Modular display and dispensing apparatus and method

• US 9,445,675 B1
• Filed: 01/09/2015
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Henschel-Steinau Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Henschel-Steinau Incorporated
• Inventors: Luberto, Michael D., DeSena, Michael D., Kassa, Getachew
• Primary Examiner(s): Krycinski, Stanton L
• Application Number:
  US14/593,019
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: A47F 5/005 Partitions therefore horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90

Abstract

A modular apparatus is erected from a kit of component parts to provide for displaying and dispensing selected merchandise at a point-of-purchase placed at a selected site. The merchandise is in the form of packages of selected dimensions to be arranged serially along the apparatus. The kit facilitates transport to the site and erection of the apparatus on-site to accommodate the packages of selected width. Adjustment of the apparatus to the dimensions of the packages is accomplished during erection of the apparatus at the selected site by movement of wall members of the apparatus into guiding juxtaposition with the packages. Rack and pawl arrangements integral with the wall members enable ease of assembly while attaining and maintaining accurate on-site adjustment.

Claims

1. A modular apparatus for displaying and dispensing selected merchandise at a point-of-purchase location placed at a selected site adjacent a display shelf extending in lateral directions at the site, the merchandise being in the form of packages of selected dimensions, including a selected lateral width, arranged serially along a path of travel extending longitudinally toward a forward dispensing location placed at the point-of-purchase, the apparatus facilitating transport to and erection at the site to accommodate the packages of selected dimensions, the apparatus comprising:

a track member having a platform for extending along a longitudinal direction adjacent the path of travel, in juxtaposition with the serially arranged packages, the platform including a near end for placement adjacent the forward dispensing location, a far end spaced longitudinally away from the near end, and laterally opposite sides;

a pusher configured for sliding engagement with the track member, the pusher being selectively movable along the track member in longitudinal directions between the far end and the near end of the track member;

a plurality of slots extending laterally within the track member, altitudinally below the platform and spaced longitudinally from one another along the track member;

a pair of wall members, each wall member having a longitudinal length and extending attitudinally between an upper edge and a lower edge, each wall member having a plurality of tenons projecting laterally from the wall member, adjacent the lower edge of the wall member, and spaced longitudinally from one another along the wall member such that each one of the plurality of tenons will register with a corresponding one of the plurality of slots, each tenon having altitudinal and lateral dimensions complementary to corresponding altitudinal and lateral dimensions of a corresponding slot so that upon registration of each tenon with a corresponding slot, each tenon will extend into engagement with a corresponding slot;

a rack extending in a lateral direction along either one of the slots and the tenons, each rack having a plurality of teeth spaced apart laterally along the rack; and

a pawl arrangement projecting from a corresponding one of the slots and the tenons in a direction transverse to the slots and to the tenons in position to engage a corresponding rack in response to insertion of each tenon into a corresponding slot;

the plurality of teeth and each corresponding pawl arrangement having complementary configurations for allowing selective movement of each tenon within a corresponding slot such that upon placement of packages of selected dimensions upon the platform, alignment of each one of the pair of wall members with a corresponding one of the laterally opposite sides of the track member and insertion of each tenon projecting from each wall member within a corresponding slot in the track member, movement of the wall members laterally toward one another will engage each pawl arrangement with a corresponding rack, allowing such movement of the wall members toward one another until the wall members are placed in juxtaposition with the selected lateral width of the packages on the platform, whereupon the engagement of each pawl arrangement with adjacent corresponding teeth of a corresponding rack will secure the wall members in place, in guiding juxtaposition with the serially arranged packages on the platform.

2. The modular apparatus of claim 1 wherein each pawl arrangement includes at least two serially adjacent pawls for capturing one of the teeth of the corresponding rack between the serially adjacent pawls.

3. The modular apparatus of claim 1 wherein each pawl arrangement is located on the track member, and each rack is located on a corresponding tenon.

4. The modular apparatus of claim 3 wherein each pawl arrangement includes at least two serially adjacent pawls for capturing one of the teeth of the corresponding rack between the serially adjacent pawls.

5. The modular apparatus of claim 4 wherein at least one of the track member and the pair of wall members is constructed of a resiliently flexible material.

6. The modular apparatus of claim 1 including a retaining arrangement for precluding inadvertent withdrawal of a tenon from a corresponding slot, subsequent to insertion of the tenon into the corresponding slot.

7. The modular apparatus of claim 6 wherein the retaining arrangement includes a shoulder on either one of the track member and each corresponding tenon, and a tab on a corresponding one of the track member and each corresponding tenon, the shoulder and the tab being located relative to one another such that upon insertion of a tenon into a corresponding slot, a corresponding tab will be flexed from a first position to a second position to ride over a corresponding shoulder, and upon an attempted withdrawal of an inserted tenon from a corresponding slot, the corresponding tab will engage the corresponding shoulder, by virtue of having returned to the first position, to preclude such withdrawal.

