Shelf pusher system

Abstract

A shelving system includes a shelf with a product stop at its proximal end. The shelving system further includes at least one product on the product shelf that is guided along the shelf by a shelf pusher that includes a vertical back panel and a pusher base. The vertical back panel couples to the pusher base. The shelving system further includes at least one self-retracting mechanism that forces the shelf pusher toward the proximal end. The pusher base may include a lattice portion, and the vertical back panel may include a channel in which the self-retracting mechanism can be retained.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] None.FIELD OF INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a system and method of an auto-glide shelving system with an improved shelf pusher design.BACKGROUND

[0003] It is common practice to provide product display devices and shelving systems to organize and display merchandise and products (e.g., beverages, snacks) to consumers. Existing designs of a shelving system use various methods of bringing product forward from the distal end to the proximal end of the shelving system. The existing designs can be supported in either a flat horizontal position or in an inclined position for gravity-fed products. In gravity-fed existing designs, product moves forward toward the proximal end via gravity. Such gravity-fed designs typically do not use a shelf pusher. Other existing designs may use a pull tab (or pull string) that can be manually pulled to bring the product forward on the product shelf. In yet other designs, magnets may be used to move products forward toward the proximal end. Other existing designs, such as those in vending machines, use a coil spring to push products forward as product nearest the proximal end is removed. In other existing designs, a sheet coil, or ribbon spring, may be used to force the shelf pusher forward to bring the product forward on the product shelf. In designs using a sheet coil (or coil spring), the sheet coil does not stay centered and slips out of place.

[0004] A number of other designs for a shelving system have a plurality of product channels, each with a shelf pusher to push the product forward. Additionally in many designs, the shelf pusher is a thin product paddle, with a pusher base that does not have enough surface area to support the whole width of the product. In yet other designs, the shelf pusher only has a vertical back panel, often without a pusher base for product to sit on.SUMMARY

[0005] The present disclosure relates generally to a product display device for use in storing and merchandising shelved products. Various embodiments of the product display device have a plurality of product channels that can be arranged adjacent to one another, thus forming a product shelf shelving system.

[0006] The present disclosure overcomes the disadvantages and shortcomings with the known product shelving systems. The present disclosure generally relates to an auto-glide shelving system that includes a product shelf with a shelf pusher that may further include a pusher base with a lattice design.

[0007] The shelf pusher may further include two or more thin ribs on the rear side of a vertical back panel. The thin ribs may help maintain a self-retracting mechanism (e.g. a spring) in a centered position on the vertical back panel.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a shelving system with a shelf pusher shown at the distal end;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a top view of the shelving system of FIG. 1 with the shelf pusher at the proximal end;

[0010] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a shelf pusher of the shelving system of FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the rear side of the shelving system with a shelf pusher of shelving system of FIG. 1; and

[0012] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the rear side of the shelf pusher of FIG. 3.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use embodiments of the invention. Various modifications to the illustrated embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles herein can be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from embodiments of the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are not intended to be limited to embodiments shown but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. The following detailed description is to be read with reference to the figures, in which like elements in different figures have like reference numerals. The figures, which are not necessarily to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the invention. Skilled artisans will recognize the examples provided herein have many useful alternatives and fall within the scope of embodiments of the invention.

[0014] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the attached drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. For example, the use of “including,”“comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

[0015] As used herein, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms “mounted,”“connected,”“supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, unless otherwise specified or limited, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

[0016] In some instances, a shelving system may be used in a merchandising cooler to bring product forward each time an item is purchased. In other instances, a shelving system may be used in grocery stores or other shopping centers to bring product forward ensuring that the product remains visible at the proximal end of the product shelf. For example, a shelving system may be used for, but is not limited to, canned or bottled beverages which easily maneuver along a product channel. In another example, a shelving system may be used for, but not limited to, other canned goods, jarred goods, and other products housed in containers, cylindrical glass or other vessel. In some instances, the product shape may be, but is not limited to, a cylindrical shape, a substantially cylindrical shape, a square or cubic shape, etc.

