Patent Publication Number: US-2010107670-A1

Title: Ventilated merchandising system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/143,862 filed on Jan. 12, 2009 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/079,295 filed on Jul. 9, 2008, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entities for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of merchandising systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a ventilated merchandising system which allows for enhanced air circulation for items presented in a refrigerated display case. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Merchandising systems for displaying products on shelves, in cabinets or in display cases are frequently found in consumer retail settings such as grocery stores, retail outlets and department stores. In particular, merchandising systems are not only used to conveniently store products, but are also used to provide an effective and aesthetically pleasing display for presenting the product to the consumer. 
     Display systems in refrigerated or freezer cases provide a unique merchandising difficulty if they are replacing manufacturer shelving units. In particular, cool air is pumped into the refrigerated case from the top and front of each case, and display systems located in the case obstruct the air flow patterns and cause the cool air to be diverted from the products, and also disrupt the balance of air inside the case and increase the amount of cool air pumped in (and therefore increase the overall energy needed to keep the case at the appropriate temperature). To help improve air circulation, baffles may be added between the merchandising displays in the case to aid in directing the cool air to the products on the shelves above and below the baffles. However, this is an added cost to the retailer, as they have to purchase the baffles, install them, and lose valuable space in the cases to allow room for the baffles between the displays. Baffles currently used are often unsightly because they tend to droop downwards from the point of attachment to the display grid, and tend to be installed irregularly within a case and among adjacent cases. Furthermore, the same types of shelves need to be installed throughout a case in order for baffles placed among the shelves to properly direct the cold air. The shelves must also be positioned at the same linear height within the case. As such, retailers are restricted to particular shelves and shelf configurations when using the baffles. Additionally, the irregular and imprecise placement of the baffles by the installers of the cooler units and store employees often fails to direct airflow correctly around the products. 
     There exist merchandising systems that allow for the presentation of products on display shelves and grid systems, but are not specifically designed for applications in refrigerator or freezer units where proper air circulation is important for food safety and preservation. Examples of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,248, U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,283 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,699. For example, conventional automatic feed product displays are configured to maintain the products to be displayed at the front of the display, improving access to and visibility of products to the consumer. The automatic feed displays eliminate a customer having to reach into the display to access a product, and may also provide a means for a portion of the display system to be advanced forward for easy loading by the retailer. However, conventional merchandising systems are not specifically designed for refrigerator or freezer applications where the proper circulation of cool air is essential to appropriately cool the products on the shelves. Further, as discussed above, the use of baffles is costly, unsightly, and inaccurate as a means of solving the problem of circulation of air within a cooler unit. 
     As such, it is an object of the present invention to provide a ventilated merchandising system for products displayed in refrigerator or freezer cases, such that the merchandising system is aesthetically pleasing, easy to install and versatile, and effectively circulates cold air around the products without the need for baffles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a ventilated merchandising system for products displayed in merchandise cooler units such as refrigerator or freezer cases. One embodiment of a merchandising system of the present invention includes a base member and a platform coupled to the base member. A gap between the platform and the base member allows air to flow between the platform and the base member. One or more plenum plates can be coupled to the base for directing air into the gap. The plenum plates can include fingers for directing air into the gap, wherein the fingers may be snap-fit on to vertical wires of a display grid. A pusher plate may also be coupled to and movable along the platform for advancing products along the platform. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention includes a base member, a platform and one or more plenum plates. The platform is coupled to the base member, moveable relative to the base member, and formed to support products to be displayed. The one or more plenum plates are coupled to the base member for directing air between the platform and the base member. The platform can include a separator coupled to the base member and a tray coupled to the separator for supporting products for display. The separator is preferably selectably slidable on the base member. The tray can include a channel along which the pusher plate is moveable. One or more arms may be coupled to the tray for supporting products. The arms are preferably adjustable to accommodate products of varying sizes. A front plate for retaining products can also be included, where the front plate is coupled to the platform and includes one or more vents to allow air to flow through the front plate. 
