AU2020260430A1

AU2020260430A1 - Gravity mat and divider system

Info

Publication number: AU2020260430A1
Application number: AU2020260430A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Prickett David
Original assignee: Think Retail & Design Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Think Retail & Design Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2019-10-31
Filing date: 2020-10-28
Publication date: 2021-05-20

Abstract

A gravity mat and divider system enables convenient separation into smaller sections. The system comprises: a gravity mat, comprising: a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally from a front to a back of the mat; a plurality of transverse beams connecting the ribs together; and a plurality of buttons disposed on the ribs; and a divider, comprising: a panel section having a bottom edge; and at least one hook extending from the bottom edge; wherein the divider is connected to the gravity mat by the hook connecting to a button adjacent a rib.

Description

TITLE

Gravity Mat and Divider System

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for storing and displaying consumer goods, and in particular to a shelving system that enables goods to slide under the force of gravity towards the front of a display shelf.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Various types of gravity mat display systems including dividers are known in the art. The systems enable goods, such as beverage bottles, to be prominently displayed at the front of a display cabinet such as a beverage refrigerator having clear glass doors. Generally, a gravity mat is installed at an angle that slopes downward toward a front of a shelf. When goods are removed from the front of the shelf, such as by a customer opening a display cabinet door and removing a bottle from the front of the shelf, remaining bottles that are queued behind the removed bottle will automatically slide forward under the force of gravity so that a new bottle is again displayed at the front of the shelf.

[0003] Vertical divider panels are commonly used to divide different columns of products from each other on a single shelf. That enables the compact and efficient display of a varying range of products across the front of a shelf.

[0004] However, prior art gravity mat and divider system designs are often limited in their ability to be installed, secured, and reconfigured so as to offer significant flexibility to the designers and/or users of a display cabinet or shelf.

[0005] There is therefore a need for an improved gravity mat and divider system.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to overcome and/or alleviate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In a first aspect, although it need not be the only or the broadest aspect, the invention resides in a gravity mat and divider system, comprising:

a gravity mat, comprising:

a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally from a front to a back of the mat;

a plurality of transverse beams connecting the ribs together; and

a plurality of buttons disposed on the ribs; and

a divider, comprising:

a panel section having a bottom edge; and

at least one hook extending from the bottom edge;

wherein the divider is connected to the gravity mat by the hook connecting to a button adjacent a rib.

[0008] Preferably, the ribs and the beams include slots that define frangible portions of the ribs and the beams for dividing the gravity mat into smaller sections.

[0009] Preferably, the buttons are disposed on the ribs between the transverse beams.

[0010] Preferably, each side of the hook connects to a different button.

[0011] Preferably, the divider further comprises at least one stop extending from the bottom edge.

[0012] Preferably, in an assembled configuration, the stop of the divider abuts a side of a transverse beam and is pinched between adjacent ribs.

[0013] Preferably, sections of the transverse beams and ribs define crenelated profiles.

[0014] Preferably, the divider includes frangible portions along lines from a top to a bottom of the divider.

[0015] Preferably, a frangible connector portion, when broken along a line parallel to a longitudinal axis of a transverse beam, is connectible to another frangible connector portion broken along a line parallel to a longitudinal axis of a transverse beam.

[0016] Preferably, broken frangible connector portions can be connected together using "H" shaped connectors that fit into the crenelated profiles of the transverse beams and ribs.

[0017] Preferably, the system further comprises staggered connecting tabs positioned at different heights on either side of the divider for securing product retains at a front of the system.

[0018] Preferably, the system further comprises a plurality of dividers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] To assist in understanding the invention and to enable a person skilled in the art to put the invention into practical effect, preferred embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a gravity mat and divider system, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a top view of the gravity mat and divider system of FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a back view of the gravity mat and divider system of FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a close up of detail C shown in FIG. 3.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a side view of section A-A shown in FIG. 3.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a close up partial top perspective view of the gravity mat of FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 7 is a close up partial bottom perspective view of the gravity mat of FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 8 is a perspective top view of the mat of FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 9 is a partial side view of the divider of FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 10 is a partial side perspective view of the divider of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0030] The present invention relates to an improved gravity mat and divider system. Elements of the invention are illustrated in concise outline form in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are necessary to understanding the embodiments of the present invention, but so as not to clutter the disclosure with excessive detail that will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the present description.

