Patents by Inventor Joseph F. Kologe

Joseph F. Kologe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8302784
    Abstract: A tray for the display and dispensing of products in blister packages. Side guide elements, of wire or sheet material, are provided in forward portions thereof with retaining elements formed integrally and in one piece therewith. The retaining elements engage side margins of a forwardmost package well below the tops of the packages and preferably below the tops of the blisters thereof. A forwardmost package is gripped by its exposed and unobstructed upper portions and pulled forwardly to remove a package. Integral, one-piece construction of the side guide elements and the retaining elements provides for economical manufacture with superior performance. Optionally, space may be provided in front of the retaining portions to accommodate return of packages by a customer who has changed his or her mind. In one embodiment, a wire retaining portion of inverted U-shaped configuration is positioned with wire ends concealed and protected by the tray side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Trion Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas O. Nagel, Joseph F. Kologe
  • Publication number: 20120255924
    Abstract: A product display tray and associated mounting bar and bracket. The mounting bar and bracket are configured to minimize space occupied in a front to back direction and enable mounting of a tray in a manner to maximize the number of products displayed. The mounting brackets allow the bar to be turned end for end to adjust the vertical position of the bar by one-half spacing in order to maximize vertical density of the packaging display. The tray has specially configured, rearwardly opening recesses at its back edge to receive the mounting bar while allowing a base of the tray to extend underneath and behind the bar. The tray, bar and brackets are also uniquely designed to enable a tray to be mounted on two adjacent, aligned mounting bars, to maximize horizontal density of the packaging display. Other disclosed features enhance the usefulness and efficiency of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventor: Joseph F. Kologe
  • Publication number: 20120211450
    Abstract: A locking mechanism is provided for a product display tray of the type having a base formed of longitudinal wires and having a product pusher slideable on the wires and urged forwardly by a spring to maintain products at the front of the tray as items are removed by customers. A locking member is positioned to slide on the wires and is pushed forwardly by the spring. The locking member has angled edges which engage the wires when the element is tilted. When the pusher is moved toward the rear of the tray, the geometry of the pusher causes it to tilt the locking member such that its angled edges lock onto the wires, preventing the spring from moving the pusher forward during loading of the tray. Pressing rearward at the top of the pusher reorients the locking member and frees the pusher to be moved forward by the spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventor: Joseph F. Kologe
  • Patent number: 8210367
    Abstract: A display tray with a push-forward means for the display of product items in a back to front column, with the forwardmost item of the column being at all times urged tot the front of the tray. A special mounting arrangement is provided for the tray in which product side guides, preferably width adjustable, also serve to mount the trays on a rectangular bar positioned horizontally at the back of a display gondola or the like, enabling a plurality of such trays to be mounted side by side and movable laterally for desired spacing and appearance. To particular advantage, the side guides are formed of a rigid sheet material, typically sheet metal, provided at front and back portions with transverse mounting rods engageable with base members of the tray to accommodate lateral adjustment of the side guides relative to the central portions of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Trion Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas O. Nagel, Joseph F. Kologe
  • Publication number: 20110017684
    Abstract: A tray for the display and dispensing of products in blister packages. Side guide elements, of wire or sheet material, are provided in forward portions thereof with retaining elements formed integrally and in one piece therewith. The retaining elements engage side margins of a forwardmost package well below the tops of the packages and preferably below the tops of the blisters thereof. A forwardmost package is gripped by its exposed and unobstructed upper portions and pulled forwardly to remove a package. Integral, one-piece construction of the side guide elements and the retaining elements provides for economical manufacture with superior performance. Optionally, space may be provided in front of the retaining portions to accommodate return of packages by a customer who has changed his or her mind. In one embodiment, a wire retaining portion of inverted U-shaped configuration is positioned with wire ends concealed and protected by the tray side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas O. Nagel, Joseph F. Kologe
  • Patent number: 7854334
    Abstract: A standardized or basic product display device is provided with a standard front barrier for identifying and restraining a spring-urged column of displayed products in conjunction with a plurality of secondary barrier elements which can be easily and securely mounted onto the primary barrier to accommodate reconfiguration and enlargement of the display device. The secondary elements have lower portions of inverted U-shaped configuration which can be selectively applied over external edge margins of the primary barrier and secured thereto by locking detents. The secondary barrier element enables the front barrier of the display device to be enlarged, both in width and height to accommodate larger product packages than contemplated for the standard display device in its minimum configuration. In one form, the secondary barrier element has a vertical extension of narrow width, providing effective restraint of tall packages while maximizing visibility of the front of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Trion Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas O. Nagel, Joseph F. Kologe
  • Publication number: 20100199696
    Abstract: An air baffle structure for refrigerated display cases having an open front and provided with openings at the back for the forwardly directed flow of refrigerated air. The display case has a display bar of non-circular cross section for mounting a plurality of display trays. A baffle support, formed of wire and comprising a front portion and spaced apart side portions, is mounted on the display bar and extends closely underneath the trays. A flat, plastic baffle plate is carried by the baffle support. The baffle support has rear portions of inverted U-shape engaging the display bar, formed in part by upwardly extending baffle positioning elements. Back edge portions of the baffle plate releasably engage the positioning elements to secure the baffle plate in position while accommodating easy removable and replacement for cleaning. A baffle plate typically will extend under a plurality of display trays positioned on the display bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas O. Nagel, Joseph F. Kologe
  • Publication number: 20100181273
