Shelf assembly display jacket

Abstract

A rack jacket is disclosed. The rack jacket comprises a support member portion for covering an external surface of at least one of a plurality of support members, and a cross brace portion, for covering an external surface of at least one cross brace disposed between at least two of the vertical support member. The rack jacket is sized and shaped to conform to an exterior surface of the rack.

1 . A jacket for adorning a rack having a plurality of support members and at least one cross brace disposed between two of the plurality of support members, the jacket comprising: 
 a support member portion, for covering an external surface of at least one of the plurality of vertical support members; and    a cross-brace portion, for covering an external surface of at least one of the plurality of cross braces;    wherein the jacket is sized and shaped to conform to an exterior surface of the rack system.    
   
   
       2 . The jacket of  claim 1 , further comprising a second support member portion and a second cross-brace portion.  
   
   
       3 . The jacket of  claim 1 , further comprising a display portion disposed between the support member portions and the cross-brace portions.  
   
   
       4 . The jacket of  claim 3 , wherein the display portion is defined by a punch-out portion formed by a plurality of incisions disposed between the support member portions and the display portion and between the cross-brace portions and the display portion.  
   
   
       5 . The jacket of  claim 4 , wherein the display portion, the support member portions and the cross-brace portions ate formed from a single sheet of material.  
   
   
       6 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of incisions are disposed along less than a perimeter of the display portion, thereby defining a door having a hinge where the incisions are not disposed.  
   
   
       7 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the rack system accepts a pallet disposed between the plurality of vertical support members, the pallet having a slot; and    wherein the apparatus further comprises a slot portion disposed adjacent the slot, to permit insertion of tangs therethrough.    
   
   
       8 . The jacket of  claim 7 , wherein the slot portion is defined by a slot punch out portion formed by a second plurality of incisions.  
   
   
       9 . The jacket of  claim 8 , wherein the slot portion forms a slot door.  
   
   
       10 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of the rack jacket includes display information.  
   
   
       11 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the support member portions comprises an extension.  
   
   
       12 . The jacket of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one extension comprises a plurality of sections, disposed about an exterior surface of at least one of the support members.  
   
   
       13 . The jacket of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the sections comprises a surface feature interlocking with a surface feature of at least one of the other sections, thereby affixing the at least one extension to the at least one of the support members.  
   
   
       14 . The jacket of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one extension is removably affixed to the at least one of the support members.  
   
   
       15 . A cap for adorning a rack having a plurality of support members and at least one cross brace disposed between two support members, the jacket comprising: a perimeter surface, sized and shaped for insertion over the plurality of support members, the perimeter surface having a horizontal surface disposed adjacent a top of one of the support members; and a display surface, coupled to the perimeter surface.  
   
   
       16 . A method of packaging items for transportation, comprising the steps of: 
 assembling a rack comprising a plurality of support members, a pallet disposed between the plurality of support members, at least one cross brace disposed between two of the plurality of support members;    placing the items between the plurality of support members; and    placing a jacket around the rack.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the items are placed on a surface disposed between the plurality of support members.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of placing the jacket around the rack comprises the step of assembling the jacket and sliding the assembled jacket over the rack.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of placing the jacket around the rack comprises the step of assembling the jacket around the rack.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of placing a cap on a top of the rack.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the jacket comprises a plurality of support member portions and a plurality of cross brace portions, and a plurality of display portions disposed between the plurality of support member portions and cross brace portions.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the display portions are defined by punched out portions formed by a plurality of incisions disposed between the support member portions and the display portions; and    the method further comprises the steps of receiving the rack;    moving the rack to a display location; and    punching out at least one of the defined punch out portions to expose the items.    
   
   
       23 . A rack jacket comprising: 
 a support member portion for covering an external surface of at least one of a plurality of support members; and    a cross brace portion, for covering an external surface of at least one cross brace disposed between at least two of the vertical support member;    wherein the jacket is sized and shaped to conform to an exterior surface of the rack.    
   
   
       24 . The rack jacket of  claim 23 , wherein an exterior surface of the rack jacket includes display information.  
   
   
       25 . The rack jacket of  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the support member portions comprises an extension.  
   
   
       26 . The rack jacket of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one extension comprises a plurality of sections, disposed about an exterior surface of at least one of the support members.  
   
   
       27 . The rack jacket of  claim 26 , wherein at least one of the sections comprises a surface feature interlocking with a surface feature of at least one of the other sections, thereby affixing the at least one extension to the at least one of the support members.  
   
   
       28 . The rack jacket of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one extension is removably affixed to the at least one of the support members.  
   
   
       29 . A rack jacket, comprising: 
 a peripheral portion sized and shaped to fit around and atop a plurality of rack support members; and    a horizontal surface coupled to the peripheral portion, for preventing the peripheral portion from sliding down the plurality of rack support members.