Patent ID: 12251032

While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now the drawings, various embodiments of a retail merchandise tray are illustrated. A retail merchandise tray (hereinafter referred to as a “tray”) according to the teachings herein as the advantage of having a reduced assembly time and cost due in part to the weld-free interconnection of its various components. Further, a tray according to the teachings herein presents a new and improved baffle plate methodology, which heretofore required a separate plate to be positioned under the tray with its own independent mounting. Still further, a tray according to the teachings herein presents a new and improved shelf mounting configuration for those trays which mount directly to a retail shelf. These and other advantages will be understood from the following detailed description.

Turning first toFIG.1, the same illustrates a tray100having a pair of load bearing members102. Load bearing members102are identical so a description of one applies equally well to the other. A front stop104is connected to the load bearing members at a first end114of tray100. Front stop104may include additional integrated or attached structures such as price channel extrusions, faceplates, etc.

A wire support frame110(seeFIG.2) is removably to the load bearing members adjacent a second end116of tray100. This wire support frame is also removably attached to front stop104adjacent first end114. Put differently, wire support frame has opposed first and second ends which are adjacent first and second ends114,116of tray100, respectively.

The first end of wire support frame110is removably attached to front stop104, while the second end is removably attached to load bearing members102. As used herein, “removably attached” means an attachment which may be readily undone in a non-destructive manner and subsequently repeated in the same manner. Within this meaning “removably attached” does not include welds, comolding, or other permanent forms of attachment which require component destruction or damage to undo.

A pusher106is mounted to wire support structure110and slidable thereon in directions120,122. Pusher106is operable to bias a row or rows of retail merchandise situated on top of wire support structure110and load bearing members102from second end116of tray100to first end114of tray100. As may be seen from inspection ofFIG.1, pusher106may employ a honeycomb structure to reduce its overall weight. As will be explained below, pusher106is biased under the force of a coil spring or other biasing element.

A pair of movable divider assemblies108are positioned on either side of tray100. Divider assemblies108are movable in directions124,126to modify a width or distance between the divider assemblies108. This lateral adjustment allows for the accommodating retail merchandise of differing widths. As will be explained below, divider assemblies108employ a removable attachment between their divider walls and wire supports. This advantageously allows for the connection of the divider walls using a resilient or “snap” connection. As a result, lightweight materials may be utilized for the divider walls themselves, while more robust materials may be utilized for the wire supports.

As may also be seen inFIG.1, each load bearing member102includes a cut-out118sized to receive a retail merchandise bar of the type typically found in refrigerated cases or other retail merchandise displays. This allows for a cantilevered mounting of tray100.

Turning now toFIG.2, divider100is illustrated in an exploded view. As may be seen in this view, tray100also includes spacers112which are used on the one hand to maintain the lateral spacing between load bearing members102, and on the other hand to receive wire supports of divider assemblies108as discussed below. Spacers112are identical so a description of one applies equally well to the other. These spacers may formed of a lightweight material such as plastic or the like, and attach at their side edges to load bearing members102such that spacers112are interposed between load bearing members102.

The two divider assemblies108shown are identical. As such, a description of one applies equally well to the other. It should also be noted that although two dividers assemblies108are shown, only a single divider assembly108may be employed in some alternate configurations, while in other alternate configurations, the divider assemblies108may be entirely omitted.

Divider assembly108includes a divider wall132and a pair of wire supports134which are removably attached to divider wall132. Each wire support134connects to divider wall132with a resilient “snap” style connection to thereby hold it in place during operation. Divider wall also includes a flange148depending perpendicular to its remaining generally upright presentation. This flange148may be utilized to support merchandise extending laterally beyond load bearing members102.

Each wire support134includes a straight portion136and a bent portion138generally at a right angle to straight portion136. Bent portions138are received in corresponding slots140formed in divider wall132. Each slot has a passage formed therein for receipt of straight portion136such that straight portion136passes through divider wall132until bent portion138bottoms out in slot140. This configuration allows for divider assembly108to be of a multi-material construction, with wire supports134formed of a rigid material such as metal, while divider wall132may be formed of a lightweight material such as plastic for example. Further, as was the case with pusher106, divider wall132may also employ a honeycomb structure to reduce its overall weight.

Still referring toFIG.2, wire support structure110includes a lateral member154and a pair of longitudinal members156extending generally perpendicular to lateral member154. As its name implies, wire support structure110is formed of metal wire, with longitudinal members156welded to lateral member154. Although two longitudinal elements156are illustrated, fewer or greater longitudinal members156may be employed depending on the overall width of tray100.

With reference now toFIG.3, the same illustrates a cross section through the front most spacer112shown inFIG.2. This view illustrates the reception of bent portion138in slot140. Additionally, this view also illustrates the passageway144formed in divider wall132within slot140. A corresponding passageway142is also formed in each load bearing member102and is aligned with passageway144of divider wall132. This alignment allows for straight portions136to pass through divider wall132, through load bearing member102, and into a corresponding passageway146of spacer112. Each spacer112has a pair of passageways146which overlap one another as shown. Spacers112attach to load bearing members102via fasteners such as those shown, or any other mechanical expedient.

