U.S. patent application number 11/456085 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-11 for apparatus for retail category management.
Invention is credited to David F. Mann.
Application Number | 20070007221 11/456085 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37617339 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070007221 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mann; David F. |
January 11, 2007 |
APPARATUS FOR RETAIL CATEGORY MANAGEMENT
Abstract
A retail merchandising apparatus affording assured automatic
product rotation, labor-savings associated with reduced stocking
times and the elimination for the need to manually rotate product.
The apparatus also provides greatly enhanced permanent
brand-identification, brand exposure and distinction from
competitor's in the grocery aisle due to the product always being
in an upright position throughout the loading and dispensing
process and the superior graphic presence presented on the
apparatus.
Inventors: |
Mann; David F.; (Snellville,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
E.J. ASBURY III, LLC
3330 CUMBERLAND BOULEVARD
SUITE 500
ATLANTA
GA
30339-5985
US
|
Family ID: |
37617339 |
Appl. No.: |
11/456085 |
Filed: |
July 6, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60696885 |
Jul 6, 2005 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/59.3 ;
211/59.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 1/087 20130101;
A47F 1/126 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/059.3 ;
211/059.2 |
International
Class: |
A47F 1/04 20060101
A47F001/04 |
Claims
1. A front-loading and front-dispensing drop rotation apparatus for
product display and dispensing on a retail shelf, comprising a pair
of vertically aligned tracks for supporting product thereon, the
tracks comprising: a first horizontal loading and storage track at
the top; a second upwardly and rearwardly inclined dispensing track
at the bottom, beneath the first track, the second track being
inclined for fostering sliding movement of product relative
thereto; wherein the apparatus has a pusher means for forcing
product positioned on the first track along the first tract and to
the rear thereof, and wherein the first track defines a drop
aperture adjacent the rear end thereof enabling the passage of
product from the first track onto the second track; whereby product
loaded onto the first track is forced, by the pusher means, to the
rear of the first track, the product then passing, under the
influence of gravity, through the drop aperture to the second
track, the product then urged by gravity along the second track, to
the front of the apparatus for display and dispensing.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product is supported by
the first and second tracks in an upright positioned.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product is dispensed in an
upright position.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each the track comprises a
laterally spaced pair of upstanding sidewalls and a floor
connecting the sidewalls.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the floor is wider than the
product in an upright orientation, and the sidewalls define a space
therebetween wider than the product in an upright orientation.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the drop aperture is in the
floor.
7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the drop aperture of the first
track is adjacent the rear of the apparatus.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a loading door is opened to
gain access to the first track and to load product thereon.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a pusher support member
supports the pusher means, and wherein the pusher support member is
retracted to disengaged the pusher means and to load product onto
the first track, and then reinstalled to engage the pusher means,
and force product to the rear of the first track.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pusher means for forcing
product positioned on the first track rearwardly along the first
tract comprises a spring pusher.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the spring pusher further
comprises a coil spring pusher.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second track has adjacent
the front end thereof means for displaying the forward product
thereon in a substantially upright orientation.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination of
the second upwardly and rearwardly inclined dispensing track varies
along the length of the second dispensing track.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is supported on
the retail shelf by a cantilever mount at the rear of the
apparatus.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of upright
product may be stacked one atop another on the first horizontal
loading and storage track at the top of the apparatus; wherein the
pusher means forces the stacked upright product positioned on the
first track along the first track and to the rear thereof, and
whereby the stacked product passes, under the influence of gravity,
to the second track, where the lowermost product is then urged by
gravity along the second track, each stacked product then
successively passing down the second track, from the lowermost
stacked product to the uppermost stacked product, to the front of
the apparatus for display and dispensing.
