Merchandising platform and handle apparatus for a merchandiser
View Patent ↗A merchandiser includes a case defining a product display area, and a lid disposed over the product display area and substantially enclosing at least a portion of the product display area. The lid is movable between an open position providing access to the product display area and a closed position limiting access to the product display area. The merchandiser also includes a handle assembly that has a handle coupled to and rotatable relative to the lid as the lid moves between the open position and the closed position.
1. A merchandiser comprising:
a case defining a product display area and configured to be supported on a support surface;
a first lid disposed over a first portion of the product display area and movable between an open position providing access to the first portion of the product display area and a closed position limiting access to the first portion of the product display area;
a second lid located adjacent the first lid and disposed over a second portion of the product display area, the first lid and the second lid cooperating with each other to enclose the first and second portions of the product display area, the second lid movable between an open position providing access to the second portion of the product display area and a closed position limiting access to the second portion of the product display area, and the second lid oriented on the case so that the second lid is at least partially disposed under the first lid when one of the first lid and the second lid is moved toward the corresponding open position;
a first handle assembly including a first handle coupled to and rotatable relative to the first lid as the first lid moves between a first lid open position and a first lid closed position;
a second handle assembly including a second handle coupled to and rotatable relative to the second lid as the second lid moves between a second lid open position and a second lid closed position, the first handle and the second handle oriented such that a top of the first handle and a top of the second handle are at the same height above the support surface;
wherein the first handle assembly includes a first handle base non-rotatably attached to the first lid and the second handle assembly further includes a second handle base non-rotatably attached to the second lid, and wherein the first handle is rotatably coupled to the first handle base and the second handle is rotatably coupled to the second handle base; and
wherein the second handle base defines a space accommodating an edge of the first lid such that a portion of the first lid is disposed under the second handle when one of the first lid and the second lid is moved to the corresponding open position.
2. The merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein the case includes a base and side supports extending from the base, the base and the side supports cooperating to define a plurality of product display areas, wherein the first lid and the second lid are disposed over one of the product display areas, and wherein each of the remaining product display areas includes an additional pair of lids and handle assemblies similar to the first and second lids and the first and second handle assemblies.
3. The merchandiser of claim 2 , further comprising a merchandising platform coupled to the case vertically above the product display areas and including a merchandising area visible to consumers for advertising product located in each of the product display areas.
4. The merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein each of the first handle base and the second handle base includes a tab member disposed along an outer periphery, and wherein each of the first handle and the second handle includes a tab disposed along an inner periphery and engaged with the corresponding tab member of the first handle base and the second handle base to rotatably attach the first handle and the second handle to the respective handle base via sliding engagement of the tab on the tab member.
5. The merchandiser of claim 4 , wherein the second handle base has a guard extending laterally outward from a central portion of the second handle base.
6. The merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein the second handle base is taller than the first handle base.
7. The merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein the second handle base has a platform defining a central recess, and wherein a stop member is coupled to the base within the central recess and extends outward from an edge of the platform to contact the first lid when one of the first lid and the second lid is moved to the corresponding open position.