Retail merchandise tray

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11564507-B2
Application number	US-202217697378-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2022
Priority date	Dec 1, 2017
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A retail merchandise tray is provided. The retail merchandise tray includes a frame, a pusher that slides along the frame, at least one divider, and at least one baffle plate extension slidable relative to the divider and the frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A retail merchandise tray, comprising:
a frame that defines a retail merchandise support surface;
a pusher mounted to the frame, the pusher movable along the frame along a first axis between a front end and a rear end of the frame;
at least one divider assembly slidably attached to the frame, the at least one divider assembly movable along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the at least one divider assembly including a divider wall having an upright portion having opposed sides and a flange extending from at least one of the opposed sides perpendicular to the upright portion, the at least one divider assembly slidable between a first extended position where the upright portion is spaced a first distance from the frame and a first retracted position where the upright portion is closer to or in abutment with the frame than in the first extended position; and
a baffle plate extension slidably carried by the frame, the baffle plate extension having an outer edge and an inner edge spaced from the outer edge along the second axis, the baffle plate extension slidable between a second extended position and a second retracted position, in the second extended position, the outer edge is spaced farther from the frame than in the second retracted position, the baffle plate extension transitions from the second retracted position to the second extended position when the at least one divider assembly transitions from the first retracted position to the first extended position, the baffle plate extension transitions from the second extended position to the second retracted position when the at least one divider assembly transitions from the first extended position to the first retracted position.

2. The retail merchandise tray of claim 1 , wherein:
the flange has an inner edge spaced away from the upright portion;
the frame has an outer edge;
the baffle plate extension has an inner edge;
the inner edge of the flange is positioned inward of the outer edge of the baffle plate extension in the first and second retracted and extended positions of the baffle plate extension and the at least one divider assembly such that the flange is always overlapped with the baffle plate extension;
the inner edge of the baffle plate extension is positioned inward of the outer edge of the frame in the first and second retracted and extended positions of the baffle plate extension and the divider such that the baffle plate extension is always overlapped with the frame.

3. The retail merchandise tray of claim 1 , wherein the baffle plate extension is slidably attached to the frame with a clip.

4. The retail merchandise tray of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one divider assembly is connected to the baffle plate extension by a slidable connection; and
the baffle plate extension is mounted to the frame by a slidable connection.

5. The retail merchandise tray of claim 4 , wherein the slidable connection between the baffle plate extension and the flange comprises a tab depending downwardly from the flange and a slot formed in the baffle plate extension which receives the tab.

6. The retail merchandise tray of claim 5 , wherein the slidable connection between the baffle plate extension and the frame includes at least one clip formed on the baffle plate extension.

7. The retail merchandise tray of claim 6 , wherein:
the flange has an inner edge spaced away from the upright portion;
the frame has an outer edge;
the at least one clip is proximate the inner edge of the baffle plate extension;
the inner edge of the flange is positioned inward of the outer edge of the baffle plate extension in the first and second retracted and extended positions of the baffle plate extension and the at least one divider assembly such that the flange is always overlapped with the baffle plate extension;
the clip of the baffle plate extension is positioned inward of the outer edge of the frame in the first and second retracted and extended positions of the baffle plate extension and the at least one divider assembly such that the baffle plate extension is always overlapped with the frame.

8. The retail merchandise tray of claim 2 , wherein:
the baffle plate extension includes a support portion and a downwardly depending portion, the downwardly depending portion being positioned inward of the outer edge of the frame in the first and second retracted and extended positions of the baffle plate extension and the at least one divider assembly;
the downwardly depending portion abuts the frame in the second extended position such that the outer edge of the baffle plate extension can not move farther away from the frame along the second axis.

9. The retail merchandise tray of claim 2 , wherein the flange and baffle plate extension form baffle plate surface from the upright portion to, at least, the outer edge of the frame when the baffle plate extension and at least one divider assembly are in the first and second extended positions.

10. The retail merchandise tray of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one divider assembly includes a pair of wire supports, the pair of wire supports slidably connecting the upright portion to the frame;
the baffle plate extension is not directly connected to the pair of wire supports.

11. The retail merchandise tray of claim 5 , wherein the tab extends through a portion of the baffle plate extension that defines the slot, the portion having a top side and a bottom side, the top side faces the flange and the bottom side faces the frame.

12. The retail merchandise tray of claim 11 , wherein:
the tab has a connection end that is connected to a bottom side of the flange;
the bottom side of the flange facing the top side of the portion of the baffle plate extension;
the tab has a distal free end opposite the connection end, the portion of the baffle plate extension being located between the connection end and the distal free end.

13. The retail merchandise tray of claim 5 , wherein the frame includes a notch that aligns with the slot, the tab sliding through the notch when the at least one divider assembly transitions between the first extended and retracted positions.

14. The retail merchandise tray of claim 12 , wherein the tab is T-shaped with a neck and an enlarged head, the neck extending through the slot and the head providing the distal free end, the head being larger than a width of the slot parallel to the first axis such that the head cannot pass vertically through the slot, the slot being elongated parallel to the second axis.

15. The retail merchandise tray of claim 2 , wherein the inner edge of the flange is positioned inward of the outer edge of the frame when the at least one divider assembly is in the first retracted position.

Assignees

• Fasteners For Retail Inc

Inventors

• Nagel Thomas O

Classifications

• A47F1/126 Primary

  the pushing device being urged by spring means · CPC title

• A47F5/0025

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

• A47B57/58

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

• A47F1/04

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

• A47F1/12

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