U.S. patent application number 14/279426 was filed with the patent office on 2015-01-22 for retail product container display system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Bruegmann USA, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Bruegmann USA, Inc.. Invention is credited to Malte Bruegmann.
Application Number | 20150021283 14/279426 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51059326 |
Filed Date | 2015-01-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150021283 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bruegmann; Malte |
January 22, 2015 |
RETAIL PRODUCT CONTAINER DISPLAY SYSTEM
Abstract
A retail product container display system includes at least one
product storage lane. The at least one product storage lane
comprising a left hand side rail and a right hand side rail and at
least two connectors engaged with receptacles therefor on each of
the left hand and right hand side rails. The receptacles are
disposed at corresponding longitudinally spaced apart positions
along each of the side rails. Each of the side rails comprises a
vertical wall and a horizontal floor.
Inventors: |
Bruegmann; Malte; (Houston,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bruegmann USA, Inc. |
Houston |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Bruegmann USA, Inc.
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
51059326 |
Appl. No.: |
14/279426 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61856774 |
Jul 22, 2013 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/59.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 1/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/59.2 |
International
Class: |
A47F 1/12 20060101
A47F001/12 |
Claims
1. A retail product container display system, comprising: at least
one product storage lane, the at least one product storage lane
comprising a left hand side rail and a right hand side rail; and at
least two connectors engaged with receptacles therefor on each of
the left hand and right hand side rails, the receptacles disposed
at corresponding longitudinally spaced apart positions along each
of the side rails; and wherein each of the side rails comprises a
vertical wall and a horizontal floor.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the at least two
connectors comprises, on each side thereof, a deflectable locking
tab having a detent bar on a surface thereof, and wherein the
receptacles each include a plurality of laterally spaced apart
slots configured to engage the detent bar of a respective end of
one of the at least two connectors, whereby a width of the at least
one product storage lane is adjustable.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the receptacles are disposed on a
bottom surface of the horizontal floor of each of the left hand and
right hand side rails.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality
longitudinally spaced apart channels formed on an outer surface of
the side wall of each of the side rails, the channels each
configured to receive a vertical support connector therein, whereby
a plurality of lanes are vertically stackable.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the plurality of longitudinally
spaced apart channels are arranged to enable vertical assembly of a
plurality of lanes, and wherein vertically adjacent lanes are
interconnected by a support connector disposed in each selected
ones of the spaced apart channels on each of the side rails.
6. The system of claim 4 wherein a longitudinal position of the
channels on the left hand side wall is offset from a longitudinal
position of the channels on the right hand side wall such that a
lateral space between laterally placed adjacent lanes is settable
to substantially zero.
7. The system of claim 1 further comprising support feet attachable
to a bottom of each of the left hand side rail and the right hand
side rail, the support feet providing the at least one lane with a
selected tilt.
8. The system of claim 1 further comprising an end barrier disposed
at a forward end of at least one of the left hand side rail and the
right hand side rail.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the end barrier is integrally
formed with the at least one of the left hand side rail and the
right hand side rail.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Priority is claimed from U.S. Provisional Application No.
61/856,774 filed on Jul. 22, 2013.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND
[0003] This disclosure relates generally to the field of retail
product display systems. More specifically, the disclosure relates
to product displays in which generally cylindrical product
containers are stored and displayed for sale.
[0004] Retail product displays known in the art include display
systems for beverage containers. Such displays may include both
bottled beverage containers stored in a substantially vertical
orientation and substantially cylindrical cans also stored
substantially vertically. Both such types of containers may be
stored in, for example, a refrigerated display case. Vertically
oriented containers may be stored on a device that separates the
product containers into laterally adjacent rows or "lanes", and
urges the product containers forward using a spring loaded pusher
or gravity. One such device is sold under the trademark FLEXROLLER,
which is a registered trademark of Bruegmann, USA, Inc., 589 Garden
Oaks. Blvd, Houston, Tex. 77018.
[0005] It is frequently the case that bottle containers are
substantially taller than cans. Thus, using side by side devices
such as the FLEXROLLER device may result in underutilized space in
a refrigerated display case. One device known in the art for using
the available vertical space more efficiently displays cylindrical
containers such as cans disposed horizontally and uses gravity to
urge the stored cans forward to the front of the device. Several of
such devices may be vertically stacked to use the space in the
refrigerated display case. One such device is sold under the
trademark THE CLUB, which is a trademark of RTC Industries, Inc.,
2800 Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, Ill. 60008. Other devices may
store product containers horizontally and have vertical stacking by
having therein a serpentine track to enable vertical separation of
rows of the containers. Examples of such devices are sold by
Display Technologies, LLC, 111 Marcus Ave, Lake Success N.Y.
