U.S. patent application number 12/504179 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-12 for product dispenser assembly.
Invention is credited to Jamie Bauer.
Application Number | 20090277853 12/504179 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41266026 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090277853 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bauer; Jamie |
November 12, 2009 |
Product Dispenser Assembly
Abstract
A system of retail store fixtures having downwardly mounted
spring feeding pusher devices for pushing products toward the front
of shelves. In one embodiment, the pusher devices extend downward
from shelves and push products in open tray type of bulk product
shipment containers on a lower shelf forward toward the consumer.
In another embodiment, the pushers and product trays are in a
self-contained module for placement on shelves.
Inventors: |
Bauer; Jamie; (Edgewater,
NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROWN & MICHAELS, PC;400 M & T BANK BUILDING
118 NORTH TIOGA ST
ITHACA
NY
14850
US
|
Family ID: |
41266026 |
Appl. No.: |
12/504179 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12391797 |
Feb 24, 2009 |
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12504179 |
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61031090 |
Feb 25, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/59.3 ; 221/1;
221/279 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 1/126 20130101;
A47F 5/0025 20130101; A47F 7/28 20130101; A47F 1/087 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/59.3 ;
221/279; 221/1 |
International
Class: |
A47F 1/04 20060101
A47F001/04; B65D 83/00 20060101 B65D083/00 |
Claims
1. A product dispenser assembly for dispensing products contained
in shipping trays having a front wall, a back wall and side walls,
the assembly comprising: a) a support platform, having an upper
surface for supporting at least one shipping tray, a lower surface,
a front edge, a rear and a depth between the front edge and the
rear which is at least as long as a length between the front wall
and the back wall of a shipping tray; b) a stop wall located at the
front edge of the support platform; c) a plurality of row dividers
extending across the support platform, for aligning shipping trays
on the support platform; d) a feed mechanism supported above the
upper surface of the support platform, comprising: i) a pusher
plate depending downward from the feed mechanism toward the upper
surface of the support platform, the pusher plate being moveble
along a linear support from a rearward position adjacent to the
rear of the support platform to a forward position adjacent to the
front edge of the support platform, the pusher plate having a
length short enough such that the pusher plate does not contact the
back wall of a support tray on the support platform but long enough
that the pusher plate contacts the products in the shipping tray;
and ii) a bias mechanism for biasing the pusher plate along the
linear support from the rearward position toward the forward
position; such that when a shipping tray bearing products is placed
upon the support platform between the row dividers, pushing the
pusher plate toward its rearward position against the bias
mechanism, the products in the shipping tray are pushed toward the
front wall of the tray by the pusher plate.
2. The product dispenser of claim 1, in which the support platform
is a shelf.
3. The product dispenser of claim 1, in which the row dividers are
movable along a length of the support platform to accommodate
shipping trays of differing widths.
4. The product dispenser of claim 3, in which the row dividers have
a rearward end which clips over the rear of the support platform
and a forward end slidably supported adjacent the front edge of the
support platform.
5. The product dispenser of claim 1, in which the bias mechanism
comprises a coil spring.
6. The product dispenser of claim 1, in which the stop wall is
mounted upon the front edge of the support platform.
7. The product dispenser of claim 1, in which the stop wall is
formed into a forward end of the row dividers.
8. The product dispenser of claim 1, in which the stop wall is
formed of transparent material.
9. The product dispenser of claim 1, in which there are a plurality
of support platforms vertically spaced apart, and the feed
mechanism is mounted upon a lower surface of a support
platform.
10. The product dispenser of claim 1, in which the dispenser
further comprises an enclosed housing module having a roof upon
which the feed mechanism is mounted, in which the row dividers form
side walls for the housing module and the support platform forms a
floor for the housing module.
11. The product dispenser of claim 1, in which the pusher plate
comprises a minimum-sized plate coupled to the feed mechanism and
an add-on plate removably attached to the minimum-sized pusher
plate, such that the minimum-sized pusher plate is sized to fit
shipping trays having minimum clearances for the pusher, and the
add-on plate has a width and height sized to fit other-sized
shipping trays.
12. The product dispenser of claim 12, in which the add-on plate is
attached to the minimum-sized pusher plate using mating pieces of
hook-and-loop fastener material.
