Merchandising display track device of multiple-piece construction

• US 6,325,221 B2
• Filed: 11/08/1997
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Display Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: Display Industries LLC
• Inventors: Parham, Dennis E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, KHOA H
• Application Number:
  US08/967,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20010002658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,487 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.2, 211/59.3, 211/74, 211/175, 211/183, 211/189, 312/45, 312/72
• US Class Current: 211/59.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence

Abstract

A merchandising track device for displaying articles is disclosed. The device comprises first and second elongate track members formed separately as two discrete structures. The first and second members are connected together in an end-to-end, longitudinally adjacent relationship. Each member comprises a track base for carrying articles for sliding movement along the respective member, and at least one article-guiding side wall upstanding from the track base of the respective member and extending along the respective member. The one side wall of the first member is disposed in general longitudinal alignment with the one side wall of the second member. The track device further comprises a locking mechanism for interconnecting the one side wall of the first member and the one side wall of the second member to lock the first and second members in position relative to each other. The locking mechanism comprises a part of the first member for preventing longitudinal displacement of the one side wall of the first member relative to the one side wall of the second member. In a track device in another form, the second member comprises a tongue extending longitudinally from its track base which tongue defines an end of the second member. The first member has an end-opening socket for receiving the tongue so that the track bases of the first and second members are interconnected to form a continuous floor for slidably supporting the articles.

Claims

1. A merchandising track device for displaying articles, said track device comprising:

first and second elongate track members formed separately as two discrete structures, said first and second members being connected together in an end-to-end, longitudinally adjacent relationship, each of said members comprising a track base for carrying articles for sliding movement along said each member, and at least one article-guiding side wall upstanding from said track base of said each member and extending along said each member, said one side wall of said first member being disposed in general longitudinal alignment with said one side wall of said second member and including a portion extending upwardly above an upper edge of said one side wall of said second member, said one side wall of said second member having a cutout opening to said upper edge thereof and to opposite side surfaces thereof;

locking means integrally formed with said first member for interconnecting said one side wall of said first member and said one side wall of said second member to lock said members in position relative to each other, said locking means comprising a flexible overhang extending rearward from said portion of said one side wall of said first member and disposed over said upper edge of said one side wall of said second member, said flexible overhang engages side of said one side wall of said second member with a lug formed integrally with said overhang and received in said cutout, whereby longitudinal displacement of said one side wall of said first member relative to said one side wall of said second member is prevented; and

a pair of engaging tabs provided disposed respectively alongside said opposite side surfaces of said one side wall of said second member with at least one of said engaging tabs formed on said lug so that lateral displacement of said one side wall of said first member relative to said one side wall of said second member is prevented.

2. A merchandising track device for displaying articles, said track device comprising:

an elongate body having a forward end, said body comprising a track base for carrying a row of articles for sliding movement along said body, a tongue extending forwardly from said track base and defining said forward end of said body, and at least one article-guiding side wall upstanding from said track base and extending along said body;

a front piece formed as a discrete structure separate from said body and attached to said forward end of said body to provide a stopper for preventing a leading article in said row from exiting said track device, said front piece comprising a deck for supporting said leading article, at least one upright wall upstanding from said deck and disposed in general longitudinal alignment with said one side wall, said one upright wall including a portion extending upwardly above an upper edge of said one sidewall; and

locking means for interconnecting said one upright wall and said one side wall to lock said front piece in position relative to said body, said locking means including a flexible overhang integrally formed with said front piece and extending rearward from said portion of said one upright wall and disposed over said upper edge of said one side wall with said flexible overhang flexing to either side of said one side wall of said second member; and

a pair of engaging tabs disposed respectively alongside opposite side surfaces of said one side wall, at least one of said engaging tabs being integrally formed with said overhang, whereby lateral displacement of said one upright wall relative to said one side wall is prevented, and wherein one sidewall has a cutout opening to said upper edge and said opposite side surface thereof, and at least one engaging tab is formed on a lug to engage in said cutout.

3. The track device according to claim 2, wherein said lug has a thickness greater than a thickness of said one side wall, and both said engaging tabs are formed on said lug.

4. The track device according to claim 2, wherein said tongue is provided with a hooking element projecting therefrom, and said deck has a strip portion having a front and rear opposed faces, said front face providing an edge for engaging said hooking element to prevent forward displacement of said front piece with respect to said body, said rear face sloping to facilitate insertion of said tongue into said socket.

5. The track device according to claim 4, wherein said engaging edge of said deck extends transversely of said body.

6. The track device according to claim 5, wherein said strip portion is provided by said lower wall and extends transversely of said body, said rear face of said strip portion sloping downwardly and rearwardly, said hooking element projecting downwardly from a lower surface of said tongue.

