Shelf divider system

Abstract

There is provided a shelf divider system for organizing, moving, and displaying merchandize items on a store shelf. A plurality of dividers attach perpendicularly to a plurality of base strips by inserting knobs on the dividers into mating holes in the base strips. Each adjacent pair of dividers forms a channel for the merchandise. Merchandize carriers slide over the base strips between each adjacent pair of dividers. A pull strap is attached to the front end of each carrier for pulling it forward for moving the merchandize items forward on the shelf. The pull straps have longitudinal grooves therein for dividing the pull straps longitudinally into two narrower pull straps. The merchandize items are prevented from falling from the front of the shelf by transparent guards attached to guard holders. The shelf divider system may be attached to the shelf by clips, which attach a base strip to the shelf.

1 . A shelf divider system for organizing, moving, and displaying merchandize items on a shelf, which comprises: 
 at least one base strip for engaging with the shelf;    a plurality of dividers attached perpendicularly to the base strips, each adjacent pair of dividers forming a merchandize channel;    a merchandize carrier slidably disposed between each adjacent pair of dividers, each carrier having an elongated runner slidably engaging at least one base strip, the runner having a front end and a rear end, and a backstop on the rear end of the runner; and    a pull strap attached to the front end of each carrier for pulling the carrier for moving the merchandize items forward on the shelf.    
   
   
       2 . The shelf divider system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the base strips have a plurality of spaced holes therein; and    the dividers have lower surfaces having a plurality of spaced knobs thereon, selective knobs on the dividers mating with selective holes in the base strips for attaching the dividers to the base strips.    
   
   
       3 . The shelf divider system of  claim 2 , wherein the spaced holes in the base strip and the spaced knobs on the dividers are arranged so that the dividers attach to the base strips only perpendicularly with respect to the base strips.  
   
   
       4 . The shelf divider system of  claim 3 , wherein the spaced holes in the base strips are arranged in parallel rows, the holes being staggered from one another in sequential rows.  
   
   
       5 . The shelf divider system of  claim 3 , wherein the spaced knobs on the dividers are arranged in parallel rows and columns.  
   
   
       6 . The shelf divider system of  claim 1 , wherein each divider comprises an elongated base and an upstanding wall extending from the base, the cross-sectional shape of the divider thus being an inverted “T”.  
   
   
       7 . The shelf divider system of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier runners have at least one knob near their front ends and the pull straps have at least one hole therein, the knobs on the carrier runners mating with the holes in the pull straps for attaching the pull straps to the carrier runners.  
   
   
       8 . The shelf divider system of  claim 7 , wherein the carrier runners have a plurality of spaced knobs near their front ends and the pull straps have a plurality of spaced holes therein, selective knobs on the carrier runners mating with selective holes in the pull straps for adjustably attaching the pull straps to the carrier runners.  
   
   
       9 . The shelf divider system of  claim 1 , wherein the base strips have opposite beveled edges and the carrier runners have front and rear ends with beveled edges thereon for smooth sliding engagement therebetween.  
   
   
       10 . The shelf divider system of  claim 1 , wherein the pull straps have longitudinal grooves therein for dividing the pull straps longitudinally into two narrower pull straps.  
   
   
       11 . The shelf divider system of  claim 1 , wherein the dividers have front and rear ends and further including: 
 guard holders attached to the front ends of at least some of the dividers; and    an elongated guard attached to the guard holders for preventing the merchandize items from falling from the front of the shelf.    
   
   
       12 . The shelf divider system of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 each guard holder includes a base with a plurality of spaced holes therein; and    the dividers have lower surfaces having a plurality of spaced knobs thereon, the knobs on the dividers mating with the holes in the guard holder base for attaching the guard holders to the dividers.    
   
   
       13 . The shelf divider system of  claim 11 , wherein each guard holder includes: 
 a base; and    a guard receptor extending perpendicularly from the base, the guard receptor having an opening therein for receiving the elongated guard.    
   
   
       14 . The shelf divider system of  claim 11 , wherein the elongated guard is transparent for viewing the merchandize items therethrough.  
   
   
       15 . The shelf divider system of  claim 1 , further including at least one clip for attaching the shelf divider system to the shelf.  
   
   
       16 . The shelf divider system of  claim 15 , wherein the clip has first and second ends, and wherein a plurality of holes are proximate the first end for attaching the clip to the shelf, and a pair of spaced tabs are proximate the second end of the clip for attaching to the base strip.  
   
