BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to manual shelf management systems, and more specifically to a space saving, manual, modular, containing and laterally supporting, shelf management system.

[0003] 2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0004] In stores, for example grocery stores, that display products for sale on shelves it is necessary to continually replenish products on the shelves so that a constant supply of product is maintained for sale to customers. This replenishment process is called stocking or restocking. Further, it is necessary to continually move the products from the rear to the front of the shelf so that customers can more readily see and select those items that they desire. The movement of products towards the front of the shelf is called "facing" or "fronting." It is also essential that the products be arranged laterally (side-to-side) as closely as possible to conserve limited and valuable lateral shelf space, and thereby maximize the products that can be displayed and sold.

[0005] If the products are hidden at the rear of the shelf or if an insufficient depth of the shelf is utilized and the product is thereby more readily exhausted, or if the products are in disarray, potential product sales are lost. Stocking new products on store shelves historically requires significant time and effort. Products must be individually positioned on the shelves in straight rows, and sometimes product containers are stacked one on top of the other adding to the difficulty for the worker. Stocking becomes a taxing exercise in finesse and physical exertion, especially when stocking low or high shelves. The process of "rotation", where older items are brought to the front of the shelf and newer items placed in the rear, historically has required that every item in a product row be individually handled and repositioned when that row is stocked.

[0006] Products are occasionally moved to a different location of the store altogether, called "resetting" of the products. Ordinarily all of these so-called "shelf conditioning" tasks described above require the handling of each individual item (e.g. each soup can). This piece- by-piece handling of items is time-consuming, imprecise, creates fatigue for store personnel and impedes the proper completion of some shelf conditioning tasks. [0007] The prior art has addressed some of these issues relating to shelf management and developed relatively complex shelf management machines to advance rows of products on a shelf. These shelf management devices are generally complex with multiple parts, are expensive, and involve a complicated installation. Further, some of these prior art devices occupy an objectionable amount of lateral shelf space and thereby do not maximize the amount of lateral shelf space available for display.

[0008] U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,703,987; 2,652,154; 4,300,693; 4,830,201; 5,123,546; 5,542,552; 6,357,606; 7,086,541 and 7,168,579 disclose complex mechanisms for advancing product rows which, in general, provide a spring-biased backstop which constantly and automatically forces the products from the rear toward the front of the shelf. While these so- called "spring-loaded" devices are generally effective for managing light-weight merchandise (e.g. packages of panty hose) they are generally not effective when used for heavier items (e.g. jars of pasta sauce). They are also complex with combined plastic and metal construction and are relatively costly. Additionally, the constantly biased backstop can increase the difficulty of restocking the shelves, as in all of these arrangements the spring-biased backstop must be pushed back with one hand while the new products are positioned on the shelf. Further, the springs can lose their tension over time rendering the system less effective or ineffective.

[0009] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,160,051, 6,082,556 and 7,854,333 disclose shelf management systems that utilize an inclined shelf where products are urged to the front of the shelf by force of gravity. These so-called "gravity fed" systems will not operate with existing flat shelves; rather, the existing shelving is removed and new inclined shelves are installed. A time- consuming and costly installation process is required that involves wholesale removal of existing store shelving and installation of new shelving.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,116 discloses a "gravity fed" shelf management system that installs on existing flat supermarket shelving. While effective in merchandising cans, this system is less effective for jars and will not work for boxes or other non-round packages. It also requires special vertical shelf spacing and may occupy an objectionable amount of lateral space. This system is complex and is relatively expensive.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,042,096 discloses a shelf management system having a "pusher" disposed behind the row of products with side members tying the pusher to a pull handle at the front of the shelf and to confine the row of objects laterally in alignment. A rail is disposed at the front of the shelf to prevent objects from falling off the shelf as the pusher is drawn forward by the handle. A resilient member disposed behind the pusher returns it and the handle to normal position after being drawn forward by a pull on the handle. The system does not present a compact shelf management solution and incorporates a significant number of components including a return spring that is subject to fatigue and failure. The accumulated thicknesses of the side members, which stack laterally against one another, consume too much lateral shelf space and selling space is lost. The system is not adjustable to allow product packages of different widths to be accommodated. The system is not bottom-supporting and does not provide for a modular tray apparatus which allows for easy repositioning of an entire product row and therefore does not allow for rapid product re-setting.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 2,079,754 discloses a complex arrangement with multiple parts which combines the dispensing of the products with the movement of the products toward the front of the shelf. The side members are arranged in a laterally stacking fashion such that the accumulated thicknesses of the side members combine to consume too much lateral shelf space. Selling space on the shelf is thereby lost. Multiple parts of this complex system include a detached "floating" backstop as well as a separate pulling and article receiving component that is manually operated for product movement and dispensing. The system is not bottom- supporting and does not provide a modular tray apparatus that allows for easy repositioning of an entire product row and therefore does not allow for rapid product re-setting.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 2,098,844 discloses a shelf management system that forms a product supporting tray within which the product can be advanced. This is a complex, multi- piece system that requires installation of components both on the top and on the underside of the shelf such that most standard store shelves would have to be replaced with custom- designed shelves to accommodate this system. Further, because the side members of the frames of this system laterally stack against one another, the accumulation of the combined thicknesses of the side members consumes too much lateral shelf area. Similar to the deficiencies with some systems described above, lateral selling space on the shelf is lost. The system does not provide for a modular tray apparatus which allows for easy repositioning of an entire product row and therefore does not allow for rapid product re-setting.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,719,151 and US Published Patent Application Number 2004/ 0178158 disclose a wire frame shelf management system that provides a manual open bottom shelf management system. The system is designed primarily to fit under the open, concave rounded edges at the base of certain products (e.g. jars of pickles) and fails to provide lateral support for the products. This lack of lateral support can result in products moving to the left or right or even tipping over during advancement creating significant problems during product movement. In an alternative embodiment wedge-shaped dividers are provided which offer limited lateral support; further, in this embodiment, if the system is filled with products that do not have rounded edges at the base, the wedge-shaped dividers will laterally stack side -to-side causing the accumulated thicknesses of these dividers to consume objectionable lateral selling space. In its preferred embodiment this system fails to provide lateral product support. In a still further embodiment the system employs wedge-shaped dividers that stack side-to-side thereby consuming valuable lateral selling space. The system does not provide for a modular tray apparatus which allows for easy repositioning of an entire product row and therefore does not allow for rapid product re-setting.

