Food product display

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a food product display apparatus having offset pushers. In some examples, the food product display apparatus includes a base having a center section between two side sections, the center section extending a length of the base and including a bottom surface between two side surfaces, wherein the side surfaces are angled with respect to the bottom surface; a rail disposed on each side surface, each rail having a channel extending a length of the rail; a support member having a footing and a finger, the footing slidably disposed within the channel of the rail, and the finger extending from the footing; and a return spring, having a first end attached to one end of the rail and a second end attached to the support member.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The disclosure relates to food product displays and in some examples, to food product displays with offset pushers.BACKGROUND

[0002] Frozen food displays present food products to a consumer from a freezer. Some freezers are standing freezers with doors through which the frozen foods are displayed. A consumer can view the frozen food being displayed from outside the freezer. The consumer opens the door to select the food product from the display.SUMMARY

[0003] Disclosed herein is a food product display apparatus that supports and advances food products at a point-of-sale location, such as grocery and other retail stores. In various examples, the food product display includes one or more pushers offset from a central longitudinal axis of the apparatus. For example, the device includes first and second pushers that are offset and elevated relative to a bottom of a product supported in the display apparatus. The offset (e.g., tangential) position of pushers facilitates consistent and distributed force on the food products at lateral portions of the food product, promoting consistent advancement and reducing the likelihood of product damage, fanning, or jamming.

[0004] In general, an aspect disclosed herein is a food product display apparatus including a base having a center section between two side sections, the center section extending a length of the base and including a bottom surface between two side surfaces, where the side surfaces are angled with respect to the bottom surface; a rail disposed on each side surface, each rail having a channel extending a length of the rail; a support member having a footing and a finger, the footing slidably disposed within the channel of the rail, and the finger extending from the footing; and a return spring, having a first end attached to one end of the rail and a second end attached to the support member.

[0005] Examples may include one or more of the following features. The two side surfaces can form a first angle and a second angle with respect to the bottom surface, where the first angle and the second angle are equal in value and opposing in orientation. The first angle and the second angle can be in a range from 5 degrees to 15 degrees. The finger can extend perpendicularly to the footing. The base can be a unitary body and the sides surfaces are formed to provide each of the rails. The apparatus may include a paddle disposed on the finger. The paddle can include a first surface having a surface area of at least 12 square inches. The first surface can have a circular sector shape. The return spring can have a return force in a range from 2 newtons to 20 newtons. The return force and the surface area can be configured to provide an average force in a range from 0.06 Newtons per square inch (N / in2) to 3 N / in2. The return spring can be a coil return spring. The length of the base can be greater than a width of the base. The apparatus may include a face member configured to be reversibly installable to an end of the base. The end of the base can be the end at which the return spring attaches. The face member can have a rectangular shape having a recess in one edge of the rectangular shape.

[0006] Particular implementations of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented so as to realize one or more of the following technical advantages.

[0007] In some embodiments, a food product display configured to contact and apply pushing forces along radial axes of circular food products increases the stability of the food product in the food product display. Contacting and applying pushing forces along radial axes can reduce display problems, such as fanning, and reduce product damage.

[0008] The food product display includes pushers having a high surface area for contacting food products in the display. The surface increases the contact area on the rear-most food product thus increasing the contact area between the pusher and the food product. This can reduce potential damage to the food product by increasing the surface area over which the pushing force is applied and decreasing the average force applied to the contacted food product.

[0009] A base of the food product display can be constructed as a unitary body to include rails supporting the pushers. Forming the base as a unitary body with the rails facilitates reduced construction time when manufacturing the base. The rails being a unitary body with the base can reduce the time to assemble pushers into the rail channels before installing a face.

[0010] A base of the food product display can be constructed to support an edge of a circular food product, e.g., an overwrapped pizza. The food product display being configured to support the overwrapped pizza along an arc section of the edge can facilitate safe handling and advancement to packaging of the overwrapped pizza. The base can include multiple surfaces which are tangential to an edge of the overwrapped pizza. Multiple tangential surfaces increase the contact area between the base and overwrapped pizza and can reduce possible contact damage to the edge from storage or handling.

[0011] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of a food product display 100 having pushers in a first configuration.

[0013] FIG. 1B is a schematic illustration of a food product display having pushers in a second configuration.

