Package conveyor
A product puller for moving products or items within a shelving or other storage unit. The product puller includes a sheet having a surface for supporting one or more products thereon, a product backstop, and a means for moving the product puller in a desired direction. For example, the product puller finds use in moving a product located thereon forward or backward relative to a front edge of a shelf or storage unit.
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The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/316,694, filed Oct. 7, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUNDThe present disclosure relates, in various exemplary embodiments, to an apparatus for conveying or moving items or products located near a rear portion of a shelf or storage unit toward a front portion thereof. The present disclosure also relates to a method for using such an apparatus, which can be termed a product puller. A product puller finds particular application in a retail or warehouse-type store, and will be described with reference thereto. However, the product puller is suitable in any environment where it is desirable to store or display items on a shelf or in a storage unit where the product may prove difficult to access.
Goods or products for sale at both retail stores and wholesale warehouse type stores are often displayed for sale on or in shelves of a storage unit. There is probably an unlimited number of items that may be displayed in such a manner, including, for example, diapers, household items, packages of food, clothing, and the like. As items are shopped and removed from the shelves, items near the back or rearward portion of the shelf may be difficult to reach, and in some instances even difficult to view. This may be the case in particular where the items are located on a high shelf or a relatively deep shelf. Additionally, it may be difficult to reach or obtain a single product located near the back of a shelf where several products are stacked on top of one another.
In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide an apparatus for use in a shelving unit by which a single item or a plurality of items that are positioned near the rear or back portion of a shelf may be conveyed or moved forward toward the front of the shelving unit and thereby made accessible for retrieval and/or viewing by a shopper, store employee, or the like.
SUMMARYThe disclosure provides, in various embodiments thereof, an apparatus for conveying merchandise on a shelf in a selected direction relative to a front edge of the shelf, said apparatus comprising a sheet member having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end, and a rear end; a means for grasping said sheet member located adjacent said front end of said sheet member; and a backstop located adjacent said rear end of said sheet member.
The present disclosure also provides, in various embodiments thereof, a product puller for moving objects forward on a shelf, said product puller comprising an elongated sheet member including a top surface for supporting associated merchandise items on an associated shelf having a front end; means for grasping said sheet member to advance said sheet member toward the associated shelf front end; and mounting means for mounting said sheet member to the associated shelf.
Further, the disclosure provides, in various embodiments thereof, an assembly for conveying items on a shelf, said assembly comprising a one-piece product puller comprising (i) a sheet member comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end, a back end, and a longitudinal axis; (ii) a backstop; and (iii) a slot for grasping said product puller.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe disclosure may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, several embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Generally, a product puller according to the instant disclosure comprises a sheet or sheet-like structure having a top, exposed surface, a bottom surface, and a means for moving the sheet or sheet-like structure in a forward or backward direction relative to a front portion of a shelf or shelving unit. The top surface, which may also be referred to as the support surface of a product puller is suitable for supporting one or more items such as, for example, packages, containers, boxes, or the like. The bottom surface, or at least a portion thereof, contacts another surface, such as the surface of a shelf, and can be slidable or moveable in relation to the shelf. In certain embodiments, the support surface of the sheet can be substantially planar. The product puller is suitable for use in a shelving environment and allows for items resting or placed on the support surface of the sheet to be moved along the shelf in either a forward direction, toward a front portion of the shelf, or in a rearward direction, toward a rear portion of the shelf, as the sheet is moved.
With reference to
The shape or configuration of product backstop 18 is not critical and not limited in any manner except to the extent that the product backstop provides a wall or surface which is suitable for contacting at least a portion of one or more products or items supported on the surface of the product puller. Product backstop 18 may be attached or connected to the product puller 10 in any suitable manner including, but not limited to by an adhesive, sink welding, stapling, other known fasteners, or the like. For example, backstop 18 can be a rear end of the product puller 10 which is folded over and is attached by sink welding a flap 23 to the surface 12. However, the product backstop may be a separate structure that is attached to the product puller or may be formed directly as part of the product puller configuration, such as by molding. In one embodiment, it can be a portion of the product puller structure that is configured to form a backstop such as by folding at pre-selected creases or folds.
The product puller 10 can also include a hand hold, such as a slot 28, which can be located adjacent the forward portion 16 thereof. In this embodiment, the slot 28 is generally sized and shaped to allow a person to fit one or more fingers in the slot in order to grasp the product puller and move the product puller in a desired direction. The size and shape of slot 28, and its location, are otherwise not limited in any matter.
