MERCHANDISING DISPLAY UNIT FOR BOTTLES

Abstract: A gravity feed merchandise dispensing device comprises at least one plastic track (30) capable of supporting in tandem a row of similar bottles (B) of the type having an annular neck flange (R), and has a lead bottle support basket (60) suspended at the front end of the track which is removable and interchangeable with other lead bottle supports so as to accommodate bottles of different heights. The rails (30) of the track have a sloped transition section (46a, 46b) at the front end of the track which eases movement of bottles off the track (30) and into the basket (60), and facilitates the front loading of bottles into the track.

Description: MERCHANDISING DISPLAY UNIT FOR BOTTLES TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a merchandising display unit for bottles, and in particular, a merchandising display unit having interchangeable bottle dispensing components which accommodate bottles of different heights. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Refrigerated display cases for beverage containers, and the like, generally include vertically aligned rows of racks, commonly called glide racks, upon which the beverage containers are loaded. The beverage containers may be cans or bottles of any size and the width ofthe glide rack rows are adjusted accordingly to accommodate each particular container. The glide rack includes a plurality of rows extending from the front ofthe glide rack to the rear thereof. Each row may then be loaded with rows of beverage containers extending from the front ofthe display case to the rear ofthe display case. Each glide rack is disposed within the refrigerated display case at an angle of approximately five to twelve degrees. Thus, when the lead beverage container is removed from the row by a customer, the next beverage container will move forward to occupy the forwardmost position, and the remainder of the row of beverage containers will follow. In this manner, there is always a beverage container at the front of each row ofthe glide rack ready to be dispensed to a customer. The smooth sliding surface of the glide rack soon wears off, however, thus creating more friction as the beverage containers slide thereon such the plastic sliding surface ofthe glide rack becomes more roughened. This in turn creates more problems as the beverage containers may fall over, tip, rotate, occasionally open and spill. The repeated sliding along the roughened sliding surface and the beverage containers tipping and spilling creates a worn and unusable glide rack within only three to four months of use. Therefore, it has generally been necessary to completely replace the entire glide rack once it reached this point of wear and tear, resulting in costly and repeated expenditures. To avoid the drawbacks of conventional glide racks, another alternative for merchandising bottles for display and purchase is an overhead support system, such as shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,401,221 to Suttles and U.S. Patent No. 4,318,485 to Clement. In these types of systems, an overhead support track having a pair of rails is used to receive the neck flange ofthe bottle to be displayed. The bottles are inserted from the rear and slide forward under gravity feed due to the angle ofthe support track. In some of these prior art configurations, the front end ofthe track is sloped upwardly so as to retard the forward motion of the bottles and to present the lead bottle to the customer. As a result, the bottom ofthe lead bottle is kicked out in a forward direction due to the force from the bottles therebehind, thereby presenting an unorganized merchandising display ofthe bottles. In addition, these types prior art systems require the customer to grasp the bottle by the bottom area and pull upwards in order to remove the bottle neck from the prior art track that holds it. This makes it more difficult for the customer to remove a bottle from the display. Further, should the customer change his mind about his beverage selection, it is extremely difficult to reinsert the bottle into the track from the front thereof. In another prior art configuration, a fixed stirrup-like structure at the forward end ofthe track catches and supports the lead bottle, which no longer is supported by the track. This system cannot readily accommodate bottles of different heights. Further, due to the assembly ofthe display units ofthe prior art, should a single track need to be replaced, it is necessary to disassemble an entire shelf in order to do so. