Multi-package adjustable shelf display dispenser

• US 5,190,186 A
• Filed: 04/05/1991
• Issued: 03/02/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: POP Displays LLC (Pop Displays Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: POP Displays Incorporated (Pop Displays Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Miller, David C., Yablans, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Valenza, Joseph E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REICHARD, DEAN ALAN
• Application Number:
  US07/682,856
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 221/12, 221/124, 221/125, 221/131, 221/227, 221/255, 221/279, 211/43, 211/51, 211/59.3, 211/94.5, 312/61, 312/71
• US Class Current: 221/124
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/60 the storage containers or supports being rectilinearly movable

Abstract

A display comprising a package pusher operated by coiled springs and slidable along guides to push packages forward on a shelf. The guides are adjustably laterally movable in a feed structure to accommodate packages of varied size. The feed structure includes front and rear brackets connected to each other and/or securable to a display shelf. In one embodiment, the structure connecting the brackets is provided with breakaway portions to customize its length.

Claims

1. A multi-package shelf display comprising a bottom portion and an upstanding wall, a plurality of positively engaged members on said upstanding wall to arrest movement along said wall, at least one slide instrumentality having at least one means lockingly engaging a selected member of said plurality of members to prevent transverse movement of said instrumentability and pusher means constructed and arranged to move along said slide instrumentality in one direction and adapted to push a column of packages along said slide instrumentality in said one direction.

2. The display set forth in claim 1 further characterized by a plurality of said slide instrumentalities selectively positioned at spaced intervals along said wall by selectively engaging other of said plurality of members to selectively position said slide instrumentalities along the length of said upstanding wall.

3. The display set forth in claims 1 or 2 further characterized in that a slide instrumentality includes an elongated member positioned normal to said wall, said pusher means include a pusher mounted for movement along said elongated member and a device in contact with said pusher and said slide instrumentality and constructed and arranged to move said pusher in one direction along said elongated member.

4. A display as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by at least one partition positively engaging a second selected member to maintain said partition parallel said slide instrumentality to guide packages in said column pushed by said pusher means.

5. A display as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by a second upstanding wall spaced from said first named wall, partitions extending between said walls, the ends of one of said partitions being selectively supported along said second wall and a selected member of said plurality of members to form a channel, and said slide instrumentality is selectively positioned in said channel between adjacent partitions, the width of said channel being selectively variable by moving the ends of at least one of said partitions to and from the adjacent partition.

6. A display as set forth in claim 4 further characterized by a plurality of partitions forming a plurality of channels and a plurality of slide instrumentalities in said plurality of channels selectively retained by said members and said wall to selectively secure said instrumentalities in said channels.

7. The display set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said slide instrumentality includes at least one pair of rails, means supporting said rails on said slide instrumentality in spaced parallel relationship, the ends of said rails adapted to engage selected ones of said plurality of members, and said rails comprise means for supporting a package moved by said pusher means.

8. The display set forth in claim 7 further characterized by biasing means to urge said pusher in one direction along said instrumentalities.

9. The display set forth in claim 2 further characterized in that said slide instrumentality comprises:

a spacer plate;

rails mounted on said spacer plate;

said rails having a portion engageable with said plurality of members;

said spacer plate having a slot running parallel said rails for a substantial distance;

parallel tracks between said rails mounted on said spacer plate;

a pusher mounted to slide on said tracks;

a plow on said pusher engaged in said slot to hold said pusher down upon said tracks; and

a coiled spring secured between said pusher and said spacer plate and constructed and arranged to move said pusher along said spacer plate and said slot to move packages on said rails to said upstanding wall.

10. The display set forth in claim 4 further characterized in that said slide instrumentality includes:

a spacer plate parallel said partition;

tracks mounted on said spacer plate;

instrumentalities to engage other of said plurality of members to position said spacer plate along said partition;

a slot formed in said spacer plate running parallel thereto;

said pusher means mounted to slide on said tracks;

said pusher means down upon said track; and

biasing means constructed and arranged to move said pusher in one direction along said tracks.

11. A multi-package adjustable display-dispenser comprising a tray having a bottom portion and upstanding front and rear walls, the upstanding front and rear walls having a plurality of positive engageable devices therealong, a pair of movable partitions supported by lockingly engaging selected devices of said plurality of devices on each of said oppositely facing walls to define a channel of pre-determined width, and pusher means constructed and arranged to move along said channel from said rear wall to said front wall, whereby packages placed between said partitions may be moved by said pusher means and the width of said channel and said packages selectively varied.

12. A multi-product adjustable display-dispenser comprising a bracket, first devices on said bracket, a partition, second devices on an end of said partition to matingly engage said first devices on said bracket to define a channel, a member with a pusher slidably mounted for movement therealong, said member having third devices to matingly engage other of said first devices on said bracket to position said member in said channel, said member has transverse linear weakened portions at spaced intervals at the end of said member distant from said third devices provided for breakingly removing fixed portions of said member to shorten its linear dimensions whereby it may be accommodated to a selected shelf depth.

