Merchandising tray for food products and the like

• US 20070075028A1
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trion Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Trion Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Nagel, Thomas, Kologe, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,631,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/59.200
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0486 for charging, displaying or discharging the articles
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0018 Display racks with shelves or receptables racks per se A47B; storage devices for warehouses B65G1/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/0071 for perishable goods

Abstract

A two-piece, adjustable width merchandising tray for the organized display of multiple product containers. Two L-shaped tray sections, formed of plastic material. The bottom portions of the two L-shaped sections are provided with laterally extending, interengaging fingers that enable the width of the tray to be adjusted for different product sizes while maintaining substantial continuity to the surface of the bottom structure for containment of product leakage. An asymmetrical side wall arrangement with a forwardly projecting hand grip at the front of one of the side walls enables individual trays to be removed and replaced from a closely packed array of trays arranged in side-by-side fashion. The trays can be conveniently lifted and carried for product restocking, reorganizing, tray cleaning, etc. A simple pull strip and paddle arrangement enables product to be fronted at all times. Double stacking of product containers is also accommodated. Densely stacked, attractive, and efficiently serviced product displays are facilitated.

Claims

1. A two-piece adjustable width tray for the organized display of multiple product containers, which comprises

(a) first and second tray sections of molded plastic construction and of generally L-shaped cross section, each comprising a bottom wall portion and a side wall portion,

(b) the bottom wall portion of each tray section including a smooth, generally continuous bottom wall panel extending longitudinally of a principal tray axis adjacent to and joined along outer edges thereof with the side wall portion of the tray section,

(c) a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart interlocking fingers extending laterally from the bottom wall panel of each tray section and adjustably receivable in recesses in undersides of the bottom wall panel of an opposed tray section to accommodate width adjustment of said tray between predetermined minimum and maximum width settings,

(d) said bottom wall panels having inner edges and said inner edges being positioned is close proximity when said tray sections are set in a minimum width adjusted position,

(e) said interlocking fingers bridging between said inner edges when said tray sections are set in an adjusted width greater than said minimum width,

(f) said bottom wall panels being of widths greater than a space between inner edges thereof when said tray is set at a maximum width.

2. An adjustable width tray according to claim 1, wherein

(a) the interlocking fingers of one tray sections have width dimensions corresponding to width dimensions of spaces between interlocking fingers of the opposed tray section, so as to form, in combination with said bottom wall panels, a bottom wall structure of a generally continuous nature extending from one side wall to the other over substantially the full length of the tray structure, in any width-adjusted position of said tray structure.

3. An adjustable width tray according to claim 2, wherein

(a) means are provided to establish a predetermined adjusted position of said tray sections in which said tray is set at a maximum tray width,

(b) outer end portions of at least certain of said interlocking fingers of each tray section overlap with portions of the bottom wall panel of the opposed tray section when said tray sections are adjusted to a maximum tray width, and

(c) portions of the interlocking fingers extending across a space between inner edges of said bottom wall panels being in close-fitting, side-by-side relation to form a generally continuous bottom structure in the region between said inner edges.

4. An adjustable width tray according to claim 1, wherein

(a) the respective inner edges of said bottom wall panels are in substantial contact when said tray sections are set for a minimum tray width.

5. An adjustable width tray according to claim 1, wherein

(a) said trays are optimized for the display of containers of a meltable product within a reduced temperature environment, and

(b) said bottom wall panels and said interlocking fingers are arranged to form a bottom wall structure adapted for the substantial containment of melted product leaking from said containers.

6. An adjustable width tray according to claim 1, wherein

(a) the side wall portions of the respective tray sections extend to a height greater than the height of a single product container to accommodate stacking of containers one atop another within said tray.

7. An adjustable width tray according to claim 1, wherein

(a) one of said side wall portions is provided on a forward edge region thereof with a hand-engageable opening to facilitate withdrawal of a tray from a display, and

(b) the other of said side wall portions is recessed in forward edge regions thereof such that, when two trays are placed side-by-side on a shelf, the hand-engageable opening of one tray can be grasped without interference from an adjacent side wall portion of a closely neighboring tray.

