Abstract:
An adjustable depth merchandising apparatus includes an elongated mounting member operationally securable to an associated shelf and extending parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof. An adjustable divider system is selectively connected to the mounting member. The divider system includes a first divider portion and a second divider portion. Each portion contains connecting elements, which selectively engage each other to operatively connect the first divider portion to the second divider portion, thereby enabling the divider system to be employed on associated shelves of varying depths. A trackless pusher system is selectively received on the mounting member. The pusher system includes a mounting clip engaging the mounting member, a coil spring connected to the mounting clip and a pusher body slidably mounted in relation to the mounting member, wherein the coil spring is supported by the pusher body and connects the pusher body to the mounting clip. Both the divider system and the pusher system have a length which can be adjusted, thereby enabling the two systems to be employed on associated shelves of varying depths.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/104,140 which was filed on Oct. 9, 2008. The entire content of that application is incorporated hereinto by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure generally relates to adjustable merchandising systems. More particularly, it is pertinent to an adjustable merchandising apparatus for storing and displaying merchandise having a variety of shapes and sizes, and urging such merchandise towards the front of a shelf. The merchandising apparatus is configured to organize merchandise on the shelf into rows. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    Shelving is used extensively for stocking and storing products or merchandise in numerous types of retail establishments, such as grocery stores and drug stores. Many stores simply employ shelves on which merchandise is stocked. In such stores, for the shelves which are not at eye level, it is difficult for the customer to see the items being displayed, if they are not located adjacent the front edge of the shelf. Therefore, it is desirable for merchandise to be displayed at the front of the shelf so that the customer can see the merchandise and be induced to purchase such merchandise. Also, such shelves make it difficult to rotate product, i.e., move the older stock to the front of the shelf and position newer stock behind the older stock. Rotating products is an important consideration if the goods are perishable or are subject to becoming stale. 
         [0004]    Numerous forward feed devices have been proposed to automatically move an item forward on a shelf, as the item before it is removed. These devices generally fall into one of three categories. The first category includes inclined tracks, which rely on gravity to feed, slide or roll products forward. A second category employs conveyor belts, which still use gravity to effect forward movement. A third category, that has become popular in recent years, uses spring biased paddles in a pusher system to feed the product forward on a horizontally oriented shelf. Such pusher systems have been found useful in a variety of merchandising applications. 
         [0005]    Forward feed devices are usually associated with divider walls. Normally, a divider wall is located on either side of a pusher mounted on a track (i.e., pusher system) so as to maintain the merchandise in rows. In certain designs, both the pusher system and the divider wall are mounted to at least a front rail, or front mounting member of the merchandising system, in order to allow a proper spacing of the pusher tracks and the divider walls on a shelf. In some known systems, the divider walls are separate from the pusher tracks. In others, the divider walls and pusher tracks are integrated into a one piece design. In either case, the divider walls and pusher tracks are, in some designs, slidably mounted on the front rail or mounting member. In other designs, one or both are fixedly mounted in relation to the front rail. In still other designs, both a front rail and a rear rail are employed and one or both of the pusher tracks and the divider walls are either fixedly secured to one or both of the front rail and the rear rail or slidably mounted thereon. 
         [0006]    The purpose for employing a track with a pusher system is in order to the center the pusher behind the merchandise and to guide the pusher forward. However, such tracks are prone to be clogged with debris and then stick or malfunction. Perhaps more importantly, both the divider and the track are normally of a given size or length. Therefore, for shelves of varying depths, numerous different length dividers and tracks have to be provided. 
         [0007]    Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a merchandising system which is able to readily accommodate shelves of varying depths. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0008]    According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an adjustable length divider system is provided for use in merchandising. The divider system comprises a first divider portion including a longitudinal axis and a first base section, on which is defined a first connecting element. The system also comprises a second divider portion including a longitudinal axis and a second base section, on which is defined a second connecting element. The first and second connecting elements selectively engage each other such that the second divider portion is selectively detachable from the first divider portion and is movable along the longitudinal axis of the first divider portion to allow a length of the divider system to be changed. In this way, the divider system is able to be employed on associated shelves of varying depths. 
         [0009]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a pusher system is provided for biasing retail merchandise forward. The pusher system comprises a mounting clip which selectively cooperates with an elongated mounting member and a pusher body. A spring extends between and connects the mounting clip to the pusher body. The spring acts on the pusher body to bias it towards the mounting clip. The pusher body is physically separate from the mounting clip and is connected thereto only by the spring, such that the pusher system has a length which can be adjusted, thereby enabling the pusher system to be placed on associated shelves of varying depths. 
         [0010]    According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an adjustable depth merchandising apparatus. The adjustable length merchandising apparatus comprises an elongated mounting member operationally securable to an associated shelf and extending parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof. An adjustable divider system is selectively connected to the mounting member, wherein the divider system extends rearwardly over the associated shelf. A trackless pusher system is selectively connected to the mounting member and extends rearwardly over the associated shelf. Each of the divider system and the pusher system is selectively extendable so that an operative length of the respective system can be adjusted, thereby enabling the merchandising apparatus to be employed on associated shelves of varying depths. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The present disclosure may take form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, an embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an adjustable depth merchandising apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged side elevational view of a mounting member and a portion of the divider system of the merchandising apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged exploded perspective view from beneath the divider system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view from above the divider system of  FIG. 3 , with the divider system shown in a disconnected condition; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a reduced side elevational view of a second portion of the divider system of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a reduced side elevational view partially in cross section of the divider system of  FIG. 3  in a connected condition; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view partially in cross section of the elongated mounting member of  FIG. 1  and a pusher system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8A  is an enlarged side elevational view of the components of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8B  is a further enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 8A ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective view of the pusher system of  FIG. 1 ; and, 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged exploded perspective view from beneath a mounting clip of the pusher system of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the disclosure only and not for purposes of limiting same,  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a merchandising apparatus A according to the present disclosure. In this embodiment, an elongated mounting member, which can be a front rail  10 , includes a vertically oriented wall  12 , which comprises a first section  14 , a groove  16  and a second section  18 . The rail could also be positioned at a different location on the shelf. Also provided on the mounting member  10  is a horizontally oriented wall  20 . Disposed in the horizontally oriented wall is a second groove  22 . An aperture  24  is positioned in the second groove. It extends through the horizontally oriented wall  20  so that a suitable conventional fastener (not illustrated) can extend through the opening  24  so as to secure the mounting member in place on a subjacent shelf  26  via a suitable cooperating aperture  28 . Such a construction is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,216,770 which issued on May 15, 2007. That patent is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Moreover, applicant has also filed a related case, application Ser. No. 10/854,991, which is dated May 27, 2004. Other related cases include application Ser. No. 11/356,398 which was filed on Feb. 16, 2006 and application Ser. No. 11/809,862 which was filed on Jun. 1, 2007. These applications are also incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the horizontally oriented wall  20  comprises the second groove  22  and a plateau-like raised section  29  which includes a front face  30 , a top face  32  and a back face  34 . A plurality of teeth (not visible) can be provided on, for example, the back face of the raised section. 
         [0025]    A cooperating member, such as a divider system  50 , is selectively mounted to the front rail  10 . The divider system includes a first section  52  and a second section  54 . The second section can be selectively mounted to the first section in a plurality of settings or detached therefrom. In this way, the length of the divider system can be changed so as to accommodate varying depths of shelving  26 . It should be apparent that a variable size set of predetermined overall lengths of the shelving system  50  can be provided, depending upon the spacing of the cooperating connecting elements on the divider system first and second portions  52  and  54 . 
         [0026]    With reference now also to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the first portion  52  includes a base or horizontal portion  60  and an upright wall or dividing or barrier wall  62  that separates the base into a first base section  64  and a second base section  66 . Extending from the front edge of the base  60  is a tongue  68 . As is evident from  FIG. 2 , the tongue  68  can engage the second section  18  of the vertically oriented wall  12  of the front rail  10  when the divider system is mounted to the front rail. Also engaging the front rail is a projection  69  depending from a bottom face of the base  60 . More particularly, the projection  69  engages the front face  30  of the plateau-like section  29 . Positioned rearwardly from the projection  69  is a cross slot  70 . One or more teeth  71  (see  FIG. 3 ) defined on the base can protrude into the cross slot  70 . These teeth can cooperate with and engage suitable teeth (not visible) on the plateau-like section  29 , for example on the rear face  34  thereof. As can be seen from  FIG. 4 , a row of apertures  72  extend longitudinally on the base second section  66  along a longitudinal axis of the first portion  52 . 
         [0027]    As best seen from  FIG. 3 , a side wing  74  can extend from the base first section  64 . The side wing  74  can be employed for wider merchandise or can be removed, i.e., broken away, for narrower merchandise as desired. Defined on the base  60  are a pair of rails  76  and  78 . The rail  76  is located on the base first section  64  and the rail  78  is located on the base second section  66 . The rails  76  and  78  may be useful for supporting side edges of merchandise on the dividers, should that be considered advantageous. 
         [0028]    The divider system second portion  54  comprises a base or horizontal section  80  extending from which is an upright wall, divider or barrier  82 . An overhang  84  protrudes from the upper end of the upright wall  82 . Such overhang is beneficial in helping to keep the second portion  54  in place on the first portion  52 . A rail  86  is defined in the base  80 . With reference again to  FIG. 3 , a row of teeth  88  depend from a bottom surface of the base  80 . These extend along a horizontal axis of the second portion  54 . Also depending from the base  80  is a skirt or flange  90 . A cut out  92  is defined in a forward portion of the skirt  90 . The purpose for the cut out is to accommodate the front rail  10  when the front end of the second portion  54  is positioned close to the front end of the first portion  52 . 
         [0029]    With reference now also to  FIG. 6 , it can be seen that the second portion can be selectively connected to or disconnected from the first portion  52 . Such connection involves the row of studs or teeth  88  defined on the second portion  54  entering the row of apertures  72  defined in the first portion  52 . Simply pulling the second section upwardly away from the first section, disengages the teeth  88  from the apertures  72 . The second section  54  can then be moved along the axis of the first section  52  to a desired location. In this way, the length of the divider system can be either increased for a deeper shelf or reduced for a shallower shelf. Thus, the divider system is able to accommodate shelves of varying depths. It should be apparent that the fineness of the spacing of the teeth  88  and apertures  72  will determine the number of locations that the second divider section  54  can be moved to in relation to the first divider section  52 . Thus, any number of shelf depths can be accommodated by suitably spacing the connecting elements of the first section and the second section in relation to each other. It should also be appreciated that other types of connecting elements or locking elements for connecting the second section to the first section and preventing movement therebetween can also be employed. The location of the teeth and apertures could be reversed, for example. Also, in other embodiments, resilient interengaging clips or strips of hook and loop fasteners could be employed on the two sections. 
         [0030]    With reference again to  FIG. 1 , it can be seen that an adjustable length pusher system  100  can also be selectively mounted to the front rail  10 , either adjacent to or spaced from the divider system  50 . With reference now also to  FIG. 9 , the pusher system is trackless and includes a pusher body  101  comprising a front wall or face  102  which is adapted to contact merchandise in front of it, as well as first and second side walls  104  and  106  extending from the front wall. A rear wall  108  is connected to the two side walls  104  and  106 , thus forming a somewhat box shaped or rectangular structure. With reference now also to  FIG. 7 , the pusher body  101  also includes a base wall. This includes a first section  110 , which may be termed a flange, and, spaced therefrom, a second section  112 , which may be termed a bracing member. As can be seen, the second section is mounted between the first and second side walls  104  and  106  giving the pusher body  101  some additional rigidity. The first section of the base wall  110  is mounted to the rear wall  108  via gussets  114 , as shown in  FIG. 8A . Spaced from the base wall second section  112  is a guide wall  116  that spans or extends between the pair of side walls  104  and  106  and is connected thereto. The guide wall is vertically spaced from the base wall second section  112 . The guide wall  116  is also horizontally spaced from said front and rear walls  102  and  108 . An enlarged bottom lip  118  extends from a bottom end of the front wall or pusher face  102 . 
         [0031]    A coil spring  120  is mounted on the pusher  101 . More particularly, and as best shown in  FIG. 8A , the coil spring includes a first end or rear end  122  and a coiled portion  124 . The coiled portion is supported by the base wall first section  110 . The coil spring also includes a straight or linear intermediate portion  126 . This portion is threaded through the pusher body  101  such that the flat portion of the coil spring is supported by the upper surfaces of the base wall first and second sections  110  and  112  and is disposed beneath a lower surface of the guide wall  116 , as best seen in  FIG. 8A . Moreover, the bottom edge  118  of the front wall  102  is located above and is spaced from the coil spring straight portion  126 . These elements of the pusher body  101  guide the spring  120  and regulate its movement. A stable pusher body is thus provided. 
         [0032]    With reference again to  FIG. 9 , a front end or second end of the coil spring extends forwardly of the pusher body  101 . In this embodiment, the coil spring has a first side edge  130  spaced a considerable distance from a second side edge  132  such that the coil spring is as wide as possible while still being accommodated in the pusher body  101 . One benefit of providing a wide coil spring is that a relatively stable pusher system is provided. More particularly, the tendency of the pusher body  101  to pivot about a longitudinal axis of the pusher system  100  is reduced. Also, the tendency of the pusher body to move laterally is reduced. Further, the pusher body  101  has a relatively wide horizontal base portion. As such, the walls are provided with increased rigidity to prevent the walls from bowing or bending outwardly away from the merchandise. Moreover, the sufficiently rigid walls help maintain an approximately 90° angle between the front wall or face  102  and the pair of side walls  104  and  106 . 
         [0033]    The second end  128  of the coil spring is mounted to a mounting clip  140 . With reference now also to  FIG. 8B , the mounting clip comprises a front end  142  extending from which is a tongue  144  and a rear end  146 . Connecting the front and rear ends are first and second side walls  148  and  150  as best shown in  FIG. 9 . A slot  152  is defined in the mounting clip. The slot accommodates the second end  128  of the coil spring. With reference now also to  FIG. 10 , depending from a bottom face of the mounting clip is at least one stub  154 . Two such stubs are illustrated in the embodiment of  FIG. 10 . The stubs are accommodated in suitably sized and spaced apertures  156  located adjacent the front edge of the coil spring second end  128 . In this way, the front end of the coil spring can be connected to the mounting clip  140 . 
         [0034]    Also connected to the mounting clip is a locking member or locking element  160 . The locking member includes a first end  162  extending from which are spaced first and second protrusions  164  and  166 . Such protrusions are accommodated in suitable slots  168  and  170  defined in the mounting clip  140 . The locking member  160  also includes a central section  176  and a second end  180 . With reference again to  FIG. 8B , it can be seen that a face  182  of the mounting clip  160  contacts the stubs  154  so as to prevent the coil spring second end  128  from becoming detached from the mounting clip. The locking member second end  180  contacts a further section of the mounting clip. More particularly, it contacts a first leg  190  of a connecting element which also includes a second leg  192  and a protrusion  194 . The protrusion  194  cooperates with the front face  30  of the plateau-like section  29  of the front rail  10 . In this way, the mounting clip  140 , and hence, the pusher system  100  can be selectively secured to the front rail. In other words, the tongue  144  and the protrusion  194  cooperate in order to selectively secure the mounting clip  140  to the front rail  10 . The mounting clip can be detached from the front rail by rotating the mounting clip around its horizontal axis, or around the horizontal axis of the pusher system. The natural resiliency of the material from which the mounting clip  140  is made, and the locking member  160  is made (they can be made of conventional metal or plastic materials) allows the mounting clip to be connected to or disconnected from the rail  10 . 
         [0035]    It should be appreciated that the base wall first and second sections  110  and  112 , the guide wall  116  and the bottom edge  118  of the front wall cooperate to form an alignment structure for the coil spring  120 . The coil spring  120  is biased against the pusher body  101  on which it is mounted. The spiral spring unwinds and biases the pusher body towards the front rail  10  when the pusher body is drawn rearwardly away from the rail. As is well known, retail merchandise is positioned between the pusher front face or front wall  102  and the vertical wall  12  of the rail  10 , or a barrier (not shown) mounted in the groove  16  ( FIG. 1 ). The pusher body  101  is physically separated from the mounting clip  140 . Only the spring  120  connects the pusher body  101  to the mounting clip  140 . 
         [0036]    It should be apparent that the pusher system  100  is infinitely variable in length so as to accommodate any desired depth of the shelving on which it is supported. The infinite variability of the pusher system is brought about by the lack of a physical connection between the front clip  140  and the pusher body  101 . In other words, in this design, no track is provided on which the pusher body  101  can ride. Rather, the pusher body rides simply on the subjacent shelf on which the pusher system  100  is supported. 
         [0037]    Thus, the disclosed merchandising apparatus A includes both a variable length divider system  50  and a variable length pusher system  100 . In this way, shelving of almost all conventional types can be accommodated by the merchandising apparatus disclosed herein. In other words, a single merchandising apparatus according to the present disclosure can be configured to fit a large number of conventional shelving installations having varying depths. This will reduce the inventory of merchandising apparatus that needs to be stocked by a merchant in order to accommodate various shelving systems the merchant may have in a particular retail installation. 
         [0038]    It should also be appreciated that the divider system  50  and pusher system  100  can be selectively connected to or disconnected from the front rail  10 .  FIG. 2  illustrates the divider system  50  in the process of being either connected to or disconnected from the front rail  10 . 
         [0039]    If desired, the merchandise can be supported on the flat linear or straight portion  126  of the coil spring and disposed between a pair of spaced divider systems, so as to maintain the merchandise in a tight linear arrangement on the shelf. This configuration keeps retail merchandise centered while it is being moved toward the front rail. Alternatively, the side edges of a piece of merchandise (not illustrated) can be supported by respective rails of two spaced divider systems  50  such that the merchandise is not contacting the straight portion  126  of the spring but, rather, is spaced above it. Such an arrangement may be preferable as it might be easier for the pusher body  101  to slide in relation to the shelf  26  if merchandise is not contacting the flat portion  126  of the coil spring. 
         [0040]    The pusher system disclosed herein also takes up less space on a retail shelf and is less expensive than known systems since it is trackless and the need for a track, and the necessary material used for same, is avoided. The several components of the merchandising apparatus disclosed therein, namely, the front rail  10 , the divider system  50  and the pusher system  100  can be predominantly made of a suitable conventional thermoplastic material. However, the coil spring  120  is most often made of a resilient metallic material if so desired. Also, the locking member  160  can be made of a resilient metallic material. Of course, any suitable materials can be used to construct the various components of the disclosed merchandising apparatus. 
         [0041]    The disclosure has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.