权利要求：
1. An apparatus comprising:
a crossbar having a first axis extending from a first end to a second end, wherein the crossbar comprises a plurality of accessory interfaces that include a plurality of pegboard holes;
a first bracket comprising:
a first portion comprising a first structure associated with support of the crossbar, and
a second portion that, with respect to the first portion, is moveable along a direction that is parallel to the first axis; and
a tether device comprising:
a first feature that engages a portion of one of a saddle mount accessory or a hook of a horizontal slot accessory, and
at least one arm extending from the first feature, wherein the at least one arm comprises an engagement feature that engages with one of the plurality of pegboard holes.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the plurality of accessory interfaces further include a saddle mount and a horizontal slot.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a first weight sensor comprising:
a third end that is attached to the first end of the crossbar, and
a fourth end that is attached to the first structure of the first portion of the first bracket.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, the first bracket further comprising:
a third portion comprising:
a second feature that engages with a third feature on the first portion of the first bracket; and
a fourth feature that engages with a fifth feature on the second portion of the first bracket;
wherein the second feature and the fourth feature are configured to constrain movement of the second portion relative to the first portion.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a second bracket comprising a third portion, wherein the third portion comprises a third end that attaches to one or more support structures;
wherein the first bracket comprises a fourth end that attaches to the one or more support structures; and
wherein movement of the second portion relative to the first portion is associated with a plurality of attachment locations of the one or more support structures.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a weight sensor comprising:
a third end that attaches to the first end of the crossbar, and
a fourth end that attaches to the second end of the crossbar; and
a second bracket comprises one of: an extensible bracket or a fixed bracket, wherein:
the extensible bracket comprises:
a third portion attached to the third end of the weight sensor, and
a fourth portion that, with respect to the third portion, is moveable in a direction that is parallel to the first axis; and
the fixed bracket comprises:
a fifth portion comprising: a fifth end that attaches to the third end of the weight sensor and a sixth end that attaches to one or more support structures.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more of:
a first weight sensor comprising:
a third end that is attached to the first end of the crossbar, and
a fourth end that is attached to the first structure of the first portion of the first bracket; or
a second weight sensor comprising:
a fifth end that is attached to a mounting feature of the crossbar, and
a sixth end supporting an accessory to stow one or more items.
8. A system comprising:
an apparatus comprising:
a crossbar comprising a first axis extending from a first end to a second end;
a first bracket comprising:
a first portion comprising a first structure associated with support of the crossbar, and
a second portion that, with respect to the first portion, is moveable along a direction that is parallel to the first axis; and
a tether device comprising:
a first feature that engages a portion of a first accessory, and
two arms extending from the first feature in opposite directions, wherein each arm comprises an engagement feature that engages with the crossbar.
9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:
a first weight sensor comprising:
a third end that is attached to the first end of the crossbar, and
a fourth end that is attached to the first structure of the first portion of the first bracket.
10. The system of claim 8, further comprising:
a weight sensor comprising:
a third end that attaches to the first end of the crossbar, and
a fourth end that attaches to the second end of the crossbar; and
a second bracket comprising one of: an extensible bracket or a fixed bracket, wherein:
the extensible bracket comprises:
a third portion attached to the third end of the weight sensor, and
a fourth portion that, with respect to the third portion, is moveable in a direction that is parallel to the first axis; and
the fixed bracket comprises:
a fifth portion comprising: a fifth end that attaches to the third end of the weight sensor and a sixth end that attaches to one or more support structures.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein:
the first portion of the first bracket further comprises a first protrusion,
the second portion of the first bracket comprises a first hole, and
the first bracket further comprises a third portion comprising a second protrusion and a second hole, wherein:
the third portion is configured to be constrained in movement by an area around the first protrusion within the second hole, and
the second portion is configured to be constrained in movement by engagement of the second protrusion within the first hole.
