AU5957299A - Object storage and dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2(I Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD

PATENT

Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: OBJECT STORAGE AND DISPENSING APPARATUS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us OBJECT STORAGE AND DISPENSING APPARATUS The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the display and dispensing of articles at their point of sale. The invention has particular relevance to the display and dispensing of cigarette packets but it will be apparent from the following that the invention is not limited to this application.

Conventionally cigarette packets have been displayed in point of sale display drawers or trays with the drawers sloping downwardly and forwardly such that the packets gravitate towards a front (usually transparent) wall from which point a shop attendant would remove the pack when making a sale.

Such grays or drawers have also commonly had the capability of being retained in two positions, firstly a withdrawn normal operation position, and a second extended (relative to other drawers) but still retained position at which it is possible to restock the drawer. Such conventional display and dispensing 15 drawers have fallen from favour somewhat, at least for cigarette sales, given recent legal requirements that in any display arrangement, the number of cigarette packs that can be seen must be kept to a minimal number. The conventional arrangements as described above, do however, also have a commercial disadvantage in that their structure minimises the number of packs 20 that can be stored in a given storage volume of a cabinet or the like.

The objective therefore of the present invention is to provide a storage, display and dispensing device for objects such as cigarette packets (but not limited thereto) that will allow substantially only one such object to be seen at the dispensing point and which will also improve the number of such objects that can be stored in a particular volume available therefor.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an object storage and dispensing device including holding means for holding a plurality of objects in at least two sideways adjacent rows with the objects being located generally one behind the other in each said row whereby said objects are adapted to move in each said row in a forward direction with a foremost said object being retained by retainer means such that said foremost object is disposed at an angle greater than 900 to the direction of movement of said objects along said rows with each said retainer means providing a sideways open space whereby the foremost object in each said row can be withdrawn therefrom in a sideways direction past the next adjacent row of objects.

Conveniently the object storage and dispensing device is configured such that the objects in sideways adjacent said rows are disposed in a holding plane that is generally horizontally disposed. In a possible alternative, the holding plane might be slightly inclined towards the rear. Preferably the device includes at least two said sideways adjacent rows in at least two vertically adjacent spaced levels.

In one preferred arrangement, the holding means may include a drawer member movable between a first withdrawn position and a second extended position, each said drawer member having a plurality of object holding parts adjustably securable to said drawer whereby said objects are held by said holding parts in said sideways adjacent rows. Preferably at least some of said 15 holding parts include a pusher member and spring means to move said pusher member in a forward direction, the pusher member being arranged to push said objects either in the row of said objects held by said holding part or the objects held in a sideways adjacent row of said objects to the holding part carrying the pusher member forwardly towards the retainer means. Conveniently the 20 retainer means of each said holding part is a wall member inclined at an angle of greater than 900 to a side wall of the holding part. The wall member may be transparent so as to allow the foremost object to be fully displayed.

o The invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation view schematically illustrating the display configuration for objects in a dispensing assembly according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view in exploded condition of parts forming a first preferred embodiment according to the present invention; Figure 3 is an illustrative view showing a series of object holding parts as shown in Figure 2 in an array as intended to be used (with certain parts omitted for the sake of clarity); Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of a forward dispensing end of an object holding part as shown in Figures 2 and 3; Figure 5 is a plan view of the object holding part as shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a side elevation view of side support members according to a further preferred embodiment securable to a support structure, each being adapted to movably receive a drawer member and support same via roller members engaging in defined guide tracks; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of one side support member taken along line VII-VII of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a plan view of two object holding parts according to a further preferred embodiment in side by side configuration; Figure 9 is a side elevation view of one of the object holding parts of Figure 8; Figure 9A is a detailed section view of part of Figure 9; 15 Figure 9B is a sectional view taken along line B-B of Figure 9; Figure 10 is a front elevation view of one of the object holding parts of Figure 8; Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along line XI-XI of Figure 8; Figures 11A and 11B are detailed views of different parts of Figure 11; 20 Figure 12 is a front elevation view of a pusher member co-operable with the object holding parts shown in Figures 8 to 11; S• •Figure 12A is a section view taken on line A-A of Figure 12; and Figure 13 is a plan view of the pusher member shown in Figure 12.

