembly. In this embodiment, the power track 60 has two power rails 70A, 70B that are mounted longitudinally on the two opposing sides of isolator 72 via isolator lips 80. The track 60 has two cavities 120 defined between the isolator 72 in the center of the elongated body 62 and two opposing end walls 122. The coupler 100 has a housing 124 that defined two extending portions 126 that are dimensioned for insertion into the cavities 120 and a center cavity 128 dimensioned for receiving the isolator 72 along with the two opposing longitudinally mounted power rails 70A, 70B therein, when the coupler 100 is positioned onto the power track 60 as shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 6 also shows an additional feature of some embodiments. The power track 60 can include a polarity feature 130 that has a mating portion (not shown) on the housing 124 of the coupler 100. As shown in FIG. 6, this mating portion or feature 130 can be a protrusion within the cavity 120 or anywhere on the elongated body 62, but preferably within the cavity 120 or along the outer wall 122 or the isolator 72 for ensuring that the coupling coupler 100 is only mounted to the power track 60 in only one orientation so that connector 102A of coupler 100 is only coupled to power rail 70A and the connector 102B is only coupled to power rails 70B.
In another embodiment, the electrical coupler 100 is a standalone component that can be coupled to a shelf 10 along the rear edge 26. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the coupler 100 can have a housing 124 that can be about 1 inch squared. The coupler 100 has a power track connection interface 131 comprised of the connectors 102A, 102B and a shelf power feed interface 132 for coupling to a shelf power load 112. In such embodiments, the power track connection interface 131 is configured for receiving power from the power track 60 via two power receiving connectors 102A, 102B. Each of these connectors 102A, 102B receives a different polarity of the power from the power rails 70A, 70B of power track 60. To provide automated electrical connection of the coupler 100 to the power track 60 upon placement of the shelf 10 having the coupler 100 onto the shelving brackets 12, the two connectors 102A, 102B can be mechanically biased for compression (under pressure) against the power rails 70A, 70B of the power track 60. FIG. 8 illustrates a compatible power load 112 for coupling to the coupler 100 via the shelf power feed interface 132. The load 112 has a power receptacle 140 that can couple or mate with the shelf power feed interface 132 of the coupler 100. As shown in this embodiment, the power load 112 can have a load body 134 that is coupled to the receptacle 140 via wire 142. the load body can include a plurality of lights 144 such as shown as LED lights 144 for providing lighting 146.
In other embodiments, the power track 60 can also include a data rail 160 as shown in FIG. 9A. The data rail 160 would be coupled to a data interface within power rail interface 85 for data communication with external data systems such as a computer or control system. The data rail 160 would act as a communication medium between the remote data system and any data system components located on the powered shelf 10. The power track 60 would be mounted via fastener 84 to the mounting surface 16. The data rail 160 could be spaced apart by a distance L₂from the fastener 84 and on the opposing side thereof the power rails 70A, 70B can be positioned at a distance of L₁. In some embodiments a coupler 100 can include a data connector 162 for coupling to the data rail 160 of the power track 60 as shown in FIG. 9B as an optional feature (dashed lines). The coupler 100 as shown in FIG. 9B can include a depth adjustable that provides the user the ability to change the depth of the coupler connector pins 102A, 102B that extend from the rear edge 26 of the shelf 10 via knob 164 interworking with threads 166. In such embodiments of a coupler 100, once mounted to a shelf 10, the coupler can be adjusted for varying the coupling distance D_Tto ensure proper biased electrical connection with the power rails 70A, 70B of power track 60 which is mounted to a mounting surface 16 behind the shelf 10. FIG. 9C illustrates one exemplary arrangement of power connectors 102A, 102B, with the optional data connector 162 arranged for coupling to power rails 70A, 70B, and data rail 160.

Power Source.

The power source 92 provides AC or DC power to the power track 60. In the case of AC power, this can be a coupling to a local AC power source. In the case of DC power, the local DC power source can be an interface for receiving local DC power or can include an AC to DC power converter. Such DC power supply can include a transformer, a voltage and/or a current controller and/or a load stabilizer. In some embodiments, the power source 92 is enabled for the addition and/or removal of one or more powered shelf couplers or powered shelves without interruption or changes in the overall powering system. The power source 92 can be positioned at any place that can be conductively coupled to one or more power tracks 60.

Polarity Verifying Power Track and Shelf Power Coupler.

In one embodiment, the power track 60 can be configured with a polarity verification feature that is also implemented by the shelf power coupler to ensure that the shelf power coupler is coupled with the proper polarity. In these embodiments, a mating male/female for the power track rail access and the shelf power coupler connectors can be used. In other embodiments, a notch or bump with a corresponding protrusion on the connecting part can be implemented. One such arrangement is shown in FIG. X, by way of example. In some such embodiments, it may be desirable to ensure the proper or verified polarity of mating prior to the connectors of the shelf power coupler making electrical contact with the power rails of the power track.

