Pull-out tray assembly for an integrated modular store fixture system

• US 5,088,607 A
• Filed: 03/12/1990
• Issued: 02/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sara Lee Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sara Lee Corporation
• Inventors: Howard, Fred, Risafi, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin-Shue, Alvin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lechok, Sarah A.
• Application Number:
  US07/492,949
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.2, 211/187, 211/184, 211/190, 211/59.3, 108/144, 108/111
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/42 the shelf supports being cantilever brackets
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/025 Shelves with moving elements, e.g. movable extensions or link elements cabinets, racks or shelf units enabling enlargement in height, length or depth A47B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/125 with an article-pushing device

Abstract

An integrated modular store fixture system having a tray assembly for displaying merchandise. The tray assembly includes a tray support having front and side panels and a slidable tray in sliding engagement with the side panels to slide between a forward and rearward position. A pusher is provided to slide along the tray to press merchandise forwardly towards the front panel. A divider for separating the tray into compartments is provided with means for gliding along the width of a channel formed in a front member disposed the front panel. The front member includes an additional channel to receive a front stop.

Claims

1. A tray assembly for displaying merchandise in a store fixture system comprising:

a tray support having a front panel and let and right side panels, said front panel having a front wall and a bottom wall;

a slidable tray having a plurality of rods extending towards said front panel, said tray being in slidable engagement with said side panels for sliding movement between forward and rearward positions;

pusher means for pressing merchandise placed on said rods forwardly towards said front panel, said pusher means having a lower surface;

means for mounting said pusher means to effect slidable movement along at least one of said rods; and

means for restricting forward movement of said pusher means when said tray is in said forward position, said restricting means comprising a first tab depending from said lower surface of said pusher means for abutting said front wall of said front panel as said tray reaches said forward position so as to prevent further forward movement of said pusher means.

2. A tray assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises first and second projections depending downwardly from said lower surface of said pusher, each of said projections forming a channel to slidably receive one of said rods.

3. A tray assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said projections are L-shaped.

4. A tray assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said restricting means further comprises a second tab, said first and second tabs each extending downwardly from said lower surface of said pusher and being disposed forwardly of said first and second projections.

5. A tray assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said projections are discrete and are integral with said pusher.

7. A tray assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a resilient hook, said hook extending below said rods in a position to engage said bottom wall of said front panel when said tray is in said forward position, to restrict further forward movement of said tray.

8. A tray assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said restricting means further comprises a second tab extending downwardly from said lower surface of said pusher to abut said front wall of said panel when said tray is in said forward position.

9. A tray assembly as recited in claim 7, further comprising a second resilient hook extending below said rods to engage said bottom wall of said front panel when said tray is in said forward position.

10. A tray assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said tray support is secured to a spine by a bracket, said bracket having a plurality of projections and said spine having a plurality of openings to receive said projection.

6. A tray assembly for displaying merchandise in a store fixture system comprising:

a tray support having a front panel and left and right side panels, said front panel having a front wall and a bottom wall;

a slidable tray having a plurality of rods extending towards said front panel, said tray being in slidable engagement with said side panels for sliding between forward and rearward positions;

pusher means for pressing merchandise placed on said rods forwardly towards said front panel, said pusher means having a lower surface;

means for mounting said pusher means to effect slidable movement along at least one of said rods; and

restricting means for restricting forward movement of said pusher means as said tray reaches said forward position, said restricting means comprising a tab depending from said lower surface of said pusher means and which abuts said front wall of said front panel when said tray is in said forward position, said pusher means having a front portion which comprises a flange and a shield which is disposed on said flange, said shield having a face with an area greater than an area of a face of said pusher means so as to provide a larger contact surface with the merchandise than would be provided otherwise by said face of said pusher means.

