Abstract: A gravity feed merchandising device includes a plurality of longitudinally extending, downwardly inclined tracks. Each track includes a pair of parallel rails defining a space therebetween. The rails support a row of bottles such that the underside of each bottle neck flange engages the rails for movement relative to the rails. Each track is provided at its front end with a spring-urged stopper so that the cap of the leading bottle in that track is prevented from dislodgement through the front end of the track when the leading bottle is supported by the track, but can be removed from the track through the front end when pulled against the stopper.

Abstract: An existing product vending machine, such as a refrigerated vending machine provided by a bottled soft drink manufacturer or distributer, is adapted to serve as a storage and loading device for use in a pneumatic vending and delivery system by installing an interface unit in place of the vending machine door. The interface unit may be configured to mount on hinges or other pre-existing panel supporting structure of the vending machine and to lock to pre-existing latching structure on the vending machine. Alternatively, the dispensing mechanism and product storage supply from one or more product vending machines may be installed in a vault and equipped with one or more of the interfaces. The interface is provided with a loading tube that connects to the upstream end of the tube of a pneumatic conveyor of the vending and delivery system.

Abstract: A modular merchandising device for bottles is disclosed. The merchandising device comprises a plurality of parallel elongate tracks, and support means for supporting the tracks so that each track is inclined downwardly toward its front end. Each track is designed to support a row of bottles such that the bottles in the row are suspended by their neck flanges for movement along the respective track and are removable from the respective track through its front end. Because of the inclined position of the tracks, the bottles when supported by each track are allowed to gravity feed one after another to the track front end as the leading bottles in the respective row successively are removed from the respective track. The support means comprises a pair of front and rear transverse support members disposed generally perpendicularly to the tracks. Each track comprises means for removably mounting the respective track on at least one of the front and rear transverse members.

Abstract: A rack for flanged articles comprises a pair of front and rear opposed parallel transverse support members, and a pair of longitudinal members extending between the front and rear support members. Each of longitudinal member is formed of a wire strip and comprises a straight portion and an upturned forward end portion. The straight portions of the longitudinal members extend forward from the rear support member to positions below the front support member. The straight portions are disposed to form a pair of spaced parallel rails for receiving therebetween a row of articles such that the articles are slidably engaged at the undersides of their flanges with the rails, and thereby the articles are suspended by their flanges for movement along the rails. The upturned forward end portions of the longitudinal members extend upward to the front support member and secured to the same to form a brace for interconnecting the rails and the front support member.

Abstract: A display shelf comprises a back in and elongate parallel tracks arranged side by side along the lower side of the backing panel. Each track is adapted to support a row of articles such that the articles in the row are suspended from each track for movement along that track. The backing panel and the tracks are formed together as a unitary structure. A method of making the display shelf comprises forming moldable material into a unitary structure including a backing panel and parallel hollow longitudinal ribs arranged side by side along one of the opposite sides of the backing panel. Each longitudinal rib includes a pair of longitudinally extending opposed side walls interconnected by a longitudinally extending bridging wall. The method also comprises cutting a slot in the bridging wall of each longitudinal rib.

Abstract: A bottle dispenser has a gate mechanism to maintain the foremost one of the track-supported bottles substantially vertical. The dispenser includes an elongate track defining a longitudinally extending pathway, a support structure, and a stopper provided at the front end of the track. The track supports a row of flanged bottles such that the bottles are suspended by their neck flanges for movement along the pathway and removable from the pathway through the front end of the track. The support structure supports the track such that the track is inclined toward its front end whereby the suspended bottles are allowed to gravity feed toward the front end when the leading bottle in the row is removed from the track. The stopper engages with the leading bottle to prevent its accidental removal through the front end.

Abstract: A merchandising device includes bottles arranged in a row, a track for supporting the row of bottles, a support rack for supporting the track, and a stopper provided at the front end of the track to engage the leading bottle in the row. Each bottle has a cap and an integrally formed annular neck flange. The bottles are suspended by their neck flanges for movement along a path defined by the track and are removable from the track through the front end of the track. The track is inclined downwardly toward the front end, and thereby the bottles are allowed to gravity feed toward the front end along the path. The stopper prevents the leading bottle from exiting the front end until removal thereof is desired. The leading bottle when at the front end is suspended in a vertical position. The stopper includes an engaging element disposed at the front end for movement transversely of the path as well as of the leading bottle, and a spring for urging the engaging element transversely into the path.

Abstract: A pusher device for dispensing merchandise is disclosed. The device includes an elongate plastic track having a floor on which a row of articles are positioned for movement therealong, a pusher connected to the track for movement therealong and having a front side for engagement with the rearmost article on the track, and a spring for urging the pusher toward the front end of the track to forwardly move all the articles on the track. The spring is a gradient force, self-coiling spring arranged to exert forwardly directed force on the rear side of the pusher. The force on the pusher gradually reduces as the leading articles on the track successively are removed from the track, and thereby articles on the track are prevented from being subject to excessive force. What is also disclosed is a pusher device including an elongate track, a pusher movably connected to the track, and a self-coiling spring for urging the pusher forward of the track.

Abstract: A display device has an article dispenser having front and rear opposite edges and designed to support articles. The dispenser includes a plurality of parallel tracks extending from the front edge of the dispenser toward the rear edge. Each track receives a row of articles for movement along that track. The dispenser also includes a diverting pathway extending substantially transversely of the tracks. The pathway interconnects the rear ends of the tracks and receives articles for movement therealong so that articles are allowed to be transferred from the pathway to each track and vice versa. The dispenser further includes a guide member disposed adjacent to the rear end of one of the tracks. When the articles in the track associated with the guide member are moved backwards along that track, they are brought into contact one after another with the front surface of the guide member and guided laterally along the front surface into the pathway.

