Apparatus and method for utilizing a gravity feed hanger

An apparatus and method for removably coupling a hanger to a latch at a first end of the hanger, removing the hanger from the latch while the latch remains coupled to a support member, threading an item of hanging stock onto the hanger via the first end, and recoupling the hanger to the latch while the latch remains coupled to the support member, wherein the hanger extends from the latch at an angle that is less than the horizontal, so that the hanging stock is urged by gravity toward a second end of the hanger.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates in general to inventory management systems and in particular to gravity feed hangers for displaying and dispensing hanging stock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a gravity feed system according to an embodiment of the invention is referred to, in general, by the reference numeral10. The gravity feed system10includes a display apparatus12comprising a vertical member, upon and from which a multitude of hanging stock14may be displayed and dispensed, respectively. The hanging stock14are supported by multiple gravity feed hanger assemblies16, which are in turn supported by crossbeams or support members18.

Although the hanging stock14depicted in the Figs. includes average-sized flex-bags, which are most commonly suited to the marketing of snack foods, the gravity feed system10can be used to store and dispense other items packaged in bags, boxes, or other similar containers. As shown inFIG. 1, the hanging stock14engages the gravity feed hanger assembly16via a slot20formed in the hanging stock tab22. In other embodiments, this engagement can be obtained through the use of a non-integral tab added to the hanging stock14prior to placement of the hanging stock14on the gravity feed hanger assembly16. In still further embodiments, the hanging stock14may comprise an integral or attached hook for engaging the gravity feed hanger assembly16.

The configuration of the gravity feed system10can be rearranged to suit a variety of sizes and shapes of hanging stock14. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the configuration of the gravity feed system10is determined by the vertical spacing of the crossbeams or horizontal members18and the horizontal spacing of the gravity feed hanger assemblies16along each crossbeam. In some embodiments, the crossbeams18are removably coupled with the upright portion of the display apparatus12so that the vertical position of each crossbeam18is adjustable along generally the entire length of the upright portions of the display apparatus12. Each crossbeam18also contains a uniformly spaced linear array of vertically oriented receptacles18athat extend though the crossbeam18. The array of receptacles18aextends substantially the length of the crossbeam18.

Referring toFIG. 2, the gravity feed hanger assembly16comprises a hanger24and a latch26which are configured to be removably coupled together and, when so coupled, interact to support and dispense the hanging stock14. The hanger24has a loading end24aand a dispensing end24band includes a pair of parallel rods24cthat substantially define the length of the hanger24. The amount of space between the rods24ccan be varied, based on the weight and dimensions of the hanging stock14.

The hanger rods24care connected at the loading end24aof the hanger24by an endpiece24dthat extends from the ends of each of the rods24c. A crosspiece24esimilarly extends between the hanger rods24, in parallel with the endpiece24d, and is spaced from the endpiece24das required by the fit of the hanger24with the latch26, described herein. In some embodiments, the hanger24may include only one of the endpiece24dand the crosspiece24e, or the endpiece24dor the crosspiece24emay not completely span the gap between the hanger rods24c. Some embodiments of the hanger may possess rounded joints between the endpiece and the hanger rods, so as to facilitate insertion of the hanger in to the latch, as described herein.

The hanger rods24care connected at the dispensing end24bby a lip24fwhich curls upward. In some embodiments, the lip24fbends back toward the rods24cto form an angle of 90-degrees or less with the rods24c. In some embodiments, the lip24fis bent back such that it is substantially vertical. The hanger rods24c, the lip24fand the endpiece24dcan be formed from a single piece of material, such as wiring or molded plastic. In other embodiments, the components of the hanger24may be distinct and thus assembled to form the hanger24.

Referring toFIG. 3, with continuing reference toFIG. 2, the latch26of the gravity feed hanger assembly16includes a base26a, two longitudinal side tabs26b, a latitudinal load tab26c, a latitudinal restraining tab26d, and a pair of mounting members26e. The base26a, which is flat and rectangular, has a top face26aa, which defines the plane along which the hanger24extends, a bottom face26ab, side edges26ac, a front edge26adand a rear edge26ae. The side tabs26bextend upward from the side edges26acof the base26ato a height at least equal to the thickness of the rods24c, so that the side tabs26bare parallel to each other and perpendicular to the base26a. The restraining tab26dextends upward from the front edge26adof the base26ato a height generally equal to that of the side tabs26b, and then extends, parallel to the top face26aaand toward the rear edge26aeof the base26a, for a distance at least equal to the thickness of the crosspiece24e. The load tab26cextends from the rear edge26aeof the base26aand mirrors the restraining tab26bwith the exception that the horizontal portion of the load tab26cextends further, so that the gap between the load tab26cand the restraining tab26bis no greater than the space between the endpiece24dand crosspiece24eof the hanger24.

