Modular Display and Dispensing Apparatus with Plural Dispensing Tiers

• US 20110100941A1
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Henschel-Steinau Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Henschel-Steinau Incorporated
• Inventors: Sainato, Anthony V., Luberto, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,317,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/134
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means

Abstract

A modular apparatus displays and dispenses merchandise at first and second dispensing locations placed at plural dispensing tiers at a point-of-purchase adjacent a display shelf. A first pusher-track assembly extends along a first path of travel of first serially arranged packages, and dividers are spaced apart to straddle the first path of travel and the first serially arranged packages. A second pusher-track assembly is secured to each of the dividers, elevated altitudinally above the first pusher-track assembly, and extends along a second path of travel of second serially arranged packages. A securing arrangement integrates the second pusher-track assembly with the dividers within the apparatus, with the first and second forward dispensing locations spaced apart altitudinally to establish the plural dispensing tiers at the point-of-purchase. A stabilizing arrangement stabilizes the dividers against inadvertent movements relative to the display shelf to complete a stable apparatus. Multiple dividers and counterpart pusher-track assemblies enable the modular apparatus to provide any selected number of display and dispensing bays.

Claims

1. A modular apparatus for displaying and dispensing merchandise at plural dispensing tiers at a point-of-purchase adjacent a display shelf extending in lateral directions, the merchandise being in the form of packages arranged serially along each of at least first and second paths of travel spaced apart altitudinally and extending longitudinally toward corresponding first and second forward dispensing locations spaced apart altitudinally and placed at the point-of-purchase, the apparatus comprising:

a first pusher-track assembly for extending along a longitudinal direction adjacent the first path of travel in juxtaposition with first serially arranged packages;

a first securing arrangement for securing the first pusher-track assembly at a selected lateral location along the display shelf;

at least two dividers for extending along the longitudinal direction, spaced apart in a lateral direction, to straddle the first path of travel, in juxtaposition with the first serially arranged packages, each divider including a lower edge for juxtaposition with the display shelf and an upper edge for being spaced altitudinally above the display shelf when the lower edge is juxtaposed with the display shelf;

a divider-securing arrangement for securing each divider at a selected divider lateral location along the display shelf;

a second pusher-track assembly for extending along a longitudinal direction adjacent the second path of travel in juxtaposition with second serially arranged packages; and

a second securing arrangement for selectively securing the second pusher-track assembly to each of the dividers, elevated altitudinally above the first pusher-track assembly, and placed altitudinally between the lower edge and the upper edge of each divider to extend along the second path of travel, such that upon securing the dividers in place along the longitudinal direction, straddling the first path of travel, and securing the second pusher-track assembly between the dividers, the divider-securing arrangement and the second securing arrangement will integrate the second pusher-track assembly with the dividers within the apparatus, with the first and second forward dispensing locations spaced apart altitudinally to establish the plural dispensing tiers at the point-of-purchase.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the second pusher-track assembly includes laterally opposite borders, and a first support surface extends longitudinally along each border; and

each divider includes laterally opposite faces extending along longitudinal and altitudinal directions, between the lower and upper edges of each divider, and a second support surface extending longitudinally along at least one of the laterally opposite faces of each divider, altitudinally intermediate the lower and upper edges of the dividers;

the ones of the laterally opposite faces of the dividers confronting one-another upon securement of the dividers at the selected lateral locations for juxtaposition of each second support surface with a corresponding first support surface to support the second pusher-track assembly between the dividers, adjacent the second path of travel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each divider includes a rail extending in longitudinal directions along at least the one of the laterally opposite faces, and each second support surface extends along a corresponding rail.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the second securing arrangement includes:

track retainers on the second pusher-track assembly, the track retainers including first engagement members; and

divider retainers on the dividers, the divider retainers including second engagement members for being engaged with the first engagement members upon juxtaposition of the first support surfaces with the second support surfaces;

the first and second engagement members being dimensioned and configured such that upon juxtaposition of the first and second support surfaces and engagement of the first and second engagement members, the second pusher-track assembly and the dividers will be secured against movement relative to one-another in lateral and altitudinal directions.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein:

the first engagement members include

a web projecting laterally from a corresponding border of the second pusher-track assembly, and extending longitudinally along the corresponding border; and

a flange extending along the web and projecting from the web in an altitudinal direction;

the web and the flange establishing a first generally L-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration; and

the second engagement members project laterally from a corresponding one of the laterally opposite faces and include a second generally L-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration complementary to the first transverse cross-sectional configuration for engagement with the first transverse cross-sectional configuration to preclude movement of the pusher-track assembly and the dividers relative to one-another in the lateral and altitudinal directions.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein:

at least one of the dividers includes a rail extending in longitudinal directions along both of the laterally opposite faces of the one of the dividers, and a second support surface extends longitudinally along each rail; and

the second engagement members project laterally from each laterally opposite face of the one of the dividers; and

the apparatus includes a third divider for being secured at a further selected divider lateral location along the display shelf, spaced laterally from the one divider, the third divider having a face for confronting a face of the one divider, and including a further support surface extending along the face of the third divider and further engagement members projecting from the face of the third divider for securing a further pusher-track assembly to each of the further divider and the one divider, between the third divider and the one divider, to establish a further path of travel extending toward a further forward dispensing location placed at the point-of-purchase.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first pusher-track assembly includes a near end for placement adjacent the corresponding forward dispensing location, and a far end spaced longitudinally away from the near end;

