IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0248682
(2005-10-11)
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등록번호 |
US-7631771
(2009-12-24)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Nagel, Thomas O.
- Kologe, Joseph F.
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
St. Onge Steward Johnson & Reens LLC
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
47 인용 특허 :
10 |
초록
▼
A two-piece, adjustable width merchandising tray for the organized display of multiple product containers. Two L-shaped tray sections, formed of plastic material. The bottom portions of the two L-shaped sections are provided with laterally extending, interengaging fingers that enable the width of th
A two-piece, adjustable width merchandising tray for the organized display of multiple product containers. Two L-shaped tray sections, formed of plastic material. The bottom portions of the two L-shaped sections are provided with laterally extending, interengaging fingers that enable the width of the tray to be adjusted for different product sizes while maintaining substantial continuity to the surface of the bottom structure for containment of product leakage. An asymmetrical side wall arrangement with a forwardly projecting hand grip at the front of one of the side walls enables individual trays to be removed and replaced from a closely packed array of trays arranged in side-by-side fashion. The trays can be conveniently lifted and carried for product restocking, reorganizing, tray cleaning, etc. A simple pull strip and paddle arrangement enables product to be fronted at all times. Double stacking of product containers is also accommodated. Densely stacked, attractive, and efficiently serviced product displays are facilitated.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A two-piece adjustable width tray for the organized display of multiple product containers, which comprises (a) first and second opposed tray sections of molded plastic construction and of generally L-shaped cross section, each comprising a bottom wall structure and a s
The invention claimed is: 1. A two-piece adjustable width tray for the organized display of multiple product containers, which comprises (a) first and second opposed tray sections of molded plastic construction and of generally L-shaped cross section, each comprising a bottom wall structure and a side wall portion, (b) the bottom wall structure of each tray section including a smooth, generally continuous bottom wall panel portion of generally rectangular configuration extending longitudinally of a principal tray axis adjacent to and joined along outer edges thereof with the side wall portion of the tray section, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart fingers extending laterally from an inner edge of the bottom wall panel portion of each tray section, (c) the fingers of one tray section being closely received in spaces between fingers of the other tray section, whereby said panel portions and said fingers, in any width adjusted position of said tray sections, form a substantially continuous bottom wall structure for the effective containment of flowable materials resulting from product leakage from said containers, (d) said bottom wall panel portions having top and bottom surfaces and inner edges and said inner edges being positionable in close relation, when said tray sections are adjusted to a minimum width configuration, (e) said fingers being integral with said panel portions and having upper surfaces offset below the top surfaces of said panel portions, (f) said bottom wall structure of each of said tray sections being formed with laterally extending, downwardly opening recesses aligned with and arranged for the slideable reception of said fingers to accommodate width adjustment of said tray, whereby said fingers slide at least partially underneath said top surfaces of said panel portions, (g) said bottom wall panel portions having a width at least as great as a length of the fingers received in the recesses in the bottom wall structure thereof whereby, when said tray sections are set to a minimum width configuration, with the inner edges of said panel portions in close relation, end extremities of said fingers of one tray section do not extend beyond the side wall portions of the other tray section, (h) said fingers being of sufficient length to bridge the entire space between the inner edges of said panel portions when said tray sections are set in any adjusted width, whereby said bottom wall panel portions together with said fingers form an effectively continuous tray bottom for the containment of product leakage in any adjusted position of said tray sections, (i) said bottom wall panel portions being of widths greater than a space between said inner edges thereof when said tray is set at a maximum width. 2. An adjustable width tray according to claim 1, wherein (a) one of said side wall portions is provided with a forwardly extending forward edge region thereof with a hand-engageable opening to facilitate withdrawal of a tray from a display, and (b) a forward extremity of the other of said side wall portions is spaced rearwardly of said hand-engageable opening such that, when a multiplicity of said trays are placed in tightly packed, side-by-side relation on a shelf, the hand-engageable opening of the side wall portion of any one tray can be grasped without interference from an adjacent side wall portion of a closely packed neighboring tray. 3. An adjustable width tray according to claim 1, wherein (a) one of said bottom wall panel portions is formed at one or more locations with a plurality of downwardly opening first detent elements located opposite one or more fingers extending from the opposite bottom wall panel, (b) said one or more fingers are provided with one or more upwardly projecting second detent elements engageable with said first detent elements for securing said tray sections selectively in a plurality of predetermined width settings, (c) said one of said bottom wall panel portions is formed with one or more access openings therein directly above a portion of said one or more fingers, (d) said one or more fingers are engageable and downwardly displaceable through said access openings for engaging and disengaging said first and second detent elements, and (e) the side wall portion joined with said one bottom panel has a side wall access opening adjacent each of said one or more bottom wall panel portion access openings to enable manipulation of said one or more fingers through said side wall portions for width adjustment of said tray. 4. A two-piece adjustable width tray for the organized display of multiple product containers, which comprises (a) first and second tray sections of molded plastic construction and of generally L-shaped cross section, each comprising a bottom wall portion and a side wall portion. (b) the bottom wall portion of each tray section including a smooth, generally continuous bottom wall panel portion of generally rectangular configuration extending longitudinally of a principal tray axis adjacent to and joined along outer edges thereof with the side wall portion of the tray section, (c) said bottom wall panel portions having top and bottom surfaces and inner edges along upper portions of said panel portions, and said inner edges being positionable in close relation, when said tray sections are adjusted to a minimum width configuration, (d) a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart fingers extending laterally from an inner edge of the bottom wall panel portion of each tray section, (e) said fingers being integral with said panel portions and having upper surfaces spaced below the top surfaces of said panel portions, (f) said panel portions each being formed on bottom surfaces thereof with