Patent ID: 9445675
Filing Date: 2016-09-20
CPC Classification: A47F

Claim Text:
1. A modular apparatus for displaying and dispensing selected merchandise at a point-of-purchase location placed at a selected site adjacent a display shelf extending in lateral directions at the site, the merchandise being in the form of packages of selected dimensions, including a selected lateral width, arranged serially along a path of travel extending longitudinally toward a forward dispensing location placed at the point-of-purchase, the apparatus facilitating transport to and erection at the site to accommodate the packages of selected dimensions, the apparatus comprising: a track member having a platform for extending along a longitudinal direction adjacent the path of travel, in juxtaposition with the serially arranged packages, the platform including a near end for placement adjacent the forward dispensing location, a far end spaced longitudinally away from the near end, and laterally opposite sides; a pusher configured for sliding engagement with the track member, the pusher being selectively movable along the track member in longitudinal directions between the far end and the near end of the track member; a plurality of slots extending laterally within the track member, altitudinally below the platform and spaced longitudinally from one another along the track member; a pair of wall members, each wall member having a longitudinal length and extending attitudinally between an upper edge and a lower edge, each wall member having a plurality of tenons projecting laterally from the wall member, adjacent the lower edge of the wall member, and spaced longitudinally from one another along the wall member such that each one of the plurality of tenons will register with a corresponding one of the plurality of slots, each tenon having altitudinal and lateral dimensions complementary to corresponding altitudinal and lateral dimensions of a corresponding slot so that upon registration of each tenon with a corresponding slot, each tenon will extend into engagement with a corresponding slot; a rack extending in a lateral direction along either one of the slots and the tenons, each rack having a plurality of teeth spaced apart laterally along the rack; and a pawl arrangement projecting from a corresponding one of the slots and the tenons in a direction transverse to the slots and to the tenons in position to engage a corresponding rack in response to insertion of each tenon into a corresponding slot; the plurality of teeth and each corresponding pawl arrangement having complementary configurations for allowing selective movement of each tenon within a corresponding slot such that upon placement of packages of selected dimensions upon the platform, alignment of each one of the pair of wall members with a corresponding one of the laterally opposite sides of the track member and insertion of each tenon projecting from each wall member within a corresponding slot in the track member, movement of the wall members laterally toward one another will engage each pawl arrangement with a corresponding rack, allowing such movement of the wall members toward one another until the wall members are placed in juxtaposition with the selected lateral width of the packages on the platform, whereupon the engagement of each pawl arrangement with adjacent corresponding teeth of a corresponding rack will secure the wall members in place, in guiding juxtaposition with the serially arranged packages on the platform.