13. A multi-package shelf display comprising an upstanding front wall having a base supporting said wall, said base forming a rearwardly extending ledge, an upstanding rear wall having a base forming a forwardly extending ledge, means to secure said forward and rearward base portions to a supporting shelf, said front wall and said rear wall each having a plurality of members therealong, at least one slide member having a member lockingly engageable with selected ones of said plurality of members at said front and rear walls, one end portion of said slide member having spaced means to selectively breakaway at least one terminal portion thereof, pusher means constructed and arranged to move along said slide member forwardly toward said front wall when said slide member is lockingly engaged thereto for pushing a column of packages forwardly upon removal of a forwardmost package, whereby said front and rear walls may be secured to a shelf and said slide member by breakaway may be adapted to engage said front and rear walls in accordance with the depth dimension of said shelf.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13 and further characterized by partitions lockingly engageable with selected members of said plurality of members to provide channels wherein said slide member may be positioned.

15. A device substantially as set forth in claim 14, further characterized in that at least two of said partitions are of substantial height to exceed the height of the packages placed upon said slide member, a second set of front walls and rear walls, cooperating means on said partitions and said second set of front walls and rear walls to support said walls on said partitions in vertical spaced relationship to said first set of walls.

16. A device substantially as set forth in claim 13 and further characterized by a price channel and means to secure said price channel at the front of said front wall.

17. A device as set forth in claim 14 and further characterized by a flag secureable to a forward edge of said partitions.

18. A device substantially as set forth in claim 13 and further characterized in that said slide member has a central longitudinal slot, transverse linear weakened portions at spaced intervals at one end of said slide member to provide for breakingly removing fixed portions of said slide member to shorten its linear dimension whereby it can be adjustably accommodated to the dimensions of a selected shelf to which said front walls and said rear walls are secured.

19. A device as set forth in claim 18 and further characterized in that said slide member has a pusher mounted thereon, said pusher having a foot engaging in and guided by said slot, resilient means connected to said slide and said pusher to move said pusher in one direction along said slide.

20. For a multi-package shelf display, a slide member, said slide member having spaced means for selectively severing at least one end portion to vary the length thereof, means to secure said slide member to a shelf, pusher means constructed and arranged to move along said slide member, means biasing said pusher means toward the front edge of said shelf.

21. The device set forth in claim 20 and further characterized by parallel rails on said slide member to support articles for sliding movement therealong, a track on said slide member to engage and guide said pusher means therealong and said biasing means comprises a coiled spring housed in one of said pusher, said slide member and the forward edge of said shelf and having its free end secured to another of said pusher, said slide member and the forward edge of said shelf.

22. A plurality of devices as set forth in claim 20 characterized in that said slide members may be selectively positioned on said shelf at selected spaced positions.

23. The device set forth in claim 22 and further characterized by a plurality of walls parallel said slide members and selectively spaced therebetween to define guide channels for articles moved by said pusher means on said slide members.

24. The device of claim 20 wherein said spaced means are at the rearward end of said slide member.

25. The device of claim 20 wherein said spaced means are at the forward end of said slide member.

26. The device of claim 24 wherein said slide member has an enlarged opening between said spaced means, and said pusher means has a plow insertable into said enlarged opening.

27. The device of claim 20 wherein said slide member has an enlarged opening between said spaced means, and said pusher means has a plow insertable into said enlarged opening.

28. A multi-product adjustable display-dispenser comprising a pair of spaced parallel brackets, a plurality of lockingly engageable devices on at least one of said brackets on an aspect of said bracket facing toward the other of said brackets, means to secure said brackets to a horizontal surface, partitions extending between said brackets to define channels of predetermined width, said partitions being supported in said predetermined position by lockingly engaging said devices on at least one of said brackets, a member with a pusher slidably mounted for movement therealong, said member being securable between said brackets and between a pair of said partitions, said devices supporting said member.

29. A device substantially set forth in claim 28 and further characterized in that said member and said partitions have breakaway portions whereby said partitions and said member may be of a length selected to correspond to a selected distance between said brackets.

30. A multi-product adjustable display-dispenser comprising a bracket, first devices on said bracket, a partition, second devices on an end of said partition to lockingly engage said first devices on said bracket to define a channel, a member with a pusher slidably mounted for movement therealong, said member having third devices to lockingly engage other of said first devices on said bracket to position said member in said channel whereby said member with said pusher may support and move product along said channel.

31. A multi-product adjustable display-dispenser comprising a bracket, first devices on said bracket, a partition, second devices on an end of said partition to matingly engage said first devices on said bracket to define a channel, a member with a pusher slidably mounted for movement therealong, said member having third devices to matingly engage other of said first devices on said bracket to position said member in said channel and said member and said partition have breakaway portions whereby said partition and said member may be selectively shortened to a preselected length and said member with said pusher may support and move product along said channel.

32. A device substantially as set forth in claim 31 and further characterized by a member secured at the forward end of said partition to form a stop in said channel to arrest product moved therealong.

33. A device substantially as set forth in claim 31 and further characterized by an optically selected member having instrumentalities to matingly engage said first devices on said bracket to form a stop in said channel, said stop being formed of material optically selectable from a class comprising opaque, translucent or transparent material.

35. The display dispenser set forth in claim 31 and further characterized by a C-shaped price channel securable to said bracket.

36. The display dispenser set forth in claim 35 and further characterized by a shelf-talker having instrumentalities to engage said C-shaped price channel.

34. A multi-product adjustable display-dispenser comprising a bracket, first devices on said bracket, a partition, second devices on an end of said partition to matingly engage said first devices on said bracket to define a channel, a member with a pusher slidably mounted for movement therealong, said member having third devices to matingly engage other of said first devices on said bracket to position said member in said channel and a first stop positioned in a lower portion of said channel and having instrumentalities to engage said first devices and a second stop positioned higher in said channel and having instrumentalities to engage said partition.