Abstract:
A merchandising system is disclosed. The merchandising system provides for the presentation and storage of products contained in product cases comprising a base having a front end and a back end, the base being configured to support the products. In addition, the merchandising system comprises an assembly for advancing the products from the back end to the front end, and a frame that engages a successive product unit to be presented for display.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 10/429,207, filed May 9, 2003 now abandoned, which claims the benefit of provisional Application No. 60/379,585, filed May 10, 2002, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 

   BACKGROUND 
   The present invention relates generally to the field of merchandising systems. In particular, the present invention relates to merchandising systems providing for orderly presentation of product in a display space. 
   It is known to provide for a merchandising system that may be used for displaying products in consumer settings such as grocery stores, retail outlets, shops, etc. Such known merchandising systems may be used to present, display and store products in fixed or limited spaces such as on shelves, in display cases, cabinets, etc. 
   It is beneficial when merchandising a product to allow potential customers to view or handle it in a convenient and comfortable manner. Known merchandising systems may display products to a consumer by providing the products in a side-to-side or end-to-end configuration. However, products and product containers come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and some products may be more difficult to merchandise (e.g., present for potential retail sale) than others. Within fixed or limited spaces, known merchandising systems may not be configured to optimize the presentation of such products to a customer. Such known merchandising systems also do not always provide convenient ways for dispensing products, especially those with unique or irregular shapes. Ease of use can be an important concern for customers and store personnel. As is sometimes the case, product or container design may be dictated by considerations separate from the ease or difficulty with which the product may be presented. 
   Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that is configured for stocking, orderly presentation, and convenient storage of products with a shape that may not be easily stored, presented, or displayed, such as products with uniquely shaped containers. It would also be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that is configured for selective modularity in the construction and assembly of the merchandising system. It would also be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that allows for the construction and assembly of a merchandising system with any number of product facings, modules, compartments, etc. It would also be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that advances a product and/or allows a product to advance along a defined path. It would also be advantageous to provide a merchandising system having a frame for supporting and selectively retaining a product within the merchandising system. It would also be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that can accommodate, support and display products that need to be displayed in one orientation but which products do not have a base to support themselves. 
   It would be advantageous to provide a merchandising system or the like of a type disclosed in the present application that provides any one or more of these or other advantageous features. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention relates to a merchandising system for presenting and storing products provided in product cases. The merchandising system comprises a base having a front end and a back end, the base being configured to support the products. In addition, the merchandising system includes an assembly for advancing the products from the back end to the front end, and at least one frame for engaging a successive product unit to be presented for display. 
   The present invention also relates to a merchandising system comprising a support assembly having a front end and a back end, the support assembly being configured to support the products in a substantially vertical orientation. In addition, the merchandising system includes at least one frame member located near the front end of the support assembly for selectively dispensing the products from the merchandising system. 
   The present invention further relates to a merchandising system for storing and presenting products on a shelf or display case where the products are provided in product cases. The merchandising system comprises a means for supporting the products in a substantially vertical orientation, a means for advancing the products along a predefined path, and a means for selectively distributing the products from the merchandising system. 
   The present invention also relates to a merchandising system for dispensing products comprising a base, a pusher providing a force on the products, and a frame member having a portal through which the products may be dispensed. The frame member provides a holding force against the force provided by the pusher on the products. One or more of the products may be dispensed through the portal by disengagement from the frame member. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a merchandising system according to an exemplary embodiment. 
       FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the merchandising system containing product. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded front perspective view of the merchandising system. 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the merchandising system. 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the merchandising system containing product. 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the merchandising system according to an exemplary embodiment. 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the merchandising system. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a merchandising system containing product according to an exemplary embodiment. 
       FIGS. 9A through 9D  are front plan views of frames for a merchandising system according to alternative embodiments. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 9D , various exemplary and alternative embodiments of a merchandising system intended for displaying articles such as products, containers, items, units, etc. in consumer settings such as grocery stores, retail outlets, shops, etc are shown. According to a preferred embodiment, the merchandising system is intended to dispense, store, merchandise, display, etc. articles to provide for the space-efficient presentation of groups of articles within a given or fixed display area, and/or to allow for convenient and orderly presentation, dispensing, and storage of articles (such as products or product containers) having any of a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and profiles (e.g., rectangular, non-rectangular, etc.). 