12. The system of claim 8, wherein:
the crossbar further comprises a plurality of accessory interfaces, including a saddle mount, a horizontal slot, and a plurality of pegboard holes,
the first accessory comprises a saddle mount accessory or a hook of a horizontal slot accessory, and
the engagement feature that engages with the crossbar is configured to engage with a pegboard hole of the plurality of pegboard holes.
13. The system of claim 8, further comprising:
the first accessory comprising:
a first portion comprising a second feature; and
a second portion comprising:
a first side comprising a first one or more ridges, and
a second side comprising a second one or more ridges;
wherein the first and second one or more ridges comprise plastic that is configured to deform in response to a force applied to the second feature; and
wherein the first accessory, in response to the force applied to the second feature, is configured to engage with the first bracket and a horizontal slot of a slatwall.
14. The system of claim 8, the apparatus further comprising:
one or more sensors to generate sensor data; and
a communication interface to send the sensor data to an external device.
15. An apparatus comprising:
a crossbar comprising a first axis extending from a left end to a right end;
a first bracket comprising:
a first portion comprising a first structure associated with support of the crossbar, and
a second portion that, with respect to the first portion, is moveable along a first direction that is parallel to the first axis;
a second bracket comprising:
a third portion, and
a fourth portion that, with respect to the third portion, is moveable in a second direction that is parallel to the first axis; and
a tether device configured to engage with an accessory and the crossbar, wherein:
the first portion of the first bracket comprises a first protrusion,
the second portion of the first bracket comprises a first hole, and
the first bracket further comprises a fifth portion comprising a second protrusion and a second hole, further wherein:
the fifth portion is configured to be constrained in movement by an area around the first protrusion within the second hole, and
the second portion is configured to be constrained in movement by engagement of the second protrusion within the first hole.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:
a first weight sensor comprising:
a first end that is attached to the left end of the crossbar, and
a second end that is attached to the first structure of the first portion of the first bracket; and
a second weight sensor comprising:
a third end that attaches to the right end of the crossbar, and
a fourth end that is attached to the second bracket.
17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:
the crossbar comprises a plurality of accessory interfaces, including a saddle mount, a horizontal slot, and a plurality of pegboard holes,
the accessory comprises a saddle mount accessory or a horizontal slot accessory,
the tether device comprises a first feature that engages a portion of the accessory,
the tether device further comprises at least one arm extending from the first feature, and
the at least one arm comprises an engagement feature configured to engage with a pegboard hole of the plurality of pegboard holes on the crossbar.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:
a weight sensor comprising:
a first end that attaches to the left end of the crossbar, and
a second end that attaches to the right end of the crossbar;
wherein the second bracket further comprises one of an extensible bracket or a fixed bracket.
具体实施方式：
[0015]While implementations are described herein by way of example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the implementations are not limited to the examples or figures described. It should be understood that the figures and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit implementations to the particular form disclosed but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word “may” is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including, but not limited to.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016]A materials handling facility (“facility”) or other setting may use fixtures that support accessories. An accessory is used to stow or hold items. Accessories may use different mechanical interfaces to attach to a fixture. For example, a fixture may be a slatwall having one or more horizontal slots, a pegboard having multiple holes, a saddle mount, and so forth. The fixture itself may in turn be supported by an external structure. For example, the fixture may be attached to gondola uprights, an existing slatwall, pegboard, and so forth.
[0017]Described in this disclosure is an apparatus to facilitate stowage of items. The apparatus may include a crossbar and at least one extensible bracket. The crossbar may be instrumented and provide information, such as a weight change due to addition to, or removal of, items from an accessory on the crossbar. The extensible bracket attaches the crossbar to a supporting structure and decreases mechanical strain on the crossbar that may otherwise occur due to minor misalignment of the supporting structure. Accessories such as wire hooks, shelves, bins, and so forth may be supported by the crossbar. Devices such as a locking cam device or clip device may be used to prevent lateral movement of components such as the accessories on the crossbar, or the entire crossbar itself relative to its supporting structure. A tether device may be used in conjunction with the crossbar to prevent lateral movement of some accessories with respect to the crossbar.
