Multi-dimensionally adjustable shelf bracket

Abstract

A shelf bracket is adjustable vertically along a Z-axis and rotationally about a Y- axis that is perpendicular to the Z-axis. The bracket may be used in combination with a merchandising system, including a system with slotted cross members connected by side brackets to form a shelf component, and various accessories insertable into the slots of the cross members to form organizational components along the shelf.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A merchandising system ( 1 ) removably securable to a bracket support ( 70 ) comprising:
 a front cross member ( 5 ) with a left side ( 6 ), a right side ( 7 ), an inwardly-facing edge ( 8 ), and an outwardly-facing edge ( 9 );   a back cross member ( 10 ) with a left side ( 11 ), a right side ( 12 ), an inwardly-facing edge ( 13 ), and an outwardly-facing edge ( 14 );   a multi-dimensionally adjustable left side bracket ( 100 ) vertically adjustable along a first Z-axis and rotationally adjustable along a first Y-axis that is perpendicular to the first Z-axis, the left side bracket connecting the front cross member to the back cross member along the left sides thereof; and   a multi-dimensionally adjustable right side bracket ( 100 ) vertically adjustable along a second Z-axis that is parallel to the first Z-axis, and rotationally adjustable along a second Y-axis that is perpendicular to the second Z-axis and parallel to the first Y-axis, the right side bracket connecting the front cross member to the back cross member along the right sides thereof;   wherein the inwardly-facing edge of the front cross member has inwardly-facing slots ( 25 ) therealong for receiving front catches ( 26 ) of removable accessories;   wherein the inwardly-facing edge of the back cross member has inwardly-facing slots ( 30 ) therealong, aligned with the inwardly-facing slots of the front cross member, for receiving back catches ( 31 ) of the removable accessories;   wherein the inwardly-facing edge of the front cross member has inwardly-facing tabs ( 40 ) at the right and left sides thereof;   wherein the inwardly-facing edge of the back cross member has inwardly-facing tabs ( 45 ) at the right and left sides thereof;   wherein the inwardly facing tab at the left side of the front cross member and the inwardly facing tab at the left side of the back cross member are removably secured into slots ( 50 ) in the left side bracket;   wherein the inwardly facing tab at the right side of the front cross member and the inwardly facing tab at the right side of the back cross member are removably secured into slots ( 55 ) in the right side bracket;   wherein the outwardly-facing edge of the front cross member has slots ( 60 ) at the right and left sides thereof;   wherein the outwardly-facing edge of the back cross member has slots at the right and left sides thereof;   wherein the front tab of the left side bracket is removably secured into the slot at the left side of the outwardly-facing edge of the front cross member;   wherein the front tab of the right side bracket is removably secured into the slot at the right side of the outwardly-facing edge of the front cross member;   wherein the back tab of the left side bracket is removably secured into the slot at the left side of the outwardly-facing edge of the back cross member; and   wherein the back tab of the right side bracket is removably secured into the slot at the right side of the outwardly-facing edge of the back cross member.   
     
     
         2 . A multi-dimensionally adjustable shelf bracket ( 100 ) adjustable vertically along a Z-axis and rotationally about a Y-axis that is perpendicular to the Z-axis, comprising:
 a bracket hook ( 103 );   a bracket hook mounting plate ( 104 ) slidably attached to the bracket hook and vertically adjustable relative to the bracket hook along a Z-axis ( 107 ); and   a bracket arm ( 108 ) rotationally attached to the bracket hook mounting plate and rotationally adjustable relative to the bracket hook mounting plate about a Y-axis ( 106 ) that is perpendicular to the Z axis.   
     
     
         3 . The multi-dimensionally adjustable bracket of  claim 2 , wherein the bracket arm extends away from the bracket hook mounting plate along an X-axis ( 105 ) perpendicular to the Y-axis and to the Z-axis, and comprises an outer wall ( 127 ), an inner wall ( 126 ), and a rack and pinion assembly housed between the outer wall and the inner wall, the rack and pinion assembly comprising a rack ( 131 ) and a pinion ( 132 ). 
     