[0014] FIG. 2A is a schematic illustration of the food product display having multiple food products held and arranged for display.

[0015] FIG. 2B is a schematic illustration of the food product display having one of the food products removed.

[0016] FIG. 2C is a schematic illustration of the food product display pushing the remaining food products forward.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an exploded view of the food product display.

[0018] FIG. 4A is a schematic illustration of one pusher showing the footing slidably disposed in the channel.

[0019] FIG. 4B is a schematic illustration showing one side of the pusher and the front surface of the paddle.

[0020] FIG. 4C is a schematic illustration of the opposing view of the pusher from FIG. 4B.

[0021] FIG. 4D is a schematic illustration of the paddle being slidably disposed on the finger.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an end view of the base.

[0023] FIG. 6A is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of another example of the base.

[0024] FIG. 6B is a schematic illustration of an end view of the base of FIG. 6A.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration showing a food product display having segmented side sections.

[0026] In the figures, like references indicate like elements.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Some examples of food storage units, such as refrigerators or freezers, have horizontal shelves from which food products are displayed. The food products are displayed by food product displays supported on the shelves. The type of food product display varies depending on the food product being displayed. In some examples, the food product is a pizza, such as a boxed pizza or overwrapped pizza. Overwrapped pizzas can be packaged in boxes or overwrapped with plastic wrap.

[0028] One type of food product display displays pizzas in a vertical orientation, e.g., a radius or diameter of the pizza being aligned vertically (with gravity). Displaying the pizza vertically shows the branding on the packaging to a consumer browsing the contents of the food storage unit. The consumer removes the foremost pizza from the food product display. The food product display pushes the remaining pizzas forward using one or more product pushers.

[0029] In some scenarios packaging or food products can be damaged if too much pressure is applied. For example, an overwrapping of a pizza can be punctured or torn, or the pizza itself damaged. Similarly, boxes in which food products (e.g., pizzas) are packaged can collapse or otherwise be damaged if too much pressure is applied to the back surface of the box. The rearmost box contacting the product pushers experiences the highest pressure and is thus the most susceptible to packaging collapse.

[0030] Various embodiments described herein facilitate delivery of consistent and distributed force to cleanly advance food product (e.g., overwrapped pizzas). For example, multiple offset pusher features are provided to distribute pressure from radial locations (e.g. offset from a central axis). Alternatively or additionally, paddles attached to the product pushers distribute the pressure over a larger area of the rearmost packaged pizza. The larger area over which the pressure is applied reduces instances of packaging collapse.

[0031] Pizzas overwrapped in plastic have a curved surface on the top of the pizza. The plastic which overwraps the pizza can become slippery if exposed to warm, moist air from outside of the food storage unit. Moisture from the warm air condenses on the overwrapped pizzas and creates a slippery surface on the overwrapped pizzas. Food product displays pushing the rearmost overwrapped pizza can cause ‘fanning’ of the pizzas as the slippery curved surfaces interact. The fanning causes the middle overwrapped pizzas to move upward, away from the base of the food product display. The fanning creates an unsightly view of the overwrapped pizzas for consumers. The fanning can cause damage to the middle overwrapped pizzas as the contact area between each pizza decreases, thus increasing the pressure on each pizza. The fanning may cause interference between food products stored in the food product display and supports near the fanned products in the storage unit. For example, the fanning may create interference between the product and a shelf above it. Further, the food product display being configured to support the overwrapped pizza based on the diameter or radius of the overwrapped pizza facilitate safe handling and reduce potential damage to the circumference, or edge, of the pizza. The food product display being configured to contact the circular food product along radial axes of the overwrapped pizza facilitates applying the pushing force near the center of the pizza and / or along stable axes, and thus increases the stability of the food product in the food product display.

[0032] A manufacturer of frozen foods desire to have their products displayed neatly with branding clearly exposed. Food product displays include a front face to hold the displayed products against the forces applied by the product pushers to the rearmost food product. A front face having a large surface area can cover at least some of the branding on the frozen food packaging. To solve the problem, the front face can be shaped to hold the frontmost food product while leaving a surface area of the package which includes the branding exposed.

