Forward feeding modular display rack for rounded articles

• US 7,140,499 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Burke Display Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Burke Display Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Burke, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US10/330,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20040118793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.1, 211/59.2, 211/59.3, 211/184, 211/51, 108/60, 108/61, 108/90
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means

Abstract

A display rack for rounded articles generally includes a product track with a pusher block slidably mounted thereon. The pusher block is biased toward a front portion of the display rack, and the side walls of the display rack are configured to support a circular or elliptical product. Additionally, the display rack can be provided with front and/or rear removable panel carriers configured to removably receive front and rear panels.

Claims

1. A system for displaying rounded articles, said system comprising:

a product track comprising a product-supporting surface and adapted to extend generally transversely to a length of a shelf and adapted to be positioned in multiple locations along said length of said shelf;

a carrier that is configured to permit coupling of said track with said shelf to secure said track to said shelf, said carrier comprising a clip having a first portion biased toward a second portion and that is configured to frictionally retain a vertical rail of at least one of said track and shelf between said first portion and said second portion;

a pusher block slidably attached to said product track;

a biasing member adapted to urge said pusher block toward an end of said product track which is closer to a front of said shelf; and

first and second side walls extending longitudinally substantially parallel to said track and horizontally spaced therefrom, said side walls being angled outward away from said track to form an obtuse angle relative to a plane which is parallel to said shelf and said product-supporting surface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said obtuse angle is between about 115°

and about 125°

.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said side walls are angled such that at least a portion of a product placed on said track is supported on at least a portion of at least one of said side walls and a portion of said product supporting surface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said side walls and said track are integrally formed.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said track and side walls are formed of extruded plastic.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said side walls comprise a vertical portion in addition to being angled.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising supporting structures that support vertical loads applied to said side walls.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said supporting structures comprise gussets.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said side walls are not adjustable.

10. A modular product display system comprising:

a product track having a first end and a second end and a base;

a carrier comprising a clip having a biased portion that frictionally engages a rail of at least one of said track and a shelf between a first and second portion of said clip, said clip being configured to limit free vertical movement of said track when said track is coupled to said shelf;

a pair of raised rails extending upward from said base and extending longitudinally between said first and second ends of said track;

a pusher block slidably attached to said rails; and

a pair of side walls having angled portions extending upwards and outwards at an obtuse angle relative to said base;

wherein at least a portion of a product placed on said display system is supported on at least a portion of each of said side walls and a portion of each of the raised rails.

11. The display system of claim 10, wherein said side walls comprise vertical portions between the base and the angled portions.

12. The display system of claim 10, wherein said product track is configured to be positioned at a plurality of locations along said shelf.

13. The display system of claim 10, wherein said track is made of extruded plastic.

14. The display system of claim 10, wherein said obtuse angle is between about 115°

and about 125°

.

15. The display system of claim 10, wherein said innermost edges of said angled sidewalls are separated by a distance of between about 4.5 and about 5.5 inches.

16. A rounded article display system comprising:

a product track comprising a base and a pair of raised rails that extend upward from said base;

a carrier comprising a biasing clip that is configured to couple said track to a shelf by frictionally retaining between a first portion and a second portion of said clip a rail of at least one of said track and shelf and to permit movement of said track with respect to said shelf;

a pusher block slidably attached to said pair of raised rails;

a biasing member connected to said pusher block; and

a first wall commented to said base and bending away from said pair of raised rails and a second wall connected to said base and bending away from said pair of rails, said pair of rails being positioned between said first wall and said second wall.

17. The rounded article display system of claim 16, wherein said first and second walls form an obtuse angle relative to said base.

18. The rounded article display system of claim 17, wherein said obtuse angle is between about 115°

and about 125°

.

19. The rounded article display system of claim 16, wherein said product track is made of a single piece of extended plastic.