The Mead Corporation

Other

L&p Property Management Company

Display Industries, LLC

William S Spamer

Dennis E Parham

J Marshall Suttles

James Douglas Whiten

James David Robertson

David C Stoddard

James L Hanna

David S Leverette

Rafael T Bustos

J David Robertson

Andrew J Cisternino

Randall E Bailey

Ronald J Beerman

Alan D Preis

Timothy M Shannon

Elizabeth T Cooper

Robert C Barker

Teresa L Hinton

A gravity feed merchandising device includes a plurality of longitudinally extending, downwardly inclined tracks. Each track includes a pair of parallel rails defining a space therebetween. The rails support a row of bottles such that the underside of each bottle neck flange engages the rails for movement relative to the rails. Each track is provided at its front end with a spring-urged stopper so that the cap of the leading bottle in that track is prevented from dislodgement through the front end of the track when the leading bottle is supported by the track, but can be removed from the track through the front end when pulled against the stopper.

Gravity feed bottle dispensing track device having front stopper

An existing product vending machine, such as a refrigerated vending machine provided by a bottled soft drink manufacturer or distributer, is adapted to serve as a storage and loading device for use in a pneumatic vending and delivery system by installing an interface unit in place of the vending machine door. The interface unit may be configured to mount on hinges or other pre-existing panel supporting structure of the vending machine and to lock to pre-existing latching structure on the vending machine. Alternatively, the dispensing mechanism and product storage supply from one or more product vending machines may be installed in a vault and equipped with one or more of the interfaces. The interface is provided with a loading tube that connects to the upstream end of the tube of a pneumatic conveyor of the vending and delivery system. A loading port at the lower end of the loading tube, which may have a pivotal closure that serves as a landing pad to catch and load a dispensed product into and to close the port, preferably with the product base, e.g. the bottom of a soft drink bottle, facing forward in the tube. A blower at the base of the loading tube blows the product through the tube when a product is loaded. The interface includes wiring that interconnects the system controller with the dispensing mechanism so bottles are selectively loaded as selected at the vending system entry panel. The interface is preferably insulated on the inside wall thereof with the loading tube and blower lying on the outside of the refrigerated volume.

Pneumatic product vending system and product loader therefor

A modular merchandising device for bottles is disclosed. The merchandising device comprises a plurality of parallel elongate tracks, and support means for supporting the tracks so that each track is inclined downwardly toward its front end. Each track is designed to support a row of bottles such that the bottles in the row are suspended by their neck flanges for movement along the respective track and are removable from the respective track through its front end. Because of the inclined position of the tracks, the bottles when supported by each track are allowed to gravity feed one after another to the track front end as the leading bottles in the respective row successively are removed from the respective track. The support means comprises a pair of front and rear transverse support members disposed generally perpendicularly to the tracks. Each track comprises means for removably mounting the respective track on at least one of the front and rear transverse members. The removably mounting means comprises means for movably connecting the respective track to the one transverse member for sliding movement along the one transverse member.

Modular bottle-dispensing device and method of dispensing bottles

A rack for flanged articles comprises a pair of front and rear opposed parallel transverse support members, and a pair of longitudinal members extending between the front and rear support members. Each of longitudinal member is formed of a wire strip and comprises a straight portion and an upturned forward end portion. The straight portions of the longitudinal members extend forward from the rear support member to positions below the front support member. The straight portions are disposed to form a pair of spaced parallel rails for receiving therebetween a row of articles such that the articles are slidably engaged at the undersides of their flanges with the rails, and thereby the articles are suspended by their flanges for movement along the rails. The upturned forward end portions of the longitudinal members extend upward to the front support member and secured to the same to form a brace for interconnecting the rails and the front support member. The upturned forward end portions are divergent toward the front support member so that an exit for the articles is defined between the upturned forward end portions.