[0018]Some items may be stowed in an environmentally controlled environment. For example, the crossbar and accessories may be used within a refrigerator, freezer, or heated case. A baffle may be affixed to the crossbar to control airflow to maintain desired environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and so forth.
[0019]As noted above, the extensible bracket may decrease mechanical strain on the apparatus. For example, the apparatus may attach to a wall that has gondola uprights. At a first time, the distance between two gondola uprights supporting the apparatus may be a first distance. At a second time, the two gondola uprights may be jarred, or damaged, and the distance between the two gondola uprights changes to a second distance. The extensible bracket may allow the engagement features of the apparatus to compensate for the change in distance between the gondola uprights between the first time and the second time. Because the extensible bracket includes portions that may move relative to each other, mechanical strain on the apparatus due to the changed distance between the gondola uprights may be reduced. This reduced strain may allow weight sensors in the apparatus to provide more accurate measurements, reducing or eliminating errors due to imposed mechanical strain.
[0020]The extensible bracket may include different portions that move relative to each other. For example, the extensible bracket may include at least a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may attach to a fixture, such as a preexisting slatwall or to gondola uprights. The second portion may attach to a feature of the crossbar. The crossbar may have a long axis extending from a left end to a right end of the crossbar. With respect to the extensible bracket, the first portion may move relative to the second portion along an axis that is parallel to the long axis of the crossbar. The extensible bracket may use different mechanisms that allow for movement of the first portion of the extensible bracket relative to the second portion of the extensible bracket. As one example, the extensible bracket may include a low-friction insert positioned between the first portion and the second portion. The low-friction insert facilitates movement of the first portion relative to the second portion.
[0021]In traditional systems, accessories may slide or move from an installed position because of jostling, wear, damage, improper installation, and so forth. Such movement of an installed accessory may impede inventory management systems. For example, systems that maintain inventory data on items stowed by an accessory may become inaccurate if the accessory moves locations.
[0022]The apparatus or accessories attached thereto may include one or more sensors to determine information indicative of an interaction, such as a pick or place of an item. In a first implementation, the apparatus may communicate with one or more accessories that include weight sensors. An accessory may include a first portion that engages with the crossbar of the apparatus, a second portion that supports one or more loads, and a weight sensor with a first end attached to the first portion and a second end attached to the second portion. The accessory may include electronic circuitry that measures the weight of a load on the accessory and sends the weight data to an external device.
[0023]In a second implementation, the apparatus may have a first weight sensor and a second weight sensor. The first weight sensor may have an end attached to a first bracket and another end attached to the crossbar. The first bracket may attach to a wall. The second weight sensor may have an end attached to a second bracket and another end attached to the crossbar. The second bracket may attach to the wall. At least one of the two brackets may comprise the extensible bracket. Using the two weight sensors, the apparatus may measure the weight of loads supported the accessories affixed to the crossbar.
[0024]The apparatus may be used with various accessories, including a tether device, a locking cam device, or a clip device. A tether device may secure an accessory to the crossbar. For example, the crossbar of the apparatus may include a horizontal slot and a saddle mount. The tether device may have a collar that fits around a base of a saddle mount hook that is mounted on the apparatus. The tether device may have at least one arm that extends from the collar and attaches to one or more peg holes on the crossbar. By having the collar of the tether device around the base of the saddle mount hook and the arm of the tether device attached to a peg hole, the tether device prevents the saddle mount hook from sliding or shifting position. Similarly, the tether device may secure a slatwall hook to the crossbar.
