Supports: racks – Special article – Stacked articles
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-08
2001-12-04
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Special article
Stacked articles
C211S074000, C211S183000, C312S072000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325221
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a display track device for merchandising articles, and more particularly to a channel-shaped track device of a multiple-piece construction which enables low-cost molding of such devices.
Channel-shaped track devices have been used in the merchandising of a variety of products. The track devices, typically, are supported on a support surface such as a shelf in a tilted condition. Each device receives articles in a row so that the received articles slide or gravity feed one after another to the front of the respective track as the leading articles in the row are removed from the track. Among these known track devices, two-piece construction devices are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,337 (Flum); U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,968 (Wombacher); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,126 (Foster et al). Wombacher and Foster et al each disclose a track device having a separate front stopper attached to the track base. Because these patents require a transversely extending front wall to assure the structural strength of the device, the front stoppers taught by these patents cannot be used to construct some type of tracker devices wherein such front walls are not desired. Front walls would conflict with the arrangement shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,176 to Jay where increased visibility of leading articles is intended.
Flum's device includes front and rear separate members arranged in telescoping relationship which may be employed in Jay's track device. However, the Flum patent requires side walls of a hollow, double-wall structure which is not only expensive but also bulky such that it requires substantial dead space between two adjacent tracks.
What is needed, therefore, is an improved multiple-piece construction track device which allows economical application of a variety of designs to different portions of the track.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The track device of the invention has a special joint for firmly connecting two or more separate lengths of the track device together to create a one continuous track.
The present invention in one aspect provides a merchandising track device comprising first and second elongate track members formed separately as two discrete structures. The first and second members are connected together in an end-to-end, longitudinally adjacent relationship. Each member comprises a track base for carrying articles for sliding movement along the respective member, and at least one article-guiding side wall upstanding from the track base of the respective member and extending along the respective member. The one side wall of the first member is disposed in general longitudinal alignment with the one side wall of the second member. The track device further comprises locking means for interconnecting the one side wall of the first member and the one side wall of the second member to lock the first and second members in position relative to each other. The locking means comprises longitudinal retention means for preventing longitudinal displacement of the one side wall of the first member relative to the one side wall of the second member.
This arrangement allows low-cost application of a variety of designs as well as materials to different parts of the track device. For example, an expensive mold of a complicated structure can be replaced by two or more less expensive, less complicated molds to form the device of the invention. Further, expensive material can be used only for a particular portion of the device where the use of such material is essential.
In a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal retention means comprises an overhang extending rearward from the one side wall of the first member along the upper edge of the one side wall of the second member, and a lug depending from the overhang and received in a cutout formed along the upper edge of the one side wall of the second member. In addition to the longitudinal retention means, the locking means may also include lateral retention means for preventing lateral displacement of the one side wall of the first member relative to the one side wall of the second member. The lateral retention means comprises a pair of engaging tabs provided for the first member. The engaging tabs are disposed respectively alongside the opposite side surfaces of the one side wall of the second member, and at least one of the engaging tabs is formed on the lug.
The present invention in another aspect provides a merchandising track device comprising first and second separately formed, elongate track members. The first and second members are connected together in an end-to-end, longitudinally adjacent relationship. Each member comprises an article-carrying track base. The second member comprises a tongue extending longitudinally from the track base of the second member which tongue defines an end of the second member. The first member has an end-opening socket for receiving the tongue so that the track bases of the first and second members are interconnected to form a continuous floor for slidably supporting articles. This arrangement also allows economical application of a variety of designs and materials to different parts of the track device.
In a preferred embodiment, the track base of the first member comprises upper and lower opposed walls, and the socket is defined between the upper and lower walls.
In another preferred embodiment, the upper surface of the tongue is disposed below the continuous floor of the device so that the upper surfaces of the track bases may lie in a common plain. The tongue may be provided with a downwardly projecting hooking element, and the track base of the first member may have a transversely extending edge for engaging the hooking element to prevent longitudinal displacement of the first member with respect to the second member.
The present invention in a still another aspect provides a merchandising track device comprising an elongate body, and a front piece formed as a discrete structure and attached to the front end of the body. The body comprises a track base for carrying a row of articles for sliding movement along the body, and at least one article-guiding side wall upstanding from the track base and extending along the body. The front piece provides a stopper for preventing the leading article in the row from exiting the track device. The front piece comprises a deck for supporting the leading article, at least one longitudinally extending upright wall upstanding from the deck and disposed in general longitudinal alignment with the one side wall, and locking means for interconnecting the one upright wall and the one side wall to lock the front piece in position relative to the body.
The elongate body and the front piece may be molded from either plastic or metal (e.g., aluminum, aluminum compound or the like). The body and the front piece may be formed from different material. Although any plastic or metal may be used to construct the device of the invention, the most preferred material for the body is polystyrene whereas the most preferred material for the front piece is polycarbonate.
A preferred embodiment of the locking means comprises lateral retention means for preventing lateral displacement of the one upright wall relative to the one side wall. Such lateral retention means may be a pair of engaging tabs provided for the one upright wall which engaging tabs are disposed alongside the opposite side surfaces of the one side wall, respectively. These engaging tabs are disposed with a lateral gap therebetween to receive in the gap an edge of the one side wall. The engaging tabs may be opposed to each other across the thickness of the one side wall. Alternatively, the engaging tabs may be disposed at positions offset from each other along the length of the one side wall.
Another preferred embodiment of the locking means comprises longitudinal retention means for preventing longitudinal displacement of the one upright wall relative to the one side wall. The longitudinal retention means may comprise an overhang extending rea
Display Industries LLC
James John L.
Stodola Daniel P.
Tran Khoa
LandOfFree
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