Abstract: A drinking-water service system for supplying individual cylindrical containers of drinking water to athletes. A storage and dispensing unit for storing the containers for semi-automatically sequentially dispensing individually the drinking water containers to athletes. A multi-stage storage and delivery control passageway has a rolling section generally inclined downwardly for receiving and storing the containers disposed side by side and gravity biased. An uprighting section receives the containers from the rolling section successively and its surfaces cause the containers to assume an upright position for travel downwardly to a dispensing section which has a dispensing outlet opening through which the containers are dispensed to a horizontal stand surface.

Abstract: A holder for storing multiple rolls of toilet paper in a box-like enclosure mounted to a wall, either to the surface of the wall or in a recess. The enclosure is provided with a tilt-out front panel and an integral floor having multiple rods affixed orthogonally to the floor for receiving the open central cores of toilet paper rolls. The entire assembly comprising the front panel, the floor and rods tilt out as a unit to provide access the stored toilet paper rolls.

Abstract: This retainer system for vending machine storage compartments includes opposed compartment walls and opposed elongate retainers selectively connected to associated compartment walls in adjustable relation lengthwise of the containers to engage selected contoured containers intermediate the length thereof to provide a stop inhibiting axial movement of said selected containers.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a modular display for merchandising tubular cartridges containing adhesives, caulks, sealants or similar flowable elastomeric materials, where each cartridge contains a narrow dispensing nozzle at one end of the cartridge. The modular display unit comprises structural means for automatically aligning the cartridges horizontally and orientating the nozzles forwardly while stacking the cartridges in vertical rows by gravity feed. The internal structure includes a slotted front panel where the slot engages the narrowed nozzles but prevents passage of the enlarged tube end of the cartridge. The display unit enables the consumer to remove cartridges from the bottom and to reinsert cartridges at the top along with maintaining the intended forward orientation and horizontal alignment in the vertically stacked cartridges.

Abstract: A dispenser display rack includes a body portion having a front end, an opposing rear end, and a pair of upper and lower jar guides having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The upper jar guide and the lower jar guide are positioned within the rack body at an angled orientation with respect to each other so that the upper and lower jar guides converge toward each other adjacent the rear end of the rack body. A vertical passageway area is disposed adjacent the rear end of the rack body where the rear end portions of the upper and lower jar guides converge. The upper jar guide further includes an opposed front end portion having a container loading area defined therein adjacent the front end of the rack body. The lower jar guide also includes an opposed front end portion having a container dispensing area defined therein.

Abstract: A new and improved multiple-roll toilet paper dispenser rack for storing a plurality of rolls of toilet paper within the unused space of a bathroom cabinet and dispensing the rolls one at a time through an opening in the cabinet, the multiple-roll toilet paper dispenser rack comprising an elongated shallow pan having an inside width essentially the same as the width of a toilet paper roll, the shallow pan having a length substantially greater than the diameter of a toilet paper roll wherein a plurality of rolls may be placed, the shallow pan being fixedly mounted at a slight downward incline inside a bathroom cabinet adjacent to an opening through the cabinet wherethrough toilet paper rolls may be dispensed.

Abstract: A rack supportable on a refrigerator shelf for storing a bottle of wine, a carton of eggs or a plurality of cylindrical beverage cans. The rack includes a vertical sidewall terminating in an inwardly directed top flange for engaging the refrigerator shelf, a longitudinal depression in a bottom wall for supporting the wine bottle and an incline in the bottom wall for permitting the beverage cans to automatically self-feed towards the front of the rack.

Abstract: An elongated rack vertically mounted for storing and dispensing one-quart plastic oil containers is rigidly formed to include a top opening, a rear surface, parallel side surfaces extending forward of the rear surface and perpendicular thereto, a bottom surface, and an outwardly angled front surface. The side surfaces and the front surface are notched upward and rearward to create an opening through which only the bottom one of a stack of oil containers in the rack may be withdrawn.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying and dispensing cylindrical objects having a diameter and a length along an axis includes a base supporting a reservoir configured and arranged to hold a plurality of cylindrical objects to be dispensed. The reservoir communicates with a downwardly and forwardly extending chute terminating in a forward display position on the base. The cylindrical object displayed in the display position is axially distended from the plurality of cylindrical objects held in the reservoir. Thus, upon loading a plurality of cylindrical objects into the reservoir, the chute and display position are filled with cylindrical objects and upon removal of a cylindrical object from the display position, cylindrical objects descend under the influence of gravity from the reservoir to the chute and from the chute to the display position.

