The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 13, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 30, 1995
Jonathan L Headrick, Overland, MO (US);
Keith Harbour, Florissant, MO (US);
Paul Flum Ideas, Inc., St. Louis, MO (US);
Abstract
An overhead guide channel stabilizer structure for use in cooperation with existing product merchandising display equipment so as to enable such existing equipment to more readily accommodate the merchandising of taller product containers therefrom, the present stabilizer structure being positionable within such existing equipment in spaced relationship above a product support area located therein and including a plurality of spaced, parallel guide members defining a plurality of guide channels therebetween for receiving and guiding the movement of the upper portions of product containers positioned therebetween and supported on the product support area located therebelow. The present stabilizer structure is easily mounted within existing display equipment, including refrigerated display coolers and other types of product merchandising display devices having a wide variety of different product support areas and other shelf constructions associated therewith; it provides sideward support for the product containers positioned therebetween to prevent such containers from falling over; it functions to guide the movement of product containers in orderly rows on the product support area located below; it includes an adjustment mechanism for varying the height of the stabilizer structure above the product support area depending upon the particular height of the product containers to be dispensed therefrom; it can be conveniently mounted in either a flat substantially horizontal position or in an inclined position for gravity feed operation; and it may also include frangible side portions which can be easily detached for adjusting the width of the overall structure to facilitate use in existing display equipment having varying width dimensions.