Patents by Inventor Donald J. Miller, Jr.

Donald J. Miller, Jr. 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: 6520356
    Abstract: A product merchandising display unit capable of being both vertically and horizontally arranged to achieve a wide variety of different modular configurations includes plurality of substantially similar shelf members, a plurality of support members, and a plurality of full sockets and partial sockets associated with the upper and lower portions of each of the shelf members for cooperatively engaging the support members. Any number of shelf members can be vertically stackably arranged one above the other by attaching the support members to the full sockets associated with each respective shelf member. In the case where two shelf members are positioned in side-by-side relationship one adjacent the other, such adjacent shelf members can be joined along their abutting edge portions by attaching the support members to aligned pairs of the partial sockets associated with the respective shelf members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Paul Flum Ideas, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Miller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6474484
    Abstract: A product inventory control system is provided that utilizes both fixed and movable racks. The present system may be utilized in a walk-in display cooler or other product storage application to help with inventory management and to provide easy access to stored product. The racks of the present system include shelf support members that are selectively positionable at a plurality of different orientations so as to achieve different product support surface orientations relative to a horizontal The shelf support members are adapted for storing a plurality of different types of products and product containers. Movable racks are positioned in front of fixed racks whereby movement of a movable rack provides access to a rack positioned therebehind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Paul Flum Ideas, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Miller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6142316
    Abstract: A product module adaptable for interlocking engagement with other similarly constructed modules to form a composite display assembly for merchandising products therefrom, each product module including at least one elongated product channel defined by a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side walls and a substantially planar product supporting floor portion extending therebetween, each product channel including a product graphic panel which is removably attachable to the front portion of each product channel via a wide variety of different constructional arrangements. Each product graphic panel is preferably dimensioned such that when it is attached to the front portion of a particular product channel, the graphic panel will substantially overlay the product identification and graphics associated with the lead product container positioned within that particular product channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Paul Flum Ideas, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Harbour, Christopher C. Bidwell, Donald J. Miller, Jr., Dewalt W. Fowler, William B. McWilliams
  • Patent number: 5645182
    Abstract: An adjustable shelf support structure adaptable for use in combination with existing refrigerated display coolers and other types of product merchandising display equipment including first and second members which are engageable with each other such that the first and second members can be moved relative to each other to change the overall width of the support structure, the first and second members further including a mechanism for varying the effective length of the support structure so as to change the overall depth thereof, the first and second members when engaged with each other being capable of both width and depth adjustment to accommodate the varying width and depth dimensions associated with existing product merchandising display equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Paul Flum Ideas, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Miller, Jr., Keith Harbour
  • Patent number: 5624042
    Abstract: A product support module adaptable for interlocking engagement with substantially similarly constructed modules to form a selectable width composite display assembly for merchandising products therefrom, each product module including a plurality of friction keeper members associated with one side edge portion of the module and a plurality of corresponding keying slots associated with its opposite side edge portion, the keeper members being substantially T-shaped in cross-section and each including a stem portion and an overhanging flange portion, the stem portion associated with at least the front keeper member being outwardly tapered along its entire length from bottom to top such that the mating surface formed between the stem portion and the overhanging flange portion forms an angle with the front wall side portion of the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Paul Flum Ideas, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Flum, Dewalt W. Fowler, Donald J. Miller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5450971
    Abstract: An adjustable shelf support structure adaptable for use in combination with existing refrigerated display coolers and other types of product merchandising display equipment including first and second members which are telescopingly engageable with each other such that the first and second members can be moved relative to each other to change the overall width of the support structure, the first and second members further including a mechanism for varying the effective length of the opposed side portions of the support structure so as to change the overall depth thereof, the first and second members when engaged with each other being capable of both width and depth adjustment to accommodate the varying width and depth dimensions associated with existing product merchandising display equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Paul Flum Ideas, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Boron, Donald J. Miller, Jr., Keith Harbour
  • Patent number: 5448844
    Abstract: An improved construction for mounting one or more changeable display panels in overlaying relationship to the outer surface of a product merchandising display unit or other supporting structure, the mounting construction including spaced opposed channel members and spaced opposed guide members positioned at predetermined locations on the outer surface of the display unit so as to cooperatively engage at least a portion of the respective top, bottom, and side edge portions of the display panel for holding the same in proper orientation on the display unit, the opposed channel members being constructed and dimensioned to provide additional maneuvering space therewithin so as to enable the opposed top and bottom edge portions of the display panel to be aligned and positioned for insertion therewithin, and at least one of the channel members including a step formed therein to facilitate the maneuvering of the display panel within the channel member preparatory to engaging and capturing both the top and bottom edg
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Paul Flum Ideas, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Miller, Jr., Keith Harbour