Patent Application
20210267386
The present invention relates to a store display, more specifically an expandable shelf tray for holding merchandise.
Brands and retailers use merchandising systems to improve product presentation, manage space, and reduce the labor effort needed to stock and organize the product in the store. In recent years, brands and retailers have greatly reduced or eliminated field sales personnel, third party staff, and retail staff. In order to counterbalance this reduction in personnel, brands and retailers have adopted more adaptable merchandising systems to overcome the diminished number of in-store personnel.
However, in order to implement a merchandising system, brands and retailers need to understand the space in which they are placing the merchandising system. This requires a retail audit to gather key measurements such as the depth and width of the shelf area to ensure that the merchandising system fits on the available shelving. The brand needs to know this information for every retailer they serve, which can number into the thousands of stores. The retailer must know this information for all of their locations, which can be different given that many retailers have acquired different locations over the years from different competitors and that levels of renovation may differ between locations. Retail shelving can differ in make, model, manufacturer, and dimensions between store locations, and even within a single location.
Gathering this information requires a retail audit. Retail audits require personnel to drive to the various locations, measure and record the information, and report it back to the administrative manager. The process costs a significant amount of money and time, which can be difficult with the above-mentioned reduction in personnel. Out-of-date or otherwise inaccurate information may further limit personnel attempting to install a merchandising system obtained using this inaccurate information. Furthermore, if a retailer replaces outdated or damaged shelving, the corresponding merchandising system may need to be replaced as well, even if the system is still in usable condition, leading to waste of money and material.
Some brands and retailers have attempted to overcome this problem through the use of merchandising systems capable of size adjustment. However, adjustably-sized merchandising systems may lack the ability to adjust size in multiple dimensions and can be complex, with convoluted size adjustment means and specialized tools that add time, difficulty, and cost to installation and subsequent product stocking. Reduction in personnel results in fewer brand and retail staff available for installation of merchandising systems. Specialized tools required for installation and size adjustment can create a situation where lack of a required tool can limit the ability to install, size, and/or re-size a merchandising system.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a merchandising system that adjusts for depth and width to create a universal system, eliminating the need for a retail audit or special adjustment procedures or tools.
The present invention is merchandising tray system. Within the system, a rear tray base is slidably connected to a fore tray base. A merchandise pusher is slidable within a fore pusher track in the fore tray base, the merchandise pusher also being slidable within a rear pusher track in the rear tray base. A right fore sidewall is removably mounted to the fore tray base, and a left fore sidewall removably mounted to the fore tray base. A right rear sidewall is slidably extendable from the right fore sidewall, and a left rear sidewall slidably extendable from the left fore sidewall.
c,
1
d,
1
e, and 1f illustrate top, bottom, front, and right-side views, respectively, of the exemplary embodiment of the expandable merchandising system.
It should be understood that for clarity, not every element is labeled in every figure. Lack of labeling should not be interpreted as lack of disclosure.
In the present description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be applied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes only and are intended to be broadly construed. The different systems and methods described herein may be used alone or in combination with other systems and methods. Various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims. Each limitation in the appended claims is intended to invoke interpretation under 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, only if the terms “means for” or “step for” are explicitly recited in the respective limitation.
The expandable merchandising system 100 includes a fore tray base 110 supporting a fixed front wall stop 120 and a slidable merchandise pusher 130. In use, merchandise (not shown) may be biased forward by the merchandise pusher 130 until stopped against the front wall stop 120. A rear tray base 140 may be slidably mounted to the fore tray base 110. In use, the rear tray base 140 may slidably extend from and retract into the fore tray base 110 to alter the longitudinal footprint of the expandable merchandising system 100.
Right and left fore sidewalls 150a and 150b can be removably and adjustably mounted to either side of the fore tray base 110. In use, merchandise may be enclosed between the right and left fore sidewalls 150a and 150b. Right and left rear sidewalls 160a and 160b may be slidably mounted to the right and left fore sidewalls 150a and 150b, respectively. In use, the right and left rear sidewalls 160a and 160b may slidably extend from and retract into the right and left fore sidewalls 150a and 150b, respectively, to alter the longitudinal footprint of the expandable merchandising system 100 in a manner akin to the rear tray base 140. In certain embodiments, the lengths of the right and left rear sidewalls 160a and 160b in full extension are identical to the length of the rear tray base 140 in full extension.