13. The product dispenser of claim 1, in which the linear support
of the feed mechanism further comprises a track on which the pusher
plate rides.
14. A product dispenser shelf assembly for dispensing products
contained in a plurality shipping trays having a front wall, a back
wall and side walls, the assembly comprising: a) a plurality of
support platforms vertically spaced apart, each having an upper
surface for supporting at least one shipping tray, a lower surface,
a front edge, a rear and a depth between the front edge and the
rear which is at least as long as a length between the front wall
and the back wall of a shipping tray; b) a stop wall located at the
front edge of the support platforms; c) a plurality of row dividers
extending across the support platforms, for aligning shipping trays
on the support platform; d) a plurality of feed mechanisms mounted
upon the lower surface of at least one of the support platforms,
above the upper surface of the next-lower support platform,
comprising: i) a pusher plate depending downward from the feed
mechanism toward the upper surface of the support platform, the
pusher plate being moveble along a linear support from a rearward
position adjacent to the rear of the support platform to a forward
position adjacent to the front edge of the support platform, the
pusher plate having a length short enough such that the pusher
plate does not contact the back wall of a support tray on the
support platform but long enough that the pusher plate contacts the
products in the shipping tray; and ii) a bias mechanism for biasing
the pusher plate along the linear support from the rearward
position toward the forward position; such that when a shipping
tray bearing products is placed upon the support platform between
the row dividers, pushing the pusher plate toward its rearward
position against the bias mechanism, the the products in the
shipping tray are pushed toward the front wall of the tray by the
pusher plate.
15. The shelf assembly of claim 14, in which the row dividers are
movable along a length of the support platform to accommodate
shipping trays of differing widths.
16. The shelf assembly of claim 15, in which the row dividers have
a rearward end which clips over the rear of the support platform
and a forward end slidably supported adjacent the front edge of the
support platform.
17. The shelf assembly of claim 14, in which the bias mechanism
comprises a coil spring.
18. The shelf assembly of claim 14, in which the stop wall is
mounted upon the front edge of the support platform.
19. The shelf assembly of claim 14, in which the stop wall is
formed into a forward end of the row dividers.
20. The shelf assembly of claim 14, in which the stop wall is
formed of transparent material.
21. The shelf assembly of claim 14, in which the pusher plate
comprises a minimum-sized plate coupled to the feed mechanism and
an add-on plate removably attached to the minimum-sized pusher
plate, such that the minimum-sized pusher plate is sized to fit
shipping trays having minimum clearances for the pusher, and the
add-on plate has a width and height sized to fit other-sized
shipping trays.
22. The shelf assembly of claim 21, in which the add-on plate is
attached to the minimum-sized pusher plate using mating pieces of
hook-and-loop fastener material.
23. The shelf assembly of claim 14, in which the support platforms
comprise generally horizontal planar shelves.
24. The shelf assembly of claim 23, in which at least one of the
shelves slopes downward from the rear to the front edge.
25. A method of dispensing products contained in shipping trays
having a front wall, a back wall and side walls, comprising the
steps of: a) mounting a feed mechanism above an upper surface of a
support platform, the feed mechanism comprising a pusher plate
depending downward from the feed mechanism toward the upper surface
of the support platform, the pusher plate being moveble along a
linear support from a rearward position adjacent to the rear of the
support platform to a forward position adjacent to the front edge
of the support platform, the pusher plate having a length short
enough such that the pusher plate does not contact the back wall of
a support tray on the support platform but long enough that the
pusher plate contacts the products in the shipping tray; and a bias
mechanism for biasing the pusher plate along the linear support
from the rearward position toward the forward position; b) placing
a shipping tray on the support platform, pushing the pusher plate
toward its rearward position against the bias mechanism, so that
the products in the shipping tray are pushed toward the front wall
of the tray by the pusher plate; c) lowering the front wall of the
shipping tray behind a stop wall located at a front edge of the
support platform, such that the shipping tray is retained on the
support platform as the products are pushed within the tray.
