Abstract:
A self-facing, add-on shelf system is made up of universal base, divider, front, and rear sections. Universal in the sense that these sections form basic building sections for constructing shelf systems of various sizes and operational mode. The front and rear track sections are identical and can be combined with various combinations of bases, dividers and end sections to provide systems of different, desired widths. The depth of the self-facing shelf is generally set by the depth of the shelf with which it is to be used. The individual sections can be selected and combined to provide center pusher, side pusher, and gravity feed types of self facing systems. The bases, dividers and end sections are configured such that they can be extruded and interlock in assembly.

Description:
The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/454,784 filed Dec. 3, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,385, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to point of purchase marketing and, more particularly, to systems and/or apparatus for displaying product at the point of purchase. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A commonly accepted practice in one area of the point of purchase industry, grocery stores and the like, is to display products on shelves for selection by the consumer. In those types of applications, it is known to arrange products in add-on, self-facing tray units which are attached to the principal store shelf. The products are displayed in the add-on, self-facing tray units in a manner allowing them to be viewed by the consumer and such that, if a selection is make, the selected item can be readily removed by the consumer. In the past it has also been proposed to construct this type of unit so that product displayed on the shelf is automatically fed to the forward end of the shelf as product is removed. This forward feeding has been accomplished by gravity feed where the add-on unit is pitched forward toward its front end. Another arrangement for forward feeding uses a spring arrangement which continually urges displayed product forward so that when a product is removed the remaining products in the add-on tray are urged forward. A combination of gravity feed and spring movement has also been proposed. 
     These types of trays organize product for display and purchase. 
     Among the considerations in providing an acceptable add-on, self-facing tray construction is the fact that the products to be displayed and dispensed will vary in size. Another problem is that the store shelf space that may be allotted to a product will vary depending on the needs of the store. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Among the objects of this invention is to provide an add-on, self-facing shelf tray which has universal application with respect to size of product which it displays and in adapting to the amount of store shelf space that can be allocated to the product. A further objective is to provide that product display versatility in a construction which is cost effective to produce, easily put into use on a store shelf, and durable. 
     For the achievement of these and other objects, this invention proposes a self facing shelf tray that is made up of basic, interchangeable parts. The parts are extruded and designed to that they can be easily sized to adapt to any number of applications, i.e., shelf space. The parts are also designed so as to reduce the number and complexity of tooling and dies. The parts are further configured so that, in assembly, they interlock with each other and through the interlock maintain their assembled relationship. 
     The parts are readily adapted for use in conjunction with a center oriented, product pusher. The product pusher is spring biased and urges product toward the front of the tray as product is removed from the tray by the consumer. Additionally, the parts are readily adapted for use in conjunction with a side pusher arrangement. The side pusher is also spring biased and accomplishes the same function as the center pusher, the difference being the pusher plate is supported from a side member of the tray as opposed to a central base member. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective illustrating both a gravity feed embodiment and a center oriented pusher embodiment; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of the front and rear track; 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of the front track insert; 
     FIG. 5 is an end view of the end divider; 
     FIG. 6 is an end view of the end pusher plate construction; 
     FIG. 7 is an end view of the center divider track; 
     FIG. 8 is an end view of the center pusher track; 
     FIG. 9 is an exploded, perspective view of the side pusher embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 10 is an end view of a single gravity feed embodiment; 
     FIG. 11 is an end view of two, side-by-side gravity feed embodiment; 
     FIG. 12 is an end view of a center, pusher embodiment; and 
     FIG. 13 is an end view of a side, pusher embodiment. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The add-on, self-facing shelf trays of this invention can come in a variety of configurations including (1) a gravity feed arrangement, (2) a base mount version where a pusher track with a suitable biasing means is provided as the base of the unit and (3) a side mount version where a suitable biasing means is supported from a side wall of the unit. In each version the biasing means urges the stored product toward the front of the tray. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the tray includes a front track  10 , a rear track  12 , an interior or center divider  14 , and end dividers  16  and  18 . 