[0017] In FIG. 1, an auto-glide shelf 100 (referred to herein as the “shelf 100) is provided. The shelf 100 may include a shelf pusher 105 upon which product can be placed and moved along a shelf floor 110. The shelf floor 110 may include a proximal end 115 and a distal end 120. Product preferably travels from the distal end 120 toward the proximal end 115 as product is selected by a consumer for purchase and / or consumption. FIG. 1 depicts a first configuration of the shelf 100 where the shelf pusher 105 is located near the distal end 120.

[0018] The shelf 100 further includes two side wall members 125 that project upwardly from the shelf floor 110 to retain product on the shelf 100 and help prevent it from falling off the shelf 100. Additional divider members 130 may be provided that are positioned and located between the side wall members 125. The divider members 130 preferably define product channels 135 therebetween through which shelf pushers 105 (and products thereon) may slide. The shelf 100 may include a plurality of product channels 135. In this instance, there are seven product channels 135 for dispensing product. In other instances, the product shelf 100 may include more or fewer product channels 135.

[0019] In instances where the product channel 135 is stocked with product in a queue, the shelf pusher 105 may start at the distal end 120 of the shelf 100 with a most distal product sitting on the shelf pusher 105 (not illustrated) and at least one product in front of the product on the shelf pusher 105 in a queue-like manner. A fully stocked product queue may stretch from the distal end 120 to the proximal end 115 in the product channel 135, and the shelf pusher 105 is in a most-distal position of the product channel 135.

[0020] In other instances when the product in the product queue does not fill up the full length of the product channel 135, the shelf pusher 105 may not start at the most-distal position at the distal end 120 of the shelf 100, but rather somewhere between the distal end 120 and the proximal end 115 of the shelf 100. As each one of the product(s) is removed from the proximal end 115, a retraction mechanism (described in FIG. 4) pushes the shelf pusher 105 (and product thereon and in front thereof) forward from the distal end 120 toward the proximal end 115 of the product shelf 100 until the most-proximal product in the product queue in the product channel 135 reaches a product stop 140 protruding upwardly from the proximal end 115. The front product stop 140 may be either flat or curved. In one instance, for example, the curved front product stop 140 may be designed to mate with cans or bottles.

[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a second configuration with the shelf pusher 105 positioned at the at the proximal end 115 of the shelf 100. A self-retracting mechanism 145, embodied as a coil spring in FIG. 2, may be configured to bias the shelf pusher 105 toward the proximal end 115 of the product shelf 100. As a product is removed at the proximal end 115 of the product shelf 100, the self-retracting mechanism 145 biases the shelf pusher 105 (and product) toward the proximal end 115 of the shelf 100.

[0022] Turning to FIG. 3, the shelf pusher 105 may be generally composed of an upwardly extending back panel 150 and a pusher base 155. The back panel 150 may couple to a rear portion 160 of the pusher base 155. In some instances, the back panel 150 may have a curved shape to mate with a bottle or other cylindrical-shaped product. In some instances, the back panel 150 may be formed with a hollow interior portion 155. The back panel 150 may include a grooved portion in which the self-retracting mechanism 145 may be retained (not illustrated in FIG. 3). The back panel 150 may support the product in a vertical position to reduce the likelihood of the product tipping over as the shelf pusher 105 translates the product toward the proximal end 115.

[0023] The pusher base 155 may support product as the shelf pusher 105 forces the product toward the proximal end 115. When a product channel is fully-stocked, the most-proximal product rests at the product stop 140, and the most-distal product in the product queue rests on the pusher base 155 and is supported in a vertical position by the vertical back panel 150 of the shelf pusher 105. In circumstances where there is only one product in a product channel 135, the shelf pusher 105 may rest in the most-proximal position, and the product rests on the pusher base 155 adjacent the product stop 140.

