Integrated modular store fixture system and a tray and header therefor

• US 4,762,235 A
• Filed: 07/09/1986
• Issued: 08/09/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sara Lee Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sara Lee Corporation
• Inventors: Howard, Fred, Edson, Sydney
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Jr., Robert W.
• Application Number:
  US06/883,586
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.2, 211/59.3, 211/57.1, 211/59.1, 211/126, 211/189, 211/193, 211/90, 211/187, 211/183, 108/108, 108/109, 40/12, 40/16.4
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/46 the shelf supports being cantilever brackets
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence

Abstract

An integrated modular store fixture system provided with a plurality of C-shaped rigid frame members, each having two horizontal arms and a vertical spine connecting the two arms and disposed at a rear portion of the unit and a plurality of rigid spacer elements connecting the frame members together in a spaced apart parallel relationship. A plurality of trays for holding merchandise to be displayed are releasably mounted between successive spines.

Claims

1. An integrated modular store fixture system comprising:

a plurality of C-shaped rigid frame members each having an upper and a lower horizontal arm and a vertical spine connecting the two arms and disposed at a rear portion of the system;

a plurality of rigid spacer elements positioned adjacent each end of each of said upper and lower horizontal arms and connecting the frame members together in a spaced apart parallel relationship;

trays for holding merchandise to be displayed;

means for releasably mounting the trays between successive spines; and

side panels connected to said frame members.

2. An integrated modular store fixture system according to claim 1, wherein each of the spines comprises a tubular member having a rectangular cross section and including a front surface, a rear surface and two side surfaces, and wherein the means releasably mounting the trays comprises a series of aligned holes in the tubular members along both side surfaces, and wherein each tray has a rear wall and two side walls and mounting means projecting from the side walls for coacting with aligned holes in two successive spines to mount the tray in place, and a recess defined by adjacent walls on said tray, said mounting means being located between the upper and lower edges of said walls defining said recess, at least one of said recess walls engaging the front surface of said spine to prevent pivotal movement of said shelf about said mounting means.

3. An integrated modular store fixture system according to claim 2, wherein the holes are spaced apart at a center-to-center distance of one-half inch.

4. An integrated modular store fixture system according to claim 1, wherein the connecting members have a length to effect different spacings between successive frame members which are in integral multiple of a given unit length and wherein the trays have widths corresponding to a multiple of the given unit length.

11. An integrated modular store fixture system according to claim 2, wherein the recess is positioned in the side walls of each tray and includes means forming a rectangular indentation at the rear wall including a side facing surface and a rear facing surface, said side facing surfaces spaced apart to enable the tray to be slidably received between successive spines and the rear facing surfaces are configured to contact the front surface of the spine, and wherein the means coacting with the holes project from the side facing surfaces.

12. An integrated modular store fixture system according to claim 11, wherein the means coacting with the holes comprises a screw extending through each side facing surface, and means mounting the screw for rotation to engage a hole and to simultaneously force the side and rear facing surfaces into the front and side surfaces of the spine.

13. An integrated modular store fixture system according to claim 12, wherein means mounting the screw for rotation includes spring means urging each screw outwardly of the side facing surface while permitting movement in the opposite direction in response to an inwardly directed manual force exerted on the screw.

14. An integrated modular store fixture system according to claim 13, wherein the screw is tapered downwardly at the projecting end thereof, and the means mounting the screw comprises means disposing the axis of the screw at a distance from the rear facing surface which is less than the distance from the center of the spine hole to the front surface of the spine.

5. An integrated modular store fixture system comprising:

a plurality of C-shaped rigid frame members each having two horizontal arms and a vertical spine connecting the two arms and disposed at a rear portion of the system;

a plurality of rigid spacer elements connecting the frame members together in a spaced apart parallel relationship;

trays for holding merchandise to be displayed; and

means for releasably mounting the trays between successive spines; and

wherein each tray has a front, a rear, two side walls, means forming at least two parallel slots extending from the front to the rear thereof, at least one divider wall centered between each pair of slots and parallel thereto and pushing means slidably connected in the slots for pushing displayed merchandise from the rear to the front of the tray during use.

6. An integrated modular store fixture system according to claim 5, wherein each tray has from 2 to 7 slots and from 1 to 6 divider walls to accommodate different width packages for the same tray width.

