Front piece for a merchandising display track device

• US 6,679,389 B1
• Filed: 07/29/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Display Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: Display Industries LLC
• Inventors: Sun, Ming, Robertson, James David
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US10/207,319
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.2, 211/74, 211/183, 211/59.3, 312/72, 312/45
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/28 for containers, e.g. flasks, bottles , tins, milk packs racks or containers with dispensing arrangements A47F1/04; for lipsticks or markers A47F7/0021; for audio/video cassettes or booklike articles A47F7/14

Abstract

A front panel for a display rack has a base, upstanding sidewalls connected along their bottom end portions to the base, face members connected to the front edges of the sidewalls, and an elongate connecting member connected to the top end portions of the face members. The base, face members and connecting member define a viewing window for the display rack through which a beverage container in a display rack in a refrigerator can be viewed. The base and connecting member curve outward to position a beverage container forward in the display rack. A pair of downwardly extending fingers fit into receiving slots in a front segment of the rack to fasten the front panel to the front segment of the display rack.

Claims

1. A front panel for a display rack, said display rack having a front segment defining first and second slots disposed substantially adjacent a lower forward edge thereof, said front panel comprising:

a base;

a first upstanding sidewall having a top end portion, a bottom end portion and a front edge, said first sidewall being connected along a bottom end portion to said base;

a second upstanding sidewall having a top end portion, a bottom end portion and a front edge, said second sidewall being laterally spaced from said first sidewall and connected along a bottom end portion to said base;

a first face member having a top end portion and a bottom end portion and being connected to said front edge of said first sidewall, said first face member extending laterally a preselected distance from said first sidewall toward said second sidewall;

a second face member having a top end portion and a bottom end portion and being connected to said front edge of said second sidewall, said second face member extending laterally a preselected distance from said second sidewall toward said first sidewall;

an elongate connecting member having a first end connected to said top end portion of said first face member and a second end portion connected to said top end portion of said second face member;

a first finger attached substantially adjacent a lower forward edge of one of said first sidewall and said base and extending downwardly therefrom, said first finger adapted to fit in said first slot to thereby fasten said front panel to said front segment; and

a second finger attached substantially adjacent a lower forward edge of one of said second sidewall and said base and extending downwardly therefrom, said second finger being laterally spaced from said first finger and adapted to fit in said second slot to thereby fasten said front panel to said front segment.

2. A front panel, as set forth in claim 1, including:

a first front stop member extending laterally a preselected distance from said first face member toward said second sidewall; and

a second front stop member extending laterally a preselected distance from said second face member toward said first sidewall.

3. A front panel, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said base, face members, connecting member and front stop members define a viewing window for said display rack.

4. A front panel, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first front stop member is attached to said base.

5. A front panel, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongate connecting member curves outward away from said face members.

6. A front panel assembly for a display rack, said display rack having a front segment defining at least first and second slots disposed substantially adjacent a lower forward edge thereof, said front panel comprising:

a base;

a first upstanding sidewall having a top end portion, a bottom end portion and a front edge, said first sidewall being connected along a bottom end portion to said base;

a second upstanding sidewall having a top end portion, a bottom end portion and a front edge, said second sidewall being laterally spaced from said first sidewall and connected along bottom end portion to said base;

a third upstanding sidewall having a top end portion, a bottom end portion and a front edge, said third sidewall being laterally spaced from said second sidewall and connected along a bottom end portion to said base, said second sidewall being intermediate said first and third sidewalls;

a first face member having a top end portion and a bottom end portion and being connected to said front edge of said first sidewall, said first face member extending laterally a preselected distance from said first sidewall toward said second sidewall;

a second face member having a top end portion and a bottom end portion and being connected to said front edge of said second sidewall, said second face member extending laterally a preselected distance from said second sidewall toward said first sidewall and extending laterally a preselected distance from said second sidewall toward said third sidewall;

a third face member having a top end portion and a bottom end portion and being connected to said front edge of said third sidewall, said third face member extending laterally a preselected distance from said third sidewall toward said second sidewall;

a first elongate connecting member having a first end connected to said top end portion of said first face member and a second end portion connected to said top end portion of said second face member, said base, face members and connecting member defining a first viewing window for said display rack;

a second elongate connecting member having a first end connected to said top end portion of said second face member and a second end portion connected to said top end portion of said third face member, said base, face members and connecting member defining a second viewing window for said display rack; and

at least first and second fingers, said first finger being attached substantially adjacent a lower forward edge of one of said base and first, second and third sidewalls, said first finger extending downwardly therefrom, said first finger being adapted to fit in said first slot to thereby fasten said front panel to said front segment, said second finger being attached substantially adjacent a lower forward edge of one of said base and first, second and third sidewalls, said second finger extending downwardly therefrom and being laterally spaced from said first finger, said second finger being adapted to fit in said second slot to thereby fasten said front panel to said front segment.

7. A front panel, as set forth in claim 6, including:

a first front stop member extending laterally a preselected distance from said first face member toward said second sidewall; and

a second front stop member extending laterally a preselected distance from said second face member toward said first sidewall;

a third front stop member extending laterally a preselected distance from said third face member toward said third sidewall; and

a fourth front stop member extending laterally a preselected distance from said fourth face member toward said second sidewall.

8. A front panel, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said base, first and second face members, first connecting member and first and second front stop members define a first viewing window for said display rack.

9. A front panel, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said base, second and third face members, second connecting member and third and fourth front stop members define a second viewing window for said display rack.

10. A front panel, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said front stop members are attached to said base.

11. A front panel, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said elongate connecting members curve outward away from said face members.