Gravity feed shelving apparatus and system

Abstract

A gravity feed shelving apparatus and system for a refrigerated display case includes a bracket element extending along a longitudinal axis. The bracket element includes a substantially planar body having a ramp arm extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end includes an attachment element configured to couple to a refrigerated display case. The substantially planar body includes an elevation portion vertically disposed between the ramp arm and the attachment element. The elevation portion forms an acute ramp angle in which the ramp arm slopes downwardly from the proximal end to the distal end. A support flange extends substantially perpendicularly from the ramp arm between the proximal end and the distal end and is configured to support a horizontal shelf.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gravity feed shelving apparatus for a refrigerated display case, comprising:
 a bracket element extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein the bracket element comprises a substantially planar body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a ramp arm extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the proximal end comprising an attachment element configured to couple to a refrigerated display case, wherein the substantially planar body comprises an elevation portion vertically disposed between the ramp arm and the attachment element, the elevation portion forming an acute ramp angle in which the ramp arm slopes downwardly from the proximal end to the distal end; and   a support flange extending substantially perpendicularly from the ramp arm between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the support flange is configured to support a horizontal shelf.   
     
     
         2 . The gravity feed shelving apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the acute ramp angle is about eight degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The gravity feed shelving apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment element comprises at least one tab extending along the longitudinal axis from the proximal end. 
     
     
         4 . The gravity feed shelving apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one tab and the substantially planar body are coplanar. 
     
     
         5 . The gravity feed shelving apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one tab comprises a single positioning notch configured to retain the bracket element in a fixed position with respect to the refrigerated display case. 
     
     
         6 . The gravity feed shelving apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the single positioning notch is disposed adjacent to the proximal end and extends in a substantially vertical direction from a base of the at least one tab. 
     
     
         7 . The gravity feed shelving apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one tab comprises a plurality of tabs disposed one on top of another in a vertically stacked arrangement. 
     
     
         8 . The gravity feed shelving apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein a height of the vertically stacked arrangement comprises 3.5 inches or less. 
     
     
         9 . The gravity feed shelving apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the substantially planar body comprises a bottom edge having a stabilizing projection extending in a transverse direction with respect thereto, wherein the stabilizing projection is configured to stabilize the bracket element against the refrigerated display case. 
     
     
         10 . A gravity feed shelving system for a refrigerated display case, comprising:
 a support structure coupled to an interior wall of a refrigerated display case;   a pair of bracket elements coupled to the support structure, wherein each of the pair of bracket elements comprises a substantially planar body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a ramp arm extending along a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end, each of the pair of bracket elements further comprising:
 an attachment element extending along the longitudinal axis from the proximal end, wherein the attachment element is coplanar with the substantially planar body and engaged with the support structure; 
 an elevation portion disposed between the ramp arm and the attachment element, wherein the elevation portion creates an obtuse angle between the ramp arm and the support structure; and 
 a support flange extending perpendicularly from the ramp arm between the proximal end and the distal end; and 
   a horizontal shelf disposed between the pair of bracket elements, the horizontal shelf comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to a first bracket element of the pair of bracket elements and the second end is coupled to a second bracket element of the pair of bracket elements.   
     
     
         11 . The gravity feed shelving system of  claim 10 , wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of apertures disposed vertically therein, wherein the attachment element is configured to engage at least one of the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         12 . The gravity feed shelving system of  claim 10 , wherein the attachment element comprises a plurality of tabs extending from the proximal end along the longitudinal axis, wherein the substantially planar body and the plurality of tabs are coplanar. 
     
     
         13 . The gravity feed shelving system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of tabs comprises a single positioning notch configured to retain the bracket element in a fixed position with respect to the support structure. 
     
     
         14 . The gravity feed shelving system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of tabs is disposed one on top of another in a vertically stacked arrangement, and wherein a height of the vertically stacked arrangement comprises 3.5 inches or less. 
     
     
         15 . The gravity feed shelving system of  claim 10 , further comprising a gravity roller platform disposed on top of the horizontal shelf, the roller platform comprising a plurality of rollers configured to passively move a product towards a front edge of the horizontal shelf. 
     
     
         16 . The gravity feed shelving system of  claim 10 , further comprising an anchor element extending along at least a portion of a front edge of the horizontal shelf, wherein the anchor element and the horizontal shelf are coplanar. 
     
     
         17 . The gravity feed shelving system of  claim 16 , further comprising a rail element configured to engage the anchor element, wherein the rail element extends along a length of the front edge of the horizontal shelf. 
     
     
         18 . The gravity feed shelving system of  claim 17 , wherein the rail element comprises a securing feature disposed in a lower portion thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The gravity feed shelving system of  claim 18 , wherein the rail element comprises an elongate product barrier extending from a front edge of the horizontal shelf along a vertical axis. 
     
     
         20 . The gravity feed shelving system of  claim 19 , wherein the rail element comprises a lower edge, and wherein the lower edge is substantially aligned with a bottom surface of the horizontal shelf.