[0015] U.S. Patent No. 7,124,897 discloses an assembly deployed on a complex multi- piece platform and features a base divided into rows with dividers. For each row there is a manually-operated pusher mechanism in the form of a rectangular wire device with a front handle and a rear portion that is bent upwards to form a back-stop. The sides of the wire device ride in grooves positioned along either side of the base on which the products rest. This system is complex with both plastic and metal parts and would be relatively costly to produce. Neither the divider spacing nor the width of the fronting mechanism is adjustable; therefore this system cannot be adapted in a retail store to accommodate products that differ in width from those for which the system was originally designed.

[0016] U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,702,987; 5,413,229; 6,155,438; 6,227,386; and 6,923,330 disclose a variety of shelf management systems that are representative of the art. None of these systems combine a modular integral tray apparatus that allow for easy repositioning of an entire product row, substantive lateral support of merchandise, dividers that displace minimum lateral shelf space and easily accommodate variable width products.

[0017] Publication U.S. 2005/0258113 discloses, in one embodiment, a puller member where the puller runs along the side of the product row and is attached to a backstop designed to rest behind the rear-most product in the row. In one embodiment the puller and backstop operates within the confines of a sleeve where the sleeve provides product row separation and provides product lateral support. In one embodiment the sleeve is combined with the puller and backstop and is filled with products to form a shelf ready package. In an additional embodiment the puller and backstop operates between two adjustable side dividers where the dividers provide product row separation and product lateral support. None of the embodiments provide for a combination of a modular integral tray apparatus, substantive lateral support of merchandise, dividers that displace minimum lateral shelf space and easily accommodate variable width products. In none of the embodiments is the side divider integrated with the backstop to form an independent fronting mechanism.

[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,015 discloses a system of product containing trays that are of a fixed, pre-determined width. The trays define the product rows and provide product row separation. The trays can be moved forward to facilitate stocking. In several embodiments an integral spring, which adds cost and increases complexity of the system, is attached to the trays and urges them back to the selling position after stocking. A puller member that is attached to a backstop operates within the individual trays. The puller slides underneath the products and therefore itself provides no product row separation and no product lateral support. The puller and backstop are of a fixed width and are not adjustable to accommodate products of different widths.

[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,621 discloses a system of product row divider panels where a drawbar puller with attached backstop is integral to each divider panel and the drawbar moves in a channel forward and backward along the length of the divider panel. The divider panels are stationary with respect to movement between the front and back of the shelf, although the divider panels can be adjusted laterally to positions relative to adjacent divider panels to fit products of varying widths. The drawbar does not, independent of the divider panel, separate the product rows nor does the drawbar provide lateral support to the products independently of the divider panel. The system operates within a modular frame which obliges the store to adopt the system in increments of more than one product row which reduces its flexibility and requires a time consuming installation process. The system does not provide for a modular tray apparatus that allows for easy repositioning of an entire product row and therefore does not allow for rapid product re-setting.

[0020] U.S. Patent No. 7,395,938 discloses a system of divider panels that slide along a rail affixed to the front shelf edge to accommodate products of varying widths. In one embodiment, a spring-biased pusher moves along the side divider to urge the displayed products forward. The system does not provide for a modular tray apparatus that allows for easy repositioning of an entire product row and therefore does not allow for rapid product resetting.

[0021] U.S. Patent No. 7,631,771 discloses a width-adjustable modular tray apparatus with a fronting device integrated into one of two opposing side dividers. This system does not allow for a minimum of lateral shelf space to be displaced because in no embodiments can a portion of the width of the products in the associated product row protrude laterally beyond the base of the tray module thereby allowing one side (the protruding side) of the products in the row to abut against the outside of a divider of an immediately adjacent unit. In all embodiments of 7,631,771 the device employs two opposing side dividers, and these dividers stack laterally side -to-side when the tray modules are deployed in a series, and this design consumes more lateral shelf space than does a design where only a single divider is positioned between product rows. In none of the embodiments does this system provide for a primary side divider to simultaneously function as a divider and fronting device.

[0022] U.S. Patent No. 5,458,248 discloses in one embodiment a platform upon which multiple rows of products might be positioned and further discloses side dividers that partition the rows of products. None of the embodiments provide for a combination of a modular integral tray apparatus that allows for easy repositioning of an entire single product row, substantive lateral support of merchandise, dividers that displace minimum lateral shelf space and easy width adjustability. In none of the embodiments is the side divider integrated with the backstop to form an independent fronting mechanism.

[0023] U.S. Patent No. 7,792,711 discloses an apparatus for electronically tracking the position of products on a retail shelf for the purpose of assisting with product ordering and alerting the store to possible theft. In the preferred embodiments, the fronting mechanism that is integrated with the electronic tracking device is a spring-biased pusher and is not manually operated. No modular tray device that allows for easy repositioning of an entire single product row is contemplated.

