Modular Shelf Management System

Abstract

A modular system of interconnecting track members for use on a flat shelf or on an inclined gravity-feed shelf, wherein each individual track member includes an overhang on a first sidewall extending in a direction opposite the second sidewall of that track member, the overhang defining a channel to receive a portion of a second sidewall of an adjacent track member. The track members are provided in a variety of configurations, including different widths and different wall heights. The track members may also be provided with such features as friction-reducing hip slide rails, a groove to facilitate removal of the overhang, drainage openings, permanent dividers, and removable dividers. The track members of each of the various possible configurations each has the overhang on a first sidewall, and a second sidewall having a portion that is receivable in the channel formed by the overhang of the first sidewall of an adjacent track member, so the retailer may arrange a plurality of track members having different parameters (e.g., width, height, friction-reducing surface) to optimize display of different types and sizes of retail products on a shelf.

1 . A track member for a shelf comprising: 
 a bottom;    a first sidewall extending upward from the bottom;    a second sidewall extending upward from the bottom;    the first sidewall having a portion curling in a direction away from the second sidewall and forming an overhang defining a downwardly-open channel.    
   
   
       2 . The track member of  claim 1 , wherein the overhang extends from a front end of the track member to a rear end of the track member.  
   
   
       3 . The track member of  claim 1 , including a plurality of hip slide rails extending upward from the bottom.  
   
   
       4 . The track member of  claim 3 , wherein each of the hip slide rails is provided with a lubricant coating.  
   
   
       5 . The track member of  claim 3 , in combination with at least one divider intermediate the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the divider comprising a wall and separating the track member into a plurality of track channels.  
   
   
       6 . The track member of  claim 5 , wherein said divider is removable and is secured to the bottom of the track member by the hip slide rails.  
   
   
       7 . The track member and removable divider combination of  claim 6 , wherein the removable divider includes a slanted first wing and a slanted second wing extending from a lower portion of the removable divider; 
 wherein the hip slide rails are arranged in pairs and each pair of hip slide rails defines an inverted generally V-shaped groove to receive one of the slanted first and second wings of the removable divider.    
   
   
       8 . The track member of  claim 1 , wherein the first sidewall extends above the overhang.  
   
   
       9 . The track member of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall includes a portion that jogs inwardly in a direction toward the other of the first and second sidewalls.  
   
   
       10 . The track member of  claim 1 , wherein at least one drainage opening is provided in the bottom.  
   
   
       11 . The track member of  claim 1 , wherein the first sidewall includes a wedge-shaped groove running parallel to and below the overhang, said wedge-shaped groove facilitating removal of the overhang.  
   
   
       12 . A modular system of interconnecting track members for a shelf comprising: 
 a plurality of track members each having a bottom, a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first sidewall having a portion curling in a direction away from the second sidewall and forming an overhang defining a downwardly-open channel.    
   
   
       13 . The modular system of interconnecting track members of  claim 13 , wherein each of the track members is selectable from at least a set of track members having a first width and a set of track members having a second width.  
   
   
       14 . The modular system of interconnecting track members of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall of at least one of the plurality of track members includes a portion that jogs inwardly in a direction toward the other of the first and second sidewalls of that track member.  
   
   
       15 . The modular system of interconnecting track members of  claim 12 , wherein in at least one of the plurality of track members, the overhang extends from a front end of the track member to a rear end of that track member.  
   
   
       16 . The modular system of interconnecting track members of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of track members includes a plurality of hip slide rails extending upward from the bottom of that track member.  
   
   
       17 . The modular system of interconnecting track members of  claim 15 , wherein each of the hip slide rails is provided with a lubricant coating.  
   
   
       18 . The modular system of interconnecting track members of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of track members is provided in combination with at least one divider intermediate the first sidewall and the second sidewall of that track member, the divider comprising a wall and separating that track member into a plurality of track channels.  
   
   
       19 . The modular system of interconnecting track members of  claim 17 , wherein the divider is removable and is secured to the bottom of that track member by the hip slide rails.  
   
   
       20 . The modular system of interconnecting track members of  claim 18 , wherein the removable divider includes a slanted first wing and a slanted second wing extending from a lower portion of the removable divider; 
 wherein the hip slide rails of that track member are arranged in pairs and each pair of hip slide rails defines an inverted generally V-shaped groove to receive one of the slanted first and second wings of the removable divider.    
   
   
       21 . The modular system of interconnecting track members of  claim 12 , wherein on at least one of the plurality of track members, the first sidewall extends above the overhang of that track member.  
   
   
       22 . The modular system of interconnecting track members of  claim 12 , wherein on at least one of the plurality of track members, at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall includes a portion that jogs inwardly in a direction toward the other of the first and second sidewalls.  
   
   
       23 . The modular system of interconnecting track members of  claim 21 , wherein the first or second sidewall of a second one of the track members adjacent and interconnected to the track member having the portion that jogs inwardly, and the sidewall including the portion that jogs inwardly, cooperate with one another to define a double-layer separation between two track channels defined by the respective track members, with an air gap therebetween.  
   
   
       24 . The modular system of interconnecting track members of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of track members has at least one drainage opening provided in the bottom.  
   
   
       25 . The modular system of interconnecting track members of  claim 12 , wherein the first sidewall of at least one of the plurality of track members includes a wedge-shaped groove running parallel to and below the overhang of that first sidewall, said wedge-shaped groove facilitating removal of the overhang of that first sidewall.  
   
   
       26 . A method for arranging a plurality of interconnecting track members on a shelf, comprising: 
 selecting a plurality of track members from a set of track members having a bottom, a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first sidewall having a portion curling in a direction away from the second sidewall and forming an overhang defining a downwardly-open channel, and a width complementary to retail product to be displayed in each of the respective track members; and    interconnecting the selected track members by successively inserting a portion of the second sidewall of one of the selected track members into the downwardly-open channel of the overhang of an adjacent one of the selected track members until all the selected track members are interconnected.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , and further including cutting along a groove provided under the overhang on the first sidewall of an outermost one of the selected track members and removing the overhang.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein in interconnecting the selected track members, arranging the track members such that on every other track member, the first sidewall includes a portion extending above the overhang of that sidewall.