Abstract:
A merchandising display and dispensing system for displaying and dispensing articles, including cylindrical shaped articles or rolls of disk-shaped articles. In particular, the invention relates to a modular display and dispensing system having a plurality of modules fitted with one another. Each module comprises a left side panel and a right side panel which are fitted together and form a serpentine chute which feeds articles by gravity to an access tray where an article can be removed by hand, thus permitting another article to enter the tray. The front of the module receives a front cover for covering the chute and provides a surface for indicia of contents inside the module. The front cover is preferably hinged at the bottom to permit reloading product in the top of the chute. Various connecting structures can be formed on the side panels and adapted to join the module to a front cover, to another adjacent module, to a module base, and/or to a module header to form a modular display and dispensing system.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/116,131, filed Nov. 19, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to a merchandising display and dispensing system for display and dispensing articles. In particular, the invention relates to a modular display and dispensing system having a plurality of modules fitted with one another. The invention also relates to a module device for constructing a merchandising display and dispensing system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Products in relatively small individual packages are often displayed in and sold from merchandise dispensers that dispense the packages to customers one at a time. Such dispensers are especially useful for small cylindrical product packages that would otherwise be difficult to display on a typical store shelf. The manner in which a product is displayed and dispensed can have a significant impact on sales. This is particularly true in “product-rich” environments, such as grocery and drug stores. 
         [0004]    Conventional merchandise dispensers may suffer from certain shortcomings. For example, such dispensers may not display the product in a visually-appealing manner that promotes sales. Conventional dispensers may be difficult and/or inconvenient to reload. Such dispensers may not be amenable to the creation of larger displays by combining a number of separate dispensers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The invention relates to a merchandising display and dispensing system for displaying and dispensing articles, including cylindrical shaped products, such as rolls of tablets, or disk-like confections. The display and dispensing system can be formed with a plurality of modules, which can be fitted together to construct a modular display and dispensing system. 
         [0006]    Each module comprises a left side panel and a right side panel which are fitted together and form a serpentine chute which feeds rolls by gravity to an access tray where a roll can be removed by hand, thus permitting another roll to enter the tray. The front of the module receives a front cover which covers the chute and provides a surface for indicia of contents inside the module. The front cover is preferably hinged at either its bottom or top to permit reloading product in the chute. 
         [0007]    Each module has a rear surface provided with openings for receiving suction cups or hanging on a nail, hook or other mounting device. However it is preferred to mount the modules side-by-side on a base plate by dovetail connections provided on the base plate and the bottoms of the modules. The modules can also be connected to one another vertically by dovetail connections on top of each module, and/or laterally by dovetail connections on the lateral walls of the adjacent modules. Additionally or alternatively, a header can be fitted by dovetail connection across the top row of modules to provide additional retention of the array or rows and columns, as well as additional space for identifying information. 
         [0008]    Each module is fitted together by pins and sockets in a press fit, and may also be glued. However, positive mechanical retention is preferably provided by the various dovetail connections when the modules are assembled in an array of rows and columns on the base plate. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein. In the drawings: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  shows perspective views of a single module and a group of modules assembled in a 2×3 array of rows and columns formed according to a first embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 2A-2H  show various views of a left side panel of the module shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 3A-3H  show various views of a right side panel of the module shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4A-4H  show various views of the base of the module shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 5A-5H  show various views of the cover of the module shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 6A-6H  show various views of the header of the module shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a single module formed according to a second embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 8A-8G  show various views of a left side panel of the module shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 9A-9G  show various views of a right side panel of the module shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 10A-10H  show various views of the cover of the module shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 11A-11J  show various views of the base of the module shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 12A-12J  shows various views of the header of the module shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  shows a flowchart of the process steps of assembling a 2×3 array of modules; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  shows a flowchart of the process steps of loading the assembled modular array. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a merchandising display and dispensing system  1  for display and dispensing articles. The display and dispensing system  1  can be formed with a plurality of modules  10 , which are interconnected with one another to form a modular system  1 . In one embodiment, the multiple modules  10  can be formed to be identical so as to provide interchangeability for the modular system  1 . In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the display and dispensing system  1  is shown to have a 2×3 array (two rows and three columns) of modules  10 . One of such modules  10  is separated from the display and dispensing system  1  and shown side-by-side with the same. Detailed description of such modules  10  will be provided below. 
