Glide with product stops
The present invention is a glide for holding products. The glide includes a base, a number of wall members and at least two product stops. The wall members are removably installed on the base and cooperate to define one or more channels. Each channel is dimensioned for accommodating a column of the products. The product stops are coupled to one of the wall members and the base at a forward extremity of each channel. A front edge of each wall includes a vertically-extending projection, engagable to a complementary channel of one of the product stops. When installed, the product stop has surfaces cooperating with the base to prevent removal of the installed walls unless the product stops are partially removed. Additionally, the product stops have portions extending from side surfaces of the walls to inhibit horizontal translation of products along and past the forward extremities of the channels. In a one-channel glide, the product stops include a right and a left product stop. In a multi-channel glide, the product stops include a right, a left and one or more intermediate product stops.
This patent application is a continuation-in-part and claims priority of International Patent Application No. PCT/U.S.00/33248, filed Dec. 8, 2000, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/149,357, that was filed Jun. 7, 2002, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/169,606, that was filed on Dec. 8, 1999 and 60/563,187, that was filed on Apr. 16, 2004. The disclosures of these patent documents are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to glides and, more particularly, to retail display glides for holding a number of product and/or product containers such as, for example, beverage and food containers, and consumer products such as batteries, film and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are a wide variety of devices for storing, displaying, and dispensing products such as, for example, individual serving sizes of beverages and foods. A broad genus of such devices are known as glides. Such glides confine the products to discrete lanes (often designated rows or columns), typically arrayed extending front-to-back in a refrigerator, display case, or shelf unit. Many such glides are configured or mounted so that the glide base surface supporting the products inclines from front-to-back to allow a back-to-front gravity feed. Glides may also include a pusher mechanism that is located behind products to urge the products from back to front in a lane.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 275058 discloses a basic glide. The glide has a given footprint on the associated shelf or other support surface.
Glides have been provided that are reversibly or permanently alterable to accommodate an available shelf footprint. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,337 identifies a glide having front and rear portions that slidingly interfit to permit adjustment of the front-to-back length of the glide. U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,739 discloses a glide in which a rear portion is disjointably coupled to a front portion to permit size adjustment by the addition or removal thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,025 discloses a stackable glide system wherein outboard lanes may be severed from the glide to narrow it.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,256 discloses a system wherein individual lane-defining members may be secured side-by-side to form a composite glide. In addition to producing individual members of a single lane in width, the assignee of that patent is believed to make one-piece members that define multiple (e.g., three) lanes.
The aforementioned commonly assigned, copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/149,357 (hereinafter referred to as “the '357 application”) describes a glide system having a base and a number of wall members at least some of which are removably installable on the base. The wall members extend front-to-back so as to cooperate with the base to define a number of lanes or channels. Each channel is dimensioned for accommodating an associated front-to-back column of the products. Front members are installable to the base and to installed wall members to bound forward extremities of the channels. A first front member engages a first number of installed wall members to define a first width of channels and a second front member engages a second number of installed wall members to define a second width of channels that is substantially different from the first width.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,738 discloses a display glide wherein individual channel units are coupled in a side-by-side manner for holding adjacent columns of product packages. Each channel unit includes a divider wall and a pusher mechanism. The channel units are described as having a length that is adjustable to a width of a display shelf and widths that are selectively tailored to accommodate different sized (different width) packages. In one embodiment, the channel unit includes flexible side stops secured to a forward end of divider walls. The stops are described as small enough so as not to obscure legends on the products and sufficiently resistant to stop the forward motion of the product as it advances on the display under the urging of the pusher. The stops are also described as being sufficiently flexible to permit withdrawal of products by manual means, for example, so that a customer may pull products through the stops.
U.S. Patent Application, Publication No. 2003/0132178 A1, describes a depth and width adjustable display track unit with removable partitions. In one embodiment, the partitions include partitions whose front end terminate in a short, right angle stop for placement at a right-most channel, partitions whose front end terminate in a short, left angle stop for placement at a left-most channel and intermediate partitions whose front end terminate in a cathedral stop. These stops are described as serving as stabilizers to respective partitions and are said to cooperate at the front end of the channels to stop articles from sliding down the channel and off the display track.