     Looking at the front track  10  in FIGS. 1-3, it has a planar, generally vertical panel or front panel  20  which will extend vertically when in use. The front panel  20  has outer and inner surfaces. A generally horizontal panel or support panel  26  extends from the lower end of the inner surface of the front panel  20  and will project rearwardly when in use. The front and support panels  20 ,  26  are elongated and linear along their respective extensions. 
     With reference to FIG. 3, the upper end of the front panel  20  includes a slot  28 . That is, a horizontal web  30  extends from the inner surface of the front panel  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, the web  30  is generally parallel to the support panel  26  and is at a right angle to inner surface of the front panel  20 , but of limited rearward extension as compared to the support panel  26 . A vertical leg  32  extends upwardly from the web  30  and terminates in a forwardly turned nose  34  above the web  30 . Similarly, the upper end of the front panel  20  terminates in a rearwardly turned nose  36  that is opposed to but spaced from the nose  34 . That structure defines slot  28  which extends the length of the front track  10  but has a restricted entrance to its interior. The purpose for this slot  28  will be explained hereinafter. 
     Still referring to FIG. 3, the upper end of the front panel  20  includes a lip  37  that extends rearwardly of and partially below the web  30  and extends along the length of the front track  10 . This lip  37  is spaced from the inner surface of the front panel  20 , and together with the web  30  and the inner surface of the front panel  20 , defines a downwardly facing recess  38 . The use of this recess  38  also will be explained hereinafter. 
     Still referring to FIG. 3, a holding rib  40  is provided on the support panel  26 . The holding rib  40  is spaced rearwardly of the recess  38  and extends upwardly from the support panel  26 . 
     Completing the structure of the front track  10  is an elongated slot  44  recessed downwardly from the upper surface of the support panel  26  and extending the length of the front track  10  and parallel to front panel  20 . Two upward projecting ribs  46  and  48  are provided, one on either side of the slot  44 . These are of a different material than the front track  10  itself. The front track  10  is extruded and made of a conventional polyvinyl chloride except for the ribs  46  and  48  which are made of a softer polyvinylchloride and are co-extruded with the remainder of the front track  10 . 
     The rear track  12  is identical to the front track  10 . Therefore, the rear track  12  is not separately illustrated except as it is part of the overall assembly. Where reference is necessary to the rear track  12 , portions corresponding to the already-described front track  10  are identified by the same number but with the addition of the letter “r” (see for example, FIG.  2 ). 
     Referring to FIG. 4, an insert  50  is carried on the front track. The insert  50  helps retain the product behind the front track  10  but is made of clear acrylic so that it does not interfere with viewing the product. The insert  50  is basically a planar, elongated strip but with a specially configured bottom end  52  which is complementary to the upper end of the front panel  20 . More particularly, the bottom end  52  is generally “I” shaped in cross-section having horizontal tabs  54  and  56  projecting laterally from both sides of the insert  50  and dimensioned to fit into the slot  28  in the upper end of the front panel  20 . To stabilize the insert  50  on the front track  10 , two additional horizontal tabs  58  and  60  are spaced vertically above tabs  54  and  56 . The tabs  58  and  60  will rest on the top of the opposed noses  36  and  34 . It will be noted that tabs  58  and  60  are generally arcuate and concave in cross section to nest on top of the front panel noses  36  and  34 . 
     All of the surfaces, ribs, slots and recesses are straight, linear projections extending the full length of the front track  10  and insert  50 . 
     The interior and end dividers  14 ,  16 ,  18  which are used in some applications, will now be described. In some aspects the end and the interior dividers have the same construction as each other. Before specifically describing the end dividers  16 ,  18 , it will be noted that in accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention the same end divider  16  or  18  can be used to close both ends of the add-on, self-facing unit. 
