Abstract:
An elongate display track device has front and rear segments. The front segment has sidewalls with vertical channels therein to receive arm to support a product identification panel. A detent in each channel engages the scalloped surface of the bottom portion an arm to adjust the vertical position of the product identification panel. A foot is connected to the rear segment to elevate the rear of the track to assist gravity feed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.: 09/999,317 filed Oct. 31, 2001. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a track device for a merchandising display shelf, and, more particularly, to a gravity feed track device for articles on the shelf, particularly bottles, to slide along. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A display rack unit is assembled from multiple track devices for merchandising articles such as bottled on canned drink products. The display rack unit typically includes a plurality of elongated track devices detachably interconnected in side-by-side relationship at adjacent sidewalls. The number of track devices used to assemble the display rack unit is determined such that the size of the unit is suitable for placement onto an existing display shelf in a retail environment to fill the width of the shelf. 
     Articles in the track can be moved from the rear to the front for dispensing one at a time using pusher mechanisms or using gravity. Pusher mechanisms have many separate components that increase the cost and complexity of the track devices. Gravity feed track devices are typically less expensive and simpler than pusher devices. Gravity feed can be achieved easily with a simple track device when the shelf on which the track device rests is inclined. When the shelf is not inclined but has an upwardly extending rear lip, ledge or back stop, gravity feed is still easily achieved with a simple track device that rests on the back stop to raise the rear of the device. For other flat shelves, the track device itself must provide the incline. 
     One device that provides the incline is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,090 wherein a display unit with rollers disposed on an incline to effect gravity feed. The unit includes a horizontal bottom panel and a vertical rear panel that support roller supports which are inclined. While gravity feed is achieved with the incline, rollers and other structural components are required thereby increasing cost and complexity. Also, the incline is a permanent part of the structure making the unit useable only with flat shelves. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to have a cost effective, relatively simple track device that can be used with both flat and inclined shelves. 
     An unfortunate problem with beverage bottles in track devices is that the product labels do not always face forward thereby obscuring product identification. Some track devices have a front piece that provides an area for a product label along the bottom of the front piece. While such an area on the front piece improves product identification, the area sometimes obscured by the shelving or the refrigerator unit. It will be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to have track device with a front piece or front segment that provides a product identification area that is not obscured by the shelf or the refrigerator unit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to present the invention, an elongate display track device for receiving a row of articles for sliding movement therealong comprises front and rear track segments. The front track segment has base wall with opposed sidewalls upstanding from the base wall. 
     The rear track segment has a base wall with opposed sidewalls upstanding from the base wall. The base wall has top and bottom surfaces and defines first and second openings disposed between the sidewalls. Each opening has first and second opposed edges. A rear end wall is attached to the base wall and the sidewalls. A first flange is attached to the bottom surface of the base wall adjacent the first edge of the first opening and extends toward the second edge of the first opening. A second flange is attached to the rear end wall adjacent the second edge of the second opening and extends therefrom toward the first edge of the second opening and toward the first flange. A foot is attached to the first and second flanges and extends downwardly from the bottom surface of the base wall. 
     The foot and the base wall are connected at an angle so that when the foot is oriented vertically the base wall slants downwardly with the second opening being at a higher elevation than the first opening. The angle permits the foot to stand upright with the base wall of the track device slanted downward toward the front for urging the containers toward the front. 
     The foot has a plurality of parallel ribs extending downwardly from a bottom portion of the foot. The ribs are adapted to engage wires of a wire shelf to prevent lateral movement of the foot thereby making the inclined track device more stable. 
     The front segment has first and second upwardly extending arms adjustably attached thereto Each arm has a top portion and a bottom portion with a scalloped surface. A product identification panel is attached to the top portion of the arms. Each sidewall of the front track segment defines a channel that extends transversely along the sidewall perpendicular to the base wall of the front track segment. Each channel has a detent at a top portion thereof adapted to engage the scalloped surface of the bottom portion of one of the arms so that the height of the product identification panel can be adjusted. 
    
    
     These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of a track device according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the adjustable length track device taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is somewhat enlarged sectional view of the front track segment of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a somewhat enlarged top view of the front track segment of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the front track segment with product identification panel installed. 
     FIG. 6 is front view of the support arms and attached panel. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of a portion of the left support arm illustrating the bend and scallops. 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of a portion of the right support arm illustrating the scallops and channel. 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line  9 — 9  of FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 is a top view of the right sidewall channel illustrating the detent. 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the right sidewall channel below the detent. 
     FIG. 12 is a somewhat enlarged sectional view of the rear track segment of FIG. 2 illustrating the foot. 
