VENTILATED MERCHANDISING SYSTEM

• US 20100107670A1
• Filed: 07/08/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DCI Marketing Inc (IMI PLC)
• Original Assignee: DCI Marketing Inc (IMI PLC)
• Inventors: Johnson, Allen, Gundrum, Dennis, Kottke, Fredrick L., Wolski, Peter F.
• Application Number:
  US12/499,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20100107670A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/250
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0486 for charging, displaying or discharging the articles
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/14 Display trays or containers combined with racks A47F5/0025; tray partitions A47F5/005; as racks and transportable with merchandise A47F5/108; made of cardboard A47F5/11; stackable A47B87/02; packing boxes used subsequently as display trays B65D
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0838 Rails or bars; Article supports therefor, e.g. brackets being slidably attached on the outside thereof

Abstract

A ventilated merchandising system for products displayed in merchandise coolers such as refrigerator or freezer cases. One embodiment of the merchandising system includes a base member and a platform coupled to the base member such that air can flow between the platform and the base member. One or more plenum plates can be coupled to the base for directing air between the platform and the base member. A pusher plate may also be coupled to and movable along the platform for advancing products along the platform. A baffle system that may be coupled to a merchandising tray and a method of distributing air flow within a merchandise cooler unit are also provided.

Claims

1. A merchandising system comprising:

a base member;

a platform coupled to the base member, wherein a gap between the platform and the base member allows air to flow between the platform and the base member; and

a pusher plate, the pusher plate coupled to the platform and movable along the platform for advancing products along the platform.

2. The merchandising system of claim 1, wherein the platform is selectably slidable on the base member.

3. The merchandising system of claim 1, wherein the platform includes a separator coupled to the base member and a tray coupled to the separator to support products to be displayed.

4. The merchandising system of claim 3, wherein the tray includes a channel along which the pusher plate is moveable.

5. The merchandising system of claim 3, further comprising one or more arms coupled to the tray for supporting products, the arms adjustable to accommodate products of varying sizes.

6. The merchandising system of claim 1, further comprising a front plate for retaining products, the front plate coupled to the platform and including one or more vents to allow air to flow through the front plate.

7. The merchandising system of claim 1, further comprising one or more plenum plates coupled to the base member for directing air into the gap.

8. The merchandising system of claim 7, wherein the plenum plates include fingers for directing air into the gap, wherein the fingers may be snap-fit on to vertical wires of a display grid.

9. A merchandising system comprising:

a base member;

a platform coupled to the base member, the platform moveable relative to the base member and formed to support products to be displayed; and

one or more plenum plates coupled to the base member for directing air between the platform and the base member.

10. The merchandising system of claim 9, wherein the platform includes a separator coupled to the base member and a tray coupled to the separator to support products to be displayed.

11. The merchandising system of claim 10, wherein the separator is selectably slidable on the base member.

12. The merchandising system of claim 9, further comprising a front plate for retaining products, the front plate coupled to the platform and including one or more vents to allow air to flow through the front plate.

13. The merchandising system of claim 9, wherein the plenum plates include fingers for directing air between the platform and the base member, wherein the fingers may be snap-fit on to vertical wires of a display grid.

14. A merchandising system comprising:

a base member;

a platform coupled to the base member such that a gap is formed between the platform and the base member; and

one or more plenum plates coupled to the base member for directing air into the gap.

15. The merchandising system of claim 14, further comprising one or more arms coupled to the platform for supporting products, the arms adjustable to accommodate products of varying sizes.

16. The merchandising system of claim 14, further comprising a front plate for retaining products, the front plate coupled to the platform and including one or more vents to allow air to flow through the front plate.

17. A baffle system that may be coupled to a merchandising tray, the baffle system comprising:

a base member, the base member having a gap that allows air to flow through the base member;

one or more wings coupled to the base member; and

wherein coupling the baffle system to a merchandising tray allows air to flow beneath products supported on the merchandising tray.

18. The baffle system of claim 17, further comprising one or more wing extensions moveably coupled to the wings.

19. The baffle system of claim 17, further comprising one or more plenum plates coupled to the base member for directing air into the gap.

20. The baffle system of claim 19, wherein the plenum plates include fingers for directing air into the gap.

21. The baffle system of claim 20, wherein the fingers may be snap-fit onto vertical wires of a display grid.

22. A method of distributing air flow within a merchandise cooler unit having a plurality of merchandising systems installed therein, the method comprising the steps of:

capturing cold air produced by the merchandise cooler unit;

directing the captured cold air into a gap between a base member and a platform of each of the merchandising systems in the merchandise cooler;

allowing the directed cold air to flow through the gap between the base member and the platform, thereby cooling products displayed on the merchandising system.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein plenum plates coupled to the base member help capture and direct the cold air into the gap between the base member and the platform.