Abstract: A holder or rack for dispensing a plurality of rolls of tissue paper has a open ended tray for holding the rolls of paper at an incline in a bathroom sink cabinet and has a stop member at the open end of the tray. The tray permits a roll of paper to be removed and the remaining rolls to roll down the incline by the force of gravity to the stop member for easy access as needed.

Abstract: A carousel for dispensing canisters of film having a film-holding base secured to a vertical spine mounted centrally of the base, a plurality of vertical dividers extending radially from, and circumferentially of, the spine, vertically-extending wall sections secured to the outermost edges of the dividers, so that the spine, the dividers, and the wall sections together form vertical channels to receive and hold the canisters. The uppermost portions of the wall sections are open to receive the canisters, and the lowermost ends of the wall sections are spaced from the base sufficiently to permit removal of individual canisters, and the base and with the upper end of the spine are pivoted where they are to be attached to a display device so the entire unit can be rotated. If desired, the canisters can have keys on their bodies or their caps, and the channels can have corresponding key slots, so that the canisters will be held in the channels with their labels outermost.

Abstract: A can dispenser bracket for use in a modular shelf display; each can dispenser bracket includes a recurvant guide for dispensing an individual can, planar side-end surfaces, an entrance opening, an exit opening, and a back-end surface having a metal bracket attached thereto. The can dispenser bracket may be mounted side-by-side in a modular shelf display which is particularly adapted to stores which have high shelf-space costs.

Abstract: A flare carrier and dispenser for the safe and convenient transportation of a plurality of flares. The flares are stacked vertically in two spaced inclined columns within a housing and are dispensable on command by the depression of a spring-loaded gate disposed at the bottom of each column of flares.

Abstract: A group of flanged lids or cups of substantially identical construction and arranged in nested relation in a container are dispensed from an open end of the container by an elongated yieldable tension element disposed astride the open end of the container and arranged to override the flange of the article adjacent the open end of the container thereby to release and to aid in ejecting the article from the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing articles is disclosed. The apparatus includes a storage rack associated with a vertically disposed conduit proximate an outlet of the storage rack. A carriage adapted for a manual or spring-assisted upward and downward displacement within the conduit is configured to receive an article from the storage rack. A finger member mounted within the channel is formed to permit an upwardly directed passage thereby of an article loaded carriage and operates subsequently to unload that carriage of its article and thereafter retain that article within that channel at a location elevationally above the finger member.

Abstract: A cartonless recyclable package for protectively enclosing a product, such as photographic film, comprises a recyclable plastic container and mating cap with recyclably compatible plastic labels thereon bearing product information. One such label on the cap has readily tearable tab portions extending therefrom and tautly secured to the container, to tear apart when the cap is first removed. A second label, secured to the container and overlapping the tearable tab portions, includes inner and outer sheets separably adhered together. The outer sheet can be peeled back to reveal information on the interfacing surfaces of both sheets, and then re-adhered to the inner sheet. A third label, separably adhered to the first label on the cap, may be peeled away and re-adhered to some other surface for reference after the product has been removed.

Abstract: A compact, gravity fed storage and dispensing rack for beverage containers. The box-like rack comprises a pair of rigid, generally parallel, and spaced-apart side walls terminating in a rear wall. A pair of upper and lower lengthwise inclined shelves extend generally transversely between the opposing sides. The upper shelf is inclined downwardly interiorly from an access end of the rack. The lower shelf is inclined downwardly from the rear wall towards the access end. Containers roll from the upper shelf at the rack access end into the interior of the rack, through a transfer throat, and then down the lower ramp back to the rack access end for access. To encourage reliable bottle transfer, both shelves are edgewise inclined and transfer throat is defined within the frame between the end of the upper shelf and the beginning of the lower shelf. A variable extension tongue is slidably associated with the input shelf.

