Shelf channel and guide system and method

Abstract

An auto-glide shelving system is provided for displaying and dispensing at least one product on the product shelf is supported by the base. The system further including a shelf pusher that pushes the at least one product toward the proximal end, wherein the shelf pusher includes a t-shaped guide. The system further includes a product channel guiding the at least one product linearly toward the proximal end. The product channel includes a t-slot channel along the length of the base of the product channel that receives the t-shaped guide of the shelf pusher. The t-shaped guide may help guide the shelf pusher along the product channel.

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 channel and guide design.BACKGROUND

[0003] It is common practice to provide product display devices and shelving systems to organize and display merchandise and products 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, gravity brings a product forward toward the proximal end. The gravity-fed designs generally do not use a shelf pusher. Other existing designs may use a pull tab (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. Some existing designs, such as those in vending machines, use a coil spring to bias products forward as product nearest the proximal end is removed. In other existing designs, a sheet coil, or ribbon spring, may be used to bias the shelf pusher forward to bring the product forward on the product shelf.

[0004] These existing shelving systems may include one or more product channels through which product can be pushed. Some existing designs for a shelving system include a shelf pusher in the product channels. In some of these existing designs, the product channel includes a track and the shelf pusher includes projecting tabs to guide the shelf pusher along the track of the product channel. In other designs, the tracks are designed to allow the entire product shelf to slide forward rather than guide the shelf pusher toward the proximal end of the product shelf. There exists a need for a guide that stabilizes the shelf pusher the shelf pusher glides along substantially linearly from the distal end toward the proximal end and maintains the shelf pusher centered in the product channel.SUMMARY

[0005] The present disclosure relates generally to product display devices for use in storing and merchandizing shelved products. In particular, various embodiments of a product merchandising display unit provide product display devices to organize and merchandise shelved products to consumers. Other product display devices have a plurality of product channels can be arranged adjacent to one another 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 t-slot channel and t-shaped guide that maintains the stability of the shelf pusher and ensures the shelf pusher remains centered in the product channel as it glides toward the proximal end.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a shelving system with a shelf pusher at a distal end;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a top view of the shelving system of FIG. 1 with the shelf pusher at a proximal end;

[0009] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a shelf pusher of the shelving system of FIG. 1;

[0010] FIG. 4 is a top view of a t-slot channel at the proximal end of the shelving system of FIG. 1; and

[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the t-slot channel showing a ramp of the shelving system of FIG. 1.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] 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.

[0013] 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.

[0014] 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.

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] Turning to FIG. 2, As each one of the product(s) is removed from the proximal end 115, a retraction mechanism 140, which may be a coil spring (or other foreseeable mechanism) 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 145 protruding upwardly from the proximal end 115. The front product stop 145 may be either flat or curved. In one instance, for example, the curved front product stop 145 may be designed to mate with cans or bottles.

[0021] Turning to FIG. 3, the shelf pusher 105 may be generally composed of an upwardly extending back panel 150 and a 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. 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. In some instances, the back panel 150 may be formed with a hollow interior portion. In other instances, the vertical back panel 150 may be solid.

[0022] In some instances, the pusher base 155 may comprise a pattern such as a lattice design. In other instances, the pusher base 155 may be substantially flat or have a grooved surface. In some instances, the pusher base 155 may have six sides while in other instances, the pusher base 155 may have more or fewer sides. In other instances, for example, the pusher base 155 may be round, square, or another shape designed to support a product.

[0023] A t-shaped guide 160 may be provided on an underside 165 of the pusher base 155. The t-shaped guide 160 may include a foot portion 170 that is attached to a stem portion 175 that extends downwardly from the underside 165. In the illustrated embodiment, the t-shaped guide 160 includes two foot portions 170 and stem portions 175, though in alternative embodiments, more or fewer foot portions 170 and stem portions 175 may be provided. In some embodiments, the t-shaped guide 160 may be integrally formed with the pusher base 155.

[0024] As set forth below, the t-shaped guide 160 may help guide the shelf pusher 105 in a substantially linear manner along the product channel 135. The t-shaped guide 160 may help stabilize the shelf pusher 105 as the shelf pusher 105 glides along the product channel 135. The t-shaped guide 160 may also help keep the shelf pusher 105 centered and aligned to help reduce wobbling or misalignment during movement.