8. The modular apparatus of claim 7 wherein each shoulder is located on the track member and each tab is located on a corresponding tenon.

9. The modular apparatus of claim 1 wherein the packages of selected dimensions include a selected altitudinal height, and wherein the apparatus includes:

a pair of wall extensions having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to the longitudinal length of each wall member, and an altitudinal height extending between an upper boundary and a lower boundary; and

a channel extending longitudinally along each lower boundary and having a channel width;

an upper edge portion extending along the longitudinal length of each wall member and having a lateral thickness; and

the relative dimensions of the channel width and the lateral thickness of the upper edge portion of each wall member being such that upon insertion of each upper edge portion into a corresponding channel, each corresponding wall extension will extend altitudinally upwardly for placement into guiding juxtaposition with packages of selected altitudinal height placed on the platform of the track member.

10. The modular apparatus of claim 1 including a puller member mounted upon one of the pair of wall members for sliding movement in longitudinal directions between a retracted position and an advanced position, the puller member having:

a rearward end and a forward end;

an arm carried by the puller member adjacent the rearward end and extending laterally for placement behind the pusher member; and

a finger-grip adjacent the forward end for placement adjacent the forward dispensing location when the puller member is in the retracted position such that upon a purchaser grasping the finger-grip and drawing the puller member toward the advanced position, the arm will engage the pusher member to move the pusher member, together with the serially arranged packages, along the platform to the dispensing location.

11. The modular apparatus of claim 10 including a resiliently biased retraction mechanism coupled with the puller member for permitting advancement of the puller member into the advanced position and resiliently biasing the puller member into the retracted position.

12. A method for erecting a modular apparatus for displaying and dispensing selected merchandise at a point-of-purchase location placed at a selected site adjacent a display shelf extending in lateral directions at the site, the merchandise being in the form of packages of selected dimensions, including a selected lateral width, arranged serially along a path of travel extending longitudinally toward a forward dispensing location placed at the point-of-purchase, the apparatus facilitating transport to and erection at the site to accommodate the packages of selected dimensions, the method comprising:

placing at the site, a track member having a platform for extending along a longitudinal direction adjacent the path of travel, in juxtaposition with the serially arranged packages, the platform including a near end for placement adjacent the forward dispensing location, a far end spaced longitudinally away from the near end, and laterally opposite sides;

engaging a pusher with the track member, the pusher being configured for sliding engagement with the track member, selectively movable along the track member in longitudinal directions between the far end and the near end of the track member;

providing a plurality of slots extending laterally within the track member, altitudinally below the platform and spaced longitudinally from one another along the track member;

providing a pair of wall members, each wall member having a longitudinal length and extending altitudinally between an upper edge and a lower edge, each wall member having a plurality of tenons projecting laterally from the wall member, adjacent the lower edge of the wall member, and spaced longitudinally from one another along the wall member;

registering each one of the plurality of tenons with a corresponding one of the plurality of slots, each tenon being provided with altitudinal and lateral dimensions complementary to corresponding altitudinal and lateral dimensions of each corresponding slot so that upon registration of each tenon with a corresponding slot, each tenon will extend into engagement with a corresponding slot;

providing a rack extending in a lateral direction along either one of the slots and the tenons, each rack having a plurality of teeth spaced apart laterally along the rack; and

providing a pawl arrangement projecting from a corresponding one of the slots and the tenons in a direction transverse to the slots and to the tenons in position to engage a corresponding rack in response to insertion of each tenon into a corresponding slot;

providing the plurality of teeth and each corresponding pawl arrangement with complementary allowing selective movement of each tenon within a corresponding slot;

placing packages of selected dimensions upon the platform;

aligning each one of the pair of wall members with a corresponding one of the laterally opposite sides of the track member and inserting each tenon projecting from each wall member into a corresponding slot in the track member;

moving the wall members laterally toward one another to engage each pawl arrangement with a corresponding rack; and

continuing such movement of the wall members toward one another, as allowed by the complementary configurations of the plurality of teeth of each rack and each corresponding pawl arrangement, until the wall members are placed in juxtaposition with the selected lateral width of the packages on the platform, whereupon the engagement of each pawl arrangement with adjacent corresponding teeth of a corresponding rack will secure the wall members in place, in guiding juxtaposition with the serially arranged packages on the platform, to complete the erection of the apparatus.