The inventor has realized that one perceived disadvantage of conventional glides is that products tend to pass through partial stops formed at forward ends of channels unless the stops are of sufficient strength. Also, partitions of conventional glides can be more readily dislodged as customers pull products through the stops. Therefore, the inventor has realized that an improved glide is needed which has secure and stable partitions and stops located at forward ends of channels that stop products from sliding off the glide.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, in one aspect, the invention is directed to a glide apparatus for holding a number or group of products. The glide includes a base, at least two wall members and at least two product stops. The base has an upper surface for supporting the products and a bottom surface. The wall members are removably installed on the base and extend front-to-back so as to cooperate with the base to define one or more channels. Each of the channels is dimensioned for accommodating an associated front-to-back column of the products. The product stops are coupled to one of the wall members and the base at a forward extremity of each channel. A front edge of each wall member includes a vertically-extending projection, engagable via vertical translation to a complementary channel in a supporting portion of a corresponding one of the plurality of product stops. When installed to the base and a corresponding wall member, the product stops has surfaces cooperating with the base to prevent removal of the installed wall members unless the product stops are at least partially removed via rearward horizontal and upward vertical translation. Additionally, the product stops have portions extending from side surfaces of the wall members to inhibit horizontal translation of products along and past the forward extremities of the channels.
In one embodiment, wherein the glide includes one channel formed by two wall members and the base, the glide has product stops including a right product stop and a left product stop. The right product stop includes a base portion, a vertical supporting portion and a vertical and leftward extending stop portion. The base portion includes a plurality of projections depending therefrom for engaging the base. The vertical extending supporting portion includes a vertical extending dovetail channel complementary to the vertically-extending projection of a wall member and a rearward extending portion that, when installed to the wall member, flanks side surfaces of the wall member. The leftward extending stop portion, when installed to the wall member, extends horizontally from a side surface of the wall member into a corresponding channel such that the extending portion impacts and inhibits product from passing freely down the channel.
Similarly, the left product stop includes a base portion, a vertical supporting portion and a vertical and rightward extending stop portion. The base portion includes a plurality of projections depending therefrom for engaging the base. The vertical extending supporting portion includes a vertical extending dovetail channel complementary to the vertically-extending projection of a wall member and a rearward extending portion that, when installed to the wall member, flanks side surfaces of the wall member. The rightward extending stop portion, when installed to one of the wall members, extends horizontally from a side surface of the wall member into a corresponding channel such that the extending portion impacts and inhibits product from passing freely down the channel.
In one embodiment, wherein the glide includes two or more channels, the glide has at least one of the right product stop, at least one of the left product stop and an intermediate product stop. The intermediate product stop includes, as with the right and left product stops, a base portion and a supporting portion. Additionally, the intermediate portion includes a vertical and rightward extending portion and a vertical and leftward extending stop portion. When installed to one of the wall members, the rightward extending portion extends horizontally from a first side surface of the wall member into a first channel such that the rightward extending portion impacts and inhibits product from passing freely down the first channel. At the same time, the leftward extending portion extends horizontally from a second side surface of the wall member into a second channel adjacent to the first channel such that the leftward extending portion impacts and inhibits product from passing freely down the second channel.
The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In these figures, like structures are assigned like reference numerals, but may not be referenced in the description for all figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
While not shown in
In one embodiment, the glide 10 includes a plurality of pusher mechanisms 60. One pusher mechanism 60 being disposed in a corresponding one of the channels 50. As illustrated in the exploded assembly view of
The base 20 is substantially identical to a base described in the '357 application, and may include primary and auxiliary base components to allow the glide 10 to be adjusted to a width of a subject display areas such as, for example, a “cool” display area of a refrigerator, display case or the like, or a “warm” display area of a gondola display, shelf, counter or the like. In one embodiment, the base 20 includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The base 20 includes side walls, a plurality of front-to-back rails and a plurality of cross-members spanning between the sidewalls and combining with the sidewalls and rails to form a grid of slot-like ventilation/drainage apertures extending from the upper surface through to the lower surface as described in the '357 application.
