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US 6,991,116 B2Granted
Multi-chute gravity feed dispenser display
AssigneeGamon Plus, Inc.
InventorsTerry J. Johnson, John Schoemer, Travis O. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A set of panels having chutes therebetween. The chutes being defined by curvilinear rails on such panels. The curvilinear rails having stops thereon for stopping the products for viewing.
Claims24
A dispenser and display rack for substantially cylindrical articles, said dispenser comprising:
- (a) a plurality of vertically disposed panels, each of said panels having one or more rails extending horizontally therefrom toward an opposing one of said panels, said rails of opposing ones of said panels jointly defining a plurality of chutes to guide said articles therebetween,
- (b) said chutes further being slightly inclined so as to allow said cylindrical articles to be advanced by means of gravity from an upper portion on said panels in said chutes to a lower portion on said panels in said chutes;
- (c) a removal area disposed proximate said lower portion of said chutes for allowing selective removal of one or more of the cylindrical articles from said dispenser;
- (d) an access door movable between first and second positions, said access door being mounted proximate said upper portion, said access door being constructed and arranged for closing the upper portion of said chutes in the first position and for opening the upper portion of said chutes in the second position, said access door further having a front face for advertising display purposes;
- (e) a plurality of retention pins constructed and arranged to selectively interlock each of said vertical panels to the opposing vertical panel so as to fixedly position said panels relative to each other;
- and
- (f) a plurality of bosses formed proximate each corner of each of said panels, each of said bosses having an aperture defined therein and a lock mechanism associated with said aperture so as to allow selective locking and unlocking of said retention pins relative to such panel.
4 more elements
A dispensing and display device for cylindrical articles comprising:
- a pair of vertical panels having first and second serpentine chutes formed therebetween, said chutes being inclined relative to horizontal whereby cylindrical articles contained therein may be advanced by gravity towards the lower portion of said display device, said first and second chutes each being of substantially C-shaped configuration;
- said chutes each having an upper portion and a lower portion;
- a first stop means proximate to the lower portion of the first of said chutes for preventing further downward motion of said cylindrical articles therein;
- a second stop means formed proximate the lower portion of the second of said chutes for preventing further downward motion of said cylindrical articles therein;
- a return area located proximate said first and second chutes for allowing replacement of one of said cylindrical articles on said display device after removal from said chutes;
- a plurality of retention pins having a plurality of lengths so as to allow construction of said dispensing device in a plurality of selected widths substantially corresponding to the height of said cylindrical articles;
- an access door having clip means attached to the rear face thereof for selective attachment of said access door to one of said retention pins;
- said clip means being disposed on the rear face of said access door proximate a lower end of thereof and pivotally connected to said one of said retention pins so as to allow pivotable movement of said access door away from upper extents of said first and second chutes, thereby allowing selected filling of said chutes with said cylindrical articles.
5 more elements
A dispensing and display device for cylindrical articles comprising:
- a pair of vertical panels having first and second serpentine chutes formed therebetween, said chutes being inclined relative to horizontal whereby cylindrical articles contained therein may be advanced by gravity towards the lower portion of said display device, said first and second chutes each being of substantially C-shaped configuration;
- said chutes each having an upper portion and a lower portion;
- a first stop means proximate to the lower portion of the first of said chutes for preventing further downward motion of said cylindrical articles therein;
- a second stop means formed proximate the lower portion of the second of said chutes for preventing further downward motion of said cylindrical articles therein;
- a return area located proximate said first and second chutes for allowing replacement of one of said cylindrical articles on said display device after removal from said chutes;
- wherein the second of said chutes is formed in such a manner as to promote the movement of said cylindrical articles in said second of said chutes in a direction away from the second stop means when a minimum quantity of said cylindrical articles in said second of said chutes is reached.