8. An adjustable width tray according to claim 1, wherein

(a) at least one of said side wall portions is formed with a hand-engageable opening adjacent upper edge portions thereof for lifting and carrying said tray.

9. An adjustable width tray according to claim 1, wherein

(a) one of said bottom wall panels is formed at one or more locations with one or more first detent elements located opposite one or more interlocking fingers extending from the opposite bottom wall panel,

(b) said one or more interlocking fingers being provided with one or more second detent elements engageable with said first detent elements for securing said tray sections selectively in predetermined width settings.

10. An adjustable width tray according to claim 9, wherein

(a) said first detent elements comprise detent recesses in said one bottom panel, and

(b) said second detent elements comprises projections on said one or more interlocking fingers adapted to be received in and to lockingly engage with said detent recesses.

11. An adjustable width tray according to claim 10, wherein

(a) said one or more interlocking fingers are slideable underneath said one bottom panel, and

(b) said one bottom panel is formed with one or more openings therein directly above said one or more interlocking fingers,

(c) said one or more interlocking fingers being engageable and displaceable through said openings for engaging and disengaging said detent elements.

12. An adjustable width tray according to claim 11, wherein

(a) the side wall portion joined with said one bottom panel has an access opening adjacent each of said one or more interlocking fingers to enable manipulation of said one or more interlocking fingers through said side wall portions for width adjustment of said tray.

13. An adjustable width tray according to claim 12, wherein

(a) both side wall portions are formed with access openings, generally in opposed pairs thereof, to provide access from both sides of said tray for adjusting the width thereof.

14. An adjustable width tray according to claim 9, wherein

(a) said one of said bottom wall panels is provided with a plurality of said first detent elements corresponding to different widths of said tray,

(b) individual index indicia are provided in association with said first detent elements,

(c) a sizing chart is provided on an external wall of said tray comprising a reference element for alignment with one side of a product container and a plurality of reference marks for referencing an opposite side of the product container as a function of its width, and

(d) said reference marks are individually indexed correspondingly to the individual index indicia provided for the first detent elements.

15. An adjustable width tray according to claim 1, wherein

(a) said side wall portions are formed with a multiplicity of openings to accommodate the free flow of air into and out of the region between said side wall portions.

16. An adjustable width tray according to claim 1, wherein

(a) a pusher paddle is supported on said bottom wall structure and is formed with an upright panel for engagement with product containers supported in said tray,

(b) a thin, flexible pull strip member extending along one side wall portion of said tray and secured to said pusher paddle for pulling said paddle forward to bring product containers to forward positions in said tray, and

(c) guide flanges are formed on an inside surface of said one side wall portion, adjacent a front edge region thereof, for engaging and guiding said pull strip.

17. An adjustable width tray according to claim 16, wherein

(a) said pusher paddle if formed with a retaining slot along one edge thereof,

(b) said pull strip is received and locked in said retaining slot and extends forwardly therefrom through said guide flanges.

18. An adjustable width tray according to claim 17, wherein

(a) said thin, flexible pull strip is formed of a flat strip of plastic material, and

(b) said flat strip is shaped to have a non-planar cross section over at least a portion of its length to impart a degree of stiffness thereto when said pull strip is under longitudinal compression for returning the pusher paddle to a retracted position.

19. An adjustable width tray according to claim 1, wherein

(a) said interlocking fingers and said recesses are formed with interengaging flanges along side edges thereof.

20. An adjustable width tray according to claim 1, wherein

(a) front edge portions of said tray sections are each formed with an upwardly opening slot therein for the reception of a label holder, and

(b) a relatively rigid plastic label holder is received and retained in said slot to provide product information and to serve as a forward stop for product containers pushed forwardly in said tray.

