Patent Application
20140353265
The present invention relates to merchandise dispensers that advance a rank of products frontward in a tray as forwardmost products are removed in sequence.
An example of a merchandise dispenser that includes an adjustable spring-powered feature is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,089 to A. Rankin, VI. The patented Rankin mechanism includes a track mounting an upright pusher that slides along the track. The front of the pusher engages product packages. The pusher carries a spring that has a front end secured adjacent the front of the track and a coil section carried on the pusher. When the track is loaded with merchandise, the coil of the spring is wound and the wound spring provides stored energy that moves the pusher forward.
In merchandising, lighting can be used effectively to emphasize product features, such as color, clarity and the like. Often, lighting is provided by track lights, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed in proximity with the front of the merchandise shelving. While track lighting is effective to provide illumination, there is a need for alternatives for efficient illumination of product and/or associated containers.
The present invention provides an efficient and effective manner of illuminating products by incorporating a strip of light emitting diodes (LEDs) with a spring tape to provide directed light onto the products closely adjacent the LEDs. When the product containers are clear, the light brightens the contents of the containers, and enables consumers to view the color of the contents prior to purchase. Novel effects can be achieved by directing light upwardly through the bottoms of clear containers.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The illustrated embodiment includes an elongate track 14 having a front dispensing end 16, an opposite rear end 18 and an elongate surface 14a supporting the row of containers. Containers are positioned on the track 14 in a row such that the leading article is located adjacent the front end 16 and the rearmost article is located adjacent the rear end 18 of the track 14. Alternatively, the track 14 can be mounted to extend above, or to the side of, the stacked articles on a substantially horizontal or slightly angled, shelf, or the track can be mounted vertically, or at a steep angle relative to the horizontal, for up-feeding a column of stacked articles to a dispensing end.
The pusher device 10 is mounted on the track 14 in a manner which permits movement of the pusher device 10 between the dispensing end 16 and the opposite end 18 of the track 14. Thus, the pusher device 10 is moved rearwardly, or toward the opposite end 18, to load a row of articles on a shelf and is resiliently biased forward, or toward the dispensing end 16, by a spring tape 20.
As best illustrated in
The pusher device 10 includes a pusher plate 34 that extends upwardly and transversely from the track 14. The pusher plate 34 has a front surface 36 that engages the rearmost article of the row, or rank, of placed containers. The pusher plate 34 also includes spring retaining structure 38 which permits a coiled free end portion 40 of a self-coiling spring, or tape, 20 to be carried on a rear side of the pusher plate 34.
In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the spring retaining structure 38 is carried behind the pusher plate 34 between a pair of spaced apart, parallel retaining flanges, such as flange 46, which extend rearward from the rear side of the pusher plate 34. A terminal free end of the coiled end portion 40 can be either freely nested in the coil shown, or mounted on an arbor (not shown) that extends transversely with respect to the retaining flanges, and mounted to the retaining flanges. Preferably as illustrated, the coiled spring tape engages the rear side of the pusher plate 34 between the retaining flanges to push on the pusher plate, without requiring an arbor.
The free end 54 of an uncoiled portion 58 of the spring 20 remote from the coiled end portion 40 is connected to the track 14 adjacent its dispensing end 16, as by fasteners such as bolts, rivets, or the like. Thus, when the pusher plate 34 is moved rearwardly on the track 14, the spring uncoils and applies a force on the pusher plate 34 in a direction toward the front dispensing end 16 of the track 14, i.e. leftward in
In a conventional dispenser, the spring tape, or force exerting mechanism, 20 is a flat metal self-coiling spring, or a pre-stressed flat strip of metal, which is formed in a spiral coiled condition. Examples of a metal self-coiling spring include a steel variable force spring or a steel power spring. The pushing force provided by the spring tape 20 preferably, but not necessarily, gradually decreases as the pusher plate approaches the front end 16 of the track 14 and as the spring tape 20 transitions from being fully extended in an un-coiled condition to being fully retracted in a coiled spiral condition. Thus, such a spring advantageously exerts a maximum force when the tray 19 is fully loaded with a full row of articles and exerts a progressively reduced amount of force as the leading articles of the row are removed one by one until all the articles are removed from the tray 19.
The present invention provides a novel structure for illuminating the containers C1, C2, C3, and so on, particularly near the front end of the tray which is most visible to the purchaser. To this end, a flexible strip 50 carrying a series of LEDs 51, 52, 53 in lengthwise spaced relation is secured to the topside 20a of the spring tape 20, as by a flexible adhesive 55. The LED strip 50 and adhesive 55 faun a laminated spring assembly 56, illustrated in longitudinal cross-section in
In use, the LEDs are connected in electrical parallel relation on their carrying strip, and power is provided to them via a pair of electrical conductors 57 extending from the mounting end 56a of the spring assembly in the manner illustrated in
As illustrated in
While preferred merchandise dispensers have been described in detail, various modifications, alterations, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/829,488, filed May 31, 2013.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61829488 | May 2013 | US |