The mounting members26eextend in parallel from the bottom face26abof the base26aat an angle dictated by the desired resting angle of the mounted gravity feed hanger assembly16. As demonstrated by the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 12, the mounting members26emay be angled, with respect to the bottom face26ab, such that the hanger24extends away from the crossbeam18at a downward angle. In some embodiments, the hanger24extends from the crossbeam18such that an angle θ between the mounting members26eand the hanger24is about 80 degrees. In other embodiments, the angle of the gravity feed hanger assembly16may be adjusted to be more level or more sloped with respect to a horizontal plane. The mounting members26emay be distinct components or, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 12, they may both be formed from a single, continuous piece of material.

When an embodiment of the gravity feed system10is in an assembled and installed condition, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 11, the gravity feed hanger assembly16is mounted on the crossbeam18. As shown inFIGS. 2 and 12, the mounting members26eare inserted into the receptacles18aof the crossbeam18and extend substantially through the vertical length of the crossbeam18, so that the latch26is stabilized against lateral and longitudinal movement. As demonstrated inFIGS. 10 and 11, the hanger24is coupled with the latch26such that the crosspiece24eis substantially enclosed by the restraining tab26d, the endpiece24dis covered by the load tab26c, and the rods24care flanked by the side tabs26b. As illustrated byFIGS. 1 and 11, the gravity feed system10is thus suited to support the hanging stock14that is suspended from the hanger24.

Operationally, the gravity feed system10is also suited to the time- and movement-efficient stocking, controlled dispensing and restocking of the hanging stock14. Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, the hanging stock14can provided in stock containers30that allow the hanging stock14to arrive at the point of sale in a condition such that the hanging stock14is aligned in the same configuration in which it will be displayed in the gravity feed system10. In the embodiment shown, the hanger24, decoupled from the latch26, is threaded through the hanging stock tabs22of the hanging stock14via the slots20. The loading end24aof the hanger24is substantially linear and coplanar with the rest of the hanger24, ensuring that multiple items of hanging stock14may be threaded onto the hanger24in one continuous motion. The entirety of the hanging stock14to be displayed and dispensed from the hanger24is then removed from the stock container30by exerting sufficient upward force on the hanger24.

FIGS. 6-10are perspective views of the hanger24and the latch26in a series, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, with continued reference toFIG. 3, and show the coupling of the hanger24to the latch26. The endpiece24dof the hanger is inserted into the gap between the load tab26cand the restraining tab26bso that it contacts the top face26aaof the base26a. The endpiece24dis then slid toward the rear edge26aeof the latch26(and, in the case of the embodiment displayed, upward, due to the downward angle at which the gravity feed hanger assembly16will rest) until the endpiece24dalso contacts the portion of the load tab26cthat is perpendicular to the base26a. The hanger24is then rotated downward, about the endpiece24d, so that the crosspiece24econtacts the top face26aaof the base26aand the hanger24extends from the latch26along substantially the same plane as that defined by the top face26aa. An outward (and, for this embodiment, downward) force is exerted on the hanger24so that it slides within the latch26, in the direction of the front edge26ad, and the crosspiece24econtacts the portion of the restraining tab26dthat is perpendicular to the top face26aa.

Thus coupled with the latch26, as shown inFIGS. 10 and 11, the hanger24allows for the display and dispensing of the hanging stock14. The latch26stabilizes the hanger24against most lateral, longitudinal, and even upward and downward movement. As the weight of the hanging stock14, as well as that of the hanger24itself, exerts outward and downward forces on the hanger24that pin the crosspiece24eagainst the load tab26cand the top face26aaof the latch26, the crosspiece24eacts as a fulcrum and translates the downward force exerted by the hanging stock14into an upward force that is exerted on the endpiece24d. The endpiece24dis held in place, and thus the hanger24is prevented from rotating about the crosspiece24e, by the restraining tab26b. The gap between the load tab26cand the restraining tab26bis sized to ensure that, in order to decouple the hanger24from the latch26, the crosspiece24emust be forced away from the horizontal portion of the restraining tab26band toward the gap between the restraining tab26band the load tab26c.