Abstract: A storage magazine for use in coin operated automatic vending machines composed of a plurality of side-by-side vertical storage columns or magazine sections, each having at least two back-to-back aligned serpentine tracks which store a plurality of cylindrical articles and gravitationally feed the same to an underlying discharge ramp common to both tracks. The ramp cooperates with a wedge feed system for operatively integrating articles discharged from each of the tracks into a single column in which the articles from the individual tracks are arranged in alternating order for first-in, first-out vending by a single coin operated vend mechanism.

Abstract: A vending apparatus for facilitating passage of a vendable object through a vending machine, the apparatus including a main body borne by the vending machine and mounting a pair of ribs which are disposed in spaced relation one to the other and which are individually adapted to support the vendable object in spaced relation to the main body, the ribs operable substantially to inhibit the vendable objects from bridging with adjoining vendable objects and thereby increasing the reliability of the vending machine so equipped.

Abstract: Dispensers for nested items such as cups or lids. Dispensers according to the present invention contain face plates which are easily removed so that the dispensers and their surrounding areas can be easily cleaned. One embodiment of dispensers according to the present invention includes a trim assembly and a container assembly for the items to be dispensed, which two assemblies can be attached as a unit to the face plate and removed with the face plate for quick and efficient cleaning and refilling. The face plates and trim assemblies may be color coded for aesthetic purposes and to differentiate various cup and lid sizes.

Abstract: An article dispensing machine (10) comprising a cabinet (12) containing a plurality of upstanding columns (14),(15),(16) each of which includes a first serpentine track unit (17) having an upper article receiving end (19) and a lower article dispensing end (21), the first track unit (17) having serpentine track sections overlying each other in contiguous relationship, a second track unit (22) including an upper serpentine section (23) disposed above the first track unit (17) and including also a rear substantially straight, vertically disposed track section (26) connected to the lower end of the upper section (23) and disposed behind said first track unit (17) and having a lower article dispensing end (27), and article dispensing control units (28),(29) at the lower dispensing ends of said first and second track units, each control unit selectively pushing and lifting an article (18),(18') to be dispensed for aiding the release thereof.

Abstract: A device for loading cans, bottles, or similar containers into a dispensing mechanism of a vending machine is disclosed. The device includes a rectangular box having a receiving opening and a discharge opening. The rectangular box temporarily stores the containers and includes a cover plate to control the opening and closing of the discharge opening. The cover plate is manually controlled by a control mechanism. The receiving box is also provided with a guide portion which extends into the open loading space of a dispensing mechanism of an automatic vending machine to facilitate the loading operation.

Abstract: A magazine having multiple columns for storing cylindrical articles, such as canned beverages, in a coin operated vending machine. The magazine is fabricated preferably of sheet metal to include a plurality of vertical planar wall members held in parallel spaced relation by intervening transverse spacers and connector rods forming a plurality of vertical article storage columns therebetween. Opposing faces of each of two adjacent wall members are provided with a pair of laterally spaced non-overlapping serpentine rail assemblies. Opposing pairs of such rail assemblies between adjacent wall members are registeringly aligned to form two non-overlapping serpentine tracks which are designed to support cylindrical articles, such as beverage cans and the like.

Abstract: A display case for storing and displaying a plurality of items of overall general elongated rolled and cylindrical configuration has a housing for accommodating a plurality of the items with their axes parallel to each other. The housing has a front, a back spaced from and parallel to the front, a pair of spaced parallel sides perpendicular to and joining the front and back, a top and a bottom spaced from and parallel to the top and perpendicular to the front, back and sides. An incline is formed in the housing on the bottom and back thereof and descends from the back to the front. A bottom opening is formed in front for accommodating the passage therethrough of one of the items at a time.

Abstract: An elongated longitudinally interlocking cluster of absorbent pads held together by a tear away adhesive strip of material for use in a nail polish removing wand.

Abstract: A dispenser (10) for permanent wave rods (40) and end papers (51) from a box (50) of end papers is disclosed. The dispenser (10) includes a housing (11) and a retainer (20) for holding a plurality of rods (40). The rods (40) may be easily inserted an removed from the retainer (20) and the rod holder (25). The housing (11) is adapted to receive the retainer (20). The box (50) of end papers (51) is releasably held to the housing (11). Further, the dispenser (10) is releasably secured to the user of the dispenser (10).