     The present invention also contemplates a baffle system that may be coupled to a merchandising tray. The baffle system includes a base member having a gap that allows air to flow through the base member and one or more wings coupled to the base member, wherein coupling the baffle system to a merchandising tray allows air to flow beneath products supported on the merchandising tray. One or more wing extensions may be moveably coupled to the wings, and one or more plenum plates may be coupled to the base member for directing air into the gap. 
     A method of distributing air flow within a merchandise cooler unit having a plurality of merchandising systems installed therein is also contemplated by the present invention. The method includes the steps of: capturing cold air produced by the merchandise cooler; directing the captured cold air into a gap between a base member and a platform of each of the merchandising systems in the merchandise cooler; and allowing the directed cold air to flow through the gap between the base member and the platform, thereby cooling products displayed on the merchandising system. 
     It will be understood by those skilled in the art that one or more aspects of this invention can meet certain objectives, while one or more other aspects can lead to certain other objectives. Other objects, features, benefits and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in this summary and descriptions of the preferred embodiments, and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such objects, features, benefits and advantages will be apparent from the above as taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures and all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial rear perspective view of a ventilated merchandising system without plenum plates in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a rear perspective view of a base member, separator, tray and mounting brackets of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of a separator, front plate and plenum plates of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of a base member of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of a ventilated merchandising system with arms expanded and in product loading position in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of a tray and arms of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9A  is a bottom view of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9B  is a bottom view of the embodiment in  FIG. 9A , without a base member; 
         FIG. 9C  is a bottom view of the embodiment in  FIG. 9A  with arms expanded; 
         FIG. 9D  is a bottom view of the embodiment in  FIG. 9A  with arms expanded and in product loading position; 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a top perspective view of a ventilated merchandising system with arms expanded in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of a ventilated merchandising system with arms expanded in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom perspective view of a separator and front plate of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a rear view of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a top view of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15A  is a detail side perspective view of the rear portion of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15B  is a detail side perspective view of the rear portion of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15C  is a detail top perspective view of the rear portion of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a detail side perspective view of the rear portion of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic side view of ventilated merchandising systems with products displayed and installed in a refrigerator or freezer case; 
         FIG. 17A  is a front view of a grid system; 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic of numerous ventilated merchandising systems with products displayed and installed in a refrigerator case; 
         FIG. 19  is a schematic view of numerous ventilated merchandising systems installed in a refrigerator case. 
         FIG. 20  is a top perspective view of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 21  is an exploded view of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 22  is a rear perspective view of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 23  is a front view of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 24  is a side perspective view of the rear portion of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 25  is a top view of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 26  is a bottom view of a tray and side arms of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 27  is a side view of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 28  is a bottom view of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 29A  is a perspective view of a baffle system coupled to a merchandising shelf in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 29B  is a perspective view of a standard merchandising shelf to which a baffle system may be coupled n accordance with the embodiment in  FIG. 29 ; 
         FIG. 30  is a perspective view of a baffle system in accordance with the embodiment in  FIG. 29 ; 
         FIG. 31  is a top view of a baffle system in accordance with the embodiment in  FIG. 29 ; 
         FIG. 32  is a bottom view of a baffle system in accordance with the embodiment in  FIG. 29 ; 
         FIG. 33  is a top view of a baffle system coupled to a merchandising shelf in accordance with the embodiment in  FIG. 29 ; 
         FIG. 34  is a side view of a baffle system coupled to a merchandising shelf in accordance with the embodiment in  FIG. 29 ; 
         FIG. 35  is a front view of a baffle system coupled to a merchandising shelf in accordance with the embodiment in  FIG. 29 ; 
         FIG. 36  is a perspective view of a baffle system coupled to a merchandising shelf in accordance with the embodiment in  FIG. 29 , attached to a grid system; 
         FIG. 37  is a perspective view of a baffle system coupled to a merchandising shelf in accordance with the embodiment in  FIG. 29 , attached to a grid system; 
         FIG. 38  is a rear perspective view of a baffle system coupled to a merchandising shelf in accordance with the embodiment in  FIG. 29 , attached to a grid system; 
         FIG. 39  is a side perspective view of a baffle system coupled to a merchandising shelf in accordance with the embodiment in  FIG. 29 , attached to a grid system. 