26. The method of claim 25, further comprising, when a shipping
tray is partially full, the steps of: a) removing the partially
full shipping tray from the support platform; b) placing a full
shipping tray on the support platform, pushing the pusher plate
fully toward its rearward position against the bias mechanism, so
that the products in the shipping tray are pushed toward the front
wall of the tray by the pusher plate; c) holding the full shipping
tray in the fully rearward position, leaving a space between the
front wall of the tray and the stop wall on the support platform;
d) placing the products from the partially full shipping tray
between the front wall of the full shipping tray and the stop wall;
and e) releasing the full shipping tray, so that the tray is moved
forward by the pusher against the products located between the
front wall and the stop wall.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/391,797, filed Feb. 24, 2009, entitled
"PRODUCT DISPENSER ASSEMBLY AND CARTRIDGE FOR HOLDING PRODUCT",
which claimed the benefit under 35 USC .sctn.119(e) of Provisional
Application No. 61/031,090, filed Feb. 25, 2008, entitled "PRODUCT
DISPENSER AND CARTRIDGE FOR HOLDING PRODUCT". The aforementioned
applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to the field of retail
packaging and displays and, more particularly, to a retail product
holding and feeding mechanism into which an open tray containing a
plurality of packaged products is installed, the product in the
tray being delivered toward a shopper, while the tray remains
stationary at the shelf location.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] There are a number of types of product displays; however,
one of the basic product displays consists of traditional shelves
on which individual products are placed. This arrangement is found
in most retail stores, including clothing stores and in particular,
in grocery stores. Often, the products are arranged and loaded for
bulk shipment into shrink wrapped, open shipper trays, (other types
of bulk packed shipment cartons are used, but are not germain to
the instant invention) that are currently sized, designed and
packed considering only operational and pallet size parameters and
using package counts (usually based on dozens in English
countries).
[0006] FIGS. 10a through 10f show various designs for shipping
trays 400, as are commonly used in the marketplace for shipping
products 50 in bulk. Each of these packs includes stacked product
50 that is arranged in rows and columns and each pack has a front
edge that permits the product to be removed from the pack but at
the same time restrains forward movement of the tray. This
arrangement is equally applicable to cans stacked two-high (FIGS.
10a-10e) or three high (FIG. 10f). Cans can be in one row (FIG.
10b), two rows (FIGS. 10a, 10c, 10d or 10f) or three rows (FIG.
10e), or even more.
[0007] The shipping trays are typically wrapped in plastic 55 to
retain the products 50 during shipment. FIG. 10a shows a simple
shipping tray 400 with equal height, relatively low sides and ends.
The ends 410 of each tray may also be made taller, with a cut down
area 520 relative to the sidewalls in order to facilitate removal
of product and make the product easier to see. This is shown in
FIGS. 10b-10f.
[0008] Currently such trays are displayed mainly in two ways:
[0009] First; they are unwrapped from their shrink film and placed
as is on a shelf or other supporting display structure of some
sort. [0010] Second; the products are individually removed from the
tray and placed individually on a shelf or other supporting display
structure.
[0011] In both instances, no provision is made, nor can one be made
without additional device(s) for the automatic front facing (or
forwardly feeding) of the products toward shoppers for easy
selection and removal of products while shopping.
[0012] This is a very time consuming task and requires manual labor
in which a store stocker, after removing the tray shrink wrapping
or similar covering, then individually removes the packaged
products and places them on the store shelves. The product is
arranged in rows and columns and stacked on top of one another. It
also occurs, especially in warehouse or club type stores, that the
trays are unwrapped and placed, wholly as is and with the products
in place, upon the existing, ordinary store shelves for shoppers to
individually select products therefrom that they wish to purchase.
In both arrangements, the products have no integral way or
mechanism of being automatically forwardly fed toward the front of
the shelves for a more attractive "front-faced" appearance, or
toward shoppers for their improved viewing and product
selecting.
[0013] Another associated disadvantage of this arrangement is that
the stocker must continuously and manually "front-face" the stock
so that it remains neatly displayed and readily available for
shoppers. This is a time consuming task, and if delayed, the
shelves develop an unkempt appearance. Further, if this
front-facing process is neglected, product packages often become
located so far to the rear of the trays and/or shelves that they
appear to be out-of-stock or are unreachable, thereby reducing
potential sales thereof.
