Modular storage and dispensing assembly

1. A modular storage and dispensing assembly comprising:

a plurality of panels;

a connector assembly for connecting adjacently disposed panels such that a chute is provided between each of the adjacently disposed panels;

a rail assembly disposed in each chute for defining a travel path, the rail assembly comprising:

an upper rail supported by adjacently disposed panels and a lower rail supported by adjacently disposed panels, the upper rails being spatially disposed and in a facing relationship, the lower rails being spatially disposed and in a facing relationship, the upper rails each having a first end and second end and the upper rails are sloped in a downward direction from their first ends to their second ends, the lower rails each having an arcuate shaped second end, the lower rails and their arcuate shaped second ends disposed a distance from the upper rails so that objects moving along the travel path of the chute are provided with a smooth transition from the upper rails to the lower rails,

the lower rails are further characterized as having a first end portion and the lower rails extend in a downward direction toward the first end portions and wherein the first end portion of the lower rails is provided with an arcuate configuration which extends a distance outwardly from the first end of the upper rails and downwardly from the lower rails for restraining an object therein while permitting the object to be removed therefrom wherein the remaining objects supported by the rail assembly move along the travel path of the chute until the object adjacent the object removed reaches the arcuate shaped first end portions of the lower rails whereby movement of an object disposed in the area defined by the arcuate shaped first end portions of the lower rails of the rail assembly is maintained in a stable position in the arcuate shaped first end portions of the lower rails of the lower rail assembly whereby the object is prevented from moving in a forwardly or rearwardly direction.

2. The modular storage and dispensing assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper rails and the lower rails of the rail assembly are angled upwardly toward their respective outer edges so as to enhance rolling movement of the objects there along.

3. The modular storage and dispensing assembly of claim 2 wherein the upward angle of each of the upper and lower rails is about 1 degree from horizontal.

4. A modular storage and dispensing assembly comprising:

a first side panel, a second side panel and at least one medial panel;

a connector assembly for connecting the first side panel to the medial panel and the medial panel to the second side panel such that a first chute is provided between the first side panel and the medial panel and a second chute is provided between the medial panel and the second side panel;

a rail assembly disposed in each of the first and second chutes for defining a travel path therethrough, each of the rail assembly comprising:

a pair of upper rails and a pair of lower rails, the upper rails being spatially disposed and in a facing relationship and the lower rails being spatially disposed and in a facing relationship, the upper rails each having a first end and second end and the upper rails are sloped in a downward direction from their first ends to their second ends, the lower rails each having an arcuate shaped second end, the lower rails and their arcuate shaped second ends disposed a distance from the upper rails so that objects moving along the travel path of the chutes are provided with a smooth transition from the upper rails to the lower rails

the lower rails are further characterized as having a first end portion and the lower rails extend in a downward direction toward the first end portions and wherein the first end portion of the lower rails is provided with an arcuate configuration which extends a distance outwardly from the first end of the upper rails and downwardly from the lower rails for restraining an object therein while permitting the object to be removed therefrom wherein the remaining objects supported by the rail assembly move along the travel path of the chute until the object adjacent the object removed reaches the arcuate shaped first end portions of the lower rails whereby movement of an object disposed in the area defined by the arcuate shaped first end portions of the lower rails of the rail assembly is maintained in a stable position in the arcuate shaped first end portions of the lower rails of the lower rail assembly whereby the object is prevented from moving in a forwardly or rearwardly direction.

5. The modular storage and dispensing assembly of claim 4 wherein the upper rails and the lower rails of each of the rail assemblies are angled upwardly toward their respective outer edges so as to enhance rolling movement of the objects there along.

6. The modular storage and dispensing assembly of claim 5 wherein the upward angle of the upper and lower rails of the rail assembly is about 1 degree from horizontal.