Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SPACE SAVING MANUAL SHELF MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to manual shelf management systems, and
more
specifically to a space saving, manual, modular, containing and laterally
supporting, shelf
management system.
[0003] 2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0004] In stores, for example grocery stores, that display products for sale
on shelves
it is necessary to continually replenish products on the shelves so that a
constant supply of
product is maintained for sale to customers. This replenishment process is
called stocking or
restocking. Further, it is necessary to continually move the products from the
rear to the front
of the shelf so that customers can more readily see and select those items
that they desire. The
movement of products towards the front of the shelf is called "facing" or
"fronting." It is also
essential that the products be arranged laterally (side-to-side) as closely as
possible to conserve
limited and valuable lateral shelf space, and thereby maximize the products
that can be
displayed and sold.
[0005] If the products are hidden at the rear of the shelf or if an
insufficient depth of
the shelf is utilized and the product is thereby more readily exhausted, or if
the products are in
disarray, potential product sales are lost. Stocking new products on store
shelves historically
requires significant time and effort. Products must be individually positioned
on the shelves in
straight rows, and sometimes product containers are stacked one on top of the
other adding to
the difficulty for the worker. Stocking becomes a taxing exercise in finesse
and physical
exertion, especially when stocking low or high shelves. The process of
"rotation", where older
items are brought to the front of the shelf and newer items placed in the
rear, historically has
required that every item in a product row be individually handled and
repositioned when that
row is stocked.
[0006] Products are occasionally moved to a different location of the store
altogether,
called "resetting" of the products. Ordinarily all of these so-called "shelf
conditioning" tasks
described above require the handling of each individual item (e.g. each soup
can). This piece-
by-piece handling of items is time-consuming, imprecise, creates fatigue for
store personnel
and impedes the proper completion of some shelf conditioning tasks.
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[0007] The prior art has addressed some of these issues relating to shelf
management
and developed relatively complex shelf management machines to advance rows of
products on
a shelf These shelf management devices are generally complex with multiple
parts, are
expensive, and involve a complicated installation. Further, some of these
prior art devices
occupy an objectionable amount of lateral shelf space and thereby do not
maximize the amount
of lateral shelf space available for display.
[0008] U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,703,987; 2,652,154; 4,300,693; 4,830,201; 5,123,546;
5,542,552; 6,357,606; 7,086,541 and 7,168,579 disclose complex mechanisms for
advancing
product rows which, in general, provide a spring-biased backstop which
constantly and
automatically forces the products from the rear toward the front of the shelf
While these so-
called "spring-loaded" devices are generally effective for managing light-
weight merchandise
(e.g. packages of panty hose) they are generally not effective when used for
heavier items (e.g.
jars of pasta sauce). They are also complex with combined plastic and metal
construction and
are relatively costly. Additionally, the constantly biased backstop can
increase the difficulty of
restocking the shelves, as in all of these arrangements the spring-biased
backstop must be
pushed back with one hand while the new products are positioned on the shelf
Further, the
springs can lose their tension over time rendering the system less effective
or ineffective.
[0009] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,160,051, 6,082,556 and 7,854,333 disclose shelf
management
systems that utilize an inclined shelf where products are urged to the front
of the shelf by force
of gravity. These so-called "gravity fed" systems will not operate with
existing flat shelves;
rather, the existing shelving is removed and new inclined shelves are
installed. A time-
consuming and costly installation process is required that involves wholesale
removal of
existing store shelving and installation of new shelving.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,116 discloses a "gravity fed" shelf management
system that
installs on existing flat supermarket shelving. While effective in
merchandising cans, this
system is less effective for jars and will not work for boxes or other non-
round packages. It
also requires special vertical shelf spacing and may occupy an objectionable
amount of lateral
space. This system is complex and is relatively expensive.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,042,096 discloses a shelf management system having a
"pusher" disposed behind the row of products with side members tying the
pusher to a pull
handle at the front of the shelf and to confine the row of objects laterally
in alignment. A rail is
disposed at the front of the shelf to prevent objects from falling off the
shelf as the pusher is
drawn forward by the handle. A resilient member disposed behind the pusher
returns it and the
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handle to normal position after being drawn forward by a pull on the handle.
The system does
not present a compact shelf management solution and incorporates a significant
number of
components including a return spring that is subject to fatigue and failure.
The accumulated
thicknesses of the side members, which stack laterally against one another,
consume too much
lateral shelf space and selling space is lost. The system is not adjustable to
allow product
packages of different widths to be accommodated. The system is not bottom-
supporting and
does not provide for a modular tray apparatus which allows for easy
repositioning of an entire
product row and therefore does not allow for rapid product re-setting.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 2,079,754 discloses a complex arrangement with multiple
parts
which combines the dispensing of the products with the movement of the
products toward the
front of the shelf The side members are arranged in a laterally stacking
fashion such that the
accumulated thicknesses of the side members combine to consume too much
lateral shelf
space. Selling space on the shelf is thereby lost. Multiple parts of this
complex system include
a detached "floating" backstop as well as a separate pulling and article
receiving component
that is manually operated for product movement and dispensing. The system is
not bottom-
supporting and does not provide a modular tray apparatus that allows for easy
repositioning of
an entire product row and therefore does not allow for rapid product re-
setting.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 2,098,844 discloses a shelf management system that forms
a
product supporting tray within which the product can be advanced. This is a
complex, multi-
piece system that requires installation of components both on the top and on
the underside of
the shelf such that most standard store shelves would have to be replaced with
custom-
designed shelves to accommodate this system. Further, because the side members
of the
frames of this system laterally stack against one another, the accumulation of
the combined
thicknesses of the side members consumes too much lateral shelf area. Similar
to the
deficiencies with some systems described above, lateral selling space on the
shelf is lost. The
system does not provide for a modular tray apparatus which allows for easy
repositioning of an
entire product row and therefore does not allow for rapid product re-setting.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,719,151 and US Published Patent Application Number
2004/
0178158 disclose a wire frame shelf management system that provides a manual
open bottom
shelf management system. The system is designed primarily to fit under the
open, concave
rounded edges at the base of certain products (e.g. jars of pickles) and fails
to provide lateral
support for the products. This lack of lateral support can result in products
moving to the left
or right or even tipping over during advancement creating significant problems
during product
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movement. In an alternative embodiment wedge-shaped dividers are provided
which offer
limited lateral support; further, in this embodiment, if the system is filled
with products that do
not have rounded edges at the base, the wedge-shaped dividers will laterally
stack side-to-side
causing the accumulated thicknesses of these dividers to consume objectionable
lateral selling
space. In its preferred embodiment this system fails to provide lateral
product support. In a
still further embodiment the system employs wedge-shaped dividers that stack
side-to-side
thereby consuming valuable lateral selling space. The system does not provide
for a modular
tray apparatus which allows for easy repositioning of an entire product row
and therefore does
not allow for rapid product re-setting.