[0014] Spring loaded push members are known to the art, such as at
cosmetic counters and in cosmetic displays. Where such pushers have
been used, the individual products are removed from bulk shipment
packaging and then loaded one at a time into individual feed rows,
with each feed row having a spring loaded push member extending
either upward from the floor thereof or outwardly from the
sidewalls thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The invention provides a system of retail store fixtures
having downwardly mounted spring feeding pusher devices for pushing
products toward the front of shelves. In one embodiment, the pusher
devices extend downward from shelves and push products in open tray
type of bulk product shipment containers on a lower shelf forward
toward the consumer. In another embodiment, the pushers and product
trays are in a self-contained module for placement on shelves.
[0016] Unlike conventional tray on shelf arrangements, the guiding
and feeding mechanisms of the present invention are configured so
that, while the tray remains stationary on the shelf the individual
product units are advanced forward within the tray to a front faced
and dispensing location near the front edge of the shelf. This
reduces stocking complexity and the time involved in the stocking
process, creates a continuously and automatically neat, front-faced
products condition and makes finding and selection of products
easier for shoppers.
[0017] When such system is installed at retail stores and
integrated together into retail operations and handling, it reduces
handling time, labor and hence costs and increases efficiencies and
sales effectiveness for packaged consumer goods sold at retail
stores. Individual package handling at retail, currently required
to stock and arrange inventory of products on shelves for display
and sale to shoppers, will be significantly reduced, thus
significantly reducing shelf management and restocking time, labor
and the associated costs in the supply chain and at retail.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the product dispenser of the
invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a
shelf incorporating the invention.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a side exploded view of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 4 is the same view as FIG. 3, with the parts
assembled.
[0022] FIGS. 5a and 5b show two methods of affixing adjustable row
dividers as may be used with the invention.
[0023] FIGS. 6a and 6b are rear views of the pusher plates of the
invention, showing two different sizes of plates.
[0024] FIGS. 7a and 7c are perspective and side views,
respectively, showing attachment of an add-on plate to the pusher
of the invention.
[0025] FIG. 7b is a front view of the pusher shown in FIG. 7a.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the invention in a
self-contained module embodiment.
[0027] FIGS. 9a and 9b are perspective views of the embodiment of
FIG. 8 with product trays, in configurations for two different tray
widths.
[0028] FIGS. 10a to 10f show prior art shipper trays in various
configurations.
[0029] FIGS. 11a to 11d show various arrangements of store fixtures
on which the invention may be used.
[0030] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the pusher of the
invention in use with a bulk shipper tray modified for use with
non-nesting or non-stacking packages.
[0031] FIG. 13 shows a side view of the invention in use with the
modified tray of FIG. 12.
[0032] FIG. 14 shows a variation on the tray of FIG. 12, using a
transparent front wall.
[0033] FIG. 15 shows how the system of the invention can be used in
a first-in first-out (FIFO) stocking method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] FIG. 1 shows a dispenser 300 according to the first
embodiment of the invention, in which the invention is incorporated
into a store gondola or fixture 310. This may be a pre-existing
fixture which currently holds the pre-existing, ordinary store
shelving, or might be specially supplied for the invention. If the
pre-existing fixture is used, the ordinary shelves would be
replaced with the support platforms 320 of this invention. The
support surface 320 can be a planar platform that includes a top
surface 322 and an opposing bottom surface 324. The platform 320 is
constructed so that a biased product feed mechanism 330 is disposed
therein and is configured to controllably advance the product as it
is removed by consumers.
[0035] The system of the invention may be used on level shelving,
as shown in FIG. 1. However, it will be understood that the feed
mechanism 330 of the invention also allows the invention to be used
in other arrangements, as shown in FIGS. 11a-11d. Specifically, the
invention can be used with a fixture 550 with level shelves 551, or
with downward sloping shelves 553 shown in FIG. 11b, which allows a
shopper 552 better sight lines to the tops of products. Also, the
system can be used with upward sloping shelves 554 as shown in FIG.
11c, which are especially useful on bottom shelves to allow the
shopper 552 to more easily see the fronts of the products. Or, as
shown in FIG. 11d, a mixture of downwardly sloping upper shelves
553 and upwardly sloping lower shelves 554 can be used within the
teachings of the invention.
[0036] The downward angle of shelves 553 not only assists viewing
and selection of products on upper shelves, but, when used
throughout the assembly, it assists the feeding action aided by
gravity, which makes it possible to use less powerful springs,
which further makes it easier for shoppers to remove and even
replace products from/to the trays.