16. A front-loading and front-dispensing drop rotation apparatus
for product display and dispensing on a retail shelf, comprising a
pair of vertically aligned tracks for supporting product thereon,
the tracks comprising: a first horizontal loading and storage track
at the top; a second upwardly and rearwardly inclined dispensing
track at the bottom, beneath the first track, the second track
being inclined for fostering sliding movement of product relative
thereto; wherein the apparatus has a pusher means for forcing
product positioned on the first track along the first tract and to
the rear thereof, and wherein the first track defines a drop
aperture adjacent the rear end thereof enabling the passage of
product from the first track onto the second track and wherein the
second track has adjacent the front end thereof a generally
horizontal section which slows forward product movement at the
front end thereof without terminating the forward movement and
displays the forward product thereon in a substantially upright
orientation; and whereby product loaded onto the first track is
forced, by the pusher means, to the rear of the first track, the
product then passing, under the influence of gravity, through the
drop aperture to the second track, the product then urged by
gravity along the second track, to the front of the apparatus for
display and dispensing.
17. A front-loading and front-dispensing drop rotation apparatus
for product display and dispensing of upright product on a retail
shelf, comprising a pair of vertically aligned tracks for
supporting upright product thereon, the tracks comprising: a first
horizontal loading and storage track at the top; a second upwardly
and rearwardly inclined dispensing track at the bottom, beneath the
first track, the second track being inclined for fostering sliding
movement of product relative thereto; the first and second track
comprising a laterally spaced pair of upstanding sidewalls and a
floor connecting the sidewalls, the floor being wider than the
product in an upright orientation, the sidewalls defining a space
therebetween wider than the product in an upright orientation; and
wherein the first track defines a drop aperture adjacent the rear
end thereof enabling the passage of product from the first track
onto the second track; whereby product loaded onto the first track
is manually forced to the rear of the first track, the product then
passing, under the influence of gravity, through the drop aperture
to the second track, the product then urged by gravity along the
second track, to the front of the apparatus for display and
dispensing.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second track has
adjacent the front end thereof a generally horizontal section which
slows forward product movement at the front end thereof without
terminating the forward movement and displays the forward product
thereon in a substantially upright orientation.
19. A front-loading and front-dispensing drop rotation apparatus
for product display and dispensing on a retail shelf, comprising a
pair of vertically aligned tracks for supporting product thereon,
the tracks comprising: a first downwardly and rearwardly inclined
loading and storage track at the top, the first track being
inclined for fostering sliding movement of product relative
thereto; a second upwardly and rearwardly inclined dispensing track
at the bottom, beneath the first track, the second track being
inclined for fostering sliding movement of product relative
thereto; and wherein the first track defines a drop aperture
adjacent the rear end thereof enabling the passage of product from
the first track onto the second track; whereby product loaded onto
the first track is urged by gravity along the first track, to the
rear of the first track, the product then passing, under the
influence of gravity, through the drop aperture to the second
track, the product then urged by gravity along the second track, to
the front of the apparatus for display and dispensing.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the angle of inclination of
the second upwardly and rearwardly inclined dispensing track varies
along the length of the second dispensing track.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/696,885, filed on Jul. 6, 2005, which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention generally relates to apparatuses and
methods of product presentation in retail marketing. More
particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and
method for presentation of product to the consumer, ensure rotation
of product, and the efficient use of display space to achieve the
maximum product count within a given volume.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Labor and their associated costs are greatly responsible for
a reduction in profits by most retail channels of trade, including
the grocery or supermarket trade channel. Some consumer packaged
goods (CPG) categories are more labor-intensive than others, due to
a variety of factors, for example: sales volume, number of stock
keeping units (SKU's) available, space allocation per SKU, package
size/shape/stack-ability, and whether the product is single,
double, triple-stacked or higher, to handle inventory requirements
based on sales volume.
[0006] When a SKU is double or even triple-stacked to meet
inventory requirements as dictated by sales volume, this can
greatly increase the time and therefore labor required to fully
stock each SKU, due to the difficulty associated with the SKU
package itself, for example, the package size with smaller being
more challenging, the package's ability to inter-connect with the
package it's resting on top of and the number of facings per SKU,
with a greater number of facings making product merchandising
easier.
