Display shelf

• US 7,458,473 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEW Dimensions Research Corporation (Westminster Capital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NEW Dimensions Research Corporation (Westminster Capital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mason, Timothy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US11/364,658
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.2, 211/59.3, 211/175, 211/184, D64/07, D64/08, 312/61, 312/71, 221/227, 221/255, 221/279
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means

Abstract

A display shelf for displaying a plurality of items of merchandise includes a tray having a base, a front portion, a rear portion, a first side, a second side, and a track disposed on the base. A first side member slidably engaging the first side of the tray and a second side member slidable engages the second side of the tray. The side members are displaceable to accommodate items of various widths. A biasing mechanism biases the items of merchandise toward the front of the tray, and has a biasing element and a merchandise advancing member slidably engaging the track. A stop tab is disposed on the base for restricting the rearward movement of the merchandise advancing member to limit the number of items than can be displayed on the display shelf.

Claims

1. A display shelf for displaying a plurality of items of merchandise, the display shelf comprising:

a) a tray comprising a base, a front portion, a rear portion, a first side, a second side, and a track disposed on said base between said first side and said second side and extending substantially parallel to said first side and said second side;

b) a first side member disposed at said first side of said tray and slidably engaging said tray;

c) a second side member disposed at said second side of said tray and slidably engaging said tray, wherein said first side member and said second side member are displaceable for accommodating items of various widths;

d) a biasing mechanism for biasing the items of merchandise toward said front portion of said tray, said biasing mechanism comprising a biasing element and a merchandise advancing member slidably engaging said track; and

e) a first stop tab disposed on said base of said tray for restricting a rearward movement of said merchandise advancing member to limit a number of the items of merchandise to be displayed on the display shelf, wherein said first stop tab is movable between a first position wherein said rearward movement of said merchandise advancing member is restricted and a second position wherein said rearward movement of said merchandise advancing member is not restricted.

2. The display shelf according to claim 1, wherein said first stop tab slidably engages a slot disposed on said base of said tray.

3. The display shelf according to claim 1, wherein said biasing element comprises a length of spring material secured to said front portion of said tray and extending under said merchandise advancing member, said length of spring material forming a coil disposed behind said merchandise advancing member, wherein said coil is uncoiled as said merchandise advancing member is moved toward said rear portion of said tray.

4. The display shelf according to claim 1, wherein said first side member comprises a first front projection for engaging said front portion of said tray and a first rear projection for engaging said rear portion of said tray and said second side member comprises a second front projection for engaging said front portion of said tray and a second rear projection for engaging said rear portion of said tray.

5. A display shelf for displaying a plurality of items of merchandise, the display shelf comprising:

a) a tray comprising a base, a front portion, a rear portion, a first side, a second side, and a track disposed on said base between said first side and said second side and extending substantially parallel to said first side and said second side;

b) a first side member disposed at said first side of said tray and comprising a first front projection for slidably engaging said front portion of said tray and a first rear projection for slidably engaging said rear portion of said tray;

c) a second side member disposed at said second side of said tray and comprising a second front projection for engaging said front portion of said tray and a second rear projection for engaging said rear portion of said tray, wherein said first side member and said second side member are displaceable for accommodating items of various widths;

d) a biasing mechanism for biasing the items of merchandise toward said front portion of said tray, said biasing mechanism comprising a biasing element and a merchandise advancing member slidably engaging said track;

e) a first stop tab disposed on said base of said tray; and

f) a second stop tab disposed on said base of said tray, wherein said second stop tab is disposed at a greater distance from said front portion of said tray than said first stop tab,

wherein said first stop tab and said second stop tab are each movable between a first position wherein a rearward movement of said merchandise advancing member is restricted and a second position wherein said rearward movement of said merchandise advancing member is not restricted.

6. A display shelf for displaying a plurality of items of merchandise, the display shelf comprising:

a) a tray comprising a base, a front portion, a rear portion, a first side, a second side, and a track disposed on said base between said first side and said second side and extending substantially parallel to said first side and said second side;

b) a biasing mechanism for biasing the items of merchandise toward said front portion of said tray, said biasing mechanism comprising a biasing element and a merchandise advancing member slidably engaging said track; and

c) a stop tab disposed on said base of said tray for restricting a rearward movement of said merchandise advancing member to limit a number of the items of merchandise to be displayed on the display shelf said stop tab being movable between a first position wherein said rearward movement of said merchandise advancing member is restricted and a second position wherein said rearward movement of said merchandise advancing member is not restricted.

7. A display shelf for displaying a plurality of items of merchandise, the display shelf comprising:

a) a tray comprising a base, a front portion, a rear portion, a first side, a second side, and a track disposed on said base between said first side and said second side and extending substantially parallel to said first side and said second side;

b) a first side member disposed at said first side of said tray and slidably engaging said tray;

c) a second side member disposed at said second side of said tray and slidably engaging said tray, wherein said first side member and said second side member are displaceable for accommodating items of various widths;

d) a biasing mechanism for biasing the items of merchandise toward said front portion of said tray, said biasing mechanism comprising a biasing element and a merchandise advancing member slidably engaging said track;

e) a first stop tab disposed on said base of said tray for restricting a rearward movement of said merchandise advancing member to limit a number of the items of merchandise to be displayed on the display shelf; and

f) a second stop tab disposed on said base of said tray for restricting said rearward movement of said merchandise advancing member, wherein said second stop tab is disposed at a greater distance from said front portion of said tray than said first stop tab.

8. The display shelf according to claim 7, wherein said first stop tab is disposed adjacent to said first side of said tray and said second stop tab is disposed adjacent to said second side of said tray.