11042.
[0006] Each of the foregoing example devices is made for a
particular height of cylindrical product container (can) and/or is
made with a plurality of vertical rows of "lanes."
SUMMARY
[0007] A retail product container display system includes at least
one product storage lane. The at least one product storage lane
comprising a left hand side rail and a right hand side rail and at
least two connectors engaged with receptacles therefor on each of
the left hand and right hand side rails. The receptacles are
disposed at corresponding longitudinally spaced apart positions
along each of the side rails. Each of the side rails comprises a
vertical wall and a horizontal floor.
[0008] Other aspects and advantages will be apparent from the
description and claims that follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an example of one "lane" of a product display
system according to the present disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 1A shows a detailed view of "feet" that can be
assembled to an example lane at a back end thereof to facilitate
gravity feed of product containers stored on the lane.
[0011] FIG. 2 shows example vertical supports that enable stacked
assembly of a plurality of lanes such as shown in FIG. 1 as well as
two additional lanes that may be assembled vertically with respect
to the example lane shown in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a three-lane, vertically
stacked display system according to the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of connectors that enable
assembly of lanes to various widths.
[0014] FIG. 5 shows a partially assembled lane with connectors
coupled to one side rail.
[0015] FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of an assembled lane.
[0016] FIG. 6A shows a detailed view of a connector assembled into
a locking receptacle formed on the bottom of a side rail.
[0017] FIG. 6B shows a detailed, oblique view of an example
connector.
[0018] FIG. 6C shows a side view of the example connector in FIG.
6B.
[0019] FIG. 6D shows a bottom view of the example connector to
illustrate locking features.
[0020] FIG. 6E shows an example receptacle on the bottom of a side
rail.
[0021] FIG. 6F shows the receptacle in more detail.
[0022] FIGS. 7 and 8 show side and oblique views, respectively, of
an assembled display system in "waterfall" configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] FIG. 1 shows an example "lanes" 10 in oblique view. The lane
10, when assembled from components to be further explained below
forms a single basic display unit of a product container display
system according to the present disclosure. FIG. 1A shows support
feet 12 that may be affixed, such as by clips, to the bottom of a
lane 10 at its rearward end so as to tilt the lane 10 (FIG. 1)
forward. The support feet 12 may be used in instances where the
device in which the system is used has a substantially horizontal
bottom, whereby the forward tilt provided by the support feet 12
urges product containers (see FIG. 7) to a forward end of the lane
10. In such circumstances, the lowermost lane 10 in a plurality of
vertically assembled, stacked lanes will have the support feet 12
attached to the bottom thereof as shown in FIG. 1A.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows two additional lanes 10, which may be
substantially identical to the lane shown in FIG. 1, along with a
plurality of vertical support connectors 14 that may be disposed in
receptacles (explained with reference to FIG. 3) on an exterior of
the sides of each lane 10 so that a plurality of lanes 10 may be
assembled vertically stacked to form the product display
system.
[0025] FIG. 3 shows components of an example display system in
exploded view. Each lane (10 in FIGS. 1 and 2) may include a left
hand side rail 10A and a right hand side rail 10B. Each side rail
10A, 10B may include a substantially vertically extending wall 9
and a substantially horizontal floor 7. The side rails 10A, 10B may
include connector receptacles 16 on a bottom surface of the floor 7
to provide an engagement feature for connectors 10C that adjustably
connect the left hand side rail 10A to the right hand side rail
10B. The foregoing receptacles 16 and connectors 10C will be
explained in more detail below. The wall 9, receptacles 16 and
floor 7 may be molded or formed as a single, unitary component from
any suitable material such as plastic.
[0026] Each of the side rails 10A, 10B may have a corresponding
forward end barrier 10D, 10E affixed to the forward end of the side
rail. The end barriers 10D, 10E may be formed integrally with the
corresponding side rail 10A, 10B or may be formed as separate
components that can be affixed to the corresponding side rail using
suitably shaped interlocking features (not shown in detail). The
end barriers 10D, 10E provide a stop for product containers (FIG.
7) stored on each lane (10 in FIG. 1) as the containers are urged
forward by gravity when one or more product containers are removed
from the lane (10 in FIG. 1). FIG. 3 also shows how the vertical
support connectors 14 may be inserted into suitably shaped channels
18 formed into the exterior of the vertical wall 9 of each side
rail 10A, 10B. A plurality of channels 18 may be formed at spaced
apart locations along each side rail 10A, 10B to enable assembly of
the system as shown with each lane 10 in a different longitudinal
position with respect to the other lanes 10, or all lanes may be
assembled to be in the same longitudinal position with respect to
each other. The example shown in FIG. 3 includes three lanes,
however the number of lanes in any configuration of a system
according to the present disclosure is not a limit on the scope
thereof.
