The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 15, 1998
Filed:
Feb. 24, 1997
Gary L Mays, Edina, MN (US);
M Scott Bryson, Brookfield, WI (US);
Allen E Johnson, Hartford, WI (US);
General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A shelving system (10) includes an upper shelf (42) exclusively supported by and at differing vertical spacings from a lower shelf (16) which can be removably attached to an outside support in the preferred form of a refrigerator case (12). Each of the shelves (16, 42) include support panels (32, 56) for removable securement of trays (62) including upright walls (70) for retaining differing types of yogurt containers in a straight line. For containers where the bases include the largest horizontal dimension, the upright walls (70) are formed on the outside edges of the trays (62). For containers having the maximum horizontal dimension other than at the base, the trays (62) include first and second protrusions (71) extending beyond the upright walls (70) to an extent generally equal to the maximum horizontal dimension of the containers. The trays (62) each include flexible stops (72) for preventing product from sliding off their front edges and providing cushioning and stopping of sliding product. The trays (62) are inclined at a gentle angle sufficient to start sliding of product on the trays under gravitational forces and include ribs (68) upon which the planar bases of the products slide and are supported to reduce static friction.