[0024] The above identified patents are representative of the art and these references are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. It is the object of the present invention to address the deficiencies of the prior art shelf management systems and provide a highly effective, very low-cost, easy to install and easy to use shelf management system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0025J One aspect of the present invention provides a manual, bottom supporting and side containing, shelf allocation and management system for allocating shelf space among rows of products and for moving the rows of products toward the front of the shelf. The system comprises a plurality of adjacent shelf allocating and managing units, each unit associated with at least one, and preferably one, row of products and freely moveable as a unit relative to the shelf. Each shelf allocating and managing unit is comprised of a product supporting base coupled with a side divider that is connected to the base in a fixed width position, or alternately in a variety of width positions. At least one row of products associated with the unit may be positioned on the shelf on top of the base and immediately adjacent the side divider. The shelf allocating and managing unit supports the products on the base in at least one, and preferably one product row, so that the product row may be easily moved when the unit is moved or lifted, and the units combine to provide substantive lateral support on both sides of the products at least when a side divider of the subject unit is associated with a side divider of an immediately adjacent unit.

[0026] In a further aspect of the invention, each shelf allocating and managing unit includes a backstop protruding substantially perpendicularly from the rear of the side divider and substantially across the surface of the base and behind the at least one row of products associated with the unit where, when the side divider is slideably moved forward relative to the base, the backstop may be engaged with the products and may urge them forward in a direction extending between the front and the back of the shelf and parallel to the length of the base and substantially perpendicular to the lateral length of the shelf, whereby movement of the backstop is adapted to advance the at least one row of products associated with the unit toward the front of the shelf when the side divider is drawn forward while the base remains stationary. These and other advantages of the present invention will be clarified in the description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the shelf allocation and management system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2-A is a perspective view of the shelf allocation and management system of figure 1 showing manual fronting operation of the system and showing the modular nature of the system;

[0029] Figure 2-B is an overhead plan view of the shelf allocation and management system of Figure 2-A;

[0030] Figure 3 -A is a view of a single shelf allocating and managing unit (shown without optional backstop) of a shelf allocating and managing system according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 3-B is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the single shelf allocating and managing unit of Figure 3 -A showing in detail one embodiment of a coupling mechanism between a base and a side divider of the single shelf allocating and managing unit; [0032] Figure 4-A is an exploded perspective view of the shelf allocating and managing unit of Figure 3 -A showing the base uncoupled from the side divider;

[0033] Figure 4-B is an enlarged exploded perspective view view of the shelf allocating and managing unit of Figure 4-A;

[0034] Figure 4-C is an exploded perspective view of an optional embodiment of a shelf allocating and managing unit according to another embodiment of the present invention with a coupling mechanism that allows the unit to be adjusted to various widths;

[0035] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a single shelf allocating and management unit of the shelf allocating and managing system according to another embodiment of the present invention showing one embodiment of an optional backstop attached to the side divider;

[0036] Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of a portion of the single shelf allocating and management unit of Figure 5 showing in detail the connection of the optional backstop to the side divider;

[0037] Figure 7 is perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention where the unit is configured to receive a puller and backstop assembly in a channel positioned in the lateral center of the top surface of and along the entire length of the base of the unit;

[0038] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portion of a further embodiment of the present invention where the shelf allocating and managing unit is adapted to receive a product label holder removeably attached to the front of the unit;

[0039] Figure 9 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention showing a shelf allocating and managing unit adapted to merchandise two or more product rows;

[0040] Figure 10 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention showing a side divider attachment adapted to displace extra lateral space between product rows;

[0041] Figure 11 is a view of an optional elongated backstop adapted to shorten the depth of the product row according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 12 is a perspective view showing products merchandised on two side- by-side shelf allocating and managing units configured so that one side of the products hangs off the side edge of each unit assuring that the only distance between two adjacent product rows is the thickness of the divider; [0043] Figure 13 is a perspective view of a divider uncoupled from a shelf allocating and managing unit according to one embodiment of the present invention with an optional backstop attached to the divider;

[0044] Figures 14A and B are views of further embodiments of the present invention showing an optional front strip affixed to the shelf for the purpose of preventing unwanted movement of the base;

[0045] Figure 15A is a view of a further embodiment of the present invention where a face plate is affixed to the front edge of the base; and

[0046] Figure 15B is a view of a further embodiment of the present invention where recessed legs are implemented on the base.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0047] It is noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless expressly and unequivocally limited to one referent. For the purposes of this specification, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing parameters used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about." The terms "about" or "approximate" or similar terms within this application will generally mean within 10% unless otherwise noted. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. The various embodiments and examples of the present invention as presented herein are understood to be illustrative of the present invention and not restrictive thereof and are non-limiting with respect to the scope of the invention.

[0048] The present invention provides a manual, modular, bottom supporting and side containing, shelf allocation and management system 10 for allocating shelf space along a conventional retail store shelf 12 among rows of products 14; for moving the rows of products 14 or individual products 14 from the rear or back of the shelf 12 toward the front edge of the shelf 12; and for re-setting of the rows of products 14 to alternate positions in the store. The direction of movement is standard in shelf management systems and is generally in line with the depth of and perpendicular to the lateral length of the shelf 12. The system 10 comprises a plurality of adjacent shelf allocating and managing units 20, each unit 20 associated with at least one row of products 14 and freely moveable as a unit relative to the shelf. The term manual within this application and in connection with the system 10 references that only manual movement is used in the system, as opposed to spring assisted systems or gravity assisted systems. As further described below, aspects of the present invention can be used in non-manual systems.