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a merchandising display system for bottles that is quickly and easily installed. The system ofthe present invention also provides easily interchangeable components tailored to bottles of different height and/or diameter, thus yielding greater flexibility for the use ofthe system. In addition, the system of the present invention offers increased visibility ofthe bottled product to be displayed for sale, both the bottle label and any distinctive shaping ofthe bottle itself, and enables the product to be loaded from either the front or the rear. These and other objects are achieved by providing a gravity feed merchandise dispensing device of the type comprising at least one track, each track capable of supporting in tandem a row of similar bottles ofthe type having an annular flange on the neck ofthe bottle, and each track having a front end, a rear end and a pair of rails spaced apart to receive between them the necks of suitably sized bottles such that the underside of each bottle neck flange engages the rails whereby the bottles are suspended by their flanges for movement relative to the track. A lead bottle support is suspended from the track and sized to support the bottom ofthe lead bottle ofthe row with the neck ofthe lead bottle adjacent the front end ofthe track but disengaged from the rails. Each track normally is inclined downwardly toward the front end so as to permit the suspended bottles to gravity-feed one after the other to the front end of the track each time the lead bottle in the row is unloaded from the lead bottle support. The lead bottle support is removably suspended on the track and is interchangeable with other lead bottle supports, some of different height and/or diameter. Preferably, the front end of each ofthe rails slants downwardly relative to the rail to form a transition ramp for bottle neck flanges as the bottles move from the track to the lead bottle support during dispensing, or as the bottles move from the lead bottle support to the track when the track is being loaded from the front. Various additional advantages and features of novelty which characterize the invention are further pointed out in the claims that follow. However, for a better understanding ofthe invention and its advantages, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter which illustrate and describe a preferred embodiment ofthe invention. BRD2F DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a single dispensing track according to the present invention, showing the bottles in position on the track, with the lead bottle in a dispensing basket; Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1, but showing the track and basket empty; Figure 3 is a perspective view similar to Figure 2, showing the track with the basket removed; Figure 4 is an exploded view showing the assembly of two tracks and the crossbar supports to which they are attached; Figure 5 is a rear perspective view ofthe support posts and crossbars for the merchandising display unit on which the dispensing tracks of the invention are mounted; Figure 6 is a perspective view of one form of dispensing basket according to the invention; Figure 7 is a perspective view of another form of dispensing basket according to the invention; Figure 8 is an exploded view of a dispensing track according to the invention; Figure 9 is an enlarged exploded view ofthe front end ofthe track of Figure 8; and Figure 10 is a front elevational view of a dispensing track and basket according to the invention, showing a bottle in the basket. DETAILED DESCRIPTION A merchandising display unit in accordance with the present invention may be used within a refrigerated display case in lieu of the prior art glide rack units, or anywhere else the merchandiser may be inclined to display the bottles for sale. Referring to Figures 1-5, the display unit includes a plurality of posts 10 with crossbars 20 extending between adjacent front posts 10a and between adjacent rear posts 10b, and a plurality of tracks or lanes 30 being mounted on the crossbars 20 by means of integral snap hooks 32a, 32b, with a lead bottle support or dispensing basket 60 suspended on the front end of each track 30. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, rear crossbar 20b includes endplates 22 having securing hooks 24 extending from the ends thereof. Each of posts 10a, 10b has a series of vertically spaced slots or holes 12 on the rear face thereof. Thus, as in a conventional shelving arrangement, securing hooks 24 are disposed in holes 12 and a downward force is used to secure the crossbars in place by engagement of securing hooks 24 with the edges of the holes. A similar attachment can be used for front crossbar 20a, but chains 26 and S-hooks 28 are preferred because they more easily accommodate variations in post spacing. After the crossbars 20a, 20b are installed, tracks 30 are mounted thereon by securing snap hooks 32a, 32b onto the crossbars. As shown in Figure 4, one ofthe two rearmost snap hooks 32b is disposed over the rear crossbar 20b while the forwardmost snap hook 32a is disposed over the front crossbar 20a. The rear crossbar 20b is mounted slightly higher than the front crossbar 20a such that track 30 is slightly inclined at a preferred angle of approximately seven to eleven degrees. The inclined slope ofthe track assists in providing a gravity feed for the bottles B when they are loaded therein and thereby assists in maintaining the lead bottle in the proper position for presentation to the customer. Crossbars 20a, 20b have a preferred diameter of 0.75 inches and a preferred length of approximately 29.6 inches, but can be of two-part, telescopic construction so as to be adjustable. Endplates 22 have a preferred thickness of approximately .25 inches, a width and length of approximately 2.25 inches, and are welded or otherwise secured to the ends of crossbars 20. Securing hook 24 extends approximately .5 inches from end plate 22 and is approximately .5 inches wide. Posts 10 are supported in conventional fashion, e.g., on adjustable leveling feet (not shown), and are fixed in relative positions by conventional top and bottom bracing (not shown). The crossbars 20, end plates 22 and posts 10 preferably are made of steel and are painted or otherwise coated to inhibit corrosion. Track 30 in accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention is shown in greater detail in Figures 3, 8, 9 and 10. In a preferred embodiment, track 30 is injection molded of high impact polystyrene in left and right halves 30a, 30b, which are welded together ultrasonically to form a unitary structure. A rear bottle stop 34 in the form of a wire loop is inserted into recesses in the track halves prior to welding. Reinforcing ribs 36 are integrally molded into each track half 30a, 30b. Track 30 has a length of approximately 29.5 inches and a width of approximately 2.770 inches, although it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that any desired width and length could be used depending upon the size ofthe bottles to be supported and the overall size ofthe entire merchandising display unit. As shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, the lower surface of track 30 includes two lips or rails 40a, 40b extending inwardly from the opposing sides thereof by a distance of approximately 0.19 inches. Also extending inwardly approximately .105 in. from track halves 30a, 30b are upper ribs 42a, 42b. Rails 40a, 40b and ribs 42a, 42b extend substantially the full length of track 30. For bottles having a 28mm closure, rails 40a, 40b and ribs 42a, 42b define a bottle top channel 44 having a width of approximately 31.24 mm between ribs 42a, 42b, and a bottom opening between rails 40a, 40b of 26.95 mm. The necks of most bottles B having a 28mm closure include a flange or ring R having a diameter of approximately 32.4 to 33.02 mm, depending on the size ofthe bottle. Thus, rails 40a, 40b serve to support bottle B by the neck ring R when the top ofthe bottle is disposed within channel 44, while ribs 42a, 42b limit sideways tilting of the bottles to keep the row of bottles substantially aligned. The track of the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention will support typical 12oz, 16oz, 20oz, 24oz and one liter bottles, which have a common 28mm closure. Other sizes of bottles, such as those having a 38mm closure, could of course be accommodated in the present invention by altering the size ofthe bottle top channel and the width ofthe rails 40a, 40b, and any other support structure as necessary. The forward ends of rails 40a, 40b comprise transition ramps 46a, 46b, respectively, which slant downwardly at an angle of approximately 15° from the rails, and extend forwardly and to the sides ofthe front opening ofthe bottle top channel 44. Ramps 46a, 46b serve to ease the movement ofthe lead bottle B off rails 40a, 40b. Referring to Figure 10, the bottle is supported with its flange or ring R no lower than ramps 46a, 46b, and preferably at about the same level as the ramps. This arrangement facilitates the bottle's reinsertion into track 30 in the case of a purchaser who has changed his beverage selection and wishes to make room in basket 60 for the bottle that he has just removed. It also allows for speedy loading of bottles into track 30 by beverage delivery personnel. As noted, track 30 is suspended from crossbars 20 by means of snap hooks 32 which are integrally molded into track halves 30a, 30b. Referring to Figures 8 and 9, each snap hook 32 is formed at the rear of an upwardly open recess 33, and comprises a part-cylindrical socket 35 approximately .760 in. in diameter and 240° in extent, with a forward-facing opening approximately .656 in. in size. Socket 35 snugly receives crossbar 20 after the crossbar enters recess 33 and track 30 is pushed forwardly to force crossbar 20 past the narrower opening and into the socket. Track 30 thus is suspended at the front by crossbar 20a received in snap hook 32a, and at the rear by crossbar 20b received in one ofthe rear snap hooks 32b. Referring to Figures 3 and 9, the front end of track 30 has a basket-carrying or retainer section 50 defined by an arcuate saddle 52, a front flange 54, a rear flange 56 and a central longitudinal slot 58 in saddle 52. Referring to Figures 3 and 7, bottle dispensing basket 60 preferably is injection molded of polycarbonate and comprises an arcuate upper hanger portion 62, opposing sidewalls 64 extending downwardly therefrom, a front waist band 66 and a floor structure or platform 68 with a front stop 69 to support the lead bottle B, as shown in Figures 1 and 10. Upper hanger portion 62 includes a depending short rib 70 which engages slot 58. Each sidewall 64 has a locking element in the form of a rib 72 which snaps under the edge of track 30 to removably secure basket 60 in the correct position. Thus, basket 60 is removably secured on track 30 for dispensing bottles 20 