Article dispensing apparatus
An article dispensing assembly is provided for supporting a plurality of product containers on a stacked array of shelves mountable on uprights in a compartment such as a refrigerated space. A first series of product containers of a first quality or character are supported in side-by-side substantially parallel rows on each shelf and a second series of product dispensers are supported respectively between adjacent rows of the first series of product containers. The shelves, in turn, are adjustably supported for fore and aft positioning on the uprights. The first series of products are indexed to the front of each shelf whereas the second series of products automatically are urged forwardly in their respective trays by a corresponding pusher assembly.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to article dispensing devices, and more particularly, to a new and improved article dispensing device or apparatus for storing, displaying and dispensing a multiplicity of articles from and within a defined space.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, merchandizing devices in the form of shelving racks for storing, displaying, and dispensing various articles at the “point of sale” are well known in the art. For example, convenience stores or supermarkets conventionally use refrigerated cabinets including racks of shelving for storing, displaying and dispensing various beverage, food or other perishable product containers.
Typical examples of the foregoing prior art devices may be found in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,218,444; 2,289,751; 5,706,956; 5,718,341; and 6,189,734.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,218,444 shows a simple “merchandising” rack disposed in a refrigerated compartment. The rack is inclined from back to front for serially dispensing via gravity a row of milk bottles or the like, the first one of which is held in position at the front or bottom of the rack by an arcuate-shaped bar or guard. When a customer removes the first bottle, the row of remaining bottles slides down the rack until the next bottle abuts and is held in place by the arcuate guard.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,289,751 illustrates a display rack containing multiple shelves superimposed one over the other in a “hi-rise” configuration where each shelf comprises multiple, spaced, parallel inclined racks for serially gravity-feeding containers from back to front. Here again, each rack terminates at its lowest elevation at the front or bottom of the rack in an arcuate bar or guard to maintain the first container in the row in an accessible position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,956 discloses a merchandizing rack especially suited for stabilizing “tall” product containers moving along a path defined by a corresponding inclined track on a shelf in the rack. The stabilizing members are in the form of spaced parallel guide members supported on the underside of the shelf positioned immediately above each inclined track. The guide members in turn define guide channels for receiving and guiding the upper portion of each product container, the bottom portion of which is supported for movement by the corresponding below positioned inclined rack.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,341 shows a merchandising rack for tall product containers having guide channels for the upper portions of the containers, and further including a bridging member between adjacent guide channels to provide a “billboard surface” between the rows of supported containers.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,734 discloses a merchandising rack for rows of tall product containers supported at their upper portions by guide channels where the lead container in each row is dispensed into a corresponding support basket suspended at the front end of the inclined track defined by each guide channel.
Thus, while the above-described body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use merchandising assemblies in the form of shelving defining stacked rows of inclined product container support channels, a need exists to render such merchandising devices, as well as other known merchandising supports (e.g. flat shelf or spring-indexed arrangements) more efficient by maximizing the amount and type of product that may be stored, displayed and dispensed thereby.
More specifically, it would be extremely desirable to utilize the heretofore wasted space between the narrowed upper portions of tall product containers in prior art merchandising racks to store, display and dispense “auxiliary” products of a different quality or character. As an example, and without limitation, where the tall product is a 20 ounce bottle of soda pop, such an auxiliary product may comprise rows of candy bars or packages of chewing gum.
As will be made apparent from the following description hereinbelow, the foregoing desiderata is met by the present invention which broadly stated provides a new and improved merchandising or article dispensing apparatus uniquely featuring multiple-shelf stacking of a first product in parallel, adjacent rows on each shelf, in combination with auxiliary product dispensing assemblies positioned respectively between pairs of adjacent rows of the first product on each shelf, where the auxiliary products are of different kind or quality with respect to the first product. Additional advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTo achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides an article dispensing or merchandizing assembly for supporting a plurality of product containers in adjacent rows on a stacked array of shelves mountable on uprights in a compartment such as a refrigerated space. A first series of product containers is supported in side-by-side substantially parallel array on each shelf and a second series of product containers is supported in dispenser trays positioned between adjacent rows of the first series of products. The shelves, in turn, are supported on the uprights by lugs adapted to engage notched slots in the guide channels to facilitate selective fore and aft adjustment of each shelf on the uprights. The first series of products can be fed by gravity along guide rails or channels to the front of each shelf where a “merchandising panel” or stop element is located to position the first product in each row for convenient access by a consumer. The second series of products automatically are urged forwardly in their respective dispenser trays by a corresponding spring assembly such that a second product may be dispensed at a point-of-sale proximal to the merchandising panel at the front of each row of the first product.
