Shelf trays

Abstract

Several embodiments of shelving systems are disclosed in which goods can be shipped to a store and may be ready to display. Customers may select goods from the shelving systems directly. When the goods are depleted, the shelving system may be disassembled into a more compact state for efficient storage and shipping back to the warehouse or supplier.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shelving system comprising:
 an upper tray and a lower tray, each of the upper tray and the lower tray including opposed, generally parallel tray side walls extending upward from a base; and   a pair of spacers, each spacer stacked on one of the side walls of the lower tray, each of the side walls of the upper tray stacked on one of the spacers to provide clearance between the bases of the upper tray and the lower tray.   
     
     
         2 . The shelving system of  claim 1  wherein the spacers are not connected to one another. 
     
     
         3 . The shelving system of  claim 1  wherein each tray includes stacking feet projecting outward from lower portions of the tray side walls, each of the tray side walls including high stacking recesses and low stacking recesses complementary to the stacking feet such that the upper tray can be stacked on the lower tray at two different heights in an aligned or a 180 degree orientation. 
     
     
         4 . The shelving system of  claim 3  wherein the spacers each include stacking feet projecting outward from lower portions of the spacers, each of the spacers including high stacking recesses and low stacking recesses complementary to the stacking feet of the upper tray such that the upper tray can be stacked on the spacers at two different heights in an aligned or 180 degree orientation. 
     
     
         5 . The shelving system of  claim 4  wherein the spacers each include a rail projecting upward from an upper edge thereof. 
     
     
         6 . A spacer comprising a single wall having stacking feet projecting outward from lower portions of the wall, the wall including high stacking recesses and low stacking recesses complementary to the stacking feet, the spacer including flanges projecting perpendicularly from ends of the single wall. 
     
     
         7 . A shelving system unit comprising:
 a bin having a base and side walls extending up from side edges of the base; and   a plurality of elongated supports connected to the side walls.   
     
     
         8 . The shelving system unit of  claim 7  further including side flanges projecting inward each of the side walls. 
     
     
         9 . The shelving system unit of  claim 8  further including a front flange extending between the side flanges to define an opening above the front wall and between the side flanges. 
     
     
         10 . The shelving system unit of  claim 7  wherein the side walls extend upward from adjacent side edges of the base of the bin. 
     
     
         11 . The shelving system unit of  claim 7  further including a platform having a raised perimeter connected to lower ends of the elongated supports. 
     
     
         12 . A shelving system including the shelving system unit of  claim 11  and further including a pallet having a deck, the platform secured to the deck of the pallet, wherein the shelving unit occupies about one-fourth of the deck, such that four of the shelving units could fit on the deck. 
     
     
         13 . The shelving system of  claim 12  wherein the bin is a lower bin, the shelving system further including an upper bin secured to the elongated supports above the lower bin. 
     
     
         14 . A shelving unit comprising:
 a plurality of vertical walls, a plurality of support surfaces projecting outward from the vertical walls;   an elongated support extending upward and spaced away from the vertical walls; and   a tray stacked on the support surfaces and the elongated support.   
     
     
         15 . The shelving unit of  claim 14  further including a base, the vertical walls extending upward from the base. 
     
     
         16 . A shelving system including a plurality of the shelving units of  claim 14  placed on a deck of a pallet.