[0033] FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of a food product display 100 having spring-loaded pushers 130 supported by a base 110. The food product display 100 is placed in a food storage unit and holds food products placed in the food product display 100. Some examples of the food storage unit include shelves, refrigerators, or freezers. The food product display 100 displays food products to consumers from the food storage unit. The pushers are offset from a central vertical axis, located at elevated locations around a circumference of the food product. Such positioning facilitates consistent force and advancement of the food product (e.g., overwrapped pizzas).

[0034] The food product display 100 includes a base 110 which supports food products held in the food product display 100. In some examples, the base 110 is a unitary body, e.g., formed from a single piece of material, e.g., extruded, stamped, or rolled. The base 110 includes a center section 113 extending between two side sections 150. The side sections 150 include side section 150a and side section 150b. The side sections 150 support the center section 113 when the food product display 100 is placed in a food storage unit. In some examples, the base 110 is a wire base. The side sections 150 are continuous for the length of the base 110.

[0035] The center section 113 includes multiple (e.g. three) planar surfaces. The center section 113 includes two side surfaces 114 on which two rails 120 are installed and a bottom surface 115. The pushers 130 are slidably disposed in the rails 120 to move along a longitudinal axis 112 of the base 110. Two pushers 130 are shown, including pusher 130a and pusher 130b. In an example embodiment, the pushers 130 are symmetric about a vertical axis to provide an even surface over which to apply the pushing force.

[0036] The food product display 100 includes two rails 120 (e.g., rail 120a and rail 120b). One of the rails 120 constrains one of the pushers 130 to move parallel to a longitudinal axis 112 of the base 110, e.g., rail 120a constrains pusher 130a to travel parallel to the longitudinal axis 112 and rail 120b constrains pusher 130b to travel parallel to the longitudinal axis 112.

[0037] The food product display 100 includes a face 140 at one end of the base 110. The face 140 arrests food products being pushed by the pushers 130. In an example embodiment, the face 140 has three straight edges on the bottom and sides of the face140. The face 140 has one curved edge on the top of the face 140. Thus, the face 140 has a generally rectangular shape with a recess in the top of the face 140. The recess provides an area for a consumer to view the packaging of the food products displayed in the food product display 100.

[0038] In some examples, the face 140 includes a profiled surface on the back side. The profiled surface can be an acute angle profile, or a curved profile. A profiled surface can provide increased contact area with the food products in the food product display 100. For example, the face 140 having a curved profile on the back side which matches the curved top surface of an overwrapped pizza increases the contact surface area thus reducing damage to the top surface, increasing product stability, and / or increasing orientation accuracy of overwrapped pizzas in the food product display 100.

[0039] In some examples, the face 140 includes supports for mounting features. One example of the mounting feature includes integral Price Tag Molding (PTM). One example of the mounting feature includes Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) mounting features. The mounting features can include molded or affixed inserts or supports for private branding. Optionally, the face 140 includes one or more hand hold feature described herein.

[0040] In examples in which the food products are overwrapped pizzas, the packaging may have branding in the middle of the pizzas. Thus, the recess allows the consumer to view the branding on the top surface of the fore-most pizza. As used herein, the end of the base 110 including the face 140 is referred to as the ‘front end.’ The end of the base 110 opposing the front end is referred to as the ‘back end.’ References to items may be given as ‘fore-most’ or ‘rear-most’ which refer to items nearest the front end, or back end, respectively.

[0041] The pushers 130 sliding along the rails 120 away from the face 140, e.g., toward the back end, creates a space between the pushers 130 and the face 140. This configuration is shown in FIG. 1B. Food products can be placed in the space between the pushers 130 and the face 140. The springs create a restoring force causing the pushers 130 to slide toward the face 140. The pushers 130 slide along the rails 120 until the food products between the pushers 130 and the face 140 arrest the pushers 130. The spring restoring force holds the food products between the pushers 130 and the face 140. In this manner, the food product display 100 maintains food products between the pushers 130 and the face 140. Optionally, the pushers 130 can include mounting features, e.g., molded or affixed inserts or supports, for displaying branding.

[0042] The food product display 100 is manufactured using materials which are durable at food storage temperatures (e.g., in a range from −10° C. to 40° C., or 14° F. to 105° F.). Examples of the materials from which the food product display 100 is manufactured include thermostable plastics or polymers (e.g., polyether ether ketone (PEEK), or polyethylene terephthalate (PET)), or metals or metal alloys (e.g., stainless steel, or aluminum).

