Abstract: An improved display bar assembly, for the cantilever support of product dispensing trays. A rectangular display bar, is supported by spaced apart, flat mounting brackets on which mounting hooks are located in the primary plane of the bracket, and openings for reception of the display bar are offset axially inward from that plane enabling the recessed accommodation of flanged retaining plugs at opposite ends of the bar. The flanges of the retaining plugs have axially extending abutment walls which overlap outer walls of the display bar and engage offset surfaces of the bracket. The abutment walls overlap display bar walls on two opposing sides only, enabling the retaining plugs to be molded with transverse friction fins. This in turn enables the use of readily available, inexpensive grades of light gauge (e.g., 16 gauge) steel tubing of greater height than width (e.g., 1×1.5 inch) for the display bars.

Abstract: An improved display bar assembly, for the cantilever support of product dispensing trays. A rectangular display bar, is supported by spaced apart, flat mounting brackets on which mounting hooks are located in the primary plane of the bracket, and openings for reception of the display bar are offset axially inward from that plane enabling the recessed accommodation of flanged retaining plugs at opposite ends of the bar. The flanges of the retaining plugs have axially extending abutment walls which overlap outer walls of the display bar and engage offset surfaces of the bracket. The abutment walls overlap display bar walls on two opposing sides only, enabling the retaining plugs to be molded with transverse friction fins. This in turn enables the use of readily available, inexpensive grades of light gauge (e.g., 16 gauge) steel tubing of greater height than width (e.g., 1×1.5 inch) for the display bars.

Abstract: A tray for dispensing product containers, particularly yogurt containers, which vary widely in size and shape and frequently are stacked several high. The tray is of adjustable width and of extruded construction. The tray comprises two main components, one forming a bottom part and a high wall, the other forming a bottom part and a low wall. The high wall has a flanged track running lengthwise and the low wall has a T-shaped rail for reception in the flanged track of an adjacent tray. An array of trays are thus connected such that the high wall of one tray serves as a second high wall for an adjacent connected tray while allowing a tray to be pulled forward, supported by its neighbors, for restocking. A pusher and pull strip are provided in which an L-shaped pusher can be reversely oriented and thereby optimized for round or rectangular containers.

Abstract: A product display system is comprised of extruded left and right lane members and any number of extruded center lane members. The center lane members are of inverted T-shaped configuration including a vertical center wall and upper and lower base elements extending from opposite sides. The lower base elements are formed across their entire width with closely spaced, alternating grooves and projections. The upper base elements have elements at outer edges thereof to engage with a selected groove and/or projection of an adjacent lane member to form a lane of desired width. Pushers are mounted on the vertical walls to maximize the area available for grooves and projections.

Abstract: A clip-on side panel for attachment to a wire side guide of a product display tray. Many product display trays have width-adjustable wire guides at each side to confine the products into a front-to-back column. Many soft products, however, such as bagged products, can project through the open areas of the wire guides and cause problems. Trays are available with flat metal sides, but at a greater cost. The side panel attachment is an inexpensive, extruded, flat panel with an integral clip extending lengthwise at the level of the horizontal guide wire. The panel has openings at the base for engaging vertical end portions of the guide wire. The panels can be very quickly and easily installed on the guide wires of a tray for more effective confinement of soft products. The panels can just as easily be removed for other products, such as boxes, to provide greater visibility.

Abstract: A tray for dispensing product containers, particularly yogurt containers, which vary widely in size and shape and frequently are stacked several high. The tray is of adjustable width and of extruded construction. The tray comprises two main components, one forming a bottom part and a high wall, the other forming a bottom part and a low wall. The high wall has a flanged track running lengthwise and the low wall has a T-shaped rail for reception in the flanged track of an adjacent tray. An array of trays are thus connected such that the high wall of one tray serves as a second high wall for an adjacent connected tray while allowing a tray to be pulled forward, supported by its neighbors, for restocking. A pusher and pull strip are provided in which an L-shaped pusher can be reversely oriented and thereby optimized for round or rectangular containers.

Abstract: A product display system, particularly for the display of cylindrical containers in columns, is comprised of extruded left and right lane members and any number of extruded center lane members. The center lane members are of inverted T-shaped configuration including a vertical center wall and upper and lower base elements extending from opposite sides. The lower base elements are formed across their entire width with closely spaced, alternating grooves and projections extending longitudinally for the full length of the lane members. The upper base elements have elements at outer edges thereof to engage with a selected groove and/or projection of an adjacent lane member to form a lane of desired width. Pushers are mounted on the vertical walls to maximize the area available for grooves and projections and thus provide maximum width adjustment possibilities. A novel form of front product stop, and manner of mounting the same, are also provided.

Abstract: A product display tray, which is provided with a spring-actuated pusher paddle for urging a column of products forwardly, includes a manually operated locking element pivotally attached to the pusher paddle and normally urged to a “release” position by the action of the pusher spring. When the paddle is fully retracted, the locking element is manually pivoted into a locking position to engage the tray structure and retain the paddle in its retracted position. The pusher paddle includes special features to facilitate its assembly with, and stable retention on, longitudinal guide rods on which the paddle slides. A pair of downwardly and outwardly inclined U-shaped guide sleeves engage innermost support rods of the tray and have detent projections therein requiring forcible snap-in assembly for greater stability during operations. Selected guide sleeves are partially recessed in lower portions to accommodate overriding of base supports and enable greater retraction of the paddle.

