Pusher tray with front stop having product support projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional retail merchandise trays using pusher systems often cause denting of products due to minimal contact area between the mounting receivers and the merchandise, especially for soft items like high-end chocolate, which affects their visual appearance and leads to discarding.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a front stop with a product support section that provides a larger surface area for contact, featuring mounting pin receivers that project rearward and a product support surface positioned behind them, reducing the pressure on the merchandise and preventing denting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If mounting receivers are positioned to provide structural support for the front stop, then the front stop can be securely mounted, but the contact area with merchandise is minimized causing denting
Solution Approach 1:
The front stop is divided into distinct functional zones: mounting pin receivers for structural attachment and a separate product support surface for merchandise contact. This segmentation allows the mounting receivers to provide structural support while the product support surface provides a larger, softer contact area that prevents denting.
Solution Approach 2:
A product support surface acts as an intermediary between the mounting receivers and the merchandise. This intermediate surface distributes the contact area and provides a protective layer that prevents the mounting receivers from directly contacting and denting the products.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mounting receivers project rearward to accommodate wider merchandise, then versatility is improved, but contact area is reduced causing increased pressure on products
Solution Approach 1:
The solution moves the product support function to a different dimensional plane - a rearward-extending product support surface that provides lateral support for wider merchandise without concentrating force at the mounting receiver contact points. This dimensional shift allows versatility while reducing pressure.
3Reliability
If pusher force is increased to ensure merchandise fronting, then fronting reliability is improved, but product deformation increases due to limited contact area
Solution Approach 1:
The product support surface is designed to provide cushioning support before the pusher force is applied. This pre-cushioning protects the merchandise from deformation by distributing the pusher's force across a larger area, ensuring reliable fronting without damaging soft products.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration significantly reduces the likelihood of product denting by distributing the force over a larger area, maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the merchandise and minimizing waste.
Implementation Method 1
A spring is connected between the pusher body and a leading edge of the track. The spring acts to bias the pusher body forward along the track towards the leading edge thereof.
Implementation Method 2
The product support section defines a second product support surface that faces the rear end of the product support structure and the pusher when in the upright orientation... significantly reduces the likelihood of product denting by distributing the force over a larger area
Data Source
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AI summary
A retail merchandise tray (100) including a front stop (104) having a product support surface (162) is provided. The product support surface (162) is located between mounting features (148) that attach the front stop (104) to the rest of the retail merchandise tray (100). The front stop (104) itself is an embodiment as well.