Merchandise display rack of variable size

• US 4,901,869 A
• Filed: 08/26/1988
• Issued: 02/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Footloose Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Julius A. Sarto, Rodney B. Hawkinson
• Inventors: Sarto, Julius A., Hawkinson, Rodney B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britts, Ramon S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PUROL, SARAH L
• Application Number:
  US07/236,742
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.3, 211/43, 211/184, 211/11, 211/94.5, 108/60, 108/61, 160/135, 312/71
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means

Abstract

A merchandise display rack comprises a series of chutes that may be connected side by side or stacked. Each chute has a central slideway with a push plate slide, which is pulled forward by an elongated spring. Horizontal, lateral extension panels having parallel back to back V-grooves across the width thereof may readily be broken off along straight lines to selected widths and interlocked to the sides of the slideway. A longitudinal connector member interlocks with the lateral extension panels and vertical side panels to form the chute.

Claims

1. A forward-feeding display rack for merchandise in containers arranged in a row front to rear comprising:

a slideway;

a slide slidably mounted in said slideway;

an upright push plate carried on said slide;

a front stop at the front end of said slideway engageable by said push plate;

a tension member biasing said push plate toward said front end of the slideway;

an extender slot along each side of said slideway;

first lips along the outer edges of said extender slots;

a first lateral extension panel of selected width;

said first lateral extension panel having a plurality of parallel, land strips across the width thereof, including an inner land strip along one side edge of said lateral extension panel and an outer land strip along the opposite side edge;

said land strips being separated by grooves in both the top and the bottom surfaces of said extension panel;

said inner land strip of said first lateral extension panel being received in the extender slot on one side of said slideway with said first lips along the edges of said one extender slot being received in a pair of said grooves;

an elongated side connector member having four sides, each side forming a C-shaped receptacle with second lips along the outer edges thereof, said outer land strip of said first lateral extension panel being received in one of said horizontal C-shaped receptacle with said second lips along the edges of said receptacle being received in a pair of said grooves; and

a vertical side plate received in an upright one of said C-shaped receptacle with said second lips along the edges of said receptacle being received in a pair of said grooves.

2. The merchandise display rack defined by claim 1 including:

a second lateral extension panel of selected width having a plurality of second land strips across the width thereof, including one side land strip along one side edge of said second lateral extension and a second side land strip along the opposite side edge of said second lateral extension;

said one land strip of said second lateral extension panel being received in the extender slot on the other side of said slideway, with said first lips along the edges of said other side extender slot being received in a pair of said grooves;

a second elongated side connector member having four sides, each side forming a C-shaped receptacle with second lips along the outer edges thereof, said second land strip of said second lateral extension panel being received in a horizontal C-shaped receptacle of said second side connector member with said second lips along the edge of said receptacle being received in a pair of said grooves; and

a second vertical side plate received in an upright C-shaped receptacle with a second said lip on said upright receptacle being received in one of said grooves.

3. The merchandise display rack defined by claim 1 wherein said front stop comprises:

an upright panel; and

means forming a series of horizontal lines of weakness across said stop panel so that said stop panel can be broken off to a selected height.

4. The merchandise display rack defined by claim 1 including:

slide tracks along the upper surface of said slideway to support merchandise slidably thereon.

5. The merchandise display rack defined by claim 1 including:

a third lateral extension of selected width having a plurality of parallel successive land strips and grooves across the width thereof, including a first land strip along one side edge of said third lateral extension and an other land strip along the opposite side edge of said third lateral extension;

said first land strip of said third lateral extension panel being received in an outwardly directed C-shaped receptacle of said side connector member with said second lips along the edge of said outwardly directed horizontal receptacle being received in a pair of said grooves.

6. The merchandise display rack defined by claim 5 including:

a second slideway;

a slideway slidably mounted in said second slideway and carrying an upright push plate;

a tension member biasing said second slide toward the front end of said second slideway;

an extender slot along each side of said second slideway;

the outer edge of said third lateral extension panel being received in the extender slot on one side of said second slideway.

7. The merchandise display rack defined by claim 1 wherein said tension member is an elongated stretchable member and including:

anchor means at the rear end of said slideway at each side thereof securing the ends of said tension member;

a pulley at the front end of said slideway on each side thereof;

said tension member extending forwardly from said anchor members and around said pulleys, with the intermediate portion thereof engaging behind said slide.

8. The merchandise display rack defined by claim 7 wherein:

said tension member is an elongated spring.

9. The merchandise display rack defined by claim 1 wherein:

said grooves in said extension panel are back to back to form frangible lines of weakness.