Dispensing tray for display console

• US 6,409,027 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2001
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oneida Consumer, LLC (Lenox Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oneida Limited (The Oneida Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rich, Christopher T., Enochs, Larry R., Hernick, Mark R., Chang, Dennis L.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US09/802,637
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.3, 211/51, 211/184, 211/175, 312/61, 312/71
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means

Abstract

Apparatus for displaying and dispensing flat objects of different widths from a tray that includes an open top tray having a bottom wall, opposed side walls, a front wall and a back wall. A pair of elongated panels are slidably mounted in the bottom wall of the tray so that they can move along independent paths of travel from the back wall toward the front wall. Wound spring motors urge the panels toward the front wall of the tray so that flat articles of a first width stacked in the tray between one panel and the front wall will be supported in an upright position and the panel will automatically move forward when one of the articles is removed from the tray. The panel can be held in a coplanar side by side relationship by removable connectors whereby articles of greater width can be stacked in the tray.

Claims

1. Apparatus for displaying and dispensing flat articles that includes

an open top tray that includes a bottom wall, a pair of opposed side walls, a front wall and a rear wall,

a pair of elongated panels slidably mounted in the bottom wall of said tray that extend upwardly from the bottom wall through the open top of the tray;

spring means associated with each of the panels for urging the associated panels along independent paths of travel from the rear wall of the tray toward the front wall; and

removable connector means for joining the panels in coplanar alignment so that the panels move together in a side by side relationship whereby articles of varying width can be mounted between the panels and the front wall of the tray.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said removable connector means further includes at least one connecting unit having a pair of L-shaped lugs mounted upon adjacent side edges of said panels and a removable C-shaped key for slidably engaging both lugs to couple the two panels in coplanar alignment within said tray.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 that includes two connecting units.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 that further includes a pair of parallel guide rails mounted in said bottom wall of said tray beneath each panel, said guide rails extending between said rear wall and said front wall of said tray and each panel further includes means for slidably engaging the guide rails located beneath said panel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each panel further includes a pair of reinforcing members that extend upwardly along the back surface of each panel.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each reinforcing member is generally perpendicular to said panel and converges uniformly from the bottom of the panel towards the top of said panel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each spring means is a flat wound ribbon that is mounted behind each panel and said ribbon passing an unwound segment of said ribbon beneath the panel and further includes means to secure an end of said unwound segment of said spring at the front of said tray.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 that further includes a recessed trough between parallel guideways located beneath each panel and said unwound segment of said spring being housed within said recess.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 that further includes a removable wall slidably contained within an elongated slotted opening that is parallel with the side walls of the tray and which passes between said panels, said wall dividing said tray into two equal sized compartments.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 that further includes latching means for interlocking said tray with adjacent trays whereby a series of trays may be latched in a side by side relationship upon a display shelf.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said latching means further includes a pair of spaced apart cutouts containing female dovetails formed in the top edge of one side wall of the tray and a pair of spaced apart ribs containing male dovetails extending outwardly form the opposing side wall of said tray whereby the lugs of one tray can mate with the cutouts of an adjacent tray.