[0015] U.S. Patent No. 7,124,897 discloses an assembly deployed on a complex
multi-
piece platform and features a base divided into rows with dividers. For each
row there is a
manually-operated pusher mechanism in the form of a rectangular wire device
with a front
handle and a rear portion that is bent upwards to form a back-stop. The sides
of the wire
device ride in grooves positioned along either side of the base on which the
products rest. This
system is complex with both plastic and metal parts and would be relatively
costly to produce.
Neither the divider spacing nor the width of the fronting mechanism is
adjustable; therefore
this system cannot be adapted in a retail store to accommodate products that
differ in width
from those for which the system was originally designed.
[0016] U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,702,987; 5,413,229; 6,155,438; 6,227,386; and
6,923,330
disclose a variety of shelf management systems that are representative of the
art. None of
these systems combine a modular integral tray apparatus that allow for easy
repositioning of an
entire product row, substantive lateral support of merchandise, dividers that
displace minimum
lateral shelf space and easily accommodate variable width products.
[0017] Publication U.S. 2005/0258113 discloses, in one embodiment, a puller
member
where the puller runs along the side of the product row and is attached to a
backstop designed
to rest behind the rear-most product in the row. In one embodiment the puller
and backstop
operates within the confines of a sleeve where the sleeve provides product row
separation and
provides product lateral support. In one embodiment the sleeve is combined
with the puller and
backstop and is filled with products to form a shelf ready package. In an
additional
embodiment the puller and backstop operates between two adjustable side
dividers where the
dividers provide product row separation and product lateral support. None of
the embodiments
provide for a combination of a modular integral tray apparatus, substantive
lateral support of
merchandise, dividers that displace minimum lateral shelf space and easily
accommodate
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variable width products. In none of the embodiments is the side divider
integrated with the
backstop to form an independent fronting mechanism.
[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,015 discloses a system of product containing trays
that
are of a fixed, pre-determined width. The trays define the product rows and
provide product
row separation. The trays can be moved forward to facilitate stocking. In
several
embodiments an integral spring, which adds cost and increases complexity of
the system, is
attached to the trays and urges them back to the selling position after
stocking. A puller
member that is attached to a backstop operates within the individual trays.
The puller slides
underneath the products and therefore itself provides no product row
separation and no product
lateral support. The puller and backstop are of a fixed width and are not
adjustable to
accommodate products of different widths.
[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,621 discloses a system of product row divider
panels
where a drawbar puller with attached backstop is integral to each divider
panel and the drawbar
moves in a channel forward and backward along the length of the divider panel.
The divider
panels are stationary with respect to movement between the front and back of
the shelf,
although the divider panels can be adjusted laterally to positions relative to
adjacent divider
panels to fit products of varying widths. The drawbar does not, independent of
the divider
panel, separate the product rows nor does the drawbar provide lateral support
to the products
independently of the divider panel. The system operates within a modular frame
which obliges
the store to adopt the system in increments of more than one product row which
reduces its
flexibility and requires a time consuming installation process. The system
does not provide for
a modular tray apparatus that allows for easy repositioning of an entire
product row and
therefore does not allow for rapid product re-setting.
[0020] U.S. Patent No. 7,395,938 discloses a system of divider panels that
slide along
a rail affixed to the front shelf edge to accommodate products of varying
widths. In one
embodiment, a spring-biased pusher moves along the side divider to urge the
displayed
products forward. The system does not provide for a modular tray apparatus
that allows for
easy repositioning of an entire product row and therefore does not allow for
rapid product re-
setting.
[0021] U.S. Patent No. 7,631,771 discloses a width-adjustable modular tray
apparatus
with a fronting device integrated into one of two opposing side dividers. This
system does not
allow for a minimum of lateral shelf space to be displaced because in no
embodiments can a
portion of the width of the products in the associated product row protrude
laterally beyond the
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base of the tray module thereby allowing one side (the protruding side) of the
products in the
row to abut against the outside of a divider of an immediately adjacent unit.
In all
embodiments of 7,631,771 the device employs two opposing side dividers, and
these dividers
stack laterally side-to-side when the tray modules are deployed in a series,
and this design
consumes more lateral shelf space than does a design where only a single
divider is positioned
between product rows. In none of the embodiments does this system provide for
a primary
side divider to simultaneously function as a divider and fronting device.
[0022] U.S. Patent No. 5,458,248 discloses in one embodiment a platform upon
which
multiple rows of products might be positioned and further discloses side
dividers that partition
the rows of products. None of the embodiments provide for a combination of a
modular
integral tray apparatus that allows for easy repositioning of an entire single
product row,
substantive lateral support of merchandise, dividers that displace minimum
lateral shelf space
and easy width adjustability. In none of the embodiments is the side divider
integrated with
the backstop to form an independent fronting mechanism.
[0023] U.S. Patent No. 7,792,711 discloses an apparatus for electronically
tracking the
position of products on a retail shelf for the purpose of assisting with
product ordering and
alerting the store to possible theft. In the preferred embodiments, the
fronting mechanism that
is integrated with the electronic tracking device is a spring-biased pusher
and is not manually
operated. No modular tray device that allows for easy repositioning of an
entire single product
row is contemplated.