[0007] Labor involves not only the manual physical task of fully
stocking the shelf with product as needed, but also what's known in
the industry as fronting; i.e., the daily activity of pulling
product from the back of the shelf, after the front has sold down,
to the front of the shelf to improve shop-ability for the consumer,
and give the aesthetic appearance the shelf is full of product,
which also improves brand awareness.
[0008] Most items sold in a retail grocery environment, including
almost all food, beverages, medicines, batteries and film, have a
product freshness date, or expiration date, alerting consumers and
retail store personnel when a product should be sold by, consumed
by, or used by, to meet quality, effectiveness and safety standards
set forth by the CPG manufacturer. Product freshness is important
to brand-marketers of consumer-packaged-goods, ensuring optimum
freshness, effectiveness & safety; therefore enhancing consumer
loyalty for the brand.
[0009] Proper product rotation is vital, yet very labor-intensive,
to ensuring product freshness. Product rotation for most product
categories currently involves the manual removal of the older
product from the back of the shelf, after the product in front has
sold down, and replacing it with the newer fresher product, then
restocking the older product at the front of the shelf so the older
product is sold first. The shelf life of each SKU varies widely by
product category; whereas a loaf of bread my have a week or less to
sell before going out-of-date, some product categories have a shelf
life of up to two years, or more, for example: bottled water
2-years, alkaline batteries 7-years, etc.
[0010] There is a direct correlation as to the importance of
product rotation and the shelf life of the product in question,
while also factoring the velocity of sales for that item. For
example, a high-volume SKU like bottled water which has a two-year
shelf life, doesn't require the diligence of product rotation that
an SKU like pre-washed and shredded packaged lettuce would, due to
the highly perishable nature and relatively slower sales of the
packaged lettuce.
[0011] The vast majority of all SKU's in the grocery channel are
warehouse delivered to each store by the retailer's own
distribution system. The SKU's typically come from a warehouse
owned/operated by the retailer who orders product in bulk from the
manufacturer, allowing individual retail stores to order product
from the retailer run warehouse as needed. Upon receipt at the
store, retailer personnel are responsible for merchandising,
rotating & fronting the product as dictated by sales.
[0012] On the other hand, direct-store-delivered (DSD) items, are
manufactured, warehoused, ordered & distributed to each
individual retail outlet, not the retailer's warehouse, entirely by
the CPG manufacturer's personnel. Upon receipt at the retail store,
additional CPG manufacturer personnel are directly responsible for
merchandising, rotating & fronting their products in each
retail outlet on a daily basis. This gives DSD manufacturers &
distributors of consumer-packaged-goods almost complete control
over every aspect of the daily ordering, distribution,
merchandising and execution of promotional activity. In an ideal
implementation, sales will increase, out-of-stock's and
out-of-date's will be reduced, or eliminated as a result of the
additional attention devoted to the basic principles of in-store
marketing, merchandising execution and category management by CPG
company personnel. The benefits to DSD goods go beyond that
typically afforded to warehouse delivered SKU's where retailer
personnel are responsible for these activities. Some examples of
common DSD product categories are soft drinks, potato chips, bread,
beer and milk.
[0013] Consumer product companies, of all product categories, are
constantly developing new products for introduction, which must be
worked into existing retail shelf real-estate. The overwhelming
variety of products available to the consumer, thus making it very
difficult for any one CPG company to stand out from their
competitor's in the aisle. Millions of dollars are spent annually
by CPG companies, to help their products stand out from the
competition on the shelf, for example, unique product packaging
shapes, logo's and color schemes. Product packaging is often the
only method of brand-identification utilized by CPG companies,
which becomes much less effective during the clutter and
disorganization associated with sell down.
[0014] Graphics such as floor graphics, shelf strips, aisle blades,
shelf talkers and headers are commonly used for
brand-identification, to increase brand-exposure, to draw attention
to promotional efforts and to help distinguish the brand from the
competition in the grocery aisle. Unfortunately, all of these
methods are temporary and are only as effective as the level of
execution obtained in the field, by retailer personnel for
warehouse delivered products. Manufacturer's of DSD products find
these type of temporary materials more effective as a general rule,
because their own personnel are responsible for the execution of
these materials and must follow strict company guidelines for their
execution in each retail outlet.