[0049] The system 10 includes a plurality of adjacent shelf allocating and managing units (also called managing units) 20 best shown in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3 -A, 5 and 12. Each managing unit 20 will be a multiple piece managing unit 20 the pieces of which can be formed easily as via plastic extrusion. It will be desirable for the managing unit 20 to be formed as an assembly for the purpose of allowing fronting operation in some embodiments and making the managing unit 20 adjustable in some embodiments.

[0050] Each managing unit 20 includes a base 30 coupled to a side divider 40. Each unit 20 is positioned along the depth of the shelf 12 generally extending the full effective front- to-back depth of the shelf 12 so as to maximize usable shelf space. The lengths of the base 30 and side divider 40 may be roughly equivalent. Lengths of 10"- 40" for units 20 are possible, with 14"-26" lengths for unit 20 covering the vast majority of retail shelving 12.

[0051] The base 30 lays flat on the shelf 12 which is to say that the base 30 rests on its broad bottom surface and the base 30 supports at least one row of products 14 positioned front- to-back. The products 14 rest on the top surface of the base 30, and the products 14 may be single-high or may be stacked 2-high, 3-high or more than 3-high. The base 30 rests on the shelf 12 surface but need not be attached to the shelf 12 with adhesives or fasteners. This enables the base 30 to freely slide along the shelf 12 surface to the left or to the right, which facilitates adding and removing product rows, allows side -by-side units to freely "seat" laterally with one another during installation, and also allows the unit 20 to be slid outward and removed from the shelf altogether as would be useful when products are re -positioned in the store.

[0052] As shown in figure 12, the width of the base 30 roughly corresponds to, yet preferably is somewhat narrower than, the width of the products 14 (e.g. 3.00"), and the height or thickness of the base 30 should be as small as possible to allow for features to be incorporated into the base 30 enabling coupling of the side divider 40 to the base 30 and to allow for structural integrity of the unit 20. The height or thickness of the base 30 may range from approximately 0.20" to 0.50".

[0053J As shown in Figures 4-A and 4-B, the side divider 40 is one solid piece and features an integral connecting tab 50 that runs generally the full length of the divider 40. When viewed in cross section the side divider 40 with connecting tab 50 resembles the capital letter "L" or a capital letter "L" facing backwards. When the side divider 40 is coupled to base 30 side divider 40 protrudes vertically and perpendicular from the base 30 and shelf 12. The thickness of the side divider 40 should be as small as possible while still providing structural integrity for the side divider 40. It is preferred that the thickness of the side divider 40 be at a minimum, for example 0.045", so that the least possible amount of valuable lateral shelf space is occupied by side divider 40 between rows of products 14. The height of side divider 40 should be sufficient to provide lateral support on one side of the products 14 associated with the unit 20 and should generally correspond to the height of the products 14 or stack of products 14 and may range from approximately 1.00" to approximately 12.00", with 3.00" being a typical height. The connecting tab 50 is connected to and protrudes, preferably at a 90- degree angle, from the bottom of the side divider 40 and runs along generally the full length of the side divider 40. As shown in figure 4-B, the width of the connecting tab 50 shall generally be sufficient to allow for positive coupling to the female channel 70 on the side edge of base 30 and will typically be approximately 0.75".

10054 J In a further embodiment of side divider 40, as shown in figures 3-B and 4-B, a support rail 55 extends from the corner formed by the side divider 40 and connecting tab 50 and extends in the plane of the side divider 40. The support rail 55 protrudes downward from the corner anywhere from approximately 0.050" to 0.200" or a distance roughly equivalent to the distance from the bottom surface of connecting tab 50 to the top surface of the shelf 12 when the side divider 40 is coupled to the base 30. The rail 55, which is oriented perpendicular to the plane of the connecting tab 50, runs along the full length of the side divider 40. Support rail 55 may provide bottom support for side divider 40 and contacts the shelf 12 thereby stabilizing divider 40 and helping to prevent divider 40 from being unintentionally knocked forward. In some embodiments support rail 55 may prevent connecting tab 50 from bowing downward under weight of the products 14. Support rail 55 may be eliminated as described below in connection with the embodiments of figures 14A andl4B.

[0055] As shown in figures 4A and 4B, running along and parallel to the length of the base 30, on either the left or the right side edge of the base 30, is a female opening or channel 70. In some embodiments a unit 20 will feature a channel 70 on both the left and right side edges. This channel 70 is a void that is generally the female mirror opposite of the male connecting tab 50 which protrudes from the side divider 40. The channel 70 is designed to receive the connecting tab 50 of the side divider 40 so that the base 30 and side divider 40 may be coupled together.

[0056] As shown in figures 3B and 4B, the connecting tab 50 features a barb or catch 57 that allows the tab 50 to slide into (and out of) channel 70 from either the front or back of base 30 yet prevents the tab 50, once coupled to base 30, from pulling out and away in a lateral direction from the base 30. The channel 70 on base 30 is in a shape that is effectively the mirror opposite of tab 50 and barb 57 so that the connecting tab 50 dovetails with channel 70. The channel 70 as shown includes a plurality of downward projections to create an end space to receive and laterally engage the barb 57. The channel 70 could be formed as a mirror image of the tab 50, however the use of a plurality of same thickness projections in channel 70 as shown is believed to be preferred from an extrusion or molding standpoint without detrimentally effecting the operation of the channel 70. When tab 50 is inserted into channel 70 there is not a tight fit but rather there is some "play" which allows movement of tab 50 both forward and backward within the channel 70. Side divider 40 and base 30, once coupled together, are locked in a fixed lateral position yet side divider 40 is enabled to slide freely forward and backward in a direction parallel to the length of the base 30 while the base 30 remains stationary.

