Abstract:
An easily adjusted apparatus for storing and dispensing cans, bottles and other containers, i.e. an adjustable merchandise slide, includes an adjustable mesh of ribs and deformable connecting members, as well as partitions, front panels and locking members attached to the mesh. The mesh, partitions and front panels define channels for holding rows of containers. The mesh is configured to be expanded or compressed as needed to make the channels wider or narrower. Each channel&#39;s width can be separately adjusted. The locking members attach to the mesh to maintain a desired width for each channel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to apparatus used to store, display and dispense merchandise, such as devices used in supermarkets to store, display and dispense beverage containers, and, more particularly, to adjustable storage, display and dispensing apparatus. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Merchandise display apparatus (sometimes refer to as “merchandise slides” or “gondola displays”) are known mechanical devices for organizing containers, typically beverage containers, in store displays, such as inside refrigerated display cases. For example, merchandise slides are used in grocery stores, convenience stores, pizza shops, etc. to facilitate self-service by customers. A typical merchandise slide has a plurality of parallel partitions defining a plurality of parallel channels. Each channel contains a row of containers. To accommodate a mixture of containers sizes, each channel can be a different width. The whole merchandise slide is typically inclined approximately 10 or 15 degrees toward the front of the slide, so when a customer removes a container from one of the channels, containers in the channel behind the removed container slide or roll forward, due to the force of gravity. Each channel has a front panel to prevent the containers from sliding or rolling beyond the front edge of the apparatus. 
     Some merchandise display apparatus include wheels or rollers, on which the merchandise rolls, rather than sliding, along the bottom of the channels. Other merchandise display apparatus use springs or other means to urge the rows of containers toward the front panel, eliminating the need to incline the apparatus. Still other merchandise display apparatus do not employ any means to urge the rows of containers towards the front of the apparatus. I will refer to all merchandise display apparatus that employ channels to contain rows of merchandise as “merchandise slides” or, alternatively, “merchandise display apparatus”. 
     Containers come in many different sizes, so the channels&#39; widths must match the sizes of the containers to be displayed. It is important to closely match a channel&#39;s width to the size of the containers to be stored in the channel, because, if the channel is too small, the containers will not fit, and, if the channel is too wide, the whole merchandise display apparatus will be wider than necessary and will, consequently, waste shelf space. Making the channels too wide reduces the number of channels that can fit in a given amount of shelf space. For example, if each channel of a typical merchandise slide were only ¼ inch wider than necessary, one fewer channel would fit on a 30-inch shelf of a refrigerated display case than if each channel were properly sized. This poses a problem, because merchants generally wish to be able to display as many different products as possible in a given amount of shelf space. 
     Problematically, the channel widths of many merchandise display apparatus are set by their respective manufacturers and are not adjustable. Other merchandise display apparatus have adjustable channel widths, however these units are expensive, difficult to adjust and/or needlessly complex. 
     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to overcome many of the disadvantages and shortcomings associated with prior art devices and to provide an inexpensive, easy to adjust merchandise display apparatus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an easily adjustable apparatus for storing and dispensing cans, bottles and other merchandise, i.e. an adjustable merchandise slide. The adjustable merchandise slide includes an adjustable mesh of ribs and deformable connecting members, as well as partitions, front panels and locking members attached to the mesh. The mesh, partitions and front panels define channels for holding rows of merchandise. The mesh is configured to be expanded or compressed as needed to make the channels wider or narrower. Each channel&#39;s width can be separately adjusted. The locking members attach to the mesh to maintain a desired width for each channel. 
     A number of aspects of the invention are summarized below, along with different embodiments that may be implemented for each of the summarized aspects. These embodiments are not necessarily inclusive or exclusive of each other and can be combined in any manner that is not conflicting and is otherwise possible. These summarized aspects of the invention are only exemplary and are not to be considered limiting. 
     In one aspect of the invention, an adjustable merchandise display apparatus includes a plurality of substantially parallel, spaced-apart ribs. Adjacent ones of these ribs are separated from each other by a respective adjustable inter-rib spacing. The adjustable merchandise display apparatus also includes a plurality of deformable connecting members. These deformable connecting members interconnect the adjacent ribs to each other. The deformable connecting members are configured to deform as the respective inter-rib spacing is adjusted. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention can be better understood by referring to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like items have like reference numerals, and the first digit or first and second digits of the reference numeral of each item identifies a figure, in which the item is first introduced. 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of an adjustable merchandise slide according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a close-up view of a portion of the mesh of the adjustable merchandise slide of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 a  is a view of the mesh of FIG. 2, when the mesh is expanded. 
     FIG. 3 b  is a view of the mesh of FIG. 2, when the mesh is compressed. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of one channel of the merchandise slide of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a locking member of the merchandise slide of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of an alternative locking member. 
     FIGS. 7A-7J are diagrams of various alternative deformable connecting members. 
     FIG. 8 is a diagram of an alternative configuration of the channel of the merchandise slide of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 shows an adjustable merchandise slide  100  that employs the present invention. The adjustable merchandise slide  100  includes three channels  102 ,  104  and  106 , although adjustable merchandise slides can have any number of channel(s). The channels  102 - 106  are defined by partitions  108 ,  110 ,  112  and  114 . The entire adjustable merchandise slide  100  is inclined about 10 or 15 degrees  116 , so merchandise, such as containers  118 ,  120 ,  122  and  124 , in the channels  102 - 106 , are urged by gravity to slide or roll along the channels toward respective front panels  126 ,  128  and  130 . These front panels  126 - 130  prevent the containers  118 - 124  from sliding or rolling beyond the front edge of the adjustable merchandise slide  100 . When a customer removes one of the containers  118 - 124  from the front of the adjustable merchandise slide  100 , remaining containers in the channel  102 ,  104  or  106  thereafter slide or roll forward toward the front panel  126 ,  128  or  130  to take the place of the removed container. The partitions  108 - 114  are placed so that the respective widths of the channels  102 - 106  accommodate the respective sizes of the containers  118 - 124 . 