         [0025]    The modules  10  each comprise a left side panel  12 L and a right side panel  12 R, which are formed so that each of them is substantially a mirror image of the other.  FIGS. 2 and 3  show various views of the respective left and right side panels  12 L,  12 R. As the left and right side panels  12 L,  12 R are formed to be substantially mirror images, one the left side panel  12 L will be described in great details. 
         [0026]    The left side panel  12 L include first and second guide rails  14 L,  16 L extending from an inside surface of the left panel  12 L and substantially perpendicularly thereto. The first and second guide rails  14 L,  16 L form a serpentine passage  18 L therebetween. Each lap of the serpentine passage  18 L is inclined downward, allowing articles to be dispensed in the assembled module  10  by gravity when the assembled module  10  is in a working position as shown in both perspective and right-side plane views of  FIGS. 2A-2H . 
         [0027]    In the example shown in  FIGS. 2A-2H , the serpentine passage  18  opens at the front top portion of the left side panel  12 L, declines towards the rear portion of the left panel  12 L, turns and declines toward the front portion, turns and declines toward the rear portion a second time, and then turns towards the front bottom portion of the left panel  12 L. In such a case, the two ends  20   in ,  20   out  of the serpentine passage  18 L both open at the front side of the left panel  12 L. In the alternative, the serpentine passage  18 L can open at both the front and rear portions of the panel  12 L. In one example not shown, one end of the serpentine passage  18 L can open at the rear top portion of the panel  12 L. In such an example, articles are to be loaded into the module  10  from the rear thereof. 
         [0028]    The first and second guide rails  14 L,  16 L can incline at different inclination angles. For example, each leg of the first and second guide rails  14 L,  16 L is inclined at an angle from about 10° to about 15° in relation to a horizontal direction. In one example, the inclination angle is about 11°. The inclination angle can be determined by a number factors including the weight of the articles to be dispensed, the material of the articles, the material of the guide rails  14 L,  16 L, and other factors. 
         [0029]    Additionally or alternatively, the serpentine passage  18 L can be formed to have various numbers of turns. In the example of  FIGS. 2A-2H , the serpentine passage  18 L is shown to have three turns. The first and second guide rails  14 L,  16 L of the left panel  12 L can also be formed to provide a different number of turns. 
         [0030]    The left panel  12 L can be formed with one or more of top, rear, and bottom panels  22 L,  24 L,  26 L. In the example shown in  FIGS. 2A-2H , the top, rear, and bottom panels  22 L,  24 L,  26 L and the left side panel  12 L define a substantially rectangular shape of a module  10 , after the left side panel  12 L is assembled with a corresponding right side panel  12 R (see,  FIGS. 3A-3H ). In an example not shown, the top, rear, and bottom panels  22 L,  24 L,  26 L can assume various shapes for enhanced display effects. 
         [0031]    The left and right side panels  12 L,  12 R each can be formed with various additional structures for various purposes. For example, the side panels  12 L,  12 R can be formed with fasteners  28 L,  28 R so that the side panels  12 L,  12 R can be joined with each other to form a module  10  (see,  FIG. 1 ). For example, complementary fasteners, such as press-fit fasteners, can be formed on the left and right side panels  12 L,  12 R as are shown in their perspective views in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . When the complementary fastener are made to engage with one another, they connect the left and right side panels  12 L,  12 R to each other to result in a module  10 . In an example, the fasteners  28 L,  28 R can be releasably connected to one another, allowing the left and right side panels  12 L,  12 R to be assembled and disassembled repeatedly. 
         [0032]    In another example, the bottom panels  26 L,  26 R of the side panels  12 L,  12 R can be formed with forward extending lips  30 L,  30 R, respectively, to form an access tray  32  for receiving a dispensed product. The forward extending lips  30 L,  30 R each continue to extend upward and form a barrier  34 L,  34 R to retain the dispensed product in position and prevent the same from accidentally falling off the receiving tray  32 . The dispensed product can thus be readily accessed by a user. 
         [0033]    Additionally or alternatively, various connecting structures can be formed on the side panels  12 L,  12 R and adapted to join the module  10  to a front cover (see  FIGS. 4A-4H ), to another adjacent module  10 , to a module base (see  FIGS. 5A-5H ), and/or to a module header (see  FIGS. 6A-6H ) as will be described below in connection with these additional components of the display and dispensing system  1 . 