[0037] More specifically, the feed mechanism 330 includes a bias
member 340 that is associated with the platform 320 and is coupled
to a pusher plate 350. For example, the biased feed mechanism can
be in the form of a spring assisted pusher plate module that
includes the pusher plate 350. The bottom surface 324 is tracked,
slotted or channeled along a linear support 325 to accept
installation and movement of the spring assisted pusher plate
module across the support. For example, the tracks can be in the
form of slots and ribs; can be "I" shaped or "H" shaped; or can be
"T" shaped or "L" shaped; or any similar cross-section that creates
a channeling matrix. The bias member 340 can be in the form of a
coil spring (variously referred to as coiled, flat, band or negator
constant force spring) that has a one end 342 fixedly attached to
the platform 320 and another end is coupled to the pusher plate 350
such that in a rest position, the biasing force of the spring
applies a force to the pusher plate 350 and drives the pusher plate
350 to a front edge 321 of the platform 320. Other bias force
mechanisms are possible within the teachings of the invention, such
as other kinds of springs, elastic cords, etc.
[0038] The feed mechanism 330 is inverted, such that it extends
downwardly from the underside of a shelf (support) member above,
and is thus included in the ceiling of a separate support member,
as opposed to the floor or sidewalls of the displaying support
member. Thus, the pusher plate 350 extends downwardly from the
bottom surface 324 of an upper platform toward the top surface of
the underlying platform 320 and is designed to engage product as
described below.
[0039] Each platform 320 can include a number of adjustable
dividers 380. In particular, the top surface of platform 320
receives a plurality of position adjustable row dividers 380 to
organize and separate a plurality of trays 400. These dividers 380
are inserted into guide channels formed in the platform which
permit transverse (side-to-side) movement and positioning of the
dividers 380 along the top surface of platform 320. This permits
different sized (e.g., different widths) trays 400 to be loaded
into the dispenser 300. The dividers 380 divide and separate one
product tray from another product tray.
[0040] FIGS. 5a and 5b show two alternate embodiments of the row
dividers 380. In both figures, the rear lip 510 of the row divider
380 clips around the rear 411 of the shelf 320. The embodiments of
FIGS. 5a and 5b differ in the arrangement of the front element 505
of the divider 380. In FIG. 5a, the front element is in the form of
a clip 502 which slides and locks over lip 501 along the front of
the shelf 320. In FIG. 5b the front element is a locking tab 503
which snaps into a mating slot 504 along the front of the shelf. In
both embodiments, the divider 380 is free to slide sideways along
the shelf 320, while being constrained from being easily
removed.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 1, the shrink wrapping or other protective
covering having been removed, the product filled bulk shipper tray
400 is inserted and held upon the shelf between two guiding row
dividers 380. The filled tray 400 and products 50 therein drive the
pusher plate 350 rearward toward a rear of the dispenser 300.
During this loading process the coiled, flat spring 340 which
drives the pusher plate 350 extends along its track, storing
energy, and creates tension upon the pusher plate 350. That stored
energy causes the pusher plate 350 to press forwardly against the
product packages 50 within the tray 400, causing them to feed
forwardly within the tray when product packages at the front of the
tray are removed. The pusher plate 350 moves within the track 324,
325 so that it can be moved in a smooth, controlled manner.
[0042] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a stop wall 321 located along
the front edge of the platform 320 serves to stop and limit forward
movement of the tray 400 when the pusher plate 350 applies a force
to the product contained therein. Additionally it is possible to
design row dividers with right angle walls at their front edge
which also serve as the tray stop walls. It will be appreciated
that a variety of different stop wall and row divider design
combinations can be devised which perform the functions of dividing
the plurality trays, one from another, and of preventing the trays
from being ejected off of the platform and onto the floor below by
the pushers.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 14, stop wall 563 may also be taller if it
is manufactured from a clear material, so as not to obstruct a
shopper's view of the products in the tray. In either design, this
wall should not be sufficiently tall to obstruct easy selection and
removal of products by shoppers.
