Anti-splay device for merchandise display system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10178909-B2
Application number	US-201715406287-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2017
Priority date	Jan 13, 2016
Publication date	Jan 15, 2019
Grant date	Jan 15, 2019

Abstract

A merchandising display system can include one or more of a front rail configured to mount to a shelf, a first divider assembly, a second divider assembly, and a central track or floor, and a pusher assembly. In one example aspect, the example merchandising display system can be configured to prevent splaying of the divider assemblies when a row of product is loaded toward the rear of the shelf or when displaying the product in rows on the shelf. In one example, the central track in conjunction with the weight of the product can be configured to maintain even spacing between the first divider assembly and the second divider assembly, such that the first divider assembly and the second divider assembly are maintained in position on the shelf thereby maintaining the product organized in their respective rows on the shelf.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A merchandise display system comprising:
a front rail configured to mount to a shelf;
a first divider assembly configured to connect to the front rail, the first divider assembly defining a first divider assembly front and a first divider assembly rear the first divider assembly comprising a first divider wall separating the first divider assembly to define a first track and a second track for supporting product;
a second divider assembly defining a second divider assembly front and a second divider assembly rear, the second divider assembly configured to connect to the front rail, the second divider assembly comprising a second divider wall separating the second divider assembly to define a third track and a fourth track for supporting product; and
a floor configured to connect to the front rail and configured to extend between the first divider wall and the second divider wall;
wherein the floor engages the first divider assembly at the first divider assembly rear and the floor engages the second divider assembly at the second divider assembly rear to aid in preventing the first divider assembly and the second divider assembly from splaying in relation to one another;
wherein the floor further comprises a spring for raising the floor above a rear portion of the first divider assembly and a rear portion of the second divider assembly when the merchandise display system is in an unloaded position.

2. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the first divider assembly and the second divider assembly spacing is adjustable.

3. The merchandise display system of claim 2 wherein the first track and the second track comprises a first plurality of notches, and wherein the third track and the fourth track comprises a second plurality of notches, the floor comprising a first projection and a second projection, the first projection configured to extend into one of the first plurality of notches and the second projection configured to extend into one of the second plurality of notches.

4. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the floor further comprises a pusher assembly having a pusher paddle and a coiled spring positioned behind the pusher paddle and configured to bias the pusher paddle toward the front rail.

5. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the floor, the second track, and the third track together form a surface for receiving at least one product.

6. The merchandise display system of claim 1 further comprising a third divider assembly, the third divider assembly configured to connect to the front rail, the third divider assembly comprising a third divider wall separating the third divider assembly to define a fifth track and a sixth track for supporting product and a second floor and wherein the second floor is configured to connect to the front rail and is configured to extend between the second divider wall and the third divider wall; wherein the second floor engages the second divider assembly and the second floor engages the third divider assembly to prevent the second divider assembly and the third divider assembly from splaying in relation to one another.

7. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein weight of the product causes the floor to engage the first divider assembly and the second divider assembly to aid in preventing the first divider assembly and the second divider assembly from splaying in relation to one another.

8. A method comprising:
providing a front rail configured to connect to a shelf;
providing a first divider assembly and configuring the first divider assembly to connect to the front rail, the first divider assembly comprising a first divider wall and at least one first floor for supporting product;
providing a second divider assembly, configuring the second divider assembly to connect to the front rail, the second divider assembly comprising a second divider wall and at least one second floor for supporting product;
providing a track and configuring the track to connect to the front rail and configuring the track to extend between the first divider wall and the second divider wall, and configuring the track to engage the first divider assembly and configuring the track to engage the second divider assembly to help prevent the first divider assembly and the second divider assembly from splaying in relation to one another; and
providing the track with a spring for raising the track above a rear portion of the first divider assembly and a rear portion of the second divider assembly the track is in an unloaded position.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising configuring the first divider assembly and the second divider assembly spacing to be adjustable.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing the at least one floor of the first divider assembly with a first plurality of notches, providing the at least one floor of the second divider assembly with a second plurality of notches, providing the track with a first projection and a second projection, where the first projection is configured to extend into one of the first plurality of notches and the second projection is configured to extend into one of the second plurality of notches.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing the track with a pusher assembly having a pusher paddle and positioning a coiled spring behind the pusher paddle and configuring the coiled spring to bias the pusher paddle toward the front rail.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the track, the at least one first floor, the at least one second floor together form a surface for receiving at least one product.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing a third divider assembly, configuring the third divider assembly to connect to the front rail, providing the third divider assembly with a third divider wall and at least one third floor for supporting product and a second track and configuring the second track to connect to the front rail and to extend between the second divider wall and the third divider wall; wherein the second track engages the second divider assembly and the second floor engages the third divider assembly to help prevent the second divider assembly and the third divider assembly from splaying in relation to one another.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising configuring the track to engage the first divider assembly at a rear portion of the first divider assembly and configuring the track to engage the second divider assembly at a rear portion of the second divider assembly such that weight of product loaded on the at least one first floor, the at least one second floor, and the track aids in preventing the first divider assembly and the second divider assembly from splaying in relation to one another.

15. A merchandise display system comprising:
a front rail configured to mount to a shelf;
a first divider assembly configured to connect to the front rail, the first divider assembly comprising a first divider assembly front and a first divider assembly rear the first divider assembly comprising a first divider wall separating the first divider assembly to define a first track and a second track for supporting product, the first track and the second track comprising a first plurality of notches;
a second divider assembly defining a second divider assembly front and a second divider assembly rear, the second divider assembly configured to connect to the front rail, the second divider assembly comprising a second divider wall separating the second divider assembly to define a third track and a forth track for supporting product, the third tra

Assignees

• Rtc Ind Inc

Inventors

• Hardy Stephen N
• Dipaolo Tony

Classifications

• A47F7/0007

  for stacked articles; Stabilising means therefor (for cans or bottles A47F7/281) · CPC title

• A47B57/588 Primary

  by means of shelf bottoms with apertures co-operating with tongues or pins · CPC title

• A47F7/28

  for containers, e.g. flasks, bottles {, tins, milk packs (racks or containers with dispensing arrangements A47F1/04; for lipsticks or markers A47F7/0021; for audio/video cassettes or booklike articles A47F7/14)} · CPC title

• A47F1/126 Primary

  the pushing device being urged by spring means · CPC title

• A47F5/005

  Partitions therefore (horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90) · CPC title