Product display units with adjustable widths

Abstract

A product display unit includes a base, a first sidewall extending along a first side of the base, a second sidewall extending along an opposite, second side of the base, and a product support member that couples the base to the first sidewall and the second sidewall such that longitudinal movement of the product support member causes the first sidewall to transversely move relative to the second sidewall and such that transverse movement of the first sidewall relative to the second sidewall causes the product support member to longitudinally move.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A product display unit comprising:
 a base extending from a first side to a second side in a transverse direction and from front to back in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the transverse direction;   a first sidewall extending along the first side of the base;   a second sidewall extending along the second side of the base; and   a product support member that couples the base to the first sidewall and the second sidewall such that longitudinal movement of the product support member causes the first sidewall to transversely move relative to the second sidewall and such that transverse movement of the first sidewall relative to the second sidewall causes the product support member to longitudinally move.   
     
     
         2 . The product display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall move toward each other as the product support member is moved toward the back of the base and away from each other as the product support member is moved toward the front the base. 
     
     
         3 . The product display unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising an end member coupled to the front of the base and configured to prevent products from falling off the product support member. 
     
     
         4 . The product display unit according to  claim 3 , wherein the first sidewall has a front end, and wherein the end member moves toward the front end as the product support member is moved toward the front of the base and away from the front end as the product support member is moved toward the back of the base. 
     
     
         5 . The product display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the first sidewall has a leg transversely extending toward the second sidewall and the second sidewall has a leg transversely extending toward the first sidewall, and wherein the leg of the first sidewall and the leg of the second sidewall are vertically positioned between the base and the product support member. 
     
     
         6 . The product display unit according to  claim 5 , further comprising a first pin and a second pin that couple the product support member to the base;
 wherein the leg of the first sidewall has a first slot in which the first pin is received and the leg of the second sidewall has a second slot in which the second pin is received; and   wherein as the product support member is moved the first pin slides in the first slot and the second pin slides in the second slot.   
     
     
         7 . The product display unit according to  claim 6 , wherein the base has a center axis longitudinally extending along the base, and wherein the first slot and the second slot transversely extend relative to the center axis. 
     
     
         8 . The product display unit according to  claim 7 , wherein the first slot and the center axis form a 30 degree angle, and wherein the second slot and the center axis form a 30 degree angle. 
     
     
         9 . The product display unit according to  claim 5 , wherein the base has a first arm transversely extending toward the first sidewall and a second arm transversely extending toward the second sidewall; and
 wherein as the product support member is moved the first arm slides along the leg of the first sidewall and the second arm slides with the leg of the second sidewall.   
     
     
         10 . The product display unit according to  claim 9 , wherein the base has a center axis longitudinally extending along the base, and wherein the leg of the first sidewall, the leg of the second sidewall, the first arm, and the second arm transversely extend relative to the center axis. 
     
     
         11 . The product display unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the leg of the first sidewall, the leg of the second sidewall, the first arm, and the second arm each form a 30 degree angle with the center axis. 
     
     
         12 . The product display unit according to  claim 9 , wherein the leg of the first sidewall is one of a plurality of legs spaced part along the first sidewall and extending toward the second sidewall;
 wherein the leg of the second sidewall is one of a plurality of legs spaced part along the second sidewall and extending toward the first sidewall;   wherein the first arm is one of a first plurality of arms spaced apart along the base and extending toward the first sidewall;   wherein the second arm is one of a second plurality of arms spaced apart along the base and extending toward the second sidewall; and   wherein the legs of the plurality of legs of the first sidewall are interdigitated with the arms of the first plurality of arms and the legs of the plurality of legs of the second sidewall are interdigitated with the arms of the second plurality of arms.   
     
     
         13 . The product display unit according to  claim 12 , wherein the base has a center axis longitudinally extending along the base, and wherein the legs of the plurality of legs of the first sidewall, the legs of the plurality of legs of the second sidewall, the arms of the first plurality of arms, and the arms of the second plurality of arms transversely extend relative to the center axis. 
     
     
         14 . The product display unit according to  claim 13 , wherein each leg of the plurality of legs of the first sidewall, each leg of the plurality of legs of the second sidewall, each arm of the first plurality of arms, and each arm of the second plurality of arms from a 30 degree angle with the center axis. 
     
     
         15 . The product display unit according to  claim 14 , wherein the legs of the plurality of legs of the first sidewall, the legs of the plurality of legs of the second sidewall, the arms of the first plurality of arms, and the arms of the second plurality of arms form a herringbone pattern. 
     
     
         16 . A product display unit comprising:
 a base extending from a first side to a second side in a transverse direction and from front to back in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the transverse direction;   a first sidewall extending along the first side of the base;   a second sidewall extending along the second side of the base; and   a product support member that couples the base to the first sidewall and the second sidewall such that as one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall transversely moves the product support member is longitudinally moved and as the product support member longitudinally moves at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall is transversely moved.   
     
     
         17 . The product display unit according to  claim 16 , wherein the first sidewall has a leg transversely extending toward the second sidewall and the second sidewall has a leg transversely extending toward the first sidewall, and wherein the leg of the first sidewall and the leg of the second sidewall are vertically positioned between the base and the product support member. 
     
     
         18 . The product display unit according to  claim 17 , wherein the base has a first arm transversely extending toward the first sidewall and a second arm transversely extending toward the second sidewall; and
 wherein as the product support member is moved the first arm slides along the leg of the first sidewall and the second arm slides along the leg of the second sidewall.   
     
     
         19 . The product display unit according to  claim 18 , wherein the leg of the first sidewall is one of a plurality of legs spaced part along the first sidewall and extending toward the second sidewall;
 wherein the leg of the second sidewall is one of a plurality of legs spaced part along the second sidewall and extending toward the first sidewall;   wherein the first arm is one of a first plurality of arms spaced apart along the base and extending toward the first sidewall;   wherein the second arm is one of a second plurality of arms spaced apart along the base and extending toward the second sidewall; and   wherein the legs of the plurality of legs of the first sidewall are interdigitated with the arms of the first plurality of arms and the legs of the plurality of legs of the second sidewall are interdigitated with the arms of the second plurality of arms.   
     
     
         20 . The product display unit according to  claim 19 , wherein the legs of the plurality of legs of the first sidewall, the legs of the plurality of legs of the second sidewall, the arms of the first plurality of arms, and the arms of the second plurality of arms form a herringbone pattern.