     The end dividers  16 ,  18  are substantially identical to each other and are arranged opposite each other as mirror images. Further discussion will relate only to end divider  16  unless specifically stated otherwise, it being understood that the discussion relates equally to end divider  18 . The same reference numerals are used to identify aspects of end divider  18  as end divider  16 , and where an aspect is only seen on one of the end dividers  16 ,  18  in the drawings, it will be understood that the feature is also present on the other end divider  18 ,  16 . The end divider  16  illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  5  includes a vertical panel  72 , a horizontal section  74 , and a second vertical, shorter panel  76  spaced from and generally parallel to the longer, vertical panel  72 . The top surface of the horizontal section  74  forms a support ledge  78  extending the length of the end divider  16 . With specific reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, slots  80  are provided at both ends of the divider  16  in the lower edge of the vertical panel  72  and shorter vertical panel  76 . These slots  80  are aligned and sized to fit over the rib  40  on the front track  10  and the rib  40   r  on the rear track  12 . Through the interengagement of the ribs  40  and  40   r  and the slots  80 , the end dividers  16 ,  18  are held in place between the front and rear tracks  10 ,  12 . 
     To prevent the end dividers  16 ,  18  from moving vertically relative to front and rear tracks  10 ,  12  the front and rear ends of the horizontal section  74  are positioned beneath the recess  38  on the front track  10  and recess  38   r  on the rear track  12  and thereby held in place by the webs  30  and  30   r  and the lips  37 ,  37   r  (FIG.  2 ). It will be noted that to close the right and left ends of the add-on, self-facing tray the same end pieces  16 ,  18  are used with one being reversed or turned end for end with respect to the other. 
     When the tray is assembled, product is supported on the ledges  78  and between the front and rear tracks  10 ,  12 . In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 the rear track  12  will be suitably elevated with respect to the front track  10  so that product displayed in the unit will be fed by gravity toward the front of the unit as one or more products are removed. To facilitate this gravity feed a plurality of pointed, relatively spaced ribs  90  (FIG. 5) are provided on the upper surface of ledges  78 . FIG. 10 provides an example of how the end dividers  16 ,  18  would be positioned to provide a gravity feed of product, where the product would span the space between the end dividers  16 ,  18  and slide on the projections  90 . 
     The interior divider  14  is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7, and includes similar aspects as the end dividers  16 ,  18  with some modifications. For example, the vertical panel  72  is centrally-located on the interior divider  14 , and the interior divider  14  includes a shorter vertical panel  76  on each side. The horizontal section  74  of the interior divider  14  also includes support ledges  78  and ribs  90  on both sides of the vertical panel  72 . The interior divider includes slots  80  similar to those of the end dividers  16 ,  18 . FIG. 11 illustrates a gravity feed arrangement including end dividers  16 ,  18  on either side of the interior divider  14 . Product would span the space between the end dividers  16 ,  18  and the interior divider  14  on either side of the interior divider&#39;s vertical panel  72 , such that two columns of product would be slidable on the projections  90  of the dividers  14 ,  16 ,  18 . 
     Again it will be noted that all surfaces, panels, ledges and ribs are straight linear projections extending the full length of the interior and end dividers  14 ,  16 ,  18 , except the vertical panels  72 , which are truncated to permit the ends of the dividers  14 ,  16 ,  18  to be inserted under the recesses  38 ,  38   r  as described above. 
     The basic self-facing unit described to this point can be adapted for a spring feed of the displayed product toward the front of the unit in one of two variations: a center pusher and a side pusher. 
     In the center pusher variation, illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  12 , a pusher track  100  is positioned between the end dividers  16 ,  18 . A pusher track  100  may also be positioned on either side of the interior divider  14  illustrated in FIG. 11, between the interior divider  14  and the end dividers  16 ,  18 . The pusher track  100  includes aligned slots  102  in the front and rear ends that fit onto ribs  40  and  40 R. In addition, the pusher track  100  is provided with two relatively spaced horizontal ledges  110  and  112  which extend beneath the recesses  38 ,  38   r  to be held in place by the webs  30 ,  30   r  and lips  37 ,  37   r  in the same fashion as the dividers  14 ,  16 ,  18 . Ledges  110  and  112  are provided with a plurality of relatively space, pointed ribs  114  (see FIG. 12) for the same purpose as ribs  90  on the dividers  14 ,  16 ,  18 . 
