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Track unit with removable partitionsRelated Patent Categories: Supports: Racks, Elements, Adjustable PartitionsTrack unit with removable partitions description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060237384, Track unit with removable partitions. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a display track unit for display and dispensing one-at-a-time the lead article in a line of articles on a display track, and more particularly to such a display unit operable with insertable and removable partitions for varying the widths of the display tracks therein. [0002] Display shelves are commonly found in stores, supermarkets and the like for the display of articles available for sale. The display shelf may be flat, in which case there may be a spring-loaded pusher unit to push the displayed articles forward as each foremost (lead) article is purchased and removed, or inclined, in which case, as each lead article is removed the remainder of the articles move forwardly under the influence of gravity (such inclined shelves typically being known as "gravity-feed shelves"). Depending upon the type of articles to be displayed, the display shelf may be disposed on a counter or table top (for example, where the articles for display are batteries, film, or other dry, canned, boxed or bagged food and consumer articles commonly sold at room temperature) or on a supporting tray in a refrigeration unit (for example, where the articles are bottles or cans of beer, soda, milk or other articles commonly sold chilled). The display shelf may consist of a single track or channel but more commonly consists of a plurality of such tracks disposed side-by-side in either a fixed or releasable relationship. [0003] Rather than the manufacturer of the tracks having to manufacture and store a variety of tracks of different widths--each track being suited only for articles of a given width--it has become more common to provide a display track which has as wide a floor as possible (considering the width of a typical store shelf) with a fixed longitudinally-extending side panel on each extreme lateral end thereof. The track assembly is sold with a plurality of insertable and removable partitions which are adapted to be reasonably received by the track in an upright longitudinally-extending orientation intermediate and parallel to the side panels. Track manufacturers have developed a wide variety of different fastening mechanisms which enable the partitions to be so releasably fastened upon the track. The insertable and removable partitions form with one another (or with the fixed side panels) track paths or lanes which have a width selectable by the retailer to accommodate the particular articles to be displayed and dispensed. [0004] Increasingly, articles are being sold not just as single units possessed of a single unit width, but in "packs" (packages) which themselves contain two articles or two lines of articles, side by side, so that the pack is generally of double unit width. Clearly, such packs may contain four, six, eight or even more articles disposed in two parallel rows. Providing multiple articles in a single pack encourages the consumer to purchase the pack either in the belief that a volume discount in unit price is associated therewith or simply because it is easier to handle such a preformed pack than a number of individual articles. Articles commonly sold in packs range from batteries to paper towels and toilet paper, with the most prominent articles simply being beverages such as soda cans, soda bottles or the like sold as "two-packs," "four-packs," "six-packs," etc., depending on how deep the two lane pack. [0005] As used herein and in the claims, the term "product" refers to an article of single or unit width, while the term "pack" refers to an article of double unit width, that is, substantially twice the single or unit width. [0006] The products and packs in the lanes or paths defined by the various partitions tend to topple off the front of their display tracks or, in display cabinets with front doors, to slide too far forward and lie against the front door, ready to fall as soon as the front door is opened. Thus, the use of insertable and removable partitions introduces a new problem--namely, the provision of a stop means to prevent both products and packs from falling off the forward edge of the display track. [0007] One object of the present invention is to provide a kit for a display and dispenser track assembly for dispensing products of single unit width, packs of double unit width, or simultaneously alternately such products and packs. Such a track assembly may dispense only the products of single width, only the packs of double width, or simultaneously alternately products from a single width lane and packs from a double width lane. [0008] Another object is to provide such an assembly wherein there are different types of stop means for the products and for the packs, the stop means for the products not interfering with the stop means for the packs, and vice versa. [0009] A further object is to provide such assembly wherein the track contains stop means for the packs, and the stop means for the products are provided with the insertable and removable partitions used to convert pack lanes into product lanes. [0010] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a kit for such an assembly which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble and use. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] It has now been found that the above and related objects of the present invention are obtained in a kit for a display and dispenser track assembly for dispensing products of single width, packs of double width, or simultaneously alternately products and packs. The kit comprises a display track defining a plurality of fixed partitions, each adjacent pair of the fixed partitions establishing therebetween a single pack path of double width and at least one insertable and removable partition receivable on the display track, each such received insertable and removable partition converting a single pack path into two adjacent product paths of single width. The fixed partitions and the received insertable and removable partitions on the display track establish between adjacent partitions paths of optionally variable widths selected from the group consisting of product paths of single width, pack paths of double width and combinations thereof. Each insertable and removable partition including a pair of oppositely directed hoop stops at the front end thereof for barring the lead product in each of two adjacent product paths on opposite sides of the received insertable and removable partition from falling off the front of the display track. The display track including an upstanding stop at the front of each pack path for barring the lead pack thereon from falling off the front of the display track. [0012] In a preferred embodiment, when a received one of the insertable and removable partitions converts a single pack path into two adjacent product paths, the upstanding stop at the front of the single pack path does not bar easy removal of the lead products from the two adjacent product paths. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING [0013] The above objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of the presently preferred, albeit illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein: [0014] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the track assembly of the present invention with a single pack path and two product paths; [0015] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the track assembly illustrating an insertable and removable partition in the process of being received by a pack path and converting the pack path into two product paths; and [0016] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the pack assembly of FIG. 2 after the insertable and removable partition has been received. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0017] Referring now to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, therein illustrated is a track assembly according to the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the track assembly 10 defines a pack lane generally designated 12 and two adjacent product lanes, each generally designated 14. The pack lane 12 supports a line of double width packs 16 (illustrated as four-packs), and each product lane 14 supports a line of single width products 18 (illustrated as cylindrical cans). Thus the particular track assembly illustrated in FIG. 1 is designed for dispensing simultaneously alternate products and packs--that is, a pack 16 from line 12 and a product 18 from each of the two product lines 14. [0018] While FIG. 1 illustrates the track assembly 10 configured for simultaneously alternately dispensing products 18 and packs 16, the kit of the present invention, generally designated 20, may alternatively be a track assembly 10 configured to provide exclusively products paths 14 (e.g., 4 product paths) or exclusively pack paths 12 (e.g., 2 pack paths). [0019] Depending upon the manufacturer's estimate of the probable configuration of the track assembly 10 to be used by the retailers and the assembly costs, and the packaging and shipping costs, the kit 20 may be sold to retailers pre-configured with pack and product lines 12, 14 (as illustrated in FIG. 3) or simply provided with the insertable and removable partitions 22 in place so that there are only pack lanes 12 initially defined. Indeed, the provision of the insertable and removable partitions 22 may be an optional feature, provided only upon request of the retailer and possibly at an additional charge to the retailer. [0020] Referring now to FIG. 2 in particular, the display track assembly 10 comprises a display track generally designated 30. The display track 30 itself defines a pair of fixed partitions 32 (which function as the extreme lateral sidewalls for the track assembly 10) and one or more fixed partitions 34 (only one being shown) intermediate the sidewall partitions 32 (which function to divide the track assembly 10 into pack lanes 12). It will be appreciated that, by themselves, the fixed partitions 32, 34 define two adjacent pack paths 12 (the number of pack paths defined being one less than the total number of fixed partitions 32, 34). Continue reading about Track unit with removable partitions... Full patent description for Track unit with removable partitions Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Track unit with removable partitions patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Track unit with removable partitions or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Display with variable configuration Next Patent Application: Logging carriage with towline-operated grapple Industry Class: Supports: racks ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Track unit with removable partitions patent info. 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