Referring to the drawings, figure 1 shows schematically an array of objects 28 to be displayed and dispensed. The objects 28 may be cigarette or cigar packets or may be any other product including tobacco packages, food products and the like. The objects are held by object holding parts 21 which are themselves suitably supported in a defined array such that they are closely adjacent one another in the same level and whereby the objects 28 are supported thereby with the top of the objects located just below the next adjacent object holding part 21 located there above. The objects stored in this manner are held one behind the other in a row of such objects which may be horizontally arranged or slightly inclined toward the front with the forward most object located at an angle to the direction of forward movement along the object holding part. The object holding part 21 has a forward wall 25 that is also angled to the direction of movement of the objects towards the forward wall whereby the forward most object can be removed from the object holding part in a sideways direction where necessary clearing in front of the forward wall 25 of the next adjacent object holding part 21. Conveniently a spring or other urging means is provided to urge movement of the objects held within a row towards the forward wall 25 of each object holding part.

Referring now to figures 2 to 5, the dispensing assembly 10 comprises a drawer or tray member 11 having a base wall 12, a pair of opposed upstanding Sside walls 13, 14 and a rear wall 15. Each of the side walls 13, 14 have a pair of transversely extending pins 16 adapted to be positioned within guiding and holding tracks 17. The tracks 17 may be fixed to an inwardly facing side wall of 15 a desired storage zone or alternatively may be integrally formed as part of such a side wall of a storage zone. The tracks 17 have an upper access opening 18 to allow the pins 16 to enter or exit the track when desired. The tracks also include a forward end wall 19 and a rear end wall 20 that limit the forward and rearward movement of the pins 16 (and thereby the drawer 11) within the tracks 20 17. The tracks 17 further are, in use, disposed generally horizontally such that the base wall 12 of the drawer 11 is also disposed generally horizontally.

The assembly 10 further includes a plurality of object holding parts 21 adapted to hold objects (such as cigarette packets) in a line extending substantially the length of the part 21. Each object holding part 21 conveniently is formed by a base wall 22, a rear wall 23, an upstanding side wall 24 on one side of the base wall 22, and a front wall 25. A pair of pins 26 extend downwardly from the lower face of the base wall 22 to be seiectably positioned in a pair of location holes 27 in the base wall 12 of the drawer member 11. A plurality of such location holes 27 are provided aligned across the base wall 12 so that the object holding parts 21 can be selectably positioned across the base wall 12 to accommodate desired width objects (which for different products or brands might be of different sizes). The objects 28 (see Figure 4) are conveniently retained between the side wall 24 of one holding part 21 and the side wall 24 of the next adjacent object holding part 21. The rear wall 23 has a top section 29 adapted to engage within a holding groove 30 forming part of or affixed to the rear wall 15 of the drawer or tray member 11. It will of course be apparent that the form of the projections or pins 26 may vary and could include tabs or the like engagable within slots instead of holes 27.

The assembly 10 further includes a pusher member 31 freely slidable along a guide track 35 connected to or formed in an upwardly facing surface of the base wall 22 of the object holding part 21. The pusher member 31 has a front face 32 to engage with objects 28 held within the object holding part 21. A coil 34 of flat spring steel or the like engages a rear face 33 of the pusher 6. member 31 with a free end of the spring steel 34 extending forwardly under the oi** pusher member 31 and any objects 28 to be secured or fixed to a position 36 adjacent the front end of the base wall 22. In this manner the pusher member 15 31 is urged forwardly to move towards the front wall 25 of the object holding part 21. At the same time any objects 28 located in front of the pusher member 31 are also urged against the front wall 25. It will of course be apparent that in an alternative arrangement the pusher members 31 might be arranged to slide along guide tracks in the upstanding side walls 24 to either extend across the i 20 base wall of the particular part 21 or alternatively to extend laterally outwardly from the side wall 24 to extend across the base wall of the next adjacent object holding part 21. In either instance a suitable spring means would be provided to urge the pusher member in a forward direction.

To restock a drawer 11, the drawer would be moved forwardly to allow access to the object storage zone and positioning, as desired, further objects in required rows in front of the pusher members 31. In the dispensing position, the drawers 11 would be pushed back to the rear position with the pins 16 engaged against the rear end walls 20 of the tracks 17. If desired, the tracks 17 might be arranged with a very slight inclination towards the rear to counteract any tendency for the drawers 11 to move forwardly unless positively caused to do so by operation of an external force applied by an operator.

