MERCHANDISING DISPLAY TRACK DEVICE OF MULTIPLE-PIECE CONSTRUCTION

• US 20010002658A1
• Filed: 11/08/1997
• Published: 06/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Display Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: Mark Higgins
• Inventors: PARHAM, DENNIS E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,325,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/59.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence

Abstract

A merchandising track device for displaying articles is disclosed. The device comprises first and second elongate track members formed separately as two discrete structures. The first and second members are connected together in an end-to-end, longitudinally adjacent relationship. Each member comprises a track base for carrying articles for sliding movement along the respective member, and at least one article-guiding side wall upstanding from the track base of the respective member and extending along the respective member. The one side wall of the first member is disposed in general longitudinal alignment with the one side wall of the second member. The track device further comprises locking means for interconnecting the one side wall of the first member and the one side wall of the second member to lock the first and second members in position relative to each other. The locking means comprises longitudinal retention means for preventing longitudinal displacement of the one side wall of the first member relative to the one side wall of the second member. In a track device in another form, the second member comprises a tongue extending longitudinally from its track base which tongue defines an end of the second member. The first member has an end-opening socket for receiving the tongue so that the track bases of the first and second members are interconnected to form a continuous floor for slidably supporting the articles.

Claims

1. A merchandising track device for displaying articles, said track device comprising:

first and second elongate track members formed separately as two discrete structures, said first and second members being connected together in an end-to-end, longitudinally adjacent relationship, each of said members comprising a track base for carrying articles for sliding movement along said each member, and at least one article-guiding side wall upstanding from said track base of said each member and extending along said each member, said one side wall of said first member being disposed in general longitudinal alignment with said one side wall of said second member; and

locking means for interconnecting said one side wall of said first member and said one side wall of said second member to lock said members in position relative to each other, said locking means comprising longitudinal retention means for preventing longitudinal displacement of said one side wall of said first member relative to said one side wall of said second member.

2. The track device according to

claim 1

, wherein said one side wall of said second member has a cutout formed along an upper edge thereof, and said longitudinal retention means comprises an overhang extending rearward from said one side wall of said first member along said upper edge of said one side wall of said second member, and a lug depending from said overhang and received in said cutout.

3. The track device according to

claim 2

, wherein said locking means further comprises lateral retention means for preventing lateral displacement of said one side wall of said first member relative to said one side wall of said second member, said lateral retention means comprising a pair of engaging tabs provided for said first member, said engaging tabs being disposed respectively alongside opposite side surfaces of said one side wall of said second member, and at least one of said engaging tabs is formed on said lug.

4. A merchandising track device for displaying articles, said track device comprising first and second elongate track members formed separately as two discrete structures, said first and second members being connected together in an end-to-end, longitudinally adjacent relationship, each of said members comprising a track base for carrying articles for sliding movement along said each member, said second member comprising a tongue extending longitudinally from said track base of said second member, said tongue defining an end of said second member, said first member having an end-opening socket for receiving said tongue so that said track bases of said first and second members are interconnected to form a continuous floor for slidably supporting said articles.

5. The track device according to

claim 4

, wherein said track base of said first member comprises upper and lower opposed walls, and said socket is defined between said upper and lower walls.

6. The track device according to

claim 4

, wherein an upper surface of said tongue is disposed below said continuous floor.

7. The track device according to

claim 6

, wherein said tongue is provided with a hooking element projecting therefrom, and said track base of said first member has an edge for engaging said hooking element to prevent longitudinal displacement of said first member with respect to said second member.

8. A merchandising track device for displaying articles, said track device comprising:

an elongate body having a forward end, said body comprising a track base for carrying a row of articles for sliding movement along said body, and at least one article-guiding side wall upstanding from said track base and extending along said body; and

a front piece formed as a discrete structure separate from said body and attached to said forward end of said body to provide a stopper for preventing a leading article in said row from exiting said track device, said front piece comprising a deck for supporting said leading article, at least one upright wall upstanding from said deck and disposed in general longitudinal alignment with said one side wall, and locking means for interconnecting said one upright wall and said one side wall to lock said front piece in position relative to said body.

9. The track device according to

claim 8

, wherein said locking means comprises lateral retention means for preventing lateral displacement of said one upright wall relative to said one side wall.

10. The track device according to

claim 9

, wherein said lateral retention means comprises a pair of engaging tabs provided for said one upright wall, said engaging tabs being disposed alongside opposite side surfaces of said one side wall, respectively.

11. The track device according to

claim 10

, wherein said engaging tabs are disposed with a lateral gap therebetween to receive in said gap an edge of said one side wall.

12. The track device according to

claim 11

, wherein said engaging tabs are opposed to each other across a thickness of said one side wall.

13. The track device according to

claim 11

, wherein said engaging tabs are disposed at positions offset from each other along a length of said one side wall.

14. The track device according to

claim 8

, wherein said locking means comprises longitudinal retention means for preventing longitudinal displacement of said one upright wall relative to said one side wall.

15. The track device according to

claim 14

, wherein said one side wall has a cutout formed along an upper edge thereof, and said longitudinal retention means comprises an overhang extending rearward from said one upright wall along said upper edge of said one side wall, and a lug depending from said overhang and received in said cutout.

16. The track device according to

claim 15

, wherein said locking means further comprises lateral retention means for preventing lateral displacement of said one upright wall relative to said one side wall, said lateral retention means comprising a pair of engaging tabs provided for said one upright wall, said engaging tabs being disposed alongside opposite side surfaces of said one side wall, respectively, and at least one of said engaging tabs is formed on said lug.

17. The track device according to

claim 16

, wherein said lug has a thickness greater than a thickness of said one side wall, and both said engaging tabs are formed on said lug.

18. The track device according to

claim 16

, wherein one of said engaging tabs is formed on said lug and the other tab is formed on said one upright wall.

19. The track device according to

claim 8

, wherein said body and said front piece are formed from different material.

20. The track device according to

claim 19

, wherein said body is molded of polystyrene, and said front piece is molded of polycarbonate.

21. A merchandising track device for displaying articles, said track device comprising:

an elongate body having a forward end, said body comprising a track base for supporting a row of articles for sliding movement along said body, and a tongue extending forwardly from said track base and defining said forward end of said body; and

a front piece formed as a discrete structure separate from said body and attached to said forward end of said body to provide a stopper for preventing a leading article in said row from exiting said track device, said front piece including a deck for supporting said leading article, said deck having a socket for receiving said tongue so that said deck and said track base are interconnected to form a continuous floor for slidably supporting said articles.

22. The track device according to

claim 21

, wherein said deck comprises upper and lower opposed walls, and said socket is defined between said upper and lower walls of said deck.

23. The track device according to

claim 21

, wherein an upper surface of said tongue is disposed below said continuous floor.

24. The track device according to

claim 23

, wherein said tongue is provided with a hooking element projecting therefrom, and said deck has an edge for engaging said hooking element to prevent forward displacement of said front piece with respect to said body.

25. The track device according to

claim 24

, wherein said hooking element projects downwardly from a lower surface of said tongue, and said engaging edge of said deck extends transversely of said body.

26. The track device according to

claim 25

, wherein said deck comprises upper and lower opposed walls for defining therebetween said socket, said lower wall including a strip portion extending transversely of said body, said strip portion having front and rear opposed faces, said front face providing said engaging edge, said rear face sloping downwardly and rearwardly to facilitate insertion of said tongue into said socket.