Various Exemplary Embodiments

The adjustable power shelf assembly as described herein receives power from the power track via the shelf power coupler on a per-shelf basis, by simple placement of the coupler on the shelf in lateral alignment with the power track and then simple placement of the shelf on the brackets with a slight biasing of the coupler towards the power track for engaging the coupler therewith.
Once the shelf has received power via the shelf power coupler from the power track; each shelf can be configured to utilize the shelf power based on the needs of the user or particular application. For instance, the shelf may be configured with lighting such as LED low voltage lighting that is electrically coupled to the shelf power coupler. The shelf power load can be separate from the coupler or can be configured integral with the coupler when mounted on or configured with the shelf.
In one embodiment, the adjustable shelf powering can be used with any shelf retainable with brackets having front/top shelf retaining hooks or other retaining means. In one exemplary embodiment, the power coupler is attached directly to the back of the existing or current shelf. The two opposing support brackets are placed on the mounting fixtures, and the shelf, with the coupler, is then placed on the brackets. Assuming the brackets have front shelf hooks or retainers, the user aligns the coupler with the power track along the lateral length between the two ends and between the two brackets and therefore the two mounting fixtures. When the user applies pressure to the shelf to push the shelf back towards the mounting surface and to position the shelf body onto the brackets and to engage the front hooks of each bracket, the electrical contact is made.
This particular embodiment can be used where the brackets have front/top shelf retaining hooks so as to hold the shelf and therefore the compressible coupler in a fixed position relative to the mounting surface or wall, so that the shelf mounted on the brackets and held in position with the bracket hooks. This maintains the pressured coupler contact with the power track. Unless there is some other physical force to prevent the shelf from moving longitudinally (perpendicular from the mounting surface forward), the weight/mass of the shelf and its contents along with the friction of the shelf on the brackets may be sufficient to prevent longitudinal movement of the shelf. If not, there may be a need to retain the shelf in a fixed position such as using brackets with front mounting hooks to keep the shelf and therefore the shelf coupler under pressure with the power track for ensuring continued powering thereof.
In other embodiments, there are various ways to mount the coupler to the back edge of any type of shelf. For example, the coupler can include one or more shelf mounting adapters or adapter fixtures to allow for variable lateral positioning of the couple along the back edge of the shelf. This could include a variable longitudinal positioning to provide that the coupler pins properly engage and connect with the power track. The coupler mounting fixture could or adapter could also be available for mounting the coupler to the shelf to address the variations in thickness of the shelves and also the varying distanced from the back edge of the shelf to the power track.
In some embodiments, the shelf powering system of the present disclosure can be used with any shelf even though the shelf is not retainable with front/top shelf retaining hooks or other retaining means from longitudinal movement. In such an embodiment, this may apply to many display cases having shelves wherein the brackets do not extend all the way to the front of the shelf. In this embodiment, an existing shelf mounting system including mounts and brackets may need to be upgradeable without changing of the current mounting system or brackets. Such an embodiment could use a variable length mounted coupler mechanism or one with a predefined length.
In the predefined length embodiment, the coupler could be mounted to a coupler mounting arm/bar that attaches at each end to the bracket to inhibit longitudinal movement of the coupler away from the mounting surface/wall. In some embodiments, the coupler arm could be configured with new brackets attached or attachable to the ends of the coupler arm. For instance, the coupler arm could include a hole or other fixture for securing the end of the coupler arm to the bracket. However, in other embodiments, the ends of the coupler arm could be configured for securing to any existing bracket design so that an existing bracket mounting for a shelf can be upgraded using existing shelf mounting hardware and implementations thereof. In the fixed length or predefined length embodiment, each bracket can be drilling and the end of the coupler arm attached to the hold, or the end of the coupler arm can be attached in other ways to the brackets. For instance, in some embodiments, the end of the coupler arm can be attached to each bracket so that such attachment restricts the arms longitudinal movement (from the back wall towards the front when the coupler is under pressure of the coupler biasing pin connectors). In one embodiment, each end of the coupler arm can be mounted to the back end of the bracket where the bracket mounting hooks are located and can even be configured to fit behind the back end of the bracket to be retained between the back end of the bracket and the wall on which it is mounted. In this manner, the back mounting surface of the bracket hold the coupler arm in its longitudinal position and is proximity to the mounting surface. The power load devices such as the LED lights or the like could be fixed for the fixed length, or could be themselves variable along the coupler arm.
In some embodiments, there is a variable length coupler arm that allows for the same coupler arm to be applied to various distances between shelves and shelf brackets. For instances, users and current shelving implementations don't have or necessarily have or want to have an exact 24 or 36 inches between the mounting rails on the mounting surface and therefore the brackets. As such, in some embodiments, the present disclosure provides for a variable distance sliding assembly for extending to a plurality of user definable and adaptable distances between two shelf brackets. In one embodiment, this would be a collapsing or bi-passing two member unit where the user can pull the two ends of a slidably coupled unit to a user definable length for the coupler arm. For instance, in one embodiment, the variable length of one coupler mounting arm could be between 18 (fully collapsed) and up to 36 inches fully extended, e.g., the variable distances between brackets/mounting rails. In such an embodiment, one coupler mounting arm could allow a user to upgrade an existing shelf, regardless of the distance between the brackets and mounting rails, by removing the shelf from the bracket, installing the power track, and then adjusting the coupler arm to the current shelf mounting brackets, mount each end of the coupler arm to one of the brackets, and then align the coupler laterally along the coupler arm to engage the power track. In this manner, the user would just put the brackets up, extend the coupler arm between the two brackets, and attach each end to each of the brackets, mount or slide the coupler to the position along the extended coupler arm to engage the power track and then install or place whatever shelf they wanted onto the brackets. The variable length coupler arm could also have variably positionable LED lights, fans, outlets for placement along the length of the coupler arm. These power loads can be spread out or additional ones added.