7. The track device according to claim 4, wherein said tongue is formed with at least one notch for dividing said tongue into plural portions so that one of said plural portions exhibits substantial flexibility, and said one of said plural portions is provided with said hooking element.

8. The track device according to claim 2, wherein said engaging tabs are disposed with a lateral gap therebetween to receive in said gap an edge of said one sidewall.

9. The track device according to claim 8, wherein said engaging tabs are opposed to each other across a thickness of said one side wall.

10. The track device according to claim 8, wherein said engaging tabs are disposed at positions offset from each other along a length of said one side wall.

11. The track device according to claim 2, wherein said body and said front piece are formed from different material.

12. The track device according to claim 11, wherein said body is molded of polystyrene, and said front piece is molded of polycarbonate.

13. The track device according to claim 2, wherein said tongue is formed with at least one notch for dividing said tongue into plural portions so that one of said plural portions exhibits substantial flexibility, and said one of said plural portions is provided with said hooking element.

14. A merchandising track device for displaying articles, said track device comprising:

first and second elongate track members formed separately as two discrete structures, said first and second members being connected together in an end-to-end, longitudinally adjacent relationship, each of said members comprising a track base for carrying articles for sliding movement along said each member, and at least one article-guiding side wall upstanding from said track base of said each member and extending along said each member, said one side wall of said first member being disposed in general longitudinal alignment with said one side wall of said second member and including a portion extending upwardly above an upper edge of said one side wall of said second member, said one side wall of said second member having a cutout opening to said upper edge thereof and to opposite side surfaces thereof;

said second member comprising a tongue extending longitudinally from said track base of said second member, said tongue defining an end of said second member, said first member having an end-opening socket for receiving said tongue so that said track bases of said first and second members are interconnected, said tongue being formed on said track base of said second member such that an upper surface of said tongue is disposed below an upper surface of said track base of said second member to allow said upper surface of said track base of said second member and an upper surface of said track base of said first member to form a continuous floor for slidably supporting said articles, wherein said track base of said first member comprises upper and lower opposed walls, and said socket is defined between said upper and lower walls; and

locking means integrally formed with said first member for interconnecting said one side wall of said first member and said one side wall of said second member to lock said members in position relative to each other, said locking means comprising a flexible overhang extending rearward from said portion of said one side wall of said first member and disposed over said upper edge of said one side wall of said second member with said flexible overhang flexing to either side of said one side wall of said second member, and a lug with tabs formed integrally with and extending from said overhang and received in said cutout, whereby longitudinal displacement of said one side wall of said first member relative to said one side wall of said second member is prevented.

15. The track device according to claim 14, wherein said tongue is provided with a hooking element projecting therefrom, and said track base of said first member has a strip portion having a front and rear opposed faces, said front face providing an edge for engaging said hooking element to prevent longitudinal displacement of said first member with respect to said second member, said rear face sloping to facilitate insertion of said tongue into said socket.

16. A merchandising track device for displaying articles, said track device comprising:

an elongate body having a forward end, said body comprising a track base for carrying a row of articles for sliding movement along said body, a tongue extending forwardly from said track base and defining said forward end of said body, and at least one article-guiding side wall upstanding from said track base and extending along said body; and

a front piece formed as a discrete structure separate from said body and attached to said forward end of said body to provide a stopper for preventing a leading article in said row from exiting said track device, said front piece comprising a deck for supporting said leading article, said deck having a socket for receiving said tongue so that said deck and said track base are interconnected, said tongue being formed on said track base such that an upper surface of said tongue is disposed be low an upper surface of said track base to allow said upper surface of said track base and an upper surface of said deck to form a continuous floor for slidably supporting said articles, at least one upright wall upstanding from said deck and disposed in general longitudinal alignment with said one side wall, said one upright wall including a portion extending upwardly above an upper edge of said one sidewall; and

locking means integrally formed with said front piece for interconnecting said one upright wall with said one side wall to lock said front piece in position relative to said body, said locking means including a flexible overhang extending rearward from said portion of said one upright wall and disposed over said upper edge of said one side wall having said cutout, said flexible overhang flexing to either side of said one side wall of said second member; and

a pair of engaging tabs disposed respectively alongside opposite side surfaces of said one side wall in a cutout with at least one of said engaging tabs being integrally formed with said overhang so that lateral displacement of said one upright wall relative to said one side wall is prevented.

17. The track device according to claim 16, wherein said tongue is provided with a hooking element projecting therefrom, and said deck has a strip portion having front and rear opposed faces, said front face providing an edge for engaging said hooking element to prevent forward displacement of said front piece with respect to said body, said rear face sloping to facilitate insertion of said tongue into said socket.