With reference toFIG.4, each slot140includes a number of resilient tabs148. These tabs extend within slot140such that as bent portion138enters slot140, these tabs will elastically deform out of the way, and then return to their original position as shown inFIG.4. This holds each wire support134in place relative to divider wall132.

Turning now toFIG.5, front stop104mounts to load bearing members102as shown. In particular, front stop104includes a mounting portion160which extends generally perpendicular to an upright portion162as shown. This mounting portion includes laterally extending tabs164which are received in corresponding open slots166formed in load bearing members102. These tabs164and their corresponding slots166are U-shaped such that they cannot rotate relative to one another. This has the advantage of preventing unwanted rotation of front stop104relative to load bearing members102. Additionally, mounting portion160may also include protrusions168received in corresponding apertures170for the same purpose.

Mounting portion160also includes pockets158within which the terminal ends of longitudinal members156are received and supported from an underside thereof. As such, wire support structure110is supported at either end, as introduced above.

With reference toFIG.6, as mentioned above pusher106is slidable on wire support structure110. To this end, pusher106includes wire receiving passageways178through which longitudinal members156extend. As may be surmised from inspection ofFIG.6, pusher106is fully supported by wire structure110. This results in minimal contact of pusher106with the remainder of tray100, thereby reducing or eliminating the likelihood of binding or the like.

A spring opening182is also formed through pusher106for feeding an uncoiled portion of a coil spring180as shown inFIG.7. This coil spring180rests on pusher106and its free end passes through opening180and connects to front stop104, or any other portion of tray100sufficient to apply a biasing force to pusher106to pull it from second end116to first end114shown inFIG.1.

Turning now toFIG.8, lateral member154includes keys184adjacent the ends of lateral member154. One end of lateral member154and its respective keys184are shown inFIG.8. An identical configuration exists for the other end. These keys are formed and sized such that they may pass through a keyway186formed in load bearing members102.

As shown in the illustrated view, the outer most key184has passed through keyway186to thereby interpose load bearing member102between keys184. This configuration maintains the lateral positioning of wire support frame110relative to load bearing members102. It is also possible to omit the inner keys184at each end of lateral member154and use only the outer most keys184, such that the load bearing102are interposed between these outer most keys184.

Turning now toFIG.9, an alternate embodiment of tray100is shown in the form of tray200. This embodiment is identical to the embodiment of tray100discussed above, except for the following notable differences. Accordingly, and for purposes of brevity, a redundant description of the same structure discussed above is dispensed with.

Indeed, tray200also incorporates load bearing members202, a front stop204, and pusher206and spacers212which are identical in form and function as those same components discussed above relative toFIGS.1-8. However, the divider assemblies208have a different construction. These divider assemblies208are identical so a description of one applies equally well to the other. Additionally, this embodiment also incorporates a baffle plate228along the underside of tray200.

Turning first to the latter of the above two notable differences, baffle plate238is removably attached to tray200. In particular, and with reference toFIG.10, baffle plate238includes resilient clips250which clip against spacers212as shown with momentary reference back toFIG.9. This allows baffle plate238to be snapped on and off tray200.

As is understood by those of skill in the art, existing baffle plates are typically separate structures from any trays or the like, and typically require their own separate mounting to the back of a retail merchandise display. The instant invention has the advantage of a self contained baffle plate238with each tray200that is directly mounted thereto.

As is also generally understood in the art, baffle plates are employed to prevent denser cold air in a refrigerated environment from rapidly passing past the upper most trays in a refrigerated case or the like. Such baffle plates typically slow this flow of cold air such that the upper trays and the lower trays are generally exposed to the same amount of cold air. Maintaining this principle in the instant invention, divider assemblies208also employ their own baffle plate extension such that when divider assemblies208are extended, a continuous baffle plate surface is presented across the width of tray200. This configuration provides the same advantage of slowing or preventing the undesirable flow of cold air past tray200, but has the advantage of a self-contained baffle arrangement as mentioned above.

To this end, and turning now toFIG.11, each divider assembly208includes a divider wall232attached to wire supports234in the same manner as discussed above.

However, divider assembly also includes a baffle plate extension230. A slidable connection is formed between baffle plate extension230and flange248of divider wall232. This slidable connection is in the form of a tab272on flange248which depends downwardly into a corresponding slot274formed into the baffle plate extension. As a result, flange248and baffle plate extension230form a continuous baffle plate surface as shown.

Turning now toFIG.12, baffle plate extension connects to spacers212via slidable connection as well. As a result, pulling divider wall232away from tray200causes tab272to slide within slot274until it reaches the position shown inFIG.11. Thereafter, continued movement of divider wall232laterally away from tray200then causes baffle plate extension230to slide along spacers212to allow baffle plate extension230to move laterally outward as well to the position shown inFIG.11.

Still referring toFIG.12, this slidable connection of baffle plate extension230relative to spacers212is formed by slidable clips276. These clips276include rounded portions278which clip partially around corresponding rounded portions of spacers212. As such, the baffle plate extensions are affixed to but slidable along spacers212.