In one embodiment, a bull nose front member 70 has a plurality of projections 72 (
In accordance with the present invention, each of the wall members 30 includes a vertically-extending front facing dovetail projection 36 along a front edge 38. As described in detail below, the front facing dovetail projection 36 receives complementary dovetail channels on corresponding product stops 40. As illustrated in
In accordance with the present invention, the vertical and leftward extending portion 86 of an installed right product stop 42 extends horizontally from the side surface 33 of a wall member 30 into a corresponding channel 50 (e.g., extends about 1.0 inch (2.54 cm) into the channel 50) such that the leftward extending portion 86 impacts and inhibits product from passing freely down the channel 50 (e.g., via horizontal translation along the channel 50). Accordingly, at least a right forward extremity of the channel 50 is bound by the right product stop 42 when the stop 42 is installed to the wall member 30 and the base 20. The inventor has discovered that coupling the right product stop 42 to the base 20 and the wall member 30 provides a greater degree of stopping ability than conventional product stops. For example, the inventor has discovered that improved structural integrity is realized by coupling the leftward extending portion 86 to the base 20 and coupling the rearward extending portion 87 about side surfaces 33 and 35 of the wall members 30. This novel combination of the components is heretofore not employed in conventional glide systems.
The vertical and rightward extending portion 96 of an installed left product stop 46 extends from the side surface 35 of the wall member 30 (e.g., extends about 1.0 inch (2.54 cm) into the channel 50) such that the rightward extending portion 96 impacts and inhibits product from passing freely down the channel 50 (e.g., via horizontal translation along the channel 50). Accordingly, at least a left forward extremity of the channel 50 is bound by the left product stop 46 when the stop 46 is installed to the wall member 30 and the base 20. As with the right product stop 42, the inventor has discovered that coupling the left product stop 46 to the base 20 and the wall member 30 provides a greater degree of stopping ability than conventional product stops.
The vertical rightward and leftward extending portions 106 and 108, respectively of an installed intermediate product stop 44 extend from side surfaces of a wall member 30 (e.g., each extends about 1.0 inch (2.54 cm) into the channels 50 and 52) such that the respective extending portions 106 and 108 impact and inhibit product from passing freely down respective channels 50 and 52 (e.g., via horizontal translation along the channels 50 and 52). Accordingly, at least a left forward extremity of a first channel 50 and a right forward extremity of an adjacent second channel 52 are bound by the intermediate product stop 44 when the stop 44 is installed to the wall member 30 and the base 20. As with the right and left product stops 42 and 46, the inventor has discovered that coupling the intermediate product stop 44 to the base 20 and the wall member 30 provides a greater degree of stopping ability than conventional product stops.
The inventor has discovered that in one embodiment wherein the channels retain round products and/or product containers, product traveling down the channels 50 and 52 may gain rotational momentum. When the product strikes the product stops 40 a radius of the product may tend to spread apart the product stops 40, which are positioned to inhibit the product from passing through the forward extremity 54 of the channels 50. Accordingly, the present invention provides product stops 42, 44 and 46 having rearward extending portions 87, 109 and 97, respectively. The rearward extending portions 87, 109 and 97 flank side surfaces 33 and 35 of corresponding wall members 30 to oppose the rotational force that may otherwise tend to spread the product stops 42, 44 and 46.
Referring again to
With the wall members 30 installed, at least one of the product stops 40 may be installed to each of the wall members 30 (
In one embodiment, the glide 10 may be distributed as a kit. When distributed as a kit, the kit may include a primary base member and sufficient auxiliary base members (as described in the '357 application) to form a base of the maximum anticipated width. The kit would include a plurality of wall members and at least one product stop of each channel formed by the base and wall members, and preferably two product stops (or portion thereof with respect to the intermediate stop) for each channel. Optionally, the kit may include a bull nose front member for exhibiting product information.
One or more embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, while illustrated with use of a pusher mechanism, one skilled in the art would appreciate that the present invention may similarly be implemented as a gravity-feed glide. Moreover, while described as separately formed components, it should be appreciated that in one embodiment of the present invention the wall members 30 and product stops 40 may be comprised of integrally molded components. For example,
In view of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A retail display glide for holding a plurality of products, comprising:
- a base having an upper surface for supporting the products and a bottom surface;
- a plurality of wall members, removably installable on the base extending front-to-back so as to cooperate with the base to define one or more channels, each of the one or more channels dimensioned for accommodating an associated front-to-back column of the products; and
- at least two product stops, at least one of the product stops coupled to one of the wall members and the base at a forward extremity of the one or more channels;
- wherein:
- a front edge of each wall member includes a vertically-extending projection, engagable via vertical translation to a complementary channel in a supporting portion of a corresponding one of the at least two product stops;
- the at least two product stops, when installed to the base and to the installed wall members, has surfaces cooperating with the base to prevent removal of the installed wall members unless the product stops are at least partially removed via upward vertical translation; and
- the at least two product stops, when installed to the base and to the installed wall members, have portions extending from side surfaces of the wall members to inhibit horizontal translation of the column of products along and past the forward extremities of the one or more channels.