Due to the downward angle at which the gravity feed hanger assembly16, and thus the hanger24, extends from the crossbeam18in the embodiment shown, the weight of the hanging stock14also tends to pull the hanging stock14down the length of the hanger24, absent sufficient friction between the hanging stock tab22and the rods24cto prevent slippage. In some embodiments, the hanger24may be powder-coated or otherwise treated with a friction-reducing product so as to facilitate the movement of the hanging stock14along the hanger24. Such products may contain, for example, Teflon or materials with similar low-friction properties. One example of such material is the Sliptex powder coating manufactured by Prism Powder Coating Ltd. However, other materials are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

Despite the force exerted on the hanging stock14by its own weight, the lip24fprevents the uncontrolled dispensing of hanging stock14by halting the progress of the foremost item of hanging stock14at the dispensing end24bof the hanger24. As shown inFIG. 12, the lip24fis long enough and set at an angle sufficient to prevent the hanging stock14from being propelled off of the end of the hanger24by the force of its own weight, in combination with the cumulative weight of any of the hanging stock14that may be trailing behind it.

Controlled dispensing of the hanging stock14is performed by the manual removal of the hanging stock14. In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 13-15, a foremost item14amust be manipulated by the individual removing it so that it is pulled both outward and upward, clearing the lip24f. As the item14avacates its position at the bottom of the hanger24, trailing hanging stock14b-14fare pulled downward, along the hanger24, by their own weight. Once the hanging stock14ahas been removed entirely from the hanger24, the hanging stock14b, no longer impeded by the obstructing hanging stock14a, is urged by its own weight to the end of the hanger24and is halted by the lip24f. The hanging stock14c-14fsimilarly move downward along the hanger24, until each of the hanging stock14c-14fis halted by the item in front of it, so that the length of the hanger24nearest the loading end24ais vacated. As the remaining hanging stock14b-fare similarly removed from the hanger24, the space between the hanging stock14fand the latch26increases until, finally, the hanging stock14fis removed and the hanger24is emptied.

Restocking of the gravity feed system, which can be performed whether or not hanging stock14is already threaded on the hanger24, requires that the hanger24be decoupled from the latch26. To accomplish this, the hanger24is manipulated in reverse order of the steps described above for coupling the hanger24to the latch26, as depicted inFIGS. 6-10(also taken in reverse order of presentation). A force is exerted on the hanger24so that the crosspiece24eand endpiece24dslide within the latch26and the endpiece24dcontacts the horizontal portion of the load tab26cof the latch26. The hanger24is then rotated about the endpiece24dso that the cross piece is lifted clear of the face and passes through the gap between the load tab26cand the restraining tab26b. The hanger24may then be moved so that the endpiece24dslides within the latch26and emerges in the gap between the load tab26cand the restraining tab26b, at which point the hanger24may be moved away from the latch26so that the endpiece24dpasses between the load tab26cand the restraining tab26band the hanger24is separated from the latch26.

Once the hanger24is decoupled from the latch26, the previously described technique for loading the hanger24with hanging stock14is repeated in order to restock the hanger24. In the event that all hanging stock14previously loaded on the hanger24has been removed (via the dispensing end24bof the hanger24), an entirely new set of hanging stock14is threaded onto the hanger24for display and dispensing. If hanging stock14from the last loading task remains on the hanger24, fewer items of the hanging stock14may be loaded, but the technique for loading the hanger24does not change.

As loading end24aof the hanger24is the end at which the newer hanging stock14is loaded onto the hanger24, the older hanging stock14, which already resides on the hanger24, will necessarily be placed at the fore of the gravity feed system once the hanger24is recoupled with the latch26. The configuration of the hanger24and the loading technique employed with it thus addresses a problem commonly encountered in the display and sale of consumer goods via conventional display systems: the presentation of goods so that older items are presented to customers and newer items are not constantly placed at the fore of the display, ensuring cycling of inventory. Utilizing the rear-loading technique demonstrated by the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, an individual performing a restocking task need not reposition or remove older inventory prior to inserting newer inventory into a display. The threading movement described above automatically places newer inventory at the rear of each hanger24and presents the older inventory to the customer, eliminating an entire subset of movements normally involved in restocking tasks.

The hanger24and latch26can be fabricated of any material that is consistent with the uses described above. For example, each of the hanger24and the latch26could be fabricated from one or more plastic or metal materials. Also, the latch26could be fabricated from a plastic material and the housing could be fabricated from a metal, or vice versa.

Variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the embodiment shown inFIGS. 16 and 17incorporates integral mounting members32into the hanger24, allowing for adjustment of the position of the hanger24along the crossbeam18every time the hanger24is decoupled from the crossbeam18.