         FIG. 40A  is a top perspective view of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 40B  is a bottom view of the ventilated merchandising system of  FIG. 40A . 
         FIG. 41  is a top perspective view of a base member of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 42A  is a top perspective view of a front plate of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 42B  is an exploded view of the front plate of  FIG. 42A . 
         FIG. 43A  is a top perspective view of a front plate of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 43B  is a bottom view of the front plate of  FIG. 43A . 
         FIG. 44A  is a top perspective view of a front plate of a ventilated merchandising system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 44B  is a bottom view of the front plate of  FIG. 44A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     One embodiment of a ventilated merchandising system  30  for placement on a grid system  10  of a refrigerator or cooler case  20  is shown in the  FIGS. 1-18 . As seen in  FIGS. 1-4 , the system  30  includes a base member  40 , separator portion  50  and tray  60 . The separator portion  50  and the tray  60  together form a platform coupled to the base member  40  for supporting products to be displayed. As seen best in  FIG. 2 , the separator  50  is coupled to the base member  40  by flanges  41 ,  42  which fit into slots  51 ,  52  of the separator  50 . In one embodiment, the slots  51 ,  52  of the separator  50  fit over the flanges  41 ,  42  so that the entire separator  50  is slidably coupled to the base member  40 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , lips  53 A,  53 B,  54 A  54 B are located on the bottom of the separator  50 . These lips  53 A,  53 B,  54 A  54 B fit into a groove  48  coupled to a button  47  on the base  40  (other similar means of releasably engaging the separator  50  to the base  40  could also be used). In the first mode of operation, the display mode seen in  FIG. 1 , the front lips  53 A,  53 B are fit into the groove  48 . To disengage the separator  50  and slide the separator  50  and tray  60  forward away from the rear edge  45  of the base  40  to the second mode of operation, the loading mode seen in  FIG. 6 , the button  47  is pressed upward, causing the groove  48  to move downward away from the separator  50  and moving the groove  48  away from the front lips  53 A,  53 B. This releases the separator  50  from the base  40  and allows for the separator  50  (and tray  60  coupled to the separator  50 ) to be advanced away from the rear edge  45  of the base  40  so that the tray  60  can be moved forward to allow easy loading of products onto the tray  60 . The rear lips  54 A,  54 B then engage with the groove  48  to secure the separator  50  in the second position for loading of the products. When the products have been loaded, the release button  47  is again pressed upward, moving the groove  48  away from the rear apertures  54 A,  54 B so that the separator  50  can be slid backward toward the rear edge  45  into the first position. The groove  48  then engages again with the front apertures  53 A,  53 B to secure the tray  60  with loaded products in the first display position. As seen in an alternate embodiment in  FIGS. 9A-9D , the release mechanism may be located on the separator  50 , and metal supports  130  may be incorporated into the bottom of the separator  50  for added stability when separator  50  is pulled away from the base member  40  for product loading. 