[0031] In this patent specification, adjectives such as first and second, left and right, vertical and horizontal, above and below, top and bottom, upper and lower, front and back, etc., are used solely to define one element or method step from another element or method step without necessarily requiring a specific relative position or sequence that is described by the adjectives. Words such as "comprises" or "includes" are not used to define an exclusive set of elements or method steps. Rather, such words merely define a minimum set of elements or method steps included in a particular embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] According to one aspect, the present invention is defined as a gravity mat and divider system, comprising:

a gravity mat, comprising:

a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally from a front to a back of the mat;

a plurality of transverse beams connecting the ribs together; and a plurality of buttons disposed on the ribs; and a divider, comprising: a panel section having a bottom edge; and at least one hook extending from the bottom edge; wherein the divider is connected to the gravity mat by the hook connecting to a button adjacent a rib.

[0033] Advantages of some embodiments of the present invention include:

[0034] Clear extruder front product retains can be used on either side of the divider. Many existing systems require the user to break off a left or right side of a product retain at the ends of each shelf, resulting in waste and potential exposure to sharp edges.

[0035] The system enables the gravity mat to be readily separated into smaller sections, for example at 8 mm increments from front to back and left to right, by breaking the ribs and the transverse beams at frangible connector portions. That adds significant flexibility to suit a variety of refrigerator or product display cabinet shelf sizes, and all sections snapped off can be joined using a connector, such as an "H" extrusion, resulting in zero waste and the ability to create any shelf size from off-cuts.

[0036] Further, the dividers can be conveniently dropped down and pulled forward to securely lock them into position on the gravity mat, resulting in ease of changing plan-o-grams in-store.

[0037] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that not all of the above advantages are necessarily included in all embodiments of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a gravity mat and divider system 100, according to some embodiments of the present invention. The system 100 comprises a gravity mat 105 and a plurality of dividers 110 secured to the gravity mat 105. A plurality of product retains 115 are positioned at a front of the gravity mat 105 and secured to adjacent dividers 110.

[0039] Adjacent dividers 110 thus define product columns 120 into which products can be stacked. For example, a column of beverage bottles can be stacked in a column 120. When the gravity mat 105 is mounted on a suitable frame, such as inside a refrigerator, to slope downward toward the front, the bottles automatically slide on the mat 105 under the force of gravity until the front-most bottle impinges on a product retain 115, such as a clear pane of plastic. As shown, various product retains 115 having different heights and widths, including those extending only partially between adjacent dividers 110, can be used.

[0040] A label panel 125 secured to the front of the mat 105 provides space for pricing labels, product descriptions or advertising.

[0041] FIG. 2 is a top view of the gravity mat and divider system 100. A plurality of ribs 200 extend longitudinally from a front to a back of the gravity mat 105. The ribs 200 include narrow, low friction top edge surfaces that enable products to slide easily along the longitudinal direction of the edge surfaces. The ribs 200 are connected together by a plurality of transverse beams 203.

[0042] An "H" shaped connector 205 connected at the back, right corner of the mat 105 enables the mat 105 to be easily and quickly secured to an adjacent mat 105 or to a frame structure.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a back view of the gravity mat and divider system 100.

[0044] FIG. 4 is a close up of detail C shown in FIG. 3.

[0045] FIG. 5 is a side view of section A-A shown in FIG. 3. Buttons 500 are shown disposed on the side of a rib 200. Hooks 505 extend from a bottom edge of the divider 110 and are secured to a button 500. Stops 510 also extend from a bottom edge of the divider 110 and abut a side of a transverse beam 203.

[0046] The dividers 110 thus can be easily and conveniently installed, uninstalled and rearranged on the surface of a gravity mat 105. To install a divider 110, the hooks 505 and stops 510 of the divider 110 are first positioned in the vertical gaps in the gravity mat 110, namely the gaps defined between two adjacent ribs 200 and between the buttons 500 and transverse beams 203. The divider 110 is then pulled forward, which locks the hooks 505 under respective buttons 500, and engages the stops 510 against adjacent transverse beams 203.

