Product merchandising rack

• US 4,416,380 A
• Filed: 05/11/1981
• Issued: 11/22/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paul Flumindeas Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Paul Flum Ideas, Inc.
• Inventors: Flum, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Foss, J. Franklin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Talbott, David L.
• Application Number:
  US06/262,117
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 211/49 D, 211/181, 211/186, 211/187, 211/188, 211/189, 211/194, 312/341 NR, 312/35, 312/42, 312/72
• US Class Current: 211/59.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/121 made of tubes or wire elongated hooks A47F5/0807

Abstract

A product display rack adaptable for use on a support structure for storing and merchandising shelved products comprising an open grid wire rack structure formed by a plurality of connected spaced rod members including front and rear wall portions and spaced rod members connected therebetween, the spaced rod members including a first set of spaced rod members arranged in groups to form a plurality of adjacent tracks extending between the front and rear wall portions for supporting products thereon, a second set of spaced rod members disposed above the first set of rod members to form one or more guide channels extending between the front and rear wall portions for guiding products along parallel rows therebetween, each guide channel being positioned such that a corresponding product support track is disposed therebelow, and other attached rod members for supporting the rear wall portion at a higher elevation than the front wall portion whereby rows of products positioned within the guide channels will slide along the guide channels on the respective tracks towards the front wall to maintain some of the products in each channel adjacent the front wall portion. The present device may also optionally include sleeve members attachable to the product supporting rod members to improve the slidability of products positioned thereon, or it may include special track members attachable to certain of the product supporting rod members for slidably supporting products positioned thereon.

Claims

1. A rack device adaptable for use on a support structure for storing and merchandising shelved products comprising an open grid rack structure formed by a plurality of connected spaced rod members including a front wall portion extending substantially across the entire front portion of said device, a rear wall portion and spaced rod members connected therebetween, said spaced rod members including a first set of spaced rod members arranged in groups to form a plurality of parallel adjacent tracks extending between the front and rear wall portions for supporting rows of products thereon, each of said rod members forming said first set of spaced rod members having an angularly disposed upwardly extending portion associated therewith forming a portion of said front wall, a second set of spaced rod members disposed in a common plane above the first set of spaced rod members to form a plurality of channels extending between the front and rear wall portions for guiding products positioned on the tracks in parallel rows therebetween, each of said channels being positioned such that a respective track forms the bottom thereof, each of said rod members forming said second set of spaced rod members having an angularly disposed downwardly extending portion associated therewith forming at least a portion of said rear wall, a transverse rod member spaced above said first set of spaced rod members and extending substantially across the front portion of said device, said transverse rod member being connected to the rod members of said second set of spaced rod members and to the upwardly extending portion of each of the rod members of said first set of spaced rod members together forming said front wall, and other rod members attached to said first set of spaced rod members for supporting the rear wall portion at a higher elevation than the front wall portion when said device is supported on a horizontal surface whereby rows of products positioned in each of the channels will slide along the respective channels on the respective tracks positioned therebelow towards the front wall portion.

2. The rack device defined in claim 1 including elongated snap-on tubular sleeve members mounted on selected ones of the spaced rod members forming said first set of spaced rod members, said tubular members being dimensioned so as to extend substantially the full length of the rod members to which they are attached.

3. The rack device defined in claim 1 including a track member having means associated therewith for attaching to the tracks formed by said first set of spaced rod members to accommodate and support products positioned in the respective channels.

4. The rack device defined in claim 1 including floor means attachable to said first set of spaced rod members to accommodate and support products positioned thereon, said floor means including a substantially flat base portion having a plurality of runners extending upwardly therefrom and extending in parallel relation over the length thereof to support and guide the movement of products positioned thereon.

5. The rack device defined in claim 1 including means for interconnecting adjacent similar racks.

6. The rack device defined in claim 1 including means engageable with the support structure on which the rack structure is positioned to prevent movement thereof when installed.

7. The rack device defined in claim 1 wherein said first set of spaced rod members is inclined in operative position at an angle to the horizontal between about 3°

and about 10°

.

17. The rack device defined in claims 1, 13 or 14 wherein said first set of spaced rod members are coated with a coating substance containing a quantity of a silicone resin, the silicone resin being present in the coating substance in a range from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight.