[0044] To prevent the pusher 350 from ejecting the individual
product packages 50 out of the tray 400 and onto the floor, the
tray should have a front wall extending upwardly, preferably a
distance equal to approximately one-half to two-thirds of the
height of one product package therein. If the products 50 are of
the kind which nest or stack into each other, for example canned
goods where the bottom of a can fits within an upper lip of a can
below it, the lower level packages will keep the upper-level
packages from sliding out the front of the tray if the invention is
used on an inclined shelf as shown in FIGS. 11b and 11d. Packages
which do not nest or stack, however, would pose a problem on
downwardly tilted shelves because they will slide out of the tray
400.
[0045] FIGS. 12-14 show a tray modification which can be used for
product packages 50 which do not nest or stack into each other, to
permit use in such downwardly tilted shelves. The illustrated
design of bulk shipper tray 560 in FIGS. 12-14, which has the
required low rear wall 562 to clear the pusher plate 350, but also
has a tall front wall 561, would permit such non-stacking packages
to be stocked on a downwardly angled shelf with the invention,
since the higher front wall 561 would retain the products in the
tray.
[0046] The benefits of such would be: [0047] Downwardly angled
shelves enable the use of weaker biasing springs, because they are
gravity assisted, which makes it easier for shoppers to select and
return packages. [0048] Downwardly tilted shelves make it easier to
see and access products in such a "bin type" tray, especially on
the lower shelves
[0049] As shown in FIG. 14, shows how such a tray 560 may be
designed to overcome the obvious viewing impediment created by the
higher front tray wall 561 shown in FIG. 12. In that figure a tray
560 with a transparent front lip 564 is shown which would permit
viewing the product. Similarly, a transparent panel 564 of acetate
or similar for example, could be tabbed (or attached in any other
known method of assembly) into a tray 560 having a low front lip as
shown in FIGS. 10c, 10e or 10f, thereby converting the tray into a
"Bin Type" Tray 560 as shown in FIG. 14 and simultaneously
providing improved products visibility.
[0050] Referring back to FIG. 1, the tray 400 includes a body 410
that includes opposing side walls 412 and opposing end walls 414
that extend between the side walls 412. As seen, the side walls 412
have a height that is much greater than a height of the ends 414
since the product is removed by the consumer through one end 414.
The higher side walls 412 permit the product to be stacked within
the tray body 410 and hold the products securely during transport.
The number of layers and the number of rows of product within the
tray body 410 will vary depending upon the particular product and
packaging and display specifications. For example, the illustrated
embodiment has three layers of cans 50 stacked on top of one
another. The front end wall 414, facing shoppers, is just high
enough that the bottom row is prevented from moving; however, the
top portions of the bottom rows of cans are located above the top
edge of the front end wall 414, thereby permitting the cans to be
easily removed. However, the height of the stop wall 321 is great
enough that the tray 400 will not simply jump the stop wall 390
when the biasing force is applied. The end wall 414 abuts against
the stop wall 390.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 6a and 6b, an empty tray 400
can be simply lifted over the stop wall 321 and removed since the
rear end wall 414 of tray 400 is just low enough to slide
underneath the bottom edge of the pusher plate 350 to permit
removal of the tray 400. Conversely, to load a full tray, the tray
400 is angled and inserted above the stop wall 321, and the pusher
plate 350 locates behind the rearmost stack of product.
[0052] Both front and rear end walls 414 are preferably sized to
satisfy the following specifications: high enough to prevent
product units from inadvertently jumping the end wall; low enough
to conveniently expose the tops of the bottom rows of products for
shoppers; and low enough to clear the bottom edge of the pusher
plate such that the biasing force applied by the pusher plate acts
only upon all stacks, rows and columns of products, but not upon
the tray tray.
[0053] More specifically, as can be seen in FIGS. 6a and 6b the
design and sizing of the end walls 414 of the tray trays
effectively provide a "notch" allowing clearance for the pusher
plate through the sidewalls of the tray and providing forcible
contract between it and the product stacks. As mentioned above, the
bottom of the pusher plate 350 reaches the top portion of the
bottom stack of the product and the bottom edge of the pusher plate
350 is disposed just over the end wall 414.