13. A kit of component parts for erecting a modular apparatus at a selected site for displaying and dispensing selected merchandise at a point-of-purchase location placed at the selected site adjacent a display shelf extending in lateral directions at the site, the merchandise being in the form of packages of selected dimensions, including a selected lateral width, to be arranged serially along a path of travel extending longitudinally toward a forward dispensing location placed at the point-of-purchase, the kit facilitating transport to and erection at the site to accommodate the packages of selected dimensions, the kit comprising:

a track member having a platform extending along a longitudinal direction to be aligned with the path of travel, in juxtaposition with the serially arranged packages, the platform including a near end for placement adjacent the forward dispensing location, a far end spaced longitudinally away from the near end, and laterally opposite sides;

a pusher configured for sliding engagement with the track member, to enable the pusher to be selectively movable along the track member in longitudinal directions between the far end and the near end of the track member;

a plurality of slots extending laterally within the track member, altitudinally below the platform and spaced longitudinally from one another along the track member;

a pair of wall members, each wall member having a longitudinal length and extending altitudinally between an upper edge and a lower edge, each wall member having a plurality of tenons projecting laterally from the wall member, adjacent the lower edge of the wall member, and spaced longitudinally from one another along the wall member for enabling the plurality of tenons to be registered with a corresponding plurality of slots, each tenon having altitudinal and lateral dimensions complementary to corresponding altitudinal and lateral dimensions of a corresponding slot so that upon registration of each tenon with a corresponding slot, each tenon will be able to extend into engagement with a corresponding slot;

a rack extending in a lateral direction along either one of the slots and the tenons, each rack having a plurality of teeth spaced apart laterally along the rack; and

a pawl arrangement projecting from a corresponding one of the slots and the tenons in a direction transverse to the slots and to the tenons in position to enable engagement with a corresponding rack in response to insertion of each tenon into a corresponding slot;

the plurality of teeth and each corresponding pawl arrangement having complementary configurations for allowing selective movement of each tenon within a corresponding slot such that upon placement of packages of selected dimensions upon the platform, alignment of each one of the pair of wall members with a corresponding one of the laterally opposite sides of the track member and insertion of each tenon projecting from each wall member within a corresponding slot in the track member, movement of the wall members laterally toward one another will enable engagement of each pawl arrangement with a corresponding rack, allowing such movement of the wall members toward one another until the wall members are placed in juxtaposition with the selected lateral width of the packages on the platform, whereupon the engagement of each pawl arrangement with adjacent corresponding teeth of a corresponding rack will accomplish securement of the wall members in place, in guiding juxtaposition with the serially arranged packages on the platform.

14. The kit of component parts of claim 13 wherein each pawl arrangement includes at least two serially adjacent pawls for capturing one of the teeth of the corresponding rack between the serially adjacent pawls.

15. The kit of component parts of claim 13 wherein each pawl arrangement is located on the track member, and each rack is located on a corresponding tenon.

16. The kit of component parts of claim 15 wherein each pawl arrangement includes at least two serially adjacent pawls for capturing one of the teeth of the corresponding rack between the serially adjacent pawls.

17. The kit of component parts of claim 16 wherein at least one of the track member and the pair of wall members is constructed of a resiliently flexible material.

18. The kit of component parts of claim 13 including a retaining arrangement for precluding inadvertent withdrawal of a tenon from a corresponding slot, subsequent to insertion of the tenon into the corresponding slot.

19. The kit of component parts of claim 18 wherein the retaining arrangement includes a shoulder on either one of the track member and each corresponding tenon, and a tab on a corresponding one of the track member and each corresponding tenon, the shoulder and the tab being located relative to one another such that upon insertion of a tenon into a corresponding slot, a corresponding tab will be flexed from a first position to a second position to ride over a corresponding shoulder, and upon an attempted withdrawal of an inserted tenon from a corresponding slot, the corresponding tab will engage the corresponding shoulder, by virtue of having returned to the first position, to preclude such withdrawal.

20. The kit of component parts of claim 19 wherein each shoulder is located on the track member and each tab is located on a corresponding tenon.

21. The kit of component parts of claim 13 wherein the packages of selected dimensions include a selected altitudinal height, and wherein the kit includes:

a pair of wall extensions having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to the longitudinal length of each wall member, and an altitudinal height extending between an upper boundary and a lower boundary; and

a channel extending longitudinally along each lower boundary and having a channel width;

an upper edge portion extending along the longitudinal length of each wall member and having a lateral thickness; and

the relative dimensions of the channel width and the lateral thickness of the upper edge portion of each wall member being such that upon insertion of each upper edge portion into a corresponding channel, each corresponding wall extension will extend altitudinally upwardly for placement into guiding juxtaposition with packages of selected altitudinal height placed on the platform of the track member.