In order to best present bulk material, especially bulk foods such as candy, coffee, dry goods, nuts, etc., bins are used that can hold a large amount of the material, while still keeping the material fresh. There are generally two kinds of bins for this purpose: gravity and scoop. Traditional display systems for holding the bins include either a plurality of shelves or a bookshelf type device. In order to clean and/or refill the bins, typically a worker has to manually take the entire bin out of the display system, clean and/or refill it, and then place it back in the display system.

A problem with this is that bins can be located high off the ground or they can be placed in very close proximity to one another. In either case, it can be very difficult and cumbersome to access the bins. Quite often bins can be damaged when they are removed to be cleaned and/or refilled. Also, because these bins are hard to access, workers may wait until several bins are dirty and/or empty to clean or refill the bins. This can lead to an unattractive display or old and stale food in the display. In either case, the end result can be dissatisfied customers and lost sales for the store.

What is needed is a modular display system that is aesthetically pleasing that provides easy access to the food bins for filling and cleaning.

Disclosure of Invention This present invention overcomes all these above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art systems and devices.

According to the present invention there is provided a modular display system comprising first and second tiered vertical support devices, a plurality of horizontal support devices configured to couple to the vertical support devices, and a plurality of holding devices, e. g., holders or containers, configured to hold material such that the holding devices are supported by the vertical and horizontal support devices.

In a further aspect of the present invention, the plurality of holding devices comprises a plurality of gravity feed bins and a plurality of scoop bins.

In an even further aspect of the present invention, the vertical support devices include a plurality of upright support members and the horizontal support devices include a plurality of cross-supports configured to couple to the plurality of upright support members.

In a still further aspect of the present invention, the system further comprises a plurality of slide supports configured to be coupled to the cross-supports and to extend normally from the cross-supports.

Brief Description of the Drawings Further features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates from reading the following specification with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front and left-side perspective view of a bulk material display system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2A is a front and left-side perspective view of a gravity feed bin according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2B is a front and left-side perspective view of a scoop bin according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3A is a left side view of the display system of Figure 1 with an arrow indicating a direction of movement of the gravity feed bin to clean and refill it; Figure 3B is a front and right-side perspective view of the gravity feed bin and support system of Figure 3A when they are in a upright and stowed position; Figure 3C is a front and right-side view of the gravity feed bin and support of Figure 3A when they are in a partially extended position; Figure 3D is a front and right-side view of the gravity feed bin and support of Figure 3A when they are in a fully extended and service position; Figure 4A is a front and right-side perspective view of the scoop bin and left-end and central slide support of one embodiment of a display system with the scoop bin removed for cleaning and refilling; Figure 4B is a exploded view of part of the scoop bin central slide support of Figure 4A attached to a vertical rail for mounting to gondola type shelving; Figure 5A is a top and right-side view of the central slide support in Figure 4A-B; Figure 5B is a side right side view of the central slide support in Figures 4A-4B and Figure 5A ; Figure 6A is a side view of a scoop bin according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6B is an magnified view of a section of the scoop bin in Figure 6A;

Figure 7A is a perspective view of a support system according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7B is a exploded view of a cross bean according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 is a exploded view of a shelf system according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figures 9-10 are views of alternative arrangements of the system shown in Figure 1.

Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention Figure 1 illustrates a modular bulk material display system 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In this first embodiment, this modular display system 10 is configured to hold a plurality of gravity feed bins 12 and a plurality of scoop bins 14.

The system 10 includes first and second tiered vertical support devices 16 (Figure 4A), preferably upright support members, such as side supports 18 that are located outside of the tiered support devices 16, and laminate end panels 20 that can be connected to the side support devices 18. The system 10 further includes a plurality of horizontal support devices 22 (Figures 4A-4B), which are preferably cross-supports or cross-bars, a rectangular top panel 24 that connects to the side supports 18 (Figures 3B-3C), and a bottom portion 26.

