Merchandising and product display system

Abstract

A merchandising system for articles comprising a first divider providing a sidewall and a generally longitudinal member along the sidewall and a second divider providing a sidewall and a generally longitudinal member along the sidewall. The first divider is coupled to the second divider to form a compartment for the articles between the sidewall of the first compartment and the sidewall of the second compartment. The compartment has a front and a back. A support for the articles is provided within the compartment between the sidewall of the first divider and the sidewall of the second divider from adjacent the front of the compartment to adjacent the back of the compartment by the member on the first divider and the member on the second divider.

1 . A merchandising system comprising: 
 a pair of dividers spaced apart from each other and a floor member extending between the dividers, the divider and the floor member cooperating to define a space for storing and displaying a plurality of product containers, wherein a first product container is positioned at a forward end of the space and the remaining product containers are positioned behind the first product container and extend toward a rear of the space;    the floor member angled downward from the rear of the space toward the front of the space;    a product retaining member mounted to a front end of each of the dividers, with each product retaining member including at least one arm extending at least partially across a width of the space, the arms from the two retaining members cooperating to releasably retain the first product container within the space adjacent the forward end;    each arm of the product retaining members including an inner surface with a product retaining portion which engages the first product container in the space and a recurved portion configured to deflect the arm outward when a product container is pressed against the recurved portion, the deflection of the arms of the two retaining members permitting the placement of the product container within the space through the forward end;    each arm including an integral reinforcement member extending from the rear portion along an outer surface of the arm opposite the inner surface, the integral reinforcement member providing resistance against outward deflection of the arm.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising each arm including a plurality of transversely extending ridges spaced apart along the outer surface of the arm.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the integral reinforcement member is a gusset extending partially along the length of the outer surface opposite the product retaining portion.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein a first ridge is formed in the outer surface of the arm at a point forward of the gusset.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third divider positioned adjacent one of the two dividers and cooperating with the adjacent divider to define a second space similarly configured to the space; 
 the product retaining member mounted to the forward end of the divider common to both spaces including a second arm extending forward from the rear portion, with the second arm similarly configured to the arm and extending at least partially across the second space, with the gusset extending forward from the rear portion along an outer surface of each of the arms.    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising each arm including a plurality of transversely extending ridges spaced apart along the outer surface of the arm.  
   
   
       7 . A merchandising system comprising: 
 a pair of dividers spaced apart from each other and a floor member extending between the dividers, the divider and the floor member cooperating to define a space for storing and displaying a plurality of product containers, wherein a first product container is positioned at a forward end of the space and the remaining product containers are positioned behind the first product container and extend toward a rear of the space;    the floor member angled downward from the rear of the space toward the front of the space;    a product retaining member mounted to a front end of each of the dividers, with each product retaining member including at least one arm extending at least partially across a width of the space, the arms from the two retaining members cooperating to releasably retain the first product container within the space adjacent the forward end;    each arm of the product retaining members including an inner surface with a product retaining portion which engages the first product container in the space and a recurved portion configured to deflect the arm outward when a product container is pressed against the recurved portion, the deflection of the arms of the two retaining members permitting the placement of the product container within the space through the forward end;    each arm including a plurality of transversely extending ridges spaced apart along the outer surface of the arm.    
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a third divider positioned adjacent one of the two dividers and cooperating with the adjacent divider to define a second space similarly configured to the space; 
 the product retaining member mounted to the forward end of the divider common to both spaces including a second arm extending forward from the rear portion, with the second arm similarly configured to the arm and extending at least partially across the second space.    
   
   
       10 . The system of claim  9 , further comprising a gusset extending from the rear portion forwardly along an outer surface of each of the arms of the product retaining member common to both spaces and extending between the arms.  
   
   
       11 . A product retaining member comprising: 
 a rear portion, first and second arms extending forward from the rear portion, and first and second members extending rearward from the rear portion;    the rearward extending members defining a slot for engaging a forward edge of a divider of a product merchandising system, the members each including a tab extending into the slot to engage the divider;    each arm including first curved portion extending away from the rear portion and curving away from the other arm and a second curved portion forward of the first curved portion, the second curved portion curving back towards the other arm, where the first curved portion defines a product retaining portion and the second curved portion defines a recurved portion;    each arm further including a surface opposite the product retaining portion, with an integral reinforcement extending forward from the rear portion along this surface and a plurality of transverse ridges formed across this surface    the arms and the integral reinforcement made of a resilient deformable material permitting deflection of one arm toward the other arm.    
   
   
       12 . The product retaining member of  claim 11 , further comprising a friction enhancing treatment on the product retaining portion of the arms that provides increased resistance to movement of objects in contact with the product retaining portion.  
   
   
       13 . The product retaining member of  claim 11 , wherein the integral reinforcement is a gusset extending forward from the rear portion along the surface of each arm opposite the product retaining portion and extending between the two arms.  
   
   
       14 . The product retaining member of  claim 11 , wherein the members defining the slot extend different distances from the rear portion and the opposing tabs are off set from each other.  
   
   
       15 . A product retaining member comprising: 
 a rear portion, a first arm extending forward from the rear portion, and first and second members extending rearward from the rear portion;    the arm including a first curved portion extending away from the rear portion and a second curved portion forward of the first curved portion, where the first curved portion defines a product retaining portion and the second curved portion defines an oppositely curved portion;    the arm further including a surface opposite the product retaining portion, with an integral reinforcement extending forward from the rear portion along this surface and a plurality of transverse ridges formed across this surface, the arm and the integral reinforcement made of a resilient deformable material permitting deflection of the arm away from the product retaining portion;    the rearward extending members defining a slot for engaging a forward edge of a divider of a product merchandising system, with one of the members positioned opposite from the product retaining portion of the arm and extending further from the rear portion than the other member, each member including a tab extending into the slot to engage the divider and the tabs are offset form each other.