Product Display System for Packaged Products and Method of Use Thereof

Abstract

This invention relates to a product display system for packaged products, also known as a merchandiser, for storing and displaying products, and more particularly, to a merchandiser with extendible product drawers that can be pulled out and tilted downwards without the back product pusher to facilitate restocking of products in the merchandiser. The merchandiser includes a pull-out drawer or product holder secured to the shelf and capable of downward rotation in a restocking position by a restrictor means in the form of a U-shaped ring located either on the product pusher or the product holder. The display system further includes a nesting tab for securing the display in the display position on the shelf, and a product pusher in biasing relation with the front edge of the shelf for improved access in the restocking position.

1 . A product display system comprising:
 a stationary support having front and rear ends; and   a product holder carried by said stationary support, said product holder including a plurality of panels each having a front end, a rear end, an upper end portion, a lower end portion, connectors linking the panels in spaced parallel relation, a product pusher disposed between adjacent panels in slidable engagement with the lower end portions thereof for movement between the rear and front ends of the panels, and spring means connected to the stationary support and the product pusher to displace the product pusher toward the front end of the stationary support.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a seating means for establishing a display position of the holder on the stationary support wherein horizontal movement of the holder on the support is restricted at least in the rear-to-front direction relative to the stationary support. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stationary support comprises a frame having a rear rail, a front rail, and a pair of side rails connected to and extending between the rear rail and the front rail. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a restrictor means for enabling limited, nonhorizontal movement of the product holder relative to the stationary support. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 2 , further including a restrictor means for limiting nonhorizontal movement of the product holder relative to the stationary support. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 3 , further including a seating means for establishing a display position of the product holder on the stationary support wherein horizontal movement of the product holder on the stationary support is restricted in at least the rear-to-front direction relative to the stationary support, and a restrictor means for enabling limited, nonhorizontal movement of the product holder relative to the stationary support. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the seating means includes downwardly projecting bumpers located on the underside of the panels that respectively abut the rear rail and the front rail when the holder is in its display position on the support. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the restrictor means includes an elongated member extending between the rear rail and the front rail, and a loop member encircling the elongated member and having opposed ends affixed to the product pusher. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the restrictor means includes an elongated member extending between the rear rail and the front rail, and a loop member encircling the elongated member and having opposed ends affixed to the product pusher. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the restrictor means includes an elongated member extending between the rear rail and the front rail, and a loop member encircling the elongated member and having opposed ends affixed to the rear end of the product holder. 
   
   
       11 . A display system for products packaged in pouches, the pouches assuming a pillow shape when filled and having a height and a width, said system comprising:
 a stationary support having front and rear ends; and   a product holder carried by said support, said product holder including a plurality of panels each having a front end, a rear end, an upper end portion, and a lower end portion, said upper end portion being spaced from said lower end portion at a distance about equal to said height, connectors linking the panels in parallel relation and spaced apart at a distance about equal to said width, a product pusher disposed between adjacent panels in slidable engagement with the lower end portions thereof for movement between the rear and front ends of the panels, and a spring means connected to the stationary support and the product pusher to displace the product pusher toward the front end of the stationary support.   
   
   
       12 . The display system of  claim 11 , wherein said holder includes a sign extending between said panels near the front ends thereof. 
   
   
       13 . The display system of  claim 12 , wherein the sign extends from the lower end portions of the panels to about one-half of said height. 
   
   
       14 . A product display system comprising:
 a stationary support having front and rear ends; and   a product holder carried by said stationary support, said product holder including spaced-apart side panels each extending from the front toward the rear of said ends, a product pusher disposed between the panels in captive slidable engagement therewith for movement therebetween, and a spring means connected to the stationary support and the product pusher to displace the product pusher toward the front of said ends.   
   
   
       15 . The product display system of  claim 14 , further including a seating means for establishing a display position of the product holder on the stationary support wherein horizontal movement of the product holder on the support is restricted in at least the rear-to-front direction relative to the stationary support, and a restrictor means for enabling limited, nonhorizontal movement of the holder relative to the stationary support. 
   
   
       16 . The product display system of  claim 15 , wherein the seating means includes downwardly projecting bumpers located on the underside of the panels that abut the front rail when the holder is at its display position on the stationary support. 
   
   
       17 . The product display system of  claim 15 , wherein the restrictor means includes an elongated member extending between said ends, and a loop member encircling the elongated member and having opposed ends affixed to the product pusher. 
   
   
       18 . The product display system of  claim 14 , wherein the restrictor means includes an elongated member extending between the rear rail and the front rail, and a loop member encircling the elongated member and having opposed ends affixed to the rear end of the product holder. 
   
   
       19 . A product display system comprising:
 a stationary support having front and rear ends; and   a product holder carried by said support, a product pusher captively disposed in said product holder for movement relative thereto, a spring connected to the stationary support proximal the front end thereof and to the product pusher to displace the product pusher toward the front end of said stationary support, and a restrictor means affixed to said stationary support and to one of said product holders and said product pusher enabling said product holder to be moved from a display position between said ends to a loading position wherein a portion of said product holder extends beyond the front of said ends with said product pusher remaining disposed between said ends.   
   
   
       20 . The display system in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the cooperating means includes an elongated member affixed to the stationary support and extending between the ends thereof and a loop member encircling the elongated member and affixed to said product pusher. 
   
   
       21 . The display system in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the cooperating means includes an elongated member affixed to the stationary support and extending between the ends thereof and a loop member encircling the elongated member and affixed to said product holder. 
   
   
       22 . A product display system for connection to vertically extending shelving fixtures, said system comprising:
 a support frame having spaced front and rear end members, and a guide member extending between said end members; and   a product holder carried by said support frame including a product pusher captively disposed in said product holder for movement relative thereto, a spring connected to the support frame proximal the front end member thereof and to the product pusher to displace the product pusher toward the front end member, and a mechanism affixed to said support and to at least one of said product holders and said pusher to enable said product holder to be moved from a display position between said end members to a loading position wherein said holder extends beyond the front end member and is held in a downwardly tilted orientation with said product pusher remaining disposed between said ends.   
   
   
       23 . A method for restocking a product display system comprising the steps of:
 lifting a product holder away from a seating means for resting on the product holder on a stationary support;   pulling the product holder from a display position until a rear end reaches the front rail;   tilting downwards the product holder until the restrictor means  16  is locked into place;   restocking the display area;   tilting the product holder upward; and   pushing the product holder back to the display position until the rear end reaches the rear rail.