[0043] Optionally, components of the food product display 100 are manufactured from different materials than one another. In some examples, the base 110 is manufactured from metal or a metal alloy and the support members 134 or paddles 132 are manufactured from a thermostable plastic or polymer. In some examples, the rails 120 are manufactured from the metal or metal alloy. In some examples, the rails 120 are manufactured from the thermostable plastic or polymer.

[0044] Optionally, the food product display 100 includes at least one handling feature, such as a hand hold feature. A food product display 100 including a hand hold feature can be more easily handled, e.g., placed, rearranged, or carried, by a user. The base 110, the face 140, or the pushers 130 can include a hand hold feature. Examples of hand hold features include a protrusion, a flange, or a molded grip.

[0045] Optionally, the food product display 100 includes interlocking features. A food product display 100 including interlocking features can interlock with adjacent food product display 100 which increases food product density within a food storage unit and can increase the stability of interlocked units of the food product display 100. In some examples, the side sections 150 includes interlocking features. Examples of interlocking features include one or more complementary flanges, snap-fits, fasteners, designed to interlock, or couple, with interlocking features of a second food product display. In some examples, a first food product display can slidably attach with an adjacent second food product display to provide first and second food product displays that are attached and provide parallel rows of food products.

[0046] The food product display 100 restores food products to a display position when a food product is removed from the food product display 100. FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate the restoration of the food products to the display position when a food product is removed. Some examples of the food products which the food product display 100 can hold and display include pizzas, e.g., pizzas. FIG. 2A is a schematic illustration of the food product display 100 having multiple pizzas held and arranged for display between the pushers 130 and the face 140. The pushers 130 are hidden behind the rear-most pizza.

[0047] Springs cause the pushers 130 to push against the back of the rear-most pizza. The pushers 130 pushing the rear-most pizza causes the pizzas to be pressed between the pushers 130 and the face 140. The pushing force between the pushers 130 and the face 140 maintains the pizzas in a supported, vertical position in which an edge of the pizza is supported by the base 110.

[0048] FIG. 2B is a schematic illustration of the food product display 100 having one of the pizzas removed from the food product display 100. The fore-most pizza is removed upwardly, e.g., away from the base, from the food product display 100. As shown in FIG. 2C, the pushers 130 push the remaining pizzas forward until another pizza contacts the face 140. The pushers 130 maintain the pushing force to keep the remaining pizzas between the pushers 130 and the face 140.

[0049] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an exploded view of the food product display 100. A perspective axis is shown inset to FIG. 3 for reference directions. The pushers 130 and rails 120 are shown exploded along the z-axis with respect to the base 110. The face 140 is shown exploded along the x-axis. The base 110 is rectangular having a length that is greater than a width, e.g., a dimension in the x direction that is greater than a dimension in the y-direction. In some examples, the length of the base 110 conforms to a depth of the support of the food storage unit on which the base 110 is placed. In some examples, the food storage unit or associated support have a depth in a range from 10 inches to 36 inches, (e.g., 12 inches, 14 inches, 16 inches, 18 inches, 20 inches, 22 inches, 24 inches, 26 inches, 28 inches, 30 inches, 32 inches, 34 inches, or 36 inches). In some examples, the food storage unit has a depth of 27 inches. In some examples, a length being greater than a width facilitates food product display while using the space within the food storage unit efficiently.

[0050] The base 110 includes a center section 113 including three planar surfaces. The center section 113 supports the rails 120 at an angle with respect to the y-direction. The center section 113 includes two side surfaces 114, including side surface 114a and side surface 114b. The center section 113 includes a bottom surface 115 between the side surfaces 114. The bottom surface 115 is planar and, in some embodiments, supports, directly or indirectly, food products placed in the food product display 100. The side surface 114a supports rail 120a and the side surface 114b supports rail 120b. In some examples, the rails 120 are permanently affixed to the base 110, e.g., rivets or one-way connections. In some examples, the rails 120 are removably affixed to the base 110, e.g., clips, or screws.