     Tray  60  is coupled to separator  50  by fitting front edge  63  of tray  60  into channels  55 A,  55 B of separator  50 . In other embodiments, tray  60  may be integrally formed with or rigidly coupled to the separator  50 . Separator  50  may include a generally rectangular opening  58  along the length of the separator  50 . As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , tray  60  includes a generally rectangular opening  62  that extends along the length of the tray  60  to a distance adjacent the front  63  and rear  64  edges of the tray  60 . A projection  72  on the bottom of a pusher plate  70  snap-fits securely into the opening  62  of the tray  60 . As is well known in the art, the pusher plate  70  and a coil spring (not shown), which fits into a trough  74  of the pusher plate  70 , serve as means of biasing products toward the front  63  of the tray  60  as products are removed from the tray  60 . The coil spring abuts the pusher plate  70  and biases the pusher plate  70  forwardly toward the front edge  63  of tray  60 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 8-10 , base  40  may also include tracks  49 A,  49 B into which mounting brackets  90 A,  90 B can be fit. Mounting brackets  90 A,  90 B are slid into tracks  49 A,  49 B to mount system  30  on a wire grid system  10  in the back of a case  20 . As seen in  FIG. 17A , grid system  10  includes a plurality of horizontal  12  and vertical  14  bars. Each mounting bracket  90 A,  90 B includes one or more hooks  92  located, when assembled, near the rear edge  45  of base  40 . Hooks  92  hook over horizontal bars  12  of the grid system  10  to mount the system  30  in place on the grid  10 . Base  40  may include additional tracks  49 A,  49 B to accommodate additional mounting brackets  90 A,  90 B for mounting the system  30 . Each mounting bracket  90 A,  90 B could also include additional hooks  92  for hooking the mounting brackets  90 A,  90 B onto the grid system  10 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 9-12 , system  30  may also include adjustable side arms  80  and  82  to accommodate different sized products. Arms  80 ,  82  are adjustable to contain various sizes of products so that the products do not fall off the tray  60  over the side of the system  30 . Arms  80 ,  82  are movable in the directions indicated by arrows E 1 , such that they can be positioned nearer the tray  60  and away from the tray  60 . As seen in  FIG. 7 , arms  80 ,  82  are coupled to the tray  60  by flexible tabs  84 A,  84 B,  86 A,  86 B at the edges of each arm  80 ,  82 . Tabs  84 A,  84 B,  86 A,  86 B fit into slots  65  near the front edge  63  of and rear edge  64  of tray  60 . When arms  80 ,  82  are in the first or unexpanded position, tabs  84 A,  84 B,  86 A,  86 B are fit into the centermost slots  65  of the tray. To move the arms  80 ,  82  away from the tray  60  to the extended position ( FIGS. 6 ,  12 ), a user can pull outward on the arms  80 ,  82  until the tabs  84 A,  84 B,  86 A,  86 B loosen from the slots  65 . When the arms  80 ,  82  are at the desired position, tabs  84 A,  84 B,  86 A,  86 B fit into the appropriate slots  65  to secure that arms  80 ,  82  at the desired expanded position. Other means of moving and securing the arms  80 ,  82  may be used. Alternatively, side rails may be used in place of arms  80 ,  82 . Stationary side arms may also be used in lieu of movable arms  80 ,  82 . Arms  80 ,  82  may also include vents  88  to allow the cool air to easily travel to the front of the case  20 . Also, as seen in an alternate embodiment in  FIGS. 9C and 9D , support arms  89  may be coupled to base  40  to provide added stability to the arms  80 ,  82  in their extended position. 
     System  30  also includes a front plate  100 . Front plate  100  is aligned with the front edge  63  of tray  60  as seen in  FIGS. 11-12 . The front plate  100  acts as a product stop so that products do not fall over the front edge  63  of the tray  60 . Front plate  100  is coupled to the separator  50  by a lip  101  extending from front plate  100  that fits into recesses  56  on bottom of separator  50  (see  FIGS. 3 ,  13 ). As shown best in  FIG. 43B , snap-fit tabs  107   b  can be used to fit the lip  101  into recesses  56 . As seen in  FIGS. 8 and 15 , front plate  100  has a curved shape. This shape provides several advantages over traditional flat front plates. First, when bagged products are displayed on the system  30 , the bottom curvature  102  gives a bigger footprint to the bottom of the bags to help in keeping the bags upright on the tray  60 . Additionally, the top curvature  104  both helps to keep bagged products upright, and also, with any shape of product used with the system  30 , makes removal of products easier as the products easily slide over the top curvature  104  for smooth removal from the tray  60  (as opposed to traditional flat plates, which have a blunt straight top edge that can make pulling products over the edge difficult). As seen best in  FIG. 12 , front plate  100  also provides a display surface on which indicia such as graphics, information, labels, tags or bar codes can be placed. In the embodiment shown, front plate  100  includes a two label holders  106 ,  108 . First label holder  106  is sized to fit standard-sized price tags. The second label holder  108  includes two protrusions  108 A,  108 B to form the top and bottom walls of the label holder  108 . Because no side barriers are included, second label holder  108  can accommodate non-traditional sized tags or labels. Second label holder  108  could also be formed by including differently-sized or shaped protrusions  108 A,  108 B and/or spacing the protrusions  108 A,  108 B further apart or closer together to accommodate various types and sizes of labels or tags. Front plate  100  further includes vents  109 . As seen in  FIGS. 11 and 17 , vents  109  allow cool air which enters the at the rear of the system  30  to flow through and out of the front of the system  30  through the vents  109  (indicated by arrow A 1 ). 
