EP1029475A2 - Abgabevorrichtung - Google Patents

Abgabevorrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1029475A2
EP1029475A2 EP00301282A EP00301282A EP1029475A2 EP 1029475 A2 EP1029475 A2 EP 1029475A2 EP 00301282 A EP00301282 A EP 00301282A EP 00301282 A EP00301282 A EP 00301282A EP 1029475 A2 EP1029475 A2 EP 1029475A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
support means
base
support
divider
relative
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00301282A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1029475A3 (de
Inventor
Joanna Steel
Peter Farrar
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bartrux Ltd
Original Assignee
Bartrux Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bartrux Ltd filed Critical Bartrux Ltd
Publication of EP1029475A2 publication Critical patent/EP1029475A2/de
Publication of EP1029475A3 publication Critical patent/EP1029475A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
    • A47F1/00—Racks for dispensing merchandise; Containers for dispensing merchandise
    • A47F1/04—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs
    • A47F1/12—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack
    • A47F1/125—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack with an article-pushing device

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a dispensing apparatus and particularly, although not exclusively, relates to the dispense of food or non-food products in a retail outlet.
  • the invention also provides a method of assembling A dispensing apparatus, a kit and a method of dispensing products.
  • Gravity feed dispensing apparatus are well-known for dispensing products, for example packaged food items or non-food items such as womens' tights or other goods presented in relatively small packages.
  • a known apparatus may simply comprise an inclined chute in which a line of products to be dispeNsed is arranged. When the forward-most product is removed from the chute, the remaining products shunt forward due to gravity acting upon them.
  • Known apparatus lack versatility.
  • the chutes themselves may have fixed dimensions making it difficult to adapt them for dispensing larger or smaller products.
  • the angle of inclination of the chute may be fixed or, even if it may be possible to adjust the angle, expensive customized fabrication of components of the apparatus may be necessary to achieve this.
  • known apparatus may be difficult and/or time-consuming to assemble.
  • a dispensing apparatus for dispensing products, the apparatus comprising a guide means which is defined, at least in part, by an upwardly extending divider means and a base, wherein said divider means includes a support means which is pivotally mounted so that the angle of the support means relative to said base can be varied.
  • Said guide means is preferably upwardly inclined and is suitably arranged to guide movement, suitably also to contain, a multiplicity of products to be dispensed which products may be the same size and/or shape.
  • Said products may be arranged in line with one another, for example in a stack.
  • the products may be food or non-food products. They may have a width in the range 2 cm to 40 cm, preferably 5 cm to 30 cm, more preferably 5 cm to 15 cm.
  • Said support means may be pivotable through an angle of at least 15°, suitably at least 30°, preferably at least 45°, more preferably at least 90° and especially 150° or more.
  • the support means may be pivotable through an angle of less than 270°.
  • Said support means preferably includes means for supporting, preferably for releasably securing, a divider wall of said divider means.
  • Said support means preferably includes a male or female part arranged to engage a part, for example the other one of a female or male part, associated with said divider wall.
  • said female part comprises a channel which is suitably fixed relative to said support means and which is suitably arranged to face rearwardly in use.
  • said support means includes an elongate channel for engagement with said divider wall which channel suitably extends substantially tangentially away from a pivot axis about which said support means is pivotable.
  • One of said support means or said divider wall preferably includes detent means and the other includes a corresponding opening for releasably securing the two parts together.
  • Said detent means may suitable comprise one or more projections, suitably arranged within the channel of the support means (when provided), arranged to engage one or more corresponding openings provided in said divider wall.
  • Means may be provided for securing said divider wall in position towards a rear end thereof.
  • Said means may comprise cooperable male and female elements.
  • Said support means may include means for securing a display sign.
  • Such means may comprise a male or female element arranged to be releasably engaged with the other one of a female or male element associated with the display sign.
  • said support means includes a female element.
  • Said support means preferably includes first securement means for releasably securing it relative to the base.
  • Said first securement means is preferably a component of a hinge means.
  • Said first securement means is preferably provided adjacent, suitably along, a lower end of said support means which lower end preferably extends substantially horizontally in use.
  • Said support means may be arranged to be releasably secured relative to the base, for example by engagement of a male element fixed relative to one of either said support means or said base with a female element fixed relative to the other one of either said support means or said base.
  • said support means includes said female element.
  • Said support means is preferably movable relative to said base in the direction of an axis about which it is pivotally mounted.
  • Said support means is preferably a unitary member manufacturable by injection moulding.
  • Said divider means may include an intermediate member via which said support means may be secured relative to the base.
  • Said intermediate member preferably includes a planar surface which is arranged to be secured to the base by suitable means which may comprise adhesive or magnetic means.
  • suitable means which may comprise adhesive or magnetic means.
  • said intermediate member is secured to the base using a method which does not involve any penetration of the base.
  • Said intermediate member preferably includes a male or female element for cooperation with the other one of a female or male element associated with said support means.
  • said intermediate member includes a male element which suitably has a part-circular cross-section.
  • Said intermediate member preferably has a substantially constant cross-section along its extent.
  • Said intermediate member is preferably a unitary member manufacturable by extrusion.
  • said apparatus includes a plurality of upwardly extending divider means which may independently be as described in any statement herein.
  • a plurality of support means may be associated therewith and, suitably, the distance between adjacent support means may be adjustable, preferably by simply sliding respective support members over a surface fixed relative to the base.