6 Figures 6 to 13 illustrate features of another preferred embodiment.

Figure 6 illustrates a plurality of side wall support members 40, each having recesses 41 in a lower edge and correspondingly shaped tabs 42 located on an upper edge acting as position locators for the members 40 when secured to an inner face of a wall member defining a desired storage zone. The support members 40 may be secured via threaded fasteners passing through provided apertures 43 into the wall member (not shown) which may be a Melamine or similar panel formation. A tray or drawer member 11 spans the space between two opposed support members 40 provided the base structure for carrying object holding parts as described hereinafter. Each drawer member 11 has a base wall 12 and a rear wall 15, the rear wall 15 having a downwardly depending lip 44 adjacent its upper edge defining a holding groove 30. Located underneath and spaced along the side edges of the base wall 11 are downwardly depending clip formations 45 each being adapted to receive a pivot 15 shaft of a support roller 46. In the embodiment illustrated, four such rollers 46 are provided spaced along the side edges of the base wall 11. Similar clip formations 47 are provided above the rear wall 15 and depending lip 44 to also receive a pivot shaft of a roller 48 on either side of the drawer member. The rollers 46 on each side of the drawer member are received in a respective main 20 guide track 49 having a closed rear end 50 and an open front end 51. The rollers 48 are located in a respective guide track 52 which extends above and generally parallel to the lower track 49 with this guide track 52 having a closed rear end 53 and a closed forward end 54. The forward end section 55 of the upper guide track 52 is angled upwards slightly. A guide passage 56 opens rearwardly from the forward end section 55 in a downwardly direction, and includes a forwardly directed elbow 57 such that the guide passage 56 is open in a forward direction. The upper guide track 52 further include a recess 58 in its upper surface located forwardly of the opening to the guide passage 56, the recess 58 having a complementary shape to that of the rollers 48. Figure 6 illustrates the position of the drawer member 11 in full outline at 59 when the drawer member 11 is located in a withdrawn position suitable for storing objects and dispensing same. There are also shown in phantom outline three other potential positions 60, 61 and 62 of the drawer member. Positions 60 and 61 show two possible extended positions of the drawer member 11 for possible restocking of same. It will be recognised that these positions (and complete removal of the drawer member) allows restocking from the rear of the rows of objects thereby avoiding the possibility of old stock remaining in the drawer members. Position 62 shows how the drawer member 11 may be removed or reinstalled in the support members 40 as may be needed from time to time.

Referring now to figures 8 to 11, there is illustrated features of object holding parts 21 which are adapted to be supported in side by side manner (Figure 8) on a respective drawer member 11. The object holding parts 21 have base wall 63, a rear wall 64, one side wall 65 leading to an angled or inclined front wall 66. The upper edge of the rear wall 64 is adapted to engage within the groove 30 located at the rear wall 15 of the drawer member 11.

S:e Downwardly depending tab or flanges 67, 68 and an associated clip member 69 15 are provided extending below the base wall 63 positioned to cooperate with transversely extending troughs or grooves 70 in the base wall 12 of the drawer member 11 to retain the object holding part in a desired lateral position across the drawer member 11. This lateral position can be selectably varied across the width of the drawer member to adjust for differing widths of the objects 28, it 20 being recognised that the objects 28 will be retained between a side wall of one object holding part 21 and the next adjacent object holding part 21. The front °wall 66 has a main panel section 71 having a height equivalent to that of the side wall 65 and a depending skirt portion 72 extending below the level of the base wall. The main panel section 71 is angled at an angle greater than 900 to the side wall 65 so that an object 28 located against the wall (Figure 8) may be withdrawn in a sideways direction clearing the front main panel section 71 of the next adjacent object holding part 21. The front main panel section 71 has a free edge 73 located inwardly of the side edge of the base wall 63 whereas the depending skirt portion 72 preferably extends the full width of the base wall 63 having a portion 74 which is disposed generally perpendicular to the side edges of the base wall 63. Arranged on the upper surface of the base wall 63 are a first pair of object supporting rails 75 and 76 extending parallel to the side wall 8 and a second pair of object supporting rails 77 and 78. The objects 28 are supported on and move along the top edges of the rails 75 to 78 which are all in the same plane. The second pair of rails 77, 78 also act as a guide track 79 for an object pusher member 80 described hereinafter with reference to figures 12 to 13. The rails 76, 77 have laterally extending ledges 81, 82 over which guide feet 83, 84 of the pusher member 80 are adapted to pass such that the pusher member is retained against disengagement from the ledges 81, 82 but is capable of moving along the length of the rails 77, 78. Immediately above and extending rearwardly from the skirt portion 74 is a floor section 85 at the same height as the upper edges of the rails 75 to 78 such that the forward most object 28 rests on this floor section 85 when it is engaged against the front main panel section 71. Further, a gap or space 86 is provided immediately behind the floor section 85 and between this floor section and the commencement of the base wall 63, the space 86 being provided to allow an end of a coil spring to be 15 engaged with the end edge 87 of the base wall 63 (see Figure 11B).

