U.S. patent application number 11/244214 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-13 for package conveyor.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fasteners For Retail, Inc.. Invention is credited to John Caterinacci, Robert Gray, Daniel J. Kump.
Application Number | 20060076301 11/244214 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36144207 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060076301 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Caterinacci; John ; et
al. |
April 13, 2006 |
Package conveyor
Abstract
A product puller for moving products or items within a shelving
or other storage unit. The product puller includes a sheet having a
surface for supporting one or more products thereon, a product
backstop, and a means for moving the product puller in a desired
direction. For example, the product puller finds use in moving a
product located thereon forward or backward relative to a front
edge of a shelf or storage unit.
Inventors: |
Caterinacci; John; (Hudson,
OH) ; Kump; Daniel J.; (Highland Heights, OH)
; Gray; Robert; (Brookpark, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jay F. Moldovanyi, Esq.;Fay, Sharpe, Fagan, Minnich & McKee, LLP
Seventh Floor
1100 Superior Avenue
Cleveland
OH
44114-2579
US
|
Assignee: |
Fasteners For Retail, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
36144207 |
Appl. No.: |
11/244214 |
Filed: |
October 5, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60616694 |
Oct 7, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/59.3 ;
211/189 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 1/126 20130101;
A47F 1/125 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/059.3 ;
211/189 |
International
Class: |
A47F 1/04 20060101
A47F001/04 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for conveying merchandise on a shelf in a selected
direction relative to a front edge of the shelf, said apparatus
comprising: a sheet member having a top surface, a bottom surface,
a front end, and a rear end; a means for grasping said sheet member
located adjacent said front end of said sheet member; and a
backstop located adjacent said rear end of said sheet member.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said grasping means
comprises at least one of a slot, a hole, and a handle.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet
housing located adjacent a front end of an associated shelf, said
sheet housing defining a generally hollow interior and comprising
an opening located adjacent an upper portion of said housing, said
opening being dimensioned for receiving said sheet member wherein
said sheet member enters said sheet housing as said sheet member is
advanced forward on an associated shelf.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said backstop
comprises a generally vertical wall.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said backstop
further comprises a generally horizontal wall and an angled wall
located distal to said generally horizontal wall.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a tether
system connected to an associated shelf, said tether system
comprising a tether connected to said sheet member.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said tether is
connected to said backstop.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said tether system
further comprises a mounting bracket connected to the associated
shelf.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a portion of said
mounting bracket serves as an end stop to limit a rearward movement
of said sheet member.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sheet member
comprises a self-coiling material.
11. A product puller for moving objects forward on a shelf, said
product puller comprising: an elongated sheet member including a
top surface for supporting associated merchandise items on an
associated shelf having a front end; means for grasping said sheet
member to advance said sheet member toward the associated shelf
front end; and mounting means for mounting said sheet member to the
associated shelf.
12. The product puller according to claim 11, wherein said mounting
means comprises (i) first and second opposing side members, said
side members being transversely disposed relative to a front end of
an associated shelf, and (ii) a plurality of rollers disposed
between said side members; and wherein said sheet member comprises
a continuous belt, said sheet member being disposed about said
plurality of rollers.
13. The product puller according to claim 11, wherein said mounting
means comprises first and second product dividers, said product
dividers each comprising a generally vertical wall, and a generally
horizontal wall, wherein said generally horizontal of each divider
extends toward the other divider.
14. The product puller accordingly to claim 11, wherein said
mounting means comprises a pair of opposing product dividers
disposed generally transverse to a front of an associated shelf,
said product dividers comprising a generally vertical wall, a first
lower flange generally perpendicular to said vertical wall and
oriented toward said opposing product divider, and a second lower
flange, generally perpendicular to said vertical wall and opposite
said first lower flange for mounting a sheet member of an adjacent
product puller.
15. An assembly for conveying items on a shelf, said assembly
comprising: a one-piece product puller comprising (i) a sheet
member comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end, a
back end, and a longitudinal axis; (ii) a backstop; and (iii) a
slot for grasping said product puller.
16. The assembly according to claim 15, further comprising a tether
system mounted to an associated shelf, said tether system
comprising a tether connected to said sheet member.