Wire rack for flanged articles

A display shelf comprises a back in and elongate parallel tracks arranged side by side along the lower side of the backing panel. Each track is adapted to support a row of articles such that the articles in the row are suspended from each track for movement along that track. The backing panel and the tracks are formed together as a unitary structure. A method of making the display shelf comprises forming moldable material into a unitary structure including a backing panel and parallel hollow longitudinal ribs arranged side by side along one of the opposite sides of the backing panel. Each longitudinal rib includes a pair of longitudinally extending opposed side walls interconnected by a longitudinally extending bridging wall. The method also comprises cutting a slot in the bridging wall of each longitudinal rib. The slot in each longitudinal rib extends along that rib such that a pair of spaced parallel rails along the side walls are created out of the bridging wall to receive therebetween the top portions of the articles of the row.

Display shelf and method of making the same

A merchandising device includes bottles arranged in a row, a track for supporting the row of bottles, a support rack for supporting the track, and a stopper provided at the front end of the track to engage the leading bottle in the row. Each bottle has a cap and an integrally formed annular neck flange. The bottles are suspended by their neck flanges for movement along a path defined by the track and are removable from the track through the front end of the track. The track is inclined downwardly toward the front end, and thereby the bottles are allowed to gravity feed toward the front end along the path. The stopper prevents the leading bottle from exiting the front end until removal thereof is desired. The leading bottle when at the front end is suspended in a vertical position. The stopper includes an engaging element disposed at the front end for movement transversely of the path as well as of the leading bottle, and a spring for urging the engaging element transversely into the path. The engaging element is positioned relative to the leading bottle such that when in the path, the engaging element abuts the cap of the leading bottle to stop the leading bottle at the front end.

Gravity feed bottle dispensing device and method of dispensing bottles

A bottle dispenser has a gate mechanism to maintain the foremost one of the track-supported bottles substantially vertical. The dispenser includes an elongate track defining a longitudinally extending pathway, a support structure, and a stopper provided at the front end of the track. The track supports a row of flanged bottles such that the bottles are suspended by their neck flanges for movement along the pathway and removable from the pathway through the front end of the track. The support structure supports the track such that the track is inclined toward its front end whereby the suspended bottles are allowed to gravity feed toward the front end when the leading bottle in the row is removed from the track. The stopper engages with the leading bottle to prevent its accidental removal through the front end. The gate mechanism comprises a rotary rachet wheel disposed at least partially in the track for engagement with the bottles and a movable catch arm arranged to take a catching position for restricting rotation of the ratchet wheel in response to arrival of the leading bottle at the front end of the track.

Gravity feed bottle dispensing device having track-blocking ratchet wheel

A pusher device for dispensing merchandise is disclosed. The device includes an elongate plastic track having a floor on which a row of articles are positioned for movement therealong, a pusher connected to the track for movement therealong and having a front side for engagement with the rearmost article on the track, and a spring for urging the pusher toward the front end of the track to forwardly move all the articles on the track. The spring is a gradient force, self-coiling spring arranged to exert forwardly directed force on the rear side of the pusher. The force on the pusher gradually reduces as the leading articles on the track successively are removed from the track, and thereby articles on the track are prevented from being subject to excessive force. What is also disclosed is a pusher device including an elongate track, a pusher movably connected to the track, and a self-coiling spring for urging the pusher forward of the track. The spring is formed of a strip of spring material wound at least partially to form a coiled portion that is arranged such that the coiled portion is extended as the pusher is moved backward. The coiled portion, when fully wound, includes an inner set of layers of the strip and an outer set of layers of the strip disposed around the inner set of layers. The inner set of layers forms a constant force spring whereas the outer set of layers forms a gradient force spring. What is further disclosed is a pusher device which includes an elongate track, a pusher movably connected to the track, a spring for urging the pusher forward, and a mooring mechanism for locking the pusher in the rearmost position on the track so as to facilitate loading of articles onto the track. The locking mechanism is provided on the pusher to engage a rear wall upstanding on the track.

