Product Dispenser Assembly

Abstract

A system of retail store fixtures having downwardly mounted spring feeding pusher devices for pushing products toward the front of shelves. In one embodiment, the pusher devices extend downward from shelves and push products in open tray type of bulk product shipment containers on a lower shelf forward toward the consumer. In another embodiment, the pushers and product trays are in a self-contained module for placement on shelves.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 391,797, filed Feb. 24, 2009, entitled “PRODUCT DISPENSER ASSEMBLY AND CARTRIDGE FOR HOLDING PRODUCT”, which claimed the benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of Provisional Application No. 61 / 031,090, filed Feb. 25, 2008, entitled “PRODUCT DISPENSER AND CARTRIDGE FOR HOLDING PRODUCT”. The aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to the field of retail packaging and displays and, more particularly, to a retail product holding and feeding mechanism into which an open tray containing a plurality of packaged products is installed, the product in the tray being delivered toward a shopper, while the tray remains stationary at the shelf location.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]There are a number of types of product displays; however, one of the ba...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]Unlike conventional tray on shelf arrangements, the guiding and feeding mechanisms of the present invention are configured so that, while the tray remains stationary on the shelf the individual product units are advanced forward within the tray to a front faced and dispensing location near the front edge of the shelf. This reduces stocking complexity and the time involved in the stocking process, creates a continuously and automatically neat, front-faced products condition and makes finding and selection of products easier for shoppers.

[0017]When such system is installed at retail stores and integrated together into retail operations and handling, it reduces handling time, labor and hence costs and increases efficiencies and sales effectiveness for packaged consumer goods sold at retail stores. Individual package handling at retail, currently required to stock and arrange inventory of products on shelves for display and sale to shoppers, will be significantly reduced, thus significantly reducing shelf management and restocking time, labor and the associated costs in the supply chain and at retail.

Problems solved by technology

This is a very time consuming task and requires manual labor in which a store stocker, after removing the tray shrink wrapping or similar covering, then individually removes the packaged products and places them on the store shelves.

Another associated disadvantage of this arrangement is that the stocker must continuously and manually “front-face” the stock so that it remains neatly displayed and readily available for shoppers.

This is a time consuming task, and if delayed, the shelves develop an unkempt appearance.

Further, if this front-facing process is neglected, product packages often become located so far to the rear of the trays and / or shelves that they appear to be out-of-stock or are unreachable, thereby reducing potential sales thereof.

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