IE20080461U1 - A bottle merchandising unit - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT A merchandising unit (1) for displaying and dispensing beverage bottles comprises a support framework (3) and a plurality of bottle guides (4) adapted to support a row of flanged bottles which are suspended by their neck flanges. The bottle guides (4) are each formed from a rod that is shaped to provide rails (41) and an exit point in the form of a loop (42) so that a bottle neck can enter and exit said guide. The guides also comprise stopper means (43) that deter bottles from inadvertently falling from the merchandising unit. The merchandising unit further comprises a plurality of retaining members (35) adapted to detachably receive display boards (38a,38b) which are mountable to the merchandising unit.

Description

The present invention relates to a point of sale merchandising unit for the display and dispensing of beverage bottles. In particular, the present invention relates to a merchandising unit for the sale of plastic beverage bottles having a flange or ring on the bottle neck.

Such merchandising units are known from the prior art. GB 2 325 462A discloses a bottle merchandising unit having a support framework comprising a plurality of guides which support bottles by the neck, the guides being inclined to gravity feed bottles to an exit where spring loaded jaws retain the bottles in the guide but which deflect to allow the foremost bottled to be pulled from the guide. US 6,360,901 B discloses a merchandising display device having elongate tracks for supporting rows of bottles having flanged necks, the tracks comprising detachable spaced apart rails which are mounted to a track body and which engage with the undersides of the flanges on the bottle necks.

These prior art display devices are complex in construction and operation and comprise numerous interconnecting parts which make them expensive to manufacture and to maintain. Their complex assembly not only results in overly robust display devices that are difficult to transport from between different floor locations but which are also visually unappealing.

It is a therefore an object of the present invention to alleviate the disadvantages associated with the prior art and which will provide the public and/or industry with a useful alternative.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a merchandising unit for displaying and dispensing beverage bottles comprising a support framework and a plurality of bottle guides that are adapted to support a row of flanged bottles which are suspended by their neck flanges, the bottle guides comprising a rod are formed from a rod that is shaped to provide substantially parallel rails which merge into a loop, the loop having lower ends which diverge outwardly from the rails such that the diameter of the loop is greater than the spacing between the rails so that an exit is provided by the loop through which a bottle neck can enter and exit the guide. ’ Advantageously, the loop and its lower ends which diverge from the rails are arranged at an upwardly inclined angle so as to act as a stopper which hinders the progress of any bottle that tends to slide off the rails via the loop. Conveniently, this ensures that a bottle can only be removed from the merchandising unit manually, the bottle being pulled along the rails towards the loop where the hindering effect of the inclined lower ends is easily overcome by a gentle pulling force exerted by a person holding the bottle.

Ideally, the bottle guides are suspended from cross members on the support framework by means of mounting plates which attach to the outsides of the rails so that bottles can be suspended on, and slid along, the guide without being impeded by said mounting plates.

Conveniently, the mounting plates ensure that rails are maintained substantially parallel to one another without spreading apart under load.

Advantageously, separate bottle guides can be arranged with their respective rails placed end-to—end to form a single elongate track having an exit at each end and which extends from the front to the rear of the merchandising unit thereby allowing bottles to be loaded onto, or removed from, both sides of the merchandising unit.

Preferably, the merchandising unit is provided with a plurality of display board retaining members which are adapted to detachably receive display boards which are mountable to the merchandising unit.

Ideally, the display board retaining members each comprise a substantially planar member having convergent lips formed along each longitudinal edge, the lips arranged to provide channels which engage the respective longitudinal edges of a display board which are wedged therein.

Advantageously, the display board retaining members further comprise outwardly projecting end plates having an arcuate periphery with a radius corresponding to the radius of curvature which a display board assumes when mounted to said retaining member.

Ideally, the end plates are provided with a retaining tab which prevents the display board from bowing outwardly and from being slid longitudinally from, or being pulled away from, the retaining member once mounted thereon.

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent form the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example only. a merchandising unit in accordance with the invention.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is an isometric illustration of a merchandising unit according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded isometric illustration of the merchandising unit shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the merchandising unit; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the merchandising unit; and Fig. 5 is a detailed illustration of a bottle guide according to the invention.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2, a merchandising unit 1 for displaying and dispensing beverage bottles 2 comprises a support framework 3 and a plurality of bottle guides 4 that are mounted to the support framework.

Framework 3 comprises a base 30 from which spaced apart uprights 31 extend, the uprights being interconnected by cross members 32, top bar 33 and brace members 34 which are connected to the uprights by welding or other suitable means. Similarly, uprights 31 are connected to base 30 by welding or other suitable means. Uprights 31, cross members 32 and top bar 33 each comprise a stainless steel members having a substantially rectangular box-section.