8. A rack device constructed of connected wire rod members adaptable for use on a support structure for storing and merchandising shelved products comprising an open grid rack structure formed by a plurality of connected rod members including spaced front and rear portions and spaced rod members connected therebetween, said spaced rod members including a first plurality of spaced rod members arranged in a common plane and positioned to form a product support bottom for said structure extending between and connecting said front and rear wall portions, each of said rod members forming said first plurality of spaced rod members having an angularly disposed upwardly extending portion associated therewith forming a portion of said front wall, a second plurality of spaced rod members arranged in a common plane and spaced above the plane of said first plurality of rod members, the rod members of said second plurality being parallel to each other and to the rod members of said first plurality forming parallel guide channels for maintaining and guiding products in parallel rows therebetween, each of said rod members forming said second plurality of spaced rod members having an angularly disposed downwardly extending portion associated therewith forming at least a portion of said rear wall, a transverse rod member elevated above said first plurality of spaced rod members and extending substantially entirely across the front portion of said device, said transverse rod member being attached to the rod members of said second set of spaced rod members and to the upwardly extending portion of each of the rod members of said first set of spaced rod members together forming said front wall, other rod members attached to said first pluraity of rod members for supporting the rear wall portion of said device at a higher elevation than the front wall portion whereby products to be merchandised on said device will slide along the rod members of said first plurality towards the front wall portion to maintain the remaining products in each of said parallel rows adjacent to said front wall portion, said first plurality of spaced rod members being inclined in operative position at an angle to the horizontal between about 3°

and about 10°

, a floor member removably attachable to the product support bottom formed by said first plurality of rod members, said floor member extending substantially the full length and width of said first plurality of rod members and including a substantially flat base portion having a plurality of parallel product supporting runners extending upwardly therefrom, said runners being formed of a material comprised of a mixture of a plastic substance and a silicone substance, said silicone substance being present in a range from about 0.5% to 5% by weight.

9. The rack device defined in claim 8 wherein said runners are formed from a mixture of materials including a hi-impact polystyrene and a silicone resin material, the silicone resin being present in a range from about 0.5% to 5% by weight.

10. A product display rack for use on a support structure for storing and merchandising shelved products comprising an open grid wire rack structure formed by a plurality of connected rod members including a front wall extending substantially across the entire front portion of said rack, a rear wall and spaced rod members connected therebetween, said rod members including a first plurality of spaced rod members positioned in groups defining a plurality of adjacent parallel tracks extending between said front and rear wall portions forming a rack bottom for supporting products thereon, each rod member of said first plurality of spaced rod members having an upwardly extending portion associated therewith forming at least a portion of said front wall, a second plurality of parallel spaced rod members disposed in the rack at an elevation above said first plurality of spaced rod members defining a plurality of parallel guide channels extending between the front and rear wall portions for maintaining and guiding products in parallel rows therebetween, each rod member of said second plurality of spaced rod members being positioned between each adjacent groups of the first plurality of rod members such that a respective track is disposed in the space below adjacent rod members of the second plurality of rod members, each of said rod members of said second plurality of spaced rod members having a downwardly extending portion associated therewith forming at least a portion of said rear wall, a transverse rod member positioned above said first set of spaced rod members and extending substantially across the front portion of said rack, said transverse rod member being attached to the rod members of said second set of spaced rod members and to the upwardly extending portion of each of the rod members of said first set of spaced rod members together forming said front wall, other rod members attached to said rack including rod members for supporting the rear wall portion at a higher elevation than the front wall portion whereby products positioned within the guide channels will slide along the respective tracks positioned therebelow towards said front wall, said first plurality of spaced rod members being inclined in operative position at an angle to the horizontal between about 3°

and about 10°

, tubular sleeve members engageable with selected ones of the rod members forming said first plurality of spaced rod members, said tubular sleeve members extending substantially the full length of the rod members to which they are attached and being formed of a material comprised of a plastic substance and a silicone resin, the silicone resin being present in a range from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight, means to attach the rack to the support structure to restrict movement thereof when installed, and means on at least one rack for engaging an adjacent rack to prevent relative movement therebetween.

11. The rack defined in claim 10 wherein said means to attach the rack to the support structure includes a plurality of vertically extending rod members positioned to extend downwardly along the rear of the support structure, said plurality of vertically extending rod members being formed by a continuation of the downwardly extending portion associated with some of the rod members of said second plurality of spaced rod members.