17. The assembly according to claim 16, wherein said sheet member
is slidable along a surface of an associated shelf, and said tether
includes a resilient material and exhibits a biasing force
sufficient to bias an empty sheet toward a back of an associated
shelf, said biasing force being too weak to bias said sheet member
towards the back of the associated shelf when at least one item is
disposed on said top surface of said sheet member.
18. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein said front end of
said sheet member is rounded, and said back end of said sheet
member is generally square.
19. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein said slot is
oriented transverse to said longitudinal axis of said sheet
member.
20. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein said backstop
includes a generally vertical wall portion of said sheet member.
Description
[0001] The present application claims priority to and the benefit
of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/316,694, filed Oct. 7, 2004,
which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates, in various exemplary
embodiments, to an apparatus for conveying or moving items or
products located near a rear portion of a shelf or storage unit
toward a front portion thereof. The present disclosure also relates
to a method for using such an apparatus, which can be termed a
product puller. A product puller finds particular application in a
retail or warehouse-type store, and will be described with
reference thereto. However, the product puller is suitable in any
environment where it is desirable to store or display items on a
shelf or in a storage unit where the product may prove difficult to
access.
[0003] Goods or products for sale at both retail stores and
wholesale warehouse type stores are often displayed for sale on or
in shelves of a storage unit. There is probably an unlimited number
of items that may be displayed in such a manner, including, for
example, diapers, household items, packages of food, clothing, and
the like. As items are shopped and removed from the shelves, items
near the back or rearward portion of the shelf may be difficult to
reach, and in some instances even difficult to view. This may be
the case in particular where the items are located on a high shelf
or a relatively deep shelf. Additionally, it may be difficult to
reach or obtain a single product located near the back of a shelf
where several products are stacked on top of one another.
[0004] In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide an
apparatus for use in a shelving unit by which a single item or a
plurality of items that are positioned near the rear or back
portion of a shelf may be conveyed or moved forward toward the
front of the shelving unit and thereby made accessible for
retrieval and/or viewing by a shopper, store employee, or the
like.
SUMMARY
[0005] The disclosure provides, in various embodiments thereof, an
apparatus for conveying merchandise on a shelf in a selected
direction relative to a front edge of the shelf, said apparatus
comprising a sheet member having a top surface, a bottom surface, a
front end, and a rear end; a means for grasping said sheet member
located adjacent said front end of said sheet member; and a
backstop located adjacent said rear end of said sheet member.
[0006] The present disclosure also provides, in various embodiments
thereof, a product puller for moving objects forward on a shelf,
said product puller comprising an elongated sheet member including
a top surface for supporting associated merchandise items on an
associated shelf having a front end; means for grasping said sheet
member to advance said sheet member toward the associated shelf
front end; and mounting means for mounting said sheet member to the
associated shelf.
[0007] Further, the disclosure provides, in various embodiments
thereof, an assembly for conveying items on a shelf, said assembly
comprising a one-piece product puller comprising (i) a sheet member
comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end, a back
end, and a longitudinal axis; (ii) a backstop; and (iii) a slot for
grasping said product puller.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The disclosure 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, wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a product puller according
to a first exemplary embodiment of the instant disclosure;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an assembly
comprising the product puller of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 2A is an assembled front elevational view of the
assembly in FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of a product
puller according to a second exemplary embodiment of the instant
disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of the product
puller of FIG. 3;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a partially exploded perspective view of a product
puller of a third exemplary embodiment with a stop member attached
to a mounting bracket;
[0015] FIG. 6 is an assembled perspective view of the product
puller of FIG. 5;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a reduced perspective view of the product puller
of FIG. 3 in a shelving environment;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a reduced side elevational view of a shelving unit
employing the product puller of FIG. 3;
[0018] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a product puller
according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the instant
disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 10 is an assembled perspective view of the product