[0025]A locking cam device may secure the apparatus to a slatwall. The locking cam device may fit between the front side of a bracket and the back side of a slot of the slatwall. The locking cam device may have arms and a cam portion. The arms may provide a handle and be angled to engage and secure the locking cam device between front of the bracket and the front of the slot. The cam portion may include two angled portions that are each narrower at a first end than a second end. The cam portion may be placed in front of the bracket and behind the front of the slot. After turning the locking cam device, the cam portion moves between the front of the bracket and the front of the slot. Because the portion of the locking cam device that fits in front of the bracket increases pressure and friction between the front of the bracket and the front of the slot, the apparatus is prevented from sliding within the slot. This maintains the apparatus in a fixed location, facilitating operation of an inventory management system.
[0026]A clip device may secure the apparatus to a slatwall. The apparatus may include a bracket that engages with a horizontal slot of a slatwall. The bracket may include a hole that is accessible after the apparatus is secured to the slatwall. The hole exposes a portion of the back of the slot. The clip device may fit within the hole, and when pressed, ridges of the clip device wedge between the engagement feature and a top part of the entry to the horizontal slot. Because the ridges of the clip device wedge between the engagement feature and the horizontal slot, friction is increased, and the apparatus is prevented from sliding within the slot. This maintains the apparatus in a fixed location, facilitating operation of an inventory management system.
[0027]The apparatus may include support structures for a front baffle and a rear baffle. For example, a first bracket may include a structure that supports attachment of a second bracket. The second bracket may support a front baffle. The first bracket may also include a support structure where a rear baffle may be attached. The first bracket may be a fixed bracket or an extensible bracket. In some examples, the baffles to not contribute to a weight measurement by a weight sensor used by the apparatus. Either a front baffle or a rear baffle may be used to control airflow for operation in an environmentally controlled case.
[0028]The facility may use sensors that are located overhead, on nearby structures, and so forth. These sensors may require line of sight to operate. For example, a camera may be used to acquire images of items being picked or placed from a particular location. The inventory management system may use these images to determine the item and quantity that was picked or placed. The baffles, or other portions of one apparatus may occlude the line of sight to another apparatus, impairing this functionality. To mitigate occlusion from sensors in the facility, the apparatus may utilize one or more of transparent baffles, brackets with different depths or front-to-back lengths, and so forth. For example, longer brackets may be used to bring a crossbar closer to the front of the environmentally controlled case, moving out from the “shadow” produced by a crossbar and baffle that is immediately above.
[0029]By using the devices and techniques described herein, operation of the facility may be improved. Apparatuses may be mounted to existing supports such as pegboards, slatwalls, and so forth. This allows for easy retrofitting, as well as convenient new installation. Once mounted, the crossbars allow use of accessories with a variety of different mechanical interfaces. This allows re-use of existing accessories, facilitating re-use, and providing flexibility to move the accessories in the facility. The crossbars may include weight sensors that provide weight data used for an inventory management system, further improving operation by allowing for automated determinations of items picked and placed, inventory on hand, and so forth. The various devices that prevent lateral movement of accessories or the entire apparatus maintain spatial consistency over time, further facilitating operation of the inventory management system.
Illustrative System
[0030]FIG. 1A illustrates a front view of an apparatus having an extensible bracket and a plurality of mechanical interfaces, according to some implementations.
[0031]The apparatus 100 comprises a crossbar 106. The crossbar 106 has a front side, a back side, a first end, a second end, a top side, and a bottom side. The crossbar 106 may comprise metal, plastic, ceramic, composite, and so forth. The crossbar 106 may be a unitary structure or may comprise one or more components. The components described in this disclosure may be formed via deposition, extrusion, casting, milling, stamping, and so forth. For example, the crossbar 106 may comprise metal formed by extrusion. The crossbar 106 may be a fixed length.
[0032]One or more mounting brackets 102 are used to attach the crossbar 106 to a support structure. For example, a first mounting bracket 102 may be connected to the first end of the crossbar 106 and a second mounting bracket 102 may be connected to the second end of the crossbar 106. The mounting bracket 102 may include one or more features to facilitate attachment to a support structure such as a gondola rack, wire grid, wall, and so forth. For example, the mounting bracket 102 includes upright engagement features 110 to engage a corresponding feature in an upright member of a gondola rack.