laterally extending, downwardly opening recesses aligned with and arranged for the slidable reception of said fingers to accommodate width adjustment of said tray, whereby said fingers slide at least partially underneath super surfaces of said panel portions, (g) said fingers of at least one tray section and said downwardly opening recesses of at least the other tray section being formed with interengaging flanges along side edges thereof, whereby said first and second tray sections are interlockingly engaged for adjustable movements in the width direction, (h) said bottom wall panel portions having a width at least as great as a length of the fingers received in the recesses in the bottom surfaces thereof whereby, when said tray sections are set to a minimum width configuration, with the inner edges of said panel portions in close relation, end extremities of said fingers are contained within said downwardly opening recesses, (i) said fingers being of sufficient length to bridge the entire space between the inner edges of said panel portions when said tray sections are set in any adjusted width, and said fingers of one tray section being of a width corresponding to spaces between fingers of the other tray section, whereby said bottom wall panel portions together with said fingers form an effectively continuous tray bottom in any adjusted position of said tray sections, (i) said bottom wall panel portions being of widths greater than a space between said inner edges thereof when said tray is set at a maximum width, (k) one of said bottom wall panel portions being formed at one or more locations with a plurality of downwardly opening first detent elements located opposite one or more fingers extending from the opposite bottom wall panel, (l) said one or more fingers being provided with one or more upwardly projecting second detent elements engageable with said first detent elements for securing said tray sections selectively in a plurality of predetermined width settings, (m) said one of said bottom wall panel portions being formed with one or more access openings therein directly above said one or more fingers, (n) said one or more fingers being engageable and downwardly displaceable through said access openings for engaging and disengaging said first and second detent elements, (o) said one of said bottom wall panel portions being provided with a plurality of said downwardly opening first detent elements corresponding to different widths of said tray, (p) individual index indicia being provided in association with each of said first detent elements, (q) a sizing chart being provided on an external side wall of said tray comprising a reference element for alignment with one side of a product container and a plurality of reference marks for referencing an opposite side of the product container as a function of its width, and (r) said reference marks being individually indexed correspondingly to the individual index indicia provided for each of the first detent elements. 5. A two-piece adjustable width tray for the organized display of multiple product containers, which comprises (a) first and second tray sections of molded plastic construction and of generally L-shaped cross section, each comprising a bottom wall portion and a side wall portion, (b) the bottom wall portion of each tray section including a smooth, generally continuous bottom wall panel portion of generally rectangular configuration extending longitudinally of a principal tray axis adjacent to and joined along outer edges thereof with the side wall portion of the tray section, (c) said bottom wall panel portions having top and bottom surfaces and inner edges along upper portions of said panel portions, and said inner edges being positionable in close relation, when said tray sections are adjusted to a minimum width configuration, (d) a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart bottom-forming fingers extending laterally from an inner edge of the bottom wall panel portion of each tray section, (e) said fingers being integral with said panel portions and having upper surfaces spaced below the top surfaces of said panel portions, (f) said panel portions each being formed on bottom surfaces thereof with laterally extending, downwardly opening recesses aligned with and arranged for the slidable reception of said fingers to accommodate width adjustment of said tray, whereby said fingers slide at least partially underneath super surfaces of said panel portions, (g) said fingers of at least one tray section and said downwardly opening recesses of at least the other tray section being formed with interengaging flanges along side edges thereof, whereby said first and second tray sections are interlockingly engaged for adjustable movements in the width direction. (h) said bottom wall panel portions having a width at least as great as a length of the fingers received in the recesses in the bottom surfaces thereof whereby, when said tray sections are set to a minimum width configuration, with the inner edges of said panel portions in close relation, end extremities of said fingers are contained within said downwardly opening recesses, (i) said fingers being of sufficient length to bridge the entire space between the inner edges of said panel portions when said tray sections are set in any adjusted width, and said fingers of one tray section being of a width corresponding to spaces between fingers of the other tray section, whereby said bottom wall panel portions together with said fingers form an effectively continuous tray bottom in any adjusted position of said tray sections, (j) said bottom wall panel portions being of widths greater than a space between said inner edges thereof when said tray is set at a maximum width, (k) front edge portions of the bottom wall panel portions of said tray sections each being formed with an upwardly opening slot therein for the reception of a label holder, (l) said slots being open on at least one end thereof for the lateral insertion of a label holder, (m) a relatively rigid plastic label holder received and retained in said slot to provide product information and to serve as a forward stop for product containers pushed forwardly in said tray, (n) said label holder being formed with front and back panels and a forwardly projecting flange along its lower edge, (o) said upwardly opening slot being shaped to receive and support lower portions of said panels to retain said label holder in an upright orientation with substantial portions thereof projecting above the bottom wall panel portions, (p) said slot being further provided with a forward enlargement in a bottom portion thereof for receiving said forwardly projecting flange, (q) the upwardly projecting portions of said label holder serving as a front stop for product packages displayed in said tray and providing visible product information at the front of said tray, and (r) said label holder being slideably engaged in said upwardly opening slot to accommodate width adjustment of said tray sections independently of said label holder. 6. An adjustable width tray according to claim 1, wherein (a) the inner edges of said bottom wall panel portions are substantially straight and are positionable in substantially abutting relation when said tray sections are in a minimum width configuration, and (b) said fingers are positioned substantially entirely underneath said top surfaces when said tray sections are in a minimum width configuration. 7. An adjustable width tray according to claim 1, wherein (a) said bottom-forming fingers of said tray sections are formed with flanges along side edges thereof, whereby said first and second tray sections are interlockingly engaged for adjustable movements in the width direction.
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