   
       17 . A shelf divider system for organizing, moving, and displaying merchandise items on a shelf, which comprises: 
 at least one base strip for engaging with the shelf, the base strip having a plurality of spaced holes therein;    a plurality of dividers attached perpendicularly to the base strips, each divider having front and rear ends and comprising an elongated base and an upstanding wall extending from the base, the cross-sectional shape of the dividers thus being an inverted “T”, 
 each adjacent pair of dividers forming a merchandize channel, the dividers having lower surfaces having a plurality of spaced knobs thereon,  
 selective knobs on the dividers mating with selective holes in the base strips for attaching the dividers to the base strips, the spaced holes in the base strips and the spaced knobs on the dividers being arranged so that the dividers attach to the base strips only perpendicularly with respect to the base strips;  
   a merchandize carrier slidably disposed between each adjacent pair of dividers, each carrier having an elongated runner slidably engaging at least one base strip, the runner having a front end and a rear end, and a backstop on the rear end of the runner;    a pull strap attached to the front end of each carrier for pulling the carrier for moving the merchandise items forward on the shelf, the pull strap having a longitudinal groove therein for dividing the pull strap longitudinally into two narrower pull straps;    guard holders attached to the front ends of at least some of the dividers; and    an elongated guard attached to the guard holders for preventing the merchandize items from falling from the front of the shelf.    
   
   
       18 . The shelf divider system of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 the spaced holes in the base strips are arranged in parallel rows, the holes being staggered from one another in sequential rows; and    the spaced knobs on the dividers are arranged in parallel rows and columns.    
   
   
       19 . The shelf divider system of  claim 17 , wherein the carrier runners have a plurality of spaced knobs near their front ends and the pull straps have a plurality of spaced holes therein, selective knobs on the carrier runners mating with selective holes in the pull straps for adjustably attaching the pull straps to the carrier runners.  
   
   
       20 . The shelf divider system of  claim 17 , wherein the base strips have opposite beveled edges and the front and rear ends of the carrier runners have beveled edges thereon for smooth sliding engagement with the base strips.  
   
   
       21 . The shelf divider system of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 each guard holder includes a base with a plurality of spaced holes therein; and    the dividers have lower surfaces having a plurality of spaced knobs thereon, the knobs on the dividers mating with the holes in the guard holder base for attaching the guard holders to the dividers.    
   
   
       22 . The shelf divider system of  claim 17 , wherein each guard holder includes: 
 a base; and    a guard receptor extending perpendicularly from the base, the guard receptor having an opening therein for receiving the elongated guard.    
   
   
       23 . The shelf divider system of  claim 17 , wherein the elongated guard is transparent for viewing the merchandize items therethrough.  
   
   
       24 . The shelf divider system of  claim 17 , further including at least one clip for attaching the shelf divider system to the shelf, wherein the clip has first and second ends, and wherein a plurality of holes are proximate the first end for attaching the clip to the shelf and a pair of spaced tabs are proximate the second end of the clip for attaching to the base strip.  
   
   
       25 . A shelf divider system for organizing, moving, and displaying merchandize items on a shelf, which comprises: 
 at least one base strip for engaging with the shelf, the base strip having opposite beveled edges and a plurality of spaced holes therein, the spaced holes being arranged in parallel rows, the holes being staggered from one another in sequential rows;    a plurality of dividers attached perpendicularly to the base strips, each divider having front and rear ends and comprising an elongated base and an upstanding wall extending from the base, the cross-sectional shape of the dividers thus being an inverted “T”, 
 each adjacent pair of dividers forming a merchandize channel, the dividers having lower surfaces having a plurality of spaced knobs thereon arranged in parallel rows and columns;  
 selective knobs on the dividers mating with selective holes in the base strips for attaching the dividers to the base strips, the spaced holes in the base strips and the spaced knobs on the dividers being arranged so that the dividers attach to the base strips only perpendicularly with respect to the base strips;  
   a merchandize carrier slidably disposed between each adjacent pair of dividers, each carrier having an elongated runner slidably engaging at least one base strip, the runner having a front end and a rear end and a backstop on the rear end of the runner, the runners having a plurality of spaced knobs near their front ends, the front and rear ends of the runners having beveled edges thereon for smooth sliding engagement with the base strips;    a pull strap attached to the front end of each carrier for pulling the carrier for moving the merchandize items forward on the shelf the pull strap having a longitudinal groove therein for dividing the pull strap longitudinally into two narrower pull straps, the pull straps having a plurality of spaced holes therein, selective knobs on the carrier runners mating with selective holes in the pull straps for adjustably attaching the pull straps to the carrier runners;    guard holders attached to the front ends of at least some of the dividers, each guard holder including a base with a plurality of spaced holes therein, the knobs on the dividers mating with the holes in the guard holder base for attaching the guard holders to the dividers, 
 and including a guard receptor extending perpendicularly from the base, the guard receptor having an opening therein for receiving the elongated guard:  
   an elongated guard attached to the guard holders for preventing the merchandize items from falling from the front of the shelf, wherein the elongated guard is transparent for viewing the merchandize items therethrough; and    at least one clip for attaching the shelf divider system to the shelf, wherein the clip has first and second ends, and wherein a plurality of holes are proximate the first end for attaching the clip to the shelf, and a pair of spaced tabs are proximate the second end of the clip for attaching to the base strip.