Gravity feed tray

Abstract

A gravity feed tray is provided for use as a component of a display device for retail merchandise such as bottled soft drinks or water in a retail setting. The gravity feed tray includes a first and second support structure that are forwardly and downwardly inclined when coupled to a retail display bar. The first and second support structures having inwardly extending flanges that project into a merchandise channel formed by the first and second support structures. The inwardly extending flanges provide a surface to display retail merchandise. The support surfaces being disposed downwardly and forwardly along a straight line so that rows of retail merchandise, such as bottles, may be stocked in the merchandise channel and supported by the inwardly extending flanges, whereby removal of the bottle at the front end of the merchandise channel causes a void that the remaining bottles fill by sliding via gravitational force.

1 . A gravity feed tray comprising:
 a first support and a second support;   the first support and the second support coupled to a bracket;   the first support and the second support having inwardly extending flanges;   the first support having a first mount and the second support having a second mount;   wherein the first and second mount couple to a retail display bar to support the first and second support as cantilevered extensions.   
     
     
         2 . The gravity feed tray of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bar lock on the first support;   wherein the bar lock prevents the inadvertent dislodging of the gravity feed tray from the retail display bar.   
     
     
         3 . The gravity feed tray of  claim 1 , wherein the first support and the second support define a merchandise channel and the inwardly extending flanges project into the merchandise channel. 
     
     
         4 . The gravity feed tray of  claim 2 , wherein the location of the bar lock on the first support is adjustable to accommodate for retail display bars of varying dimensions. 
     
     
         5 . The gravity feed tray of  claim 1 , wherein the first mount and the second mount are hooks. 
     
     
         6 . A gravity feed tray comprising:
 a first support and a second support;   wherein the first support and the second support mount to a retail display;   the first support and the second support defining a merchandise channel;   the first support having a first flange and the second support having a second flange;   wherein the first flange and the second flange project inwardly into the merchandise channel;   wherein the first flange and the second flange provide a retail display surface.   
     
     
         7 . The gravity feed tray of  claim 6 , wherein the first support has a first mount and the second support has a second mount. 
     
     
         8 . The gravity feed tray of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second mount couple to a retail display bar and support the first and second support as cantilevered extensions. 
     
     
         9 . The gravity feed tray of  claim 6 , wherein the width of the merchandise channel is adjustable. 
     
     
         10 . The gravity feed tray of  claim 6 , wherein more than half of the volume of a piece of retail merchandise being displayed on the retail display surface is located below the retail display surface. 
     
     
         11 . The gravity feed tray of  claim 6  or  7 , further comprising a locking pin;
 wherein the locking pin prevents the inadvertent dislodging of the gravity feed tray from the retail display. 
 
     
     
         12 . The gravity feed tray of claim of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second mount have an aperture of receiving a retail display bar;
 wherein the aperture for receiving the retail display bar has a height that is adjustable.   
     
     
         13 . The gravity feed tray of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second mount have an aperture for receiving a retail display bar;
 wherein the aperture for receiving the retail display bar has a width that is adjustable.   
     
     
         14 . A gravity feed tray comprising:
 a first support and a second support;   wherein the first support has a first mount and the second support has a second mount;   the first support and the second support having inwardly extending flanges projecting into a retail merchandise channel;   wherein the inwardly extending flanges provide a retail merchandise display surface.   
     
     
         15 . The gravity feed tray of  claim 14 , further comprising a bar lock. 
     
     
         16 . The gravity feed tray of  claim 15 , wherein the bar lock has a first position and a second position;
 wherein the first position allows the first and second mount to couple with a retail display bar;   wherein the second position prevents the first and second mount from decoupling with the retail display bar.   
     
     
         17 . The gravity feed tray of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second support comprise a first and second bar lock aperture;
 wherein the first bar lock aperture is located above the second bar lock aperture on the first and second support.   
     
     
         18 . The gravity feed tray of  claim 17 , wherein a bar lock can be removed from the first bar lock aperture and inserted into the second bar lock aperture. 
     
     
         19 . The gravity feed tray of  claim 14 , wherein the contact area between a piece of retail merchandise and the retail display surface is less than ten percent of the total surface area of the outside of the retail merchandise being displayed. 
     
     
         20 . The gravity feed tray of  claim 14 , wherein a piece of retail merchandise being displayed has a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion;
 wherein the top portion and bottom portion have a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the middle portion; and   wherein only the middle portion of the retail merchandise and the retail merchandise display surface have a contact area.