Power Source.

The power source 92 provides AC or DC power to the power track 60. In the case of AC power, this can be a coupling to a local AC power source. In the case of DC power, the local DC power source can be an interface for receiving local DC power or can include an AC to DC power converted. Such DC power supply can include a transformer, a voltage and/or a current controller and/or a load stabilizer. In some embodiments, the power source 92 is enabled for the addition and/or removal of one or more powered shelf couplers or powered shelves without interruption or changes in the overall powering system. The power source 92 can be positioned at any place that can be conductively coupled to one or more power tracks 60.
In such embodiments, the power track can be vertically mounted on the slat wall by any means, including hanging the power track on the slat wall mounts at the top and bottom for example. The slat wall brackets are mounted at the desired vertical position. The shelf coupler can be mounted to the back of the shelf laterally aligned with the power track. The shelf can then be placed on the brackets that at that same time engages the vertically mounted power track for automatically receiving power at the time of placement of the shelf on the brackets.
When describing elements or features and/or embodiments thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements or features. The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements or features beyond those specifically described.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes can be made to the exemplary embodiments and implementations described above without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
It is further to be understood that the processes or steps described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative processes or steps may be employed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for providing power to a shelf within an adjustable shelf assembly, the adjustable shelf assembly having a shelf supporting bracket selectively coupleable with a shelf bracket mounting fixture to mount the shelf to a shelf mounting body of the adjustable shelf assembly at one of a plurality of vertical positions, the assembly comprising:

a power track having an elongated body with a mounting side for mounting to a surface of the shelf mounting body, and an exposed side on an opposing side of the body from the mounting side, the power track having two elongated power rails positioned on the exposed side and about a substantial length of the elongated body, and a rail isolator positioned between the two power rails electrically isolating a first of the two power rails from a second of the two power rails, the power track having a power receiving interface receiving power energy from a power source and providing a portion of the received power energy to the two power rails; and

a shelf power coupler having a housing body, a power track connection interface and a shelf power feed interface, the power track connection interface having a first connector electrically contacting the first power rail of the power track and a second connector electrically contacting the second power rail, the first and second connectors being elastic for making first and second power connections to the first and second power rails respectively each having a biasing pressure thereto, the shelf power feed interface providing the power energy received from the first and second connectors to a shelf-based power load, the shelf power coupler having a shelf mounting fixture for mounting the shelf power coupler proximate to a rear edge of the shelf at a position that is aligned with the power track mounted to the shelf mounting body when the shelf is mounted onto the shelf supporting bracket that is coupled to the shelf bracket mounting fixture on the shelf mounting body.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second connectors are collapsible pins, the collapsible pins providing the biasing pressure against the first and second power rails, respectively.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second power rails are positioned on the exposed side of the power track with each being laterally positioned on the exposed side and being exposed laterally, and wherein the isolator is laterally positioned therebetween, and the first and second power rails are connectable to the first and second connectors via longitudinal positioning of the connectors relative to the laterally positioned rails.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second power rails are positioned on the exposed side of the power track and each is positioned in a longitudinal positioned with the isolator positioned therebetween, and wherein each power rail is not exposed from an longitudinal position and wherein the first and second connectors of the shelf power coupler are positioned in a lateral direction for connecting laterally with the longitudinally positioned power rails.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the power coupler is adapted for mounting at a plurality of selectable positions along the rear edge of the shelf.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the power coupler is adapted for mounting to a lower surface of the shelf proximate to the rear edge of the shelf.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the shelf power coupler shelf power feed interface provides power to a power load selected from the group consisting of lights, LED lights, lighting strips, spot lights, fans, audio media players, video media players, sensors, and security devices.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the power track is separate from and therefore not associated with the shelf mounting bracket mounting fixture.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the shelf mounting fixture includes a structural mounting assembly selected from the group consisting of holes with shelf rests or snap clips with mounting pins for insertion into the holes, mounting track with slots and brackets with hooks for engaging the slots, and a slat wall having slats and brackets for mounting to the slats of the slatwall.