As seen in Figures 2A-2B, more detailed views of the gravity feed bin 12 and scoop bin 14 are shown. The gravity feed bin 12 is preferably a gravity feed bin manufacture by Trade Fixtures, Inc. as taught in co-pending application SN./to James Elmore, filed , 2000, entitled"Bulk Food Dispensing Apparatus", which is incorporated herein by reference. Further examples of gravity feed bins are found in U. S. Design Pat. Nos.

D413,767 and D414, 078 all to Elmore, the inventor of the present invention, which are incorporated herein by reference.

With reference to Figures 3A-3C, a swinging support device 28 is shown. This swinging support device 28 is preferably a scissors support utilized to support the gravity feed bins 12 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The swinging support device 28 includes a base 30, a top arm 32, a bottom arm 34, a swinging support connecting device 36, and a counter balancing device 38, such as a gas strut or spring mechanism.

During use, the base 30 is operatively connected between a first end of the top arm 32, bottom arm 34, and counter balancing device 38 of the swinging support device 28 and the top surface of the rectangular top panel 24. Preferably, the base 30 is attached to the top surface of the rectangular panel 24 through known means, such as a nut and bolt system, clamps, or adhesive. A second end of the counter balancing device 38 is operatively connected to the bottom arm 34. Second ends of the top arm 32 and bottom arm 34 are operatively connected to the swinging support connecting device 36.

With continuing reference to Figures 3A-3D, the swinging support connecting device 36 connects the swinging support device 32 to the gravity feed bin 12 through the use of a plurality of extensions 40 that extend normal to the side, rear surface of the gravity feed bin 12. This connection is made between the extensions 40 and the swinging support connecting device 36 by sliding the extensions 40 through openings 42 and 44 in the swinging support connecting device and then allowing the extensions to come to rest on the swinging support connecting device. Preferably, though the use of the plurality of extensions 40, the gravity feed bin 12 can be positioned at various vertical positions relative to the top surface of rectangular panel 24 based on which the extensions are engaged with the swinging support connecting device 36.

Turning now to Figures 4A-4B and 5A-5B, the connection between the horizontal support devices 22 and the tiered vertical support devices 16 is shown in more detail. The horizontal support devices 22 include a horizontal top bar 46, two vertical sidebars 47, and a horizontal bottom bar 48. The top and bottom bars 46 and 48, respectively, are connected together at a point adjacent their ends through a connection with the side bars 47, as is known in the art. This connection could be with nuts and bolts, welding, adhesives, clamps, or any other well-known connecting device that will serve the same function.

To connect the horizontal support device 22 to the vertical support device 16, a connecting device such as the finger type extensions shown at 50, extending normally from the back surface of the side bar 47 is inserted through and lowered into elongated openings 52 that are formed in the vertical support devices 16. Through this configuration, the horizontal support devices 22 are locked to one upright bar 16A of the vertical support devices 16. The horizontal support devices 22 further include openings 54 along a front surface of the bottom bar 48, and openings 56 along a top surface of the top bar 46.

Also, as shown in Figures 4A-4B and 5A-5B, during operation the scoop bins 14 are supported between two cantilevered slide supports 58, which are coupled to the horizontal support device 22. As can be seen in Figure 5B, preferably there are three forms of slide supports 58: a left-end slide support 58A, a plurality of central slide supports 58B, and a right-end slide support 58C. The central slide supports 58B are preferably I-beam type supports, and the left and right side support 58A and 58B, respectively, are preferably"C" channel type supports.

The slide supports 58 are coupled to the horizontal support devices 22 by placing support extension 60 over top bar 46 so that extensions 62 and 64 are inserted into corresponding openings 54 and 56, respectively. Since the openings 56 and 54 are located

along the top and bottom bars 46 and 48, respectively, the sliding supports 58 can be positioned so as to allow scoop bins 14 to be located at a wide number of positions along the bar.

The scoop bins 14 further include slide channels 66 and guiding blocks 68 located on either side of the bins. Through use of the slide channels 66 on the scoop bins 14, the scoop bins can easily slide along a sliding surface 70 on the slide supports 58, where they will come to a stop at stopping device 67. Also, by utilizing the guiding blocks 68, which are preferably blocks molded into the bin and located adjacent one end of the slide channels 66, the scoop bin 14 can be slideably engaged to the slide support 58 during use by operators. Hence, the scoop bins 14 can be pulled out of the modular display system 10 for maintenance with minimal effort and then slideably returned to an operating position for use by customers.