[0024] The above identified patents are representative of the art and these
references
are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. It is the object of
the present invention to
address the deficiencies of the prior art shelf management systems and provide
a highly
effective, very low-cost, easy to install and easy to use shelf management
system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[00251 One aspect of the present invention provides a manual, bottom
supporting and
side containing, shelf allocation and management system for allocating shelf
space among
rows of products and for moving the rows of products toward the front of the
shelf. The
system comprises a plurality of adjacent shelf allocating and managing units,
each unit
associated with at least one, and preferably one, row of products and freely
moveable as a unit
relative to the shelf. Each shelf allocating and managing unit is comprised of
a product
supporting base coupled with a side divider that is connected to the base in a
fixed width
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position, or alternately in a variety of width positions. At least one row of
products associated
with the unit may be positioned on the shelf on top of the base and
immediately adjacent the
side divider. The shelf allocating and managing unit supports the products on
the base in at
least one, and preferably one product row, so that the product row may be
easily moved when
the unit is moved or lifted, and the units combine to provide substantive
lateral support on both
sides of the products at least when a side divider of the subject unit is
associated with a side
divider of an immediately adjacent unit.
[0026] In a further aspect of the invention, each shelf allocating and
managing unit
includes a backstop protruding substantially perpendicularly from the rear of
the side divider
and substantially across the surface of the base and behind the at least one
row of products
associated with the unit where, when the side divider is slideably moved
forward relative to the
base, the backstop may be engaged with the products and may urge them forward
in a direction
extending between the front and the back of the shelf and parallel to the
length of the base and
substantially perpendicular to the lateral length of the shelf, whereby
movement of the
backstop is adapted to advance the at least one row of products associated
with the unit toward
the front of the shelf when the side divider is drawn forward while the base
remains stationary.
These and other advantages of the present invention will be clarified in the
description of the
preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the shelf allocation and
management system according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] Figure 2-A is a perspective view of the shelf allocation and management
system
of figure 1 showing manual fronting operation of the system and showing the
modular nature
of the system;
[0029] Figure 2-B is an overhead plan view of the shelf allocation and
management
system of Figure 2-A;
[0030] Figure 3-A is a view of a single shelf allocating and managing unit
(shown
without optional backstop) of a shelf allocating and managing system according
to another
embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] Figure 3-B is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the single
shelf
allocating and managing unit of Figure 3-A showing in detail one embodiment of
a coupling
mechanism between a base and a side divider of the single shelf allocating and
managing unit;
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[0032] Figure 4-A is an exploded perspective view of the shelf allocating and
managing unit of Figure 3-A showing the base uncoupled from the side divider;
[0033] Figure 4-B is an enlarged exploded perspective view view of the shelf
allocating and managing unit of Figure 4-A;
[0034] Figure 4-C is an exploded perspective view of an optional embodiment of
a
shelf allocating and managing unit according to another embodiment of the
present invention
with a coupling mechanism that allows the unit to be adjusted to various
widths;
[0035] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a single shelf allocating and
management unit
of the shelf allocating and managing system according to another embodiment of
the present
invention showing one embodiment of an optional backstop attached to the side
divider;
[0036] Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of a portion of the single shelf
allocating
and management unit of Figure 5 showing in detail the connection of the
optional backstop to
the side divider;
[0037] Figure 7 is perspective view of a further embodiment of the present
invention
where the unit is configured to receive a puller and backstop assembly in a
channel positioned
in the lateral center of the top surface of and along the entire length of the
base of the unit;
[0038] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portion of a further embodiment of
the
present invention where the shelf allocating and managing unit is adapted to
receive a product
label holder removeably attached to the front of the unit;
[0039] Figure 9 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present
invention
showing a shelf allocating and managing unit adapted to merchandise two or
more product
rows;
[0040] Figure 10 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present
invention showing a side divider attachment adapted to displace extra lateral
space between
product rows;
[0041] Figure 11 is a view of an optional elongated backstop adapted to
shorten the
depth of the product row according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0042] Figure 12 is a perspective view showing products merchandised on two
side-
by-side shelf allocating and managing units configured so that one side of the
products hangs
off the side edge of each unit assuring that the only distance between two
adjacent product
rows is the thickness of the divider;
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[0043] Figure 13 is a perspective view of a divider uncoupled from a shelf
allocating
and managing unit according to one embodiment of the present invention with an
optional
backstop attached to the divider;
[0044] Figures 14A and B are views of further embodiments of the present
invention
showing an optional front strip affixed to the shelf for the purpose of
preventing unwanted
movement of the base;
[0045] Figure 15A is a view of a further embodiment of the present invention
where a
face plate is affixed to the front edge of the base; and
[0046] Figure 15B is a view of a further embodiment of the present invention
where
recessed legs are implemented on the base.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0047] It is noted that, as used in this specification and the appended
claims, the
singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless expressly
and unequivocally
limited to one referent. For the purposes of this specification, unless
otherwise indicated, all
numbers expressing parameters used in the specification and claims are to be
understood as
being modified in all instances by the term "about." The terms "about" or
"approximate" or
similar terms within this application will generally mean within 10% unless
otherwise noted.
Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set
forth in the
following specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary
depending upon
the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. The
various embodiments
and examples of the present invention as presented herein are understood to be
illustrative of
the present invention and not restrictive thereof and are non-limiting with
respect to the scope
of the invention.
[0048] The present invention provides a manual, modular, bottom supporting and
side
containing, shelf allocation and management system 10 for allocating shelf
space along a
conventional retail store shelf 12 among rows of products 14; for moving the
rows of products
14 or individual products 14 from the rear or back of the shelf 12 toward the
front edge of the
shelf 12; and for re-setting of the rows of products 14 to alternate positions
in the store. The
direction of movement is standard in shelf management systems and is generally
in line with
the depth of and perpendicular to the lateral length of the shelf 12. The
system 10 comprises a
plurality of adjacent shelf allocating and managing units 20, each unit 20
associated with at
least one row of products 14 and freely moveable as a unit relative to the
shelf. The term
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manual within this application and in connection with the system 10 references
that only
manual movement is used in the system, as opposed to spring assisted systems
or gravity
assisted systems. As further described below, aspects of the present invention
can be used in
non-manual systems.
