Adjustable merchandise display apparatus

• US 6,739,461 B1
• Filed: 01/22/2003
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Isadore W. Robinson
• Original Assignee: Isadore W. Robinson
• Inventors: Robinson, Isadore W.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US10/349,300
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 428/116, 428/119, 428/167, 428/179, 428/181, 211/59.2, 211/59.3, 211/175, 211/183
• 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 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24149 Honeycomb-like

Abstract

An easily adjusted apparatus for storing and dispensing cans, bottles and other containers, i.e. an adjustable merchandise slide, includes an adjustable mesh of ribs and deformable connecting members, as well as partitions, front panels and locking members attached to the mesh. The mesh, partitions and front panels define channels for holding rows of containers. The mesh is configured to be expanded or compressed as needed to make the channels wider or narrower. Each channel'"'"'s width can be separately adjusted. The locking members attach to the mesh to maintain a desired width for each channel.

Claims

1. An adjustable merchandise display apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of substantially parallel, spaced-apart ribs, adjacent ribs being separated from each other by a respective adjustable and readjustable inter-rib spacing; and

a plurality of deformable connecting members interconnecting the adjacent ribs to each other, wherein the connecting members are configured to deform as the respective inter-rib spacing is adjusted and readjusted.

2. The adjustable merchandise display apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one locking member configured to maintain a selected inter-rib spacing.

3. The adjustable merchandise display apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein the at least one locking member is configured to maintain a selected one of a plurality of inter-rib spacings.

4. The adjustable merchandise display apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein the at least one locking member is removable.

5. The adjustable merchandise display apparatus defined in claim 2, further comprising at least one front panel.

6. The adjustable merchandise display apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising at least two partitions, the two partitions being oriented substantially parallel to the ribs.

7. The adjustable merchandise display apparatus defined in claim 6, wherein:

adjacent partitions are separated from each other by a respective adjustable inter-partition spacing; and

further comprising at least one locking member configured to maintain a selected inter-partition spacing.

8. The adjustable merchandise display apparatus defined in claim 7, wherein the at least one locking member is configured to maintain a selected one of a plurality of inter-partition spacings.

9. The adjustable merchandise display apparatus defined in claim 7, wherein the at least one locking member is removable.

10. The adjustable merchandise display apparatus defined in claim 7, further comprising at least one front panel.

11. The adjustable merchandise display apparatus defined in claim 10, wherein the spaced-apart ribs define a plane inclined down toward the at least one front panel, whereby merchandise placed on the spaced-apart ribs is urged by gravity toward the at least one front panel.

12. The adjustable merchandise display apparatus defined in claim 10, wherein:

the adjacent partitions define a channel; and

further comprising a spring disposed in the channel for urging merchandise placed in the channel toward the at least one front panel.