Not applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pusher assembly supported on a store shelf, and more particularly but not by way of limitation, to a pusher assembly for feeding a row of merchandise forward through a merchandise bay of the pusher assembly as merchandise at the front of a row or column of merchandise is removed. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a pusher assembly mounted on a store shelf such that the pusher assembly is selectively movable between a retracted position and an extended position.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Products or merchandise of various types and sizes are commonly stored on shelves in retail and wholesale outlets so that customers can see the product or merchandise and select product or merchandise for purchase. In some instances, the shelves are inclined downwardly from the rear of the shelf to the front of the shelf so that the merchandise can be gravity fed to the front of the shelf. However, the use of downwardly inclined shelves is often unsatisfactory because the merchandise at times does not slide smoothly down the shelf and the merchandise can fall over, thereby jamming the row or column of merchandise from feeding properly or causing the merchandise to be discharged onto the floor. Also, customers may have difficulty in viewing merchandise on lower shelves when the shelves are downwardly inclined.
To overcome this problem, various prior art devices have been proposed for use on store shelves for feeding merchandise to the front of the shelf as merchandise is removed from the shelf. In most instances, spring loaded pusher systems have been employed. However, many of the prior art spring loaded pusher systems have suffered from the disadvantage in that it is difficult to adjust such spring loaded pusher systems so that such systems can accommodate merchandise of different sizes and weight, and it is difficult to load such spring loaded pusher systems with merchandise. In addition, the prior art pusher systems have suffered from the inability to stack merchandise within the merchandise bay or product receiving space of such systems because of the restricted distance between adjacent shelves.
Thus, a need exists for an improved pusher assembly which can be readily adjusted to accommodate merchandise of different sizes and weight, which enhances loading of merchandise into merchandise bays of the pusher assembly, which permits stacking of merchandise in the merchandise bays of the pusher assembly, which is economical to manufacture, and which is substantially maintenance free. It is to such a pusher assembly that the present invention is directed.
FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway pictorial representation of a pusher assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the pusher assembly of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the pusher assembly of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a pictorial representation of a pusher plate assembly of the pusher assembly of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the pusher assembly of FIG. 1.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, shown therein is a pusher assembly 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The pusher assembly 10 functions to feed a row of merchandise or product forward on a store shelf as merchandise or product at the front of the row of merchandise is removed by a customer. The pusher assembly 10 includes a pusher frame 12 and a pusher plate assembly 14. The pusher frame 12 is characterized as having a front end 16, a rear end 18, a first sidewall 20, a spatially disposed second sidewall 22, a product receiving space 24 formed between the first and second sidewalls 20 and 22 for receiving a row of merchandise or product 26, and a base assembly 28. The pusher assembly 10 may be constructed of any material having sufficient strength and durability to enable the pusher assembly 10 to function in the manner described herein. Suitable materials include metals such as aluminum, steel, titanium, magnesium or alloys containing these metals. Other suitable materials for construction include plastics, polymeric materials, and other composite materials. The pusher assembly 10 may be any size provided that the pusher assembly 10 functions in the manner described herein.