Another embodiment, illustrated inFIGS. 18 and 19, possesses only a single rod24cfor the display of smaller or lighter hanging stock14. The crosspiece24eand endpiece24dof this modified version of the hanger24are joined by a connecting rod34, but perform the same functions as their counterparts in the embodiment described in detail above and illustrated inFIGS. 1-15. In some versions of this embodiment, crosspiece24e, endpiece24dand connecting rod34may be formed from the same continuous member as the rod24c.

A further embodiment of the gravity feed hanger assembly includes a modified latch26, shown inFIG. 20, that is configured to be coupled to a vertical, rather than a horizontal, surface36. In some such embodiments, the mounting members26emay extend to the rear of the latch26and are suitable for use with a pegboard, such as a standard 2″ center layout.

In yet other embodiments, such as that illustrated inFIGS. 21-23, the gravity feed hanger assembly16includes the additional element of a barcode display38. The barcode display member38includes a barcode mount38athat is attached to a barcode rod38b. The barcode mount38amay be integral to the barcode rod38bor removably coupled to the barcode rod38b. The end of the barcode rod38bopposite the barcode mount38aincludes a prop point38c, which angles downward and then back upward, ending generally at the plane defined by the barcode rod38b. This embodiment further includes a generally V-shaped hinge38d, the apex of which joins the barcode display38at the joint between the barcode rod38band the prop point38c. The hinge38dis substantially parallel to the barcode rod38b. Pivot members38daextend from the ends of the hinge38din directions opposite one another and perpendicular to the barcode rod38b. In some such embodiments, portions of the side tabs26bof the latch26are enlarged and voids26baare formed therein to receive the pivot members38da. When coupled with the latch26and in its resting position, the barcode display38is propped up at an angle that is substantially horizontal by the engagement of the prop point38cwith the top of the restraining tab26d, as shown inFIG. 23.

In such embodiments, the hanger24may be coupled with and decoupled from the latch26in the manner described in detail above, despite the presence of the barcode display38. As the loading end24aof the hanger24approaches the gap between the load tab26cand the restraining tab26b, the endpiece24dcontacts the front of the prop point38c, as shown inFIG. 21. As the hanger24is moved closer to and inserted into the latch26, the angle of the prop point38ctranslates the force exerted by the endpiece24dinto upward movement of the barcode display38, which rotates about the hinge38dto create clearance between the prop point38cand the restraining tab26dfor the endpiece24d, as shown inFIG. 22. Once the endpiece24dclears the prop point38c, the barcode display38lowers back to its resting point and the endpiece24denters the gap between the load tab26cand the restraining tab26b. This process is repeated as the crosspiece24eof the hanger24similarly enters the latch26and contacts the prop point38c, so that the hanger24is coupled with the latch26and the gravity feed hanger assembly16is fully assembled and installed.

The hanger24is similarly detached from the latch26in this embodiment in the manner described in detail above. As the loading end24aof the hanger24is removed from the latch26the crosspiece24eand the endpiece24d, in turn, are pressed against the back of the prop point38cand force the barcode display38upward. During both the insertion and the removal of the hanger24, the natural gripping position of the user's arm or hand may result in contact with and assistance in actuating the barcode display38.

In still other embodiments, such as that depicted inFIG. 24, the gravity feed hanger assembly16is similar to the gravity feed hanger assembly16depicted inFIGS. 1-15and contains substantially the same parts, which are given the same reference numerals. These embodiments of the gravity feed hanger assembly16include a non-linear hanger24which includes sections24ca,24cband24cc, each of which is substantially linear. The section24caextends substantially half of the length of the hanger24, from the loading end24atoward the center of the hanger24, at an angle that is less than horizontal. The angle θ between the mounting members26eand the hanger24is thus less than 90 degrees. The section24cbextends from the section24ca, toward the dispensing end24bof the hanger24, at a less steep angle than that of the section24ca, so that an angle {acute over (α)} between the section24cband the mounting members26eis greater than the angle θ. The section24cc extends from the section24cb, and forms the dispensing end24bof the hanger24, at less steep angle than that of the section24cb, so that an angle β between the section24cc and the mounting members26eis greater than the angle {acute over (α)}. As described above, the hanging stock14are subjected to a constant downward force that pulls them along the hanger24, toward the dispensing end24b. The structure of the hanger24in the embodiment shown inFIG. 24reduces the amount of force exerted on the foremost items of hanging stock14by trailing items of the hanging stock14near the dispensing end24bof the hanger24by diminishing the potential for movement along the hanger24due to gravity.