[0051] The base 110 includes feet 124 which contact the support surface of the food storage unit. The feet 124 can be permanently, or removably, attached to a bottom of the base 110. In some embodiments, the feet 124 are attached to one or both of the side sections 150. In some examples in which the base 110 is molded plastic, the feet 124 at molded into the base 110 as part of the unitary body. The design of the feet can match the support on which the food product display 100 is disposed. In some examples, the feet 124 are magnetic to interact with a metallic support, suction cups to interact with a flat surfaced support, or formed to couple with a wire support.

[0052] The pushers 130 each include respective paddles 132, support members 134, and driving component, such as springs 136. For example, the first pusher 130a includes paddle 132a, support member 134a, and spring 136a while the second pusher 130b includes paddle 132b, support member 134b, and spring 136b. The support members 134 include fingers 139 extending from footings 138. The fingers 139 extend perpendicularly from the footings 138, e.g., at a 90° angle with respect to a length or width of the footings 138. The footings 138 of each of the support members 134 are slidably disposed within a channel of the respective rails 120. For example, the footing 138b of the second support member 134b is disposed in the channel 122b of the second rail 120b.

[0053] The springs 136 are attached to the support members 134 and to the rails 120. The springs 136 cause the support members 134 to slide within the channels 122 parallel to the longitudinal axis 112. One end of the springs 136 is attached to the front-most end of the rails 120, e.g., nearest the front end of the base 110. The springs 136 push the pushers 130 to the front end of the rails 120 when the food product display 100 is not holding food products. In one embodiment, the springs 136 are coil springs. In some embodiments, the springs 136 include constant force springs. Alternatively or additionally, in various example embodiments, the driving component, e.g., springs 136, includes one or more of spiral spring, tension spring, torsion spring, elastic band, manual puller, etc.

[0054] The ends of the springs 136 attached to the rails 120 are drawn from the respective coil when a rear-ward force (e.g., −x direction) is applied to the pushers 130, the support members 134, or both. The ends of the springs 136 being drawn from the springs 136 causes the springs 136 to be uncoiled by the distance the pushers 130 are displaced. The springs 136 returning to the coiled form provide a restoring force which pushes the pushing force to the pushers 130 and draws the support members 134 closer to the ends of the springs 136 attached to the rails 120. In an example embodiment, the springs 136 provide a return, e.g., restoring, force in a range from 2 Newtons to 20 Newtons (e.g., in a range from 4 Newtons to 15 Newtons, 5 Newtons to 12 Newtons, or 5 Newtons to 10 Newtons).

[0055] The pushing system including the rails 120 and pushers 130 push the food products in the food product display 100 to the front end, adjacent the face 140. FIGS. 4A-4D are schematic illustrations showing the second rail 120b and the second pusher 130b. Reference is made to the rail 120b and the pusher 130b, though it is to be understood that the rail 120b and pusher 130b can provide the structure of rail 120a and pusher 130a.

[0056] FIG. 4A is a schematic illustration of one pusher 130b showing the footing 138b slidably disposed in the channel 122b. The end of the spring 136b is attached to the end of the rail 120b. The end of the spring 136b is disposed between the footing 138b and the rail 120b. The spring 136b extends as the pusher 130b is displaced parallel to the longitudinal axis 112 along the rail 120b. The spring 136b unwinds such that the extended portion of the spring 136b is within the channel 122b. As the spring 136b retracts, the support member 134b slides within the channel 122b toward the front end of the rail 120b.

[0057] FIG. 4B is a schematic illustration showing one side of the pusher 130b and the front surface 133b of the paddle 132b. The front surface 133b has a circular section shape, e.g., a pic-shape, or an arcuate wedge shape, in some embodiments. The circular section shape of the front surface 133b subtends an angle, θ. In various example embodiments, the angle θ is in a range from 45° to 140°, (e.g., from 45° to 120°, from 45° to 90°, or in a range from 50° to) 140°. Such angles can facilitate effective force distribution and avoid interference between adjacent paddles.

