US 4,620,489 · Granted 1986-11-04
The Sliding Shelf Patent That Doubles Display Space Without Taking Up Floor Room
Imagine a store shelf that can slide in and out like a drawer — when you pull it forward, extra shelf panels flip up to create more display space; when you push it back, everything collapses neatly against the wall. It's designed to let retailers show way more products in the same footprint.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a shelving system where a movable shelf support slides horizontally along a fixed shelf support attached to a vertical post. What's protected here is the mechanism that lets you pull the movable part out to an extended position (where it locks in place and extra shelf panels swing up), then slide it back to a retracted position flush against the wall. The locking members that hold each position are part of what the patent guards.
Why it matters
This patent solves a real retail problem: how to display more merchandise without sprawling outward and eating up valuable floor space. For stores with tight aisles or limited shelf real estate, a system that doubles usable shelf area by extending and retracting is a competitive advantage. The Kent Corporation locked down this specific sliding-and-pivoting mechanism, preventing direct copies of the design.
Real-world use
You'd see this in retail displays at grocery stores, pharmacies, or department stores where a shelf dramatically extends outward when a store employee pulls it, then compacts back when they're done restocking.
Original USPTO abstract
An extendible merchandise shelving display embodies an elongated, stationary shelf support which extends laterally from and is connected to at least one vertical support. An elongated, movable shelf support extends alongside and is slidably connected to the stationary shelf support. The movable shelf support is adapted for sliding movement relative to the stationary shelf support selectively to an extended position spaced from the vertical support and to a retracted position adjacent the vertical support. Cooperating locking members are carried by the movable and stationary shelf supports in position to engage each other and limit sliding movement of the movable shelf support while in its extended and retracted positions. An extendible shelf embodying a shelf-like member carried by the movable shelf support and at least two movable shelf-like elements carried by the stationary shelf support form a horizontal article supporting surface upon sliding movement of the movable shelf support to its extended position. The movable shelf-like elements pivot to generally upstanding positions adjacent the vertical support upon sliding movement of the movable shelf support to its retracted position.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 4,620,489
- Filing date
- 1982-09-07
- Grant date
- 1986-11-04
- Assignee
- The Kent Corporation
- Inventor(s)
- ALBANO; VINCENT J.
- CPC class
- A47B96/025
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