Shelving system and display unit therefor

• US 6,375,015 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chicago Show
• Original Assignee: Chicago Show
• Inventors: Wingate, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US09/626,439
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.3, 211/59.2, 211/184, 211/175, 211/90.02, 312/45, 312/71
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means

Abstract

A display unit comprising a plurality of product trays connected to a plurality of shelves is disclosed. Each product tray includes a product slide moveable relative to the shelf and a facing slide moveably relative to both the product slide and the shelves. A restoring spring connects the product slide to the shelf and is positioned to facilitate restoration of the product slide from a stocking position to a displaying position. Locking mechanisms for both the product slide and the facing slide are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A display unit comprising:

a product member for containing one or more products, wherein the product member is linearly moveable relative to a shelf;

a facing member for facing the one or more products contained in the product member, wherein the facing member is moveably connected to the product member and linearly moveable relative to both the shelf and the product member, and

a restoring spring connected to the product member for facilitating return of the product member from a stocking position to a displaying position.

2. The unit of claim 1, comprising a plurality of product members, including the product member, wherein the product members are arranged horizontally relative to one and another.

3. The unit of claim 1, wherein the restoring spring is connected to the rear of the product member.

4. A display unit comprising:

a product member for containing one or more products, wherein the product member is linearly moveable relative to a shelf;

a facing member for facing the one or more products contained in the product member, wherein the facing member is moveably connected to the product member and linearly moveable relative to both the shelf and the product member; and

a facing member locking mechanism comprising first and second members for locking the facing member in a set position relative to the product member while allowing the product member to be linearly movable relative to the shelf, wherein

the facing member comprises the first facing member locking mechanism member; and

the product member comprises the second facing member locking mechanism member.

5. The display unit of claim 4, comprising:

a runner movably connected to the product member and stationary relative to the shelf,

a product member locking mechanism connected to the product member for locking the product member relative the runner in both displaying and stocking positions.

16. The display unit of claim 5, comprising a restoring spring connected to the product member for facilitating return of the product member from a stocking position to a display position.

17. The display unit of claim 16, wherein the facing member comprises:

a push member projecting into the product member; and

a pull member accessible from outside of the product member, wherein the pull member is connected to the push member, whereby pulling the pull member results in pushing a product in the product member with the push member.

6. A display unit comprising:

a product member for containing one or more products, wherein the product member is linearly moveable relative to a shelf; and

a facing member for facing the one or more products contained in the product member, wherein

the facing member is moveably connected to the product member and linearly moveable relative to both the shelf and the product member, and comprises;

a push member projecting into the product member; and

a pull member accessible from outside of the product member, wherein the pull member is connected to the push member, whereby pulling the pull member results in pushing a product in the product member with the push member.

7. A display unit for use with a shelving system, the unit comprising:

a shelf adapted to cooperate with the shelving system; and

a plurality of product trays supported by the shelf, each product tray comprising;

a product slide linearly moveable relative to the shelf; and

a facing slide slidingly engaging the product slide and linearly moveable relative to the shelf and the product slide, wherein each facing slide comprises;

a push member projecting into the respective product member; and

a pull member accessible from outside of the respective product member, wherein the pull member is connected to the push member, whereby pulling the pull member results in pushing a product in the product member with the push member.

8. The unit of claim 7, wherein the shelf is adapted to removably connect to a gondola.

12. The unit of claim 7, comprising a plurality of shelves, including the shelf, each shelf comprising a plurality of product trays.

9. A display unit for use with a shelving system, the unit comprising:

a shelf adapted to cooperate with the shelving system; and

a plurality of product trays supported by the shelf, each product tray comprising;

a product slide linearly moveable relative to the shelf,

a facing slide slidingly engaging the product slide and linearly moveable relative to the shelf and the product slide; and

a restoring spring connecting the product slide to the shelf, wherein the spring is positioned to facilitate return of the product slide from a stocking position to a displaying position.

10. A display unit for use with a shelving system, the unit comprising:

a shelf adapted to cooperate with the shelving system; and

a plurality of product trays supported by the shelf, each product tray comprising;

a product slide linearly moveable relative to the shelf

a facing slide slidingly engaging the product slide and linearly moveable relative to the shelf and the product slide; and

a plurality of locking mechanisms respectively connected to the product slides for maintaining the product slides in both displaying and stocking positions.

11. A display unit for use with a shelving system, the unit comprising:

a shelf adapted to cooperate with the shelving system; and

a plurality of product trays supported by the shelf, each product tray comprising;

a product slide linearly moveable relative to the shelf; and

a facing slide slidingly engaging the product slide and linearly moveable relative to the shelf and the product slide, wherein the facing slide comprises

a push member extending into the product tray and

a pull member connected to the push member, whereby pulling the pull member causes the push member to push a product in the product tray.

13. A shelving system comprising:

a support structure;

a plurality of shelves attached to the support structure;

a plurality of product trays connected to the shelves, each tray comprising;

a product slide moveable relative to the shelf, and

a facing slide slidably engaged with the product slide and moveable relative to the shelf and the product slide; and

a restoring spring connecting the product slide to the shelf and positioned to facilitate restoration of the product slide from a stocking position to a displaying position.

14. A display unit comprising:

means for containing products, the means being moveable relative to a support structure; and

means for facing products, the means cooperatively engaging the means for containing products and being moveable relative to the means for containing products and the support structure to face products in the means for containing products and being fixable relative to the means for containing products while being movable relative to the support structure to facilitate restocking.

15. The display unit of claim 14, comprising means for restoring the means for containing products to a display position, the means for restoring connected to the means for containing products to bias the means for containing the products toward the display position.