[0049] The system 10 includes a plurality of adjacent shelf allocating and
managing
units (also called managing units) 20 best shown in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3-A, 5
and 12. Each
managing unit 20 will be a multiple piece managing unit 20 the pieces of which
can be formed
easily as via plastic extrusion. It will be desirable for the managing unit 20
to be formed as an
assembly for the purpose of allowing fronting operation in some embodiments
and making the
managing unit 20 adjustable in some embodiments.
[0050] Each managing unit 20 includes a base 30 coupled to a side divider 40.
Each
unit 20 is positioned along the depth of the shelf 12 generally extending the
full effective front-
to-back depth of the shelf 12 so as to maximize usable shelf space. The
lengths of the base 30
and side divider 40 may be roughly equivalent. Lengths of 10"- 40" for units
20 are possible,
with 14"-26" lengths for unit 20 covering the vast majority of retail shelving
12.
[0051] The base 30 lays flat on the shelf 12 which is to say that the base 30
rests on its
broad bottom surface and the base 30 supports at least one row of products 14
positioned front-
to-back. The products 14 rest on the top surface of the base 30, and the
products 14 may be
single-high or may be stacked 2-high, 3-high or more than 3-high. The base 30
rests on the
shelf 12 surface but need not be attached to the shelf 12 with adhesives or
fasteners. This
enables the base 30 to freely slide along the shelf 12 surface to the left or
to the right, which
facilitates adding and removing product rows, allows side-by-side units to
freely "seat"
laterally with one another during installation, and also allows the unit 20 to
be slid outward and
removed from the shelf altogether as would be useful when products are re-
positioned in the
store.
[0052] As shown in figure 12, the width of the base 30 roughly corresponds to,
yet
preferably is somewhat narrower than, the width of the products 14 (e.g.
3.00"), and the height
or thickness of the base 30 should be as small as possible to allow for
features to be
incorporated into the base 30 enabling coupling of the side divider 40 to the
base 30 and to
allow for structural integrity of the unit 20. The height or thickness of the
base 30 may range
from approximately 0.20" to 0.50".
10053j As shown in Figures 4-A and 4-B, the side divider 40 is one solid piece
and
features an integral connecting tab 50 that runs generally the full length of
the divider 40.
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When viewed in cross section the side divider 40 with connecting tab 50
resembles the capital
letter "L" or a capital letter "L" facing backwards. When the side divider 40
is coupled to base
30 side divider 40 protrudes vertically and perpendicular from the base 30 and
shelf 12. The
thickness of the side divider 40 should be as small as possible while still
providing structural
integrity for the side divider 40. It is preferred that the thickness of the
side divider 40 be at a
minimum, for example 0.045", so that the least possible amount of valuable
lateral shelf space
is occupied by side divider 40 between rows of products 14. The height of side
divider 40
should be sufficient to provide lateral support on one side of the products 14
associated with
the unit 20 and should generally correspond to the height of the products 14
or stack of
products 14 and may range from approximately 1.00" to approximately 12.00",
with 3.00"
being a typical height. The connecting tab 50 is connected to and protrudes,
preferably at a 90-
degree angle, from the bottom of the side divider 40 and runs along generally
the full length of
the side divider 40. As shown in figure 4-B, the width of the connecting tab
50 shall generally
be sufficient to allow for positive coupling to the female channel 70 on the
side edge of base 30
and will typically be approximately 0.75".
100541 In a further embodiment of side divider 40, as shown in figures 3-B and
4-B, a
support rail 55 extends from the corner formed by the side divider 40 and
connecting tab 50
and extends in the plane of the side divider 40. The support rail 55 protrudes
downward from
the corner anywhere from approximately 0.050" to 0.200" or a distance roughly
equivalent to
the distance from the bottom surface of connecting tab 50 to the top surface
of the shelf 12
when the side divider 40 is coupled to the base 30. The rail 55, which is
oriented perpendicular
to the plane of the connecting tab 50, runs along the full length of the side
divider 40. Support
rail 55 may provide bottom support for side divider 40 and contacts the shelf
12 thereby
stabilizing divider 40 and helping to prevent divider 40 from being
unintentionally knocked
forward. In some embodiments support rail 55 may prevent connecting tab 50
from bowing
downward under weight of the products 14. Support rail 55 may be eliminated as
described
below in connection with the embodiments of figures 14A andl4B.
[0055] As shown in figures 4A and 4B, running along and parallel to the length
of the
base 30, on either the left or the right side edge of the base 30, is a female
opening or channel
70. In some embodiments a unit 20 will feature a channel 70 on both the left
and right side
edges. This channel 70 is a void that is generally the female mirror opposite
of the male
connecting tab 50 which protrudes from the side divider 40. The channel 70 is
designed to
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receive the connecting tab 50 of the side divider 40 so that the base 30 and
side divider 40 may
be coupled together.
[0056] As shown in figures 3B and 4B, the connecting tab 50 features a barb or
catch
57 that allows the tab 50 to slide into (and out of) channel 70 from either
the front or back of
base 30 yet prevents the tab 50, once coupled to base 30, from pulling out and
away in a lateral
direction from the base 30. The channel 70 on base 30 is in a shape that is
effectively the
mirror opposite of tab 50 and barb 57 so that the connecting tab 50 dovetails
with channel 70.
The channel 70 as shown includes a plurality of downward projections to create
an end space
to receive and laterally engage the barb 57. The channel 70 could be formed as
a mirror image
of the tab 50, however the use of a plurality of same thickness projections in
channel 70 as
shown is believed to be preferred from an extrusion or molding standpoint
without
detrimentally effecting the operation of the channel 70. When tab 50 is
inserted into channel
70 there is not a tight fit but rather there is some "play" which allows
movement of tab 50 both
forward and backward within the channel 70. Side divider 40 and base 30, once
coupled
together, are locked in a fixed lateral position yet side divider 40 is
enabled to slide freely
forward and backward in a direction parallel to the length of the base 30
while the base 30
remains stationary.
[0057] The connecting tab 50 is inserted into the female channel 70 on
whichever side
of the base 30 that the female channel 70 is positioned. The insertion point
of connecting tab
50 into female channel 70 shall be preferably from either the front end or
rear end of the base
30 and not the side of base 30. Base 30, when laid flat on the shelf 12, will
take the shape of
an oblong rectangle having two long sides which are parallel and equivalent in
length and two
short sides which are parallel and equivalent in length. The front or rear of
base 30 shall be
defined as either of the two shorter sides of the base 30. In some
embodiments, it may be
possible, though not preferable, for the connecting tab 50 to be inserted into
the female channel
70 from the side of the base 30.
