Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SHELF SHIPPING CLIP
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[001] This application relates to and claims priority benefits from U.S.
Provisional Patent Application
No. 60/726,358 entitled "Shelf Shipping Clip," filed October 13, 2005, which
is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[002] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to shipping clips,
and more particularly to
shipping clips for shelves.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[003] Various cabinets and bookcases include a plurality of shelves that may
be secured within the
cabinets and bookcases through a plurality of pins. Figure 1 illustrates an
isometric view of a
conventional shelf pin 10 secured within a cabinet wall 12. The shelf pin 10
includes a post or
tab (not shown) removably secured within a reciprocal securing opening (not
shown) within the
cabinet wall 12. A shelf support beam 14 having a flat surface 16 extends
outwardly from the
cabinet wall 12. Typically, two shelf pins 10 are spaced apart from one
another on a cabinet
wall 12. Further, each lateral cabinet wall 12 may include two spaced apart
shelf pins 10
secured therein. Thus, a shelf may be supported by four coplanar shelf pins
10.
[004] After a cabinet, for example, is manufactured, it is shipped to a
distributor, retailer, or customer.
Because the shelves may not be permanently secured within the cabinet, the
manufacturer
typically ensures that the shelves are safely shipped. For example, the
cabinet and shelves may
be separately shipped so that the shelves do not shift about the cabinet
during shipping.
However, separately shipping the shelves and cabinet increases the costs of
shipping, because
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two separate packing assemblies are shipped. In order to minimize shipping
costs, some
cabinets are shipped with the shelves temporarily secured therein.
[005] Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of a shelf 18 secured between a
conventional shipping clip
20 and the shelf pin 10. As shown in Figure 2, the shelf pin 10 is secured to
the cabinet wall 12
and supports the shelf 18. The shipping clip 20 includes a triangular main
body 22, with an
upper apex 24 having a securing post (not shown) secured within a securing
hole (not shown) of
the cabinet wall 12. A base 26 of the main body 22 is biased into the shelf
18. Thus, the shelf
18 is secured between the shelf pin 10 and the shipping clip 20. The cabinet
may then be
shipped with the shelves 18 secured therein.
[006] Figure 3 illustrates an isometric view of the shipping clip 20. As shown
in Figure 3, the apex 24
of the triangular main body 22 is secured to the cabinet wall 12, while the
base 26 is biased into
the top surface of the shelf 18. Thus, the shipping clip 20 and the shelf pin
(shown in Figures 1
and 2) cooperate to secure the shelf 18 in place during shipping, thereby
preventing the shelf
from moving within the cabinet.
[007] Figure 4 illustrates an isometric view of a shipping clip 30. The
shipping clip 30 includes a
triangular main body 32 with a post 34 removably secured within a securing
hole 36 formed
through the cabinet wall 12. As shown in Figure 4, the shipping clip 30 is
longer than the
shipping clip 20.
[008] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the shipping clips 20 and 30 are
configured to secure only one
shelf between their respective bases and the shelf pins 10 (shown in Figures 1
and 2). In order
to secure multiple shelves 18, each shelf 18 is secured between one set of
shipping clips 20 or
30, and one set of shelf pins 10. For example, in order to secure two shelves
18 during shipping,
four shelf pins 10 and four shipping clips 20 or 30 are used to secure the
first shelf 18, while
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four additional shelf pins 10 and four additional shipping clips 20 or 30 are
used to secure the
second shelf 18. Further, while the clips and pins minimize vertical shifting
of the shelves, the
shelves 18 may slide, rattle, or otherwise move laterally during shipping. As
such, the shelves
18 and cabinet walls may be susceptible to scratching or other such damage
during shipping.
[009] Thus, a need exists for a shipping clip capable of securing a plurality
of shelves during shipping.
Additionally, a need exists for a shipping clip that prevents the shelves from
banging into
cabinet walls during shipping.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Certain Embodiments of the present invention provide a shipping clip
configured to secure at
least one shelf within a cabinet having walls and a base. The shipping clip
may include a beam
having a shelf side and a cabinet-abutting side, and a resilient biasing tab
outwardly extending
proximate a mid-section of said shelf side at an angle. The biasing tab is
configured to exert a
force into the at least one shelf to compressively secure the at least one
shelf within the cabinet
during shipping.
