PRODUCT MERCHANDISER
A shelf security system in the form of a merchandising shelf having a support member for supporting at least one associated object for display and/or dispensing. The support member defines longitudinal pathway along which the associated at least one object can travel from a rear position to a front position. A moveable retainer is operatively connected to the support member. The retainer is moveable between a first position at least partially obstructing the pathway thereby restricting forward movement of the at least one associated object beyond the front position, to a second position allowing further forward movement of the at least one associated object for removal of same from the support member. The retainer extends substantially across a width of the pathway.
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The present development concerns a product dispensing system employed in point of sale merchandising.
The present disclosure relates particularly to shelving systems for feeding containers forward. More specifically, it relates to modular gravity fed shelving systems for fragile products, such as individual thin wall containers of a refrigerated product, such as yogurt. Yogurt is typically sold in individual cups or containers in supermarkets and the like. Traditionally, yogurt is sold in refrigerator cases including generally horizontal shelves upon which the yogurt containers, having planar bases and planar tops, are stacked.
Gravity feed systems are known to move products towards the front of display or storage cases. While it is now known to gravity feed yogurt towards the front end of a refrigerated display case, the currently known retainers positioned at the front end of such yogurt display trays or shelves are not optimal. More specifically, it is known to provide flexible fingers or tabs attached to each side wall or divider wall of a channel defined in the tray. These fingers or tabs are not particularly sturdy and may become damaged. Replacement of the fingers, tabs or arms may necessitate replacing the divider wall itself, since these elements are generally fastened to the dividing wall. Thus, a need exists for a shelving system which would allow the stocking, display and sale of individual cup or jar type products, such as yogurt, for sale and which overcomes the deficiencies of prior shelving systems.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSUREIn one embodiment, the present invention relates to a product vending system in the form of a merchandising shelf comprising a support member for supporting at least one associated object for display and/or dispensing. The support member defines a longitudinal pathway along which the associated at least one object can travel from a rear position to a front position. A moveable retainer is operatively connected to the support member. The retainer is moveable between a first position at least partially obstructing the pathway thereby retarding forward movement of the at least one associated object beyond the front position of the at least one associated object, to a second position allowing further forward movement of the at least one associated object for removal of same from the support member. The retainer extends substantially across a width of the pathway.
The support member can include a pair of laterally spaced apart side walls and a base wall defining therebetween a longitudinally extending channel having a rear end and a front end, and in which the at least one associated object can be supported. The moveable retainer is attached to at least one of the side walls or the base wall adjacent the front end of the channel. The moveable retainer can include a panel pivotally attached to the support member, the panel configured to pivot from an upright position, corresponding to the first position at least partially obstructing the path, to a position reclined relative to the upright position, corresponding to the second position allowing further forward movement of the at least one object. The panel can be attached by a hinge to the support member. The hinge can comprise at least one coil spring adapted to secure the panel to the support structure and to urge it to the upright position and permit deflection of the panel to the reclined position. The panel can be generally planar, convex or concave. The panel can include a base wall which can serve as a stop member to retard further associated objects held on the support member from moving towards the front position when the panel is moved from the first position. The panel can be biased towards the first position which retards the associated object from advancing in relation to the support member, such as by a resilient member. The resilient member can comprise at least one spring. The spring can permit deflection of the panel in a direction which allows the associated object to be advanced in relation to the support member.