     FIGS. 1 through 7  show a merchandising system  10  according to an exemplary embodiment. System  10  includes a base  22  (e.g., tray system, support assembly, etc.) having a front end  24  and a back end  26 . Base  22  is configured to provide support for articles (shown as product  80  in  FIG. 2 ) positioned within system  10 . Merchandising system  10  also includes an assembly  28  for advancing products and/or allowing products to advance from back end  26  to front end  24 . System  10  also includes a frame or frame member  30  for receiving products as they advance from back end  26  to front end  24 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , frame  30  is configured to receive, support, retain, or otherwise hold in place variously sized articles (shown as packages of lunchmeat in  FIG. 2 ). System  10  is configured to support the products in a substantially vertical orientation. 
   According to various exemplary embodiments, one or more base (e.g., tray system) may be provided. The base may be provided on an existing merchandising system such as a shelf, grid system, display case, etc. The base may be configured to hold, display, retain, store, or otherwise receive product (e.g., goods, displayed objects, etc.). The base provides for the space division and orderly and convenient presentation of such products. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , base  22  comprises two sidewalls  42  (e.g., divider panels, separators, walls, sides, panels, etc.) and a lower surface  40 . In addition, base  22  is configured to connect or couple adjacent systems into a larger overall merchandising system. According to a preferred embodiment, the base has a “modular” construction and facilitates use with other bases, shelves, or a variety of other existing merchandising systems, including shelving units, support surfaces, grids, brackets, hangers, etc. According to an alternative embodiment, the base may include a back wall to further add support for product contained within a merchandising system. As shown in  FIG. 7 , base  22  comprises supports  52  (shown as magnets) that allow for various configurations of system  10 . According to alternative embodiments, the supports may include any number of objects that provide for coupling with a mounting surface. For example, the supports may include cushions, adhesives, etc. 
   According to an exemplary embodiment, a frame member or frame  30  is located near front end  24  of base  22 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , frame  30  has a substantially rectangular shape. Frame  30  comprises two side members  34  and an upper member  38 . Frame  30  is releasably attached to base  22 . Frame  30  provides one or more interfaces  36  configured to coact (e.g., attach, fasten, interface, couple, etc.) with base  22 . According to one embodiment, the merchandising system includes a second frame member interchageable with a first frame member so that products having at least two configurations can be dispensed. According to a preferred embodiment as shown in  FIG. 3 , interfaces  36  are projections configured to coact with one or more apertures  32  provided in base  22 . Interfaces  36  include projections which fit into apertures  32  and “snap” into place. Frame  30  is a removable and/or interchangeable component of system  10 . According to alternative embodiments, different frames may be used (e.g., “snapped” into the system) depending on the different types of products being displayed. For example, the frame may be configured to match the profile, size, shape, overall design, etc. of any of a wide variety of articles and products. If the shape or configuration of a product or product container requires a more rectangular shaped frame, frame  130  from  FIG. 8  may be used. If the shape or configuration of the product or product container requires a looped (or circular) frame, frames  230 ,  232  and  236  from  FIGS. 9A ,  9 B, and/or  9 D may be used. Frame  234  shown in  FIG. 9C  may be used when a top member is not required to retain product. The description of the various frames of  FIGS. 9A through 9D  are provided solely as examples and are not intended to be limiting in any way. 
   According to various alternative embodiments, the frame may provide for selective height or width adjustment. For example, the frame may be adjustable along its width in order to be used as an adjustable width system. According to another alternative embodiment, the upper member of the frame may be omitted. Two side members may be provided to support and/or retain product when the upper member is omitted. According to an alternative embodiment, the frame may be an integral piece formed with the system. According to other alternative embodiments, a wide variety of interfaces may couple the base and frame, including mechanical fasteners, adhesives, and the like. A first portion of the product may extend through the frame, while a second portion of the product may be retained or supported by the frame. According to one alternative embodiment, the frame may be provided below a portion of the product to support the product. According to an alternative embodiment, the support may be a hook, friction engagement, retainer, ring, etc. configured to hold the product when the product might otherwise not be supported. According to an alternative embodiment, the support may be one or more wedges configured such that the product will be dispensed between the wedges, yet the wedges will retain the product in an upright or vertical position. According to an alternative embodiment, the support may be a single member provided below a point on the product which would be adequately supported. For example, with a round lunchmeat container (having a cylindrical portion, and a flat panel back), such a point would be on a side of the cylindrical portion. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , system  10  comprises an assembly  28  for advancing products and/or allowing products to advance from back end  26  to front end  24 . Assembly  28  comprises a pusher plate  44  and a biasing element  46 . Pusher plate  44  is configured to push product toward front end  24  by way of biasing element  46  (shown as a coil in  FIG. 3 ). According to exemplary embodiments, the biasing element may comprise any number of devices including a spring, coil, band, or the like that are configured to apply a biasing force against the pusher plate toward the front end of the base. According to a preferred embodiment, pusher plate  44  is configured to move along a slot  48  (e.g., track, guide, or other guide means provided on the system). According to alternative embodiments, the slot may be provided in a variety of locations on the merchandising system (e.g., on the sidewalls). 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1–7 , system  10  includes a front panel  50  for displaying product information. Product information may be provided by placing an information containing article (e.g., label, card, etc.) in panel  50 . As shown in  FIGS. 8 through 12 , label  132  is provided in panel  134 . Label  132  contains information relating to the product contained in the system. The interchangeable configuration of the panel has the advantage of allowing relatively easy changing or updating of the label. 
   According to a preferred embodiment, the merchandising system may generally be made from extruded or injection molded plastic. However, a variety of plastics may be used in constructing the merchandising system. For example, the system may be constructed from high-impact plastics and the like. Using plastic offers several advantages including that the pieces are moldable in a variety of different colors, surface finishes, textures, etc. According to alternative embodiments, the tray systems may be constructed from a wide variety of materials including polymers, composites, metals, alloys, etc. 
   The pusher plate and frame may be constructed from injection molded plastic. A variety of plastics, polymers, and other materials including composites, metals, alloys, etc. may be used in constructing the components. According to a preferred embodiment, the frame is constructed from a wire material (e.g., metal, alloy, etc.). 
   As shown in the FIGURES, product may be merchandised in a base of a merchandising system. The product may be packages of food, meat, meat products having a round or rectangular portion surrounded by a web of material, or other shaped products which may pose challenges with regards to presentation or display of such products. As an example, products may need to be provided in a certain orientation or configuration to effectively be merchandised. Such product may be packages of round or rectangular lunchmeat which need to be merchandised in a vertical orientation. However, such products may not provide a base or surface on which they can be supported in that configuration. For example, the round or rectangular lunchmeat packages (in a vertical orientation) provide little support to securely hold or support itself. As a result, additional support from the merchandising system may be required. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , frame  30  provides additional support for products so they are merchandised in the necessary orientation. Product is urged toward the front of base  22  to partially extend through frame  30 . A first portion  70  of the product is retained by frame  30  and/or the projections provided on frame  30 . The pusher plate and biasing element help provide a holding force by pushing the first portion  70  of the product up against frame  30  and/or projections on frame  30 . Product is supported by one or more members of frame  30 , and/or one or more projections provided on frame  30 . A second portion  72  (e.g., the bulk) of the product extends through frame  30 , while first portion  70  of the packaging is retained by frame  30 , against the force of the assemblies for advancing the products. Additionally, base  22  of frame  30  provide additional support for the product. 
   It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the merchandising system as shown in the preferred and other exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present inventions have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. It is important to note that any dimensions shown are dimensions of particularly preferred embodiments, and are not intended to be limited to those dimensions. Elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements show as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied (e.g. by variations in the number of engagement slots or size of the engagement slots or type of engagement). It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures and combinations. It should also be noted that the display system may be used in association with a rotating display, or alternatively other, fixed and non-movable displays or any of a wide variety of other surfaces in any of a wide variety of other applications. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present inventions. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present inventions.