[0058] Once the connecting tab 50 is inserted into the female channel 70 of
the base
30 the side divider 40 is then slid into position so that the front end of the
side divider 40 lines
up with the front end of the base 30. Once the base 30 and side divider 40 are
coupled together
in this manner, the unit 20 is positioned on the shelf 12 so that the front of
the unit 20 is
positioned at the front edge of the shelf 12 and the rear of the unit 20 is
positioned at the rear of
the shelf 12.
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[0059] In a further embodiment female channel 70 will be deeper (wider) and
connecting tab 50 will likewise be wider and both will be configured, possibly
with mating
ridges and grooves as shown in figure 4C, to allow channel 70 and connecting
tab 50 to be
coupled together in multiple width positions so that, when coupled to base 30,
side divider 40
may be positioned at various distances from the lateral center of base 30
thereby allowing for
the unit 20 to be adjusted to various width settings. In this embodiment, the
unit 20 might be
adjusted to, for example, three different width settings so that products of
different widths
might be merchandised. Once the base 30 and divider 40 are coupled to achieve
a certain
width setting, the divider 40 could slide freely forward and backwards
relative to the base 30 in
a manner identical to the non-width-adjustable embodiment.
[0060] In the embodiment of unit 20 where the divider 40 and base 30 may be
coupled
in a fixed width setting, products 14 of different widths would be
accommodated by selecting
from a variety of different base 30 widths rather than by selecting from among
a variety of
multiple available coupling width positions for the unit 20.
[0061] In a further embodiment, as shown in figures 5, 6 and 12 a backstop 60
is
attached to the rearward end of the inside surface of side divider 40. When
side divider 40 and
base 30 are coupled together to form a unit 20 the backstop 60 protrudes
laterally in a direction
substantially across the surface of base 30. In the case, for example, where
the side divider 40
is coupled to the right side of the base 30, the backstop 60 shall protrude
from the side divider
40 and to the left. The purpose of backstop 60 is twofold. First, the backstop
60 shall allow
products 14 associated with unit 20 to be moved forward when the side divider
40 is drawn
forward while the base 30 remains stationary; second the backstop 60 shall
prevent the
products 14 from sliding off of the back end of the unit 20 in the case, for
example, when the
entire unit 20 is lifted, while full of products 14, and moved to another
shelf 12 location as in
the case of re-setting of the products 14.
[0062] The backstop 60 may be of variable lengths and heights and will
generally
correspond to the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the products 14 or
product 14 stack so
that, if the backstop 60 were to be drawn forward along with side divider 40,
the backstop 60
will make sufficient contact along the width and height of the product 14 in
the associated row
that the products 14 will be urged forward. Similarly, a backstop 60 of
appropriate size may be
selected so that the products 14 in the associated row, at least in cases
where they are
merchandised single-high, shall be prevented from sliding off of the rear end
of the base such
as in those cases where the entire unit 20, when filled with products 14, is
lifted clear of the
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shelf 12 and positioned at another shelf 12 location as in the case of re-
setting. In the case
where products 14 are stacked 2- and 3-high a taller backstop 60 may be used
so that stacked
products 14 are prevented from falling behind backstop 60. It may be desirable
to position the
backstop 60 on the divider 40 such that the bottom of backstop 60 is spaced
slightly above the
base 30 to prevent the backstop 60 from an unintended engaging of the rear end
of the base 30,
as a small gap between the bottom of the backstop 60 and the base will not
detrimentally effect
operation of the system.
[0063] In a further embodiment as shown in figure 11, a backstop depth
extender 61
may be removably attached to backstop 60 where the backstop depth extender 61
extends
forward of the rear terminus (end) of side divider 40 along the depth of base
30 and towards
the front of the base 30. The backstop depth extender 61 can also be formed as
an unattached
filler block that is the shape of one or some other multiple of products (or
stacked products).
The backstop depth extender 61 may be of various lengths so that the forward
end of the
backstop depth extender 61 may be positioned at various distances forward of
the rear terminus
of side divider 40 in order to shorten the effective depth of the row on unit
20 as may be
desirable in cases where a product 14 is a slow seller and store management
does not want
excessive inventory of product 14 to be stocked needlessly on the shelf 12.
[0064] Backstop 60 may be, along the lateral dimension, curved in a concave
fashion
so as to be sympathetic to and to receive the generally round shape of the
products 14. This
concave curve would allow for more thorough contact of the backstop 60 with
the products 14
when the side divider 40 is drawn forward with the effect that backstop 60 is
less apt to bend
backwards and otherwise deform undesirably in response to the weight/inertia
of the products
14.
[0065] As shown in figure 6, the backstop 60 may be permanently attached
to side
divider 40 such as by adhesive, tape, or by ultrasonic welding or other known
techniques. In
another embodiment, backstops 60 of various widths and/or heights could be
removably
attached to side divider 40 by employing, for example, a receiving shoe
permanently attached
to side divider 40 to which a variety of different backstop 60 sizes could be
removeably
attached by friction slip fit.
[0066] As described above, as shown in figures 3A, 3B and 5, the connecting
tab 50
of the side divider 40 may be inserted into the female channel 70 on the side
edge of the base
30 in such a manner that, while the base 30 and connecting tab 50 (and hence
side divider 40)
are secured in lateral position, the connecting tab 50 shall slide freely and
with little resistance
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both forward and backward, parallel to the length of the base 30, within the
female channel 70.