[0011] The biasing tab may include an extension tab integrally connected to a
blunted shelf-abutting
end, wherein the blunted shelf abutting end is configured to abut against a
top surface of the at
least one shelf.
[0012] The shipping clip may also include a cabinet securing post extending
from the cabinet-abutting
side, wherein the cabinet securing post is configured to be retained within a
reciprocal opening
formed in at least one of the walls of the cabinet.
[0013] Additionally, a grasping handle may extend from an upper portion of the
shelf side. The
grasping handle may include a fm extending from the shelf side, and a
cylindrical post integrally
connected to the fin.
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[0014] Further, a shelf-stabilizing ramp may extend from the shelf side below
the biasing tab. The
shelf-stabilizing ramp may be configured to abut against a top surface of the
at least one shelf.
[0015] A shim may extend from the beam and be configured to be positioned
between the at least one
shelf and at least one of the walls of the cabinet. The shim is configured to
prevent lateral
shifting of the at least one shelf within the cabinet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Figure 1 illustrates a conventional shelf pin secured within a cabinet
wall.
[0017] Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of a shelf secured between a
conventional shipping clip
and shelf pin.
[0018] Figure 3 illustrates an isometric view of a shipping clip.
[0019] Figure 4 illustrates an isometric view of a shipping clip.
[0020] Figure 5 illustrates an isometric view of a shipping clip according to
an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0021] Figure 6 illustrates a front cross-sectional view of a shipping clip
securing a plurality of shelves
within a cabinet according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] Figure 7 illustrates a front perspective view of a shipping clip
securing a plurality of shelves
within a cabinet according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is
to be understood that the
invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and
the arrangement of
the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the
drawings. The
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invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being
carried out in various
ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used
herein are for the
purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of
"including" and
"comprising" and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed
thereafter and
equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Figure 5 illustrates an isometric view of a shipping clip 40 according
to an embodiment of the
present invention. The shipping clip 40 may be formed of various materials,
such as rubber, or
plastic. The shipping clip 40 includes a main beam 42 having a cabinet
securing post 44
extending from a wall-abutting side 46. The cabinet securing post 44 is
configured to be
retained within a securing hole (not shown in Figure 5) within a cabinet wall
(not shown in
Figure 5).
[0025] A handle 48 extends from a shelf side 50 (which is opposite the wall-
abutting side), and
proximate the top of the main beam 42. That is, the handle 48 and the post 44
extend from
opposite sides 50 and 46, respectively, of an upper portion of the main beam
42. The handle 48
may include a vertical fin 52 extending outwardly from the side 50. The
vertical fin 52 may be
integrally formed with a cylindrical post 54. The vertical fin 52 and the
cylindrical post 54 may
be ergonomically configured to allow easy grasping of the handle 48. For
example, the
cylindrical post 54 acts as a barrier that prevents fingers from sliding off
the handle 48 in the
direction of arrow A.
[0026] Proximate a mid-section 55 of the main beam 42, a resilient biasing tab
56 extends outwardly
from the side 50 at an angle A . The biasing tab 56 includes extension beam 58
integrally
formed with a rounded, or blunted shelf-abutting end 60, that is distally
located from the main
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beam 42. As shown in Figure 5, the shelf-abutting end 60 is a turned up end of
the extension
beam 58. The biasing tab 56 may be spring-biased.
[0027] A shelf-stabilizing ramp 62 extends from the side 50 of the main beam
42 below the biasing tab
56. The ramp 62 includes a lower surface 64 that extends perpendicularly from
the side 50 of
the main beam 50. The lower surface 64 is integrally connected to a ramped
surface 66 that
extends toward the midsection 55 of the main beam 42.
[0028] The lower portion of the main beam 42 terminates in a shim 68 that
extends below the ramp 62.
The shim 68 is configured to be positioned between a cabinet wall (not shown
in Figure 5) and
lateral portions of shelves (not shown in Figure 5).