[0047] FIG. 6 is a close up partial top perspective view of the gravity mat 105. As shown, the transverse beams 203 include frangible connector portions 600 defined by transverse slots cut into the beams 203. Further, the ribs 200 also include frangible connector portions 605 defined by transverse slots cut into the ribs 200.

[0048] Further rectangular slots 610 are cut into the ribs 200 and transverse beams 203 to define a crenelated profile. Multiple sections of the gravity mats 105 broken at the frangible connector portions 600, 605 then can be connected together using the "H" shaped connectors 205 that fit into the slots 610.

[0049] FIG. 7 is a close up partial bottom perspective view of the gravity mat 105. A hook 505 of a divider 110 is shown locked against and around two adjacent buttons 500. Further, both sides of the hook 505 and a stop 510 are shown pinched between adjacent ribs 200. That adds additional rigidity and stability to the divider 110 when installed in the gravity mat 105.

[0050] FIG. 8 is a perspective top view of the mat 105.

[0051] FIG. 9 is a partial side view of a divider 110. Connecting tabs 900 are shown attached to a front edge of the divider 110. "C" shaped connecting edges of the product retains 115 can be slid over the connecting tabs 900 to secure the product retains 115 at the front of a gravity mat 105.

[0052] As shown, the divider 110 also can be readily snapped into shorter lengths by breaking the divider from top to bottom at frangible portions 905. That further enables the quick customisation of the system 100 to fit an allocated shelf space.

[0053] FIG. 10 is a partial side perspective view of the divider 110. As shown, by staggering the connecting tabs 900 at different heights on either side of the divider 110, the product retains 115 can be easily installed and removed on one side, or both sides, of the divider 110.

[0054] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various components of embodiments of the present invention can be made of various materials, including plastics, steel, steel alloys and other metal alloys, various polymers and composites, or a combination of such materials.

[0055] The above description of various embodiments of the present invention is provided for purposes of description to one of ordinary skill in the related art. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to a single disclosed embodiment. Numerous alternatives and variations to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art of the above teaching. Accordingly, while some alternative embodiments have been discussed specifically, other embodiments will be apparent or relatively easily developed by those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, this patent specification is intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications and variations of the present invention that have been discussed herein, and other embodiments that fall within the spirit and scope of the above described invention.

Claims

1. A gravity mat and divider system, comprising:

a gravity mat, comprising:

a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally from a front to a back of the mat;

a plurality of transverse beams connecting the ribs together; and

a plurality of buttons disposed on the ribs; and

a divider, comprising:

a panel section having a bottom edge; and

at least one hook extending from the bottom edge;

2. The gravity mat and divider system of claim 1, wherein the ribs and the beams include slots that define frangible portions of the ribs and the beams for dividing the gravity mat into smaller sections.

3. The gravity mat and divider system of claim 1, wherein the buttons are disposed on the ribs between the transverse beams.

4. The gravity mat and divider system of claim 1, wherein each side of the hook connects to a different button.

5. The gravity mat and divider system of claim 1, wherein the divider further comprises at least one stop extending from the bottom edge.

6. The gravity mat and divider system of claim 5, wherein in an assembled configuration, the stop of the divider abuts a side of a transverse beam and is pinched between adjacent ribs.

7. The gravity mat and divider system of claim 1, wherein sections of the transverse beams and ribs define crenelated profiles.

8. The gravity mat and divider system of claim 2, wherein the divider includes frangible portions along lines from a top to a bottom of the divider.

9. The gravity mat and divider system of claim 8, wherein a frangible connector portion, when broken along a line parallel to a longitudinal axis of a transverse beam, is connectible to another frangible connector portion broken along a line parallel to a longitudinal axis of a transverse beam.

10. The gravity mat and divider system of claim 9, wherein broken frangible connector portions can be connected together using "H" shaped connectors that fit into the crenelated profiles of the transverse beams and ribs.

11. The gravity mat and divider system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises staggered connecting tabs positioned at different heights on either side of the divider for securing product retains at a front of the system.

12. The gravity mat and divider system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a plurality of dividers.