[0033]One or more of the mounting brackets 102 may comprise an extensible bracket 104. The extensible bracket 104 may include different portions that move relative to each other. For example, the extensible bracket 104 may include a first portion that may attach to a wall and a second portion that may attach to a feature of the apparatus 100. The extensible bracket 104 may extend by a length sufficient to mount the crossbar 106 to fixtures at different attachment locations. For example, the crossbar 106 may be a fixed length, but one or more extensible brackets 104 may extend the distance along the long axis of the crossbar 106 measured between engagement features 110 at a left end and a right end of the crossbar 106. The one or more extensible brackets 104 may extend the distance along the long axis of the crossbar from a first distance to a second distance. The first distance may be a first length of the crossbar 106. If the apparatus 100 comprises a single extensible bracket 104, then the second distance may be a second length associated with a first range of movement of the extensible bracket 104 along the long axis of the crossbar. If the apparatus 100 comprises two extensible brackets 104, then the second distance may be a sum of the second length and a third length associated with a second range of movement of the extensible bracket 104 along the long axis of the crossbar 106. A range of motion may be associated with an amount of movement that a first portion of the extensible bracket 104 may move relative to a second portion.
[0034]The apparatus 100 may implement one or more input/output (I/O) interfaces. The I/O interfaces may communicate with a server or other computing device using various communication protocols, including one or more of: Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C), Serial Peripheral Interface bus (SPI), Universal Serial Bus (USB) as promulgated by the USB Implementers Forum, RS-232, and so forth. A connector 150 may be associated with one of the communication protocols. In other example, the apparatus 100 may use the I/O interfaces to communicate with other external devices, such as handheld devices that are in communication with an inventory management system.
[0035]The extensible bracket 104 may be attached to a weight sensor 108. For example, the weight sensor 108 may have a first end that is attached to a first portion of the extensible bracket 104 and may have a second end that is attached to the crossbar 106. As another example (not depicted), the extensible bracket 104 may be attached to the crossbar 106.
[0036]The crossbar 106 may have a long axis extending from a first end to a second end of the crossbar 106. With respect to the extensible bracket 104, the first portion may move relative to the second portion along an axis that is parallel to the long axis of the crossbar 106. The extensible bracket 104 may use different mechanisms for moving the first portion of the extensible bracket 104 relative to the second portion of the extensible bracket 104. As one example, the extensible bracket 104 may include an insert made of a material with a coefficient of friction that is relatively lower than the first portion or the second portion. The insert may comprise plastic, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) plastic, and so forth. As another example, the first portion of the extensible bracket 104 may have one or more engagement features to guide movement of the second portion. The one or more engagement features may be lined or coated with a material that has a relatively lower coefficient of friction than the first portion or the second portion. For example, the material may comprise plastic, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) plastic, and so forth.
[0037]In some implementations, the apparatus 100 may not include weight sensors 108, but may communicate with one or more accessories that include weight sensors 108. For example, the apparatus 100 may include electronic circuitry that receives data from the one or more accessories. An accessory may include a first portion that engages with the crossbar 106 of the apparatus 100, a second portion that supports one or more loads, and a weight sensor 108 with a first end attached to the first portion and a second end attached to the second portion. The accessory may include electronic circuitry that measures the weight of a load on the second portion and sends the weight data to the apparatus 100.
[0038]In some implementations, the apparatus 100 may have two weight sensors 108, a first weight sensor 108 and a second weight sensor 108. The first weight sensor 108 may have an end attached to the crossbar 106 and another end attached to a first bracket at a first end of the crossbar 106. The first bracket may attach to a wall. The second weight sensor 108 may have an end attached to the crossbar 106 and another end attached to a second bracket at a second end of the crossbar 106. The second bracket may attach to the wall. At least one of the two brackets may comprise an extensible bracket 104. Using the two weight sensors, the apparatus 100 may measure the weight of one or more loads supported by the interfaces for engaging accessories.