The fore tray base 110 includes a fore pusher track 111 extending longitudinally along the fore tray base 110 from the front wall stop 120. The fore pusher track 111 guides the sliding movement of the merchandise pusher 130, as can be seen in
The fore tray base 110 also includes at least one front wall connection aperture 112 to allow removable attachment of the front wall stop 120. The front wall stop 120 includes at least one wall connection tab 121, which is received by the front wall connection aperture 112. The front wall stop 120 may also include at least one media holder 122 for receiving removable merchandise identification media.
The fore tray base 110 also includes at least one rear expansion channel 114 extending longitudinally along the fore tray base 110 from the front wall stop 120. The rear expansion channel 114 guides the sliding movement of the rear tray base 140 as it extends from and retracts into the fore tray base 110. The rear tray base 140 includes at least one rear expansion slider 143 which guides the movement of the rear tray base 140 along the rear expansion channel 114. The configuration of the rear expansion slider 143 also include some measure of interlocking with the rear expansion channel 114 along axes orthogonal to the axis of sliding motion to prevent the rear tray base 140 from becoming dislodged from the fore tray base 110. The rear tray base 140 may also include at least one base locking tab 144 on the rear expansion slider 143. The base locking tab 144 is rounded or ramped in at least one direction to interact with base channel locking tabs 117 in or on the rear expansion channel 114 and allow discrete intervals of expansion of the merchandising system 100. This also maintains the rear tray base 140 in an expanded position.
As shelves may have varying depths, extension and retraction of the rear tray base 140 allows adjustment of the position of the merchandising system 100. By way of non-limiting example, because the rear tray base 140 is slidably mounted to the fore tray base 110, the rear tray base 140 can extend out of the fore tray base 110 for deeper shelves and freely retract back into the fore tray base 110 for shorter shelves or shelves with depth-restricting structure. Hence, adjustment may keep the back tray stop 142 of the merchandising system 100 flush with or a given distance from the back of the shelf regardless of the depth of the shelf. This allows the merchandising system 100 to adjustably accommodate any depth of shelving even if it is to be securely anchored to the shelf. The sliding rear tray base 140 also allows the retailer or user to adjust the fit of the merchandising system 100 without needing tools.
The rear tray base 140 includes at least one rear pusher track 141 extending longitudinally along the rear tray base 140 and stopping at a back tray stop 142 located at the far back of the merchandising system 100. The rear pusher track 141 guides the sliding movement of the merchandise pusher 130, as can be seen in
The right and left fore sidewalls 150a and 150b can be removably and adjustably mounted to either side of the fore tray base 110 to accommodate a broad range of merchandising widths, as can be seen in
The right fore sidewall 150a also includes a longitudinal expansion channel 152 extending longitudinally along the right fore sidewall 150a from a point behind the front wall stop 120. The longitudinal expansion channel 152 guides the sliding movement of the right rear sidewall 160a as it extends from and retracts into the right fore sidewall 150a, as can be seen in
The right rear sidewall 160a may also include at least one sidewall elevating rib 163 on the rear expansion slider 143. The sidewall elevating rib 163 is rounded or ramped in at least one direction to interact with products in the merchandising system 100 as they are pushed forward and backward along the right rear sidewall 160a. The sidewall elevating rib 163 helps to maintain the bottommost edge of the product at a constant height, preventing it from being damaged in the changeover from the right rear sidewall 160a to the right fore sidewall 150a.
The right rear sidewall 160a also includes a back sidewall stop 162 located at the far back of the merchandising system 100. The back tray stop 142 and the back sidewall stop 162 help to prevent merchandise from falling out of the rear of the merchandising system.
The left fore sidewall 150b and the left rear sidewall 160b are identical in structure and function to the right fore sidewall 150a and the right rear sidewall 160a, respectively, save for a necessarily mirrored configuration.
At least one foam pad 116 may be attached to a bottom surface of the fore tray base 110 to increase friction between the shelf and the fore tray base 110, and to provide some cushioning of the merchandising system 100. Anchors such as, but not limited, screws and pins may extend through at least one anchor aperture 118 in the fore base tray 110 and into the shelf below to anchor the merchandising system 100 in place. Portions of the merchandise system 100 such as, but not limited to, the fore tray base 110 and the fore sidewalls 150 may have ridged or corrugated surfaces for increased strength. Portions of the merchandise system 100 may be manufactured in an injection molding process. Portions of the merchandise system 100 may be manufactured from clear and/or opaque polymers such as, but not limited to, polycarbonate, polyoxymethylene, and/or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. The pusher spring 131 may be a coil spring manufactured from spring steel.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be inferred therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. The different configurations, systems, and method steps described herein may be used alone or in combination with other configurations, systems and method steps. It is to be expected that various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of prior-filed, co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/982,435, filed on Feb. 27, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62982435 | Feb 2020 | US |