Abstract: A Serpentine vend rack structure is provided formed of hollow upright wall portions mounted in ported, laterally adjustable brackets over a refrigeration plenum such that the relative spacing between the wall portions is adjustable to accommodate articles of various sizes for vending. A plurality of shaped bosses on opposing wall portions define a serpentine path and include flow parts over a portion of those paths to permit circulation of refrigerated air from the plenum, up through the brackets and wall portions and out through the bosses to chill articles stored in the vend rack prior to vending. The upright hollow wall portions are internally partitioned to preclude the flow of refrigerated air beyond a desired level of the vend rack.

Abstract: A dispensing rack for use in a refrigerated environment for dispensing a leading item from a stack of items which includes a housing adapted to receive the items in associated ramps releasably secured within the housing by a plurality of horizontal connecting rods. One of the connecting rods engages abutment posts extending downwardly from the ramps and another connecting rod engages a rear flange extending downwardly from the ramp. The connecting rod engaging the rear flange is positioned at a horizontal plane above the horizontal plane of the connecting rod engaging the abutment post so that the ramps are generally forwardly inclined. In such an inclined position, when the leading item in the stack of items within each ramp is withdrawn, the next leading item is placed into a convenient position to be withdrawn as a result of the positive gravity feed of each ramp.

Abstract: A dispenser for displaying and dispensing items of merchandise such as packages of cigarettes includes a foldable inner molding which, when in the folded position, holds a replaceable display sleeve. The inner molding has a center panel with a center divider for dividing the dispenser into left and right sides, and left and right panels are attached to the center panel along left and right fold lines. Each of the left and right panels has a side divider for dividing the respective side of the dispenser into forward and rearward compartments, each of which holds a column of the cigarette packages. Integral with each of the left and right panels are forward and rearward column supports for holding the forward and rearward columns of packages, respectively. The inner molding may be constructed of a sturdy and washable material such as injection molded plastic.

Abstract: A storage rack assembly and vending channel structure for a vending machine that stores packages such as bottles and cans and feeds the same to a release mechanism upon the insertion of one or more coins or tokens in payment for the article. A release mechanism allows the product to travel down a vend chute and into a delivery port. Each channel is comprised of a pair of mutually opposing serpentine side members having a predetermined separation distance providing a storage column for both bottles and cans. The support surfaces of both members comprise side walls which are furthermore skewed or inclined from the horizontal downwardly.

Abstract: A rack for display of articles comprises a plurality of trays for holding the articles. Each tray comprises upper and lower courses connected at opposite ends. At one end, an upper course communicates with the lower course by means of a gate. The gate is controlled by the presence of objects in the lower course so that objects from the upper course are transmitted to the lower course only after the lower course is empty. The gate includes a flag for indicating when the objects are being supplied from the upper gate. Trays are moveable between dispensing and loading positions. In the loading position, objects may be easily placed in the upper course so that they are passed to the lower course when the upper course becomes full. The objects are preferably cylindrical, and the course are arranged to allow the objects to roll along the courses to facilitate dispensing and loading.

Abstract: A gravity feed method and apparatus for displaying, dispensing and storing a variety of merchandise items. The apparatus has no moving parts. It includes a tripper which causes each item to turn automatically into a display position, when a previous item is removed. The dispenser also includes a convenient storage area which feeds each item to a display position by the force of gravity, when one of the items is removed. As each item is removed, it is replaced sequentially by succeeding items until the supply is exhausted. The apparatus in the described embodiment incorporates openings of specific size for loading items into the dispenser from either the front or rear. The apparatus may be made of wire, plastic, paper or sheet metal, and it may be constructed to accommodate a variety of items of different sizes. The apparatus may also be constructed to display the items at any desired angle.

Abstract: A space-to-sales vend rack including a plurality of adjacent vend columns having a wide range of respective storage capactities, first columns are provided for supporting products in vertical stacks with the longitudinal axes of the products orthogonal to the vending machine face, other columns are provided for supporting products in vertical stacks with the longitudinal axes of the products parallel to the vending machine face. The products with axes parallel to the front face of the vending machine are supported on slide-out racks for ease of loading.