A product puller may also comprise various structures or mounting means for mounting a sheet member to an associated shelf. With reference to
In one embodiment (not shown), a product puller may be disposed between generally horizontal walls of opposing product dividers such that the bottom surface of a product puller is in contact with a shelf surface. In another embodiment, such as shown in
The shape, configuration, and height of product dividers may be selected as desired for a particular purpose or intended use. Additionally, the product dividers may be formed from any material including, but not limited to, metals, plastics, composites, and the like. The product dividers may be formed or molded single-piece structures or formed by separately connected pieces.
It will be appreciated that a product divider may include one or two generally horizontal walls. The use of product dividers with two generally horizontal walls facing in opposite directions relative to the general vertical wall allows for a single product divider to separate adjacent sheet members.
With reference now to
To tether the product puller 10, an attachment piece 36 is mounted to a rear portion of the product puller. With respect to
With reference now to
It will be appreciated that various systems may be combined to form a product puller apparatus. For example, in one embodiment a product puller could employ a sheet member, product dividers, and a tether system.
With reference to
As shown in
Product puller 10 is moved on shelf 40 by sliding the bottom surface of the shut member along the shelf surface. Such a product puller may be used in any shelving system and is not limited by shelf type. For example product puller 10 may be used on a solid shelf surface, a frame or screen shelf surface, or a shelf surface comprised of slats, rods, or tubes running either perpendicular to or horizontally to the front and rear edges of a shelf. To this end, the product puller 10 can be made of a material that includes a relatively slidable lower surface, such as polytetrafluoraethylene or another suitable conventional material. Also, the product puller 10 can be made from a flexible material if so desired.
With reference to
With reference to
In the embodiment shown in
Support body 60 may include other optional items for display purposes. For example, support body 60 may include a C-channel 76 adapted to hold a graphic display, ticket holder, such as ticket holder 78, or the like.
With reference now to
The product puller 46 can have a length, including the length of the product backstop that is less than, equal to, or greater than the depth of the shelf. It will be appreciated that product puller 46 can be employed with a tether system, such as, for example, tether system 30 shown in
It is noted that a backstop 54 in
With reference to
Belt 87 includes an outer surface 87a that is exposed or situated outboard of rollers 100 and 101, and an undersurface 87b that makes engaging contact with rollers 100 and 101. Additionally the undersurface 87b of belt 87 also contacts top surface 89 of the frame sides 88. As best shown in
A known ratchet type system can be used to advance or move the belt in a desired direction. For example, the ratchet system can include a known non reversible clutch bearing 106 which drives a sprocket 108 having a plurality of teeth 112. The non reversible clutch bearing 106 can be attached to the side panel via one of the pins 99 such that as the clutch bearing is moved in one direction the roller attached to that pin is also moved in a similar direction. The clutch bearing may be moved in a particular direction by a pull handle 110 with rack teeth 112. The system operates in a ratchet-like manner.
As the pull handle is pulled toward a user, rack teeth 112 engage the teeth of clutch bearing 106 to move clutch bearing 106 and, consequently, roller 100 in a clockwise direction to advance belt 87. When the pull handle 110 is moved in toward the shelving unit, the clutch bearing 106 is not engaged and belt 87 is not moved. With respect to the embodiments in
In another embodiment, instead of employing a ratchet-type system, the product puller 86, and in particular belt 87 may be provided with one or more slots or openings (such as are shown in
With reference to
The size and shape of a product puller is not critical and a product puller may be sized and shaped to for use on/in shelves of various depths and to accommodate products of various sizes and shapes. For example, with reference to
A product puller may be separated from an adjacent product puller in any known manner. For example, as shown in
It will be appreciated that the shelf-like structure may have configurations other than those described herein. For example, and with reference to
The sheet-like structure of the product puller may be formed from any suitable material. For example, the product puller can be formed from polymeric materials including but not limited to plastics, rubbers, and the like. The rigidity and thickness of the material may vary depending on the type of product which may be placed on the product puller and/or the configuration of the product puller. Generally, in embodiments where the sheet-like structure is to bend or roll up on itself (such as, for example, the product pullers of
The top surface of the sheet-like structure may be made to have a surface with a coefficient of friction that is high enough to prevent packages or containers resting thereon from being slidable on the top surface. Additionally, the bottom surface of the sheet-like structure is made of a material or coating that allows the bottom surface to be slidable along a surface upon which it rests so that the product puller and sheet may be moved along that surface in a desired direction. The bottom surface of the sheet-like structure may contain texture, perforations, embossed features, or the like, to reduce friction, static, and/or vacuum between the bottom surface of the product puller and its supporting shelf-like surface. The two faces of the product puller can exhibit different characteristics.