The front of side divider 40 may be easily grasped with thumb and forefinger
by an operator
and drawn forward while the base 30 remains stationary. When products 14 are
resting upon
and weighing down the base 30 the base 30 will tend to remain stationary even
as the side
divider 40 is drawn forward and then returned back to the normal position. In
the case where
there is not sufficient weight on base 30 to keep it stationary the operator
may use one hand to
press against the front of base 30 to keep it stationary while the side
divider 40 is drawn
forward with the operator's other hand. With the side divider 40 free to move
forward and
backward in this fashion, a backstop 60 attached to the inside surface of the
rear of side divider
40 would, when the side divider 40 is drawn forward while the based 30 remains
stationary,
travel forward above and along the surface of base 30 and make contact with
and engage the
rearmost product 14 in the product 14 row which will therefore be urged
forward, and the
rearmost product 14 will then make contact with the product 14 immediately in
front of it and
that product 14 will be urged forward, and other products 14 in the row will
in turn be urged
forward in the same fashion until all products 14 in the product row have been
moved as far
forward towards the front shelf edge as is desired. Once the desired position
of the products 14
is achieved within the unit 20 the side divider 40 shall be slid back
(rearward) to the starting
position where the front of the side divider 40 shall be more or less in line
with the front of the
base 30.
[0067] In a further embodiment, anti-skid or high-friction material may be
added to the
bottom surface of the base 30 making the base 30 less prone to sliding forward
when the
divider 40 is drawn forward to actuate product 14 fronting. If the base 30 is
more apt to remain
stationary during product fronting then fronting may be achieved with one hand
which is less
work and may be faster than two-handed fronting. A unit 20 that may be fronted
with the use
of one hand would allow the operator to front two rows simultaneously by
grasping the divider
of one unit with one hand while grasping the divider of an adjacent unit with
the other hand,
thereby allowing a store clerk to front a store area in less time. The
increase in friction on base
30 is not so high as to significantly interfere with intentional side to side
positioning of the
base 30 during installation.
[0068] The operation of the unit 20 as described above would be useful in the
case of
product 14 stocking and rotation. The side divider 40 along with backstop 60
is drawn forward
while the base 30 is held in stationary position which would allow the
previously stocked
products 14 to be brought forward to the front of unit 20. The side divider 40
and backstop 60
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would then be returned to the starting or normal position at which point the
entire managing
unit 20 could be slid forward ¨ or lifted off of the shelf 12 entirely --
exposing the rear portion
of the managing unit 20 thereby allowing new products 14 to be stocked behind
the existing
products 14 thereby achieving proper rotation of the products 14. Figures 2A
and 2B illustrate
a shelf reset or repositioning when the unit 20 is lifted off of the shelf 12.
It will be understood
by those of ordinary skill in the art that other than for shelf resets, a
shelf typically will not be
partially empty as shown in figure 2A and 2B.
[0069] Products 14 in the product row associated with the shelf allocation and
management unit 20 will rest on the top surface of the base 30 in such a way
that generally at
least half of the width of the bottom of the products 14 associated with the
unit 20 is supported
by direct contact with the top surface of the base 30. As shown in figure 12,
a portion of the
bottom of the products 14 may hang off the side of the base 30 opposite the
side on which the
side divider 40 is connected. In the case where the divider 40 is attached to
the right side of
base 30, the inside surface of the divider 40 will contact and will laterally
support the right side
of the row of products 14 associated with the unit 20 and the outside surface
of the side divider
40 of a unit 20 immediately adjacent and to the left of the subject unit 20
shall make contact
with and laterally contain the left side of the subject row of products 14.
[0070] The units 20 having a single side divider 40 provides an advantage in
that the
width of the unit 20 may be set so that, as shown in figure 12, the products
14 in the unit 20 are
positioned on the base 30 so that a portion, perhaps 5-40%, of the width of
the base of the
products 14 extends beyond or hangs off of the side edge of the base 30 on the
side opposite
the side on which the side divider 40 is attached. For example, let us say
that a unit 20 is
configured with a side divider 40 attached to the right side of base 30 and
the products 14,
which in this example are 3.00" wide, are protruding approximately 0.40" off
of the left side
edge of the base 30. The products 14 will be laterally supported on the right
by the side divider
40 and, assuming that the subject unit 20 is not an end unit in a system 10,
the products 14 will
be laterally supported on the left by the side divider 40 of a unit 20
positioned immediately
adjacent and to the left. Provided that all of the units 20 in a system 10 are
configured in the
same way (with the dividers all on either the left or the right side of the
units 20) then an
absolute minimal amount of lateral distance between product 14 rows can be
achieved because
the only lateral distance separating immediately adjacent product 14 rows will
be the thickness
of one side divider 40. Structural integrity of the unit 20 may likely be
achieved with a side
divider 40 thickness of, for example, 0.040" to 0.080", and such a thin
divider thickness would
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be considered desirable by the retailer. Were all of the units 20 in a system
10 to have two
rather than one side divider 40 then the distance between immediately adjacent
rows of
products 14 would be at least the combined thickness of two side dividers 40
which may
accumulate to a thickness deemed undesirable by retailers.
[0071] In a system 10, comprised of multiple units 20 the side dividers 40 of
each unit
20 will all be coupled on either the right-hand side of the bases 30 or will
all be coupled to the
left-hand side of the bases 30. With a series of installed units 20 arranged
in this manner, the
products 14 associated with an individual shelf allocation and management unit
20 will be
contained laterally both on the left and on the right and will therefore be
prevented from
moving outside of the product 14 row and inadvertently co-mingling with
(different) products
in the rows immediately to the left or the right.
[0072] Further, in the system 10, because of the "hang off" feature where a
portion
(perhaps 5-40%) of the bottom of many products 14 will extend beyond the edge
of base 30, a
unit 20 that features only one base 30 and divider 40 coupling position (fixed
width setting)
may be used effectively for a large number of different (but generally
similar) package 14
widths. Let us consider an example unit 20 that features a base 30 that is
2.85" in width and
that features a divider 40 that is positioned flush to the side edge of base
30. This example unit
20 may be used for the "303" tin can (the most popular package used in United
States dry
grocery), and this 2.85"-wide unit 20 will also work with standard tuna fish
cans, large cat food
cans, many jams & jelly jars, many peanut butter jars, most pasta sauce jars
and many small
boxes such as the small Jell-O box and many rice-mix boxes. The significant
advantage is that
a single size of a fixed-width unit 20 may be used with a wide variety of
products 14 which
makes installation easier and faster because one size of unit 20 may be used
for so many
different products and because the unit 20 does not have to be adjusted or
fitted to the product
14 as a step in the installation process. Ordering of the units 20 will also
be simpler for store
managers because there will be few ¨ possibly only two or three -- rather than
many sizes.