puller of FIG. 9;
[0020] FIG. 11 is a reduced perspective view of the product puller
of FIG. 9 in a shelving unit;
[0021] FIG. 12 is an enlarged side elevational view of a shelf
employing the product puller of FIG. 9;
[0022] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a product puller
according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the instant
disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 14 is an assembled, reduced side elevational view of
the product puller of FIG. 13 in a shelving environment;
[0024] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment
of the product puller according to the third exemplary embodiment
of the instant disclosure;
[0025] FIG. 15A is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a pull
handle system of the product puller of FIG. 15;
[0026] FIG. 16 is a reduced side elevational view of the product
puller of FIG. 15;
[0027] FIG. 17 is a rear cross sectional view of the product puller
of FIG. 15;
[0028] FIG. 18 is a reduced perspective of the product puller of
FIGS. 15 and 16 in a shelving environment;
[0029] FIG. 19 is a reduced side elevational view of the product
puller of FIGS. 15, 16 and 18 in a shelving environment; and
[0030] FIG. 20 is a front elevational view of the shelving
environment of FIG. 19.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] Generally, a product puller according to the instant
disclosure comprises a sheet or sheet-like structure having a top,
exposed surface, a bottom surface, and a means for moving the sheet
or sheet-like structure in a forward or backward direction relative
to a front portion of a shelf or shelving unit. The top surface,
which may also be referred to as the support surface of a product
puller is suitable for supporting one or more items such as, for
example, packages, containers, boxes, or the like. The bottom
surface, or at least a portion thereof, contacts another surface,
such as the surface of a shelf, and can be slidable or moveable in
relation to the shelf. In certain embodiments, the support surface
of the sheet can be substantially planar. The product puller is
suitable for use in a shelving environment and allows for items
resting or placed on the support surface of the sheet to be moved
along the shelf in either a forward direction, toward a front
portion of the shelf, or in a rearward direction, toward a rear
portion of the shelf, as the sheet is moved.
[0032] With reference to FIGS. 1-6, product pullers according to
first, second, and third exemplary embodiments are shown. With
reference to FIGS. 1-6, a sheet-like product puller 10 includes a
top exposed surface 12, which also may be referred to as the
support surface, a bottom surface 14, a forward portion 16, and a
rear portion 17. Adjacent the rear portion 17, the product puller
10 includes a product backstop 18, which can be triangular in
shape. Product backstop 18 of product puller 10 includes a forward
facing wall 20 braced by an angled wall 24. A foot or flap 23 of
the forward facing wall 20 can be suitably secured to the sheet top
surface 12. Forward wall 20 of product backstop 18 is adapted for
contacting at least one rearwardly located item or product
supported by or placed on the support surface 12.
[0033] The shape or configuration of product backstop 18 is not
critical and not limited in any manner except to the extent that
the product backstop provides a wall or surface which is suitable
for contacting at least a portion of one or more products or items
supported on the surface of the product puller. Product backstop 18
may be attached or connected to the product puller 10 in any
suitable manner including, but not limited to by an adhesive, sink
welding, stapling, other known fasteners, or the like. For example,
backstop 18 can be a rear end of the product puller 10 which is
folded over and is attached by sink welding a flap 23 to the
surface 12. However, the product backstop may be a separate
structure that is attached to the product puller or may be formed
directly as part of the product puller configuration, such as by
molding. In one embodiment, it can be a portion of the product
puller structure that is configured to form a backstop such as by
folding at pre-selected creases or folds.
[0034] The product puller 10 can also include a hand hold, such as
a slot 28, which can be located adjacent the forward portion 16
thereof. In this embodiment, the slot 28 is generally sized and
shaped to allow a person to fit one or more fingers in the slot in
order to grasp the product puller and move the product puller in a
desired direction. The size and shape of slot 28, and its location,
are otherwise not limited in any matter.
[0035] A product puller may also comprise various structures or
mounting means for mounting a sheet member to an associated shelf.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 2A, for example, a product puller may
be mounted between product dividers. In FIGS. 2 and 2A, product
puller 10 is disposed between product dividers 11a and 11b, which
would generally be mounted or disposed on a shelf. As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 2A, product divider 11a and 11b have the same
configuration. Referring to product divider 11a, the product
dividers in this embodiment have a generally vertical wall or
member 13a and generally horizontal walls 15a and 19a, which may be
generally perpendicular to the vertical wall 13a. Product puller 10
is disposed between generally horizontal wall 19a of product
divider 11a and generally horizontal wall 15b of product divider
11b.
