Dispensing slidable tray systems and methods

Abstract

A slidable pull-out tray for displaying merchandise in a very neat and attractive manner while making it very easy for the customers to remove a package from the display and very easy for the store proprietor to restock the merchandise. In one embodiment, the trays are self supported by cantilever brackets attached to a gondola bracket fixture. No shelves are required, thereby maximizing the total amount of goods that can be stocked within a given vertical height. In one embodiment, the floor of each tray is an open grid thereby greatly facilitating cleaning of the fixtures. Pusher paddle assemblies engage the open grid and slide along bars forming the grid.

1 . A retail store display apparatus for: maintaining an attractive display of packaged merchandise, facilitating re-stocking of merchandise and, minimizing shelving height for maximizing the amount of merchandise displayed in a given space by eliminating stationary horizontal shelving comprising
 a plurality of stacked cantilever mounted slidable trays within said given space, each tray partitioned into a series of parallel rows for respectively holding several rows of packaged merchandise,   a merchandise pusher assembly in each of said parallel rows comprising a pusher paddle spring-biased to move toward the front of said tray and adapted to be placed behind the merchandise located in said row so that the packaged merchandise is urged toward the front of said display, and   a releasable locking mechanism for each of said slidable trays for normally holding said trays in either a closed, retracted locked position for display and customer withdrawal of selected merchandise or in an unlocked position wherein said tray is slid outward beyond the front of said display exposing substantially the entire tray for facilitating restocking of said tray from the front of said display apparatus.   
   
   
       2 . A retail store display apparatus for: maintaining an attractive display of packaged merchandise, facilitating re-stocking of merchandise and, minimizing shelving height for maximizing the amount of merchandise displayed in a given space by eliminating stationary horizontal shelving comprising
 a plurality of stacked cantilever mounted slidable trays within said given space, each tray partitioned into a-series of parallel rows for respectively holding several rows of packaged merchandise, and   a merchandise pusher assembly in each of said parallel rows comprising a pusher paddle spring-biased to move toward the front of said tray and adapted to be placed behind the merchandise located in said row so that the packaged merchandise is urged toward the front of said display   
   
   
       3 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said slidable trays provide substantially an open grid platform for supporting said merchandise. 
   
   
       4 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said open platform comprises a plurality of parallel bars. 
   
   
       5 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said bars comprise parallel wire rods. 
   
   
       6 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said tray is partitioned by a plurality of row separators comprising horizontal wire bars attached to said bay by vertical supports. 
   
   
       7 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said vertical supports are permanently attached to said bay. 
   
   
       8 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said vertical supports terminate in clips which removably engage said tray. 
   
   
       9 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said clips include grooves and wherein said tray has a front rail at the front of said tray and a rear rail at the rear of said tray, said front and rear rails respectively movably engaging said grooves in said clips. 
   
   
       10 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said row separators are easily removed and re-positioned on said tray by temporarily deforming said horizontal-wire bars to move the ends of said vertical supports closer together to thereby disengage the grooves in said clips from said respective front and rear rails. 
   
   
       11 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a spiral spring biases said pusher paddles toward the front of said tray. 
   
   
       12 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said merchandise pusher paddle includes an open compartment for retaining said spiral spring. 
   
   
       13 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the inner end of said spiral spring is unattached and the outer end of said spiral spring extends from said open compartment through an opening in said pusher paddle and attached to the front of said tray. 
   
   
       14 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said outer end of said spiral spring is fixedly attached to said tray. 
   
   
       15 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said outer end of said spiral spring is removably attached to said tray. 
   
   
       16 . The mechanical display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein a series of spiral spring attachment devices are located along the front of said tray. 
   
   
       17 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said attachment devices are protruding tabs adapted to engage an opening formed in the outer end of said spiral spring 
   
   
       18 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said merchandise pusher assembly slides along a pair of said parallel bars. 
   
   
       19 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said pusher paddle includes a pair of depending grooves which respectively engage said pair of parallel bars. 
   
   
       20 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said pair of parallel bars are engaged in said grooves by temporarily deforming said pair of bars to expand the space between said bars to allow said paddle grooves to be pushed into a position juxtaposed said respective bars. 
   
