IP Library Granted Patent US 11,350,769
Granted Patent B2
US 11,350,769 · App. 17/173,889 · Granted Jun 7, 2022

Retail merchandise tray

Inventor: Thomas O. Nagel (Rockford, IL)
Assignee: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
A47F1/126A47B57/58A47F5/005A47F5/0025A47F1/04A47F1/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,350,769
App. No.
17/173,889
Granted
Jun 7, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A retail merchandise tray is provided. The retail merchandise tray includes a pair of load bearing members, a front stop mounted to the load bearing members, a wire support structure removably attached to the front stop and load bearing members, a pusher that slides along the wire support structure, and a pair of movable divider assemblies.

Claims (52)

1. A retail merchandise tray for storing products therein, comprising:

a frame comprising a first side, a second side, and a merchandise support structure for supporting merchandise;

a pusher mounted to the frame, the pusher is configured to move along the frame along a first axis;

a first divider assembly mounted to the frame, the first divider assembly is configured to move relative to the frame, the first divider assembly including:

a first divider wall, wherein the first divider wall is adjacent to the first side of the frame, the first divider wall comprises an upright portion and a flange portion that extends inward from the upright portion of the first divider wall; and

first and second wire supports that connect the first divider wall to the frame, the first and second wire supports are configured to slide relative to the frame to adjust the first divider wall relative to the frame between a plurality of positions including at least a first position and a second position, in the first position, the first divider wall is closer to the frame than in the second position;

a second divider assembly mounted to the frame, the second divider assembly including:

a second divider wall, wherein the second divider wall is adjacent to the second side of the frame opposite the first side of the frame such that the frame is positioned between the first and second divider walls, the second divider wall comprises an upright portion and a flange portion that extends inward from the upright portion of the second divider wall; and

third and fourth wire supports that connect the second divider wall to the frame, the third and fourth wire supports are configured to slide relative to the frame to adjust the second divider wall relative to the frame between a plurality of positions including at least a third position and a fourth position, in the third position, the second divider wall is closer to the frame than in the fourth position;

wherein when the first divider wall is in the first position and the second divider wall is in the third position, the first wire support extends past the second side of the frame and the third wire support extends past the first side of the frame and the flange portion of the first divider wall extends inward beyond the first side of the frame and the flange portion of the second divider wall extends inward beyond the second side of the frame;

wherein when the first divider wall is in the second position and the second divider wall is in the fourth position, the flange portion of the first divider wall is positioned outward of the first side of the frame and the flange portion of the second divider wall is positioned outward of the second side of the frame;

wherein the first side of the frame comprises a first length that extends parallel to the first axis between a first end and a second end, the first and second wire supports are positioned between the first end and the second end of the first side of the frame, wherein the first length of the first side of the frame is greater than a distance between the first and second wire supports; and

wherein the second side of the frame comprises a second length that extends parallel to the first axis between a third end and fourth end, the third and fourth wire supports are positioned between the third end and the fourth end of the second side of the frame, wherein the second length of the second side of the frame is greater than a distance between the third and fourth wire supports.

2. The retail merchandise tray of claim 1 , wherein the first and second divider walls are formed from plastic.

3. The retail merchandise tray of claim 1 , wherein:

the first wire support extends between a fifth end connected to the first divider wall and a sixth end;

when the first divider wall is in the first position and the second divider wall is in the third position, the sixth end of the first wire support extends into a first cavity formed in an inner surface of the second divider wall.

4. The retail merchandise tray of claim 3 , wherein the second divider wall includes a first longitudinally extending slot that is formed in an outer surface of the second divider wall.

5. The retail merchandise tray of claim 4 , wherein:

the third wire support extends between a seventh end connected to the second divider wall and an eighth end;

when the first divider wall is in the first position and the second divider wall is in the third position, the eighth end of the third wire support extends into a second cavity formed in an inner surface of the first divider wall; and

the first divider wall includes a second longitudinally extending slot that is formed in an outer surface of the first divider wall.

6. The retail merchandise tray of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes at least one cut-out sized to receive a retail merchandise bar for cantilevered mounting of the frame.

7. The retail merchandise tray of claim 1 , further comprising a front stop mounted to the frame.

8. The retail merchandise tray of claim 4 , wherein:

the first side of the frame defines a first load bearing member;

the second side of the frame defines a second load bearing member; and

when the first divider wall is in the first position and the second divider wall is in the third position, the first wire support extends through a first passageway formed in the first load bearing member and a second passageway formed in the second load bearing member.