[0036] In one embodiment (not shown), a product puller may be
disposed between generally horizontal walls of opposing product
dividers such that the bottom surface of a product puller is in
contact with a shelf surface. In another embodiment, such as shown
in FIG. 2A, the bottom surface 14 of product puller 10 may contact
the top surfaces of the generally horizontal walls, such as walls
19a and 15b.
[0037] The shape, configuration, and height of product dividers may
be selected as desired for a particular purpose or intended use.
Additionally, the product dividers may be formed from any material
including, but not limited to, metals, plastics, composites, and
the like. The product dividers may be formed or molded single-piece
structures or formed by separately connected pieces.
[0038] It will be appreciated that a product divider may include
one or two generally horizontal walls. The use of product dividers
with two generally horizontal walls facing in opposite directions
relative to the general vertical wall allows for a single product
divider to separate adjacent sheet members.
[0039] With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a product puller
assembly can also include a tether system 30 to maintain the
product puller 10 in a particular position on the shelf and/or aid
in retracting the sheet-like structure of the product puller toward
the rearward portion of the shelf/storage unit. In this embodiment,
the tether system 30 performs a retractive function such that,
after being moved in a forward direction toward a front portion of
a shelf, the product puller may be retracted toward the rear
portion of the shelf. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, tether
system 30 includes a tether storage box 32, a tether 34 selectively
wound into and out of the box (such as on a spool, not visible),
and a mounting bracket 38 to which the storage box 32 can be
secured. As is well known in the art, a resilient element, such as
a spring can bias a spool rotatably mounted in the tether storage
box in order to wind the tether into the box. An end of the tether
can be secured to the spool in a known manner. However, the
strength of the spring can be weak enough such that it will not
retract the product puller 10 if there are any packages held on it.
When there are no packages located on the product puller, the
tether can be wound back onto the spool and into the storage box
32. At the same time, the product puller can be repositioned away
from a front edge of the shelf, as is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and
4.
[0040] To tether the product puller 10, an attachment piece 36 is
mounted to a rear portion of the product puller. With respect to
FIGS. 3 and 4, the attachment piece 36 can include a barb which is
mounted to the backstop 18 of the product puller 10 by inserting
the barb through a hole 26 in, for example, the angled wall 24.
Attachment piece 36 is not limited in any manner and may be any
suitable structure that is capable of attaching tether 34 to the
product puller 10 including, but not limited to, a barb, prong,
fastener, snap, button, tie, or the like. The tether, such as
tether 34, is not critical and may be any structure suitable as a
tether including, but not limited to, a spring, a string, chord,
cable, chain, wire, strap, band, or the like. The tether system 30
may be mounted to the rear portion of the shelf either directly or,
as shown in FIG. 3, by mounting the storage box 32 via an adhesive
33 on a surface of the storage box 32 to a formed box mounting
bracket 38 which is adapted to clip on to a portion of a shelf.
[0041] With reference now to FIG. 5, in another embodiment,
mounting bracket 38' may include a stop member to limit the
rearward travel of a product puller. With reference to FIGS. 5 and
6, mounting bracket 38' includes a stop member 37. The stop member
37 is shown as in the form of a loop or arch. A stop member,
however, may be of any shape or height as desired for a particular
purpose or intended use. Additionally, the stop member may be a
solid block structure. The stop member may be made from any
suitable material, including, metals, plastics, composites, and the
like.
[0042] It will be appreciated that various systems may be combined
to form a product puller apparatus. For example, in one embodiment
a product puller could employ a sheet member, product dividers, and
a tether system.
[0043] With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, product puller 10 is shown
in a shelving environment. In FIG. 7, bottom surface (not shown) of
product puller 10 rests on rods 41 which form the support surface
of shelf 40. Product puller 10 supports products or items 44 on top
surface 12 of product puller 10. As shown in the left hand side of
FIG. 7 items 44, which are supported on product puller 10, are
located near the rear portion of shelf 40. Such items 44 can be
moved toward the front portion of shelf 40, as depicted on the
right hand side of FIG. 7, by grasping product puller 10 via slot
28, and pulling or otherwise applying a force to move product
puller 10 in the direction P1. Alternatively, products or items 44
on product puller 10 may be moved away from the front portion of
shelf 40 toward the rear portion there by applying a force in the
direction P2.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 7, a backstop 18' is different in form than
backstop 18 illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 and 8. In this embodiment, the
backstop is cylindrical and can be secured to a rear end by any
known attachment means. Alternatively, the backstop can be simply
an enlarged rear end of the product puller. As previously
mentioned, the backstop can assume a variety of forms.