without the use of additional hardware such as screws, rivets, etc. In addition, there are no moving parts or mechanisms associated with this arrangement that will fail to operate properly due to dirt, dust, or sticky syrup spilling within the display unit. Further, as seen in Figure 1, basket 60 supports a bottle with little obstruction so that the bottle is highly visible and can easily be grasped and removed by the purchaser. Basket 60 is sized to support a 20oz. bottle. Platform 68 of basket 60 preferably includes grooves 67 therein which decrease the surface contact between the bottle and the floor to thereby assist the bottle thereon in maintaining an upright position and provide better seating of he bottle within the forward portion ofthe basket. Basket 60 may easily be removed or replaced when the size ofthe bottle to be displayed is changed, e.g., from a 20oz. bottle to a 1 liter bottle. Figure 6 depicts an alternate basket configuration 160 for accommodating larger bottles, e.g., ofthe one-liter size. Basket 160 is similar to basket 60, with an arcuate upper hanger portion 162; sidewalls 164; a front waist band 166; a floor structure or platform 168 with ribs 167 and a front stop 169; a short rib 170 for engaging slot 58; and ribs 172 which snap under the edges of track 30. The invention thus provides a gravity feed system for merchandising bottles for sale. The bottles are suspended within a plurality of tracks 30 that are disposed in a plurality of rows, and the angle of inclination from the rear to the front ofthe track 30 assures that the bottles will slide forward. The tracks confine the necks and closures of the bottles to keep them aligned, while the basket at the front end of each track presents an upright, highly visible bottle. Thus, the lead bottle does not kick out forward or to the right or left as in the prior art, such that a neater, more organized display is obtained. The purchaser merely grasps the head or shoulders ofthe bottle and removes the bottle from the basket. If the purchaser changes his beverage selection, he can replace the removed bottle in the basket 60 merely by pushing rearwardly on the bottle occupying the basket so that its flange or ring R rides up ramps 46a, 46b and onto rails 40a, 40b. This arrangement also allows for quick and easy loading of bottles into the track from the front by delivery personnel. From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications ofthe present invention which come within the province of those persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the aforementioned invention pertains.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. In a gravity feed merchandise dispensing device comprising at least one track, each track capable of supporting in tandem a row of similar bottles ofthe type having an annular flange on the neck ofthe bottle, each track having a front end, a rear end, a pair of rails spaced apart to receive between them the necks of suitably sized bottles such that the underside of each bottle neck flange engages the rails whereby the bottles are suspended by their flanges for movement relative to the track, and a lead bottle support suspended from the track and sized to support the bottom ofthe lead bottle ofthe row with the neck ofthe lead bottle adjacent the front end ofthe track but disengaged from the rails, each track normally being inclined downwardly toward the front end so as to permit the suspended bottles to gravity-feed one after the other to the front end ofthe track each time the lead bottle in the row is unloaded from the lead bottle support, the improvement wherein the lead bottle support is removably suspended on the track and is interchangeable with other lead bottle supports. 2. A dispensing device according to claim 1 wherein the lead bottle supports are of different heights to allow each track to accommodate and dispense a row of similar bottles of selected size. 3. A dispensing device according to claim 1 wherein the lead bottle support comprises an upper hanger portion adapted to be supported on the track, spaced side members connected to said hanger portion and adapted to flank the track, and a platform connected to said side members for supporting the lead bottle. 4. A dispensing device according to claim 3 wherein the track has a retainer section adjacent the front end thereof which engages said hanger portion to retain the lead bottle support on the track. 5. A dispensing device according to claim 4 wherein said retainer section comprises a recess in the top ofthe track which conforms to and. receives said hanger portion. 6. A dispensing device according to claim 5 wherein said recess and said hanger portion are saddle-shaped. 7. A dispensing device according to claim 6 wherein said recess has a longitudinal medial slot, and said hanger portion has a depending longitudinal medial rib which mates with said medial slot. 8. A dispensing device according to claim 7 wherein each of said side members is resilient and has a locking element which releasably engages the track to removably secure the lead bottle support in position. 