         [0034]    The module  10  shown in  FIGS. 2A-2H  can be assembled by bringing and fastening the left and right side panels  12 L,  12 R to each other. For example, the side panels  12 L,  12 R are joined with each other by the fasteners  28 L,  28 R formed on such side panels  12 L,  12 R. In the resulting module  10 , the respective guiding rails of the left and right side panels  12 L,  12 R are aligned to form a serpentine chute  18  inside the module  10 . For example, the first guide rails  14 L,  14 R are aligned to each other and form a continuous front guide  14 . The second guide rails  16 L,  16 R are aligned with each other to form a continuous rear guide  16 . A serpentine chute  36  is formed between the front and rear guides  14 ,  16  and extends similarly to the serpentine passage  18 L described above. 
         [0035]    In one example, the first guide rails  14 L,  14 R are spaced from each other as the height of such guide rails  14 L,  14 R is less than that of the top, rear, bottom panels  22 L,  22 R,  24 L,  24 R,  26 L,  26 R as illustrated in the perspective views of the side panels  12 L,  12 R in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The space between the first guide rails  14 L,  14 R is designed to be less than the lesser dimension of the article to be dispensed to avoid such article to fall through the space. 
         [0036]    When the module  10  is set up for operation in a working position as shown in  FIG. 1 , the serpentine chute  36  (see  FIGS. 2A-2H ) can assist to feed rolls by gravity to the access tray  32 . The dispensed articles can then be removed by a user. When the dispensed article is removed, another article can be dispensed by gravity and enter the access tray  32 . 
         [0037]      FIGS. 4A-4H  show a front cover  40  provided for covering the front of the module  10  and the front and rear guides  14 ,  16  inside the module  10 . The front cover  40  can assume a shape corresponding the shape of the front portions of the left and right side panels  12 L,  12 R. In the example shown in  FIGS. 4A-4H , the front cover  40  have a curved profile formed in accordance with the curvature of the front portions of the side panels  12 L,  12 R. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the front cover can assume various other shapes, such as a straight or wavy surface (not shown). 
         [0038]    The front cover  40  of each module  10  can be formed to provide indicia of the content in the module  10 . For example, the front cover  40  can be provided with a transparent window or opening  42  to allow viewing of the products contained in the module  10 . Additionally or alternatively, the front cover  40  can provide a surface for indicia of products. In one example, the front cover  40  can be made of a transparent material allowing product indicia, such as a product label, to be placed on the inside of the front cover  40  and face outside toward the user. In the alternative, the front cover  40  can be formed so that product information can be affixed on the outside surface of front cover  40 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that the product information can be affixed to the front cover  40  by various other methods. 
         [0039]    The front cover  40  can be attached to the remaining portion of the module  10  by any of various ways. In a preferred embodiment, the front cover  40  is hinged to the bottom portions of the left and right panels  12 L,  12 R in the module  10  to permit the front cover  40  to pivot open, such as when reloading products in the top of the chute  36 . In the example shown in  FIGS. 4A-4H , the front cover  40  is formed with a pair of pivoting pins  44 L,  44 R extending from the bottom edges of the front cover  40 . The pivoting pins  44 L,  44 R are adapted to engage and pivot inside corresponding retaining apertures  46 L,  46 R in the left and right side panels  12 L,  12 R, respectively (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
         [0040]    The front cover  40  can also be formed with a pair of locking pins  48 L,  48 R extending from the top edges of the front cover  40 . The locking pins  48 L,  48 R are adapted to be received in corresponding latching openings  50 L,  50 R in the left and right side panels  12 L,  12 R. As is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the latching openings  50 L,  50 R in the side panels  12 L,  12 R each are surrounded by a upward extending stopper  52 L,  52 R for maintaining the front cover  40  in a closed position and preventing the front cover  40  from opening by accident. 
         [0041]    During operation of the front cover  40 , the front cover  40  is either lifted out of or dropped in the latching openings  50 L,  50 R in the left and right side panels  12 L,  12 R. To facilitate such opening and closing operation of the front cover  40 , the retaining apertures  46 L,  46 R in the left and right side panels  12 L,  12 R can be have an oblong shape, as is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The oblong shaped retaining apertures  46 L,  46 R allow cylindrical pivoting pins  44 L,  44 R and in turn the front cover  40  to move slightly in a vertical direction. 
         [0042]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , multiple modules  10  can be assembled together to form a modular display and dispensing system  1 . For example, the modules  10  can be stacked to form multiple rows or joined side-by-side to form multiple columns. For example, each module  10  can be formed with a convex joint element  54   vex  on the top to connect with a concave joint element  54   cav  on the bottom of another module  10 . In one example, the modules  10  are each formed with a convex joint element  54   vex  on the top surface and a concave joint element  54   cav  on the bottom surface. Such modules  10  can be interchanged and interconnected to form a modular system  1 . 