Referring now to Figures 12 to 13, the pusher member 80 comprises a main upright wall 88, a pair of floor members 89, 90 from which the guide feet 83, 84 depend, and a pair of upright abutment walls 91, 92 extending between the main wall 88 and the floor members 89, 90. A second pair of upright 4 20 abutment walls 93, 94 are provided against which the main portion of the coil spring 95 engages, the main portion of the coil spring being generally located between the upright abutment walls 91, 92. Finally, the floor members 89, are separated from one another and the front or main upright wall 88 is split at 96 to allow sufficient flexibility for the guide feet 83, 84 simply to clip over the ledges 81, 82 by downward pressure on the pusher member 80 from above.

Thus with one end of the spring 95 engaged against the base wall edge 87 and the spring passing through the space 97 between the floor members 89, 90, the main body of the spring 95 acts to urge the pusher member 80 towards the front wall 66 of the object holding part 21 but can be moved away therefrom to locate desired objects 28 between the pusher member and the front wall 66.

As shown in the drawings, the front wall 25 or 66 of each object holding part 21 is arranged at an angle greater than 900 to the side wall 24 or 65. The 9 angle in excess of 900 is sufficient to allow the most forwardly located object to be withdrawn or dispensed in a sideways direction (the direction of the arrow in Figure 4) without being obstructed by the next adjacent object holding part or objects held thereby. In this manner it is possible to arrange the objects stored in a row one behind the other which row may be generally horizontally disposed with objects stored immediately above or below each layer being in close proximity to each other. Thus in the storage position, it is possible to see only the front object in each row and not objects located behind the front object.

Moreover, usage of the available storage space is maximised because of the generally horizontally disposed rows of objects.

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Claims (11)

1. An object storage and dispensing device including holding means for holding a plurality of objects in at least two sideways adjacent rows with the objects being located generally one behind the other in each said row, whereby said objects are adapted to move in each said row in a forward direction with a foremost said object being retained by retainer means such that said foremost object is disposed at an angle greater than 900 to the direction of movement of said objects along said rows with each said retainer means providing a sideways open space whereby the foremost object in each said row can be withdrawn therefrom in a sideways direction past the next adjacent row of o objects.

2. An object storage and dispensing device according to Claim 1, wherein the objects in sideways adjacent said rows are disposed in a holding plane that 0 is generally horizontally disposed.

3. An object storage and dispensing device according to Claim 1, wherein the objects in sideways adjacent said rows are disposed in a holding plane that is inclined towards the rear of said rows.

4. An object storage and dispensing device according to Claim 1, wherein the objects in sideways adjacent said rows are disposed in a holding plane that is inclined towards the front of said rows.

An object storage and dispensing device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the device includes at least two said side ways adjacent rows in at least two adjacent vertically spaced levels. 11

6. An object storage and dispensing device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein movement means is provided to urge said objects in each said row towards said retainer means.

7. An object storage and dispensing device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the holding means includes a drawer member movable between a first withdrawn position and a second extended position, each said drawer member having a plurality of object holding parts adjustably securable to said drawer whereby said objects are held by said holding parts in said sideways adjacent rows.

8. An object storage and dispensing device according to Claim 7, wherein at least some of said holding parts include a pusher member and spring means o o to move said pusher member in a forward direction, the pusher member being arranged to push said objects either in the row of said objects held by said ":holding part r the objects held in a sideways adjacent row of said objects to the holding part carrying the pusher member, forwardly towards the retainer means.

9 An object storage and dispensing device according to any one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the retainer means of each said holding part is a wall member inclined at an angle of greater than 900 to a side wall of the said holding part.

10. An object storage and dispensing device according to Claim 9, wherein the wall member is transparent.

11. An object storage and dispensing device according to Claim 9, wherein the wall member includes a downwardly depending skirt portion extending below the level of support for said objects by the object holding part. DATED THIS 19TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1999 TREVOLA ROBES PTY. LTD. WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN VICTORIA 3122 AUSTRALIA SKP:JC P15557AU00