11. A tray assembly for displaying merchandise in a store fixture system comprising:

a tray having a front panel and a bottom support for the merchandise;

divider means for separating said tray into separate side-by-side compartments, said divider means being detachably mounted for effecting slidable movement along a rear of said front panel in an orientation so as to be generally perpendicular thereto, thereby adjusting the lateral dimension of said compartments, said divider means having a hook-shaped forward extension, said front panel having a channel formed in a rear thereof that is dimensioned for receiving said extension, said extension and said channel cooperating with each other for mounting said divider means so as to enable said slidable movement to take place, said bottom support including a plurality of generally parallel rods in a front-to-rear orientation; and

p1 restriction means for restricting lateral movement of said divider means, said restriction means comprising a depending rear extension that is disposed between adjacent rods and extends below said rods from said divider means into position so as to restrict lateral movement of said divider means.

12. A tray assembly for displaying merchandise in an integrated modular store fixture system comprising:

a tray support having a front panel and side panels;

a slidable tray having a plurality of rods extending towards said front panel;

means for slidably holding said tray to said support so that said tray is slidable between retracted and extended positions with respect to said support;

a front member disposed on said front panel of said tray, said front member having a forwardly and downwardly angled wall, a first vertical wall behind said angled wall, a second vertical wall spaced rearwardly from said first vertical wall, and a bottom wall joining said first and second vertical walls to define a first channel therebetween;

a display panel disposed substantially vertically in said first channel and having a lip, said angled wall extending upwardly and rearwardly to press against said display panel; and

engaging means for engaging and retaining said lip, said engaging means including a protrusion extending rearwardly from said first vertical wall to engage and retain said lip.

13. A tray assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said display panel comprises a forward projection extending opposite to said protrusion of said first vertical wall, said projection lying underneath said protrusion in position to restrict vertical movement of said display panel.

14. A tray assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said second vertical wall comprises first and second L-shaped extensions directed rearwardly and downwardly towards said bottom wall.

15. A tray assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein a second channel is formed between said second flange and said bottom wall, said second channel being adapted to receive a front piece of said tray.

16. A tray assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said front member is an aluminum extrusion and said front panel is made of a transparent material.

17. A tray assembly for displaying merchandise in a store fixture system including a support structure, comprising:

a tray slidably mounted in said fixture system for effecting slidable movement relative to said support structure between a retracted rearward position and an extended forward position, said tray including means defining a bottom support for the merchandise, said tray being mounted so as to have a forward and downward incline;

pusher means slidably mounted on said bottom support for effecting forward and rearward slidable movement in a position to contact the merchandise; and

means for restraining said pusher means against forward slidable movement as the tray is moved from said retracted position to said extended position.

18. A tray assembly in accordance with claim 17 wherein said restricting means comprises:

a contact member depending from said pusher means; and

means defining a stopping surface fixed in position relative to said support structure, said stopping surface being positioned to engage and capture said contact member, to prevent its forward movement.

21. A tray assembly in accordance with claim 18 further comprising a front panel on said tray and a divider member mounted for sliding movement to the rear of said front panel in an orientation so as to be generally perpendicular to said front panel, whereby said tray is formed into side-by-side compartments of selectable lateral extent.

19. A tray assembly for displaying merchandise in a store fixture system including a support structure, comprising:

a tray mounted in said fixture system for effecting slidable movement relative to said support structure between an extended forward position and a retracted rearward position, said tray including means defining a bottom support for the merchandise, said tray being mounted so as to have a forward and downward incline;

pusher means mounted on said bottom support for effecting forward and rearward slidable movement to reach a position for contacting the merchandise; and

means for restraining said pusher means against forward sliding movement as the tray is moved from said retracted position to said extending position, said pusher means comprising a main body and a planar shield member detachably mounted to said main body so as to be forward thereof, said shield having a substantially greater area than said main body when viewed from the front.

20. A tray assembly for displaying merchandise in a store fixture system including a support structure, comprising:

a tray mounted in said fixture system for effecting slidable movement relative to said support structure between an extended forward position and a retracted rearward position, said tray including means defining a bottom support for the merchandise, said tray being mounted so as to have a forward and downward incline;

pusher means mounted on said bottom support for effecting forward and rearward slidable movement to reach a position for contacting the merchandise; and

means for restraining said pusher means against forward sliding movement as the tray is moved from said retracted position to said extended position, said shield being mounted on said pusher means by means of a groove on one of said pusher means and said shield and a complementary flange on the other of said pusher means and said shield.