9. A dispensing device according to claim 8 wherein each of said locking elements comprises an inwardly facing rib which snap-actingly engages the adjacent lower side edge ofthe track when said hanger portion is received in said recess. 10. A dispensing device according to claim 9 wherein said platform includes a front stop adapted to engage the lower front edge ofthe lead bottle. 11. A dispensing device according to claim 10 wherein the lead bottle support includes a front waist band above said platform which interconnects said side members at the front of the lead bottle support and is adapted to engage a medial portion ofthe front ofthe lead bottle. 12. A dispensing device according to claim 9 wherein the front end of each of said rails slants downwardly relative to the rail to form a transition ramp for bottle neck flanges as the bottles move from the track to the lead bottle support during dispensing, or as the bottles move from the lead bottle support to the track when the track is being loaded. 13. A dispensing device according to claim 12 wherein said transition ramp slants at an angle of approximately 15 degrees relative to the rail. 14. A dispensing device according to claim 12 wherein said transition ramp extends forwardly of and laterally outwardly along the front face ofthe track. 15. A dispensing device according to claim 14 wherein the lead bottle is supported with its neck flange above the lowermost edge of said transition ramps. 16. A dispensing device according to claim 12 wherein the lead bottle is supported with its neck flange above the lowermost edge of said transition ramps. 17. A dispensing device according to claim 1 wherein the front end of each of said rails slants downwardly relative to the rail to form a transition ramp for bottle neck flanges as the bottles move from the track to the lead bottle support during dispensing, or as the bottles move from the lead bottle support to the track when the track is being loaded. 18. A dispensing device according to claim 17 wherein said transition ramp slants at an angle of approximately 15 degrees relative to the rail. 19. A dispensing device according to claim 17 wherein said transition ramp extends forwardly of and laterally outwardly along the front face ofthe track. 20. A dispensing device according to claim 19 wherein the lead bottle is supported with its neck flange above the lowermost edge of said transition ramps. 21. A dispensing device according to claim 17 wherein the lead bottle is supported with its neck flange above the lowermost edge of said transition ramps. 22. A dispensing device according to claim 1 wherein the track comprises two longitudinal halves which are separately injection molded of plastic material and are joined together to form the track. 23. A dispensing device according to claim 22 wherein the two halves of the track are ultrasonically welded together. 24. A dispensing device according to claim 22 wherein the track comprises integrally molded hanging elements which are adapted to mate with and hang from the transverse bars of a merchandising support rack. 25. a gravity feed merchandise dispensing device comprising at least one track, each track capable of supporting in tandem a row of similar bottles ofthe type having an annular flange on the neck ofthe bottle, each track having a front end, a rear end, a pair of rails spaced apart to receive between them the necks of suitably sized bottles such that the underside of each bottle neck flange engages the rails whereby the bottles are suspended by their flanges for movement relative to the track, and a lead bottle support suspended from the track and sized to support the bottom ofthe lead bottle ofthe row with the neck ofthe lead bottle adjacent the front end ofthe track but disengaged from the rails, each track normally being inclined downwardly toward the front end so as to permit the suspended bottles to gravity-feed one after the other to the front end ofthe track each time the lead bottle in the row is unloaded from the lead bottle support, the improvement wherein the front end of each of said rails slants downwardly relative to the rail to form a transition ramp for bottle neck flanges as the bottles move from the track to the lead bottle support during dispensing, or as the bottles move from the lead bottle support to the track when the track is being loaded. 26. A dispensing device according to claim 25 wherein said transition ramp slants at an angle of approximately 15 degrees relative to the rail. 27. A dispensing device according to claim 26 wherein said transition ramp extends forwardly of and laterally outwardly along the front face ofthe track. 28. A dispensing device according to claim 26 wherein the lead bottle is supported with its neck flange above the lowermost edge of said transition ramps. 29. A dispensing device according to claim 25 wherein the lead bottle is supported with its neck flange above the lowermost edge of said transition ramps.

Inventors: APPS WILLIAM P, BECKER FRANK, HWANG PHILIP C, KOEFELDA JERRY, APPS, WILLIAM, P., BECKER, FRANK, HWANG, PHILIP, C., KOEFELDA, JERRY
Applicants: REHRIG PACIFIC CO, REHRIG PACIFIC COMPANY
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A47F1
IPC codes: A47F1, A47F7