9. The retail merchandise tray of claim 8 , wherein the merchandise support structure is a wire support structure, wherein the wire support structure comprises a pair of longitudinal members and a lateral member, the lateral member extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal members.

10. A retail merchandise tray for storing products therein, comprising:

a frame comprising a first side and a second side and a merchandise support structure for supporting merchandise;

a pusher mounted to the frame, the pusher is configured to move along the frame along a first axis;

a first divider assembly mounted to the frame, the first divider assembly is configured to move relative to the frame, the first divider assembly including:

a first divider wall, wherein the first divider wall is adjacent to positioned on the first side of the frame, the first divider wall comprises a bottom surface, an upright portion, and a flange portion that extends inward from the upright portion of the first divider wall to a first inner free edge;

a first wire support that connects the first divider wall to the frame, the first wire support comprising an inner end and an outer end, the first wire support is configured to slide relative to the frame to adjust the first divider wall relative to the frame between a plurality of positions including a first position and a second position, in the first position, the first divider wall is closer to the frame than in the second position;

a second divider assembly mounted to the frame, the second divider assembly is configured to move relative to the frame, the second divider assembly including:

a second divider wall, wherein the second divider wall is adjacent to the second side of the frame opposite the first side of the frame such that the frame is positioned between the first and second divider walls, the second divider wall comprises a bottom surface, an upright portion, and a flange portion that extends inward from the upright portion of the second divider wall to a second inner free edge;

a second wire support that connects the second divider wall to the frame, the second wire support comprising an inner end and an outer end;

the second wire support is configured to slide relative to the frame to adjust the second divider wall relative to the frame between a third position and a fourth position, in the third position, the second divider wall is closer to the frame than in the fourth position;

wherein when the first divider wall is in the first position and the second divider wall is in the third position, the inner end of the first wire support extends into a cavity formed in the second divider wall, the entirety of the cavity of the second divider wall is spaced laterally outward from the second inner free edge of the flange portion of the second divider wall and the inner end of the second wire support extends into a cavity formed in the first divider wall, the entirety of the cavity of the first divider wall is spaced laterally outward from the first inner free edge of the flange portion of the first divider wall;

wherein the first divider wall comprises a first longitudinally extending slot that is formed in an outer surface of the first divider wall above the bottom surface of the first divider wall, wherein the first longitudinally extending slot receives the outer end of the first wire support therein;

wherein the second divider wall comprises a second longitudinally extending slot that is formed in an outer surface of the second divider wall above the bottom surface of the second divider wall, wherein the second longitudinally extending slot receives the outer end of the second wire support therein;

wherein the first longitudinally extending slot and the second longitudinally extending slot are larger than each cavity respectively.

11. The retail merchandise tray of claim 10 , wherein the first and second divider walls are formed from plastic.

12. The retail merchandise tray of claim 10 , wherein:

when the first divider wall is in the first position, the first inner free edge of the flange portion of the first divider wall is positioned laterally inward of the first side of the frame; and

when the second divider wall is in the third position, the second inner free edge of the flange portion of the second divider wall is positioned laterally inward of the second side of the frame.

13. The retail merchandise tray of claim 10 , wherein:

the first side of the frame defines a first load bearing member;

the second side of the frame defines a second load bearing member; and

when the first divider wall is in the first position and the second divider wall is in the third position, the first wire support extends through a first passageway formed in the first load bearing member and a second passageway formed in the second load bearing member.

14. The retail merchandise tray of claim 13 , wherein the merchandise support structure is a wire support structure, wherein the wire support structure comprises a pair of longitudinal members and a lateral member, the lateral member extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal members.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2022
From: FASTENERS FOR RETAIL, INC.
To: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE AGENCY, LLC
Reel/Frame 061365/0643 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2021
From: NAGEL, THOMAS O.
To: SOUTHERN IMPERIAL LLC
Reel/Frame 055236/0066 →
MERGER Recorded Feb 11, 2021
From: SOUTHERN IMPERIAL LLC
To: FASTENERS FOR RETAIL, INC.
Reel/Frame 055282/0001 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 16888092 · May 29, 2020
Continuation 16803566 · Feb 27, 2020
Continuation 16582681 · Sep 25, 2019
Continuation 15954868 · Apr 17, 2018
Continuation 15829623 · Dec 1, 2017
Related Publication 20210161311A1 · Jun 3, 2021
Cited By (3)
US 12,245,706 US 12,251,032 US 12,396,573