Label orienting display rack

Details Label orienting display rack Label orienting display rack

1999-12-06

2001-05-29

Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)

Supports: racks

Special article

Stacked articles

C211S074000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06237784

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a display rack for displaying beverage bottles in a refrigerator, and, more particularly, to a device for orienting the bottles so that bottle labels face forward.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Display racks are used to shelve merchandise awaiting purchase by a consumer. Some items, such as beverages, are best when consumed chilled, and are consequently shelved in a refrigerator. Display racks are used in the refrigerator to keep beverage containers upright for easy viewing and to dispense them one at a time. Beverages are removed one at a time from the front of the rack and the remaining inventory is urged to the front of the rack for easy removal. Shelf stocking conveniently occurs from the rear of the rack ensuring that beverages are chilled when they reach the front of the rack. Presentation of the beverage is very important; so, a viewing area at the front of the rack allows easy viewing of the label area of the beverage container. Unfortunately, in many instances where beverages are displayed in racks, the beverage containers are not perfectly aligned with the labels facing forward for easy viewing because of the time required to align them and because rack stockers are generally not that attentive. In addition, even when initially perfectly aligned, they are subject to disturbance as consumers remove containers from the display. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to have a display rack that aligns the beverage label in the viewing area so that container labels face forward and prevents disturbance as containers are removed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the present invention, a display rack comprises an elongate track base for carrying a row of articles for sliding movement, a rib upstanding from the track base for engaging a groove in each article of the row of articles to thereby orient the articles, and at least one article guiding sidewall upstanding from the track base. The rib may be laterally positioned in the center of the track base or offset from the center. When the upstanding rib engages the groove, the container is automatically oriented with the label facing forward.
According to another aspect of the invention, a display rack comprises an elongate track base having a plurality of upstanding ribs, and at least one article guiding sidewall upstanding from the track base to limit lateral movement of the articles. An insert is positioned on the ribs of the track base for carrying a row of articles for sliding movement along the insert. The insert has an upstanding rib for engaging a groove in each article of the row of articles to thereby orient the articles with labels facing forward. It also has a plurality of shorter secondary ribs parallel to the upstanding rib for sliding contact with the articles. A number of tertiary ribs on the underside of the insert are parallel to the upstanding rib but extend in the opposite direction from the upstanding rib to interstitially engage the ribs of the track base.
In another aspect of the invention, a display rack comprises an elongate track base for carrying a row of articles for sliding movement along the track base, and at least one article guiding sidewall upstanding from the track base. One of the sidewall and track base has a protruding rib for engaging a groove in each article of the row of articles to thereby orient the articles with labels facing forward.
These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5531336 (1996-07-01), Parham et al.
patent: 5562217 (1996-10-01), Salveson et al.
patent: 5992650 (1999-11-01), Lord

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Label orienting display rack does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Label orienting display rack, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Label orienting display rack will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2488747