[0057] The connecting tab 50 is inserted into the female channel 70 on whichever side of the base 30 that the female channel 70 is positioned. The insertion point of connecting tab 50 into female channel 70 shall be preferably from either the front end or rear end of the base 30 and not the side of base 30. Base 30, when laid flat on the shelf 12, will take the shape of an oblong rectangle having two long sides which are parallel and equivalent in length and two short sides which are parallel and equivalent in length. The front or rear of base 30 shall be defined as either of the two shorter sides of the base 30. In some embodiments, it may be possible, though not preferable, for the connecting tab 50 to be inserted into the female channel 70 from the side of the base 30.

[0058] Once the connecting tab 50 is inserted into the female channel 70 of the base 30 the side divider 40 is then slid into position so that the front end of the side divider 40 lines up with the front end of the base 30. Once the base 30 and side divider 40 are coupled together in this manner, the unit 20 is positioned on the shelf 12 so that the front of the unit 20 is positioned at the front edge of the shelf 12 and the rear of the unit 20 is positioned at the rear of the shelf 12. [0059] In a further embodiment female channel 70 will be deeper (wider) and connecting tab 50 will likewise be wider and both will be configured, possibly with mating ridges and grooves as shown in figure 4C, to allow channel 70 and connecting tab 50 to be coupled together in multiple width positions so that, when coupled to base 30, side divider 40 may be positioned at various distances from the lateral center of base 30 thereby allowing for the unit 20 to be adjusted to various width settings. In this embodiment, the unit 20 might be adjusted to, for example, three different width settings so that products of different widths might be merchandised. Once the base 30 and divider 40 are coupled to achieve a certain width setting, the divider 40 could slide freely forward and backwards relative to the base 30 in a manner identical to the non-width-adjustable embodiment.

[0060] In the embodiment of unit 20 where the divider 40 and base 30 may be coupled in a fixed width setting, products 14 of different widths would be accommodated by selecting from a variety of different base 30 widths rather than by selecting from among a variety of multiple available coupling width positions for the unit 20.

[0061] In a further embodiment, as shown in figures 5, 6 and 12 a backstop 60 is attached to the rearward end of the inside surface of side divider 40. When side divider 40 and base 30 are coupled together to form a unit 20 the backstop 60 protrudes laterally in a direction substantially across the surface of base 30. In the case, for example, where the side divider 40 is coupled to the right side of the base 30, the backstop 60 shall protrude from the side divider 40 and to the left. The purpose of backstop 60 is twofold. First, the backstop 60 shall allow products 14 associated with unit 20 to be moved forward when the side divider 40 is drawn forward while the base 30 remains stationary; second the backstop 60 shall prevent the products 14 from sliding off of the back end of the unit 20 in the case, for example, when the entire unit 20 is lifted, while full of products 14, and moved to another shelf 12 location as in the case of re-setting of the products 14.

[0062] The backstop 60 may be of variable lengths and heights and will generally correspond to the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the products 14 or product 14 stack so that, if the backstop 60 were to be drawn forward along with side divider 40, the backstop 60 will make sufficient contact along the width and height of the product 14 in the associated row that the products 14 will be urged forward. Similarly, a backstop 60 of appropriate size may be selected so that the products 14 in the associated row, at least in cases where they are merchandised single-high, shall be prevented from sliding off of the rear end of the base such as in those cases where the entire unit 20, when filled with products 14, is lifted clear of the shelf 12 and positioned at another shelf 12 location as in the case of re-setting. In the case where products 14 are stacked 2- and 3-high a taller backstop 60 may be used so that stacked products 14 are prevented from falling behind backstop 60. It may be desirable to position the backstop 60 on the divider 40 such that the bottom of backstop 60 is spaced slightly above the base 30 to prevent the backstop 60 from an unintended engaging of the rear end of the base 30, as a small gap between the bottom of the backstop 60 and the base will not detrimentally effect operation of the system.

[0063] In a further embodiment as shown in figure 11, a backstop depth extender 61 may be removably attached to backstop 60 where the backstop depth extender 61 extends forward of the rear terminus (end) of side divider 40 along the depth of base 30 and towards the front of the base 30. The backstop depth extender 61 can also be formed as an unattached filler block that is the shape of one or some other multiple of products (or stacked products). The backstop depth extender 61 may be of various lengths so that the forward end of the backstop depth extender 61 may be positioned at various distances forward of the rear terminus of side divider 40 in order to shorten the effective depth of the row on unit 20 as may be desirable in cases where a product 14 is a slow seller and store management does not want excessive inventory of product 14 to be stocked needlessly on the shelf 12.

[0064] Backstop 60 may be, along the lateral dimension, curved in a concave fashion so as to be sympathetic to and to receive the generally round shape of the products 14. This concave curve would allow for more thorough contact of the backstop 60 with the products 14 when the side divider 40 is drawn forward with the effect that backstop 60 is less apt to bend backwards and otherwise deform undesirably in response to the weight/inertia of the products 14.

[0065] As shown in figure 6, the backstop 60 may be permanently attached to side divider 40 such as by adhesive, tape, or by ultrasonic welding or other known techniques. In another embodiment, backstops 60 of various widths and/or heights could be removably attached to side divider 40 by employing, for example, a receiving shoe permanently attached to side divider 40 to which a variety of different backstop 60 sizes could be removeably attached by friction slip fit.

