Merchandising system and method of use

• US 9,380,889 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2013
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marmon Foodservice Technologies Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Display Technologies, LLC (Leigh M. Rothschild)
• Inventors: Howard, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): HAWN, PATRICK D
• Application Number:
  US14/026,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20150076089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.2, 211/59.3, 211/74
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 65/15 Partitions, e.g. dividers
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 73/006 with modular arrangements of identical units
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/04 Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles , e.g. by means of gravity or springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/125 with an article-pushing device
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/14 Display trays or containers combined with racks A47F5/0025; tray partitions A47F5/005; as racks and transportable with merchandise A47F5/108; made of cardboard A47F5/11; stackable A47B87/02; packing boxes used subsequently as display trays B65D
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0025 having separate display containers or trays on shelves or on racks
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/005 Partitions therefore horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/0007 for stacked articles; Stabilising means therefor for cans or bottles A47F7/281
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/281 for vertically-stacked containers; Stabilising means therefor

Abstract

A guide assembly for a displaying a plurality of products is disclosed. The guide assembly includes a base, a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall. The base includes a product-supporting surface defining a longitudinal axis. Each lateral wall includes a plurality of support members and a rail. The support members extend upwardly from a lateral side of the base. The rail is spaced above the base and extends along portions of the support members. A proximal-most support member of the first lateral wall is longitudinally offset from a proximal-most support member of the second lateral wall.

Claims

1. A guide assembly for a displaying a plurality of products, the guide assembly comprising:

a base including a product-supporting surface, the product-supporting surface of the base defining a longitudinal axis;

a first lateral wall including a first plurality of support members and a first rail, wherein each support member of the first plurality of support members extends upwardly from a first lateral side of the base and is configured to contact a product on the product-supporting surface of the base, and wherein the first rail is spaced above the base and extends along portions of each support member of the first plurality of support members; and

a second lateral wall including a second plurality of support members and a second rail, wherein each support member of the second plurality of support members extends upwardly from a second lateral side of the base and is configured to contact a product on the product-supporting surface of the base, wherein the second rail is spaced above the base and extends along portions of each support member of the second plurality of support members and a lateral distance between the first rail and the second rail is fixed;

wherein a proximal-most support member of the first plurality of support members is longitudinally offset from a proximal-most support member of the second plurality of support members wherein adjacent support members of the first plurality of support members are separated by a first distance, and wherein adjacent support members of the second plurality of support members are separated by the first distance and wherein corresponding support members of the first plurality of support members and support members of the second plurality of support members are longitudinally offset by a second distance, and wherein the second distance is equal to about half the first distance.

2. The guide assembly of claim 1, wherein each support member of the first plurality of support members is longitudinally offset from each support member of the second plurality of support members.

3. The guide assembly of claim 1, wherein an entirety of each support member of the first plurality of support members is longitudinally offset from an entirety of each support member of the second plurality of support members.

4. The guide assembly of claim 1, wherein adjacent support members are configured to allow at least a portion of only a single product to fit therebetween.

5. The guide assembly of claim 1, wherein each support member of the first plurality of support members is fixed from lateral movement with respect to the base.

6. The guide assembly of claim 5, wherein each support member of the second plurality of support members is fixed from lateral movement with respect to the base.

7. The guide assembly of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of support members includes at least three support members.