Abstract: A column vendor for articles such as generally cylindrical containers of beverage typified by cans or bottles of soft drinks is provided with an inexpensive and reliable way of being reconfigured to fit the particular distribution of popularity of brands/flavors or the like of articles, as experienced by the operator for the particular vendor. Openings are provided through intercolumn divider walls. In use, these openings are either closed by closure members, or fitted with shunt, cam or floor plates for effecting particular column transfers. In use, these members are static; adjustment can involve rearrangement, substitution, augmentation and removal of these members which preferably are hooked in place either on edges of the openings or in slots or other securement features provided on the intercolumn divider walls.

Abstract: An article dispensing mechanism for a vending machine including at least one serpentine track connected with an article loading space and an article dispensing space. The serpentine track is provided with a horizontal length adjusting device. This adjusting device comprises a spacer vertically extending within the serpentine track for defining the horizontal length of track, a movable plate connected with an upper portion of the spacer in a manner permitting sliding motion of the movable plate parallel to side plates of the machine and a guide plate extending across the loading space and engaging the movable plate. The spacer is horizontally and longitudinally slidable, following the movement of the guide plate. The position of the movable plate and the spacer defines the horizontal length of the loading space and the serpentine track.

Abstract: A food storage container, such as for a type of fruit or vegetable, with an upwardly facing mouth with a removable cover for charging food into the container; the container is composed of a plurality of interconnected panels, a floor panel, front, rear and opposing side panels which are of transparent material to display the food while stored in the container; it is further provided with an opening above a stop lip in the front wall panel adjacent the bottom which opening is sized for passage of a person's hand to remove a piece of the displayed food from a horizontal floor portion at the mouth which floor portion merges and blends with an inclined floor portion extending from the horizontal portion rearwardly and upwardly between the side walls so that another piece of food moves under the influence of gravity onto the horizontal floor portion at the mouth whenever a piece has been removed from the container.

Abstract: An article display and dispensing structure includes a cardboard base unit collapsible to a lay flat condition and having side walls with upwardly rearwardly inclined edges on the lower part of which is located a separable platform panel and an inclined container unit resting on the inclined edges and platform and enclosing a partition unit having open topped longitudinal passageways slideably carrying end to end bottles, the container being closed by a swingable rectangular cover releasably locked in closed position by Velcro coupling sections and having a transverse line of weakness delineating with the bottom front edge of the cover member a separable panel whose separation provides access to the lowermost bottles for individual removal.

Abstract: An article dispensing mechanism for a vending machine includes at least one serpentine track comprising a pair of facing serially cusp-shaped vertical panels. These panels are attached to side plates of the machine and connected to one another by biasing springs in such a manner as to provide yielding horizontal mobility between opposed panels. This horizontal movement of the vertical panels absorbs the usual article impact which occurs during article loading and dispensing. Also, the article discharge control device is mounted to be vertically movable and biased upwardly to absorb impact shocks from the articles incident article dispensing.

Abstract: A storage rack or container for storing cans and the like on which a deposit is paid; the rack being adapted for ready disposability and being of sturdy construction and easily put together by a consumer of the canned goods; the rack is divided into a number of compartments defined by partitions, and slots are provided at the front for viewing the contents of the rack so as to assure that the rack is full.

Abstract: A firewood log storing and dispensing apparatus including a furniture-type cabinet housing having an upright log storage compartment in which logs are vertically stacked, a log delivery opening at the lower end of the compartment of a predetermined size adapted for passage therethrough of one log, and a closure mechanism mounted in the housing to extend across the delivery opening for selectively obstructing and opening the delivery opening to permit gravitational dispensing of logs from the compartment. A log cradle is movably arranged below the delivery opening to be vertically moved between a raised log receiving position at the delivery opening and a lowered log dispensing position spaced therebelow. An opening is provided in the cabinet for access to the cradle at its dispensing position for log removal therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transporting firewood are provided. The apparatus includes a container having an upright portion and a lower portion extending outwardly from the upright portion. Edges of the upright portion define an upper opening, and edges of the lower portion define a lower opening. Firewood is placed in the upper opening and removed from the lower opening. Doors are provided to cover the upper and lower openings. Wheels are provided to transport the container from one location to another, and belt and sprocket assemblies are provided for enabling smooth transport of the container over obstacles.

Abstract: An article dispenser comprising an article receiving compartment and bottom tray in combination, a series of vertical separators and article platforms interconnected and disposed interiorly of the dispenser, and a portion of the bottom tray extending outwardly so as to expose and facilitate removal of the articles.