[0039]A mounting bracket 102 may comprise support structures 112 and 114 used to attach one or more baffle accessories. Baffle accessories are described with respect to FIGS. 6A and 6B. The support structure 112 may support a rear baffle. The rear baffle may be attached to the support structure 112 using one or more fasteners. Example fasteners include rivets, bolts, screws, cams, and so forth. The support structure 114 may support a bracket that supports a front baffle. The front baffle may be attached to the bracket using one or more fasteners. A baffle may constrain or control airflow proximate to the apparatus 100. For example, a baffle may be used in open-faced refrigerators to constrain or control airflow to maintain safe food temperatures. The baffle may be positioned relative to the crossbar 106 to constrain or control airflow directed towards one or more items supported by the crossbar 106.
[0040]The front side of the crossbar 106 may comprise a lower front surface and an upper front surface. In one implementation the lower front surface and the upper front surface may share a common plane. During typical installation, the lower front surface and the upper front surface may be aligned vertically. A front mounting slot 122 is arranged between the lower front surface and the upper front surface. The front mounting slot 122 may be configured to accept mounting features associated with a slatwall mechanical interface. For example, the front mounting slot 122 may receive a slatwall flange on an accessory. The front mounting slot 122 may have a first width at entry and a second width at an interior, describing an approximately “T” shaped cavity in cross section. The front mounting slot 122 may have a long axis that is parallel to a long axis of the crossbar 106. The front mounting slot 122 provides a first mechanical interface for supporting accessories.
[0041]The front mounting slot 122 may support a slatwall hook 134. The slatwall hook 134 may be secured at a particular location on the crossbar 106 by using a tether device 140. The tether device 140 is described with respect to FIGS. 3A and 3B. The tether device 140 may comprise a collar and at least one arm. The collar may fit around the hook of the slatwall hook 134. Each arm of the tether device 140 may include an end that has an engagement feature. The engagement feature may be a protrusion from the end that is shaped to fit within one of the multiple pegboard holes 124 of the crossbar 106. The protrusion may fit securely within a pegboard hole 124 and may maintain a current position of the collar relative to the pegboard hole 124, thereby maintaining the current position of the slatwall hook 134.
[0042]In some implementations, one or more indexing marks may be provided on one or more of the lower front surface or the upper front surface. For example, the indexing marks may be used to facilitate placement of accessories on the crossbar 106.
[0043]The lower front surface may have a plurality of holes 124. The plurality of holes 124 may be configured to accept mounting features associated with a pegboard mechanical interface. For example, the holes 124 may be spaced 25.4 millimeters (mm) on center and have a diameter of between 7 mm and 10 mm. The diameter of the holes 124 may be greater than typical to allow installation of accessories sized using English as well as metric units. For example, pegboard hooks sized for English dimensions with 1 inch (or 25.4 mm) on center may be attached to the crossbar 106 as well as pegboard hooks sized for metric units of 25 mm on center. The plurality of holes 124 may be arranged in a linear fashion that parallels the front mounting slot 122. In another implementation, the upper front surface may have a plurality of holes 124. In some implementations, both the lower front surface may have a first plurality of holes 124 and the upper front surface may have a second plurality of holes 124. The plurality of holes 124 may be arranged along a line that is parallel to the long axis of the crossbar 106. The plurality of holes 124 provide a second mechanical interface for supporting accessories.
[0044]An upper portion of the crossbar 106 comprises a ridge 120 that is proximate to, or may be a portion of, the upper front surface. An upper mounting channel is bounded by the ridge 120 and an upper rear surface. The upper mounting channel may comprise a long axis that is parallel to the long axis of the crossbar 106. During typical installation, the ridge 120 may be aligned horizontally along the long axis. A distance between an exterior or forward face of the upper front surface and an exterior or rearward face of the ridge 120 as it forms the upper mounting channel may permit a saddle mount hook to be supported. For example, the upper front surface and the ridge 120 together form a ridge onto which a saddle mount hook may be placed. The ridge 120 provides a third mechanical interface for supporting accessories.