[0015] According, there is a need in the art wherein both
Retailer's and CPG manufacturer's would be interested in an
apparatus that would reduce labor cost's associated with stocking,
fronting and product rotation, also assuring product rotation was
fool-proof to significantly reduce, or eliminate, out-of-date
product, also eliminating the need to front product. There is also
a need in the art to provide a billboard effect for product graphic
presentation, which will enhance consumer awareness. It is thus to
such an apparatus for product presentation and rotation that the
present invention is primarily directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the
present invention which, in one aspect, is a front-loading and
front-dispensing drop rotation apparatus for product display and
dispensing on a retail shelf. The apparatus comprising a pair of
vertically aligned tracks for supporting product thereon, the
tracks comprising a first horizontal loading and storage track at
the top, and a second upwardly and rearwardly inclined dispensing
track at the bottom, beneath the first track. The second track
being inclined for fostering sliding movement of product relative
thereto, wherein the apparatus has a pusher means for forcing
product positioned on the first track along the first tract and to
the rear thereof, and wherein the first track defines a drop
aperture adjacent the rear end thereof enabling the passage of
product from the first track onto the second track. Whereby product
loaded onto the first track is forced, by the pusher means, to the
rear of the first track, the product then passing, under the
influence of gravity, through the drop aperture to the second
track, the product then urged by gravity along the second track, to
the front of the apparatus for display and dispensing. The product
is supported by the first and second tracks in an upright position
and is dispensed in an upright position.
[0017] Each the track comprises a laterally spaced pair of
upstanding sidewalls and a floor connecting the sidewalls. The
floor is wider than the product in an upright orientation, and the
sidewalls define a space therebetween wider than the product in an
upright orientation. The drop aperture is in the floor of the first
track is adjacent the rear of the apparatus. A loading door at the
front of the apparatus is opened to gain access to the first track
and to load product thereon.
[0018] A pusher support member supports the pusher means, and the
pusher support member is retracted to disengaged the pusher means
and to load product onto the first track, and then reinstalled to
engage the pusher means, and force product to the rear of the first
track. The pusher means for forcing product positioned on the first
track rearwardly along the first tract comprises a spring pusher.
The spring pusher further comprises a coil spring pusher.
[0019] The second track has adjacent the front end thereof means
for displaying the forward product thereon in a substantially
upright orientation. The angle of inclination of the second
upwardly and rearwardly inclined dispensing track may vary along
the length of the second dispensing track. The apparatus may be
supported on the retail shelf by a cantilever mount at the rear of
the apparatus.
[0020] A plurality of upright product may be stacked, one atop
another on the first horizontal loading and storage track at the
top of the apparatus. Wherein the pusher means forces the stacked
upright product positioned on the first track along the first track
and to the rear thereof. And the stacked product passes, under the
influence of gravity, through the drop aperture to the second
track, where the lowermost product is then urged by gravity along
the second track. Each stacked product then successively passes
down the second track, from the lowermost stacked product to the
uppermost stacked product, to the front of the apparatus for
display and dispensing.
[0021] A front-loading and front-dispensing drop rotation apparatus
for product display and dispensing on a retail shelf. The apparatus
comprising a pair of vertically aligned tracks for supporting
product thereon, the tracks comprising a first horizontal loading
and storage track at the top, and a second upwardly and rearwardly
inclined dispensing track at the bottom, beneath the first track.
The second track being inclined for fostering sliding movement of
product relative thereto, and wherein the apparatus has a pusher
means for forcing product positioned on the first track along the
first tract and to the rear thereof. And wherein the first track
defines a drop aperture adjacent the rear end thereof enabling the
passage of product from the first track onto the second track and
wherein the second track has adjacent the front end thereof a
generally horizontal section which slows forward product movement
at the front end thereof without terminating the forward movement.