     FIG. 13 is a somewhat enlarged sectional view of the rear track segment of FIG. 2 without the foot. 
     FIG. 14 is a somewhat enlarged top view of the rear track segment of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 15 is a somewhat enlarged bottom view of the rear track segment of FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 16 is a front view of the supporting foot. 
     FIG. 17 is a left side view of the supporting foot. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A display rack unit is typically assembled from multiple track devices  10  and is designed to merchandise articles such as bottled or canned drink products. A typical display rack unit includes a plurality of elongated track devices  10  detachably interconnected in side-by-side relationship. The number of track devices used to assemble the display rack unit is determined such that the size of the unit is suitable for placement onto an existing display shelf in a retail environment. The interconnection of two adjacent track devices is conventionally achieved by connecting means such as connector slots cooperating with L-shaped horizontal connector elements. Details of such track devices and connector elements are more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,564, which issued Jun. 3, 1997 to Spamer et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-2, an elongated display track device  10  receives a row of articles for sliding movement therealong. Display track device  10  is composed of a number of individual segments or segments that are frangibly connected end-to-end to one another. A frangible connection may be made by connecting two segments of normal thickness with a small segment of the same, but thinner, material with the thinner material forming a fracture line along which the segments can be easily separated. There is a front segment  12  that is connected to a first intermediate segment  14  along a fracture line. First intermediate segment  14  is connected to a second intermediate segment  16  along a fracture line and is connected to a third intermediate segment  18  along another fracture line. Third intermediate segment  18  is connected along a fracture line to a fourth intermediate segment  20 . A rear segment  22  is connected to intermediate segment  20  along a fracture line. Any one or all of intermediate segments  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  may be removed with rear segment  22  then connecting to either the front segment  12  or to any intermediate segment remaining that is nearest the rear segment  22 . Such track segments are more fully described in co-pending application Ser. No.: 09/999,317, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     The front track segment  12  has a floor or base wall  24  with opposed upstanding sidewalls  26 ,  28  forming a channel for a single row of articles to slide along between the sidewalls  26 ,  28 . Base wall  24  has a front end portion that will be disposed at the front of the display shelf and a rear end portion that defines a keyway or other means for connecting to an intermediate track segment or the rear track segment. 
     The rear track segment  22  also has a base wall with opposed upstanding sidewalls. The base wall has a front end portion defining a key or other means for connecting to an intermediate track segment or the front track segment. A rear panel  30  is upstanding from the base wall of the rear track segment  22  and stretches across the rear of the track device to strengthen the structure. Rear panel  30  is preferably integrally formed with the base wall and upstanding sidewalls of the rear segment but may be detachably connected thereto with a tongue and groove connection, for example. 
     The left and right sidewall panels  26 ,  28  of the front track segment  12  define one or more recesses  32  along their bottom edges. These recesses  32  are adapted to engage and rest on a wire of a wire shelf to inhibit forward movement of the track device relative to the wire shelf. When used on a shelf, the shelf may be flat or horizontal, or it may be inclined so that the rear of the shelf is at a higher elevation than the front of the shelf to help articles slide forward to the front of the shelf. In either case, the recesses will engage either one of the wire mesh members or a ledge, lip or ridge running along the front of the shelf to prevent movement of the track device. Where the shelf is inclined, the recesses are critical because the track device will have a tendency to slide forward on the shelf, or possibly off the shelf completely. There are preferably several recesses  32  to project different lengths of the track device forward to fill space between the front of the shelf and the door of the cooler to make product dispensing more convenient. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the front track segment  12  has a front piece  34  that acts as a front stop for articles in the track. As articles are placed in the track from the rear they slide forward and come to rest against front piece  34 . Front piece  34  has a panel  36  that extends along a bottom edge portion thereof for displaying product labels or other product identification or information. A top edge of panel  36  is preferably positioned at a higher elevation than the elevation of the bottom wall  24  of the front track segment  12  while a bottom edge of panel  36  is at a lower elevation than the base wall. Front piece  34  has side panels that project into the path of the articles to prevent the articles sliding out the front of the track. Front piece  34  is preferably integrally formed with front track segment  12  but may be a separate member connected to front track segment  12 . 