[0024] In some instances, the pusher base 155 may include a lattice design 165, as provided in FIG. 3. In other instances, the pusher base 155 may be, but is not limited to, a substantially flat or grooved surface. The lattice design reduces the weight of the the shelf pusher 105 but preferably maintains its structural integrity to be strong enough to support products. The lightweight design of the lattice design on the pusher 105 may comprise roughly two thirds of the pusher base 155.

[0025] A center portion 170 may bifurcate or otherwise separate the lattice portions of the pusher base 155 from one another. The center portion 170 may be recessed downwardly from the pusher base 155. The center portion 170 may include a ramped portion 175 to guide the self-retracting mechanism 145 (not illustrated in FIG. 3) over the pusher base 155 smoothly. The center portion 170 may further include a proximal opening 180 and a distal opening 185 for feeding the self-retracting mechanism 145 over the pusher base 155.

[0026] In some instances, the pusher base 155 may include six sides that form a shape such as a hexagon. In one instance, for example, a first side 190 of the six-sided pusher base 155 may be substantially parallel to the vertical panel 150 and be between three to five inches, or substantially equal to, or slightly less than, equal to the width of the product channel 135. A second side 195 and a third side 200 may protrude away from the vertical panel 150 and may be between three to five inches in length. The second side 195 and third side 200 may be configured to couple to the first side 190. A fourth side 205 and a fifth side 210 may be positioned near a front (away from the vertical panel 150) of the pusher base 155 and angled to form tapered corners and is configured to couple with the forward protruding second and third sides 195, 200 as well as a sixth side 215. The sixth side 215 may be parallel to the first side 190 and may be shorter than the first side (e.g., between one to two inches in length). In other instances, the pusher base 155 may have more or fewer than six sides. For example, the pusher base 155 may be round, square, or another shape designed to support a product.

[0027] FIG. 4 more clearly illustrates the self-retracting mechanism 145 that couples to the rear side of the vertical back panel 150 of the shelf pusher 105. The self-retracting mechanism 145 biases the shelf pusher 105 toward the proximal end 115 (which also pushes product on the shelf pusher 105 and within the product channel 135 from the distal end 120 to the proximal end 115).

[0028] The self-retracting mechanism 145 attaches at the proximal end 115 near the product stop 140 of the product shelf 100. The self-retracting mechanism 145 may stretch along the shelf floor 110. It may be threaded through the proximal opening 180 of the center portion 170 and the distal opening 185 of the vertical back panel 150 (see FIG. 3). The self-retracting mechanism may then continue up a rear side 220 of the vertical back panel 150, where the self-retracting mechanism 145 can form a coil on the rear side 220 of the vertical back panel 150. In some instances, the self-retracting mechanism 145 may be about one to one and a half inches wide or about as wide as the recessed center portion 170 of the pusher base 155.

[0029] The center portion 170 may help maintain the self-retracting mechanism 145 in a centered position on the pusher base 155. In some instances, the self-retracting mechanism 145 may include a spring, a coil, tape, or any other form of mechanism that is considered spring-loaded. For example, in FIG. 4, the self-retracting mechanism 145 is a coiled self-retracting tape with the shelf pusher 105 in the most-proximal position in the product channel 135. When the product channel 135 is fully stocked with product in the queue, the shelf pusher 105 rests in the most-distal position in the product channel 135, and the self-retracting mechanism 145 is nearly fully stretched into a lengthened position. As product(s) is removed at the proximal end 115 of the product shelf 100, the self-retracting mechanism 145 coils up a small amount approximately equal to the distance of the diameter or width of the product as it is removed until the shelf pusher 105 reaches the most-proximal position on the product shelf 100, and the self-retracting mechanism 145 is nearly fully coiled.