The sheet-like structure may contain graphics including, for example, product or store logos, or, as shown in
As shown in the various exemplary embodiments a product puller is suitable for use in a shopping or storage environment. In other words, a product puller is suitable for use in either shopping or retrieving items positioned toward the rear portion of a shelf or storage unit by moving the product puller in a direction toward the front of a storage unit, thereby moving the products or items situated thereon toward the front portion of a storage unit. Alternatively, a product puller may be used to restock items in a shelving unit. Items may be placed on a product puller tray end then moved toward the rear of the storage unit by moving the product puller toward the rear portion of the storage unit.
Such product pullers can be useful for moving large, bulky items, such as packages of diapers or laundry detergent, large packages of paper towels or toilet paper and the like toward the front edge of the shelf. In a club or warehouse store environment, which can have particularly deep shelves, such product pullers can find use for moving a variety of packages of goods sold in such stores toward the front edges of shelves.
A product puller has been described with reference to the various exemplary embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the proceeding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiments by construed as including all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. An apparatus for conveying merchandise on a shelf in a selected direction relative to a front edge of the shelf, said apparatus comprising:
- a sheet member having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end, and a rear end;
- a means for grasping said sheet member located adjacent said front end of said sheet member; and
- a backstop located adjacent said rear end of said sheet member.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said grasping means comprises at least one of a slot, a hole, and a handle.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet housing located adjacent a front end of an associated shelf, said sheet housing defining a generally hollow interior and comprising an opening located adjacent an upper portion of said housing, said opening being dimensioned for receiving said sheet member wherein said sheet member enters said sheet housing as said sheet member is advanced forward on an associated shelf.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said backstop comprises a generally vertical wall.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said backstop further comprises a generally horizontal wall and an angled wall located distal to said generally horizontal wall.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a tether system connected to an associated shelf, said tether system comprising a tether connected to said sheet member.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said tether is connected to said backstop.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said tether system further comprises a mounting bracket connected to the associated shelf.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a portion of said mounting bracket serves as an end stop to limit a rearward movement of said sheet member.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sheet member comprises a self-coiling material.
11. A product puller for moving objects forward on a shelf, said product puller comprising:
- an elongated sheet member including a top surface for supporting associated merchandise items on an associated shelf having a front end;
- means for grasping said sheet member to advance said sheet member toward the associated shelf front end; and
- mounting means for mounting said sheet member to the associated shelf.
12. The product puller according to claim 11, wherein
- said mounting means comprises (i) first and second opposing side members, said side members being transversely disposed relative to a front end of an associated shelf, and (ii) a plurality of rollers disposed between said side members; and
- wherein said sheet member comprises a continuous belt, said sheet member being disposed about said plurality of rollers.
13. The product puller according to claim 11, wherein said mounting means comprises first and second product dividers, said product dividers each comprising a generally vertical wall, and a generally horizontal wall, wherein said generally horizontal of each divider extends toward the other divider.
14. The product puller accordingly to claim 11, wherein said mounting means comprises a pair of opposing product dividers disposed generally transverse to a front of an associated shelf, said product dividers comprising a generally vertical wall, a first lower flange generally perpendicular to said vertical wall and oriented toward said opposing product divider, and a second lower flange, generally perpendicular to said vertical wall and opposite said first lower flange for mounting a sheet member of an adjacent product puller.
15. An assembly for conveying items on a shelf, said assembly comprising:
- a one-piece product puller comprising (i) a sheet member comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end, a back end, and a longitudinal axis; (ii) a backstop; and (iii) a slot for grasping said product puller.
16. The assembly according to claim 15, further comprising a tether system mounted to an associated shelf, said tether system comprising a tether connected to said sheet member.
17. The assembly according to claim 16, wherein said sheet member is slidable along a surface of an associated shelf, and said tether includes a resilient material and exhibits a biasing force sufficient to bias an empty sheet toward a back of an associated shelf, said biasing force being too weak to bias said sheet member towards the back of the associated shelf when at least one item is disposed on said top surface of said sheet member.
18. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein said front end of said sheet member is rounded, and said back end of said sheet member is generally square.
19. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein said slot is oriented transverse to said longitudinal axis of said sheet member.
20. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein said backstop includes a generally vertical wall portion of said sheet member.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 5, 2005
Publication Date: Apr 13, 2006
Applicant:
Inventors: John Caterinacci (Hudson, OH), Daniel Kump (Highland Heights, OH), Robert Gray (Brookpark, OH)
Application Number: 11/244,214
International Classification: A47F 1/04 (20060101);