       FIGS. 42 and 42A  show another embodiment of a front plate. The front plate  100   a  includes an adapter plate  111   a  and coupler plate  113   a . The coupler plate  113   a  can be coupled to the separator  50  as described with respect to front plate  100 . The adaptor plate  111   a  can be removably coupled to the coupler plate  113   a  via channels  115   a  for quick and easy assembly, removal and replacement of the adapter plate  111   a . Like front plate  100 , front plate  100   a  can also include vents  109   a  and label holders  108   a . Another embodiment of a front plate is shown in  FIGS. 43A and 43B . Like front plate  100 , the front plate  100   b  is curved and includes vents  109   b  and lip  101   b . Front plate  100   b  includes a curved label holder  106   b , and a short section  117   b .  FIG. 43B  also shows snap-fit tabs  107   b  that can be used to fit any front plate of the present invention to recesses  56  on the bottom of separator  50 . Yet another embodiment of a front plate is shown in  FIGS. 44A and 44B . Like front plate  100   b , front plate  100   c  includes a curved label holder  106   c , vents  109   c  and lip  101   c.    
     System  30  can also include one or more plenum plates  110 A,  110 B. Each plenum plate  110  has a plurality of fingers  112 . As seen best in  FIGS. 15A-15C , plenum plates  110 A,  110 B are attached to base by channels  49 A,  49 B molded into the rear edge  45  of base  40 . Plenum plates  110 A,  110 B are also adjustable. To adjust plenum plates  110 A,  110 B a user can slide the plates  110 A,  11 B toward ( 15 A) or away from ( 15 B,  15 C) the center of the base  40  in the channels  49 A,  49 B. Plenum plates  110 A,  110 B can be adjusted to align with the positioning of the adjustable arms  80 ,  82 , and adjustment also allows alignment of slits  114  between fingers  112  with the vertical grid wires  14 . When mounting the system  30  onto a grid  10 , fingers  112  are placed between the vertical grid wires  14  and pushed through, so that vertical grid wires  14  slide through slits  114  and into voids  116  in the plenum plates  110 A,  110 B and system  30  is snap-fit onto the grid system  10 . As seen in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the fingers  112  act to capture cold air which would otherwise drop behind the products (as shown by the lines C 3 ) and guide the cold air into the gap  44  in the system  30  (shown by the arrow A 1 ) to promote better cooling of the products displayed on the system  30 . 
     System  30  is also effective without plenum plates.  FIGS. 40A ,  40 B and  41  show one embodiment of system  30  without plenum plates. While the plenum plates are effective to direct cold air into the gap  44 , the placement of the fingers between the vertical grid wires  14  can be an extra step in the installation process that merchandisers may want to avoid. Without the plenum plates, cold air still flows into gap  44  to sufficiently circulate cold air beneath the products. For these reasons, merchandisers may prefer the system  30  without plenum plates. 