         [0043]    Additionally or alternatively, each module  10  can be formed with a convex joint element  56   vex  on one side surface to connect with a concave joint element  56   cav  on an opposite side of another module  10 . In one example, the modules  10  each can be formed with a dovetail joint element on each of the top, bottom, and side surfaces of the module  10  to join with a complementary dovetail joint element in an adjacent module. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 5A-5H  show a base plate  60  formed to provide additional retention to modules  10  supported thereon. The base plate  60  has a bottom side  62  to be situated on a supporting structure, such as a shelf, countertop or tabletop at the point of purchase. On the top surface  64  of the base plate  60 , a number of joint elements  66   a ,  66   b ,  66   c  are formed, which are complementary to the joint members on the bottom of the modules  10 . In one example, the joint elements  66   a ,  66   b ,  66   c  on the base plate  60  are dovetail joint elements. As one of the perspective views in  FIGS. 5A-5H  shows, the base plate  60  can be formed with a hollow interior  68  on the bottom side  62 . In one example, a rib  70  is formed inside the hollow interior  68  to provide stability for the base plate  60 . 
         [0045]    The base plate  60  can have an extension  72  extending beyond the assembled modules  10  in the front side. Such an extension  72  can prevent the stacked modules  10  from tipping forward and thus afford additional stability to the display and dispensing system  1 . In one example, the extension  72  is provided with indicia  74  (see  FIG. 1 ) for the products contained in the modules  10  and/or the entire display and dispensing system  1 . 
         [0046]      FIGS. 6A-6H  shows a header  80 , which can be used together with the modules  10  in a display and dispensing system  1 . In the example shown in  FIGS. 6A-6H , the header  80  has an elongated shape with an L-shaped cross-section. The header  80  has a joining plate  82  formed to be connected to the joint elements on the top of modules  10 . In one example, the joining plate  82  is formed with a plurality of cut-outs  84  each to be connected to a complementary dovetail joint element formed on top of the module  10 . 
         [0047]    The front plate  86  of the header  80  extends upward from the joining plate  82 . Similar to the front covers  40 , the front plate  86  can provide a surface  88  for indicia of products in the modules  10  and/or the entire display and dispensing system  1 . In another example not shown, the front plate can be formed in various configurations to promote the products contained in the modules. For example, the front plate can be formed to have the same shape of the products, such as one or more two-dimensional or three-dimensional soda cans for a soda display and dispensing system. 
         [0048]    The various components of the module  10  can be formed of any of various materials. For example, one or more of the side panels  12 L,  12 R including top, rear, and bottom panels  22 L,  22 R,  24 L,  24 R,  26 L,  26 R, the front cover  40 , the base plate  60 , and the header  80  can be made of a plastic material through a molding process. 
         [0049]      FIGS. 7 to 10  show a second embodiment of a module  110  similar the module  10  described above. Similar components and elements of the modules  10 ,  110  are formed of similar reference numerals with the same last two digits. Only differences between the two modules  110 ,  10  are elaborated below. 
         [0050]    As  FIGS. 8A-8G  and  9 A- 9 G show, the left and right side panels  112 L,  112 R are each formed with a third guide rail  117 L,  117 R continuously following along the serpentine passage  118 L. The third guide rails  117 L,  117 R have a smaller height dimension compared to that of the first and second guide rails  114 L,  116 L, as is shown in the front side views of  FIGS. 8A-8G  and  9 A- 9 G. The third guide rail  117 L,  117 R provide additional guidance to the products being dispensed along the serpentine passage  118 L. Additionally or alternatively, the third guide rail  117 L,  117 R space the products away from the inside surfaces of the left and right side panels  112 L,  112 R and thus minimize the possibility of the products being jammed inside the serpentine chute  118 . 
         [0051]    In another example shown in  FIGS. 8A-8G  and  9 A- 9 G, the first guide rails  114 L,  114 R are each provided with a supporting pin  190 L,  190 R located near the inlet of the serpentine chute  118  and facing toward each other. The supporting pins  190 L,  190 R operate to support a loading guide when loading articles into the module  110 , as will be described below. 
         [0052]      FIGS. 10A-10H  show the front cover  140  of the second embodiment, in which a loading guide  192  is provided extending from the inside of the front cover  140 . When the front cover  140  is in an opened position, the loading guide  192  exits from inside of the module  10  and extends in a substantially the same inclined direction as the upper leg of the front guide  114 . The loading guide  192  is thus accessible by a user to load items onto the loading guide  192 . When the front cover  140  is moved toward the closed position, as is shown in the side view in  FIGS. 10A-10H , the loading guide  192  retreats into the module  10 . During the retreat, the loading guide  192  inclines further downward to unload the items onto the serpentine front guide  114  by gravity. 