2. The glide of claim 1, wherein the base and wall members define one channel and wherein the at least two product stops includes a right product stop and a left product stop.
3. A retail display glide for holding a plurality of products, comprising:
- a base having an upper surface for supporting the products and a bottom surface;
- a plurality of wall members, removably installable on the base extending front-to-back so as to cooperate with the base to define a plurality of channels, each channel dimensioned for accommodating an associated front-to-back column of the products; and
- a plurality of product stops, at least one of the plurality of product coupled to one of the wall members and the base at a forward extremity of each channel; wherein:
- a front edge of each wall member includes a vertically-extending projection, engagable via vertical translation to a complementary channel in a supporting portion of a corresponding one of the plurality of product stops;
- the plurality of product stops, when installed to the base and to the installed wall members, has surfaces cooperating with the base to prevent removal of the installed wall members unless the product stops are at least partially removed via upward vertical translation; and
- the plurality of product stops, when installed to the base and to the installed wall members, have portions extending from side surfaces of the wall members to inhibit horizontal translation of the column of products along and pass the forward extremities of the channels.
4. The glide of claim 3, wherein the plurality of product stops includes at least one of a right product stop, a left product stop and an intermediate product stop.
5. The glide of claim 3, wherein the plurality of product stops includes at least a right product stop, the right product stop comprising:
- a base portion having a plurality of projections depending therefrom for engaging the base;
- a vertical extending supporting portion having a vertical extending dovetail channel complementary to the front facing projection of a corresponding one of the wall members and a vertical and rearward extending portion that, when installed to the corresponding one of the wall members, flanks side surfaces of the wall member; and
- a vertical and leftward extending stop portion, when installed to the corresponding one of the wall members, the vertical and leftward extending portion extends horizontally from a side surface of the wall member into a corresponding channel such that the extending portion impacts and inhibits product from passing freely down the channel.
6. The glide of claim 5, wherein the projections from the base portion includes a forward directed barb, disposed along a lower extremity, for engaging the base.
7. The glide of claim 3, wherein the plurality of product stops includes a left product stop, and the left product stop comprising:
- a base portion having a plurality of projections depending therefrom for engaging the base;
- a vertical extending supporting portion having a vertical extending dovetail channel complementary to the front facing projection of a corresponding one of the wall members and a vertical and rearward extending portion that, when installed to the corresponding one of the wall members, flanks side surfaces of the wall member; and
- a vertical and rightward extending stop portion, when installed to the corresponding one of the wall members, the vertical and rightward extending portion extends horizontally from a side surface of the wall member into a corresponding channel such that the extending portion impacts and inhibits product from passing freely down the channel.
8. The glide of claim 3, wherein the plurality of product stops includes an intermediate product stop, and the intermediate product stop comprising:
- a base portion having a plurality of projections depending therefrom for engaging the base;
- a vertical extending supporting portion having a vertical extending dovetail channel complementary to the front facing projection of a corresponding one of the wall members and a vertical and rearward extending portion that, when installed to the corresponding one of the wall members, flanks side surfaces of the wall member;
- a vertical and rightward extending portion; and
- a vertical and leftward extending stop portion;
- wherein when installed to the corresponding one of the wall members the rightward extending portion extends horizontally from a first side surface of the wall member into a first channel such that the rightward extending portion impacts and inhibits product from passing freely down the first channel, and the leftward extending portion extends horizontally from a second side surface of the wall member into a second channel adjacent to the first channel such that the leftward extending portion impacts and inhibits product from passing freely down the second channel.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 3, 2004
Publication Date: Jun 23, 2005
Inventor: Anthony Squitieri (Monroe, CT)
Application Number: 10/934,715