The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining a preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved merchandizing or article dispensing apparatus having all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved merchandizing or article dispensing apparatus for supporting a plurality of product containers in adjacent rows on a stacked array of shelves mountable on uprights in a compartment such as, for example, a refrigerated space.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved merchandizing or article dispensing apparatus having a first series of product containers supported in a side-by-side substantially parallel array and a second series of product containers supported in dispenser trays positioned between adjacent rows of the parallel array, respectively, wherein the first series of products and the dispenser trays are supported on a corresponding shelf in a stacked array of shelves.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved merchandizing or article dispensing apparatus having a first series of products fed by gravity along a series of guide channels on a shelf, wherein the guide channels each have a corresponding stop member located at the front of the shelf, and wherein the merchandise assembly further has a second series of products stored in trays located between adjacent guide channels, respectively, wherein each tray has a resilient assembly for urging the products in a corresponding tray forwardly on each shelf to a dispensing location proximal to the stop elements of the guide channels between which that tray is disposed.
These together with still other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
The invention will be better understood and the above objects as well as objects other than those set forth above will become more apparent after a study of the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein:
With reference to the drawings, a new and improved article dispensing apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention will be described.
Turning initially to
Located within the interior space defined by compartment 12, substantially as schematically depicted, is a series of spaced uprights or vertical standards 18, each of which, in turn, has a series of evenly spaced openings on the rear face thereof extending from top to bottom (not shown in
In accordance with the present invention, stacked assembly 10 includes a plurality of superimposed individual dispenser shelves generally designated by reference sign 20, each of which is of unique construction as will be explained in further detail below. Shelves 20 are adapted to be supported in a downwardly inclined orientation from back-to-front between spaced pairs of uprights 18 by means of similarly inclined wire supports generally indicated by reference sign 22, each of which has its opposed ends inter-engaged with corresponding openings in uprights 18 (e.g. see left side of
While this is the mostly preferred mode of carrying out the present invention, shelves 20 may optionally be mounted in a “flat” or horizontal condition, and further, suitable means may be employed in lieu of gravity to index the beverage containers 24, or other articles, along the top surface defined by the horizontally-disposed shelves 20, such as for example, a suitable spring mechanism mounted at the rear of each shelf. Alternatively, the articles on the shelves 20 so horizontally disposed manually may be indexed thereon, if so desired.
Turning to
By virtue of the foregoing construction, each wire bar assembly 22 is adapted to be securely supported between a pair of front-to-back vertical standards 18a, 18b in a forward downwardly inclined orientation. More specifically, and substantially as shown in
In accordance with the present invention, a plurality or stack of uniquely constructed superimposed dispenser shelves 20 are supported via the aforedescribed wire bar assemblies 22 on conventional vertical standards located in the interior space of an enclosure, such as for example, a cooler or refrigerated compartment. Turning now to
Suitably rigidly attached to the front edge panel 52 and rear edge panel 58 and extending longitudinally therebetween are a series of generally parallel spaced, essentially identical guide rail members 60. The guide rail members 60 are disposed in separate pairs extending transversely between the left-side panel 54 and the right-side panel 56 with the spacing or width dimension between guide rails making up each pair being different than the spacing between each pair. Thus as shown in
In accordance with the present invention, and as best seen in
As mentioned above, and as depicted in
In accordance with the invention, because there is a series of axially spaced notches 62 provided in both opposed side-edge panels of each dispenser shelf 20, it is possible easily to axially adjust the longitudinal position of each individual dispenser shelf 20 with respect to the wire bar assemblies, the standards, and the inside front surface of the compartment door by merely selecting the appropriate notches 62 (in the row of notches) to engage with the corresponding transverse portions on the corresponding supporting wire bar assemblies 22 when the tray dispenser shelf or shelves initially are assembled on the vertical standards inside the compartment.
As shown in
Attached or otherwise affixed to the front edge panel 52 on each shelf 20 substantially as depicted in
As depicted in
Preferably, the merchandising panel 66 is removably affixed on or to the front edge panel by snap-fitting fingers 78 adapted to suitably engage openings 80 in the top portion of panel 52. Preferably, the merchandising panel is fabricated from a molded plastic material and is of one-piece construction. Alternatively, merchandising panel 66 may be made up of multiple smaller identical sections, placed on the front edge panel 52 in a side-by side manner.
It is to be appreciated with reference to
This novel arrangement clearly is demonstrated in
Inasmuch as the merchandising panel section 68 associated with a particular row of product containers extends axially beyond front edge panel 52 a distance forwardly of the terminus of ramp portion 82 (
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that broadly speaking, the present invention contemplates dispensing a row of articles along a pair of guide rails on a first shelf to a location where the articles in the row are fed by gravity seriatum to a “point-of-sale” defined by a stop member (e.g. merchandising panel 66) suitably affixed to essentially a second shelf positioned under the first shelf.