Abstract: A bottle dispenser has a gate mechanism to maintain the foremost one of the track-supported bottles substantially vertical. The dispenser includes an elongate track which defines a longitudinally extending pathway, a support assembly for the track, and a stopper provided at the front end of the track. The track supports a row of flanged bottles such that the bottles are suspended by their neck flanges for movement along the pathway and removable from the pathway through the front end of the track. The support assembly supports the track such that the track is inclined toward its front end whereby the suspended bottles are allowed to gravity feed toward the front end when the leading bottle in the row is removed from the track. The stopper engages with the leading bottle to prevent its accidental removal through the front end. The gate mechanism blocks the pathway at a position between the front and rear ends of the track.

Abstract: An open top barrel having an end portion of circular configuration includes a linear tub somewhat smaller than the barrel and disposed within the barrel together with a bezel flange formed integrally with the liner and in engagement with the barrel end portion, the bezel flange being formed to mate with a range of different barrel end portion sizes.

Abstract: A case for displaying articles in retail outlets includes a bottom wall, side walls foldably joined respectively to side edges of the bottom wall, top wall panels foldably joined respectively to the top edges of the side walls and with their inner edges disposed in close juxtaposition to each other to form a cover for the case, a pair of face contacting medial panels foldably joined respectively to the inner edges of the top wall panels, and interlocking structure interconnecting the bottom edges of the medial panels with the bottom wall. The case is formed preferably of corrugated plastic or paperboard material.

Abstract: A composite structure for supporting and displaying articles includes a main rectangular planar element having front, rear and opposed side edges, an auxiliary rectangular planar element having front, rear and opposed side edges one edge of the auxiliary rectangular planar element being of a configuration which is irregular and complementary to one irregular edge of the main rectangular planar element to define a disjointable irregular junction between the units together with a reinforcing under structure integrally formed with the lower surfaces of the main and auxiliary units and including a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal reinforcing ribs each of the reinforcing ribs being severed at the disjointable irregular junction to accommodate separation of the units.

Abstract: For use as a component of a display stand, a shelf of the gravity feed type includes a support frame on which a plurality of tracks of different widths are arranged in side by side relation, each track including at least one support plate and a pair of plastic elements secured atop the support plate, each plastic element having a base strip and a side strip secured to one side edge of the base strip and arranged in perpendicular relation thereto to form a structure of L-shaped cross section and the plastic strips being arranged with the edges of the base strips which are opposite from the side strips disposed adjacent each other to form an article track.

Abstract: For displaying articles such as eyeglasses at a point of purchase, a plurality of cavities each including bottom, top and inwardly tapered side walls are arranged in interconnected side by side relation to form a tier, the tiers being interconnected to form a display tower having a domed cover and a flat base portion interconnected with the bottom of the tower by a bearing structure whereby the tower is rendered rotatable about a vertical axis. Each cavity includes a support beam mounted on its bottom panel and having an upper ridge portion in which a recess is formed for removably receiving a part of a displayed article such as the nose portion of a pair of eyeglasses.

Abstract: In a transportable display module for a plurality of containers, a base member supports a first layer of containers, and a plurality of layers each comprising a tier sheet alternate with a plurality of layers of containers. The tier sheets are identical, with a circumferential skirt surrounding each tier sheet. The top surface of each tier sheet includes an array of container bottom receiving recesses. The bottom surface includes an array of container top receiving recesses disposed concentric with the bottom receiving recesses. Each tier sheet has about its circumferential skirt an outwardly extending flange, and the module is surrounded by plastic film. The base member is a single piece including an upper portion having an additional one of the tier sheets, with a lower portion affixed thereto and including a plurality of supporting legs. Overlay sheets provide for loading other forms of containers, and a cap sheet enabling stacking of multiple modules is disclosed.

Abstract: For an outdoor display of items for sale and for protecting such items against environmental elements such as dust, dirt, moisture, sunlight and temperature variations and the like, a lightweight box-like structure is formed of radiation reflecting material and is provided with venting apertures and includes manually movable transparent closure means formed in at least one side wall of the enclosing structure for affording ready visibility and access to items disposed within the enclosure.

Abstract: A composite organizer shelf for supporting and displaying articles includes main and auxiliary support units each of which includes a rectangular panel element having front, rear and opposed side edges, at least one edge of the main support unit being of a complementary configuration to one edge of the auxiliary support unit, and disjointable coupling means for securing the one edge of each of the rectangular planar elements together so as to increase the effective area of the composite shelf. Since disjointable coupling means is used, the auxiliary rectangular planar element may be removed if need be so as to restore the shelf to the size of the main rectangular planar element.

Abstract: A gravity feed gondola base is arranged for placement with a pair of horizontal parallel gondola support beams connected respectively to a pair of vertical gondola posts and includes an inner and an outer shoe box enveloping each of the support beams, an inwardly projecting support tab struck from each of the inner shoe boxes, a rear cross beam secured at its ends to the support tabs, an inwardly projecting support strip secured to each of the shoe boxes at a level below the support tabs, front and intermediate cross beams supported at their ends respectively on the support strip, low friction chutes mounted on the cross beams for slidably supporting articles displayed thereon and an article arresting device mounted on the front cross support.

Abstract: A composite structure for use as an organizer or gravity feed shelf is constructed with a flat bottom for mounting on a flat surface and includes main and auxiliary support units each having rectangular planar elements with complementary edges, a plurality of fastening projections formed along the complementary edges of the rectangular planar elements for disjointably connecting and for reassembling the planar elements so as to form a composite shelf unit, and a plurality of low friction longitudinal ribs integrally formed with the support units and their associated fastening projections.