Pusher unit for dispensing merchandise
First Claim
1. An improved shelf for dispensing merchandise, the merchandise having a bottom surface and at least one upstanding side surface, comprising:
- a. a merchandise display tray comprising a pair of opposing side walls and a floor;
b. an elongated shelving track comprising a front end and a top surface for carrying the bottom surface of the merchandise, the shelving track being removably disposed on the floor of the display tray;
c. a pusher plate including an upper section, a lower section and a bottom section, the bottom section being connected to the shelving track for sliding movement therealong, the upper and lower sections each having a from surface for engaging the side surface of the merchandise, the lower section extending upward from the bottom section, the upper section being connected to the lower section by interconnecting means so as to be movable between a merchandise-dispensing position and a merchandise-loading position, the front surfaces of the pusher plate being oriented such that when the upper section is in the merchandise-dispensing position, the front surface of the lower section and the front surface of the upper section define a plane, and when the upper section is in the merchandise-loading position, the front surface of the upper section is out of said plane disposed away from the front end of the shelving track; and
,d. means for biasing the pusher plate toward the front end of the track to dispense merchandise.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pusher unit for placement into a merchandise display tray to dispense merchandise which has an elongated shelving track with a front end and a top surface for carrying the bottom surface of the merchandise. The pusher unit has a spring-biased pusher plate with a front surface for contacting the side surface of the merchandise. The bottom section of the pusher plate is movable along the top surface of the shelving track so that the front surface of the pusher plate engages the side surface of the merchandise and the merchandise is thereby disposed between the pusher plate and the front end of the shelving track. The pusher plate has interconnected upper and lower sections with the upper section being movable between a merchandise-dispensing position and a merchandise-loading position. When the upper section is in the merchandise-loading position, the front surface of the upper section of the pusher plate is out of the plane defined by the front surface of the lower section. The pusher plate can be locked into a selective position along the shelving track to facilitate loading merchandise on the shelving track in front of the pusher plate. An improved shelf for dispensing merchandise is also provided, which has a shelving track removably attached to the merchandise display tray.
309 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An improved shelf for dispensing merchandise, the merchandise having a bottom surface and at least one upstanding side surface, comprising:
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a. a merchandise display tray comprising a pair of opposing side walls and a floor; b. an elongated shelving track comprising a front end and a top surface for carrying the bottom surface of the merchandise, the shelving track being removably disposed on the floor of the display tray; c. a pusher plate including an upper section, a lower section and a bottom section, the bottom section being connected to the shelving track for sliding movement therealong, the upper and lower sections each having a from surface for engaging the side surface of the merchandise, the lower section extending upward from the bottom section, the upper section being connected to the lower section by interconnecting means so as to be movable between a merchandise-dispensing position and a merchandise-loading position, the front surfaces of the pusher plate being oriented such that when the upper section is in the merchandise-dispensing position, the front surface of the lower section and the front surface of the upper section define a plane, and when the upper section is in the merchandise-loading position, the front surface of the upper section is out of said plane disposed away from the front end of the shelving track; and
,d. means for biasing the pusher plate toward the front end of the track to dispense merchandise. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A merchandise display shelf comprising:
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a. a display tray having a floor and opposite side walls, said floor and said side walls defining a channel for receiving in tandem a row of articles for movement along said channel; b. a shelving track removably placed in said tray and extending along said channel, said shelving track having a front end and being disposed to movably support articles when articles are received in said channel; c. an article pusher plate including an upper section, a lower section and a bottom section, said bottom section being connected to said shelving track for sliding movement therealong, said upper and lower sections each having a front surface for engaging articles supported on said shelving track, said lower section extending upward from said bottom section, said upper section being pivotally connected to said lower section for movement between an article-dispensing position where said front surface of said upper section lies in the plane of said front surface of said lower section and an article-loading position where said front surface of said upper section lies outside said plane and is disposed away from the front end of said shelving track; and
,d. means for biasing said pusher plate forward of said shelving track so that when positioned in said channel between said pusher plate and said front end, said pusher plate is adapted to allow articles to be automatically fed one after another toward said front end as leading articles in said channel successively are removed from said channel. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A merchandise display shelf comprising:
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a. a display tray having a floor and opposite side walls, said floor and said side walls defining a channel for receiving in tandem a row of articles for movement along said channel, said floor comprising a shelving track formed integrally therewith and extending along said channel, said shelving track having a front end and being disposed to support articles for said movement; b. an article pusher plate including an upper section, a lower section and a bottom section, said bottom section being connected to said shelving track for sliding movement therealong, said upper and lower sections each having a front surface for engaging articles supported on said shelving track, said lower section extending upward from said bottom section, said upper section being pivotally connected to said lower section for movement between an article-dispensing position where said front surface of said upper section lies in the plane of said front surface of said lower section and an article-loading position where said front surface of said upper section lies outside said plane and is disposed away from the front end of said shelving track; and
,c. means for biasing said pusher plate forward of said shelving track so that when positioned in said channel between said pusher plate and said front end of said shelving track, said pusher plate is adapted to allow articles to be automatically fed one after another toward said front end as leading articles in said channel successively are removed from said channel.
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19. A pusher unit for dispensing merchandise having a bottom surface and at least one upstanding side surface, comprising:
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a. an elongated shelving track comprising a front end and a top surface for carrying the bottom surface of the merchandise; b. a pusher plate having an upper section, a lower section and a bottom section, each of the upper and lower sections having a front surface for engaging the side surface of the merchandise, the bottom section being connected to the shelving track for movement along the shelving track, the lower section extending upward from the bottom section, wherein the front surfaces of the pusher plate are adapted to engage the side surface of the merchandise such that the merchandise is disposed between the pusher plate and the front end of the shelving track; c. means interconnecting the upper and lower sections of the pusher plate so that the upper section is movable between a merchandise-dispensing position and a merchandise-loading position, the front surfaces of the pusher plate being oriented such that when the upper section is in the merchandise-dispensing position, the front surface of the lower section and the front surface of the upper section define a plane, and when the upper section is in the merchandise-loading position, the front surface of the upper section of the pusher plate is out of said plane; and d. means for biasing the pusher plate toward the front end of the track to dispense merchandise. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification