Abstract:
A gravity feed. display rack for supporting and displaying merchandise features a merchandise channel support structure, and at least one merchandise channel. The channel has a merchandise support, a left wall and a right wall, the left wall and right wall adjustably located in spaced apart relationship upon the merchandise channel support structure to accommodate varying sizes of merchandise. Thus the display rack may be adjustably assembled to accommodate specific sizes of merchandise.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates, generally, to bottle and can shelving systems and, in particular, to a user configurable shelving system for gravity-feed beverage containers. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The prior art includes systems for displaying chilled beverage containers for ready access to retail customers. One system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,945, which issued to Rowse, et al., and which is incorporated herein by reference. The prior art further includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,176 which issued to Jay, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,993 which issued to Ondrasik. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a shelving system which may be configured by the retail business which displays and sells the containers or beverages. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a bottle or container shelving system which may be reconfigured from the original arrangement. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container shelving system which may be configured to accommodate a variety of container sizes, and reconfigured thereafter as desired. 
   The present inventions therefore provides a gravity feed display rack for supporting and displaying merchandise. The rack having a merchandise channel support structure, and at least one merchandise channel, the channel having a merchandise support, a left wall and a right wall, the left wall and right wall adjustably located in spaced apart relationship upon the merchandise channel support structure to accommodate varying sizes of merchandise. 
   The present invention further provides a gravity feed display rack for supporting and displaying merchandise. The rack having a merchandise channel support structure, and at least one split merchandise channel, the split channel being adjustable in width, and located upon the merchandise channel support structure. 
   In another embodiment, the present invention provides a gravity feed display rack for supporting and displaying merchandise. The rack having a merchandise channel support structure, at least one inner divider, the inner divider including a longitudinally extending wall, and a left merchandise support extending from the wall and in a direction generally at a right angle to the wall, and a right merchandise support extending from the wall and in a direction generally at a right angle to the wall, the at least one inner diver having a support structure connector, a left outer divider, the left outer divider including a longitudinally extending wall, and a left merchandise support extending from the wall and in a direction generally at a right angle to the wall, the left outer divider having a support structure connector, and a right outer divider, the right outer divider including a longitudinally extending wall, and a right merchandise support extending from the wall and in a direction generally at a right angle to the wall, the right outer divider having a support structure connector, wherein the dividers are individually adjustably located in spaced apart relationship upon the merchandise channel support structure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the shelf management system in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a partial exploded bottom perspective view of the shelf management system in accordance with the present invention, showing the left and right channel rails, and a plurality of center rails, and a plurality of rods. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a center channel rail and a plurality of rods. 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 3 , with a rod extending through the rod passage of the center channel rail. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a portion of the right side channel rail and a portion of a plurality of rods, in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  are enlarged views of  FIG. 2 , showing the connector of the left channel rail. 
       FIG. 7  is a partial front view of the shelf management system in accordance with the present invention, showing a narrow spacer and a wide spacer  4 , in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom view of a narrow spacer, in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the shelf management system in accordance with the present invention. A gravity feed display rack  12  is shown.  FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the rack  12 , shown partially disassembled. The rack  12  includes a plurality of channel rails or inner dividers  14 , a right outer divider  16  and a left outer divider  18  (see  FIG. 2 ). The inner dividers  14  include a longitudinally extending wall  20 , with a right and left merchandise support  22 ,  24  extending in opposite directions from the wall  20 . The merchandise supports  22 ,  24  each having a longitudinally extending edge  26  (see  FIG. 2 ). The wall  20  splits into two diverging curved front walls  28 . The inner dividers  14  include a plurality of connectors  30  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
   The right outer divider  16  includes a longitudinally extending wall  34 , with a right merchandise support  36  extending from the wall  34 . The merchandise support  36  having a longitudinally extending edge  40 . The wall  34  merges into a curved front wall  42 . The right divider  32  includes a plurality of connectors  44 . 
     FIG. 2  shows the left outer divider  18 . The left divider  18  is a mirror image of the right divider  32 . The left divider  18  includes a longitudinally extending wall  52 , with a left merchandise support  54  extending from the wall  52 . The merchandise support  54  having a longitudinally extending edge  56 . The wall  52  merges into a curved front wall  58  ( FIG. 7 ). The left divider  18  includes a plurality of connectors  60  (see  FIG. 6 ) which are similar to connector  44 . 
     FIG. 2  shows the connectors,  30 ,  44  and  60 . Each connector  30  is shown to include two depending spaced apart facing connector walls  64  depending downwardly (as viewed from  FIG. 1 ) from the merchandise support. The connector walls each include a flange  66 .  FIGS. 5 and 6  show that the connectors  44 ,  60  include a top wall  68 , opposing sidewalls  70 , a bottom wall  72 , and an end wall  74 .  FIG. 6  shows the bottom wall  72  of connector  60  to include a finger  76 , having a locking detent  78 . The end wall  74  includes an abutment  80 . 
     FIG. 2  also shows the merchandise channel support structure  82 . The merchandise channel support structure  82  includes a plurality of rods  84 . The rods  84  include four walls  86 ,  88 ,  90  and  92  (see  FIG. 4 ). The bottom wall  92 , as viewed in  FIG. 1 , includes a latch opening  94  (See  FIG. 2 ) at each end of the rod  84 . 
   As demonstrated in  FIG. 1 , pairs of dividers  14 ,  16  and  18  form respective split merchandise channels  96 . 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  show the plurality of rods  84 , each rod shown having an opening  94  to receive a detent  78  of the locking flange  76  for securing the rod in place with respect to the left side channel rail at one side, and the right side channel rail at the other side. The plurality of rods will extend through the respective openings or connectors of the center, left hand and right hand channel rails. 
     FIG. 4  shows a enlarged view of one inner channel rail  14  with a rod  84  extending through the opening or connector  30 . The connector can be seen to be formed by a horizontal surface and two opposed parallel facing vertical surfaces or connector walls  64  having a flange  66  at the end for retaining the rod within the connector  30 . The rod extends within the connector  30  but not in an interference fit. Rather, the rod is slidable within the connector  30 . 
     FIG. 5  shows a right side channel rail  16  having a right or longitudinally extending outer wall  34  which extends in a forward direction and curves to provide the curved front wall  42  with lower and upper stops  98 . The rail further provides a horizontal surface or merchandise support  36  and a plurality of openings or connectors  44 . 
   It will be appreciated that when a center channel rail is adjacent to the left hand guide rail, a channel is formed for a certain container size, for example an eight ounce container. The distance between guide rails may be expanded by the use of adaptors or spacers  100 ,  102  which may be positioned between adjacent guide rails  14 ,  16 ,  18 . The spacers  100 ,  102  are shown in  FIG. 7  in one embodiment. The spacers include a generally longitudinally extending support surface  104  having a width. The spacers include a plurality of connectors  106  (see  FIG. 8 ) similar to connectors  30 . The spacers are positioned between adjacent channel rails  14 ,  16  and  18  and increase the width between adjacent walls proportional to the width of the spacer. In one embodiment, two sizes of spacers are anticipated, such as the half inch and one inch length spacers  100 ,  102  shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   It will be appreciated that the retail business will be capable of assembling a shelving system using the described component parts, to provide plurality of channels, wherein each channel may be of the same size or of an assortment of sizes, to accommodate various sized merchandise.