3 more elements
A dispensing and display device for cylindrical articles comprising:
- a pair of vertical panels having first and second serpentine chutes formed therebetween, said chutes being inclined relative to horizontal whereby cylindrical articles contained therein may be advanced by gravity towards a lower portion of said display device, said first and second chutes each being of substantially C-shaped configuration;
- said chutes each having an upper portion and a lower portion;
- a first stop means proximate to the lower portion of the first of said chutes for preventing further downward motion of said cylindrical articles therein;
- a second stop means formed proximate the lower portion of the second of said chutes for preventing further downward motion of said cylindrical articles therein;
- a return area located proximate said first and second chutes for allowing replacement of one of said cylindrical articles on said display device after removal from said chutes;
- said return area comprises a cradle located proximate the distal end of one of said first and second chutes for allowing return of one or more cylindrical articles after removal of said cylindrical article from said device;
- said cradle comprising a raised portion on each of said vertical panels proximate the lower portion of said second chute and offset from said distal end of second chute so as to allow retention of one or more cylindrical articles on top of and above said cylindrical articles disposed in said second chute.
4 more elements
A dispenser and display rack for substantially cylindrical articles, said dispenser comprising:
- (a) a plurality of vertically disposed panels, each of said panels having one or more rails extending horizontally therefrom toward an opposing vertical panel, said rails defining a plurality of chutes therebetween, said chutes having a width so as to allow cylindrical articles to be stored therein and dispensed therefrom;
- (b) said chutes further being slightly inclined so as to allow said cylindrical articles to be advanced by means of gravity from an upper portion on said panels in said chutes to a lower portion on said panels in said chutes;
- (c) a removal area disposed proximate said lower portion of said chutes for allowing selective removal of one or more of the cylindrical articles from said dispenser;
- (d) an access door movable between first and second positions, said access door being mounted proximate said upper portion, said access door being constructed and arranged for closing the upper portion of said chutes in the first position and for opening the upper portion of said chutes in the second position, said access door further having a front face for advertising display purposes;
- (e) a plurality of retention pins constructed and arranged to selectively interlock each of said vertical panels to the opposing vertical panel so as to fixedly position said panels relative to each other;
- and
- (f) a plurality of bosses formed proximate each corner of each of said panels, each of said bosses having an aperture defined therein and a lock mechanism associated with said aperture so as to allow selective locking and unlocking of said retention pins relative to such panel,
- at least one of said bosses being on each corner of the upper and lower portion of each of said vertical panels proximate a front thereof and a second pair of bosses proximate a rear of each of said vertical panels.
5 more elements
A dispenser and display rack for substantially cylindrical articles, said dispenser comprising:
- (a) a plurality of vertically disposed panels, each of said panels having one or more rails extending horizontally therefrom toward an opposing one of said panels, said rails of opposing ones of said panels jointly defining a plurality of chutes to guide said articles therebetween,
- (b) said chutes further being slightly inclined so as to allow said cylindrical articles to be advanced by means of gravity from an upper portion on said panels in said chutes to a lower portion on said panels in said chutes;
- (c) a removal area disposed proximate said lower portion of said chutes for allowing selective removal of one or more of the cylindrical articles from said dispenser;
- an access door movable between first and second positions, said access door being mounted proximate said upper portion, said access door being constructed and arranged for closing the upper portion of said chutes in the first position and for opening the upper portion of said chutes in the second position, said access door further having a front face for advertising display purposes;
- wherein each of said chutes has a stop means for preventing unwanted movement of said cylindrical articles, said stop means comprising an incline portion proximate the distal end of said chutes, a flat front out portion and a substantially vertical end stop proximate the end of said chutes.
2 more elements
A dispenser and display rack system for storing and displaying products on store shelving, said system comprising a display module and a door, said display module including a pair of side panels disposed in spaced-apart side-by-side relation defining an operative panel orientation, rails affixed to said panels forming at least one product rail chute disposed between said panels, each said chute having a loading end, a dispensing end and an elongated product travel path descending at least substantially full length from said loading end to said dispensing end, said door being moveable from a closed position wherein said door is disposed transversely between said panels above said dispensing end in access closing relation to said loading end, to a removed position in access opening relation to said loading end, said display module including a plurality of retention pins connecting said panels, there being at least one of said pins engaging said panels in a first manner to permit shifting thereof between a collapsed condition and said operative panel orientation and in a second manner to lock said panels in said operative panel orientation, said door being connected to one of said retention pins for pivotal movement to thereby open and close access to said loading end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.