   
       21 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 2 , comprising a pair of cantilever support arms having a rearward notch adapted to engage a gondola fixture, said support arms respectively attached to opposite ends of a slidable tray by a telescopic slide having an inner member attached to said tray, an outer member attached to said support arm and an intermediate member. 
   
   
       22 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 2 , comprising a pair of cantilever support arms releasably attached to a gondola fixture and slidably attached to one of said trays. 
   
   
       23 . The merchandise display and dispensing apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said slidable trays include a releasable locking mechanism comprising spring biased plungers adapted to engage slots in said cantilever support arms and a lever mounted to the bottom of said tray coupled to said plungers for pulling said plungers out of said slots to allow the tray to slide to an open re-stocking position. 
   
   
       24 . The merchandise and dispensing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said apparatus is located in a refrigerated space for enabling dairy products and the like to be easily loaded and restocked at the front of said apparatus by a person standing in a room at ambient temperature rather than restocking at the rear by a person standing in said refrigerated space. 
   
   
       25 . A shelving and display device comprising:
 a plurality of rigid, slidable tray assemblies, each assembly capable of being locked at multiple locations between a fully extended and fully closed position, each tray assembly comprising:   a platform,   a stopping member preventing merchandise from progressing beyond the length of the platform,   a series of dividers placed on the platform and spaced apart from one another at various widths so as to form a plurality of various width rows, said dividers thereby preventing movement of merchandise between rows,   a plurality of pusher assemblies for each row of merchandise, each assembly comprising:   a pusher paddle,   a spring attached to a pusher paddle and to the tray assembly, stressed so as to urge merchandise to the front of the row,   a tray stopping assembly comprising:   a handle capable of engaging or disengaging the locking members,   a locking members preventing movement of the tray assembly in the engaged position,   a cabinet bearing dimensions of length and width substantially similar to the tray, capable of vertically housing multiple tray assemblies, comprising:   a plurality of pairs of longitudinal frames, each pair supporting a tray assembly, each frame capable of interacting with the locking member of the tray assembly.   
   
   
       26 . The shelving and display device of  claim 25 , wherein the divider comprises two parallel bars, one above the other, wherein when the lower bar is compressed toward the upper bar, the divider contracts, permitting the divider to be removed and inserted at any point along the length of the tray. 
   
   
       27 . A tray for displaying and dispensing goods having a movable divider member for partitioning said tray into rows, said divider member having respective slotted retainers at opposite ends, respective rails at the front and back of said tray engaged by said slotted retainers, said divider member movable from one position to another by temporarily deforming said member to draw said slotted retainers closer together to allow said retainers to be withdrawn from said rails and moved to another position in said tray. 
   
   
       28 . A merchandise pusher assembly for a tray for displaying and dispensing goods comprising;
 a base in said tray for supporting said merchandise, said base comprising an open grid formed by a plurality of parallel bars,   a pusher assembly for moving said goods toward the front of said tray for maintaining said goods in an attractive and neat display, said pusher having a vertically extending paddle and pair of depending grooves adapted to engage and slide along a pair of said parallel bars.   
   
   
       29 . A method for beautifying the display of packaged merchandise in a retail store while enhancing the amount of merchandise that can be displayed within a given space and greatly facilitating the restocking of merchandise comprising:
 providing a platform constructed of parallel bars, said bars facilitating the removal of detritus from the platform, said platform being capable of supporting rows of said merchandise, housed within a cabinet;   loading said merchandise in each row while the platform is outside the cabinet;   returning the platform to its position within the cabinet;   removing a single item of merchandise for purchase and having the remaining merchandise in that row progress along the platform towards the front of the display.   
   
   
       30 . A method for easily and quickly cleaning and restocking a display of packaged merchandise in a retain store comprising:
 providing a platform constructed of parallel bars, said bars facilitating the removal of detritus from the platform, said platform being capable of supporting rows of said merchandise, housed within a cabinet;   cantilevering said platform to a position outside the cabinet;   cleaning each bar along each row;   loading said merchandise in each row while the platform is outside the cabinet;   returning the platform to its position within the cabinet.