Referring to Figure 5, bottle guides 4, which are suspended below cross members 32 on mounting plates 32a (Figure 1), comprise a rod that is formed to provide a single component comprising substantially parallel rails 41 which merge into an upwardly angled loop 42, the loop having lower ends 43 which diverge outwardly from the parallel rails such that the diameter of the loop is greater than the spacing between the parallel rails so that an exit is provided by the loop through which a bottle neck can enter and exit the guide. Loop 42 and its lower ends 43 which diverge from the rails 41 are arranged at an upwardly inclined angle so as to act as a stopper which hinders the progress of any bottle that might tend to inadvertently slide off the rails via the loop 42. This ensures that a bottle can only be removed from the merchandising unit manually, the bottle being pulled along the rails towards the loop where the hindering effect of the inclined lower ends 43 is easily overcome by a gentle pulling force exerted by the person holding the bottle.

Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, mounting plates 32a attach to the outsides of the rails 41 so that bottles can be suspended on, and slid along, the guide 4 without being impeded by said mounting plates. By suspending two bottle guides 4 from a mounting plate with their respective rails placed end-to-end a single elongate track extending from the front to the rear of the merchandising unit 1 can be formed. In this arrangement an exit is provided at each end of the track by which bottles can conveniently be loaded onto, or removed from, both sides and the merchandising unit. Conveniently, the number of bottles which can be suspended from the guides is thereby maximised as the portion of the guides proximate the mounting plates 32a and below the cross members 32 remains useable. The provision of mounting plates 32a which attach to the outsides of the rails 41 also ensures that rails are maintained substantially parallel to one another without spreading apart under load.

The simple construction of bottle guides 4 which are formed from a single rod allows for inexpensive manufacture and provides guides which are readily scalable for use with flanged bottles of various sizes.

The merchandising unit is further provided with a plurality of display board retaining members 35 (Figure 2) which are adapted to detachably receive display boards 38a, 38b which are mountable along the sides and across top of the merchandising unit, respectively. Display boards 38a, 38b are made from resilient sheet plastics material which in use take up a substantially curved profile. Each display board retaining member comprises a substantially planar member having convergent lips 36 formed along each longitudinal edge, the lips arranged to provide channels which engage the respective longitudinal edges of a display board 38a, 38b which are wedged therein. Each display board retaining member 35 further comprises outwardly projecting end plates 37 having an arcuate periphery 37a (Figure 1) with a radius corresponding to the radius of curvature which a display board assumes once mounted to said retaining member 35. A retaining tab 39 provided on each end plate 37 ensures that the display board 38a, 38b is prevented from being slid longitudinally from, or being pulled away from, the retaining member 35 when mounted thereon.

Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, fascia plates 50, which are adapted for attachment across the ends of adjacent bottle guides 4 by means of beak-like formations 51 or other suitable retaining means that engage with loops 42 of said bottle guides, are provided on the merchandising unit 1. Wheels 60 provided on the underside of base 30 enable the unit 1 to be moveable between locations even when empty or when laden with a full complement of merchandise.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciate that additions and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. A merchandising unit for displaying and dispensing beverage bottles comprising a support framework and a plurality of bottle guides adapted to support a row of flanged bottles which are suspended by their neck flanges, wherein the bottle guides are formed from a rod that is shaped to provide substantially parallel rails which merge into a loop, the loop having lower ends which diverge outwardly from the rails such that the diameter of the loop is greater than the spacing between the rails so that an exit is provided by the loop through which a bottle neck can enter and exit the guide.

2. A merchandising unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the loop and its lower ends are arranged at an upwardly inclined angle so as to act as a stopper which hinders the progress of any bottle that tends to slide off the rails via the loop.

3. A merchandising unit as claimed in Claim 1 or in Claim 2, wherein the bottle guides are suspended from cross members on the support framework by means of mounting plates which attach to the outsides of the rails so that bottles can be suspended on, and slid along, the guide without being impeded by said mounting plates, the mounting plates being arranged to ensure that rails are maintained substantially parallel to one another without spreading apart under load and to provide a means by which separate bottle guides are held with their respective rails placed end-to-end to form a single elongate track having an exit at each end and which extends from the front to the rear of the merchandising unit thereby allowing bottles to be loaded onto, or removed from, both sides of said merchandising unit.

4. A merchandising unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the unit is provided with a plurality of display board retaining members which are adapted to detachably receive display boards which are mountable to the merchandising unit, the display board retaining members each comprise a substantially planar member having convergent lips formed along each longitudinal edge, the lips arranged to provide channels which engage the respective longitudinal edges of a display board which are wedged therein.

5. A merchandising unit for displaying and dispensing beverage bottles as herein described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.