21. An adjustable width tray according to claim 20, wherein

(a) said label holder is formed with a forwardly projecting flange along its lower edge,

(b) said upwardly opening slot is formed in a bottom portion thereof with a forward enlargement for receiving said forwardly projecting flange, and

(c) said upwardly opening slot is open at one thereof to enable endwise sliding insertion of said label holder into said recess,

(d) said tray sections being width adjustable with said label holder engaged in said upwardly opening slot.

22. An adjustable width tray according to claim 21, wherein

(a) said upwardly opening slot is closed at one end to limit lateral movement of a label holder in said slot.

23. A merchandising tray for the organized display of multiple product containers, which comprises

(a) a bottom wall and spaced apart, opposed generally vertical side walls,

(b) said bottom wall being generally continuous in nature for retaining product leakage,

(c) said side walls being of a height greater than that of an individual product container to be displayed in said tray to accommodate double stacking of product containers in said tray,

(d) one of said side walls being provided, in a forward edge region thereof, with a hand engageable opening for engaging the tray for effecting removal and replacement from a display of such trays,

(e) the other of said side walls being recessed at a forward edge thereof in a region generally opposite from said forward edge region of said one side wall whereby, in a closely arrayed side-by-side group of said merchandising trays, the hand engageable opening of one tray may be engaged without interference from an adjacent side wall of an adjacent tray of the closely arrayed group thereof.

24. A merchandising tray according to claim 23, wherein

(a) upper portions of said side walls are provided in mid portions thereof with opposed hand-engageable openings by which said trays may be engaged and lifted and carried.

25. A merchandising tray according to claim 23, wherein

(a) said tray is comprised of two generally L-shaped sections of molded plastic, each comprising a side wall portion and a bottom wall portion,

(b) said bottom wall portions are mutually engageable to form a tray assembly of generally U-shaped cross section, and

(c) said bottom wall portions are joined in a manner to form said generally continuous bottom structure for the containment of product leakage.

26. A merchandising tray according to claim 25, wherein

(a) said bottom wall portions are adjustably engaged to enable adjustment of the distance between said side walls.

27. A merchandising tray according to claim 23, wherein

(a) a pusher paddle is slidably supported on said bottom wall for movement in forward-rearward directions,

(b) a pull strip is provided for pulling said paddle forward to advance product containers toward the front,

(c) said pull strip is formed of a thin, generally flat, flexible strip of plastic material,

(d) guide flanges are formed at a forward portion of one of the side walls for receiving and supporting said pull strip in a vertical orientation along an inside of said one side wall, and

(e) said paddle is formed with a vertically oriented slot along one side thereof for locking engagement with a rearward end of said pull strip.

28. A merchandising tray according to claim 27, wherein

(a) said vertically oriented slot is in the form of a shallow, horizontally oriented “

V”

, and

(b) said pull strip, when received in said slot, is given a shallow, horizontally oriented V-shaped contour similar to said slot to impart additional rigidity thereto.

29. An adjustable width tray according to claim 23, wherein

(a) front edge portions of said bottom wall are formed with an upwardly opening slot therein for the reception of a label holder, and

(b) a relatively rigid plastic label holder is received and retained in said slot to provide product information and to serve as a forward stop for product containers pushed forwardly in said tray.

30. An adjustable width tray according to claim 29, wherein

(a) said label holder is formed with a forwardly projecting flange along its lower edge,

(b) said upwardly opening slot is formed in a bottom portion thereof with a forward enlargement for receiving said forwardly projecting flange, and

(c) said upwardly opening slot is open at one thereof to enable endwise sliding insertion of said label holder into said recess.

31. An adjustable width tray according to claim 29, wherein

(a) said upwardly opening slot is closed at one lateral end to limit lateral movement of a label holder in said slot.

32. A merchandising tray according to claim 23, wherein

(a) a pusher paddle is slidably supported on said bottom will for movement in forward-rearward directions,

(b) said pusher paddle including an upright panel for engaging product containers on said tray,

(c) a product information label holder mounted on a back wall of said upright panel and visible from a back end of said tray.