the first securing arrangement is dimensioned and configured for securing the near end of the first pusher-track assembly at the selected lateral location, with the first pusher-track assembly extending in a basal plane, and the near end affixed against inadvertent movement in lateral directions within the basal plane, as well as against inadvertent movement in longitudinal directions within the basal plane;

each divider includes a near end for placement adjacent the corresponding forward dispensing location, and a far end spaced longitudinally away from the near end;

the divider-securing arrangement is located for securing the near end of each divider at the selected divider lateral location, within the basal plane, with the near end affixed against inadvertent movement in lateral directions within the basal plane, the divider-securing arrangement including a retainer plate for affixation to the display shelf with the retainer plate extending along the lateral directions adjacent the point-of-purchase; and

a stabilizing arrangement for stabilizing each divider against inadvertent movements of the far end in lateral directions within the basal plane when the near end is secured at the selected divider lateral location, the stabilizing arrangement including;

a pair of keys extending in lateral directions along one of the retainer plate and each divider, adjacent the near end of each divider;

a pair of keyways extending in lateral directions along another of the retainer plate and each divider, adjacent the near end of each divider, each keyway being complementary to a corresponding key;

a tongue extending in longitudinal directions along one of the retainer plate and each divider, adjacent the near end of each divider and placed intermediate corresponding keys; and

a groove extending in longitudinal directions along another of the retainer plate and each divider, adjacent the near end of each divider, the grooves being complementary to the tongues;

the keys and the keyways, and the tongues and the grooves, being dimensioned and configured for complementary interengagement, with each key interlocked with a complementary keyway, and each tongue interlocked with a complementary groove, the keys being spaced apart and the keyways being spaced apart in longitudinal directions by a predetermined longitudinal spacing, and engaged along a prescribed lateral length, and each tongue extending along a prescribed longitudinal length, the lateral length being long enough and the longitudinal length being long enough such that upon engagement of the complementary keys and keyways, and engagement of the complementary tongues and grooves, canting of the dividers relative to the retainer plate within the basal plane essentially is precluded and the dividers are stabilized, in alignment with the longitudinal direction.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the keys and the tongues are on the dividers, and the keyways and the grooves are in the retainer plate.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the keys and the keyways include confronting engaging surfaces extending in key and keyway engagement planes generally normal to the basal plane, and the tongues and the grooves include further confronting engaging surfaces extending in further engagement planes generally normal to the basal plane.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the further engagement planes are generally normal to the key and keyway engagement planes.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

the second pusher-track assembly includes laterally opposite borders, and a first support surface extends longitudinally along each border; and

each divider includes laterally opposite faces extending along longitudinal and altitudinal directions, between the lower and upper edges of each divider, and a second support surface extending longitudinally along at least one of the laterally opposite faces of each divider, altitudinally intermediate the lower and upper edges of the dividers;

the ones of the laterally opposite faces of the dividers confronting one-another upon securement of the dividers at the selected divider lateral locations for juxtaposition of each second support surface with a corresponding first support surface to support the second pusher-track assembly between the dividers, adjacent the second path of travel.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each divider includes a rail extending in longitudinal directions along at least the one of the laterally opposite faces, and each second support surface extends along a corresponding rail.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the second securing arrangement includes:

track retainers on the second pusher-track assembly, the track retainers including first engagement members; and

divider retainers on the dividers, the divider retainers including second engagement members for being engaged with the first engagement members upon juxtaposition of the first support surfaces with the second support surfaces;

the first and second engagement members being dimensioned and configured such that upon juxtaposition of the first and second support surfaces and engagement of the first and second engagement members, the second pusher-track assembly and the dividers will be secured against movement relative to one-another in lateral and altitudinal directions.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:

at least one of the dividers includes a rail extending in longitudinal directions along both of the laterally opposite faces of the one of the dividers, and a second support surface extends longitudinally along each rail; and

the second engagement members project laterally from each laterally opposite face of the one of the dividers; and

the apparatus includes a third divider for being secured to the display shelf, spaced laterally from the one divider, the third divider having a face for confronting a face of the one divider, and including a further support surface extending along the face of the third divider and further engagement members projecting from the face of the third divider for securing a further pusher-track assembly to each of the further divider and the one divider, between the third divider and the one divider, to establish a further path of travel extending toward a further forward dispensing location placed at the point-of-purchase.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein:

at least one of the dividers includes a rail extending in longitudinal directions along both of the laterally opposite faces of the one of the dividers, and a second support surface extends longitudinally along each rail; and

the second engagement members project laterally from each laterally opposite face of the one of the dividers; and

the apparatus includes a third divider for being secured at further selected divider lateral locations along the display shelf, spaced laterally from the one divider, the third divider having a face for confronting a face of the one divider, and including a further support surface extending along the face of the third divider and further engagement members projecting from the face of the third divider for securing a further pusher-track assembly to each of the further divider and the one divider, between the third divider and the one divider, to establish a further path of travel extending toward a further forward dispensing location placed at the point-of-purchase.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the keys and the tongues are on the dividers, and the keyways and the grooves are in the retainer plate.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the keys and the keyways include confronting engaging surfaces extending in key and keyway engagement planes generally normal to the basal plane, and the tongues and the grooves include further confronting engaging surfaces extending in further engagement planes generally normal to the basal plane.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the further engagement planes are generally normal to the key and keyway engagement planes.