Abstract:
A product shelf unit specially adapted for yogurt cups and the like, includes a metal base bracket that attaches to a horizontal rectangular bar. A plastic tray is slidably received on the base bracket which has two elongated walls which slide within the hollow interior of elongated walls in the tray. The base bracket includes lateral projections that engage stop members in the tray which keep the tray in a rearward position. The front end of the tray is lifted up, allowing it to slide forwardly for restocking.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    In grocery stores, it is very important to carry as much product as possible in as small an area as possible. The product also must be apparent to the consumer and attractively displayed. 
         [0002]    One way to increase product density is to place the product on shelving with only a minimal amount of space between the top of the product and the bottom of the next higher shelf. This presents difficulties with respect to the visual appeal, as well as in stocking the shelves. When restocking a shelf, the older product needs to be positioned at the front of the shelf. This is particularly an issue with perishable products, such as dairy products such as yogurt, and the like. The limited space between shelves makes it difficult for the store employees to restock the product. 
         [0003]    There are shelving units that are supported on either side by rollers that allow the shelves to slide outwardly for restocking. This arrangement is not optimal for refrigerated display cases that support dairy products. Further, it is always desirable to minimize costs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention is an extendable shelf suitable for supporting dairy products such as yogurt, which includes a plastic tray separated into individual columns by walls. The tray is supported on a metal bracket. Walls on the bracket fit within walls of the tray and allow the tray to slide relative to the bracket. The tray is preferably supported at a slight angle to gravity feed the yogurt containers from the back to the front. The tray can be pulled outwardly for restocking and can be pushed back to its original position subsequent to restocking. 
         [0005]    The objects and advantages of the present invention will be further appreciated in light of the following detailed description and drawings in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention in an extended position; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view taken at lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an enlargement of the circle  5  from  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a side plan view of the present invention; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a side plan view of the sign holder used in the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present invention is a product shelf unit  10  which is designed to hold a plurality of containers of yogurt  12 . The shelf unit  10  includes a plastic tray  14  supported by a metal bracket  16 . Bracket  16  is supported on a horizontal bar  18  which is bolted or otherwise attached to vertical supports  20  and  21 . The vertical supports  20  and  21  include a plurality of L-shaped members  26  which allow them to be attached to vertical supports  22  and  24  of a refrigerated display case. As shown, the L-shaped members  26  simply fit into the slots  27  of the vertical supports  22  and  24 , holding the horizontal bar  18  in position and, thus, holding the bracket  16  and tray  14  in position. As shown in  FIG. 1 , there will be multiple spaced horizontal bars  18  fixed to the vertical supports  20  and  21  with a plurality of shelf units  10  fixed side by side on each bar  18 . 
         [0014]    Bracket  16  preferably formed from metal includes a C-shaped clamp  28  and a planar base  30  extending from the clamp  28 . The base  16  slopes downwardly about 8° from normal. Extended along base  30  are first and second elongated walls  32  and  34 . Walls  32  and  34  are perpendicular to base  30 . Base  30  includes an open portion  36  between the walls  32  and  34 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , the forward most edge  37  of base  30  includes lateral projections  38  and  40 . Further, the rear section  42  of base  30  is wider than the middle section  44 . 
         [0015]    The tray  14 , in turn, includes a top side  50 , bottom side  52  and outer walls  54  and  56 , and interior hollow walls  58  and  60 . These walls divide the tray into three columns  62 ,  63  and  64 . Forward of each column are flexible fingers  68  which engage the forward most yogurt container  12 a, preventing it from sliding out off the tray  14 . 
         [0016]    The bottom  52 , of tray  14  includes a central planar portion  70  and first and second stop member  72  and  74 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , these stop members have a sloped rear portion  76  and a forward most edge or stop  78  which extends 90° from bottom  52 . Rearward of the stop members  72  and  74  are first and second guide members  80  and  82 . The distance between the guide members is slightly greater than the width of middle section  44  of bracket  16 . 
         [0017]    The base  30  of the bracket  16  slides along the central planar portion  70  of tray  14  with the side edges  83  and  84  of base  30  sliding between guides  80  and  82 . A bar  85  fastened to the bottom side of tray  14  holds the bracket  16  and tray  14  together. The bar  85  includes an upper T-shaped guide  86 . (See  FIG. 3 .) Guide  86  includes a narrow portion  87  that fits within the open portion  76  of bracket  16 . An upper portion  89  is wider than open portion  76  and holds the tray  14  to the bracket  16 . Vertical walls  32  an  34  of bracket  16  slide within the hollow interior portion of hollow vertical walls  58  and  60  of tray  14 . This provides strength and stability to the shelf unit  10 . 
         [0018]    In its normal or retracted position, tray  14  rests on bracket  16  with the lateral projections  38  and  40  engaging stop members  72  and  74 . The tray  14  is moved outwardly relative to the bracket  16  by lifting the front  15  of the tray upwardly, as shown by arrow  75 , so that the barrier  78  no longer engages the lateral projections  38  and  40 , which, in turn, allows the tray to slide forwardly in the direction of arrow  90 . As the tray moves outwardly to its extended position, the lateral projections  38 , 40  will engage the guides  80  and  82 , which will limit the movement of the tray  14  relative to the bracket  16 . Further, the T-shaped guide  86  will engage the end  92  of the slotted portion  36 , again limiting the forward movement of the tray. In this position, the tray  14  can be easily restocked. 
         [0019]    The tray  14  is moved back to its normal position by pushing it back relative to bracket  16 . The sloped portion  76  of the stop members  72 , 74  allows the lateral projections  38 , 40  to slide under the stop members  72 , 74 . The front barrier  78  of step member  72 , 74  will hold the tray in position relative to the bracket  16 . 
         [0020]    The front  15  of the tray, in addition to the fingers  68 , incorporates a sign holder  100  which has a base  102  fixed to the front end  15  of tray  14 . Base  102  has first and second lateral tabs  106  and  107  which extend forwardly, leaving a space  109  between the tabs. A pivoting member  108  includes posts  110  and  112  which fit into tabs  106  and  107 . The pivoting member  108  includes a lower portion  114  below posts  110  and  112  and an upper portion  16  above posts  110  and  112 . The upper portion  116  is designed to hold a price tag or other signage. The lower portion  114  includes a rearwardly extended portion  118 , which simply adds weight, making the lower portion  114  heavier than the upper portion  116 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the space  109  between tabs  106  and  107  provides clearance for this lower portion  114  so that it can rotate from an upright position to a flat position so that the cups of yogurt  12  can be removed from the tray  14 . Because of the mass of the lower portion  114 , the sign holder  100  will rotate back to an upright position. 
         [0021]    In use, the shelf unit  10  of the present invention is assembled by placing a plurality of the shelf units  10  on horizontal bar  18  which is fixed inside, preferably a refrigerated display case. Generally, several shelving units will be located on several horizontal bars in one display case. A customer grasps the product and the sign holder rotates into the position shown in  FIG. 5 , allowing the individual to take the product from the tray. Because the tray is sloped, gravity forces the remaining product in the column downwardly until the forward most product is grasped by the fingers. 
         [0022]    This allows a substantial amount of product to be held in a refrigerated display case, taking up a minimal amount of space. It provides for simple and easy restocking of the shelves and, further, the product is relatively simple and, therefore, inexpensive. 
         [0023]    This has been a description of the present invention along with the preferred method of practicing the present invention. However, the invention itself should only be defined by the appended claims,