  • adjacent divider means define, with the base, a channel in which products may be arranged.
  • the width of the channel is suitably adjustable so that the width of an exit mouth of the channel is slightly less than the width of the products.
  • Said apparatus suitably includes at least 2, preferably at least 3, more preferably at least 4, especially at least 5 channels as described.
  • Means, for example a carriage device, may be associated with one or more channels for urging the contents thereof towards the front thereof.
  • a method of assembling a dispensing apparatus comprising pivotally mounting a support means relative to a base, securing a divider means to the support means so that it extends upwardly away from said base and defines, with the support means and/or said base, a part of a guide means for products to be dispensed by the apparatus.
  • said support means is arranged so that it may define a range of angles relative to said base.
  • Said divider means may define a fixed, unadjustable angle.
  • the method preferably includes pivotally mounting a plurality of said support means as described so that adjacent divider means define a channel for products.
  • kits comprising a plurality of support means as described herein, optionally together with an intermediate member as described herein.
  • the kit may also include a plurality of divider means which are suitably substantially planar sheets of plastics material.
  • the display assembly 2 includes a substantially planar base member 4 which is inclined and held in position by suitable means.
  • An elongate support rail 6 is secured to the base member 4 at a front end thereof.
  • the support rail is arranged to pivotally and releasably engage a plurality of upwardly extending support members 8 which releasably engage respective side pieces 10.
  • Respective elongate channels 12 are defined by the base member 4 and a pair of adjacent side pieces 10, within which channels a stack of products (not shown) may be arranged.
  • a carriage device 14 is arranged behind the stack of products and is arranged to move forward under gravity to shunt the products forward in the channels when products are removed from the front end thereof.
  • the base member 4 may be made of wood, plastics or metal. It may be supported by any suitable means and inclined at any desired angle.
  • the support rail 6 suitably comprises a plastics extrusion. It includes a base part 16 having a planar lower surface 18 and a head part 20 which has a generally circular cross-section.
  • the support rail may be secured to the base member 4 by suitably means, the nature of which may be selected depending upon the material from which the base member is made. For example, if the base member is made of metal, magnetic means may be provided. If, however, the base member is made from wood or plastics, then the support rail may be secured in place using double-sided adhesive tape. Advantageously, no drilling of the base member is needed to enable the support rail to be secured in position.
  • the support members 8 are as shown in figures 2 to 7. Each comprises a planar rectangular web 22, at a lower end of which are arranged five aligned arcuate support tabs 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 wherein tabs 24, 28, 30 are superimposed on each other and tabs 26, 30 are also superimposed on each other.
  • the tabs together define a circular cross-section opening within which the head 20 can fit.
  • the support members 8 can be snap engaged with (and easily disengaged from) the support rail 6. Alternatively, they could simply be arranged to be slidably engaged with the rail. When engaged with the rail, the support members can be pivoted thereabout.
  • the support members 8 include an elongate rearwardly-open centrally-positioned upwardly-extending channel 40, defined by spaced apart trapezium-shaped planar members 42, 44. Two pairs 46, 48 of opposing pips 50 extend into the channel 40.
  • the channel 40 is arranged to releasably engage side pieces 10.
  • the side pieces 10 comprise planar pieces of plastics sheet material within which openings 60 are arranged so that, when a side piece is arranged within a channel 40, the pips 50 engage the openings 60 thereby to secure the side pieces to the support member 8.
  • the side pieces 10 may be shaped according to the angle defined between the support member 8 and base member 4. For example, if a support member 8 is inclined as shown in figure 5, then front edge 62 may define substantially the same angle of inclination relative to bottom edge 64 as the angle of inclination of the support member 8 relative to the base member 4. Thus, where a support member 8 defines an angle of about 90° to the base member 4, a side piece 10 may be shaped as shown in figure 6.
  • a rear part 66 of the side pieces 10 may include an opening 68 which is arranged to releasably engage another support rail (similar to support rail 6) positioned towards the rear of the planar base member 4. Such an arrangement may substantially prevent rear ends 70 of the side pieces 10 from moving.
  • the support members 8 also include shaped openings 80 accessible from the front thereof and arranged to releasably engage a front mountable display sign 82.
  • the sign 82 includes two pairs of resilient lugs 84 (only an upper pair of which is shown in figure 7).
  • the sign 82 is arranged to be snap releasably-engaged with the support member 8 so that it projects substantially perpendicularly therefrom.
  • the sign 82 can be of any suitable size or shape and is suitably for indicating promotional or other identifying information concerning a product contained in an adjacent channel of the display apparatus.
  • the carriage device 14 may be as described in Applicant's UK application number 98 10476.3 the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • the display apparatus may be assembled as follows.
  • base member 4 is arranged at the desired angle of inclination.
  • rail 6 is secured in position.
  • the support members 8 are then engaged with the rail 6 and spaced apart a desired distance so that the width of the respective channels 12 defined is such that a product to be contained within a particular channel 12 can rest against the rear of the support members.
  • the angle of the support members 8 relative to base member 4 is selected and then suitably shaped side pieces 10 are engaged with the support members and also with a rear rail 6 (when provided as described above).
  • channels 12 may be defined simply by using more or fewer members 8 and associated side pieces 10. Also, a plurality of arrays of channels of the type shown in figure 1, may be provided one above the other.
  • the display assembly may be relatively versatile and/or easy to manufacture.
  • Support members 8 can be made from plastics by injection moulding; rail 6 may be made from plastics by extrusion. It should be appreciated that rails 6 and members 8 can be used irrespective of the desired angle to be defined between support members and base members and irrespective of the width of the channels required. Whilst side piece 10 needs to be customized according to the angle, this is relatively cheap to do. Also, the length and/or height of the side pieces can readily be selected according to the desired configuration of the channels to be formed thereby.