The generally horizontal section displaying the forward product
thereon in a substantially upright orientation. Whereby product
loaded onto the first track is forced, by the pusher means, to the
rear of the first track, the product then passing, under the
influence of gravity, through the drop aperture to the second
track, the product then urged by gravity along the second track, to
the front of the apparatus for display and dispensing.
[0022] A front-loading and front-dispensing drop rotation apparatus
for product display and dispensing of upright product on a retail
shelf, comprising a pair of vertically aligned tracks for
supporting upright product thereon. The tracks comprising a first
horizontal loading and storage track at the top, and a second
upwardly and rearwardly inclined dispensing track at the bottom,
beneath the first track, the second track being inclined for
fostering sliding movement of product relative thereto. The first
and second track comprising a laterally spaced pair of upstanding
sidewalls and a floor connecting the sidewalls. The floor being
wider than the product in an upright orientation, and the sidewalls
defining a space therebetween wider than the product in an upright
orientation. Wherein the first track defines a drop aperture
adjacent the rear end thereof enabling the passage of product from
the first track onto the second track; whereby product loaded onto
the first track is manually forced to the rear of the first track,
the product then passing, under the influence of gravity, through
the drop aperture to the second track, the product then urged by
gravity along the second track, to the front of the apparatus for
display and dispensing. The second track may also have adjacent the
front end thereof a generally horizontal section which slows
forward product movement at the front end thereof without
terminating the forward product movement and displays the forward
product thereon in a substantially upright orientation.
[0023] A front-loading and front-dispensing drop rotation apparatus
for product display and dispensing on a retail shelf, the apparatus
comprising a pair of vertically aligned tracks for supporting
product thereon. The tracks comprising a first downwardly and
rearwardly inclined loading and storage track at the top, the first
track being inclined for fostering sliding movement of product
relative thereto. And a second upwardly and rearwardly inclined
dispensing track at the bottom, beneath the first track, the second
track being inclined for fostering sliding movement of product
relative thereto. And wherein the first track defines a drop
aperture adjacent the rear end thereof which enables the passage of
product from the first track onto the second track. Whereby product
loaded onto the first track is urged by gravity along the first
track, to the rear of the first track, the product then passing,
under the influence of gravity, through the drop aperture to the
second track, the product then urged by gravity along the second
track, to the front of the apparatus for display and dispensing.
The angle of inclination of the second upwardly and rearwardly
inclined dispensing track may vary along the length of the second
dispensing track.
[0024] These and other aspects of the invention will become
apparent from the following description of the preferred
embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings. As
would be obvious to one skilled in the art, many variations and
modifications of the invention may be effected without departing
from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 is a front view of the apparatus for product display
and dispensing, and particularly illustrating the apparatus as
positioned on a retail shelf with product loaded in the upper and
lower tracks.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1,
illustrating product movement from the upper shelf to the lower
shelf, the presentation of the product for dispensing, the action
of the coil spring pusher, and the coil spring pusher mounting
plate positioned above the product on the upper track.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1,
illustrating the product loading door opened, and the coil spring
pusher mounting plate removed from the apparatus, facilitating the
loading of product.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1,
illustrating the coil spring pusher mounting plate positioned below
the product on the upper track.
[0029] FIG. 5 is a side view of an apparatus for product display
and dispensing, illustrating manual product movement, and a
cantilever mount of the apparatus to a retail shelf upright.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a side view of an apparatus for product display
and dispensing, illustrating using gravity feed to move product on
both the upper and the lower shelf.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a side-perspective view of the apparatus of FIG.
1, illustrating the product loading door, and the upper and lower
graphic display locations.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1,
illustrating stacked product on the upper track, and the movement
from the upper track to lower track of the stacked product.
