Merchandising system

• US 7,124,898 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Retail Space Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: DCI Marketing Inc (IMI PLC)
• Inventors: Berglund, Terrence G., Richter, Gary M., Johnson, Allen E., Schiffer, Daniel J., Bryson, M. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US10/996,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20050127014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.4, 211/59.2, 211/59.3, 211/184, 211/175, 211/74, 211/189, 211/183, 108/60, 108/61, 312/61, 312/71, 312/45, 312/75
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• 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

Abstract

A merchandising system for articles comprising a connector, a first divider coupled to the connector, and a second divider coupled to the connector wherein a compartment of a first size is provided when the first divider is coupled to a portion of the connector and the second divider is coupled to a portion of the connector.

Claims

1. A merchandising system for articles comprising:

a connector;

a first divider having a front end, the first divider coupled to the connector;

a second divider having a front end, the second divider coupled to the connector; and

members coupled to and extending outwardly from the front end of each of the first and second dividers;

wherein a compartment of a first size is provided between the first and second divider when the first divider is coupled to a first portion of the connector and the second divider is coupled to a third portion of the connector;

wherein a compartment of a second size is provided between the first and second divider when the first divider is coupled to a second portion of the connector and the second divider is coupled to the third portion of the connector;

wherein adjacent members coupled to the front end of each of the first and second dividers cooperate so as to at least partially restrain movement of the articles and so as to at least partially move to allow removal of articles provided in a compartment.

2. The merchandising system of claim 1 wherein the dividers comprise guides configured to provide support to the articles as the articles move between a rear of the compartment and a front of the compartment.

3. The merchandising system of claim 2 wherein the guides are integrally formed with the dividers.

4. The merchandising system of claim 2 wherein the guides are tracks.

5. The merchandising system of claim 2 wherein the guides comprise a substantially curved shape.

6. The merchandising system of claim 2 further comprising a member provided at the front of the system for displaying product information.

7. The merchandising system of claim 2 wherein the members are coupled to the guides.

8. The merchandising system of claim 7 wherein the members are generally curved in shape.

9. The merchandising system of claim 8 wherein the members comprise protrusions for gripping articles.

10. The merchandising system of claim 1 wherein the dividers comprise apertures.

11. The merchandising system of claim 1 further comprising a member having a substantially curved portion and slidably coupled to an inner wall of a divider and being movable with the articles.

12. The merchandising system of claim 11 wherein the member comprises a resilient portion for at least partially resisting movement of the articles moving between a rear and a front of the system.

13. The merchandising system of claim 1 wherein the first divider comprises a generally vertical wall and the second divider comprises a generally vertical wall, and wherein the first divider has a generally horizontal portion for coupling to the connector.

14. The merchandising system of claim 1 wherein the first divider is integrally formed and the connector is integrally formed and the first divider and the connector are configured to directly couple together.

15. The merchandising system of claim 1 wherein the connector further comprises a generally horizontal surface.

16. The merchandising system of claim 15 wherein the horizontal surface further comprises ribs.

17. The merchandising system of claim 1 wherein the compartment of the first size is formed by coupling the first divider to the connector with a first interface and the second divider to the connector with a third interface.

18. The merchandising system of claim 17 wherein the first interface comprises a portion of the first divider and the third interface comprises a portion of the second divider.

19. The merchandising system of claim 17 wherein the first interface comprises a portion of the connector and the third interface comprises a portion of the connector.

20. The merchandising system of claim 1 wherein the connector is directly coupled to the first divider.

21. The merchandising system of claim 1 wherein the compartment of the first size comprises a width defined by a distance between the first divider and the second divider.

22. The merchandising system of claim 1 wherein the connector couples to an upper portion of the dividers.

23. The merchandising system of claim 1 wherein a plurality of layers of stacked articles can be supported between the dividers.

24. The merchandising system of claim 1 wherein the articles are yogurt containers.

25. The merchandising system of claim 1 wherein the connector is shorter than the dividers.

26. The merchandising system of claim 1 wherein the compartment is configured:

to be provided in the first size so that the first divider is coupled to a first portion of the connector and the second divider is coupled to a third portion of the connector;

to be provided in the second size after being provided in the first size so that the first divider is coupled to a second portion of the connector and the second divider is coupled to the third portion of the connector; and

to be returned to the first size after being provided in the second size so that the first divider is coupled to the first portion of the connector and the second divider is coupled to the third portion of the connector.