[0058] The front surface 133b facilitates increased contact area on the rear-most food product (e.g., compared to the finger 139b). Increasing the contact area between the paddle 132b and the food product reduces potential damage to the food product by increasing the surface area over which the pushing force is applied. Examples of the front surface 133b have a surface area of between 5 and 60, 8 and 30, or about 12 square inches. In some examples, the paddles 132 have a combined surface area of between 10 and 120, 24 and 100, or about 50 square inches. In some examples, the paddles 132 have a surface area sufficient to provide an average force against the rear-most food product in a range from 0.06 Newtons per square inch (N / in2) to 3 N / in2, 0.1 N / in2 to 2 N / in2, or 0.5 N / in2 to 1.5 N / in2). In some examples, a dimension of the front surface 133b is in a range from 40% to 75% of a dimension of the food product contacting the front surface 133b. In the example an overwrapped pizza, the front surface 133b can have a radial dimension, e.g., a radius, that is in a range from 50% to 60% of the radius of the overwrapped pizza.

[0059] FIG. 4C is a schematic illustration of the opposing view of the pusher 130b from FIG. 4B. The paddle 132b is reversibly attached to the finger 139b of the support member 134b. FIG. 4C is a schematic illustration of one example of the paddle 132b which is slidably disposed over the finger 139b to reversibly affix the paddle 132b to the finger 139b. The paddle 132b being slidably disposed over the finger 139b provides simplified removal from the support member 134b. Such simplified removal can reduce the time required to assemble or disassemble the paddle 132b from the support member 134b during replacement, packaging, or transportation. In some examples, the paddle 132b is permanently affixed to the finger 139b. In some examples, the footing 138b is formed to provide the paddle 132b, e.g., the footing 138b and the paddle 132b are a unitary body.

[0060] The base 110 supports the food products in the center section 113 and the forces are applied by the pushers 130 installed to the rails 120 on the side surfaces 114. The side surfaces 114 are angled with respect to a plane of the base 110, e.g., with respect to the bottom surface 115. The angles at which the side surfaces 114 are canted provide an approximation of a circular center section 113 for food products having an edge which includes a circular section, e.g., a circular food product, e.g., a pizza.

[0061] In some examples, the paddles 132 are reversibly affixed to the support members 134. FIG. 4D is a schematic illustration of the paddle 132b being slidably disposed on the finger 139b. The paddle 132b has a groove 142 conforming to the shape of the finger 139b. The paddle 132b is installable to the finger 139b by sliding the groove 142 over the finger 139b. Optionally, the paddles 132 are permanently affixed to the support members 134.

[0062] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an end view of the front end of the base 110 showing the angles at which the side surfaces 114 (e.g., and / or the path of travel of the paddles / fingers) form with respect to the base 110 and / or a surface that the food product display 100 is supported on. The center section 113 extends between one side section 150a and the other side section 150b. The side surfaces 114 form angles with respect to the plane of the bottom of the base 110. A plane extending from the bottom surface 115 is shown. Optionally, the plane can be defined by a surface of the food storage unit which supports the food product display 100. Optionally, the plane is defined as perpendicular to the force of gravity.

[0063] In some examples, the base 110 includes curved sections. In some examples, the center section 113 is curved toward the bottom of the base 110. In some examples, the side sections 150 are curved. In some examples, the plane is defined tangentially to the midpoint of a curved center section 113.

[0064] The side surfaces 114 are angled with respect to the plane. The angle formed by the side surfaces 114 is shown as angle α. In some examples, the side surface 114a forms the same angle with respect to the bottom surface 115. The side surface 114a and the side surface 114b forming the same angle α provides an approximately arcuate center section 113 which supports food products having an edge that is at least partially arcuate, e.g., a section of a circle.

[0065] In some examples, the angle α is determined by an intended food product to be displayed in the food product display 100. For example, in an example in which the intended food product is a circular food product having a circular circumference, e.g., an overwrapped pizza, the angle α is configured to support the circular food product based on the diameter or radius of the circular food product.

[0066] The angle α can be determined based on the widths of the bottom surface 115, the sides surfaces 114, or both, such that the respective planar surfaces are tangential to the edge of the circular food product. The bottom surface 115 or sides surfaces 114 being tangential to the edge provides a normal support force which extends along a radial axis of the circular food product. Examples in which the center section 113 has three tangential planar surfaces which contact the edge of the circular food product provide increased contact area thus reducing possible contact damage to the edge from storage or handling. In various examples, the angle α is in a range from 5° to 50° (e.g., from 10° to 20°, from 10° to 45°, or from 5° to 20°. In some examples, the angle α is in a range from 15° to 25°.