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , cold air is pumped into the case  20  at the front side of the case in the direction indicated by the arrow C 1 . The cold air then circulates around the bottom of the case  20  and upward toward the top of the case  20  along the back wall of the case  20 , as indicated by the arrow C 2 . Normally, as shown by the dotted line C 3 , the cold air then falls to the bottom of the case  20  behind the products, meaning cold air is not directed to the products themselves. Not only does the insufficient direct cooling present food safety issues, but the response to the issue is often to increase the amount of cold air pumped into the case  20  to decrease the overall air temperature in the entire case  20 . The increased energy necessary to cool the entire case  20  means an increased expense to the retailer and possible damage to the food from improper temperatures. To attempt to stop cold air from falling behind the products, baffles are sometimes placed between traditional display systems within the case to attempt to stop cold air from falling behind the products and directing it to the products on the shelves. However, as described above, the baffles present a host of disadvantages to the retailer, consumer, and, because of imprecise placement in the case, often fail to sufficiently direct the cold air to the products on the shelves. 
     The current system  30  solves these problems by allowing proper cooling of the products through capturing of the falling cold air (C 3 ) and circulation under the products (A 1 ) in one easy-to-install, versatile, space-saving system  30 . Ventilation of the system  30  works as follows. As seen best in  FIGS. 2 ,  2 A and  17 , the assembled system  30  includes a gap  44  between the base member  40  and the separator  50 , allowing cold air to pass through the gap  44  and beneath the products displayed on the system  30 . If used, the fingers  112  of the plenum plates  110 A,  110 B help capture the falling cold air (C 3 ) and direct it into the back of the system  30 , above the rear edge  45  of the base  40 , and through the gap  44  beneath the products displayed on the system  30 . The cold air then exits the front of the system  30  through the vents  109  in the front plate  100  aligned with the gap  44 . This airflow through the system is indicated by arrows A 1 . By allowing the cold air to flow beneath the displayed products, the food is more directly cooled than in traditional systems, without the use of baffles. The self-ventilating system  30 , by eliminating the need for baffles, allows retailers to increase the number of systems  30  in a case by placing them closer together and without space-wasting baffles in between. Also, as seen in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , systems  30  do not have to be linearly aligned across the case to accommodate baffles, and as such a retailer has more freedom to vary the number and types of systems  30  and products within a case  20 . 
     In another embodiment shown in  FIGS. 20-28 , the system  30  includes a base member  400 , separator portion  500  and tray  600 . In this embodiment, the separator portion  500  is stationary and does not slidably connect to the base member  400 . As seen in  FIG. 21 , the tray  600  is snap-fit into the separator portion  500  by inserting shafts  610  on the bottom of the tray  600  into holes  510  in the separator  500 . The separator  500  is sized so that it securely snap-fits into the base  400 . As seen in  FIGS. 23 and 24 , a gap  440  is provided between the base  400  and the separator  500  through which air can flow beneath products on the tray  600 . 
     Similar to the embodiment including the pull-out features shown in  FIGS. 1-19 , the embodiment in  FIGS. 20-28  includes adjustable side arms  800  and  820  to accommodate different sized products by positioning them nearer the tray  600  and away from the tray  600 . As seen in  FIG. 26 , arms  800 ,  820  are coupled to the tray  600  by flexible tabs  840 A,  840 B,  806 A,  860 B at the edges of each arm  800 ,  820 . Tabs  840 A,  840 B,  860 A,  806 B fit into slots  650  near the front and rear edges of tray  600 . When arms  800 ,  820  are in the first or unexpanded position, tabs  840 A,  840 B,  860 A,  860 B are fit into the centermost slots  650  of the tray. To move the arms  800 ,  820  away from the tray  600  to the extended position, a user can pull outward on the arms  800 ,  820  until the tabs  840 A,  840 B,  860 A,  806 B loosen from the slots  650 . When the arms  800 ,  820  are at the desired position, tabs  840 A,  840 B,  860 A,  860 B fit into the appropriate slots  650  to secure that arms  800 ,  820  at the desired expanded position. Stationary side arms may also be used in lieu of movable arms  800 ,  820 . Arms  800 ,  820  may also include vents  880  to allow the cool air to easily travel to the front of the case  20 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 20-22 ,  25  and  26 , tray  600  includes a generally rectangular opening  620  that extends along the length of the tray  600 . Similarly to the embodiment in  FIGS. 1-19 , a pusher plate  700  snap-fits securely into the opening  620  of the tray  600 . The pusher plate  700  and a coil spring  710 , which fits into a trough  740  of the pusher plate  700 , serve as means of biasing products toward the front of the tray  600  as products are removed from the tray  600 . As seen in  FIGS. 22-24  and  27 - 28 , base  400  may also include tracks  490 A,  490 B into which mounting brackets  900 A,  900 B can be fit. Mounting brackets  900 A,  900 B are slid into tracks  490 A,  490 B to mount system  30  on a wire grid system  10  in the back of a case  20  as shown in  FIG. 17A  and described above. 