Finally, because the units 20 in a system 10 all employ a base which supports
the product 14
row, repositioning of products 14 (re-sets) are expedited as an entire row of
products 14 may
be moved en masse to another area of the store as opposed to the legacy
practice of emptying
the shelves 12 of all of the individual products 14 and then re-positioning
those individual
products 14 on a different shelf
[0073] In a further embodiment, side dividers 40 can be attached to both the
left side
of the base 30 and the right side of the base 30 of each unit 20. This feature
enables the end
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unit 20, on either the far left or far right in a system 10 of units 20 to be
outfitted with two side
dividers 40, one side divider 40 on the left side of the end unit 20 and
another side divider on
the right side of the end unit 20 so that the associated products 14 in this
end unit 20 may be
laterally supported both on the left and the right.
[0074] The top surface of the base 30 of each unit 20 shall have a low-
friction surface
such that the products 14 resting on the top surface of the base 30 shall
slide freely both
backward and forward along the length of the base 30. The low-friction surface
may be
achieved through either the use of a high lubricity coating on the top of the
base or a series of
ridges positioned along the top surface of the base parallel to the length of
the base, or a
combination of the two. In the aspect of the invention where a backstop 60 is
attached to the
inside surface of the rear of side divider 40, this low-friction surface shall
better allow the
products 14 associated with the unit 20 to slide forward along the base 30
when the side
divider 40, and attached backstop 60, is actuated and pulled forward along the
base 30 with the
intent to bring towards the front of the unit 20 all of the products 14 in the
associated row.
[0075] In a further embodiment of the system 10, as shown in figures 14A and
B, a
narrow strip 210 of plastic or other material may be affixed to the forward
shelf 12 edge on
either the top or the edge of shelf 12. The base 30 of a unit 20 may be
positioned on shelf 12
behind this arresting strip 210 so that the front of the base 30 abuts against
the rear edge of the
arresting strip 210. The arresting strip 210 may be high enough to prevent the
base 30 from
moving forward beyond the arresting strip 210 but may be low enough to allow
the divider 40
with connecting tab 50 to be pulled forward of the front shelf 12 edge as
would occur during
product 14 fronting. The arresting strip 210 may also be fashioned to mate
with a notched
opening or other receiving means along the front bottom of base 30, as shown
in figures 14B,
so that, once the arresting strip 210 and base 30 notch were mated, the base
30 would be free to
move laterally but would be prevented from moving forward or backward.
[0076] In a further embodiment of the system 10 as shown in figure 15A, the
front of
the base 30, with the exception of channel 70, is covered with a face plate
220. This face plate
220 might take the form of an adhesive label or may be a plastic piece shown
in figure 15A.
Adding a face plate 220 to the base 30 front would serve to make more uniform
and attractive
the appearance of the base 30 front and might also serve as a location for
product information
such as the name of the company selling the units 20, or the name of the store
in which the
units are located or the name of the product 14 or associated vendor, or any
desired
information. A face plate 220 might also be fashioned in the shape of a ramp
between the shelf
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12 and the top surface of the base 30. Such a ramp might ease stocking of the
units 20 with
products 14. As shown in figure 15B, the appearance of the front of the base
30 might also be
enhanced if the features underneath the top surface or platform of base 30
were slightly
recessed, perhaps by 0.30" or 0.40" such that they are not generally easily
visible to store
patrons on the shelf 12. This may be achieved, for example, by selective
removal of material
forming the legs and channel 70 of base 30 as by use of a sanding machine or
router.
[0077] In a further aspect of the invention, as shown in figure 7, the base 30
shall have
a channel 150 on the top surface and in the approximate lateral center of the
base 30 where the
channel 150 shall run longitudinally front-to-back where the channel 150 is
fashioned to
receive a puller device 160 which shall be attached to a backstop 170, said
puller 160 to be
positioned within the channel 150 so that the puller 160 may slide within the
channel 150 both
backward and forward in a direction parallel to the length of the base 30 and
perpendicular to
the front shelf 12 edge. The backstop 170 attached to the puller 160 shall,
when the puller 160
is positioned in the aforementioned channel 150 on the base 30, be at the rear
end of the shelf
allocation and management unit 20. The front of the puller device 160 shall be
accessible and
may be grasped from the front of the shelf allocation and management unit 20
so that once
some of the products 14 in the product 14 row are depleted, such as by
shoppers selecting
items for purchase, the front of the puller 160 device may be grasped and
pulled forward
thereby bringing the attached backstop 170 forward with the result that the
backstop 170 shall
make contact with the rearmost product 14 in the product 14 row such that all
of the remaining
products in the product row may be urged forward towards the front edge of the
unit 20.
[0078] The thickness of the puller device 160 relative to the depth of the
corresponding channel 150 in the top of the base 30 will be such that, when
the puller 160 is
positioned and resting flat within the corresponding channel 150 on the base
30 of the unit 20,
the top of the puller device 160 will, at all points, be slightly below the
top surface of the base
30. This will allow the puller device 160 to slide freely beneath the
associated row of products
14 positioned within the shelf allocating management unit 20. The weight of
the products 14
in the associated row will rest on the top surface of the base 30 and will not
rest substantially
on the top surface of the puller device 160 thereby allowing the puller 160 to
slide freely
backward and forward under the row of products 14 in the unit 20.
[0079] In a further aspect of the invention the base 30 and side divider 40
(and puller
160) could be scored so that each section could be shortened (possibly by
snapping off) in
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increments of possibly 0.5" for the base 30 and side divider 40 so that the
unit 20 could be
adjusted to fit shelves 12 of different depths.
[0080] In a further aspect of the invention, as shown in figure 8, a label
holder 180 is
removably attached to the front of the base 30 of a unit 20 for the purpose of
holding a price
tag or label containing identifying information for the products 14 contained
in the unit 20. A
label holder 180 attached to the unit 20 would be advantageous in that the
label, which
contains valuable identifying and price information, would remain immediately
adjacent and
below the products 14 in the unit 20 at all times as contrasted with the
legacy practice of
affixing the product 14 label on the front edge of the shelf 12 with no way of
securing the
products 14 associated with that label in a position consistently adjacent to
the label potentially
resulting in confusion for the shoppers where shoppers cannot easily ascertain
the price and
identification of the products 14.
