Product management display system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11178982-B2
Application number	US-202017085606-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2020
Priority date	Dec 31, 2015
Publication date	Nov 23, 2021
Grant date	Nov 23, 2021

Abstract

An adjustable tray for a merchandise display system may include a retainer for limiting the movement of products loaded in the adjustable tray, a first divider extending from a first panel and second divider extending from a second panel. The spacing between the first divider and the second divider can be configured to be adjusted. The first panel and the second panel can be configured to move to provide additional surface area for the adjustable tray to accommodate different sized products. The adjustable tray may further include a pusher mechanism configured to bias product toward the retainer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A merchandise display system comprising:
a front rail configured to mount to a shelf; and
an adjustable tray configured to mount to the front rail, wherein the adjustable tray comprises:
a front portion slidingly engaged to the front rail, the front portion including a locking mechanism, wherein in an unlocked position, the adjustable tray is adjustable along the front rail;
a floor having a floor surface for receiving products loaded in the adjustable tray;
a first adjustable divider comprising a first wall and a second adjustable divider comprising a second wall for guiding the products along the floor surface; and
at least one cam having multiple notches, wherein the cam is configured to prevent or allow movement of the first adjustable divider and the second adjustable divider,
wherein the first adjustable divider comprises a first panel extending perpendicularly from the bottom of the first wall toward the second wall and the second adjustable divider comprises a second panel extending perpendicularly from the bottom of the second wall toward the first wall; and
wherein the first adjustable divider and second adjustable divider are configured to move laterally with respect to the floor such that spacing between the first wall and the second wall is adjusted to accommodate various dimensioned products.

2. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the floor is positioned between the first wall and second wall above the first panel and second panel and the first panel and second panel being configured to move laterally under the floor; wherein the cam is rotatably attached to an underside surface of the floor; and wherein the first panel and second panel are movably positioned between the floor and the cam and are configured such that lateral movement of the first and second adjustable dividers causes rotation of the cam.

3. The merchandise display system of claim 2 wherein the cam comprises an integral stem; wherein the first panel and the second panel have corresponding openings that surround the integral stem, allowing the cam to rotate.

4. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the floor further comprises a support extending from the bottom of the floor, the support having a portion configured for placement in a notch of the cam, wherein placement of the portion in the notch of the cam prevents rotation of the cam and prevents movement of the first and second adjustable dividers.

5. The merchandise display system of claim 4 wherein the floor further comprises a button positioned on a rail adjacent the cam, wherein pressing the button releases the portion from the notch, allowing the cam to rotate and allowing movement of the first and second adjustable dividers.

6. The merchandise display system of claim 5 wherein the first panel and the second panel have corresponding spaces that together form an opening for the button, allowing the button to be pressed.

7. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the cam has multiple notches such that each notch corresponds to a unique spacing between the first and second walls; wherein the spacing accommodates a predetermined product dimension.

8. The merchandise display system of claim 7 wherein at least some of the notches are not equidistant from adjacent notches.

9. The merchandise display system of claim 1 further comprising at least two cams.

10. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the floor further comprises guide rails extending vertically downward from the floor wherein the guide rails are positioned in corresponding channels in the first and second panels to allow only lateral movement between the first and second panels and the floor.

11. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second walls is identical and each cam is identical.

12. The merchandise display system of claim 1 further comprising a retainer for limiting movement of products loaded in the adjustable tray.

13. The merchandise display system of claim 12 wherein the floor, retainer, and front portion comprise a single molded piece.

14. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism is a movable cam coupled to the front portion, wherein the movable cam is configured to move between a locked position engaged with the front rail and an unlocked position not engaged with the front rail.

15. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism is a resilient tab coupled to the front portion wherein the resilient tab is configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein the resilient tab is engaged with the front rail in a first position, and is movable to the second position to disengage with the front rail.

Assignees

• Rtc Ind Inc

Inventors

• Hardy Stephen N

Classifications

• A47B45/00

  Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features enabling enlarging in height, length, or depth (sectional furniture A47B87/00) · CPC title

• A47B65/15

  Partitions, e.g. dividers · CPC title

• A47F1/125

  with an article-pushing device · CPC title

• A47F5/0025 Primary

  having separate display containers or trays on shelves or on racks · CPC title

• A47F1/12

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