Patent ID: 8608218
Filing Date: 2013-12-17
Classification: A47F

Abstract:
1. A method of handling products on shelves, said method comprising: providing a pan member, said pan member including a base portion connected to a back portion with said back portion including a handle member and being angularly oriented relative to said base portion, said base portion including a front edge with said back portion being connected to said base portion opposite said front edge; placing said front edge of said pan member adjacent a plurality of products stored on a shelf; sliding said pan member and at least a portion of the products relative to each other such that at least a portion of the products are contained in said pan member whereby the contained products may be moved from the shelf; wherein said pan member has first and second distal ends, and wherein said pan member includes pan end portion at said first end with said end portion being connected to said base portion and said back portion, and wherein said second end comprises pan open end, and wherein the length of said base portion is approximately equal to the width of the shelf upon which the products are stored, and wherein said placing said front edge of said pan member adjacent a plurality of products stored on a shelf comprises placing said front edge of said pan member in a perpendicular orientation relative to the elongate length of the shelf, and wherein said sliding said pan member and at least a portion of the products relative to each other comprises sliding said pan member and at least a portion of the products relative to each other in a direction parallel to the elongate length of the shelf, with said method further comprising: providing a retention arm member, said retention arm member including a distally located handle member and pan elongate shaft extending from said handle member, and providing a biasing force to the at least a portion of the products opposite said pan member with said retention arm member such that the at least a portion of the products are positioned between said retention arm member and said pan member with said shaft being held generally parallel relative to said front edge of said pan member.