It will also be appreciated that the shelves 20 of the disclosed article dispenser apparatus 10 of the invention achieve the advantage of “maximum space” efficiency by enabling a large number of product containers to be stored and dispensed from a given shelf. To even further enhance the “maximum space” efficiency of the dispenser shelf 20, an auxiliary product dispenser assembly generally indicated by reference sign 90 may also be supported on each shelf as will now be described in connection with
As schematically indicated in
A spring assembly 100 having a first cantilever leaf-spring 102 and a second somewhat smaller cantilever leaf spring 104 positioned rearwardly thereof (see
A rear-pusher-block member 112 is positioned at the rear of tray 92 behind the last or distally located candy bar 94 and is adapted to house interiorly thereof a spiral-spring assembly 114 of the type having memory which tends to urge the spring when tensioned axially, to want to return to its coil shape, as is well known in the spring art. Spiral spring assembly 114 terminates distally in an enlarged pin 116, the purpose of which is to engage a suitable reception slot therefore (not shown) located on the inside surface of elongated tray cover 120 proximal to the cover's leftmost end as viewed in
In accordance with the invention, the preferred candy bar dispenser assemblies 90 are attached in position between adjacent (juxtaposed) pairs of guide rails 60 defining each row of products 24 being dispensed via shelf or shelves 20. Nonetheless, for the sake of simplicity of presentation, a single candy bar dispenser assembly 90 is shown attached to a single pair of guide rails in
As the result of the foregoing construction, each individual candy bar dispenser assembly 90 easily may be inserted between adjacent pairs of guide rails 60 by first pushing the tray sub-assembly 129 in a generally downward direction. This is done by first moving the sub-assembly downward and at an angle to rails 60 such that ramp portion 96 is lower in relative elevation with respect to rails 60 as is the opposing end of sub-assembly 129. Once ramp 96 is lower in elevation than 52 and sufficiently forward to bring protruding flexible lugs 122, 124 in vertical alignment with oblong slots 126, the angle of the sub-assembly 129 is reduced until it is approximately parallel to 60.
In doing so, protruding flexible lugs 122, 124 on the opposed side surfaces of the U-shaped tray 92 enter corresponding oblong slots 126 on the confronting guide rails 60 whereupon they will “snap-fit” into engagement. More specifically, lugs 122 will resiliently engage the smooth lower surface of a corresponding slot 126 whereas lugs 124 will resiliently engage the notched upper surface of each corresponding slot 126. Sub-assembly 128 is then added to the assembly in a similar manner. Sub-assembly 128 is moved in a generally downward manner with slot 130 lower in elevation relative to 60 than snap 131 on the opposing end.
Once slot 130 is slid over 52, the angle of sub-assembly 128 is reduced until it is approximately parallel to 60. In doing so, snap 131 will releasably engage rear edge panel 58. Because the oblong slots 126 have a series of axially-arrayed notches in their upper portions, lateral adjustment of each dispenser assembly 90 relative to each guide rail 60 is possible by first depressing 102 thereby lowering 127 relative to the axially-arrayed notches and merely shifting the dispenser 90 laterally front to back. Once in position, 102 is released, thereby returning 127 to an engagement with the axially-arrayed slots.
In use, selection of the first “candy bar” by a consumer causes the remaining candy bars in tray 92 automatically to advance forwardly under the influence of spiral spring assembly 114 which in turn causes pusher block member 112 to move the row of candy bars toward the front of dispenser assembly 90 until the second candy bar in line is stopped in its frontal display position on ramp portion 96 by the arresting action of upstanding lugs 98.
As mentioned hereinabove, the dispenser shelves 20 optionally may be mounted in a “flat” or horizontal condition, and further, suitable known means employed in lieu of gravity to index the beverage containers 24, or other articles, along the flat disposed trays. Thus, turning now to
Product dispensing shelf 200 preferably is generally of one-piece or unitary construction and features a substantially flat main panel 202 defining a substantially flat top surface 204, a pair of opposed side-edge panels 206, 208, a front edge 210, and a rear edge 212, substantially as depicted (
In accordance with the alternatively preferred embodiment of
In use, product containers 24 conveniently can be disposed on the top flat surface 204 of horizontally-disposed shelf 200 in front-to-back dispensing rows using commercially available conventional plastic trays 216 each containing side walls, a textured bottom portion and a front mounted “merchandising panel” 66 defining the point of sale of the shelf. An exemplary arrangement, employing a pair of superimposed dispensing shelves 200 schematically is depicted in
It is apparent from the above detailed description that the present invention accomplishes all of the objects set forth by providing a new and improved article dispensing apparatus which is capable of supporting a plurality of product containers in adjacent rows on a stacked array of shelves mountable on uprights in a compartment such as a refrigerated space. The invention further provides a first series of product containers preferably supported in rows in a side-by-side substantially parallel array on each shelf, and a second series of “auxiliary” product containers supported in dispenser trays preferably positioned in the normally unused space between adjacent rows of the first series of product containers, respectively. The shelves, in turn, are adjustably supported for fore and aft positioning on the uprights. The first series of products can be fed by gravity along inclined guide channels or by hand on a horizontally supported shelf to the front of each shelf whereas the second series of products can automatically be urged forwardly in their respective trays by a corresponding pusher or indexing assembly in each dispenser tray.