[0033] FIG. 9 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1,
illustrating adjacent cartridges of product within the same
apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] The invention disclosed herein presents a retail
merchandising apparatus affording assured automatic product
rotation, labor-savings associated with reduced stocking times and
the elimination for the need to manually rotate product. The
present invention also provides greatly enhanced permanent
brand-identification, brand exposure and distinction from
competitor's in the grocery aisle due to the product always being
in an upright position throughout the loading and dispensing
process and the superior graphic presence presented on the
apparatus.
[0035] The apparatus presented herein speeds the loading process
for small packaged items that must be double or even triple-stacked
on the shelf to gain enough inventory capacity to meet demand; for
example baby food, which significantly reducing labor costs. The
apparatus eliminates the labor-intensive task of manually rotating
product or fronting product, after sell-down. The product is
automatically rotated assuring fool-proof product rotation and
constant up-front inventory, at all times without the added labor
expense of fronting. The apparatus maintains the same inventory
capacity realized prior to its use, in roughly the same square
dimensions previously allocated, as each apparatus is formed to
snugly match the circumference of the product in question and the
additional height & width required is minimal. The apparatus
reduces or eliminates the clutter/disorganization associated with
many product categories after sell-down occurs, which can lead to
lost sales because of reduced shoppability and diminished brand
exposure to the consumer. And finally, the apparatus allows small
products, which may be double or even triple-stacked and in glass
packaging, to be merchandised on the very top retail shelf, which
ordinarily would be unthinkable because of the likelihood of an
accident occurring.
[0036] With reference to the figures in which like numerals
represent like elements throughout, FIG. 1 is a front view of one
embodiment of the apparatus 10 for retail merchandising. As
depicted in FIG. 1, in a first embodiment the invention includes a
front loading and front dispensing apparatus 10 including at least
two vertically aligned tracks 20, 30. As further depicted in FIG.
2, the apparatus has a first upwardly inclined, front-to-back,
dispensing/loading track 20, and a second loading track 30
positioned directly above the first track 20 that is completely
horizontal, which is used for loading product 40 only, either
single-stacked, double-stacked or higher in an upright product
orientation. The product 40 is positioned in the apparatus 10
between a first side wall 32, a second side wall 34 and a floor 36
connecting the first and second side walls. The side walls 34, 36,
are spaced apart a distance, and the floor 36 width, closely
matches the width of the particular product 40 to be dispensed by
the apparatus with a minimum of clearance. The close engagement of
the product 40 aids in ensuring the product remains in an upright
position and positively feeds through the apparatus 10.
[0037] As further depicted in FIG. 2, the first track 20 is angled
in a manner to facilitate the sliding gravity-feeding of product 40
in an upright orientation that is single-stacked only, with the
lowest position on the track being in the front, closest to the
consumer, and the highest point of the first track 20 being at its
furthermost rear point. The second track 30, is directly above the
first, and is completely horizontal from front-to-back, and will
accommodate product that is single-stacked, double-stacked or
possibly higher, in an upright orientation.
[0038] As further depicted in FIGS. 1-2, the second track 30
utilizes a coil-spring pusher 50 to push product 40, once loaded,
towards the rear of the second track 30, and away from the
consumer, in an upright orientation throughout. At the furthermost
rear point of the second track, there is an opening 60 in the floor
large enough for product 40 from the second uppermost track 30 to
drop thru the opening 60 by the force of gravity, while remaining
in an upright position throughout its descent onto the first track
20 below. When on the first tract 20, the product under the
continued force of gravity slides towards the consumer in an
upright orientation. The movement of product 40 from the uppermost
second loading track 30, to the first dispensing/loading track 20
below, is initiated by the consumer removing product from the front
of the first dispensing and loading track 20.