     A centrally located, U-shaped in configuration recess  118  extends down the center of the pusher track  100  and between ledges  110  and  112 . Ledges  110  and  112  provide overhanging lips  119  on either side of the recess  118 . The recess  118  and the lips  119  extend the length of the pusher track  100 . The ledges  110 ,  112 , recess  118 , ribs  114 , and lips  119  of the pusher track  100  are substantially straight and linear and extend the full length of pusher track  100 . 
     Pusher plate  120  is positioned in and extends above the recess  118  (see FIGS.  1  and  2 ). More specifically, pusher plate  120  includes a base which is made up of two oppositely facing C-shaped in cross section members  124  and  126 . These C-shaped members  124 ,  126  define slots which engage the lips  119  of the pusher track  100 . A planar panel  132  is positioned above the C-shaped members  124  and  126  and is integrally molded therewith. 
     A coil spring  134  (FIG. 1) has one end fastened to the front track  10 . The coil spring  134  extends through the space defined by recess  118  and the coiled portion of the spring  134  rests in a channel  137  defined on the back face of planar panel  132 . The channel  137  is defined between two angular ribs  136  and  138  molded to the rear face of panel  132  and to a horizontal portion  140 , from which the C-shaped members  124 ,  126  depend. 
     With this arrangement, the pusher plate  120  can be slid in the recess  118  toward the rear track  12  with product being filled between the pusher plate  120  and the front track  10 . When the desired number of products are loaded into the tray, the product holds the pusher plate  120  in spaced relationship from the front track  10  against the biasing force of the coil spring  134 . As product is removed from the front of the unit, the pusher plate  120  under the influence of the spring  134  urges the product toward the front track  10 . It will also be noted that the horizontal portion  140  extends over and is supported on the ledges  110 ,  112  of the pusher track  100  and the ledges  78  of the end dividers  16 ,  18 . 
     A second version of the mechanically fed unit is illustrated in FIGS. 6,  9 , and  13 . This side-mounted pusher assembly includes an adapted end divider  200  in combination with an above-described end or interior divider  14 ,  16 ,  18 . Because the adapted end divider  200  includes many of the same structural aspects as the dividers  14 ,  16 ,  18  described above, the same reference numerals are used in FIGS. 6,  9 , and  13  where appropriate. 
     The pusher assembly includes a pusher plate  204  which is attached to and movable on the modified end divider  200 . More particularly, in this modification, the vertical panel  208  of the modified end divider  200  is provided with a slot  212 . This slot  212  includes a back wall  216  which is substantially parallel to and non-coplanar with the rest of the panel  208 . The slot  212  also includes two L-shaped projections  220  which project from the opposite side of panel  208 . The L-shaped members  220  terminate in spaced relationship defining an opening  224  to the slot  212 . 
     Turning to FIG. 9, the pusher  204  includes a T-shaped in cross section tab  228  which fits into the slot  212  to hold the pusher  204  in and to allow it to move relative to slot  212 . The side pusher  204  includes a front panel  232 , and two ribs  236  (one of which is visible in FIG. 9) which define a channel on the rear of panel  232 . A coil spring  240  fits into the channel. The end  244  of the coil spring  240  is U-shaped and fits over the front edge of the back wall  216  to anchor the coil spring  240 . With this arrangement, the pusher  204  can be moved along the length of the panel  208  to allow products to be loaded into the unit and then, in the same manner as the previously described pusher  120 , the spring  240  will urge the products forward as a product is removed. The surfaces, ribs, and slots of the modified end divider  200  are all straight, linear projections extending the full length of the end divider. 
     To add to the versatility of this unit, it will be noted that an interior divider  14  can be modified to have the vertical panel  208 , and may be used with an end divider  16 ,  18  with or without the slots  212  to accommodate the side pusher. With this arrangement, two or more side-by-side gravity feed units can be provided. Therefore, the basic parts can be assembled with two spaced end dividers to receive product therebetween. With this configuration, the units can be set up to accommodate a single row of product or multiple adjacent rows of products, and with different configurations. As mentioned above, some arrangements of the dividers  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  200  are shown in FIGS. 10-13.