     
         4 . The multi-dimensionally adjustable bracket of  claim 2 , further comprising a first locking pin assembly configured to allow vertical adjustment of the bracket hook mounting plate relative to the bracket hook along the Z-axis. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-dimensionally adjustable bracket of  claim 4 , further comprising a second locking pin assembly configured to allow rotational adjustment of the bracket arm relative to the bracket hook mounting plate about the Y-axis. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-dimensionally adjustable bracket of  claim 2 , further comprising visible indicia ( 138  or  139 ) indicating a rotational position of the bracket arm. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-dimensionally adjustable bracket of  claim 2 , further comprising visible indicia ( 138  or  139 ) indicating a vertical position of the bracket hook mounting plate. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-dimensionally adjustable bracket of  claim 7 , further comprising visible indicia ( 138  or  139 ) indicating a rotational position of the bracket arm. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-dimensionally adjustable bracket of  claim 3 , further comprising a spacer ( 129 ) between the outer wall and the inner wall. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-dimensionally adjustable bracket of  claim 3 , wherein a portion of the bracket hook mounting plate comprises a gear ( 117 ) located between the outer wall and the inner wall configured to operably engage a gear ( 123 ) attached to the pinion during rotational adjustment of the bracket arm relative to the bracket hook mounting plate about the Y-axis. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-dimensionally adjustable bracket of  claim 2 , wherein the bracket arm is rotationally adjustable relative to the bracket hook mounting plate about the Y-axis from approximately 0 degrees to approximately 15 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-dimensionally adjustable bracket of  claim 11 , further comprising a rack and pinion assembly configured to allow rotational adjustment of the bracket arm relative to the bracket hook mounting plate about the Y-axis from approximately 0 degrees to approximately 15 degrees, and a locking pin assembly configured to allow the bracket arm to be fixed at incremental angles between and including approximately 0 degrees to approximately 15 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-dimensionally adjustable bracket of  claim 12 , wherein the incremental angles range from approximately 0 degrees to approximately 15 degrees in approximately 2.5 degree increments. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-dimensionally adjustable bracket of  claim 13 , further comprising visible indicia ( 138  or  139 ) indicating a rotational position of the bracket arm. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-dimensionally adjustable bracket of  claim 2 , further comprising a rail ( 130 ) attached to the bracket arm and configured to rotate with the bracket arm about the Y-axis when the bracket arm is rotated about the Y-axis. 
     
     
         16 . A multi-dimensionally adjustable bracket adjustable vertically along a Z-axis and rotationally about a Y-axis that is perpendicular to the Z-axis, comprising:
 a bracket hook ( 103 );   a bracket hook mounting plate ( 104 ) slidably attached to the bracket hook and vertically adjustable relative to the bracket hook along a Z-axis ( 107 );   a bracket arm ( 108 ) rotationally attached to the bracket hook mounting plate and rotationally adjustable relative to the bracket hook mounting plate about a Y-axis ( 106 ) that is perpendicular to the Z axis, the bracket arm comprising an outer wall ( 127 ), an inner wall ( 126 ), and a rack and pinion assembly housed between the outer wall and the inner wall;   a first locking pin assembly configured to allow vertical adjustment of the bracket hook mounting plate relative to the bracket hook along the Z-axis;   a second locking pin assembly configured to allow rotational adjustment of the bracket arm relative to the bracket hook mounting plate about the Y-axis;   an indicia window ( 140  or  141 ) for displaying visible indicia ( 138  or  139 ) indicating a rotational position of the bracket arm; and   an indicia window ( 120 ) for displaying visible indicia indicating a vertical position of he bracket hook mounting plate;   at least one spacer ( 129 ) between the outer wall and the inner wall;   wherein the bracket arm extends away from the bracket hook mounting plate along an X-axis ( 105 ) perpendicular to the Y-axis and to the Z-axis; and   wherein a portion of the bracket hook mounting plate comprises a gear ( 117 ) located between the outer wall and the inner wall configured to operably engage a gear ( 123 ) attached to the pinion ( 132 ) of the rack and pinion assembly during rotational adjustment of the bracket arm relative to the bracket hook mounting plate about the Y-axis.   
     
     
         17 . The multi-dimensionally adjustable bracket of  claim 16 , further comprising a rail ( 130 ) attached to the bracket arm and configured to rotate with the bracket arm about the Y-axis when the bracket arm is rotated about the Y-axis. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-dimensionally adjustable bracket of  claim 16 , wherein the bracket arm is rotationally adjustable relative to the bracket hook mounting plate about the Y-axis from approximately 0 degrees to approximately 15 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-dimensionally adjustable bracket of  claim 18 , wherein the second locking pin assembly and the rack and pinion assembly are configured to allow the bracket arm to be rotationally adjusted relative to the bracket hook mounting plate about the Y-axis from approximately 0 degrees to approximately 15 degrees, and to be fixed at incremental angles between and including approximately 0 degrees to approximately 15 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The multi-dimensionally adjustable bracket of  claim 19 , wherein the incremental angles range from approximately 0 degrees to approximately 15 degrees in approximately 2.5 degree increments.