Patent ID: 7997427

Claim:
A display for storing and dispensing containers, comprising: a front end and a rear end; a bottom shelf sloping downward from the rear end to the front end, the bottom shelf having a top surface; a pair of side walls extending upward from the bottom shelf; at least one intermediate shelf operatively attached to and positioned between the side walls, the at least one intermediate shelf sloping downwards towards the front end, the at least one intermediate shelf having a top surface; the rear end being open to allow loading of containers onto the at least one intermediate shelf; a partial front wall positioned near the front end and between the pair of sidewalls, the partial front wall positioned such that a gap is formed between the partial front wall and the bottom shelf, wherein the gap is configured to allow containers to roll along the bottom shelf and pass under the partial front wall; wherein the bottom shelf forms an exit port for dispensing containers, the exit port extending forward from the partial front wall; the at least one intermediate shelf extending from the rear end toward the front end forming an exit channel between the partial front wall and the at least one intermediate shelf; a biased gate pivotally mounted on the at least one intermediate shelf near the front end of the at least one intermediate shelf and a biased gate pivotally mounted on the bottom shelf adjacent the exit port; wherein the biased gate on the at least one intermediate shelf pivots under the weight of a front-most container, allowing the front-most container on the at least one intermediate shelf to enter the exit channel, wherein the biased gate on the bottom shelf pivots under the weight of a front-most container, allowing the front-most container on the bottom shelf to enter the exit port, wherein the biased gate on the at least one intermediate shelf and the biased gate on the bottom shelf act as barriers preventing subsequent containers from entering the exit channel when the weight of a container is on the biased gate of the at least one intermediate shelf, and wherein the biased gate on the at least one intermediate shelf is connected to and operates in unison with the biased gate on the bottom shelf, allowing a front-most container from each of the plurality of intermediate shelves to enter the exit channel and at the same time into the exit port.