[0039] As further depicted in FIG. 2, the remaining product 40
directly behind that being removed on the first track 20,
gravity-feeds and slides forward towards the consumer. The product
40 nestled in the opening 60 descends, one unit at a time, as the
rearmost product 40 from the first track 20 moves forward towards
the consumer under the influence of gravity by one position for
each product 40 removed by the consumer. Concurrently, the product
on the second track, under the influence of the coil-spring pusher
50, moves away from the consumer by one position as product 40 is
pushed into the opening 60. As product from the upper track 30 is
pushed into the drop opening 60, the product descends and lodges
between the first track 20 and second track 30 nestled on top of
the uppermost product 40 on the first track. The progression of
product 40 continues until all the product from the second
uppermost loading track 30 has been completely emptied onto the
first dispensing and loading track 20 below. The product 40 remains
in the upright position throughout the transition from the second
track 30 onto the first track 20.
[0040] As depicted in FIG. 3, the coil spring pusher 50 is attached
to a base plate 70. When loading the apparatus 10 with product, the
base plate 70 may be removed from the apparatus 10 to disengage the
pusher 50 and allow loading product onto the upper track 30. A door
80 at the front of the apparatus 10 is opened to facilitate removal
of the pusher base plate 70 and to facilitate loading of product
onto upper track 30. Product is loaded onto upper track 30 and
manually pushed to the rear, furthest end of the track. The loaded
product will drop through the opening 60 from the upper track 30
onto the lower track 20 as the apparatus is filled. On the lower
track 20, the product 40 will slide down the lower track 20, to the
front of the apparatus and be displayed to the consumer. As the
lower track 20 is filled, product 40 will rest adjacent on to
another up the incline of the track. When the lower track 20 is
completely filled with product 40, no further product may drop onto
the lower track 20 from the upper track 30, and product 40 will
accumulate adjacent one another on the upper track 30. When the
upper track 30 is filled with product, the pusher base plate 70 is
reinstalled in the apparatus, wherein the coil spring pusher is
compressed and urges the product 40 on the upper track 30 to the
rear of the apparatus 10.
[0041] As depicted in FIG. 4, and in an alternative embodiment to
the invention of FIG. 3, the coil spring pusher 50 is mounted
within the apparatus. In this embodiment, the coil spring pusher 50
is manually retracted, and held in that position, for loading of
product onto the upper track 30. In another alternative embodiment
of the present invention, the coil spring pusher 50 may be pulled
back toward the merchandising personnel loading the upper track 30
and locked in that retracted position temporarily. This provides
the merchandiser with the ability to use both hands to load the
upper track 30 completely, before releasing the spring pusher 50
after loading has been completed. The spring pusher 50 then urges
the freshly loaded product 40 toward the rear of upper track 30 as
depicted in FIGS. 1-3. In the embodiment above, a coil spring
pusher has been shown, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the
art, various forms of pusher means may be utilized including,
spring pushers, coil spring pushers, cantilevered springs, elastic
members, or other means as are known to those skilled in the
art.
[0042] As depicted in FIG. 5, in another alternative embodiment of
the present invention, the apparatus does not utilize a mechanical
pusher to urge the product 40 on the upper track 30 to the rear of
the unit. In this embodiment, the product 40 is loaded onto the
upper track 30 manually, until the lower track 20, and upper track
30 are both full. As product 40 is dispensed from the apparatus,
new product slides down the lower track 20, and is displayed to the
consumer. The product 40 resting on the upper track 30 is
stationary, and is readily available for manually loading the lower
track 20 with fresh product 40.
[0043] As further depicted in FIG. 5, in another alternative
embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 10 may not rest
on a horizontal shelf support, but may instead be cantilevered from
a vertical shelf component. A mounting hook 120 is present at the
rear of the apparatus 10 which engages a complimentary bracket 130
affixed, or integral with, the shelving system. In this embodiment,
horizontal shelves are not required further saving vertical space
for additional product display.