         [0053]    In one embodiment, the loading guide  192  is formed with a tip portion  194 , which is narrower than the remaining portion of the loading guide  192 . During a loading operation, the narrowed tip portion  194  can fit between the first guide rails  114 L,  114 R formed in the left and right side panels  112 L,  112 R, respectively, and form a substantially continuous loading surface extending from the loading guide  192  to the front guide  114  (see  FIG. 14 ). In a preferred embodiment, the tip portion  194  has a hook-like structure  196  formed on the lower surface of the tip portion  194 . The hook-like structure  196  is adapted to engage with a pair of supporting pins  190 L,  190 R formed on the first guide rails  114 L,  114 R so as to support the front cover  140  in an open position during a loading operation. 
         [0054]    The front cover  140  can also be provided with a pulling tab  198  to assist a user in opening the front cover  140 . In the example shown in  FIGS. 10A-10H , the pulling tab  198  can be formed to extend from the top of the front cover  140  and opposite from the loading guide  192 . 
         [0055]      FIGS. 11A-11J  show the base plate  160  of the second embodiment. The base plate  160  can be formed to support two, three, or more modules  10 ,  110 . In the example of the two-module base plate  160  (see right side of the drawing), the base plate  160  can have one or more joint elements  167   vex  formed on one of the side surface to connect with complementary joint elements  167   cav  formed on an opposite side surface of another base plate  160 . For example, convex and concave joint elements  167   vex ,  167   cav  are formed respectively at the left and right side surfaces of the base plate  160 . Such a base plate  160  can be joined to another base plate  160  to form an expanded modular display and dispensing system  101  (see  FIG. 13 ). In one example, the joint elements  167   vex ,  167   cav  on the side surfaces of the base plate are dovetail joint elements. In another example, the concave joint elements  167   cav  can be in the form of cut-outs formed in the side walls of the base plate  160 . 
         [0056]      FIGS. 12A-12J  show a header  180  similar to that shown in  FIGS. 6A-6H . 
         [0057]      FIG. 13  shows a flowchart of the process of assembling a 2×3 array of modules  110 . Steps  1  and  2  in  FIG. 13  indicate that the bottom row of modules  120  are attached to a base plate  160 . During steps  1  and  2 , each of the modules  110  in the bottom row is dovetailed to the base plate  160  and to the adjacent module(s)  110 . Step  3  indicates that the top row modules are then attached to the bottom row modules by the dovetail joint elements on the respective modules  110 . In Step  4 , the header  180  is assembled, resulting in a final modular display and dispensing system  101 . 
         [0058]    The above assembling steps can be carried out at the point of purchase, such as a store. In such a case, the assembled modular display and dispensing system  101  is ready for loading the products as described below in connection with  FIG. 14 . Alternative, the assembling steps  1 - 4  can be carried out by the manufacturer. In such a case, the assembled modular display and dispensing system  101  can be packed in a shipping carton, as indicated in step  5 , to be delivered to customers. Optionally, the products to be dispensed can be packed and shipped to the customers at the same time. 
         [0059]      FIG. 14  shows a flowchart of the process of loading the modular array of  FIG. 13 . To open the front cover  140 , lift the front cover  140  to unlatch the locking pins  148 L,  148 R on the front cover  140  as indicated in step  1  of the opening operation. Then, engage the hook-like structure  196  on the loading guide  192  with the supporting pins  190 L,  190 R on the left and right first guide rails  114 L,  114 R, as indicated in step  2  of the opening operation. The loading guide  192  thus extends the front guide  114  outside the module  110  for easier access by a user. For example, products can be placed onto the loading guide  192 , which leads the products onto the front guide  114 . 
         [0060]    After the loading operation is completed, the loading guide  192  is unhooked from the supporting pins  190 L,  190 R. The front cover  140  can then be closed. When the locking pin  148 L,  148 R on the front cover  140  reaches the latching opening  150 L,  150 R on the side panels  112 L,  112 R, the front cover  140  is lifted to allow the locking pins  148 L,  148 R to be retained in position in the latching opening  150 L,  150 R. 
         [0061]    The loaded display and dispensing system  101  is ready for use. In one example, the display and dispensing system  101  can be placed in a highly visible location in the store, such as by a cash register. 
         [0062]    While there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention can be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.