In another embodiment, the moveable retainer can include a resilient member which is adapted to be resiliently deflected between the first and second positions. The resilient member can include a spring extending transversely across the longitudinal pathway of the support member, the spring being fixed at opposite ends thereof to permit resilient deflection of the spring in a direction which allows the associated object to be advanced in relation to the support member. Alternatively, the resilient member can include an elastomer body extending transversely across the longitudinal pathway of the support member, the elastomer body being fixed at opposite ends thereof to permit resilient deflection of the body in a direction which allows the associated object to be advanced in relation to the support member. The elastomer body can have a concave shape for at least partially surrounding an associated at least one object when in the front position of the support member. A merchandising shelf module can comprise a plurality of merchandising shelves as set forth above, the support members of the merchandising shelves arranged in a side-by-side fashion.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a merchandising system comprises a plurality of merchandise shelves for displaying and/or dispensing one or more associated objects, said shelves being arranged in an array and each shelf including a support member for supporting at least one associated object for display and/or dispensing. The support member defines a longitudinal path along which the associated at least one object can travel from a rear position to a front position. A moveable retainer is operatively connected to the support member and is moveable between a first position at least partially obstructing the path, thereby restricting forward movement of the at least one associated object beyond the front position, to a second position allowing further forward movement of the at least one associated object for removal of same from the support member. The pathway of at least one of the shelves is bounded at least partially by an adjacent shelf, said adjacent shelf restricting access to the at least one associated object except when the corresponding moveable retainer is moved to the second position. The retainer extends substantially across a width of the pathway.
The present invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, several embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
It should be understood that the description and drawings herein are merely illustrative and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structures disclosed, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. It should also be appreciated that the various identified components of the product merchandising system discussed herein are merely terms of art and that these may vary from one manufacturer to another. Such terms should not be deemed to limit the present disclosure.
With reference now to
With further reference to
The merchandising shelves 10 or trays of
Turning to
In the embodiment illustrated in
To dispense a product container 16 from the merchandising shelf 10, a consumer will typically grasp the forward-most container and pull the container away from the shelf. As shown in
In the embodiment illustrated in
Other configurations of the movable retainer are also contemplated. For example, turning to
For example, a consumer may grasp the forward-most product container and apply a force to the elastomer body through the container tending to stretch the elastomer body 60 in relation to the shelf 10′. As will be appreciated, such deflection of the elastomer body 60 results from further forward movement of the container and allows the container to be removed from its shelf. Once the container is no longer in contact with the elastomer body 60, the elastomer body 60, which retains memory, will return to its configuration illustrated in
In another embodiment shown in
Turning to
In the embodiments illustrated in
Restocking of the tray can be accomplished by providing a tray system which can slide outwardly from the shelf, as is known in the art. Alternatively, restocking could take place by simply pivoting the barrier downwardly away from its blocking position, although this would appear to be a less desirable alternative.
Referring now to
In the embodiments illustrated in
With reference now to
The product merchandiser illustrated herein allows shelving to be stacked closely together as withdrawal of the containers does not involve much upward movement of the containers to clear a barrier. Instead, the containers can be simply tilted and then withdrawn in a generally horizontal direction. This allows the product density for the merchant to be increased, which is very desirable, as shelves can be stacked more closely together.
In the embodiments disclosed herein, the several versions of the movable retainer each extend substantially across a width of a channel defined in the support member between a pair of facing side walls. In several embodiments, the retainer is pivotally attached to front portions of the channel. In other embodiments, the retainer can flex outwardly to allow product to be withdrawn from the shelf by a consumer. Both versions allow the retainer to move from a first position retarding forward movement of merchandise in a channel to a second position allowing such movement. The movement of the retainer allows food containers and like merchandise to be withdrawn from a front end of a channel.
The present disclosure has been described with reference to several embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon the reading and understanding of the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the present disclosure be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A merchandising shelf comprising:
- a support member for supporting at least one associated object for display and/or dispensing, said support member defining a longitudinal pathway along which the associated at least one object can travel from a rear position to a front position; and
- a moveable retainer operatively connected to said support member, said moveable retainer being moveable between a first position at least partially obstructing the pathway thereby retarding forward movement of the at least one associated object beyond the front position of the at least one associated object, to a second position allowing further forward movement of the at least one associated object for removal of same from the support member, wherein the retainer extends substantially across a width of the pathway.
2. A merchandising shelf as set forth in claim 1, wherein the support member includes a pair of laterally spaced apart side walls and a base wall defining a longitudinally extending channel having a rear end and a front end, and in which the at least one associated object can be supported.
