ADJUSTABLE DEPTH MERCHANDISING APPARATUS

• US 20100089847A1
• Filed: 10/08/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fasteners for Retail Incorporated (FFR DSI Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fasteners for Retail Incorporated (FFR DSI Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kump, Daniel J., Mueller, Paul A., Rataiczak, James J. III
• Granted Patent: US 8,276,766 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/005 Partitions therefore horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90

Abstract

An adjustable depth merchandising apparatus includes an elongated mounting member operationally securable to an associated shelf and extending parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof. An adjustable divider system is selectively connected to the mounting member. The divider system includes a first divider portion and a second divider portion. Each portion contains connecting elements, which selectively engage each other to operatively connect the first divider portion to the second divider portion, thereby enabling the divider system to be employed on associated shelves of varying depths. A trackless pusher system is selectively received on the mounting member. The pusher system includes a mounting clip engaging the mounting member, a coil spring connected to the mounting clip and a pusher body slidably mounted in relation to the mounting member, wherein the coil spring is supported by the pusher body and connects the pusher body to the mounting clip. Both the divider system and the pusher system have a length which can be adjusted, thereby enabling the two systems to be employed on associated shelves of varying depths.

Claims

1. An adjustable length divider system used in merchandising, comprising:

a first divider portion, including a longitudinal axis and a first base section on which is defined a first connecting element;

a second divider portion, including a longitudinal axis and a second base section on which is defined a second connecting element, wherein said first and second connecting elements selectively engage each other such that said second divider portion is selectively detachable from said first divider portion and is movable along the longitudinal axis of said first divider portion to allow a length of the divider system to be changed, thereby enabling the divider system to be employed on associated shelves of varying depths.

2. The divider system of claim 1 wherein said first connecting element comprises an aperture defined on said first base section and said second connecting element comprises a tooth defined on said second base section, the tooth selectively protruding into the aperture.

3. The divider system of claim 2 wherein a plurality of apertures are defined on the first base section and a plurality of teeth are defined on the second base section.

4. The divider system of claim 3 wherein said plurality of apertures extend along a longitudinal axis of said first divider portion.

5. The divider system of claim 1 wherein said first divider portion base section is horizontally oriented and said first divider further includes a vertically oriented barrier section and said second divider base section is horizontally oriented and said second divider portion further includes a vertically oriented barrier section.

6. The divider system of claim 1 wherein the first section further comprises a third connecting element spaced from the first connecting element and the second section further comprises a fourth connecting element spaced from the second connecting element, wherein the third and fourth connecting elements selectively engage each other.

7. The divider system of claim 6 wherein the third connecting element comprises a vertically oriented wall portion and the fourth connecting element comprises an overhang portion.

8. A trackless pusher system for biasing retail merchandise forward on a shelf, the pusher system comprising:

a mounting clip which selectively cooperates with an elongated mounting member;

a pusher body; and

,

a spring extending between and connecting said mounting clip to said pusher body, said spring acting on said pusher body to bias it towards said mounting clip, wherein said pusher body is physically separate from said mounting clip and is connected thereto only by said spring, so that the pusher system has a length which can be adjusted, thereby enabling the pusher system to be employed on associated shelves of varying depths.

9. The pusher system of claim 8 wherein said pusher body comprises a rectangular member including a base wall on which a coiled portion of said spring is supported.

10. The pusher system of claim 9 wherein said rectangular member comprises a front wall, a pair of side walls and a rear wall, and further comprising a guide wall extending between said pair of side walls, in spaced relationship to said front and rear walls.

11. The pusher system of claim 8 wherein said base wall comprises a flange which cooperates with a rear wall of said rectangular member to accommodate said coiled portion of said spring.

12. The pusher system of claim 11 wherein said base wall further comprises a bracing member which is spaced from said flange.

13. The pusher system of claim 12 wherein said pusher body further comprises a guide wall that is spaced from said bracing member and wherein said spring extends above said bracing member and beneath said guide wall.

14. The pusher system of claim 8 wherein said mounting clip comprises:

a clip body;

a tongue located on a first end of said clip body; and

,

a protrusion located along a length of said clip body.

15. The pusher system of claim 8 wherein said mounting clip further comprises:

a locking element; and

a stub extending through an aperture located in said spring, wherein said locking element cooperates with said stub.

16. An adjustable depth merchandising apparatus comprising:

an elongated mounting member operationally securable to an associated shelf and extending parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof;

an adjustable divider system selectively connected to said mounting member, wherein said divider system extends rearwardly over the associated shelf; and

,

a trackless pusher system selectively connected to said mounting member and extending rearwardly over the associated shelf, wherein each of said divider system and said pusher system is selectively extendible so that an operative length of said respective system can be adjusted, thereby enabling the merchandising apparatus to be employed on associated shelves of varying depths.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said divider system comprises:

a first divider portion including a base section comprising a first locking element; and

a second divider portion including a base section comprising a second locking element which selectively cooperates with said first locking element, wherein said first and second divider portions are selectively detachable from each other for adjustment of the length of the divider system.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said pusher system comprises:

a mounting clip which selectively cooperates with an elongated mounting member;

a pusher body; and

a spring extending between and connecting said mounting clip to said pusher body, said spring acting on said pusher body to bias it towards said mounting clip, wherein said pusher body is physically separate from said mounting clip and is connected thereto only by said spring, so that the pusher system has a length which can be adjusted, thereby enabling the pusher system to be placed on associated shelves of varying depths.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said pusher body comprises a rectangular member including a front wall, a pair of side walls, a rear wall and a base member on which a coiled portion of said spring is supported.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said pusher body further comprises a guide wall which is spaced from said base wall and wherein said spring extends above said base member and beneath said guide wall.