Abstract: By providing planar, auxiliary rail segments, each of which, in the stand-by state, protrudes into the commodity passageway with an upwardly-inclined posture and is pivotable to a downwardly-inclined posture upon impact from an article to be stored, the kinetic energy of the article as it proceeds down the rack is dissipated in changing the position of the auxiliary rail segment and damage to the article to be stored and any already-stored articles which is may encounter is prevented. The auxiliary rail segment may be spring biased and/or loaded to produce the desired amount of energy dissipation at each rail segment.

Abstract: A new storage and dispenser rack is provided for quasi-cylindrical containers such as bottles, wherein the ends of the containers are of different dimension but with a belly portion of the container being substantially of the same size and shape as the large end of the container. The rack is made of molded plastic parts that are constructed and designed to snap together. The rack includes a pair of upright panels that define a bay and provide thereon tiers of tracks, each for supporting one end of the quasi-cylindrical containers. A plurality of transverse spacer shafts that connect with the pair of panels operate to provide a free-standing structural grid for the rack. The spacer shafts are of an axial length selected for the size of the containers to be supported on the rack.

Abstract: A system for making sweets and similar articles of food available to the user. The system comprises a holder adapted to be affixed to e.g. an automobile dashboard, and a package, preferably a blister pack, containing the sweets, and adapted to be slid into the holder so as to rest upon a support. The package can be opened so that the sweets, lying on the support, can be taken out individually.Preferably several unit packs are interconnected and can be separated by perforations or other tearing lines.

Abstract: A gravity fed dispensing device of the type designed to serially dispense a plurality of cylindraceous containers. The containers to be dispensed are charged into the device at the top thereof, and follow a series of downwardly descending ramp means to the discharge station. Each successive ramp means segment is sloped in a direction opposite to the direction of slope of the ramp means segment that precedes and succeeds it. The ramp means are disposed in interconnecting relation to transversely spaced sidewall members, and a tray member is defined by one set of sidewalls interconnected by a pair of such ramp means segments, adjacent the upper and lower edges thereof. The tray members are stackable to increase the storage capacity of the device as desired, and the ramp means segments are specifically positioned so that the upright and overturned positions of the tray members are identical.

Abstract: A bathroom accessory in the form of a canister for convenient storage of extra rolls of toilet tissue and a suction type plunger device, the compactness being provided by providing that the plunger handle is nested in the hollow core of the tissue rolls being stored, and a lifting means for the stored rolls being provided which is actuatable entirely from the exterior of the device even though it has a roll-raising effect throughout an extended range of lifting movement for the rolls.

Abstract: A gravity-feed system for storing and dispensing canned goods on a "first-in, first-out" basis is provided. The system comprises an upper track assembly which is supported by an upright frame and is inclined downwardly from the front to the back of the frame. The upper track assembly includes at least one track adapted to receive a number of cans disposed on their sides. The track has an aperture at its lower end to enable the cans to drop from the track. A lower track assembly is positioned below the first track assembly and is supported by the upright frame. The lower track assembly is inclined downwardly from the back to the front of the frame and includes at least one track corresponding to the track of the upper assembly which is adapted to receive the cans dropping from the track of the upper assembly. Guide means are provided to insure that the cans remain aligned as they move from the upper track to the lower track.

Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus having item thawing means wherein items normally stored in a freezer compartment of the apparatus are automatically transferred to an above-freezing temperature refrigerator compartment seriatim for dispensing thereof in a thawed condition. In the illustrated embodiment, the items are food items. The food items are stored in a rack within the freezer compartment and are dispensed through an opening in the wall between the freezer and refrigerator compartments automatically as a result of the removal of a food item previously delivered to the refrigerator compartment for thawing therein. The automatic movement of the food items is effected by gravity. Structure is provided for cooperating with the food items in the communicating passage for effectively closing the passage against airflow between the compartments.

Abstract: A rack for storing and dispensing individual containers of generally cylindrical shape, comprising at least two identical side members, each side member including a plurality of apertures in paired, adjacent relationship and at least one pair of support tracks, each pair of support tracks being positioned at the same vertical location on opposite sides of the side member, and rods, each rod being removably received by an independent pair of parallel apertures and interconnecting the side members at a plurality of locations whereby said support tracks cooperate to support the containers along an incline.