[0054] Since the pusher plate 350 is initially closer to the stop
wall 321, the insertion of the filed tray 400 causes the pusher
plate 350 to be driven rearward under the applied force of the
filled tray 400. In the fully inserted position of the tray 400,
the pusher plate 350 clears the top of the tray rear end wall 414
and applies a forward force to the product and as product is
removed from the front of the tray 400 and in particular, when one
column of product is removed, the spring biasing force of the feed
mechanism causes the columns and rows of the product to advance
forward. As more and more columns and rows of product are removed,
the remaining product is continually advanced forward toward the
stop wall 321. While the product feeds forward, the tray 410
remains stationary.
[0055] It will be appreciated that, since the product units 50 are
being advanced forward by the biasing force of the spring loaded
pusher plate rather than rolling or by other gravitational force,
the product displayed and dispensed in this embodiment is not
limited to being cans which roll but can also be in the form of
variously shaped packages.
[0056] As shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b, left-to-right slidably
adjustable row dividers 380 mounted within some type of channeling
system and affixed to the top surface of said supporting shelf
(structure) 320 and left-to-right slidably adjustable pusher
modules 350 mounted within some type of channeling system and
affixed hanging downwardly from the underside of said support shelf
(structure) having been positioned to capture and position the tray
and centered behind the products in the trays (respectively); the
products will now be pushed forwardly within the trays towards a
shopper.
[0057] The vertical spacing of the shelves and the vertical height
and spacing of the pusher plates and pusher modules must be such
that the bottommost edges of the pusher 51 plates, after assembly
and installation of the trays will clear the topmost edge 52 of the
lip of the tray rear wall 414 and push directly against only the
product packages 50. Similarly, the side edges 54 of the pushers
350 need to clear the side edges 53 of the tray rear wall 414.
[0058] FIGS. 7a-7c show how the height and width of the pusher may
be varied within the teachings of the invention. Such feature may
be accomplished by a number of methods. In the design shown in
FIGS. 7a-7c, a standard minimum sized pusher plate 530 is always in
position on the spring feed module. A variety of taller and/or
wider add-on plates 532 can be provided which increase the pusher's
acting surface either downwardly or wider or both. The add-on
plates 532 can be connected to the pusher 530, as shown, by having
mating pieces 531 and 533 of hook-and-loop fastener material such
as Velcro.RTM. on the pusher 530 and add-on plate 532,
respectively. A tab 535 may be provided on the pusher 530 to fit
into a slot 534 on plate 532, to ensure centering and prevent
side-to-side movement when the fastener 531 on the pusher 530 is
adhered to the fastener 533 on the plate 532. It will be understood
by one skilled in the art that other means of attaching the add-on
plates 532, such as tabs and slots or sliding tracks, or snaps, or
other fastening means known to the art are possible within the
teachings of the invention. Such add-on plates can quickly and
easily be used at the store to customize pushers to fit and work
with a wide variety of bulk shipper trays.
[0059] FIG. 3 shows an exploded diagram of a side-view of the first
embodiment, and FIG. 4 shows the same view with the invention
assembled. Those reference numbers in these figures which are the
same as discussed above with respect to FIG. 1 will not be
discussed separately here.
[0060] As can be seen in these drawings, the support platform 320
of the invention can be equipped with hooks 590 to hang the support
platform from a standard shelf track. A transparent cover 591 may
be provided, so that shelf labels can be affixed to the front of
the support platform if desired.
[0061] In some instances and with some tray designs, it will be
desirable and possible to restock a new filled tray before the old
tray is empty, thus making it easier to avoid out-of-stocks while a
particular facing is waiting to be refilled. The system of the
invention can also be used with a First-in-First-Out (FIFO)
stocking method. FIFO is most important for date coded products
which have freshness expiration dates.
[0062] FIG. 15 shows both reloading before the old tray was
completely empty and how older stock can be placed in front of the
newer stock making dated stock FIFO rotation both possible and
easier.
[0063] Often grocery shelves 320 are 18'' to 24'' deep (front to
rear) but many Bulk Packed SKU trays 410 will be shorter than that,
often in the 12'' range, and the individual product packages 50
therein will be significantly smaller even than that. If you load
such a shorter tray 410 into a deeper shelf, as illustrated on the
uppermost shelf 600 of FIG. 15, there is an unused space at the
rear of the shelf. As can be seen on that shelf 600, when a
displayed tray of products empties down to the last few product
packages, but is not yet completely empty, then the following steps
can be followed to accomplish the FIFO and Early Reloading process.
