In-line gravity feed shelf system

• US 5,749,478 A
• Filed: 01/26/1995
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tone Brothers, Inc. (Hong Leong Company (Malaysia) Bhd.)
• Original Assignee: Burns Philp Food, Inc. (Hong Leong Company (Malaysia) Bhd.)
• Inventors: Ellis, M. Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAXTER, GWENDOLYN WRENN
• Application Number:
  US08/378,598
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.2, 211/175, 211/90, 211/187, 108/107, 108/108, 108/109, 108/102, 108/143, 248/429, 248/424
• US Class Current: 211/59.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0093 movable in a substantially horizontal direction

Abstract

A display shelf is slidably coupled to a gondola by support members so that the tray may be moved between a display position and a stocking position.

Claims

1. A display shelf, comprising:

a tray having a lip for retaining product therebehind;

means for supporting the tray;

means for sliding the tray in a generally horizontal manner;

means for locking the tray in at least three predetermined horizontal positions, wherein the locking means comprises a plurality of stops positioned across the sliding means and at least one locking lever, wherein the lever is operable to engage a selected one of the stops to hold the tray in a fixed position; and

means for releasing the locking means.

2. A display shelf according to claim 1, wherein the releasing means comprises at least one release handle coupled to a bell-crank, said bell-crank being pivotally attached to the tray and operable by the release handle to disengage the locking lever from the selected stop.

3. A display shelf according to claim 2, further comprising means for biasing the release handle in a locked position such that the locking lever engages the selected stop.

4. A display shelf mounted to a gondola, comprising:

a pair of support brackets removably coupled to the gondola;

a pair of support arms each having a tray groove and at least three stops positioned in a horizontal manner near the tray groove, each support arm being coupled to the respective support bracket;

a tray slidably coupled between the support arms and having a front lip and side walls, each side wall having a rib for mating with a respective tray groove;

at least one bell-crank pivotally disposed on one side of the tray;

at least one release handle mounted on the one side of the tray and coupled to the bell-crank; and

at least one locking lever coupled to the bell-crank and positioned to operably engage the stops.

5. A display shelf according to claim 4, wherein the support means include means for adjusting a relative angle between the tray and the gondola.

6. A display shelf mounted to a gondola, comprising:

a tray having a front lip for retaining product there behind;

means for sliding the tray in a generally horizontal manner to and from the gondola, wherein the sliding means comprises means for supporting the tray and means for adjusting an angle between the tray and the gondola;

means for locking the tray in at least three predetermined horizontal positions alone the sliding means; and

means for releasing the locking means.