     Similar to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-19 , the embodiment of system  30  in  FIGS. 20-28  also includes a front plate  1000 . Front plate  1000  is coupled to the separator  500  by inserting screws  1010  through holes  505  in the separator and tightening into holes (not shown) in the front plate  1000 . Front plate  1000  also has the curved shape and display surface and advantages of these features as described above with respect to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-19 . Front plate  1000  further includes vents  1090  to allow cool air which enters the at the rear of the system  30  to flow through and out of the front of the system  30  through the vents  1090  as described above. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 20-28 , system  30  also can include one or more plenum plates  1100 A,  1100 B. As seen in FIGS.  20  and  22 - 24 , these plenum plates  1100 A,  1100 B are the same as those described above with respect to previous embodiments, where each plenum plate  1100  has a plurality of fingers  1120 , and plenum plates  1100 A,  1100  are attached to base  400  by channels  495 A,  459 B molded into the base  400 . Plenum plates  1100 A,  1100 B are also adjustable and can be adjusted to align with the positioning of the adjustable arms  800 ,  820 , and adjustment also allows alignment of slits  1140  between fingers  1120  with the vertical grid wires  14 , where the grid wires  14  fit in the voids  1160  in the plates  1100 A,  1100 B. In the same way as described above and as seen in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the fingers  1120  act to capture cold air which would otherwise drop behind the products (as shown by the lines C 3 ) and guide the cold air into the gap  44  in the system  30  (shown by the arrow A 1 ) to promote better cooling of the products displayed on the system  30 . As with other embodiments, the system  30  is also effective without the plenum plates. 
     The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 20-28  fits into the same types of cases  20  in the same way as described above and has the same features and advantages as described above. It allows proper cooling of the products through circulation of cold air under the products (A 1 ) in one easy-to-install, versatile, space-saving system  30 . If used, the fingers  1120  of the plenum plates  1100 A,  1100 B help capture the falling cold air (C 3 ) and direct it into the back of the system  30 , above the rear of the base  400 , and through the gap  440  beneath the products displayed on the system  30 . The cold air then exits the front of the system  30  through the vents  1090  in the front plate  1000  aligned with the gap  440 . By directing the cold air to flow beneath the displayed products, the food is more directly cooled than in traditional systems, without the use of baffles. 
     In yet another embodiment of the system  30  shown in  FIGS. 29-39 , a baffle system  2000  is added to a standard merchandising system  2500  to allow cold air to move under the products as described above and shown in  FIGS. 17-19 .  FIG. 29B  shows one example of a standard merchandising shelf  2500  to which a baffle system  2000  may be added. The shelf may include a tray  2510 , a pusher plate  2520 , a front plate  2530 , a coil spring  2540 , side arms  2550 A,  2550 B which may be adjustable, and mounting brackets  2560 A,  2560 B. Other configurations of merchandising systems with additional or modified components may also be used with a baffle system  2000 . By fitting a standard shelf  2500  with a baffle system  2000  as shown in  FIG. 29A , cooling of the products on the shelf  2500  by directing cold air through the baffle system  200  beneath the products may be accomplished without the need to purchase an entirely new self-ventilating merchandising system. A baffle system  2000  as shown in  FIGS. 30-39  would provide all of the advantages described with respect to the other embodiments contemplated herein (such as proper cooling of products, varied arrangements of shelves in the cases, ventilation without the need for troublesome stand-alone baffles placed between shelves, etc.), but could also be easily coupled to standard merchandising shelves  2500  already in use in refrigerator or freezer cases. 