[0045]The ridge 120 may support one or more saddle mount accessories. For example, the ridge 120 may support a saddle mount hook 130. The saddle mount hook 130 may be secured at a particular location on the crossbar 106 by the tether device 140. The tether device 140 is described with respect to FIGS. 3A and 3B. The collar of the tether device 140 may fit around the hook of the saddle mount hook 130. A first end of a first arm of the tether device 140 may comprise a first engagement feature. An example first engagement feature is depicted in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The first engagement feature may fit within a hole 124 to prevents the saddle mount hook 130 from moving locations due to bumps or from the addition or removal of items being held by the saddle mount hook 130.
[0046]As described in this disclosure, components may be affixed, connected, or otherwise joined to one another in several ways. For example, two components may have complementary features that mechanically engage one another, such as a tab and corresponding slot. In another example, fasteners such as rivets, bolts, screws, cams, and so forth may be used. These may be removable fasteners such as bolts and screws that allow components to be joined and disjoined as needed. In another example, two or more components may be attached using adhesives, welding, crimping, and so forth.
[0047]FIG. 1B illustrates a back view of the apparatus 100 having an extensible bracket 104 and plurality of mechanical interfaces, according to some implementations.
[0048]In this view, a rear cover has been moved to reveal several components that may be present in some implementations of the apparatus 100. The apparatus 100 may include electronics protected by an electronics cover 160. The electronics may include a power supply, one or more processors, analog to digital converters, a wireless communication interface, and so forth.
[0049]One or more wiring harnesses may connect the electronics to one or more weight sensors 108. The weight sensors 108 may comprise load cells, piezoelectric transducers, and so forth. In this example, the weight sensors 108 are able to provide information about weight or weight changes of a load on the crossbar 106. For example, as items are added to or removed from accessories supported by the crossbar 106, weight data may be generated. This weight data may be sent to an inventory management system or other system.
[0050]The wiring harnesses may comprise individual insulated wires, ribbon cable, flexible printed circuit (FPC), and so forth. In some implementations at least a portion of the wiring harnesses may be affixed to a portion of the crossbar 106. For example, if the portion of the crossbar 106 comprises an electrical conductor, such as metal, the presence of the electrical conductor may act as a ground plane, reducing electrical interference. This reduction in electrical interference results in a significant improvement in the quality of the signal received by the electronics from the weight sensor 108. In one implementation, the crossbar 106 may comprise metal and at least a portion of the wiring harness may be taped, glued, or clipped to the metal.
[0051]In some implementations, the crossbar 106 may include one or more voids or spaces that are not filled with material. This may be done to reduce the overall weight of the crossbar 106, reduce the quantity of materials used, and so forth. In some implementations the voids may be omitted, filled, or have another member inserted there. This may be done to eliminate a void for potential contaminants to accumulate, to increase strength or rigidity of the crossbar 106, and so forth.
[0052]FIG. 2A illustrates, at 200, a top view of an apparatus having an extensible bracket and plurality of mechanical interfaces, according to some implementations.
[0053]In this view, the multiple portions of the extensible bracket 104 are assembled. The extensible bracket 104 may include a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion may attach to a fixture, such as to a preexisting slatwall or to gondola uprights. The second portion may attach to a feature of the crossbar 106. In this example, the second portion attaches to a first end of a weight sensor 108. The weight sensor 108 may have a second end that is attached to the crossbar 106.