12. The rack defined in claim 10 wherein the plastic substance forming said tubular sleeve member is hi-impact polystyrene.

13. A display rack device for use in combination with a modular display unit having a plurality of similarly connected side wall panels, said rack device comprising an open grid rack structure formed by a plurality of connected rod members including opposed front and rear wall portions each having top and bottom side edges, said front wall portion extending substantially across the entire front portion of said device, a first plurality of spaced rod members arranged in groups to form a plurality of parallel adjacent tracks extending between and connecting the bottom side edges of the front and rear wall portions for supporting products positoned thereon, each of said rod members forming said first plurality of spaced rod members having an upwardly extending portion associated therewith forming a portion of said front wall, a second plurality of spaced rod members arranged and disposed at a higher elevation on the device than the first plurality of spaced rod members to form a plurality of parallel channels extending between and connecting the top side edges of the front and rear wall portions for maintaining and guiding products in parallel rows therebetween, each of said parallel channels being positioned such that a respective track is disposed therebelow, each of said rod members forming said second plurality of spaced rod members having a downwardly extending portion associated therewith forming at least a portion of said rear wall, a transverse rod member disposed above said first set of spaced rod members and extending substantially across the front portion of said device, said transverse rod member forming the top side edge of said front wall and being attached to the rod members of said second set of spaced rod members and to the upwardly extending portion of each of the rod members forming said first set of spaced rod members, other rod members attached to said first plurality of spaced rod members forming a base portion for supporting the rear wall portion at a higher elevation than the front wall portion when said device is positioned on a horizontal surface whereby rows of products placed within said parallel channels and on said tracks will slide along said tracks towards the front wall portion, said first plurality of spaced rod members being inclined in operative position at an angle to the horizontal between about 3°

and about 10°

, said base portion including at least one rod member having an offset portion associated therewith positioned for cooperative engagement with the modular display unit.

14. A rack device adaptable for use on a support structure for storing and merchandising shelved products comprising an open grid rack structure formed by a plurality of connected spaced rod members including front and rear wall portions and spaced rod members connected therebetween, said spaced rod members including a first set of spaced rod members arranged in groups to form a plurality of parallel adjacent tracks extending between the front and rear wall portions for supporting rows of products thereon, each of said rod members forming said first set of spaced rod members having an angularly disposed upwardly extending portion associated therewith forming at least a portion of said front wall, a second set of spaced rod members disposed in a common plane above the first set of spaced rod members to form a plurality of channels extending between the front and rear wall portions for guiding products positioned on the tracks in parallel rows therebetween, each of said channels being positioned such that a respective track forms the bottom thereof, each of said rod members forming said second set of spaced rod members having an angularly disposed downwardly extending portion associated therewith forming at least a portion of said rear wall, a transverse rod member spaced above said first set of spaced rod members and extending substantially across the front portion of said device, said transverse rod member being connected to the rod members of said second set of spaced rod members and to the upwardly extending portion of each of the rod members of said first set of spaced rod members together forming said front wall, a base portion formed by connected rod members and other rod members attached thereto and to the rod members of said first set of spaced rod members for supporting the rear wall portion at a higher elevation than the front wall portion when said device is supported on a horizontal surface whereby rows of products positioned in each of the channels will slide along the respective channels on the respective tracks positioned therebelow towards the front wall portion, said first and second sets of spaced rod members being inclined in operative position at an angle to the horizontal between about 3°

and about 10°

, and a plurality of vertically extending rod members extending downwardly below said base portion and along the rear of the support structure on which said device is positioned to prevent movement thereof when installed, the angularly disposed downwardly extending portion associated with some of the rod members of said second set of spaced rod members forming said plurality of vertically extending rod members.

15. The rack device defined in claim 14 including a floor member removably attachable to said first set of spaced rod members to accommodate and support products positioned thereon, said floor member extending substantially the full length and width of said first set of spaced rod members and including a substantially flat base portion having a plurality of parallel product supporting and guiding ridges formed thereon, said ridges being formed of a material comprised of a plastic substance and a silicone resin substance, said silicone resin substance being present in a range from about 0.5% to 5% by weight.

16. The rack device defined in claim 14 including cooperative engageable means for connecting together adjacent similar rack devices.