    Abstract: A standardized or basic product display device is provided with a standard front barrier for identifying and restraining a spring-urged column of displayed products in conjunction with a plurality of secondary barrier elements which can be easily and securely mounted onto the primary barrier to accommodate reconfiguration and enlargement of the display device. The secondary elements have lower portions of inverted U-shaped configuration which can be selectively applied over external edge margins of the primary barrier and secured thereto by locking detents. The secondary barrier element enables the front barrier of the display device to be enlarged, both in width and height to accommodate larger product packages than contemplated for the standard display device in its minimum configuration. In one form, the secondary barrier element has a vertical extension of narrow width, providing effective restraint of tall packages while maximizing visibility of the front of the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas O. Nagel, Joseph F. Kologe
  • Publication number: 20100176077
    Abstract: A display tray with a push-forward means for the display of product items in a back to front column, with the forwardmost item of the column being at all times urged tot the front of the tray. A special mounting arrangement is provided for the tray in which product side guides, preferably width adjustable, also serve to mount the trays on a rectangular bar positioned horizontally at the back of a display gondola or the like, enabling a plurality of such trays to be mounted side by side and movable laterally for desired spacing and appearance. To particular advantage, the side guides are formed of a rigid sheet material, typically sheet metal, provided at front and back portions with transverse mounting rods engageable with base members of the tray to accommodate lateral adjustment of the side guides relative to the central portions of the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas O. Nagel, Joseph F. Kologe
  • Publication number: 20100176075
    Abstract: A display tray for specially shaped packages (e.g., sliced meat products), having flat, flexible bases and a forwardly projecting housings for the product, typically, typically with recesses in the base to accommodate nesting. A vertical frame at the front, permitting the product housing to project through while normally retaining the base and while also allowing the base to be pulled through by a customer, is known. The new tray positions this frame a sufficient distance behind a front stop of the tray to enable a customer to replace a pulled-through product into the tray, in front of the frame and a product projecting through the frame. To particular advantage, the thus-positioned frame is incorporated into a special tray insert, easily installed in a general purpose tray to accommodate the described, specially shaped packages, and easily removed from the tray to render it more suitable for the display of general merchandise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas O. Nagel, Joseph F. Kologe
  • Patent number: 7631771
    Abstract: A two-piece, adjustable width merchandising tray for the organized display of multiple product containers. Two L-shaped tray sections, formed of plastic material. The bottom portions of the two L-shaped sections are provided with laterally extending, interengaging fingers that enable the width of the tray to be adjusted for different product sizes while maintaining substantial continuity to the surface of the bottom structure for containment of product leakage. An asymmetrical side wall arrangement with a forwardly projecting hand grip at the front of one of the side walls enables individual trays to be removed and replaced from a closely packed array of trays arranged in side-by-side fashion. The trays can be conveniently lifted and carried for product restocking, reorganizing, tray cleaning, etc. A simple pull strip and paddle arrangement enables product to be fronted at all times. Double stacking of product containers is also accommodated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Trion Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas O. Nagel, Joseph F. Kologe
  • Patent number: 7438268
    Abstract: A display bar assembly for mounting on spaced apart slotted uprights on a merchandising gondola or the like. A tubular display bar of polygonal cross section is fitted with a pair of mounting brackets, which are slideable along the bar to enable spacing of the mounting brackets to agree with the spacing between the slotted uprights, which can be somewhat variable. The mounting brackets are formed with openings which closely and non-rotatably receive the display bar and are provided with hooks which engage slots in the uprights. Flanged end plugs are received tightly in each end of the display bar to prevent removal of the slideable brackets, such that the display bar and brackets form a permanent assembly. The mounting brackets may have multiple slot-engaging hooks for installation on uprights of different thicknesses in different rotary positions of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Trion Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph F. Kologe
  • Publication number: 20080203040
    Abstract: A display bar assembly for mounting on spaced apart slotted uprights on a merchandising gondola or the like. A tubular display bar of polygonal cross section is fitted with a pair of mounting brackets, which are slideable along the bar to enable spacing of the mounting brackets to agree with the spacing between the slotted uprights, which can be somewhat variable. The mounting brackets are formed with openings which closely and non-rotatably receive the display bar and are provided with hooks which engage slots in the uprights. Flanged end plugs are received tightly in each end of the display bar to prevent removal of the slideable brackets, such that the display bar and brackets form a permanent assembly. The mounting brackets may have multiple slot-engaging hooks for installation on uprights of different thicknesses in different rotary positions of the assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventor: Joseph F. Kologe
  • Patent number: 7404533
    Abstract: A display bar assembly for mounting on spaced apart slotted uprights on a merchandising gondola or the like. A tubular display bar of polygonal cross section is fitted with a pair of mounting brackets, which are slidable along the bar to enable spacing of the mounting brackets to agree with the spacing between the slotted uprights, which can be somewhat variable. The mounting brackets are formed with openings which closely and non-rotatably receive the display bar and are provided with hook-like tabs which engage slots in the uprights. Flanged end plugs are received tightly in each end of the display bar to prevent removal of the slidable brackets, such that the display bar and bracket form a permanent assembly. The mounting brackets may have multiple hook-like tabs for installation on uprights of different thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Trion Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph F. Kologe
  • Patent number: 6957555
    Abstract: A merchandise locking device for retrofit attachment to a product display hook installed on a merchandise display panel. The locking device attaches without tools to the upper wire arm of the display hook for pivoting movement between “lock” and “open” positions. A laterally opening recess in the locking device receives the lower arm of the display hook and a locking arm, rotatably mounted in the body of the locking device by a rotor element, closes the recess to lock the device to the lower arm and prevent the removal of merchandise therefrom. A simple key carried by store personnel enables the rotor to be released to free the locking device from the lower arm and permit the removal of merchandise. The locking device consists of four elements, including the key, and can be manufactured at very low cost, suitable for mass merchandise applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Trion Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas O. Nagel, Joseph F. Kologe