[0066] As described above, as shown in figures 3A, 3B and 5, the connecting tab 50 of the side divider 40 may be inserted into the female channel 70 on the side edge of the base 30 in such a manner that, while the base 30 and connecting tab 50 (and hence side divider 40) are secured in lateral position, the connecting tab 50 shall slide freely and with little resistance both forward and backward, parallel to the length of the base 30, within the female channel 70. The front of side divider 40 may be easily grasped with thumb and forefinger by an operator and drawn forward while the base 30 remains stationary. When products 14 are resting upon and weighing down the base 30 the base 30 will tend to remain stationary even as the side divider 40 is drawn forward and then returned back to the normal position. In the case where there is not sufficient weight on base 30 to keep it stationary the operator may use one hand to press against the front of base 30 to keep it stationary while the side divider 40 is drawn forward with the operator's other hand. With the side divider 40 free to move forward and backward in this fashion, a backstop 60 attached to the inside surface of the rear of side divider 40 would, when the side divider 40 is drawn forward while the based 30 remains stationary, travel forward above and along the surface of base 30 and make contact with and engage the rearmost product 14 in the product 14 row which will therefore be urged forward, and the rearmost product 14 will then make contact with the product 14 immediately in front of it and that product 14 will be urged forward, and other products 14 in the row will in turn be urged forward in the same fashion until all products 14 in the product row have been moved as far forward towards the front shelf edge as is desired. Once the desired position of the products 14 is achieved within the unit 20 the side divider 40 shall be slid back (rearward) to the starting position where the front of the side divider 40 shall be more or less in line with the front of the base 30.

[0067] In a further embodiment, anti-skid or high-friction material may be added to the bottom surface of the base 30 making the base 30 less prone to sliding forward when the divider 40 is drawn forward to actuate product 14 fronting. If the base 30 is more apt to remain stationary during product fronting then fronting may be achieved with one hand which is less work and may be faster than two-handed fronting. A unit 20 that may be fronted with the use of one hand would allow the operator to front two rows simultaneously by grasping the divider of one unit with one hand while grasping the divider of an adjacent unit with the other hand, thereby allowing a store clerk to front a store area in less time. The increase in friction on base 30 is not so high as to significantly interfere with intentional side to side positioning of the base 30 during installation.

[0068] The operation of the unit 20 as described above would be useful in the case of product 14 stocking and rotation. The side divider 40 along with backstop 60 is drawn forward while the base 30 is held in stationary position which would allow the previously stocked products 14 to be brought forward to the front of unit 20. The side divider 40 and backstop 60 would then be returned to the starting or normal position at which point the entire managing unit 20 could be slid forward - or lifted off of the shelf 12 entirely— exposing the rear portion of the managing unit 20 thereby allowing new products 14 to be stocked behind the existing products 14 thereby achieving proper rotation of the products 14. Figures 2 A and 2B illustrate a shelf reset or repositioning when the unit 20 is lifted off of the shelf 12. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that other than for shelf resets, a shelf typically will not be partially empty as shown in figure 2A and 2B.

[0069] Products 14 in the product row associated with the shelf allocation and management unit 20 will rest on the top surface of the base 30 in such a way that generally at least half of the width of the bottom of the products 14 associated with the unit 20 is supported by direct contact with the top surface of the base 30. As shown in figure 12, a portion of the bottom of the products 14 may hang off the side of the base 30 opposite the side on which the side divider 40 is connected. In the case where the divider 40 is attached to the right side of base 30, the inside surface of the divider 40 will contact and will laterally support the right side of the row of products 14 associated with the unit 20 and the outside surface of the side divider 40 of a unit 20 immediately adjacent and to the left of the subject unit 20 shall make contact with and laterally contain the left side of the subject row of products 14.

[0070] The units 20 having a single side divider 40 provides an advantage in that the width of the unit 20 may be set so that, as shown in figure 12, the products 14 in the unit 20 are positioned on the base 30 so that a portion, perhaps 5-40%, of the width of the base of the products 14 extends beyond or hangs off of the side edge of the base 30 on the side opposite the side on which the side divider 40 is attached. For example, let us say that a unit 20 is configured with a side divider 40 attached to the right side of base 30 and the products 14, which in this example are 3.00" wide, are protruding approximately 0.40" off of the left side edge of the base 30. The products 14 will be laterally supported on the right by the side divider 40 and, assuming that the subject unit 20 is not an end unit in a system 10, the products 14 will be laterally supported on the left by the side divider 40 of a unit 20 positioned immediately adjacent and to the left. Provided that all of the units 20 in a system 10 are configured in the same way (with the dividers all on either the left or the right side of the units 20) then an absolute minimal amount of lateral distance between product 14 rows can be achieved because the only lateral distance separating immediately adjacent product 14 rows will be the thickness of one side divider 40. Structural integrity of the unit 20 may likely be achieved with a side divider 40 thickness of, for example, 0.040" to 0.080", and such a thin divider thickness would be considered desirable by the retailer. Were all of the units 20 in a system 10 to have two rather than one side divider 40 then the distance between immediately adjacent rows of products 14 would be at least the combined thickness of two side dividers 40 which may accumulate to a thickness deemed undesirable by retailers.

[0071] In a system 10, comprised of multiple units 20 the side dividers 40 of each unit 20 will all be coupled on either the right-hand side of the bases 30 or will all be coupled to the left-hand side of the bases 30. With a series of installed units 20 arranged in this manner, the products 14 associated with an individual shelf allocation and management unit 20 will be contained laterally both on the left and on the right and will therefore be prevented from moving outside of the product 14 row and inadvertently co-mingling with (different) products in the rows immediately to the left or the right.

