Merchandising system

• US 20070170127A1
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Retail Space Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: DCI Marketing Inc (IMI PLC)
• Inventors: Johnson, Allen
• Granted Patent: US 7,681,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/59.300
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means

Abstract

A merchandising system for articles comprising a base comprising an upper surface having a plurality of ribs, an underside having a plurality of supports formed integrally with the underside of the base, and a first side and a second side. The merchandising system comprises a frame coupled to the base and configured to couple with a shelving system for supporting the base in a substantially horizontal configuration, a first guide and a second guide coupled to the base for supporting articles, and an assembly for advancing the articles that is coupled to the base and provides force on the articles.

Claims

1. A merchandising system for articles comprising:

a base comprising an upper surface having a plurality of ribs, an underside having a plurality of supports formed integrally with the underside of the base, and a first side and a second side;

a frame coupled to the base and configured to couple with a shelving system for supporting the base in a substantially horizontal configuration;

a first guide and a second guide coupled to the base for supporting articles; and

an assembly for advancing the articles that is coupled to the base and provides force on the articles.

2. The merchandising system of claim 1 wherein the first guide is positioned along the first side of the base and the second guide is positioned along the second side of the base.

3. The merchandising system of claim 2 wherein the first guide and the second guide comprise insertion portions including a first insertion portion and a second insertion portion on the first guide and a third insertion portion and a fourth insertion portion on the second guide.

4. The merchandising system of claim 3 wherein the upper surface of the base comprises channels located proximate a front end of the base and the underside of the base comprises channels located proximate a rear end of the base.

5. The merchandising system of claim 4 wherein the first insertion portion of the first guide and the third insertion portion of the second guide are inserted into the channels located proximate the front end of the base and wherein the second insertion portion of the first guide and the fourth insertion portion of the second guide are inserted into the channels located proximate the rear end of the base.

6. The merchandising system of claim 5 wherein the channels comprise ridges for resisting insertion and removal of the insertion portions.

7. The merchandising system of claim 6 wherein the insertion portions comprise couplers for engaging the ridges of the channels.

8. The merchandising system of claim 7 wherein the couplers are rounded and configured to at least partially fit between the ridges of the channels.

9. The merchandising system of claim 8 wherein the first guide comprises a first corner having an angle and the second guide comprises a first corner having an angle.

10. The merchandising system of claim 9 wherein the angle of the first corner of the first guide is not equal to the angle of the first corner of the second guide.

11. The merchandising system of claim 10 wherein the first guide comprises a second corner having an angle and the second guide comprises a second corner having an angle.

12. The merchandising system of claim 11 wherein the angle of the second corner of the first guide is not equal to the angle of the second corner of the second guide.

13. The merchandising system of claim 12 wherein the angle of the first corner of the first guide is in the range of about 50 to 90 degrees with respect to a plane extending generally parallel to the base.

14. The merchandising system of claim 1 wherein the ribs comprise a profile that is generally semi-circular and is configured to reduce friction when sliding the article along the ribs.

15. The merchandising system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of supports comprise a truss having truss members.

16. The merchandising system of claim 15 wherein at least two truss members intersect and at least one truss member lies substantially perpendicular to a track located on the base and intersects at least one truss member that lies diagonal to the track.

17. The merchandising system of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a first frame and a second frame coupled to the underside of the base, the first frame comprising a first interface and the second frame comprising a second interface, the first interface and the second interface being configured to removably couple to a shelving system.

18. A merchandising system for articles comprising:

a base comprising an upper surface, a first side and a second side;

a frame coupled to the base and having a first interface and a second interface that are configured to couple with a shelving system for supporting the base in a substantially horizontal configuration;

a first guide and a second guide coupled to the base for supporting articles; and

an assembly for advancing articles that is coupled to the base and provides force on the articles;

wherein the first guide comprises a first corner having an angle and the second guide comprises a first corner having an angle; and

wherein the angle of the first corner of the first guide is not equal to the angle of the first corner of the second guide.

19. The merchandising system of claim 18 wherein the first guide comprises a second corner having an angle and the second guide comprises a second corner having an angle.

20. The merchandising system of claim 19 wherein the angle of the second corner of the first guide is not equal to the angle of the second corner of the second guide.

21. The merchandising system of claim 20 wherein the first guide and the second guide comprise insertion portions and the base comprises channels and wherein the insertion portions are inserted into the channels of the base to couple the base to the first guide and the second guide.

22. A merchandising system for articles comprising:

a base comprising an upper surface having a plurality of ribs and an under surface having a plurality of supports formed integrally with the under surface of the base;

a frame coupled to the base and having a first interface and a second interface that are configured to couple with a shelving system for supporting the base in a substantially horizontal configuration;

sides coupled to the base for supporting articles; and

an assembly for advancing articles that is coupled to the base and provides force on the articles.

23. The merchandising system of claim 22 wherein the plurality of ribs lie adjacent and substantially parallel to one another.

24. The merchandising system of claim 23 wherein the plurality of supports comprise truss members and wherein at least two truss members intersect in a diagonal pattern and at least one truss member is substantially perpendicular to a track located on the base.

25. The merchandising system of claim 24 wherein the shelving system comprises a grid and the first interface and the second interface are configured to removably couple to the grid so that the base may be coupled to the grid at multiple locations.