[0067] The rails 120 are attached to the side surfaces 114. In some examples, the rails 120 are attached in the middle of the side surfaces 114 though this is non-limiting. The footings 138 are disposed within the channels 122 of the rails 120 such that the fingers 139 extend perpendicularly from the planar surface of the side surfaces 114, shown as angle β. The fingers 139 extending perpendicularly from the sides surfaces 114, e.g., from the rails 120 in which they are slidably disposed, facilitate the fingers 139 extending along a radial axis of a circular food product, e.g., a pizza. The fingers 139 extending along a radial axis of a circular food product facilitates applying the pushing force along the radial axis which increases the stability of the food product being pushed in the food product display 100. In this manner, the angle β aligns with, e.g., is parallel to, e.g., extends along, a radial axis of a circular food product. In some examples, the angle of the side surfaces 114 is equal and opposite from the bottom plane of the base 110.

[0068] In some examples, the base 110 and the rails 120 are a unitary body, e.g., constructed as a single unit. FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic illustrations showing a base 610 having the rails 620 integrally formed into the base 610. The base 610 can be used in the food product display 100 as described herein. As shown in the end view of FIG. 6B, the rails 620 and the associated channels 622 are formed into the side surfaces 614 of the base 610. The rails 620 extend away from the planar surface of the side surfaces 614 and away from the respective side sections 650.

[0069] The channels 622 are formed along the centerline of the rails 620 extending along the length of the base 610. In some embodiments, forming the base 610 as a unitary body with the rails 620 facilitates reduced construction time when manufacturing the base 610 and / or reduces part count and / or assembly when installed at a location of end-use. The rails 620 being a unitary body with the base 610 can reduce the time to assemble the pushers 130 into the channels 622 before installing the face 140. In some examples, the base 610 is extruded to be integrally formed with the rails 620 on the side surfaces 614.

[0070] FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration showing a food product display 700 having segmented side sections 750 attached to the center section 713 to form the base 710. The base 710 can be used in the food product display 700 as described herein. The side sections 750 are segmented into four sections, e.g., at least side section 750a, side section 750b, and side section 750c, while a fourth section is hidden by the base 710. The side sections 750 are affixed to the sides surfaces 714 of the base 710, e.g., permanently, or removably affixed.

[0071] The food product display 700 includes a face 740 which is recessed from the front-most edge of the base 710. The face 740 conformally covers the ends of the rails 720 which support the pushers 730 in the unloaded position shown in FIG. 7.

[0072] While this specification contains many details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular examples. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations can also be combined. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination.

Claims

1. A food product display apparatus, comprising:a base having a center section between two side sections, the center section extending a length of the base and including a bottom surface between two side surfaces, wherein the side surfaces are angled with respect to the bottom surface;a rail disposed on each side surface, each rail having a channel extending a length of the rail;a support member having a footing and a finger, the footing slidably disposed within the channel of the rail, and the finger extending from the footing; anda return spring, having a first end attached to one end of the rail and a second end attached to the support member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two side surfaces form a first angle and a second angle with respect to the bottom surface, wherein the first angle and the second angle are equal in value and opposing in orientation.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first angle and the second angle are in a range from 5 degrees to 15 degrees.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the finger extends perpendicularly to the footing.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is a unitary body and the sides surfaces are formed to provide each rail.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a paddle disposed on the finger.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the paddle includes a first surface having a surface area of at least 12 square inches.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first surface has a circular sector shape.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the return spring has a return force in a range from 2 Newtons to 20 Newtons.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the return force and the surface area are configured to provide an average force in a range from 0.06 Newtons per square inch (N / in2) to 3 N / in2.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the return spring is a coil return spring.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the length of the base is greater than a width of the base.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a face member configured to be reversibly installable to an end of the base.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the end of the base is the end at which the return spring attaches.

15. (canceled)16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the face member has a rectangular shape.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the face member has a recess in an edge of the rectangular shape.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a face member, wherein the face member is configured to hold a frontmost food product in a defined position while a portion of the food product is exposed above the front face.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the face member includes a curved perimeter edge.

209. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a width between an outermost surface of each rail is fixed along the length of the rails.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, comprising a face member configured to hold a frontmost food product in a defined position, wherein the face member includes a curved perimeter edge.

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