[0072] Further, in the system 10, because of the "hang off feature where a portion (perhaps 5-40%) of the bottom of many products 14 will extend beyond the edge of base 30, a unit 20 that features only one base 30 and divider 40 coupling position (fixed width setting) may be used effectively for a large number of different (but generally similar) package 14 widths. Let us consider an example unit 20 that features a base 30 that is 2.85" in width and that features a divider 40 that is positioned flush to the side edge of base 30. This example unit 20 may be used for the "303" tin can (the most popular package used in United States dry grocery), and this 2.85"-wide unit 20 will also work with standard tuna fish cans, large cat food cans, many jams & jelly jars, many peanut butter jars, most pasta sauce jars and many small boxes such as the small Jell-0 box and many rice-mix boxes. The significant advantage is that a single size of a fixed-width unit 20 may be used with a wide variety of products 14 which makes installation easier and faster because one size of unit 20 may be used for so many different products and because the unit 20 does not have to be adjusted or fitted to the product 14 as a step in the installation process. Ordering of the units 20 will also be simpler for store managers because there will be few - possibly only two or three— rather than many sizes. Finally, because the units 20 in a system 10 all employ a base which supports the product 14 row, repositioning of products 14 (re-sets) are expedited as an entire row of products 14 may be moved en masse to another area of the store as opposed to the legacy practice of emptying the shelves 12 of all of the individual products 14 and then re-positioning those individual products 14 on a different shelf.

[0073] In a further embodiment, side dividers 40 can be attached to both the left side of the base 30 and the right side of the base 30 of each unit 20. This feature enables the end unit 20, on either the far left or far right in a system 10 of units 20 to be outfitted with two side dividers 40, one side divider 40 on the left side of the end unit 20 and another side divider on the right side of the end unit 20 so that the associated products 14 in this end unit 20 may be laterally supported both on the left and the right.

[0074] The top surface of the base 30 of each unit 20 shall have a low- friction surface such that the products 14 resting on the top surface of the base 30 shall slide freely both backward and forward along the length of the base 30. The low-friction surface may be achieved through either the use of a high lubricity coating on the top of the base or a series of ridges positioned along the top surface of the base parallel to the length of the base, or a combination of the two. In the aspect of the invention where a backstop 60 is attached to the inside surface of the rear of side divider 40, this low-friction surface shall better allow the products 14 associated with the unit 20 to slide forward along the base 30 when the side divider 40, and attached backstop 60, is actuated and pulled forward along the base 30 with the intent to bring towards the front of the unit 20 all of the products 14 in the associated row.

[0075] In a further embodiment of the system 10, as shown in figures 14A and B, a narrow strip 210 of plastic or other material may be affixed to the forward shelf 12 edge on either the top or the edge of shelf 12. The base 30 of a unit 20 may be positioned on shelf 12 behind this arresting strip 210 so that the front of the base 30 abuts against the rear edge of the arresting strip 210. The arresting strip 210 may be high enough to prevent the base 30 from moving forward beyond the arresting strip 210 but may be low enough to allow the divider 40 with connecting tab 50 to be pulled forward of the front shelf 12 edge as would occur during product 14 fronting. The arresting strip 210 may also be fashioned to mate with a notched opening or other receiving means along the front bottom of base 30, as shown in figures 14B, so that, once the arresting strip 210 and base 30 notch were mated, the base 30 would be free to move laterally but would be prevented from moving forward or backward.

[0076] In a further embodiment of the system 10 as shown in figure 15A, the front of the base 30, with the exception of channel 70, is covered with a face plate 220. This face plate 220 might take the form of an adhesive label or may be a plastic piece shown in figure 15 A. Adding a face plate 220 to the base 30 front would serve to make more uniform and attractive the appearance of the base 30 front and might also serve as a location for product information such as the name of the company selling the units 20, or the name of the store in which the units are located or the name of the product 14 or associated vendor, or any desired information. A face plate 220 might also be fashioned in the shape of a ramp between the shelf 12 and the top surface of the base 30. Such a ramp might ease stocking of the units 20 with products 14. As shown in figure 15B, the appearance of the front of the base 30 might also be enhanced if the features underneath the top surface or platform of base 30 were slightly recessed, perhaps by 0.30" or 0.40" such that they are not generally easily visible to store patrons on the shelf 12. This may be achieved, for example, by selective removal of material forming the legs and channel 70 of base 30 as by use of a sanding machine or router.

[0077] In a further aspect of the invention, as shown in figure 7, the base 30 shall have a channel 150 on the top surface and in the approximate lateral center of the base 30 where the channel 150 shall run longitudinally front-to-back where the channel 150 is fashioned to receive a puller device 160 which shall be attached to a backstop 170, said puller 160 to be positioned within the channel 150 so that the puller 160 may slide within the channel 150 both backward and forward in a direction parallel to the length of the base 30 and perpendicular to the front shelf 12 edge. The backstop 170 attached to the puller 160 shall, when the puller 160 is positioned in the aforementioned channel 150 on the base 30, be at the rear end of the shelf allocation and management unit 20. The front of the puller device 160 shall be accessible and may be grasped from the front of the shelf allocation and management unit 20 so that once some of the products 14 in the product 14 row are depleted, such as by shoppers selecting items for purchase, the front of the puller 160 device may be grasped and pulled forward thereby bringing the attached backstop 170 forward with the result that the backstop 170 shall make contact with the rearmost product 14 in the product 14 row such that all of the remaining products in the product row may be urged forward towards the front edge of the unit 20.

[0078] The thickness of the puller device 160 relative to the depth of the corresponding channel 150 in the top of the base 30 will be such that, when the puller 160 is positioned and resting flat within the corresponding channel 150 on the base 30 of the unit 20, the top of the puller device 160 will, at all points, be slightly below the top surface of the base 30. This will allow the puller device 160 to slide freely beneath the associated row of products 14 positioned within the shelf allocating management unit 20. The weight of the products 14 in the associated row will rest on the top surface of the base 30 and will not rest substantially on the top surface of the puller device 160 thereby allowing the puller 160 to slide freely backward and forward under the row of products 14 in the unit 20.