[0064] 601--Remove the nearly empty tray 610 and products therein
together from the display and set aside temporarily. [0065]
602--Reload the display with a new pre-packed bulk tray of products
613. Manually remove the last few remaining product packages 611
from the nearly empty tray, which was earlier set aside. Manually
push the full tray 613 rearward far enough to create the
empty/unused space at the front of the shelf instead of at its
rear. Place the older products from the nearly empty tray 612
directly on the shelf in front of the new full tray 613. The pusher
350 will press forwardly against the entire full tray 613 as a
unit, thereby forwardly feeding the individual products 612 placed
in front of it toward the front edge stop wall 321. [0066]
603--When the last of the loose products 612 in front of the tray
is finally removed from the shelf, the pusher 350 will now push the
entire tray 613 into its frontmost position 615 contacting the
shelf stopwall 321 and will begin forwardly feeding the products
therein normally.
[0067] Note that this will only work when the bulk shipper trays
are shorter than the store shelf depth by at least (or more than)
the front to back dimension of one row of products therein, plus an
additional amount for the pusher. Also, sufficient space will have
to be allowed between shelves to allow a shopper to insert their
entire hand down into the tray to fish out the bottom layer
products.
[0068] The system will also work with a second embodiment, shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9a-9b, wherein the trays 410 are inserted into and
enclosed within individually, size-dedicated stand-alone modules
500. Such a system can be simply and easily installed upon the top
surface of any existing store gondola shelving.
[0069] FIGS. 8 and 9b show a perspective view of a single enclosed
housing module 500 with a single feed mechanism. A single
spring-biased pusher plate 350 is disposed within the housing 500
and advances the product 50 forward into the open area 540 from
which a consumer may select the product. The tray is held within
the enclosure by stop wall 541, which serves the same function as
the stop wall 321 in the shelf embodiment. Similarly, the side
walls of the enclosure serve the same function as the row dividers
380 of the shelf embodiment. As with the previous embodiment, the
pusher plate 350 is disposed extending downward from track 325 and
is spring-biased to the front of the module 500.
[0070] The module 500 may also have a surface 570 for indicia, such
as advertising, product information, promotional information, etc.
The modules 500 can sit on plain platforms or countertops or could
contain a mounting detail for wall hanging. As with the other
embodiments, the tray 410 is intended to remain in place within the
module 500 during use.
[0071] It will be appreciated that all of the trays disclosed
herein can be manufactured from 100% recycled/recyclable stock
and/or cellulosic based resins (non-petroleum).
[0072] The following additional features are realized in the
dispensers and trays according to the present invention: (1)
orientation during packing of individual product packages inside
the SKU cartons according to how they will feed and be
automatically front faced for viewing by shoppers; (2) tearable,
perforated panels in tray cartons which, when removed, create
openings through which individual product packages feed forwardly
within and in a manner according to the dispensers of the present
invention; (3) appropriately located printed or labeled panels on
the trays, which when displayed at retail in the display(s) of this
system, inform shoppers in a dedicated way, each tray to its
specific dispenser, of product identity and other information
required to locate specific product types and make an informed
selection/purchase decision; and (4) across entire brands, types
and/or categories of products (all canned pet food for example) a
matrix plurality of tray carton accepting display devices which
automatically feed & front face product packages for viewing by
shoppers, are stocked and restocked with product inventory in the
store aisles by the insertion of an entire bulk tray without
handling of individual product packages.
[0073] The main improvement and benefit of these designs, in either
embodiment, is that an entire bulk shipper carton or tray,
pre-packed with products from the point of manufacture and/or
distribution can be loaded by a stocker in a single motion onto
either an existing store shelf, or a custom designed shelf, both of
which then have an integral means of both attractively displaying
and presenting the products for purchase by automatically front
facing or forwardly feeding the individual product packages toward
the shoppers, while the bulk shipper tray/carton remains within the
display housing. This will simultaneously improve the shopping
experience for shoppers and greatly reduce stocking time for
retailers, a combination which does not currently exist.
[0074] Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of
the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the
application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to
details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the
scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features
regarded as essential to the invention.
* * * * *