[0081] The side divider 40, at least when combined with a side divider 40 of
an
immediately adjacent unit 20 (or when combined with a second side divider 40
coupled to a
unit 20 in the case of an end unit 20 of a system 10) provides lateral support
of the products 14.
Lateral support of the products 14 is useful in that it confines the product
14 row(s) associated
with a given managing unit 20 and maintains the row in a more or less straight
line both when
new products 14 are placed on the shelf 12, as occurs when stocking, and when
the product
row is pushed forward by the backstop 60 (or backstop 170), as occurs when the
side divider
40 is drawn forward, as occurs when facing or fronting a product 14 row
associated with a
managing unit 20. Lateral support also discourages the products 14 from
tipping or falling to
the side and interfering with products 14 in adjoining rows. Further, lateral
support prevents
products in one row associated with a managing unit 20 from co-mingling with
(different)
products 14 in immediately adjacent rows. Effective lateral support of the
product 14 can be
achieved with a divider that is substantially lower than the top of the
product 14, or, if the
products 14 are stacked one-on-another, the top of the product 14 stack.
[0082] Due to the symmetrical nature of many products 14 and the low-friction
nature
of the surface of the base 30, the side dividers 40 can be of relatively low
height and still
provide substantial lateral product 14 support. In
order to provide some quantitative
guidelines, substantive lateral support within the meaning of this application
will mean a side
divider height of at least 15% of the height of the product 14 or product
stack height. If the
product or product stack is relatively stable then substantive lateral support
would mean
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approximately 15-50% of the height; conversely if the product 14 or product
stack has low
stability, then substantive lateral support would mean approximately 20-90% of
the height.
[0083] In order to reduce the degree to which the side dividers 40 might
obstruct the
side view (of a store customer) of the product 14 or product stack, the front
of the side divider
40, as shown in figure 3-A and figure 8, may be swept back at an angle so that
towards the
extreme front end of the side divider 40 the top of side divider 40 may be,
for example, 0.50"
high and would attain increasingly greater height as the top of side divider
40 extended
rearward and would reach its full height (3.00" for example) at a point, for
purpose of
illustration, 3.00" rearward of the front of side divider 40. This shaping of
the front of the
divider 40 may resemble the shape of a quarter circle.
[0084] Within the context of the present invention a unit 20 may be configured
to
accommodate two or more rows of products 14, as shown in figure 9. This
multiple row unit
22 shall be the same as the unit 20 described above but the multiple row unit
22 shall have a
wider base 30 to accommodate two or more side-by-side rows of products 14, and
shall also
feature a center channel 72 positioned more or less in the lateral center of
base 30 and running
along the full length of the top surface of base 30. Center channel 72 shall
feature an open
channel 74 and a covered channel 76 shall extend to the left side or right
side of open channel
74. Virtually identical to channels 70 on the single-row base 30, covered
channel 76 will be
the female mirror opposite of the connecting tab 50 protruding from divider
40. In the case of
a multiple row unit 22 designed for two product 14 rows, the multiple row unit
22 would
feature a side divider 40 coupled to either the left or the right of the base
30 and would also
feature a second side divider 40 coupled to covered channel 76. A multiple row
unit 22 may
be useful in cases where the products 14 are small and/or light making it
difficult to employ a
single row unit 20 because the unit 20 combined with the small/light products
14 may together
be of insufficient mass to prevent the unit 20 from moving inadvertently on
the shelf especially
during product 14 fronting.
[0085] In a further embodiment of the present invention a thickness augmenter
190
may be attached to side divider 40 which will be useful in those cases where
objectionable
gaps exist between product 14 rows that cannot be effectively reduced by
either re-positioning
units 20 or, in the case of a width-adjustable unit 20, by re-adjusting the
width settings of units
20. The thickness augmenter 190 may be in the form, as shown in figure 10, of
a vertical panel
of equivalent length and height of side divider 40. This vertical panel or
thickness augmenter
190 would feature some form of attachment device so that the thickness
augmenter 190 may be
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removably attached to side divider 40 thereby increasing the lateral space
occupied by side
divider 40 and filling the objectionable gap between product 14 rows. The
thickness
augmenter 190 may also take the form of a thicker side divider 40, for example
0.30" thick.
Whatever form it takes, the thickness augmenter 190 may increase the lateral
space between
product 14 rows occupied by the side divider 40 from, for example 0.060" to,
for example,
0.40".
[0086] The various features of the present invention can form improved shelf
management systems outside of the specific illustrated embodiments. For
example, the
positive row separation, the fact that a single fixed-width unit 20 may be
used for a wide
variety of products 14, the easy width adjustability in some embodiments and
the minimal
lateral displacement of the dividers of the present invention can yield
improved shelf
management systems when applied to the gravity systems and to the spring-
biased backstops
of the prior art.
[0087] Compared to many systems of the prior art, the shelf allocation and
managing
unit 20 has no front or fence so there is no chance that the products 14 will
be visually
obscured when viewed from the shopping aisle nor will the products 14 be
mechanically
obstructed by any feature of the front of the unit 20 making it more difficult
for shoppers to
remove items from the shelf 12.
[0088] In a still further modification of the units 20, the side divider 40
may include
openings therein to facilitate viewing of the products 14 and/or for stylized
purposes and/or to
reduce the amount of plastic required for manufacture of the managing unit 20
and/or to
facilitate air flow around the products 14 such as in the case where products
14 require
refrigeration.
[0089] It should be apparent that the shelf management systems 10 of the
present
invention will work with cans, jars and boxes. Further, the system 10 can
function as an easy-
to-install static (non-fronting) row divider system on flat shelves and can
function as easy-to-
install static row divider system on inclined/gravity shelves. Further, in the
present system 10
the existence of the base 30 locks in the lateral position of the units 20,
and the associated row
or product selling space, and ensures that, even when empty, the units 20 will
not migrate too
far out of position to the left or right.
[0090] It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited
to the particular
embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications that are
within the spirit and
scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims and equivalents
thereto.
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