Modular storage system for retail merchandising units

A method of managing merchandise comprising:

• positioning a track on a floor;
• providing a plurality of retail units, each retail unit comprising a base having generally opposed ends, the base and ends defining an interior for merchandise that is accessible through a front margin defined between the ends;
• providing wheel assemblies on the base to provide a rolling surface adapted to roll on the floor and providing at least one track follower mechanism on the base,
• selectively engaging at least one track follower mechanism with the track, such that the plurality of retail units are stored in a generally abutting side-by-side position and movable in a direction generally parallel the track when the track follower mechanism is selectively engaged with the track.

A modular retail system, comprising:

• a track positioned on a floor;
• a plurality of units, each unit comprising:
• a base having generally opposed ends, the base and ends generally defining an interior for displaying contents that is accessible through a front margin defined between the generally opposed ends;
• a plurality of wheel assemblies operably coupled to and extending below the base to provide a rolling surface adapted to roll on the floor;
• a top generally opposed the base and further defining the interior and a canopy operably coupled to the unit proximate the top, the canopy being movable between an open position providing access to the interior and a closed position at least partially enclosing the front margin;
• a storage structure disposed in the interior, the storage structure comprising a plurality of storage spaces configured to store at least some of the contents;
• an access door operably coupled to one of the generally opposed ends, the access door being movable between an open position and a closed position;
• and
• at least one track follower mechanism operably coupled to the base and having at least a portion of which is selectively engageable with the track, such that the plurality of units are configured to be stored in a generally abutting side-by-side position and movable in a direction generally parallel the track when the at least a portion of the track follower mechanism is selectively engaged with the track.

A modular display unit, comprising:

• a base having generally opposed ends, the base and ends generally defining an interior for contents that is accessible through a front margin defined between the ends;
• a plurality of wheel assemblies operably coupled to and extending below the base configured to roll the base thereupon;
• an end panel operably coupled to at least one of the ends, the end panel being movable between an end panel open position enabling access to the interior and an end panel closed position;
• a top generally opposed the base further defining the interior and a canopy operably coupled to the unit proximate the top, the canopy being movable between a canopy open position enabling access to the interior and a canopy closed position at least partially enclosing the front margin;
• and
• a lock mechanism operably engageable with the end panel and the canopy to selectively retain the canopy and end panel in closed positions and selectively inhibit access to the interior.

A modular display unit, comprising:

• a base having generally opposed ends, the base and ends generally defining an interior for contents that is accessible through a front margin defined between the ends;
• a plurality of wheel assemblies operably coupled to and extending below the base configured to roll the base thereupon;
• a top generally opposed the base further defining the interior and a canopy operably coupled to the unit proximate the top, the canopy being movable between a canopy open position enabling access to the interior and a canopy closed position at least partially enclosing the front margin, the canopy selectively retainable in the canopy open position with a rod operably coupled proximate the base;
• and
• a storage structure disposed in the interior, the storage structure having an upper surface and a plurality of storage spaces configured to store at least some of the contents, the storage structure having a groove defined therein to operably retain the rod when the canopy is in a canopy closed position.