Abstract: A product display tray, which is provided with a spring-actuated pusher paddle for urging a column of products forwardly in a display as items are removed from the front of the tray, includes a manually operated locking element pivotally attached to the pusher paddle and normally held in a “release” position by the action of the pusher spring. When the paddle is in a fully retracted position, for reloading of the tray, the locking element is manually pivoted into a locking position to engage the tray structure and retain the paddle in its retracted position during loading operations. A slight backward push on the paddle, when reloading has been completed, releases the paddle for forward movement by the spring. The device also includes special features on the pusher paddle to facilitate and simplify its slideable assembly with, and stable retention on, longitudinal guide rods on which the paddle slides.

Abstract: A telescopically adjustable shelf divider for dividing merchandise shelving having different front-to-back depth dimensions and non-standardized openings in the surfaces thereof. Front and back divider panels are formed by vertically spaced apart and horizontally extending panel-forming elements arranged so that the panel-forming elements of one divider panel lie in a common plane with the panel-forming elements of the other divider panel and at least one panel-forming element of one panel is slidably supported by a panel-forming element of the other divider panel. Retaining elements are fixed to panel-forming elements of one divider panel and extend vertically beyond a panel-forming element of the other divider panel to maintain the panels is overlapping, telescopically adjustable relation.

Abstract: A product display tray, which is provided with a spring-actuated pusher paddle for urging a column of products forwardly in a display as items are removed from the front of the tray, includes a manually operated locking element pivotally attached to the pusher paddle and normally held in a “release” position by the action of the pusher spring. When the paddle is in a fully retracted position, for reloading of the tray, the locking element is manually pivoted into a locking position to engage the tray structure and retain the paddle in its retracted position during loading operations. A slight backward push on the paddle, when reloading has been completed, releases the paddle for forward movement by the spring. The device also includes special features on the pusher paddle to facilitate and simplify its slideable assembly with, and stable retention on, longitudinal guide rods on which the paddle slides.

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.

Abstract: A back-loading display hook for the dispensing of products having limited shelf life, where the products are supplied in containers having enlarged tops and narrower necks. Spaced apart support rods, extend forwardly, spaced to accommodate the necks, while suspending the products by their tops. The inner ends of the product rods are spaced apart a greater distance, sufficient to receive the enlarged tops of the products and form a loading position. The products are loaded by moving the tops upward in the loading position, and then sliding them forward onto the narrower portions of the support rods. A stop element is associated with the load position, and is displaceable to allow upward loading of the products onto the support rods, while preventing rearward movement of products back into the load position. Optionally, the display hook may be disposed horizontally, or inclined to cause the products to advance forward by gravity.

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.

Abstract: A security product display hook assembly comprising a unique form of product display hook, in combination with a security lock, providing optional levels of product security and customer convenience. The display hook has a merchandise supporting arm formed with a back section, an intermediate section and a front section. The intermediate section is of sharply irregular configuration to allow, but inhibit, product removal, while effectively preventing mass product removal often attempted by shoplifters. The locking device is positionable in front of or directly behind the intermediate section to provide the highest security, with all products locked or an intermediate level, with a portion of the products locked. The locking device can also be positioned at the back of the back section such that all products are unlocked and available for customer selection.

Abstract: A back-loading display hook for the dispensing of products having limited shelf life, where the products are supplied in containers having enlarged tops and narrower necks. Spaced apart support rods, extend forwardly, spaced to accommodate the necks, while suspending the products by their tops. The inner ends of the product rods are spaced apart a greater distance, sufficient to receive the enlarged tops of the products and form a loading position. The products are loaded by moving the tops upward in the loading position, and then sliding them forward onto the narrower portions of the support rods. A stop element is associated with the load position, and is displaceable to allow upward loading of the products onto the support rods, while preventing rearward movement of products back into the load position. Optionally, the display hook may be disposed horizontally, or inclined to cause the products to advance forward by gravity.

Abstract: A security product display hook assembly comprising a unique form of product display hook providing optimal levels of product security and customer convenience. The display hook has an upper arm and a lower, merchandise supporting arm formed with a back section, an intermediate section and a front section. The intermediate section is of sharply irregular configuration to allow, but inhibit, product removal, while effectively preventing mass product removal often attempted by shoplifters. The front section, which can support a product for display, includes a portion bent at right angles and in a plane at an angle to that of the configuration of the intermediate section, forming a product stop and requiring product removal in a transverse direction to the primary orientation of the hook assembly. A locking device can be mounted on an upper arm of the hook assembly for engagement with the lower arm at various locations.

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.

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 having 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.

Abstract: A security product display hook assembly comprising a unique form of product display hook, in combination with a security lock, providing optional levels of product security and customer convenience. The display hook has a merchandise supporting arm formed with a back section, an intermediate section and a front section. The intermediate section is of sharply irregular configuration to allow, but inhibit, product removal, while effectively preventing mass product removal often attempted by shoplifters. The locking device is positionable in front of or directly behind the intermediate section to provide the highest security, with all products locked or an intermediate level, with a portion of the products locked. The locking device can also be positioned at the back of the back section such that all products are unlocked and available for customer selection.