     The bottom of each channel  102 - 106  includes a plurality of substantially parallel, spaced-apart ribs, such as the ribs identified at  132  and  134 . The containers  118 - 124  slide or roll on these ribs. FIG. 2 shows details of three of these ribs  200 ,  202  and  204 . Adjacent ribs, such as ribs  200  and  202 , are connected to each other by a plurality of deformable connecting members, such as connecting members  206  and  208 . The connecting members are preferably diamond shaped, however other shapes are described below. Collectively, the ribs and the connecting members of the channel(s) create a mesh. Each partition  108 - 114  is connected to the mesh, typically to one of the ribs. 
     Each deformable connecting member, such as connecting member  206 , has at least one flexible region where the connecting member can bend or deform. For example, the connecting member  206  can bend or deform at flexible regions  210 ,  212 ,  214  and a flexible region that is obscured by rib  202 . The adjacent ribs  200  and  202  are separated from each other by an adjustable inter-rib spacing  216 , and, if this inter-rib spacing is changed, i.e. if the mesh is expanded or compressed, the flexible regions of the connecting members  206  and  208  bend or deform. Since the partitions  108 - 114  are connected to the mesh, the channel widths defined by the partitions change as the inter-rib spacing changes. 
     For example, as shown in FIG. 3 a , if the ribs  300  are spread apart in a direction  302  to accommodate a large container, such as container  122  in FIG. 1, the diamond shaped connecting members  304  deform by expanding along one dimension  306  and compressing along a different dimension  308 . 
     On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3 b , if the ribs  300  are compressed in a direction  310  to accommodate a small container, such as container  124  in FIG. 1, the diamond shaped connecting members  304  deform by compressing along one dimension  306  and expanding along a different dimension  308 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, at least one locking member  400  is attached to the mesh to maintain a selected inter-rib spacing. As shown in FIG. 5, the locking member  400  includes one or more plugs  500  attached to each other, such as by a base  502 . Each plug  500  is shaped to fit into an opening  218  (FIG. 2) defined by one of the connecting members  208  or into an opening  220  defined by a combination of connecting members  222 ,  224  and/or ribs  202 ,  204 . As shown in  20 FIG. 4, the locking member  400  preferably attaches into the bottom of the mesh  402 , although the locking member can also attach otherwise, such as to the top of the mesh. Preferably, the front panel  404  includes a locking member to attach to the mesh  402 . 
     The shape of the plugs  500  (FIG. 5) and/or the spacing  504  of the plugs is chosen to maintain a desired inter-rib spacing. Of course, each channel  102 - 106  can have a different width, i.e. locking members  400  having differently shaped plugs  500  and/or different spacings  504  can be used for each channel. To reconfigure the channel width(s), the locking member(s) can be removed, the channel(s) can be resized, i.e. the mesh can be compressed or expanded, and different locking member(s) can be then be installed. 
     Alternatively, the plugs  500  can be shaped to fit around the outside shape of deformable connecting members. 
     FIG. 6 shows an alternative locking member  600  having pins  602  positioned and spaced apart  604  to straddle at least some of the ribs  300  (FIG. 3 a  or FIG. 3 b ) and/or portions of the connecting members  304  of the mesh to maintain a desired inter-rib spacing  216  (FIG. 2) or one of several inter-rib spacings. 
     The mesh  402  (FIG. 4) and the locking members  400  (FIG. 5) are preferably molded from plastic. The mesh  402  and a set of variously sized locking members  400  can be molded together as a single unit and the locking members can be broken off the unit and used when needed. Alternatively, the locking members can be molded separately. As shown in FIG. 5, the locking members  400  can have break-off score marks  506  molded into them to facilitate breaking or cutting the locking members into desired lengths. 
     If the mesh material has sufficient a shape memory, no locking members are required. In such cases, the channels maintain their respective widths after the ribs are spread apart or compressed together. In some embodiments, the mesh can be made from a material that can be deformed in only one direction. For example, if the mesh were made from aluminum, each channel could be made wider several times, however, depending on the material, it might not be possible to then make the channel narrower. 
     I have described deformable connecting members that have discrete flexible regions, but an entire connecting member, or nonspecific portions thereof, can bend or deform. FIGS. 7A-7J show other shapes for connecting members. FIGS. 7A,  7 C,  7 E,  7 G and  7 I show these shapes compressed and FIGS. 7B,  7 D,  7 F,  7 H and  7 J show these respective shapes expanded. The list of shapes of connecting members described herein is not exhaustive. Any shape that can interconnect adjacent ribs and can deform is acceptable. 
     Additional ribs can be positioned between the adjacent ribs described above, such as ribs  200  and  202  (FIG.  2 ), to provide additional support for merchandise containers. The edges of the ribs, upon which the merchandise slides, can be made of a slippery plastic and/or can be coated with a slippery substance, such as Teflon or nylon, to reduce sliding friction between the merchandise and the ribs. Furthermore, merchandise containers need not slide or roll directly on the ribs. Optional wheels or rollers can be attached to the mesh, and the merchandise containers can roll along on top of these wheels or rollers. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, a spring  800  or other mechanism can be used to urge merchandise containers toward the front panel, instead of inclining the merchandise slide. Alternatively, an adjustable merchandise slide can be constructed and used without employing any means for urging containers forward. 
     The terms and expressions employed herein are used as terms of description, not of limitation. There is no intention, in using these terms and expressions, to exclude any equivalents of the features shown or described or portions thereof. Practitioners in the art will recognize that modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.