Retail merchandise tray

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10470587-B2
Application number	US-201916278589-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 18, 2019
Priority date	Dec 1, 2017
Publication date	Nov 12, 2019
Grant date	Nov 12, 2019

Abstract

A retail merchandise tray is provided. The retail merchandise tray includes a pair of load bearing members, a front stop mounted to the load bearing members, a wire support structure removably attached to the front stop and load bearing members, a pusher that slides along the wire support structure, and a pair of movable divider assemblies.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A retail merchandise tray assembly having a front, a rear, and opposed sides, the retail merchandise tray assembly comprising:
a pair of opposed load bearing members;
a front stop mounted to the pair of load bearing members, wherein the front stop is located at the front of the retail merchandise tray assembly;
a wire support structure mounted between the pair of load bearing members;
a pusher mounted to the wire support structure, the pusher movable along the wire support structure toward and away from the front stop along a first axis, the pusher includes a locking arm, the locking arm operable to lock the pusher in a locked position, wherein in the locked position the pusher is prevented from moving toward the front stop along the first axis;
at least one divider assembly;
a pair of spacers aligned along the first axis and interposed between the pair of load bearing members and situated below the wire support structure;
a baffle plate slidable relative to the pair of load bearing members and relative to the wire support structure, wherein sliding the baffle plate along the first axis toward the front stop transitions the locking arm from the locked position to an unlocked position wherein the pusher is free to move toward the front stop along the first axis;
wherein the baffle plate is below the pair of spacers;
wherein the baffle plate is configured to attach the retail merchandise tray assembly to a support surface.

2. The retail merchandise tray assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one divider assembly includes a pair of divider assemblies movable about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and arranged such that the pair of load bearing members are interposed between the pair of divider assemblies.

3. The retail merchandise tray assembly of claim 1 , wherein each divider assembly includes a divider wall and a pair of wire supports removably attached to the divider wall by a resilient connection.

4. The retail merchandise tray assembly of claim 3 , wherein each divider wall includes an upright portion having opposed sides and a flange protruding perpendicularly from the upright portion.

5. The retail merchandise tray assembly of claim 1 , wherein a tab plate extends between the pair of opposed load bearing members and includes a downwardly depending tab.

6. The retail merchandise tray assembly of claim 5 , wherein the baffle plate includes a slot, the downwardly depending tab extending through the slot, and wherein an abutted contact between the downwardly depending tab and an end of the slot prevents the baffle plate from sliding further relative to the pair of opposed load bearing members.

7. The retail merchandise tray assembly of claim 1 , wherein the baffle plate includes a pair of opposed sidewalls extending parallel to the pair of opposed load bearing members, wherein a cut out in the form of a downwardly opening hook is provided in each of the pair of opposed sidewalls, the cut outs are configured to receive the support surface, wherein the support surface is a retail merchandise support bar.

8. The retail merchandise tray assembly of claim 7 , wherein the pair of opposed sidewalls are in sliding contact with the pair of opposed load bearing members.

9. The retail merchandise tray assembly of claim 1 , wherein the baffle plate slidable relative to the pair of load bearing members and the wire support structure along the first axis such that in a first position of the baffle plate relative to the pair of load bearing members and the wire support structure the retail merchandise tray assembly has a first longitudinal length, and a in a second position of the baffle plate relative to the pair of load bearing members and the wire support structure the retail merchandise tray assembly has a second longitudinal length greater than the first longitudinal length.

10. A retail merchandise tray assembly, comprising:
a pair of opposed load bearing members;
a front stop mounted to the pair of load bearing members;
a wire support structure supported at least in part by the pair of load bearing members;
a pusher mounted to the wire support structure, the pusher movable along the wire support structure toward and away from the front stop along a first axis, wherein the pusher includes a locking arm for locking the pusher in a locked position;
at least one divider assembly;
a pair of spacers aligned along the first axis and interposed between the pair of load bearing members; and
a baffle plate slidably mounted between the pair of load bearing members, the baffle plate slidable relative to the pair of load bearing members and the wire support structure along the first axis such that in a first position of the baffle plate relative to the pair of load bearing members and the wire support structure the retail merchandise tray assembly has a first longitudinal length, and in a second position of the baffle plate relative to the pair of load bearing members and the wire support structure the retail merchandise tray assembly has a second longitudinal length greater than the first longitudinal length, wherein sliding the baffle plate along the first axis toward the front stop transitions the pusher from the locked position to an unlocked position.

11. The retail merchandise tray assembly of claim 10 , wherein the at least one divider assembly includes a pair of divider assemblies movable relative to one another and arranged such that the pair of load bearing members are interposed between the pair of divider assemblies.

12. The retail merchandise tray assembly of claim 10 , wherein the wire support structure has opposed first and second ends, the wire support structure removably attached at the first end to the front stop and removably attached at the second end to the pair of load bearing members.

13. The retail merchandise tray assembly of claim 10 , wherein the baffle plate includes a pair of opposed sidewalls extending parallel to the pair of opposed load bearing members, wherein a cut out in the form of a downwardly opening hook is provided in each of the pair of opposed sidewalls, the cut outs are configured to receive the support surface, wherein the support surface is a retail merchandise support bar.

14. The retail merchandise tray assembly of claim 13 , wherein the pair of opposed sidewalls are in sliding contact with the pair of opposed load bearing members.

15. A method of loading a retail merchandise tray comprising the steps of:
providing the retail merchandise tray, the retail merchandise tray comprising a pair of opposed load bearing members, a front stop mounted to the pair of load bearing members, a wire support structure mounted between the pair of load bearing members, a pusher mounted to the wire support structure, the pusher movable along the wire support structure toward and away from the front stop along a first axis, at least one divider assembly movable relative to the pair of opposed load bearing members along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, a pair of spacers aligned along the first axis and interposed between the pair of load bearing members, and a baffle plate slidably mounted between the pair of load bearing members; and
sliding the baffle plate along the first axis relative to the pair of opposed load bearing members away from the front stop, wherein the baffle place comprises a planar portion and an inclined unlocking tab extending upwardly from the planar portion, wherein sliding the baffle plate along the first axis to the front stop causes the unlocking tab to engage a locking arm of the pusher and transition the locking arm from a lo

Assignees

• Fasteners For Retail Inc

Inventors

• Nagel Thomas O

Classifications

• A47B57/58 Primary

  with means for adjusting partitions horizontally (book-ends A47B65/00) · CPC title

• A47F5/005

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

• A47F1/126 Primary

  the pushing device being urged by spring means · CPC title

• A47F1/12

  dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack {(A47F1/087 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A47F1/04

  Racks or} containers with arrangements for dispensing articles {, e.g. by means of gravity or springs · CPC title