     Panel  36  is preferably slanted with the top edge of the panel tilted inward toward the front track segment  12 , and with a bottom edge of panel  36  tilted away from front track segment  12 . As viewed in FIGS. 2-3, panel  36  makes an acute angle with a projection of the base wall  24 . An angle of about 55° is most preferred, but an angle in a range from about 30° to about 70° is preferred. Angles below this range tilt the panel inward too much either wasting space interfering with the articles. Angles above this range tilt the panel outward too little much making the product identification difficult to read. Panel  36  is preferably curved with a middle portion of the panel extending away from front track segment  12  more than either side edge of the panel giving panel  36  a curved or rounded appearance when viewed from the front (FIG.  4 ). Panel  36  actually has a convexoconcave configuration. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5-9, the track device has first and second upwardly extending arms  38 ,  40  that are detachably connected to the front track segment  12  of the track device  10 . Detachable arms facilitate compactness for shipping the units. A panel  42  is attached to a top portion of the arms  38 ,  40 . Panel  42  is curved similar to the front piece panel  36  with side edges of panel  42  extending rearward toward the rear track segment  22  more than a middle portion of the panel  42 . The panels provide areas for placing labels, decals or other product identification. The arms are angled such and have a length such that the panel  42  does not interfere with articles placed on the track device, and, preferably, is positioned behind the first article at the front of the display track that is to be removed. The angle between the upper and lower portions of each arm is preferably between about 30° to about 50°. A lesser angle causes the top panel  42  to interfere with the tops of articles while a greater angle fails to place panel  42  behind the lead article. The top panel supported on the arms is above and behind the lead article while the front piece panel is generally below but forward of the articles. Placing product identification labels or decals on the upper and lower panels makes product orientation less critical. 
     Arm  38  has a top portion  44  and a bottom portion  46 . The rear side of bottom portion  46  has a series of protrusions, preferably scallops  48 , for adjusting the height of top panel  42 . The top portion  44  has a protrusion  50  for connecting to an adjacent track device via a slot in the adjacent track device. The top portion of arm  40  has a slot  54  that can receive a protrusion form an adjacent track device to connect the two track devices together. 
     Arm  40  has a bottom portion  56  with a rear side having scallops  52  for adjusting the height of top panel  42 . Arm  40  contains a spline or rib  58  that extends from the lower edge of bottom portion  56  to the main portion of arm  40 . When assembled, rib  58  is substantially perpendicular to the base wall of the front segment  12  causing top panel  42  to be supported behind the front piece  34 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 10-11, each of the sidewalls  26 ,  28  of front track segment  12  define a groove or channel  60  extending transversely therealong generally perpendicular to base wall  24 . Channel  60  for right sidewall  28  includes front and rear L-shaped rails  62 ,  64  that are spaced apart to receive the bottom portion of right arm  40 . A detent  66  at the top of the rear rail  64  engages the scalloped surface  52  of the bottom portion of right arm  40  to hold top panel  42  at a selected height. Single detent  66  which exists at the top portion of channel  60  has been found sufficient to hold the arm and panel in position. If desired, double detents could be used with the second detent disposed below the first detent  66 . The left sidewall  26  is similarly configured with the channels on the interior or inboard side of the arms so that they face one another. As an alternative, the channel could be formed as grooves without causing a protrusion from the sidewalls. Also, equivalently, the channels could be scalloped with detents present on the arms. Scallops are preferred on the arms however to make manufacturing easier and less expensive. 
     Referring to FIGS. 12-15, the base wall of the rear track segment  22  has front and rear openings  70 ,  72  disposed between the sidewalls. Each opening has opposed front and rear edges with the front edge being nearer to front segment  12  than the rear edge which is nearer to rear panel  30 . As illustrated, front and rear openings  70 ,  72  are on the right side of the track device and aligned with one another along a longitudinal axis of the track. Also, as illustrated, there are a pair of front openings disposed on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline of the track, and a pair of rear openings similarly disposed. 
     A front flange  74  is attached to the bottom surface of the base wall of rear segment  22  adjacent the front opening  70 . Flange  74  extends toward the front edge of the rear opening  72 . Flange  74  has a riser  76  connected to the base wall and a ledge or tread  78  extending from riser  76  toward rear wall  30 . Tread  78  and riser  76  are preferably perpendicular to one another like the tread and riser of a step of a stairway. Tread  78  receives and supports the supporting foot  80  and acts as a latch for the support foot  80 . The latching function is facilitated by riser  76  which flexes moving tread  78  so that the foot  80  can enter between tread  78  and the bottom of the base wall. When foot  80  enters, the riser snaps back into position causing the tread to engage the foot locking the foot in position. 
     As best illustrated in FIG. 13, an optional intermediate flange  82  extends downward from the bottom surface of rear track segment  22  adjacent the rear edge of front opening  70 . Flange  82  cooperates with flange  74  to lock foot  80  in position. 