Turning now toFIG.13, laterally outward movement of each baffle plate extension230continues until a downwardly depending extension portion288of baffle plate extension230which depends generally perpendicular from a support portion290of baffle plate extension230abuts load bearing member202as shown.

With reference toFIG.14, the same illustrates a tray300which is identical to tray100except that it utilizes load bearing members302of a different design, and a shelf mounting arrangement for situating tray300directly on the surface of a retail shelf. Each of these features will be discussed in turn.

As stated above, the remainder of tray300is identical to tray100discussed previously, and as such, a redundant detailed description of identical features is dispensed with for purposes of brevity. Indeed, tray300also includes, a front stop304, a pusher306, divider assemblies308, a wire support structure310, and a pair of spacers312(seeFIG.15) each of which is identical to those same structures discussed above relative to tray100.

Load bearing members302, however, no longer utilize a cut-out such as cut-out118shown inFIG.1. Instead, load bearing members302have generally flat bottoms so that they may sit directly on a shelf. As previously mentioned, tray300also incorporates a shelf mounting arrangement for fixing tray300on to a retail shelf.

One embodiment of such a shelf mounting arrangement is shown inFIG.15. This embodiment includes a mounting plate392which clips onto the front most spacer312of tray300. Mounting plate392includes a pair of extensions394which have a general hook shape and are configured to extend into apertures formed in a retail shelf.

With reference toFIG.16, mounting plate392employs a clip396similar to those clips described above for removably attaching mounting plate392to spacer312. Although two extensions394are illustrated fewer or greater extensions may be employed.FIG.17illustrates tray300mounted to a shelf398. As may be seen in this view, extensions394extend through apertures in the shelf to fix tray300to shelf398.

FIG.18illustrates another embodiment of a shelf mounting arrangement. In this embodiment, multiple trays300are mounted to a mounting rail500, which is in turn mounted directly to shelf398. As explained below, each tray300snaps into mounting rail500to fix the tray300to shelf398. Although two trays300are shown, mounting rail500may be of any length to accommodate a greater number of trays300.

FIG.19illustrates one of the trays300exploded away from mounting rail500. As can be seen in this view, mounting rail500includes a plurality of teeth502, with a space formed between each adjacent set of teeth. These spaces504are configured to receive a tab506formed on front stop304. In the illustrated embodiment, two tabs506are utilized, but fewer or greater tabs506may be employed. The width of each tab506is such that it will tightly fit in each space504. As a result, tray300may be removably attached to mounting rail500.

FIG.20illustrates tray100fromFIGS.1-8utilizing a different embodiment of a front stop604. This front stop604is foldable from an operational position shown inFIG.20to a loading position shown inFIG.21. As can be seen inFIG.21, in the loading position, front stop604is rotated to a generally flat presentation to allow retail merchandise to be loaded onto tray100from the front end114(seeFIG.1) thereof. This presents a significant advantage over other designs with non-folding front stops, because in those designs merchandise is typically loaded from the rear of the tray, or is difficult to load from the front due to the non-folding front stop obscuring the loading path.

FIG.22illustrates the rear side of front stop604. Front stop604includes a mounting portion660and an upright portion662. However, unlike front stop104, these portions660,662are not integrally formed. Instead, mounting portion660is separate from upright portion662and a hinge is formed between these components. Indeed, a hinge pin704extends through mounting portion660and is received by hinge lugs708on upright portion662. Upright portion662may rotate about hinge pin704relative to mounting portion660. A spring706is also associated with hinge pin704, and exerts a biasing force against upright portion662to maintain it in its upright position. This biasing force may be overcome by pushing against the front face of upright portion662, causing the same to rotate about hinge pin704. This configuration has the advantage of allowing high speed loading of tray100. It should be noted that although front stop604is illustrated with tray100, front stop604may be utilized with any of the trays described herein.

FIG.23illustrates another embodiment of a tray800. This tray is identical to those trays described above in that it includes a pair of load bearing members802, a front stop804, a pusher806, a wire support structure810, and a divider assembly808. The key difference with tray800over those described above is that it utilizes only a single divider assembly808. This divider assembly808is substantially the same as those described above in that it includes a divider wall832removably attached to wire supports834as shown.

However, because only a single divider assembly808is used, it is configured to be shared with an adjacent tray (not shown) having only a single divider as well. Put differently, divider wall832is shared between two adjacent trays800. To this end, divider wall832has flanges848extending from both sides thereof. This allows divider wall832to support merchandise on tray800shown, as well as the adjacent tray800(not shown).

Furthermore, although not illustrated, it is also conceivable that this single divider wall may be connected to two baffle plate extensions such as those described above relative to tray200. In such a configuration, flanges848would also include tabs such as those described above to achieve a slidable connection with baffle plate extensions. More generally, this single divider assembly configuration may be employed on any of the trays described herein.

As discussed in the preceding, trays according to the teachings herein present various advantages over existing configurations, for example, a lighter and less labor intensive assembly process, an integrated baffle plate configuration which may readily adapt to movement of the divider walls of the trays, an intuitive shelf mounting arrangement, a foldable front stop arrangement, and a single divider assembly arrangement which may be shared between trays, to name only a few.

All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.