Supports: racks – Shelf type – Knockdown
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-04
2001-02-27
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Shelf type
Knockdown
C211S059300, C248S235000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193085
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to dispensing racks, and in particular, to a dispensing rack for dispensing stackable articles such as tobacco products, photographic film, cassette tapes and the like.
Dispensing racks are frequently used in a variety of commercial retail environments in order to support and simultaneously display a variety of consumer goods. These dispensing racks are a common fixture in grocery stores, drug stores, department stores and other similar retail establishments as they provide a space effective means of supporting and advertising certain products. Such racks may be equipped to hold one or more types of product in a variety of different orientations. Some of the products frequently promoted and dispensed from these dispensing racks include photographic film, cassette tapes, video cassettes, and especially tobacco products, and in particular cigarettes.
Many prior art dispensing racks are composed of a large number of separate elements which require substantial time and effort to assemble and disassemble. Furthermore, many prior art dispensing racks, despite being relatively large, are incapable of supporting a large quantity of product because the structural configuration of the rack reduces the area in which product may be supported.
Frequently, these dispensing racks are moved to different locations within a single store for a variety of reasons. Such reasons include expansion of the store, particular promotional activities, or renovation of the store itself. During the time that the dispensing rack is being assembled and disassembled, it cannot serve its function of dispensing and promoting goods.
Additionally, the disassembly and reassembly at a separate location has a tendency to utilize a great deal of labor and disrupt normal store activities. Furthermore, assembly and disassembly of a dispensing rack conveys an image of clutter and increases the noise experienced by shoppers, thereby detracting from their shopping experience. Also, it is quite common that these dispensing racks are moved from one store to another or to a warehouse. Consequently, the ability to simply and efficiently assembly and disassemble a dispensing rack is a key feature and of great importance to its owner. A particularly successful dispensing rack having a structure which is easily assembled and disassembled may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,821 issued to Nook et al. on Jan. 31, 1989.
Another key feature of any dispensing rack is its ability to be reconfigured to accommodate more than one product having different dimensional characteristics, and to hold one or more products in different spatial orientations. The ability of a dispensing rack to be easily and quickly reconfigured to accommodate changing products specifications increases its value to the retailer. Still another key attribute of a dispensing rack is found in its ability to store a large number of products easily and efficiently.
Generally, it may be desirable to provide a dispensing rack which may be operated by store personnel while being inaccessible to consumers. Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide a dispensing rack capable of clearly displaying the product stored therein and thereby eliminate the need for additional advertising on the dispensing rack itself.
Consequently, there exists a need for a dispensing rack which is easily assembled and disassembled, and maximizes the space available for the support and display of product. Furthermore, given the recent regulatory constraints placed upon the promotion and sale of tobacco products, there exists a need for a dispensing rack which can be operated by store personnel while being capable of displaying product in a variety of orientations to thereby maximize the consumer's perception of the advertising and promotional material contained on the product package.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a unique shelf support for a dispensing rack wherein a pair of upright supports are nested within the frame of the dispensing rack. These upright supports are configured to receive shelf support members to hold the shelf securely in place. Nesting the upright supports within the frame enables the entire interior of the dispensing rack to be used in the support of product.
In a preferred embodiment, the shelf support comprises a pair of corner brackets, each of which is formed with a rear section and a side section. The rear sections of the corner brackets are connected by a back panel. Attached to each side section of the corner brackets is a side panel to thereby define the interior of the dispensing rack. Each rear section is formed having a vertical channel in communication with the interior of the dispensing rack. Each vertical channel is dimensioned to receive an upright support formed with a plurality of spaced apertures. These apertures are dimensioned to accept fingers projecting from the shelves to thereby hold the same in place. The nesting of the upright supports within the interior of the corner brackets permits the entire interior of the dispensing rack to be used to support product. Consequently, the dispensing rack is capable of receiving a greater quantity of product to thereby maximize space utilization.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide a modular dispensing rack construction which can easily and efficiently be assembled and disassembled. The modular rack assembly comprises a pair of side panels and a back panel connected by a pair of corner brackets to define an interior. A bottom assembly attached to the back panel and side panels has depending therefrom a leveling means to thereby permit the orientation of the dispensing rack to be adjusted for uneven flooring. A header is positioned within the upper region of dispensing rack and includes a means for supporting a lighting assembly to thereby enable the contents of the dispensing rack to be illuminated. A top cover is positioned over the dispensing rack to prevent unauthorized access to the products contained therein.
According to another preferred embodiment, the front of the dispensing rack is equipped with a pair of doors. The doors are attached to the bottom assembly and the header assembly and are each equipped with a lock to prevent unauthorized access to the products positioned within the interior of the dispensing rack.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the front face of the header includes a strip or body of translucent material. This translucent material, which can be manufactured in any color, is illuminated by the lighting assembly and provides a visual stimulus to draw a consumer's attention to the products positioned within the dispensing rack.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the top cover of the dispensing rack has an outwardly arched or convex shape. This convex shape prevents an operator from placing product upon the top of the dispensing rack and thus protects the aesthetic appearance of the dispensing rack.
Yet another aspect of this invention is to provide a dispensing rack capable of supporting a variety of shelves which support product in different orientations. In this embodiment, the dispensing rack supports at least one cascading rack which orients product at an acute angle. The dispensing rack may also include one or more spring loaded shelves which support individual products in a vertical orientation, and one or more promotional shelves which enable product to be stacked horizontally. Each of these shelves contain a pair of side support flanges having one or more fingers extending therefrom which are dimensioned for receipt by one of the plurality of apertures formed in the upright supports. By providing a dispensing rack which utilizes one or more of each of these shelves, the various types of advertising material contained on the product package is clearly accentuated and therefore the consumer's awareness of the products contained within the dispensing rack is heightened.
According to still another aspect of the in
Nook Thomas J.
Stone William Russell
Harris Erica B.
Philip Morris Inc.
Stodola Daniel P.
Van Dyke Gardner, Linn & Burkhart, LLP
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