Shelf management systems

• US 20040245197A1
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kleerex Patents Limited
• Original Assignee: Kleerex Patents Limited
• Inventors: McElvaney, Oliver
• Application Number:
  US10/483,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20040245197A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/184
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/125 with an article-pushing device
• 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 shelf management system comprises a product merchandising (400) for mounting on a shelf, rack or other support unit (405). It comprises a locating strip (430) engageable with the front edge (406) of the shelf. One or more dividers (410) divide the shelf into zones to accommodate product. The front end of each divider (410) divide the shelf into zones to accommodate product. The front end of each divider (410) is engageable with and lockable to the locating strip. (430). In the engaged mode, the divider (410) is movable relative to the locating strip (430) while still being connected to the locating strip. In the locked mode the divider (410) is secured relative to the locating strip (4309).

Claims

1. A shelf management system comprising a product merchandising apparatus for mounting on a shelf, rack or other support unit comprising a locating strip engageable parallel to the front edge of the shelf, rack or other support unit;

one or more dividers for dividing the shelf, rack or other support unit into zones to accommodate product;

the front end of the or each divider being engageable with and lockable to the locating strip, whereby in the engaged mode the divider is movable relative to the locating strip while being connected to the locating strip, and in the locked mode the divider is secured relative to the locating strip;

engaging and locking means for engaging and locking the or each divider to the locating strip, whereby the engaging and locking means comprises complementary engageable formations formed on the divider and the locating strip;

characterized in that the complementary engageable formations comprise a first set of engageable formations including a ball and socket in cross-section and the second set of formations comprises a pair of overlapping lugs, whereby to unlock the formations the overlapping lugs are disengaged by tilting the divider towards its front end about the ball and socket arrangement and whereby the socket of the divider may be slid along the ball or ridge formation.

2. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 1, in which the or each divider is telescopically extendable and contractable to accommodate different depths of shelves, racks or other support units.

3. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 1, in which a second locating strip is engageable parallel to the rear edge of the shelf, rack or other support unit, with the rear end of the or each divider being engageable with the second locating strip.

4. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 3, in which engaging means are provided to engage the rear end of the or each divider to the second locating strip.

5. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 4 in which the engaging means comprises complementary engageable formations formed on the divider and the second locating strip.

6. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 5, in which the complementary engageable formations include a ball and socket in cross-section.

7. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 1, in which a barrier element is provided at the front end of the divider so as to prevent merchandise from falling from the shelf.

8. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 7, in which the barrier element is selected from the group consisting of one rigid flap, two rigid flaps, one flexible flap and two flexible flaps.

9. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 1 in which the or each divider is engageable with a riser at the front of the shelf.

10. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 1, in which the product merchandising apparatus includes a track engageable with and lockable to the first locating strip.

11. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 10, in which engaging and locking means are provided to engage and lock the track to the first locating strip.

12. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 11, in which the engaging and locking means comprises complementary engageable formations formed on the track and the first locating strip.

13. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 12, in which the complementary engageable formations comprise a first set of engageable formations including a ball and socket in cross-section and the second set of formations comprise a pair of overlapping lugs, whereby to unlock the formations the overlapping lugs are disengaged by tilting the track towards its front end about the ball and socket arrangement and whereby the socket of the divider may be slid along the ball or ridge formation.

14. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 1, in which the or each divider is provided with an extended base so as to provide stability for the divider.

15. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 14, in which the cross-sectional shape of the or each divider corresponds to an inverted T-shape.

16. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 2, in which the or each divider comprises two parts, one part being telescopically engageable with the other with detent means being provided at the engaging end of one or both parts to prevent unintentional disengagement of the two parts.

17. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 16, in which stop indications are provided at regular intervals along one part of the divider so as to provide a means of determining the length of the divider.

18. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 10, including a telescopic track engageable with shelves of different depths;

a product support member mountable on the telescopic track and a means for moving the product support member and any product supported by the member from one end of the track towards the other end.

19. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 18, in which the means for moving the product support member comprises a pusher element movable by gravity, a pulling mechanism operable by a user or a spring loaded mechanism to urge the product support member towards the said other end of the track.

20. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 10, in which the track is of low friction material and a pushing member is slidably mounted on the track for pushing items of merchandise towards a dispensing end of a shelf.

21. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 10, in which the track is securable to the shelf at both ends.

22. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 20, in which the pushing member comprises a pair of runners slidably engageable with the track and a plate engageable with the runners.

23. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 10, comprising a cassette for containing items of merchandise with the cassette being slidably mountable on the track;

whereby the cassette with its contents provides a weight to push items of merchandise towards a dispensing end of a shelf.

24. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 23, in which the cassette is manufactured from a low friction material, and is slidable on the track.

25. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 23, in which the cassette is provided with points of low friction material which are slidable on the surface of the shelf on which the apparatus is mounted.

26. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 23, in which the cassette is provided with wheels or rollers which allow it to slide directly on the shelf surface.

27. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 23, in which the cassette includes a base, a rear wall and a front wall, the front and rear walls being pivotally attached to the base so as to be foldable from a generally flat transport position to a folded operating position.

28. A shelf management system as claimed in claim 24, in which the cassette comprises a front wall, base and rear wall manufactured from metal so as to provide weight to the cassette.

29. A product merchandising apparatus comprising a telescopic track engageable with shelves of different depths;

a product support member mountable on the telescopic track and a means for moving the product support member and any product supported by the member from one end of the track towards the other end.

30. A product merchandising apparatus as claimed in claim 29 in which the means for moving the product support member comprises a pusher element movable by gravity, a pulling mechanism operable by a person or a spring loaded mechanism to urge the product support member towards the said other end of the track.

31. A product merchandising apparatus comprising a track of low friction material and a pushing member slidably mounted on the track for pushing items of merchandise towards a dispensing end of a shelf.

32. A product merchandising apparatus as claimed in claim 31, in which the track is securable to the shelf at both ends.

33. A product merchandising apparatus as claimed in claim 32 in which the track is securable by a connector engaged with each end of the track and is removably engageable with a rib element on the shelf at each end of the track.

34. A product merchandising apparatus as claimed in claim 31 in which the pushing member comprises a pair of runners slidably engageable with the track and a plate engageable with the runners.

35. A product merchandising apparatus as claimed in claim 31 in which the pushing member comprises a block slidably engageable with the track and an inverted V-shape plate member securable to the slidable block.

40. A product merchandising apparatus as claimed in claim 33 in which the cassette is provided with wheels or rollers which allow it to slide directly on the shelf surface.

36. A product merchandising apparatus comprising a cassette for containing items of merchandise and an elongated track on which the cassette is slidably mountable, the track being telescopic so as to allow the apparatus to be easily fitted to shelves of differing depths;

whereby the cassette with its contents provides a weight to push items of merchandise towards a dispensing end of a shelf.

37. A product merchandising apparatus as claimed in claim 36, in which the apparatus includes dividing members securable to the shelf to keep items of merchandise in ordered rows and wherein the dividing members are telescopic.

38. A product merchandising apparatus as claimed in claim 36, in which the cassette is manufactured from a low friction material, and is slidable on the track.

39. A product merchandising apparatus as claimed in claim 36, in which the cassette is provided with points of low friction material which are slidable on the surface of the shelf on which the apparatus is mounted.