Thus, while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications thereof may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use.
Hence, the proper scope of the present invention should be determined only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all such modifications as well as all relationships equivalent to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification.
Claims
1-22 (canceled)
23. An article dispensing apparatus comprising:
- a first product dispenser assembly for supporting and dispensing a series of articles comprising a product of first quality,
- a second product dispenser assembly for supporting and dispensing a series of articles of a second quality,
- a supporting frame, said supporting frame defining a space, said first product dispenser assembly and said second product dispenser assembly being housed within the space defined by said supporting frame,
- wherein said first product dispenser assembly comprises a substantially flat first shelf mounted on said supporting frame,
- wherein said second product dispenser comprises a housing mounted on said supporting frame in a longitudinally spaced relation to and above said first shelf on said supporting frame, both said substantially flat first shelf and said second product dispenser being disposed within said space defined by said supporting frame,
- wherein said substantially flat first shelf has a front edge and an opposed rear edge and said articles of first quality comprise containers having narrowed end portions, said containers being adapted to be supported on said first shelf axially in adjacent rows extending between said front edge and said rear edge of said substantially flat first shelf such that an axial space exists between said end portions of adjacent rows of containers so supported on said first shelf, and
- wherein said housing for said articles of second quality is mounted on said supporting frame in a longitudinally spaced relation to and above said substantially flat first shelf proximally with respect to at least one of said rows of articles of first quality so as to occupy said axial space existing between said end portions of said at least one row of containers and an adjacent row thereof so supported on said first shelf,
- wherein said housing further includes at least one attachment member for mounting said housing on said frame, and
- wherein said housing for said articles of second quality comprises a support for dispensing a row of said articles of second quality, said row of said articles of second quality comprising at least first and second articles aligned serially and axially with respect to each other on said support,
- said support having a first end and a second end, said first end defining a display location for said at least first article in said row of articles, and wherein said first end is proximal to said front edge of said first shelf when said housing is mounted on said frame in said longitudinally spaced relation to and above said first shelf on said supporting frame such that said support occupies the space proximal to and between the end portions of adjacent rows of articles of first quality when said articles of first quality are supported on said first shelf axially in rows extending between said front edge and said rear edge of said substantially flat first shelf.
24-26. (canceled)
27. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said attachment member comprises a resilient spring-clip adapted to engage a corresponding portion of said frame.
28. (canceled)
29. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said corresponding portion of said frame comprises a substantially flat second shelf mounted on said frame longitudinally above said first shelf in substantially coextensive superposed relation to said first shelf, said substantially flat second shelf having a front edge and an opposed rear edge, and wherein said corresponding portion of said frame comprises said front edge of said second shelf and said second edge of said second shelf.
30. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said housing for said articles of second quality includes means for automatically dispensing articles of said second quality, and
- wherein said means on said housing for automatically dispensing articles of said second quality includes a pusher member on said support adapted to axially engage said at least second article in said row, and a first resilient member operatively coupled between said housing and said pusher member for urging said pusher member toward said display location in an axial direction extending from said second end of said support toward said first end of said support.
31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said support comprises a longitudinally extending tray having a generally U-shaped cross-section, and said display location for said at least first article in said row of articles defined by said first end of said support comprises an inclined ramp portion, said ramp portion terminating distally in a stop member for engaging said at least first article.
32. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said substantially flat first shelf is mounted on said frame in a tilted orientation whereby said articles of first quality are adapted to be dispensed by gravity.
33. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said articles of first quality comprise beverage containers and said articles of second quality comprise candy bars.
34. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein-said attachment member comprises a pair of resilient spring-clips adapted to engage said front edge and said opposed second edge of said second shelf, respectively.
35. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said support for dispensing a row of said articles of second quality is mounted on said substantially flat second shelf.
36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said support is removably mounted on said substantially flat second shelf.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 8, 2014
Publication Date: Jun 9, 2016
Inventor: Brian A. Lynch (Roswell, GA)
Application Number: 14/544,196