Merchandising system

Abstract

A scoop includes a side member and lower blade that cooperate with each other to secure and hold a row of packages at one time. The packages are stored within a container that has a pivotable front wall to allow access to divided rows of packages within an interior of the container. During transport, the containers are supported on a rack structure that allows access to the pivotable front wall. During delivery, the front wall is pivoted into an open position and the scoop is inserted into the container to remove a row of packages for placement on a display.

1 . A scoop to simultaneously support a plurality of packages for transport between different locations:
 a body portion;   a lower blade extending outwardly from the body portion to provide a base support surface for a plurality of packages;   at least one side member extending outwardly from the body portion and spaced vertically above the lower blade, the at least one side member and lower blade cooperating with each other to secure and hold a plurality of packages to be transported; and   a handle extending outwardly from the body portion.   
   
   
       2 . The scoop according to  claim 1  wherein the body portion includes a lower portion protruding from the body portion in a first direction to support the lower blade and a side portion protruding from the body portion in the first direction to support the at least one side member, and wherein the handle protrudes from the body portion in a second direction opposite the first direction 
   
   
       3 . The scoop according to  claim 2  wherein the body portion including the lower portion, side portion, and handle are integrally formed as single-piece component with the lower blade and at least one side member comprising separate components that are attached to the single-piece component. 
   
   
       4 . The scoop according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one side member comprises a side blade that is orientated transverse to the lower blade, the side blade providing a side support surface for the plurality of packages. 
   
   
       5 . The scoop according to  claim 4  wherein the at least one side member comprises a single side blade that is perpendicular to the lower blade, the side blade providing a side support surface for the plurality of packages. 
   
   
       6 . The scoop according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one side member comprises a single blade that provides a side support surface for the plurality of packages, the single blade being selectively movable between a first position extending along one side of the lower blade, and a second position extending along an opposite side of the lower blade. 
   
   
       7 . The scoop according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one side member comprises a pair of side rods that each extend to a distal end comprising a transversely extending finger, the pair of side rods being rotatable between an open position where the transversely extending fingers extend downwardly to allow the plurality of packages to be loaded on the lower blade or unloaded from the lower blade and a retention position where the transversely extending fingers extend inwardly toward each other to hold the plurality of packages on the lower blade for transport. 
   
   
       8 . The scoop according to  claim 7  including an activating trigger that is selectively actuatable to rotate the pair of side rods between the open position and the retention position. 
   
   
       9 . The scoop according to  claim 8  wherein the activating trigger is pivotally mounted to the handle. 
   
   
       10 . The scoop according to  claim 1  including an actuation mechanism that moves one of the at least one side member and at least a portion of the lower blade between an open position to allow the plurality of packages to be loaded on the lower blade or unloaded from the lower blade and a retention position to hold the plurality of packages on the lower blade for transport. 
   
   
       11 . The scoop according to  claim 1  wherein the lower blade comprises a rigid member extending from the body portion to a distal end, and including a retention foot associated with the distal end to facilitate retention of the plurality of packages on the lower blade. 
   
   
       12 . The scoop according to  claim 11  wherein the retention foot includes a lip extending upwardly from the distal end of the lower blade to form a shallow cup-portion. 
   
   
       13 . The scoop according to  claim 1  wherein the lower blade extends from the body portion to a distal end, and including a flap activation mechanism associated with the distal end, the flap activation mechanism being selectively moveable between an open position to allow the plurality of packages to be loaded on the lower blade or unloaded from the lower blade and a retention position to hold the plurality of packages on the lower blade for transport. 
   
   
       14 . The scoop according to  claim 13  wherein the flap activation mechanism includes a lower member mounted for sliding movement relative to the lower blade, a flap member pivotally mounted to the lower member, and an upper member positioned over the lower member. 
   
   
       15 . The scoop according to  claim 14  including a spring reacting between the lower portion and the upper portion to bias the lower portion rearwardly toward the handle. 
   
   
       16 . The scoop according to  claim 13  wherein the flap activation mechanism includes a flap member that is selectively movable between the open position where the flap member is generally parallel to the lower blade and the retention position where the flap member extends upwardly from the lower blade in a transverse orientation. 
   
   
       17 . The scoop according to  claim 16  wherein the flap member is selectively movable to the retention position due to contact of an end of the flapper member against an abutment surface and a subsequent increase in compression force exerted at the handle. 
   
   
       18 . The scoop according to  claim 16  including a lever mounted to the handle, wherein the lever is selectively actuatable to move the flap member between the open and retention positions. 
   
   
       19 . The scoop according to  claim 1  including a wrist support platform extending rearwardly of the handle. 
   
   
       20 . A scoop to simultaneously support a plurality of packages for transport comprising:
 a body portion;   a lower blade extending outwardly from the body portion to provide a base support surface for a plurality of packages;   at least one side member extending outwardly from the body portion and spaced vertically above the lower blade, the at least one side member and lower blade cooperating with each other to secure and hold a plurality of packages to be transported between two locations;   a handle extending outwardly from the body portion; and   an activation mechanism associated with at least one of the lower blade and the at least one side member, the activation mechanism being selectively moveable between an open position to allow the plurality of packages to be loaded on the lower blade or unloaded from the lower blade and a retention position to hold the plurality of packages on the lower blade for transport.   
   