[0044] As further depicted in FIG. 5, in another alternative
embodiment of the present invention, the first lower dispensing and
loading track 20 may be angled in a manner other than a straight
and direct incline from front to back. Portions of the lower track
20 may be inclined at a higher angle than other portions of the
track. For example, the rear one-third of the lower track 20 may be
angled at twenty (20) degrees, with the front two-thirds angled at
only ten (10) degrees. In another alternative embodiment, the front
third of the lower track 20 is inclined at an angle of only five
(5) degrees, whereas the back two-thirds of the same track 20 might
be at a twelve (12) degree incline from front to back. The lower
angle at the front of the track will slow down the product as it
gravity-feeds and slides towards the consumer. In yet another
embodiment of the present invention, the frontmost portion of the
lower track 20 may be horizontal, or may be inclined downward, in
an angle opposing that of the rest of the track 20. The front
horizontal or opposingly angled portion of the lower track 20 will
bring of the product 40 to rest, and present a single unit of the
product 40 to the consumer in an upright position, or a tilted
position where the product label may be more easily viewed. In yet
another embodiment of the present invention, the angle of the upper
track 30 may be varied to aid in moving the to and through the
opening 60. In all embodiments, the varying track angles will
reduce the overall vertical height requirement to gravity feed
product on the lower track 20 from the back to the front of the
apparatus 10.
[0045] As depicted in FIG. 6, in another alternative embodiment of
the present invention, the upper inclined track 140 is angled
downward, from front to rear, with the highest portion of the track
140 at the front of the apparatus 10, and the lowest portion at the
rear of the apparatus 10. Product 40 positioned on the upper track
30 is urged by gravity to slide down the upper inclined track 140
to the rear of the apparatus 10, where the product 40 will drop
through the opening 60 onto the lower track 20. In this embodiment,
no spring pusher, or other pusher means is required to feed the
product 40 from the upper inclined track 140 to the lower track 20.
In another alternative embodiment, the upper inclined track 140 is
angled downward, and a spring pusher 50, are both utilized to feed
product down the upper track 30 to the rear of the apparatus.
[0046] As depicted in FIG. 7, in another embodiment of the present
invention, the front fagade, of the apparatus 10, has a surface
area 100 just below the dispensing opening on the first track 20,
which allows graphic placement that will identify the product and
provide additional product or promotional information as deemed
relevant. A second graphic placement area 90 is available on the
product loading door 80. Each graphic area 90, 100 vary in width
depending on the apparatus being a two-wide or three-wide cartridge
unit. The graphic areas 90, 100 are used to attract consumer
attention at the point-of-purchase. The front facade of the
apparatus 10, has graphic channels that accommodate graphic
inserts, with the flexibility to have a separate insert for each of
the two cartridges, or one large graphic for both cartridges.
[0047] As depicted in FIG. 8, in another embodiment of the present
invention product 40 may be stacked, one atop another, on the upper
track 30. As product 40 is dispensed at the front of the apparatus
10, product moves down the lower track 20, and stacked product
drops from the upper track 30 to the lower track 20. The stacked
product drops onto the lower track 20 in unison, but travels down
the lower track 20 singularly, with the lowermost product 40 first,
followed by the next upper product 40 unit. In this manner, the
capacity of the apparatus is increased by the additional product
stored on the upper track 30.
[0048] As depicted in FIG. 9, the apparatus may comprise multiple
cartridges, or lanes, of product 40 positioned horizontally, or
side-by-side, within the same apparatus 10. As a general retail
rule for most product categories, each SKU is typically allocated
two, or three facings each, based on the sales volume for each item
and space-to-sales allocation. The apparatus 10 may incorporate
multiple facings within the same unit. For example, an apparatus 10
with three cartridges would have three sets of vertically aligned
tracks side-by-side-by-side, three coil-spring pusher systems,
three "drop-openings", and a front facade that'd accommodate either
three separate graphic inserts, representing one SKU per lane, or
one large graphic insert representing the same SKU in all lanes. In
practice, apparatus would be available in two cartridge wide or
three cartridge wide configurations, since most SKU's have two or
three facings each, as dictated by sales volume. In operation the
multiple cartridge SKU's can be used to merchandise one SKU per
cartridge if necessary.
[0049] While there has been shown a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, it is to be understood that certain changes may
be made in the forms and arrangement of the elements and steps of
the method for shoreline reclamation without departing from the
underlying spirit and scope of the invention.
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