Product distribution methods and apparatus
First Claim
1. Retail product distribution apparatus for distribution of retail product items onto retail shelving, the apparatus comprising:
- an assembly of an elongate support member and a plurality of tray members, each tray member having a support aperture adapted to accommodate the elongate support member, and an edge of the support aperture having a formation for selective engagement with the elongate support member, whereby the position of each tray member relative to the elongate support member can be adjusted by disengaging the tray member from the elongate support member, moving the tray member along the elongate support member to a different position and re-engaging the tray member with the elongate support member;
a container in which the assembly is removably disposed, said container having a base and a mouth and one or more substantially vertical sidewalls extending between the base and the mouth; and
a lid configured to attach to the container and seal the mouth of the container;
wherein said one or more vertical sidewalls have a portion with a substantially flat inner surface, each said tray member has an outer edge configured to be contained by said substantially flat inner surface when said tray member is engaged with the elongate support member and locked in position, and said tray member is thereby prohibited from rotatably disengaging with the elongate support member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Products (30) are distributed to retail outlets in containers (20). The products (30) are loaded onto the tray assembly (1) that is placed in a container (20) at a production or storage facility and transported to the retail outlet. Information as to a sequence in which the products (30) will be placed on retail shelving (32) at the retail outlet is used to determine a loading order of the products (30) on the tray assembly (1) so that the products (30) may be removed from the carrying device in the order required for placement on the retail shelves (32). The tray assembly (1) is removable from the container, and the trays (6) are moveable relative to each other to facilitate loading and unloading.
63 Citations
12 Claims
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1. Retail product distribution apparatus for distribution of retail product items onto retail shelving, the apparatus comprising:
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an assembly of an elongate support member and a plurality of tray members, each tray member having a support aperture adapted to accommodate the elongate support member, and an edge of the support aperture having a formation for selective engagement with the elongate support member, whereby the position of each tray member relative to the elongate support member can be adjusted by disengaging the tray member from the elongate support member, moving the tray member along the elongate support member to a different position and re-engaging the tray member with the elongate support member; a container in which the assembly is removably disposed, said container having a base and a mouth and one or more substantially vertical sidewalls extending between the base and the mouth; and a lid configured to attach to the container and seal the mouth of the container; wherein said one or more vertical sidewalls have a portion with a substantially flat inner surface, each said tray member has an outer edge configured to be contained by said substantially flat inner surface when said tray member is engaged with the elongate support member and locked in position, and said tray member is thereby prohibited from rotatably disengaging with the elongate support member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
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7. Retail product distribution apparatus for distribution of retail product items onto retail shelving, the apparatus including:
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a container having a mouth, a base wall and one or more substantially vertical side walls extending between the base and the mouth to define a containment region; a vertically movable carrying device adapted to be received in the containment region, the carrying device having a plurality of carrying shelves located one above the other, each carrying shelf being adapted to carry one or more of the items; and a lid configured to attach to the container and seal the mouth of the container, wherein said one or more vertical sidewalls have a portion with a substantially flat inner surface, each of said plurality of carrying shelves has an outer edge configured to be contained by said substantially flat inner surface when each of said plurality of carrying shelves is engaged with the carry device and locked in position, and each of said plurality of carrying shelves is thereby prohibited from rotatably disengaging with the carry device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 11, 12)
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Specification