[0029] Figure 6 illustrates a front cross-sectional view of the shipping clip
40 securing a plurality of
shelves 70 within a cabinet 72 according to an embodiment of the present
invention. The
shelves 70 are positioned on top of a base 74 of the cabinet 72. As shown in
Figure 6, two
shelves 70 are stacked on top of the base 74.
[0030] The shipping clip 40 is secured into the cabinet wall 76. That is, the
post 44 is secured within a
reciprocal opening 78 formed in the cabinet wall 76.
[0031] The shim 68 of the shipping clip 40 is positioned between the shelves
70 and the cabinet wall
76. The shim 68 provides a barrier between the shelves 70 and the cabinet wall
76 that prevents
lateral shifting of the shelves 70 within the cabinet 72. Thus, the shelves 70
and cabinet walls
76 are protected against scratching or other damage that may be caused by the
shelves 70
banging into the cabinet walls 76 during shipping.
[0032] The lower surface 64 of the ramp 62 is positioned over a top edge of
the top shelf 70, while the
shim 68 may overlay a lateral surface of the top shelf 70. The ramp 62 and the
shim 68 may
cooperate to secure the shelves 70 from vertical and lateral shifting.
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[0033] The shelf-abutting end 60 of the biasing clip 56 exerts a force into
the top surface of the top
shelf 70. The force exerted by the biasing clip 56 into the top shelf
compresses the shelves 70
into the base 74 of the cabinet, thereby restricting movement of the shelves
70.
[0034] As shown in Figure 6, the shipping clip 40, or a plurality of shipping
clips 40, may be used to
secure a plurality of shelves 70 within the cabinet 72 during shipping. For
example, two or four
shipping clips 40 may be used to secure a plurality of shelves 70 within the
cabinet 72. While
two shelves 70 are shown in Figure 6, the shipping clip 40 may be configured
to secure more or
less shelves 70 than those shown. Also, shelf pins do not have to be used in
order to secure the
shelves 70. Optionally, shelf pins may be used to secure the shelves away from
the base 74.
[0035] Figure 7 illustrates a front perspective view of the shipping clips 40
securing a plurality of
shelves 70 within the cabinet 72 according to an embodiment of the present
invention. As
shown in Figure 7, the shelves 70 are supported by a plurality of shelf pins
80. The shelves 70
are securely retained between the shelf pins 80 and the shipping clips 40.
While four shelves 70
are shown secured between the shelf pins 80 and the shipping clips 40, the
shipping clips 40
may be configured to secure more or less shelves 70 than those shown within
the cabinet 72
during shipping.
[0036] Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a shipping clip
capable of securing a
plurality of shelves during shipping. As shown in Figure 6, a plurality of
shipping clips may be
used to secure a plurality of shelves against a base of a cabinet. For
example, four horizontally
aligned shipping clips may be used to secure a plurality of shelves within the
cabinet. Further,
as shown in Figure 7, a plurality shelves may be secured between a plurality
of shipping clips
and a plurality of shelf pins. For example, four horizontally-aligned shipping
clips and four
coplanar shelf pins may be used to secure a plurality of shelves therebetween.
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[0037] Additionally, embodiments of the present invention provide a shipping
clip that prevents shelves
from banging into the cabinet walls during shipping. The shims and ramps of
the shipping clips
act as barriers that minimize the shelves from shifting during shipping.
[0038] While various spatial terms, such as upper, lower, mid, lateral,
horizontal, vertical, and the like
are used to describe portions of the shipping clip with respect to a cabinet,
it is understood that
such terms are merely used with respect to the orientations shown in the
drawings. The
orientations may be inverted, rotated, or otherwise changed, such that an
upper portion is a
lower portion, and vice versa, horizontal becomes vertical, and the like.
[0039] Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of
the present invention. It is
understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all
alternative
combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident
from the text
and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various
alternative aspects of the
present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes
known for
practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize
the invention. The
claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent
permitted by the
prior art.
[0040] Various features of the invention are set forth in the following
claims.
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