     One embodiment of a baffle system  2000  in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 29-39  that can be added to a standard merchandising shelf  2500  is shown in  FIGS. 30-32 . Baffle system  2000  includes baffle base  2020 , baffle wings  2030 A,  2030 B, wing extensions  2040 A,  2040 B, and plenum plates  2050 A,  2050 B. Baffle base  2020  snap-fits onto the merchandising shelf  2500 , and as seen in FIGS.  29 A and  33 - 39 , assembled baffle system  2000  works to direct air from the back of the cooler beneath products on the shelf  2500  to provide direct cooling to the products. Baffle base  2020  includes slots  2025  into which plenum plates  2050 A,  2050 B can be slidably fit and allows slidable adjustment of the plenum plates  2050 A,  2050 B. 
     Baffle wings  2030 A,  2030 B snap-fit onto baffle base  2020 . As seen in  FIGS. 30-32 , openings  2032  in wings  2030 A,  2030 B are used to movably attach wing extensions  2040 A,  2040 B to each wing  2030 A,  2030 B. Tabs  2042  on the wing extensions  2040 A,  2040 B friction fit into the openings to allow wing extensions  2030 A,  2030 B to slide toward and away from the center of the baffle base  2020 . This allows wing extensions  2030 A,  2030 B to be adjusted to accommodate larger products which extend beyond the tray  2510  and are held in place by extendable side arms  2550 A,  2550 B and ensure that cold air directed by the plenum plates  2050 A,  2050 B (also adjustable to line up with larger products extending beyond the tray  2510 ) is directed beneath the entire product area. Thus, plenum plates  2050 A,  2050 B, wing extensions  2030 A,  2030 B and arms  2550 A,  2550 B of the shelf  2500  can all be adjusted to accommodate products of varying sizes to ensure that cold air is properly directed beneath the products. Wing extensions  2030 A,  2030 B may also include vents  2045  to allow further circulation of cold air beneath products on the tray  2510  above. 
     As seen best in  FIG. 30 , baffle base  2020  includes a gap  2010 . Similar to the other embodiments shown and described herein, the plenum plates  2050 A,  2050 B in this embodiment capture the falling cold air (C 3 ) and direct it into the back of the system  30 , through the gap  440  beneath the products displayed on the merchandising shelf  2500 . In the same way as described above and as seen in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the fingers  2054  of the plenum plates  2050 A,  2050 B act to capture cold air which would otherwise drop behind the products (as shown by the lines C 3 ) and guide the cold air into the gap  2010  in the system  30  (shown by the arrow A 1 ) to promote better cooling of the products displayed on the system  30 . By directing the cold air to flow beneath the displayed products, the food is more directly cooled than in traditional systems. Plenum plates  2050 A,  2050 B, as seen in  FIGS. 36-39 , are adjustable, and adjustment allows alignment of slits  2052  between fingers  2054  with the vertical grid wires  14 , where the grid wires  14  fit in the voids  2056  in the plates  2050 A,  2050 B. Thus, when plenum plates  2050 A,  2050 B are adjusted to accommodate products of varying sizes on the shelf  2500 , the slits  2052 , fingers  2054 , and voids  2056  ensure that the system  30  can be attached to a grid. 
     Although the invention has been herein described in what is perceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments set forth above. Rather, it is recognized that modifications may be made by one of skill in the art of the invention without departing from the spirit or intent of the invention and, therefore, the invention is to be taken as including all reasonable equivalents to the subject matter of the appended claims and the description of the invention herein.