[0045] Product puller 10 is moved on shelf 40 by sliding the bottom
surface of the shut member along the shelf surface. Such a product
puller may be used in any shelving system and is not limited by
shelf type. For example product puller 10 may be used on a solid
shelf surface, a frame or screen shelf surface, or a shelf surface
comprised of slats, rods, or tubes running either perpendicular to
or horizontally to the front and rear edges of a shelf. To this
end, the product puller 10 can be made of a material that includes
a relatively slidable lower surface, such as
polytetrafluoraethylene or another suitable conventional material.
Also, the product puller 10 can be made from a flexible material if
so desired.
[0046] With reference to FIG. 8, the use of product puller 10 is
shown in a shopping or warehouse environment. Section A represents
a fully loaded shelf comprising a plurality of items or products.
As the items or products are removed from the shelf, as depicted by
the removal of the first two vertical rows of items near the front
edge 42 of the shelf, other items or products remain near the back
portion of the shelf. As shown in Section B of FIG. 8, the last two
vertical rows of products or items are supported by product puller
10. As the items are shopped or removed from the shelves such that
the fully loaded shelf in Section A comes to resemble the half
loaded shelf in Section B, the products or items supported by
product puller 10 may be moved forward to the position represented
by Section C by pulling or moving the product puller toward the
front portion of the shelving unit.
[0047] With reference to FIGS. 9-12, a second exemplary embodiment
of a product puller is shown. With reference to FIG. 9, a product
puller 46 comprises a top, exposed or product support surface 48, a
bottom surface 50, and product backstop 54. Product puller 46 can
also includes slots or holes 52 which may be used to advance the
product puller 46 toward a front portion of a shelf. Slots or holes
52 can be sized to accommodate at least one finger of a user who is
trying to advance the product puller 46. The system can also
include a support body 60. Support body 60 defines a slot-like
opening 61 located near the upper portion thereof communicating
with a hollow interior 62. The support body 60 can be located
adjacent a front edge 82 (FIG. 11) of a shelf. Support body 60 may
be positioned along the shelf by any suitable means to hold the
support body in place, including, for example by an adhesive,
fasteners, clips, and the like.
[0048] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9-12, end panels 64a, 64b
are shaped to mate with respective ends of support body 60. End
panels 64a, 64b define an overhanging portion 66a, 66b that is
sized or adapted to fit over a top surface of a shelving beam, such
as beam 82 (FIG. 12), to effectively clip the support body 60 onto
a shelf. In other embodiments, the product puller 46, and
particularly the support body 60, may be further secured to a shelf
by one or more hold down brackets 70a, 70b, which define an opening
adapted to fit or mate with the underside of a shelf beam, and is
attached to the end panels 64a, 64b of the support body. The
brackets can be attached to the end panels by any suitable known
means, including, for example, an adhesive, a fastener, or the
like. In the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, hold down brackets 70a,
70b are attached to end panels 64a, 64b by fasteners 74a, 74b,
which are inserted through aligned holes 72a, 72b in the hold down
brackets and holes 70a, 70b in end panels 68a, 68,
respectively.
[0049] Support body 60 may include other optional items for display
purposes. For example, support body 60 may include a C-channel 76
adapted to hold a graphic display, ticket holder, such as ticket
holder 78, or the like.
[0050] With reference now to FIG. 11, products 84 are supported on
the product puller 46. Such products may be advanced toward the
front edge 82 of the shelf by grasping one of the holes 52 and
applying a force, such as, for example, by pulling, to move product
puller 46 in a direction P3 toward the front portion of a shelf 80.