10. The assembly of claim 1 where the power supply is selected from the group consisting of AC power and DC power including low voltage DC power.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the shelf power coupler has a shelf mounting fixture that is integrated into a body of the shelf.

12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the shelf mounting fixture of the shelf power coupler includes an adjustment for positioning the shelf power coupler in one of a plurality of different longitudinal positions relative to the rear edge of the shelf and adjustable for adjusting the distance from the shelf power coupler to the power track mounted on the shelf mounting body.

13. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the power track includes a data interface and a third elongated data rail that is coupled to the data interface and that is electrically isolated from the two power rails, the data rail being positioned on the exposed side and about a substantial length of the elongated body and communicating data as received by the data interface; the shelf power coupler including a data connector positioned on the housing body and contacting the data rail of the data track for communicating with the data rail, the shelf power coupler also including a coupler data interface for communicating data with a coupled data component associated with the shelf on which the power coupler is associated.

14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the power track has a polarity fixture differentiating the first power rail from the second power rail and interoperable with the shelf power coupler for selective establishing the first power connection only between the first connector and the first power rail and the second power connections only between the second connector and the second power rail.

15. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the polarity fixture includes a protrusion on only one of the first and second power rails, and wherein only one of the first and second connectors of the shelf power coupler has a mating slot accepting the power track protrusion.

16. A method for providing power to a shelf within an adjustable shelf assembly, the adjustable shelf assembly having a shelf supporting bracket selectively coupleable with a shelf bracket mounting fixture to mount to a shelf mounting body of the adjustable shelf assembly in one of a plurality of vertical positions, the method comprising:

attaching the shelf bracket to the shelf bracket mounting fixture;

mounting a power track to the shelf mounting body, the power track having an elongated body with a mounting side for mounting to a surface of the shelf mounting body, and an exposed side on an opposing side of the body from the mounting surface, the power track having two elongated power rails positioned on the exposed side and about a substantial length of the elongated body, and a rail isolator positioned between the two power rails electrically isolating a first of the two power rails from a second of the two power rails, the power track having a power receiving interface receiving power energy from a power source and providing a portion of the received power energy the two power rails;

coupling power energy to the power receiving interface of the power track for providing power energy to the first and second power rails of the power track;

aligning a shelf power coupler with the mounted power track, the shelf power coupler having a housing body, a power track connection interface and a shelf power feed interface, the power track connection interface including a first connector and a second connector each of which is elastic for making first and second power connections under a biasing pressure;

placing the shelf with the mounted shelf power coupler on the attached shelf bracket;

making a first connection between the first connector and the first power rail and a second connection between the second connector and the second power rail;

applying a biasing pressure to the shelf in the direction of the shelf mounting body and the power track and to the first and second connectors against the first and second power rails, respectively; and

selectively stabilizing the shelf to the shelf mounting bracket retaining the shelf in the biased pressure position.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising mounting the shelf power coupler proximate to a rear edge of the shelf at one of a plurality lateral positions, whereby the mounted position of the shelf power coupler is selected to align the first connector with the first power rail and the second connector with the second power rail during placing of the shelf on the attached shelf bracket.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the first and second connectors are collapsible pins and wherein applying the biasing pressure do the shelf includes collapsing the collapsible pins in a biased position against the power rails.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising electrically coupling a power load associated with the shelf to the shelf power feed interface of the shelf power coupler, wherein power load is selected from the group selected from lights, LED lights, lighting strips, spot lights, fans, audio media players, video media players, sensors, and security devices.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein attaching the shelf bracket to the shelf bracket mounting fixture includes mounting a structural mounting assembly selected from the group consisting of holes with shelf rests or snap clips with mounting pins for insertion into the holes, mounting track with slots and brackets with hooks for engaging the slots, and a slat wall having slats and brackets for mounting to the slats of the slatwall.