[0027] FIG. 4 shows the side rails 10A, 10B and connectors 10C in
exploded view. As explained above, each connector 10C may slidably,
and lockingly engage a receptacle 16 formed in the floor (7 in FIG.
3), which may be proximate a front and rear longitudinal end of
each side rail 10A, 10B. FIG. 5 shows the connectors 10C assembled
to the right hand side rail 10B, with the left hand side rail 10A
still unassembled.
[0028] FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of an assembled lane, wherein the
connectors 10C are lockably disposed in respective receptacles 16.
FIG. 6A shows one of the receptacles 16 in more detail with the
connector 10C locked in place. The connector 10C may include a
resilient, flexible locking tab 11 formed on each side. The locking
tab 11 may include a detent bar 13 or similar feature extending
from the surface of each locking tab 11. The detent bar 13 may
engage any one of a plurality of locking slots A, B, C formed in a
bottom surface of the receptacle 16. By engaging the detent bar 13
in the appropriate one of the locking slots A, B, C, the width of
the lane (10 in FIG. 1) may be adjusted for selected size product
containers (FIG. 7).
[0029] FIG. 6B shows one of the connectors 10C in oblique view to
illustrate the resilient locking tabs 11. Each of the locking tabs
11 may be formed into the body 15 of the connector 10C such that
the locking tabs 11 may be deflected in a direction normal to the
plane of the connector body 15. FIG. 6C shows a side view of the
connector 11 to illustrate that when the locking tabs (11 in FIG.
6B) are undeflected, the detent bars 13 protrude slightly below the
bottom plane 17 of the connector 10C so that the detent bars 13 may
lockingly engage the selected slots (A, B, C in FIG. 6A) in the
respective receptacle (16 in FIG. 6). A bottom view of the
connector 10C showing the detent bars 13 is shown in FIG. 6D. FIG.
6E shows a bottom view of the right hand side rail 10B to
illustrate the position of the receptacles 16. FIG. 6F shows one of
the receptacles 16 in more detail, illustrating the relative
positions of the slots A, B, C. When assembling a connector 10C to
a receptacle 16, the locking tab (13 in FIG. 6B) may be deflected
slightly so that the detent bar (13 in FIG. 6C) is free to move
longitudinally within the receptacle 16. When the detent bar 13 is
positioned in the selected slot, A, B, C, the locking tab 11 may be
released to enable the detent bar 13 to engage the selected slot A,
B, or C and lock the connector 10C to the respective side rail
(10A, 10B in FIG. 3) in the selected one of the slots A, B or C. In
this way, the width of each lane (10 in FIG. 1) may be selected for
a specific size product container.
[0030] Returning to FIG. 6, in one example, the channels 18 formed
in the side wall (9 in FIG. 3) of the left hand side rail 10A may
be longitudinally offset from the corresponding channels 18 formed
in the right hand side wall 10B. Such longitudinal offset may
enable lanes to be placed side by side in a same longitudinal
position with respect to each other while reducing the lateral
spacing between laterally adjacent lanes (10 in FIG. 1). It will be
readily appreciated that when the channels 18 are so placed on each
of the respective side walls 9, the effective lateral spacing
between laterally adjacent lanes at a same relative longitudinal
position may be settable to substantially zero, whereas if the
channels were in the same longitudinal position on each side wall,
the lanes would be laterally spaceable at a minimum of twice the
lateral dimension of the channels 18.
[0031] FIG. 7 shows three lanes 10 assembled in "waterfall"
configuration, wherein each vertically successively higher lane 10
is disposed longitudinally behind the lower vertically adjacent
lane 10. Such configuration may make it easier for a user to access
product containers 21 stored on each lane. FIG. 8 shows how such
waterfall configuration may be formed by assembling successively
higher lanes by inserting the vertical support connectors 14 in
successively more forward channels 18A, 18B, 18C. It is within the
scope of the present disclosure to assemble lanes vertically using
a same respective channel for the vertical support connectors 14.
Further, while the present example shows three sets of
corresponding channels on each side wall, the number of channels is
not a limitation on the scope of the present disclosure. Further,
the number of lanes which may be vertically stacked is not a
limitation on the scope of the present disclosure.
[0032] A retail product container display system according to the
present disclosure may be configured to accommodate various size
product containers while being assembled from identical parts. A
system according to the present disclosure may be configured for
any selected vertical space while being assembled from identical
parts.
[0033] While the invention has been described with respect to a
limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having
benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments
can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention
as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should
be limited only by the attached claims.
* * * * *