As product puller 46 is advanced forward in the direction P3, the
sheet-like structure passes through opening 61 of support body 60
and winds in the interior 62 of the support body. If desired, the
product puller 46 can be made of conventional material that is
self-coiling so that it rolls up on itself within the interior 62
of support body 60. That is, the product puller feeds into the
front mounted support body. The self-coiling action of the product
puller 46 can be weaker than the weight of a package 84 held
thereon so that the product puller will not wind into the support
body 60 unless a person pulls it forward, such as by using holes
52.
[0051] The product puller 46 can have a length, including the
length of the product backstop that is less than, equal to, or
greater than the depth of the shelf. It will be appreciated that
product puller 46 can be employed with a tether system, such as,
for example, tether system 30 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, to hold the
product puller in a particular position transversely on the shelf
and/or to resist the self-coiling action of the product puller 46
as it retracts into the support body 60.
[0052] It is noted that a backstop 54 in FIGS. 11 and 12 is
different in form from backstop 54 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. As
previously mentioned, the backstop can assume a variety of forms.
In this embodiment, the backstop is cylindrical and can be secured
to a rear end of the product puller 46 by any known attachment
means. Also, the backstop can be simply an enlarged rear end of the
product puller, if so desired.
[0053] With reference to FIGS. 13-19, another embodiment of a
product puller is shown. In this embodiment, a product puller 86
includes an endless belt 87 that is fitted over a plurality of
rollers. To this end, rollers 100 and 101 mount the belt 87 in a
frame including frame sides 88. The frame can be sized to fit
between the front and rear beams of a conventional shelving unit.
As shown in FIG. 13, a rear flange 94 can be adapted to rest on a
rear beam 122 of a shelving unit, and a cut out portion 90 near the
front of the frame is adapted to fit over a front beam 120 of a
shelving unit. Frame sides 88 are separated by spacer tubes 92
which can be held in place by connecting threaded rods 96 and lock
nuts 98. The frame sides 88 can also include a flange 89 that forms
a top surface of each of the frame sides. Rollers 100 are
positioned on the frames by pins 99. The frame can also include a
front cover 116 to which can be mounted a display type item such as
a tag 118.
[0054] Belt 87 includes an outer surface 87a that is exposed or
situated outboard of rollers 100 and 101, and an undersurface 87b
that makes engaging contact with rollers 100 and 101. Additionally
the undersurface 87b of belt 87 also contacts top surface 89 of the
frame sides 88. As best shown in FIG. 17, top surface 89 of frame
sides 88 provides a support surface for belt 87 such that outer
surface 87a of belt 87 is substantially planar and capable of
supporting or housing products or items.
[0055] A known ratchet type system can be used to advance or move
the belt in a desired direction. For example, the ratchet system
can include a known non reversible clutch bearing 106 which drives
a sprocket 108 having a plurality of teeth 112. The non reversible
clutch bearing 106 can be attached to the side panel via one of the
pins 99 such that as the clutch bearing is moved in one direction
the roller attached to that pin is also moved in a similar
direction. The clutch bearing may be moved in a particular
direction by a pull handle 110 with rack teeth 112. The system
operates in a ratchet-like manner.
[0056] As the pull handle is pulled toward a user, rack teeth 112
engage the teeth of clutch bearing 106 to move clutch bearing 106
and, consequently, roller 100 in a clockwise direction to advance
belt 87. When the pull handle 110 is moved in toward the shelving
unit, the clutch bearing 106 is not engaged and belt 87 is not
moved. With respect to the embodiments in FIGS. 13-17, the pull
handle is used to move the belt forward by moving pull handle 110
toward the shopper, i.e. in a direction parallel with a shelving
unit or the ground. With reference to FIGS. 18 and 19, a different
embodiment of pull handle 110' is shown. In this embodiment, the
pull handle 110' is pulled from an upright position downward in an
arcuate fashion, i.e., in a motion similar to the motion of the arm
on a slot machine.
[0057] In another embodiment, instead of employing a ratchet-type
system, the product puller 86, and in particular belt 87 may be
provided with one or more slots or openings (such as are shown in
FIGS. 1 and 9) which can be grasped manually. In such an
embodiment, belt 87 may be moved in a desired direction in a manner
similar to the sheet-like structure of the product pullers in the
first and second exemplary embodiments.