Pusher device for dispensing articles

A display device has an article dispenser having front and rear opposite edges and designed to support articles. The dispenser includes a plurality of parallel tracks extending from the front edge of the dispenser toward the rear edge. Each track receives a row of articles for movement along that track. The dispenser also includes a diverting pathway extending substantially transversely of the tracks. The pathway interconnects the rear ends of the tracks and receives articles for movement therealong so that articles are allowed to be transferred from the pathway to each track and vice versa. The dispenser further includes a guide member disposed adjacent to the rear end of one of the tracks. When the articles in the track associated with the guide member are moved backwards along that track, they are brought into contact one after another with the front surface of the guide member and guided laterally along the front surface into the pathway.

Display device having article guide means for encouraging stock rotation

A bottle dispenser has a gate mechanism to maintain the foremost one of the track-supported bottles substantially vertical. The dispenser includes an elongate track which defines a longitudinally extending pathway, a support assembly for the track, and a stopper provided at the front end of the track. The track supports a row of flanged bottles such that the bottles are suspended by their neck flanges for movement along the pathway and removable from the pathway through the front end of the track. The support assembly supports the track such that the track is inclined toward its front end whereby the suspended bottles are allowed to gravity feed toward the front end when the leading bottle in the row is removed from the track. The stopper engages with the leading bottle to prevent its accidental removal through the front end. The gate mechanism blocks the pathway at a position between the front and rear ends of the track. The mechanism is activated when the foremost bottle in the row engages the stopper so that forward movement of the other bottles behind the foremost bottle is blocked. This allows the foremost bottle to be free of pressure of the other bottles when stopped at the front end of the track.

Gravity feed bottle dispensing device having a track-blocking gate

An open top barrel having an end portion of circular configuration includes a linear tub somewhat smaller than the barrel and disposed within the barrel together with a bezel flange formed integrally with the liner and in engagement with the barrel end portion, the bezel flange being formed to mate with a range of different barrel end portion sizes.

Merchandising display for point of purchase cooled items

A case for displaying articles in retail outlets includes a bottom wall, side walls foldably joined respectively to side edges of the bottom wall, top wall panels foldably joined respectively to the top edges of the side walls and with their inner edges disposed in close juxtaposition to each other to form a cover for the case, a pair of face contacting medial panels foldably joined respectively to the inner edges of the top wall panels, and interlocking structure interconnecting the bottom edges of the medial panels with the bottom wall. The case is formed preferably of corrugated plastic or paperboard material.

Article display case

A composite structure for supporting and displaying articles includes a main rectangular planar element having front, rear and opposed side edges, an auxiliary rectangular planar element having front, rear and opposed side edges one edge of the auxiliary rectangular planar element being of a configuration which is irregular and complementary to one irregular edge of the main rectangular planar element to define a disjointable irregular junction between the units together with a reinforcing under structure integrally formed with the lower surfaces of the main and auxiliary units and including a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal reinforcing ribs each of the reinforcing ribs being severed at the disjointable irregular junction to accommodate separation of the units.

Composite organizer

For use as a component of a display stand, a shelf of the gravity feed type includes a support frame on which a plurality of tracks of different widths are arranged in side by side relation, each track including at least one support plate and a pair of plastic elements secured atop the support plate, each plastic element having a base strip and a side strip secured to one side edge of the base strip and arranged in perpendicular relation thereto to form a structure of L-shaped cross section and the plastic strips being arranged with the edges of the base strips which are opposite from the side strips disposed adjacent each other to form an article track.

Gravity feed shelf

For displaying articles such as eyeglasses at a point of purchase, a plurality of cavities each including bottom, top and inwardly tapered side walls are arranged in interconnected side by side relation to form a tier, the tiers being interconnected to form a display tower having a domed cover and a flat base portion interconnected with the bottom of the tower by a bearing structure whereby the tower is rendered rotatable about a vertical axis. Each cavity includes a support beam mounted on its bottom panel and having an upper ridge portion in which a recess is formed for removably receiving a part of a displayed article such as the nose portion of a pair of eyeglasses.

Growing community of inventors

Roswell, GA, United States of America

William S Spamer