7. An integrated modular store fixture system comprising:

a plurality of C-shaped rigid frame members each having an upper and a lower horizontal arm and a vertical spine connecting the two arms and disposed at a rear portion of the system;

a plurality of rigid spacer elements connecting the frame members together in a spaced apart parallel relationship;

trays for holding merchandise to be displayed; and

means for releasably mounting the trays between successive spines; and

a display header and means mounting the header to at least said upper one of said horizontal arms of said frame member, wherein the display header comprises at least one header unit having front and rear surfaces, means defining a display channel on the front surface for slidably receiving a display, means defining an aligning channel on the rear surface for slidably receiving an aligning member for aligning two adjacent header units.

8. An integrated modular store fixture system according to claim 7, wherein each header unit comprises elongated upper and lower header members, wherein the upper header member includes means forming a longitudinal connecting channel and wherein the lower header member has means forming a longitudinal connecting web slidably received in the connecting channel to connect the upper and lower header member with the upper header member disposed above the lower header member, wherein the upper and lower header members have front and rear surfaces, means forming display channels on the front surfaces thereof, and aligning channels on the rear surfaces thereof.

9. An integrated modular store fixture system according to claim 7, wherein the upper and lower header members are each composed of extruded aluminum.

10. An integrated modular store fixture system according to claim 7, wherein the lower header comprises means forming a mounting surface configured to abut against the surface of the upper arm of the frame member, wherein the means mounting the display header to the frame member comprises a clamp releasably fastened to the upper arm and engaging the header members to fix the lower header member in its abutting position against the surface of the upper arm.

15. A tray for displaying merchandise in a store fixture system, comprising:

a base, a rear wall and two side walls and mounting means projecting from the side walls for coacting with aligned holes in a support displaying unit;

said side walls each having a recess at the rear thereof defined by a first and second wall;

said mounting means projecting from said first wall, and said second wall being oriented at a preselected angle with respect to said first wall and positioned to engage a complimentary formed wall in the support to prevent pivotal movement of said tray about said mounting means.

16. A tray for displaying merchandise in a store fixture system, comprising:

a base, a rear wall and two side walls and mounting means projecting from the side wall for coacting with aligned holes in a support displaying unit;

said tray having means forming at least two parallel slots in the base extending from the front to the rear thereof, at least one divider wall centered between each pair of slots and parallel thereto, and pushing means slidably connected in the slots for pushing displayed merchandise from the rear to the front of the tray display.

17. The tray according to claim 16, wherein said tray has from 2 to 6 slots and from 1 to 5 divider walls to accommodate different width packages for the same tray width.

18. A tray for displaying merchandise in a store fixture system, comprising:

a base, a rear wall and two side walls and mounting means projecting from the side wall for coacting with aligned holes in a support displaying unit;

said means coacting with the holes comprising a screw extending through each side facing surface and means mounting the screw for rotation to engage a hole and to simultaneously force the tray rearwardly.

19. The tray according to claim 18, wherein means mounting the screw for rotation includes spring means urging each screw outwardly of the side facing surface while permitting movement in the opposite direction in response to an inwardly directed manual force exerted on the screw.

20. The tray according to claim 18, wherein each screw is tapered downwardly at the projecting end thereof the means mounting the screw comprises means disposing the screw off center relative to the holes to be coacted with.

21. A display header for a store fixture system comprising:

at least one header unit including a central web having front and rear surfaces and means defining a display channel on the front surface for slidably receiving a display card, and means defining an aligning channel on the rear surface for slidably receiving an aligning member for aligning two adjacent header units.

22. A display header for a store fixture system comprising:

at least one header unit having front and rear surfaces and means defining a display channel on the front surface for slidably receiving a display card, and means defining an aligning channel on the rear surface for slidably receiving an aligning member for aligning two adjacent header units;

said header unit comprising elongated upper and lower header members, wherein the upper header member includes means forming a longitudinal connecting channel, and wherein the lower header member has means forming a longitudinal connecting web slidably received in the connecting channel to connect the upper and lower header members with the upper header member disposed above the lower header member, wherein the upper and lower header members have front and rear surfaces and means forming display channels on the front surfaces thereof, and aligning channels on the rear surfaces thereof.

23. The display header according to claim 22, wherein the upper and lower header members are each composed of extruded aluminum.

24. The display header according to claim 22, wherein the lower header comprises means forming a mounting surface configured to abut against a support surface, and further comprising means mounting the display header to a support surface comprising a clamp releasably fastenable to the support surface for engaging the header members to fix the lower header member in an abutting position against the support surface.