     A rear flange  84  is attached to end wall  30  adjacent the rear edge of rear opening  72 . Flange  82  extends from rear wall  30  toward the front edge of rear opening  72  and toward front flange  74 . The riser portion of flange  82  is an extension of base wall  30 . Tread  86  is attached to the riser and is preferably perpendicular thereto. Tread  86  extends from the rear wall  30  and riser toward the front track segment. Tread  78  is at a higher elevation than tread  86  which facilitates angularly orienting the foot relative to the base wall. Notches  88  on either side of the riser allow the riser to flex. When a rear flange is used, an intermediate flange is not required. 
     Referring to FIGS. 16-17, foot  80  is attached to the first and second flanges  74 ,  82  and extends downwardly from the bottom surface of the base wall of rear the track segment. Foot  80  is connected at an angle to the base wall. When foot  80  is in use, it is preferably disposed vertically causing the base wall and track device to slant downwardly with the rear opening  72  being at a higher elevation than the front opening. Foot  80  has a bottom portion with a plurality of parallel guides or ribs  92  extending downwardly to engage wires of a wire shelf to prevent lateral movement of the foot. Adjacent ribs fit over individual wires to laterally anchor the foot. A central opening  90  in the supporting foot promotes air circulation. Air circulation is critical to properly ventilate the articles, especially when the articles are to be dispensed cold. 
     The top portion of foot  80  has front and rear protrusions or flanges  94 ,  96  that engage the track device. Front flange  94  extends forward from the main body of the foot to engage front flange  74 . The top front corner of flange  94  is truncated for easier assembly. When assembled, the bottom surface of flange  94  rests on the top surface of tread  78 . Rear flange  96  extends rearward from the main body to engage rear flange  82 . The top rear corner of flange  96  is truncated for easier assembly. When assembled, the bottom surface of flange  96  rests on the top surface of tread  86 . 
     It can now be appreciated that an inclined track device for a merchandising display shelf for a plurality of bottles to slide along has been presented. The elongate display track device has front and rear track segments each having a base wall with opposed sidewalls upstanding from the base wall. The base wall has top and bottom surfaces and defines first and second openings disposed between the sidewalls. Each rectangular opening has first and second opposed edges. A rear end wall is attached to the base wall and the sidewalls and preferably integrally formed therewith to increase structural integrity. 
     A first flange is attached to the bottom surface of the base wall adjacent the first edge of the first opening and extends toward the second edge of the first opening. A second flange is attached to the rear end wall adjacent the second edge of the second opening and extends therefrom toward the first edge of the second opening and toward the first flange. A foot is attached to the first and second flanges and extends downwardly from the bottom surface of the base wall. The foot and flanges interlock to provide a secure structure for supporting the articles that slide along the track device. Because the supporting foot is at the rear of the track device raising the rear of the track device, the track device is inclined from the front toward the rear allowing the articles to slide forward for dispensing one at a time. While the dimensions of the track device and foot vary, the angle of incline need not be more that about 8° to operated effectively at all times. 
     The foot and the base wall are connected at an angle so that when the foot is oriented vertically the base wall slants downwardly with the second opening being at a higher elevation than the first opening. The angle permits the foot to stand vertically upright with the base wall of the track device slanted downward toward the front for urging the containers toward the front. 
     The foot has a plurality of parallel ribs extending downwardly from a bottom portion of the foot. The ribs are adapted to engage wires of a wire shelf to prevent lateral movement of the foot thereby making the inclined track device more stable. Adjacent ribs cooperate to fit about a single wire of the wire shelf locking the foot against lateral movement. The openings in the base wall fit about a lip of the shelf locking the track device against forward movement. 
     The front segment has first and second upwardly extending arms adjustably attached thereto Each arm has a top portion and a bottom portion with a scalloped surface. A product identification panel is attached to the top portion of the arms. Each sidewall of the front track segment defines a channel that extends transversely along the sidewall perpendicular to the base wall of the front track segment. Each channel has a detent at a top portion thereof adapted to engage the scalloped surface of the bottom portion of one of the arms so that the height of the product identification panel can be adjusted. When properly adjusted the top panel lies above the articles and behind the lead article in the track. 
     While the invention has been described with particular reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements of the preferred embodiments without departing from invention. For example, while a track device with a single foot has been described, intermediate feet attached to intermediate track segments could be used to provide support for long spans or where it is desired to use thinner material for the track device. And while a foot with double front and double rear locking flanges has been described, single flanges or a mixture of single and multiple flanges could be used. 
     As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details of the examples illustrated, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, a single supporting foot could be used to support multiple track devices instead of using multiple feet. It is accordingly intended that the claims shall cover all such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.