3. A merchandising shelf as set forth in claim 2, wherein the moveable retainer is attached to at least one of the side walls or the base wall adjacent the front end of the channel.
4. A merchandising shelf as set forth in claim 1, wherein the moveable retainer includes a panel pivotally attached to the support member, the panel being configured to pivot from an upright position corresponding to the first position at least partially obstructing the path, to a position reclined relative to the upright position corresponding to the second position allowing further forward movement of the at least one object.
5. A merchandising shelf as set forth in claim 4, wherein the panel is attached by a hinge to the support member.
6. A merchandising shelf as set forth in claim 5, wherein the hinge comprises at least one coil spring adapted to secure the panel to the support structure, and to urge it to the upright position, and permit deflection of the panel to the reclined position.
7. A merchandising shelf as set forth in claim 4, wherein the panel is one of generally planar, concave or convex.
8. A merchandising shelf as set forth in claim 4, wherein the panel includes a base wall, wherein the base wall serves as a stop member to retard further associated objects held on the support member from moving towards the front position when the panel is moved from the first position.
9. A merchandising shelf as set forth in claim 4, wherein the panel is biased towards the first position, which retards the associated object from advancing in relation to the support member.
10. A merchandising shelf as set forth in claim 9, wherein a resilient member biases the panel towards said first position.
11. A merchandising shelf as set forth in claim 1, wherein the moveable retainer includes a resilient member adapted to be resiliently deflected between the first and second positions.
12. A merchandising shelf as set forth in claim 11, wherein the resilient member includes a spring extending transversely across the longitudinal pathway of the support member, the spring being fixed at opposite ends thereof to the support member to permit resilient deflection of the spring in a direction which allows the associated object to be advanced in relation to the support member.
13. A merchandising shelf as set forth in claim 11, wherein the resilient member includes an elastomer body extending transversely across the longitudinal pathway of the support member, the elastomer body fixed at opposite ends thereof to the support member to permit resilient deflection of the body in a direction which allows the associated object to be advanced in relation to the support member.
14. A merchandising shelf as set forth in claim 13, wherein the elastomer body has a concave shape for at least partially surrounding an associated at least one object when in the front position of the support member.
15. A merchandising shelf module comprising a plurality of merchandising shelves as set forth in claim 1, the support members of the merchandising shelves being arranged in a side-by-side fashion.
16. A merchandising system comprising:
- a plurality of merchandise shelves for displaying and/or dispensing one or more associated objects, said shelves arranged in an array and each shelf including:
- a support member for supporting at least one associated object for display and/or dispensing, said support member defining a longitudinal path along which the associated at least one object can travel from a rear position to a front position; and
- a moveable retainer operatively connected to the support member, said moveable retainer being moveable between a first position at least partially obstructing the path thereby restricting forward movement of the at least one associated object beyond the front position, to a second position allowing further forward movement of the at least one associated object for removal of same from the support member;
- wherein the pathway of at least one of the shelves is bounded at least partially by an adjacent shelf, said adjacent shelf restricting access to the at least one associated object except when the corresponding moveable retainer is moved to the second position, wherein the retainer extends substantially across a width of the pathway.
17. A merchandising shelf as set forth in claim 16, wherein the support member includes a pair of laterally spaced apart side walls and a base wall defining a longitudinally extending channel having a rear end and a front end, and in which the at least one associated object can be supported.
18. A merchandising shelf as set forth in claim 17, wherein the moveable retainer is attached to at least one of the side walls or the base wall adjacent the front end of the channel.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein the movable retainer includes at least one of a panel pivotally attached to the support member and a resilient member which can be deflected from the first position to the second position.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 26, 2011
Publication Date: May 3, 2012
Applicant:
Inventors: Gregory M. Bird (Solon, OH), Gerald Szpak (North Royalton, OH), Shane Obitts (Elyria, OH), James J. Rataiczak, III (Chesterland, OH)
Application Number: 13/282,031
International Classification: A47F 1/04 (20060101);