[0025] The t-shaped guide 160 may be configured to be received and secured within a t-slot channel 180 formed in the shelf floor 110. The t-slot channel 180 may be an elongated channel extending through the shelf floor 110. The t-slot channel 180 preferably includes a narrow portion 185 and a wide portion 190. The wide portion 190 is preferably only slightly wider than the foot portions 170 of the t-shaped guide 160, while the narrow portion 185 is only slightly wider than the stem portions 175 of the t-shaped guide 160. That way, when the shelf pusher 105 is secured to or removed from the shelf floor 110, the foot portions 170 may be selectively inserted into or removed from the wide portion 190, and the stem portions 175 may slide through and along the narrow portion 185.

[0026] As the shelf pusher 105 moves toward the proximal end 115, the t-shaped guide 160 may glide through the t-slot channel 180 to help keep the shelf pusher 105 (and products situated thereon) in a centered position in the product channel 135.

[0027] Turning now to FIG. 5, the t-slot channel 180 may include a ramped portion 195 that ramps upwardly from the distal end 120 toward the proximal end 115, though in other embodiments that may be reversed such that the ramped portion 195 ramps downwardly from the distal end 120 toward the proximal end 115. In some instances, the ramped portion 195 of the t-slot channel 180 may be positioned nearer to the distal end 120. In other instances, the ramped portion 195 may be positioned nearer to the proximal end 115. The ramped portion 195 may make it easier for a shelf pusher 105 to be coupled to and decoupled from the shelf floor 110.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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. An auto-glide shelving system comprising:a product shelf for supporting an at least one product thereon;a shelf pusher that pushes the at least one product toward a proximal end of the product shelf, wherein the shelf pusher includes a t-shaped guide extending downwardly from an underside of the shelf pusher;a product channel guiding an at least one product toward the proximal end, the product channel, the shelf pusher configured to glide along the product channel; anda t-slot channel formed in the product channel that receives the t-shaped guide of the shelf pusher.

1. The system of claim 1, wherein the product shelf includes a plurality of product channels.

2. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of product channels is separated by a divider.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the t-slot channel further includes a ramped portion to help facilitate engagement of the t-shaped guide with the t-slot channel.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the t-shaped guide includes each of a stem portion and a foot portion, the foot portion being wider than the stem portion.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the t-slot portion includes each of a narrow portion and a wide portion, the wide portion being configured to receive the t-shaped guide therein.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the t-shaped guide includes two foot portions projecting downward therefrom for engagement with the t-slot channel.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the wherein the t-slot portion includes each of a narrow portion and a wide portion, the wide portion being configured to receive the t-shaped guide therein.

8. The system of claim 8, wherein the narrow portion is wider than the stem portion of the t-shaped guide.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the wide portion is wider than the foot portion of the t-shaped guide.

10. A shelf pusher for displaying and dispensing product to a consumer, the shelf pusher comprising:a pusher base on which the product is configured to sit;a back panel extending upwardly from the pusher base; anda t-shaped guide extending downwardly from the pusher base.

11. The shelf pusher of claim 11, wherein the shelf pusher includes two t-shaped guides extending downwardly from the pusher base.

12. The shelf pusher of claim 11, wherein the t-shaped guide includes a stem portion extending downwardly from the pusher base and a foot portion extending downwardly from the stem portion.

13. The shelf pusher of claim 13, wherein the foot portion is wider than the stem portion.

14. The shelf pusher of claim 11, wherein in an engaged position, the t-shaped guide is received in a t-slot channel extending along a length of a shelf floor.

15. The shelf pusher of claim 15, wherein the t-slot channel includes a wide portion and a narrow portion.

16. The shelf pusher of claim 15, wherein the t-slot channel further includes a ramped portion to help facilitate engagement of the t-shaped guide with the t-slot channel.

17. The shelf pusher of claim 16, wherein the narrow portion is wider than a stem portion extending downwardly from the t-shaped guide.

18. The shelf pusher of claim 18, wherein the wide portion is wider than a foot portion extending downwardly from the stem portion.

19. The shelf pusher of claim 11, wherein the shelf pusher is positioned and located within a channel formed in a product merchandising shelf.

Images