[0030] Turning to FIG. 5, the rear side 220 of the vertical back panel 150 includes two or more ribs 225 for guiding the self-retracting mechanism 145 through a channel 230 defined by the ribs 225. The self-retracting mechanism 145 (not illustrated) may rest in the channel 230 between the ribs 225 when it is coiled up on the rear side 220 of the vertical back panel 150.

[0031] The ribs 225 may extend vertically up the rear side 220 of the vertical back panel 150 from the distal opening 185. The ribs 225 may be substantially parallel to one another and can be between one half inch to three inches in length (or could be other lengths). The ribs 225 may be spaced apart between one half to two inches, or at least a distance that is about the width of the self-retracting mechanism 145. The ribs 225 may be integrally formed with the shelf pusher 105. In some instances, the ribs 225 may be substantially round or cylindrical in cross-sectional shape. In other instances, the thin ribs 225 may be substantially square in cross-sectional shape.

[0032] The ribs 225 may maintain the self-retracting mechanism 145 in a substantially centered position in the middle of the vertical back panel 150 and help prevent the self-retracting mechanism from sliding off of and away from the shelf pusher 105 and becoming tangled or otherwise interfering with the function of the shelf pusher 105.

[0033] In other instances, other configurations are possible. For example, those of skill in the art will recognize, according to the principles and concepts disclosed herein, that various combinations, sub-combinations, and substitutions of the components discussed above can provide appropriate control for a variety of different configurations of auto-glide shelving systems for a variety of applications.

[0034] The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A shelving system comprising:a product shelf;a product stop positioned and located at the proximal end of the shelving system;one or more product channels formed on the product shelf for creating a product queue in the one or more product channels;at least one shelf pusher that includes a vertical back panel and a pusher base, the pusher base configured for a product to sit on; andwherein the pusher base has a lattice design.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the product shelf has more than one product channel, and wherein each of the more than one product channels includes at least one shelf pusher.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the more than one product channels is separated by a divider.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one shelf member is biased toward the proximal end by a self-retracting mechanism.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein a rear side of the vertical back panel includes two or more ribs that define a channel in which the self-retracting mechanism is retained.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the self-retracting mechanism is a coil spring.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the self-retracting mechanism coils up as the self-retracting mechanism biases the shelf pusher toward the proximal end.

8. A shelving system comprising:a product shelf;a product stop positioned and located at the proximal end of the shelving system;one or more product channels formed on the product shelf for creating a product queue in the one or more product channels;at least one shelf pusher that includes a vertical back panel and a pusher base, the pusher base configured for a product to sit on;wherein the at least one shelf member is biased toward the proximal end by a self-retracting mechanism; andwherein a rear side of the vertical back panel includes two or more ribs that define a channel in which the self-retracting mechanism is retained.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one self-retracting mechanism is a coil spring.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the more than one product channels is separated by a divider.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the two or more thin ribs are spaced apart one to two inches.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the two or more thin ribs are between one to three inches long.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the self-retracting mechanism biases the shelf pusher toward the proximal end when each one of the at least one products is removed from the proximal end.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the self-retracting mechanism coils up as the self-retracting mechanism biases the shelf pusher toward the proximal end.

15. A shelf pusher for use in a shelf that uses a self-retracting mechanism to bias the shelf pusher toward a proximal side of a shelf, the shelf pusher comprising:a vertical back panel; anda pusher base including a lattice portion, the pusher base configured for a product to sit on;wherein a rear side of the vertical back panel includes two or more ribs that define a channel for retaining the self-retracting mechanism.

16. The shelf pusher of claim 15, wherein the pusher base includes six sides.

17. The shelf pusher of claim 15, wherein the self-retracting mechanism coils up as the self-retracting mechanism biases the shelf pusher moves toward the proximal end.

18. The shelf pusher of claim 15, wherein the two or more thin ribs are spaced apart one to two inches.

19. The shelf pusher of claim 15, wherein the two or more thin ribs are between one to three inches long.

20. The shelf pusher of claim 15, wherein the vertical back panel is hollow.

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