[0054]With respect to the extensible bracket 104, the first portion may move relative to the second portion along a direction that is parallel to the long axis of the crossbar 106. For example, if the long axis extends from a left end to a right end, the first portion moves relative to the second portion in either a left-to-right direction or a right-to-left direction. The extensible bracket 104 may use different mechanisms that allow for movement of the first portion relative to the second portion. As one example, the third portion may comprise a plastic insert positioned between the first portion and the second portion. The third portion may have a coefficient of friction that is lower than either the first portion or the second portion. For example, the plastic insert may comprise plastic, such as high-density polyethylene, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) plastic, and so forth. For example, the first portion and the second portion may comprise metal, such as steel or aluminum. The third portion may comprise a first feature that engages with a second feature of the first portion. The third portion may also comprise a third feature that engages with a fourth feature of the second portion. For example, the first feature may be a first hole 124 that engages with the second feature. The second feature may be a first protrusion. The third feature may be a tab or other protrusion that engages with the fourth feature. The fourth feature may be a hole 124. In this example, the first feature and the third feature constrain movement of the first portion relative to the second portion.
[0055]FIG. 2B illustrates an expanded view of an apparatus having an extensible bracket and plurality of mechanical interfaces, according to some implementations.
[0056]The expanded view illustrates the multiple portions of the extensible bracket 104 and how the multiple portions fit together. The expanded view also illustrates how the extensible bracket 104 attaches to a weight sensor 108 and how the weight sensor 108 attaches to the crossbar 106.
[0057]In this example, the extensible bracket 104 comprises multiple portions, including a first portion 204, a second portion 208, a third portion 206, and a fourth portion 202. Other portions of the extensible bracket 104 are discussed with respect to FIGS. 1A and 1B. The first portion 204 extends perpendicularly from the fourth portion 202. The fourth portion 202 comprises engagement features 110 that affix the apparatus 100 to a fixture. The third portion 206 includes a first side, a second side, a tab 220, and a hole 226. The first portion 204 includes a third side, a top portion, and a bottom portion. The second portion 208 includes a fourth side, a hole 222, and an engagement feature 210. When the extensible bracket 104 is assembled, the first side of the third portion 206 is in contact with the third side of the first portion 204 and the second side of the third portion 206 is in contact with fourth side of the second portion 208.
[0058]In this example, the first portion 204 comprises a protrusion that engages with a hole 226 in the third portion 206. When the extensible bracket 104 is assembled, the protrusion fits within the hole 226 and keeps the third portion 206 in place. In other examples, the first portion 204 may keep the third portion 206 in place using other mechanisms. For example, the first portion 204 may comprise an indentation or a hole 226 and the third portion 206 may comprise a protrusion. In this example, when the extensible bracket 104 is assembled, the protrusion on the third portion 206 engages with the indentation or hole 226 in the first portion 204. In another example, the third portion 206 may use a tab 220 that engages with a hole 226 in the first portion 204 similar to how the tab 220 of the third portion 206 engages with the hole 222 of the second portion 208. A first length may be indicative of a length of the tab 220 as measured in a direction that is parallel to the long axis of the crossbar 106. A second length may be indicative of a length of the hole 222 as measured in the direction that is parallel to the long axis of the crossbar 106. The first length may be less than the second length by an amount associated with a distance allowed for movement of the first portion 204 relative to the second portion 208.
[0059]In this example, the top portion of the first portion 204 may be shaped to prevent the second portion 208 and the third portion 206 from moving in a direction that is front-to-back or back-to-front. The front of the apparatus and the back of the apparatus are described above with respect to FIGS. 1A and 1B. In this example, the top portion of the first portion 204 comprises a first ridge that extends perpendicularly a first distance from the third side. The first distance is slightly greater than a sum of the thickness of the fourth side of the second portion 208 and the thickness of the third portion 206. As depicted, the top portion also comprises a first containment side 224 that extends perpendicularly from the first ridge. The first containment side 224 and the first ridge together form a “U” shape. Similarly, the bottom portion comprises a second ridge and a second containment side 224 that together form a “U” shape.