Landscapes

  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Display Racks (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
EP00301282A 1999-02-19 2000-02-18 Abgabevorrichtung Withdrawn EP1029475A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9903791 1999-02-19
GB9903791A GB2346874A (en) 1999-02-19 1999-02-19 Dispensing apparatus with pivotable support means

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1029475A2 true EP1029475A2 (de) 2000-08-23
EP1029475A3 EP1029475A3 (de) 2001-02-28

Family

ID=10848073

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00301282A Withdrawn EP1029475A3 (de) 1999-02-19 2000-02-18 Abgabevorrichtung

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1029475A3 (de)
GB (1) GB2346874A (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2003005863A1 (en) * 2001-07-09 2003-01-23 Kleerex Patents Limited Shelf management systems
WO2003101258A1 (en) * 2001-03-16 2003-12-11 Kleerex Patents Limited A product merchandising apparatus
FR2851441A1 (fr) * 2003-02-26 2004-08-27 Media 6 Gestion Organe support de presentation de marchandises et dispositif de presentation pour la mise en oeuvre de tels organes
FR2962243A1 (fr) * 2010-07-01 2012-01-06 Saunier Conseil Distributeur d'articles destine a contenir, presenter et distribuer une succession d'articles et presentoir pour articles

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4898300A (en) * 1988-06-06 1990-02-06 Shell Containers, Inc. Molded closeable bin having a shaped hopper
EP0408400A1 (de) * 1989-07-14 1991-01-16 P.M. Crafts Ltd. Regalsysteme
EP0878152A1 (de) * 1997-05-17 1998-11-18 Barkston Plastics Display Limited Abgabevorrichtung
WO1999018830A1 (en) * 1997-10-10 1999-04-22 L & P Property Management Company Shelf assembly

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4898300A (en) * 1988-06-06 1990-02-06 Shell Containers, Inc. Molded closeable bin having a shaped hopper
EP0408400A1 (de) * 1989-07-14 1991-01-16 P.M. Crafts Ltd. Regalsysteme
EP0878152A1 (de) * 1997-05-17 1998-11-18 Barkston Plastics Display Limited Abgabevorrichtung
WO1999018830A1 (en) * 1997-10-10 1999-04-22 L & P Property Management Company Shelf assembly

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2003101258A1 (en) * 2001-03-16 2003-12-11 Kleerex Patents Limited A product merchandising apparatus
WO2003005863A1 (en) * 2001-07-09 2003-01-23 Kleerex Patents Limited Shelf management systems
FR2851441A1 (fr) * 2003-02-26 2004-08-27 Media 6 Gestion Organe support de presentation de marchandises et dispositif de presentation pour la mise en oeuvre de tels organes
FR2962243A1 (fr) * 2010-07-01 2012-01-06 Saunier Conseil Distributeur d'articles destine a contenir, presenter et distribuer une succession d'articles et presentoir pour articles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9903791D0 (en) 1999-04-14
EP1029475A3 (de) 2001-02-28
GB2346874A (en) 2000-08-23

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