   
       21 . The scoop according to  claim 20  wherein the activation mechanism includes a flap. 
   
   
       22 . The scoop according to  claim 20  wherein the activation mechanism includes one of a trigger or lever that selectively moves the activation mechanism between the open and retention positions. 
   
   
       23 . A merchandise stocking assembly comprising:
 at least one container including a base wall, a pair of side walls, a rear wall, and a front wall that is pivotably mounted to the base wall to selectively open and close a front of the container to provide access to a plurality of packages within an interior of the container; and   a scoop including a body portion, a lower blade extending outwardly from the body portion to provide a base support surface for a plurality of packages to be removed from the container, at least one side member extending outwardly from the body portion and spaced vertically above the lower blade, and a handle extending outwardly from the body portion, and wherein the at least one side member and lower blade cooperate with each other to secure and hold the plurality of packages to be removed from the container for transport to another location.   
   
   
       24 . The merchandise stocking assembly according to  claim 23  wherein the container includes a plurality of dividers formed inside the container and extending upwardly from the base wall to define rows for the plurality of packages, and wherein the container includes at least one bottom support rib that protrudes upwardly from the base wall in each row to support the plurality of packages within each row at a spaced distance from the base wall. 
   
   
       25 . The merchandise stocking assembly according to  claim 23  including a mount interface associated with the container, the mount interface adapted to support the container on one of a wall or rack. 
   
   
       26 . The merchandise stocking assembly according to  claim 23  including at least one concave ramp formed at an intersection of the base wall and rear wall in each row wherein the lower blade contacts the concave ramp to facilitate loading of the plurality of packages on the scoop for transport. 
   
   
       27 . The merchandise stocking assembly according to  claim 23  wherein the scoop includes an activation mechanism associated with at least one of the lower blade and the at least one side member, the activation mechanism being selectively moveable between an open position to allow the plurality of packages to be loaded on the lower blade or unloaded from the lower blade and a retention position to hold the plurality of packages on the lower blade for transport. 
   
   
       28 . The merchandise stocking assembly according to  claim 23  including a support structure adapted to be positioned within a delivery truck, the support structure to support a plurality of containers. 
   
   
       29 . The merchandise stocking assembly according to  claim 28  wherein the support structure comprises a rack including a plurality of vertical supports, a plurality of side rails supported opposite of each other on the vertical supports, and a rear rail extending between each pair of side rails, wherein each of the side and rear rails includes an interlocking feature that cooperates with a corresponding interlocking feature on the container to hold the containers on the rack. 
   
   
       30 . The merchandise stocking assembly according to  claim 29  wherein the side rails are pivotable relative to the vertical supports. 
   
   
       31 . The merchandise stocking assembly according to  claim 28  wherein the support structure comprises a rack including a plurality of rack modules, each rack module comprising a rear bracket with a rear rail and a side rail that extends outwardly from one end of the rear bracket with the rear and side rails cooperating with each other to support a container. 
   
   
       32 . A container for storing a plurality of packages comprising:
 a base wall;   a pair of side walls extending upwardly from the base wall,   a rear wall extending upwardly from the base wall and extending between rear edges of the side walls;   a front wall that is pivotably mounted to the base wall to selectively open and close a front of the container to provide access to a plurality of packages within an interior of the container;   a plurality of dividers extending upwardly from the base wall to define rows for the plurality of packages; and   at least one bottom support rib that protrudes upwardly from the base wall in each row to support the plurality of packages within each row at a spaced distance from the base wall.   
   
   
       33 . The container according to  claim 32  wherein the at least one bottom support rib comprises a pair of support ribs that define a false bottom within each row, with each pair of support ribs being spaced apart from each other to provide an access gap between the base wall and a bottom of the packages stored within each row. 
   
   
       34 . The container according to  claim 32  including a mount interface associated with the container, the mount interface adapted to support the container on one of a wall or rack. 
   
   
       35 . The container according to  claim 32  including at least one concave ramp formed at an intersection of the base wall and rear wall in each row. 
   
   
       36 . The container according to  claim 32  including a first interface formed at least along upper edges of the side walls and a second interface formed at least one along lower edges of the side walls, the first and second interfaces to cooperate with corresponding attachment interfaces on upper and lower stacked containers to provide a stacked set of containers. 
   
   
       37 . The container according to  claim 32  including a connection interface formed along the side walls to cooperate with corresponding connection interfaces on adjacent containers to provide a row of containers that are secured to each other. 
   
   
       38 . A rack assembly for supporting a plurality of containers comprising:
 at least one rear rail; and   at least one side rail extending outwardly from one end of the rear rail, the rear and side rails each including an interface structure that cooperates with a corresponding interface structure on a container to hold the container on the rack assembly.   
   
   
       39 . The rack assembly according to  claim 38  including a plurality of vertical supports wherein the side rails and rear rail are supported on the vertical supports. 
   
   
       40 . The rack assembly according to  claim 38  wherein the at least one rear rail comprises a plurality of rear rails and the at least one side rail comprises a plurality of side rails, with one side rail and one rear rail being associated with each other to form a rack module, and wherein a plurality of rack modules are associated with each other to form the rack assembly.