[0058] With reference to FIGS. 15-19, another embodiment of a
support frame is shown. In this configuration, a frame side 88'
includes a front leg 124 and rear leg 126, as opposed to flange 94
and cut out 90 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. As shown in FIG. 16, the
frame sides 88' straddle the shelf beams 120 and 122 of a shelving
unit.
[0059] The size and shape of a product puller is not critical and a
product puller may be sized and shaped to for use on/in shelves of
various depths and to accommodate products of various sizes and
shapes. For example, with reference to FIG. 20, product pullers of
the type described with reference to FIGS. 13-19 are employed in a
shelving unit. As shown in FIG. 20, a plurality of product pullers
having different widths, W1, W2 are employed to accommodate or
match different width packages. For example, the sheet-like
structure may be sized as desired to support a particular sized
item or package.
[0060] A product puller may be separated from an adjacent product
puller in any known manner. For example, as shown in FIGS. 18 and
20, a product puller system may employ a known product divider,
such as product divider 128 for separating it from an adjacent
product puller. In an alternative embodiment, a divider may be
attached or fastened to an individual product puller rather than to
a shelf.
[0061] It will be appreciated that the shelf-like structure may
have configurations other than those described herein. For example,
and with reference to FIG. 1, the sheet-like structure may have
raised sides adjacent the longitudinal sides of the sheet-like
structure and perpendicular thereto, so as to define a tray. Raised
sides may be integrated with the sheet-like structure or may be
separately secured to the sheet-like structure. Such raised sides
may be shaped and sized as desired for a particular purpose.
[0062] The sheet-like structure of the product puller may be formed
from any suitable material. For example, the product puller can be
formed from polymeric materials including but not limited to
plastics, rubbers, and the like. The rigidity and thickness of the
material may vary depending on the type of product which may be
placed on the product puller and/or the configuration of the
product puller. Generally, in embodiments where the sheet-like
structure is to bend or roll up on itself (such as, for example,
the product pullers of FIGS. 9-12 and FIGS. 13-19, respectively)
the sheet-like structure should be relatively pliable.
Additionally, in such embodiments, the sheet-like structure should
not be too thick.
[0063] The top surface of the sheet-like structure may be made to
have a surface with a coefficient of friction that is high enough
to prevent packages or containers resting thereon from being
slidable on the top surface. Additionally, the bottom surface of
the sheet-like structure is made of a material or coating that
allows the bottom surface to be slidable along a surface upon which
it rests so that the product puller and sheet may be moved along
that surface in a desired direction. The bottom surface of the
sheet-like structure may contain texture, perforations, embossed
features, or the like, to reduce friction, static, and/or vacuum
between the bottom surface of the product puller and its supporting
shelf-like surface. The two faces of the product puller can exhibit
different characteristics.
[0064] The sheet-like structure may contain graphics including, for
example, product or store logos, or, as shown in FIGS. 1-7 and 11,
an instruction, such as, for example, a graphic 39 directing a user
to pull at a particular location.
[0065] As shown in the various exemplary embodiments a product
puller is suitable for use in a shopping or storage environment. In
other words, a product puller is suitable for use in either
shopping or retrieving items positioned toward the rear portion of
a shelf or storage unit by moving the product puller in a direction
toward the front of a storage unit, thereby moving the products or
items situated thereon toward the front portion of a storage unit.
Alternatively, a product puller may be used to restock items in a
shelving unit. Items may be placed on a product puller tray end
then moved toward the rear of the storage unit by moving the
product puller toward the rear portion of the storage unit.
[0066] Such product pullers can be useful for moving large, bulky
items, such as packages of diapers or laundry detergent, large
packages of paper towels or toilet paper and the like toward the
front edge of the shelf. In a club or warehouse store environment,
which can have particularly deep shelves, such product pullers can
find use for moving a variety of packages of goods sold in such
stores toward the front edges of shelves.
[0067] A product puller has been described with reference to the
various exemplary embodiments. Obviously, modifications and
alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the
proceeding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary
embodiments by construed as including all such modifications and
alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended
claims or the equivalents thereof.
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