With reference again to Figure 1, service positions of the gravity feed bin 12 and the scoop bin 10 can be seen. The gravity feed bin 12 is lowered through the stages shown sequentially in Figures 3A-3C. Thus, through use of the swinging support device 28 and the slide supports 58, both the gravity feed bin 12 and the scoop bin 14 can be manipulated into service positions where an operator has no need to use additional equipment to access the bins'interiors. Then, the bins 12 and 14 can be cleaned and/or refilled with dispensable materials. Accordingly, the chance for damaging the bins 12 and 14 during this cleaning and/or refilling procedure is substantially reduced or completely eliminated. When the gravity feed bin 12 is returned to its resting position, the front of the bin can be supported through use of a supporting ledge 72 connected to the rectangular top panel 24 through known means, or through use of a lip 74 extending from the bottom of the bin near the front opening, or both.

Turning to Figures 6A-B, there is shown a scoop bin 14'and sliding support 58' according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As can be best seen in Figure 6B, the slide channel 66'on the scoop bin 14'has an extension 100 whose edge 102 is formed as a lip. This lip edge 102 interacts with a lips 104 and 106 on the slide support 58' so that the scoop bin 14'does not exhibit any lateral movement while being extended or while in a stored position. These lips 102-106 help to stabilized the scoop bin 14'so that there is less chance for a spill during refill and/or cleaning and less chance of damage during storage through interaction with other bins.

With reference to Figures 7A-B, a system 120 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. This system 120 includes two vertical supports 122A-B, a base support 124, and horizontal support devices 126 (only one is shown for convenience).

Preferably, the horizontal support devices are cross-supports or cross-bars. The two vertical supports are interconnected through use of a cross-bracing system 128. In this second embodiment, the horizontal support device 126 comprises three parts: first and second end brackets 130A-B and longitudinal section 132. As can best be seen in Figure 7B, the three pieces of the cross beam 126 are interconnected by sliding and locking extensions 134A-B, 136A-B, and 138A-B into openings 140A-B and 142A-B, respectively, as shown. Then, the assembled horizontal support devices 124 is connected to the vertical supports 122A-B by inserting and securing extensions 144A-B into openings in the vertical supports. By using this alternative horizontal support devices arrangement instead of the welded one piece horizontal support devices 22 in the first embodiment the horizontal support device 126 can easily be disassembled for shipping, which saves on both shipping space and cost.

Now turning to Figure 8, a second embodiment of the shelf 24 is shown. In this embodiment side panels 150 can be adjusted forward and backward along the ends panels 152

of the shelf 24. This is accomplished through the interconnection of openings 154 located on the end panels 152 and extensions 156 located near the top of an inside surface 158 of the side panels 150. In this configuration, an appearance of the system 10 or 100 can be adjusted to any one desired by a storeowner to best display the bulk material.

It is to be appreciated that in alternative arrangements various configurations of numbers and locations of gravity feed bins 12, scoop bins 14 as well as other bin types can be used in the modular display system 10 to display bulk material without departing from the scope of the present invention. For examples, the alternative arrangements shown in Figures 9-10. This can be done to adjust the modular display system 10 to accommodate the size of the store or the types of bulk materials being displayed and sold. Further, in more alternative arrangements the gravity feed bins 12 and scoop bins 14 can be configured in various sizes to enable the modular display system 10 to accommodate any sized bulk material being sold.

It is also to be appreciated in other alternative arrangements a base support that is captively engaged with the bottom, sides, and back of the gravity feed bin 12 in a known manner, such as through adhesives or mechanical attachments, can be used as a support device in place of the swinging support device 28. In even further alternative arrangements different areas of system 10 that are shown to be comprised of bins 12 and 14 in the preferred embodiment can be comprised of pasta holders, scales, compartments with doors or front openings, or any known style of bag holding device. Thus, this system 10 is versatile enough to be reconfigured to accommodate a very broad range of bulk materials that are sold.

From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications in the invention. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.