[0079] In a further aspect of the invention the base 30 and side divider 40 (and puller 160) could be scored so that each section could be shortened (possibly by snapping off) in increments of possibly 0.5" for the base 30 and side divider 40 so that the unit 20 could be adjusted to fit shelves 12 of different depths.

[0080] In a further aspect of the invention, as shown in figure 8, a label holder 180 is removably attached to the front of the base 30 of a unit 20 for the purpose of holding a price tag or label containing identifying information for the products 14 contained in the unit 20. A label holder 180 attached to the unit 20 would be advantageous in that the label, which contains valuable identifying and price information, would remain immediately adjacent and below the products 14 in the unit 20 at all times as contrasted with the legacy practice of affixing the product 14 label on the front edge of the shelf 12 with no way of securing the products 14 associated with that label in a position consistently adjacent to the label potentially resulting in confusion for the shoppers where shoppers cannot easily ascertain the price and identification of the products 14.

[0081] The side divider 40, at least when combined with a side divider 40 of an immediately adjacent unit 20 (or when combined with a second side divider 40 coupled to a unit 20 in the case of an end unit 20 of a system 10) provides lateral support of the products 14. Lateral support of the products 14 is useful in that it confines the product 14 row(s) associated with a given managing unit 20 and maintains the row in a more or less straight line both when new products 14 are placed on the shelf 12, as occurs when stocking, and when the product row is pushed forward by the backstop 60 (or backstop 170), as occurs when the side divider 40 is drawn forward, as occurs when facing or fronting a product 14 row associated with a managing unit 20. Lateral support also discourages the products 14 from tipping or falling to the side and interfering with products 14 in adjoining rows. Further, lateral support prevents products in one row associated with a managing unit 20 from co-mingling with (different) products 14 in immediately adjacent rows. Effective lateral support of the product 14 can be achieved with a divider that is substantially lower than the top of the product 14, or, if the products 14 are stacked one-on-another, the top of the product 14 stack.

[0082] Due to the symmetrical nature of many products 14 and the low- friction nature of the surface of the base 30, the side dividers 40 can be of relatively low height and still provide substantial lateral product 14 support. In order to provide some quantitative guidelines, substantive lateral support within the meaning of this application will mean a side divider height of at least 15% of the height of the product 14 or product stack height. If the product or product stack is relatively stable then substantive lateral support would mean approximately 15-50% of the height; conversely if the product 14 or product stack has low stability, then substantive lateral support would mean approximately 20-90% of the height.

[0083] In order to reduce the degree to which the side dividers 40 might obstruct the side view (of a store customer) of the product 14 or product stack, the front of the side divider 40, as shown in figure 3 -A and figure 8, may be swept back at an angle so that towards the extreme front end of the side divider 40 the top of side divider 40 may be, for example, 0.50" high and would attain increasingly greater height as the top of side divider 40 extended rearward and would reach its full height (3.00"' for example) at a point, for purpose of illustration, 3.00" rearward of the front of side divider 40. This shaping of the front of the divider 40 may resemble the shape of a quarter circle.

[0084] Within the context of the present invention a unit 20 may be configured to accommodate two or more rows of products 14, as shown in figure 9. This multiple row unit 22 shall be the same as the unit 20 described above but the multiple row unit 22 shall have a wider base 30 to accommodate two or more side -by-side rows of products 14, and shall also feature a center channel 72 positioned more or less in the lateral center of base 30 and running along the full length of the top surface of base 30. Center channel 72 shall feature an open channel 74 and a covered channel 76 shall extend to the left side or right side of open channel 74. Virtually identical to channels 70 on the single-row base 30, covered channel 76 will be the female mirror opposite of the connecting tab 50 protruding from divider 40. In the case of a multiple row unit 22 designed for two product 14 rows, the multiple row unit 22 would feature a side divider 40 coupled to either the left or the right of the base 30 and would also feature a second side divider 40 coupled to covered channel 76. A multiple row unit 22 may be useful in cases where the products 14 are small and/or light making it difficult to employ a single row unit 20 because the unit 20 combined with the small/light products 14 may together be of insufficient mass to prevent the unit 20 from moving inadvertently on the shelf especially during product 14 fronting.

[0085] In a further embodiment of the present invention a thickness augmenter 190 may be attached to side divider 40 which will be useful in those cases where objectionable gaps exist between product 14 rows that cannot be effectively reduced by either re-positioning units 20 or, in the case of a width-adjustable unit 20, by re-adjusting the width settings of units 20. The thickness augmenter 190 may be in the form, as shown in figure 10, of a vertical panel of equivalent length and height of side divider 40. This vertical panel or thickness augmenter 190 would feature some form of attachment device so that the thickness augmenter 190 may be removably attached to side divider 40 thereby increasing the lateral space occupied by side divider 40 and filling the objectionable gap between product 14 rows. The thickness augmenter 190 may also take the form of a thicker side divider 40, for example 0.30" thick. Whatever form it takes, the thickness augmenter 190 may increase the lateral space between product 14 rows occupied by the side divider 40 from, for example 0.060" to, for example, 0.40".

[0086] The various features of the present invention can form improved shelf management systems outside of the specific illustrated embodiments. For example, the positive row separation, the fact that a single fixed-width unit 20 may be used for a wide variety of products 14, the easy width adjustability in some embodiments and the minimal lateral displacement of the dividers of the present invention can yield improved shelf management systems when applied to the gravity systems and to the spring-biased backstops of the prior art.

[0087] Compared to many systems of the prior art, the shelf allocation and managing unit 20 has no front or fence so there is no chance that the products 14 will be visually obscured when viewed from the shopping aisle nor will the products 14 be mechanically obstructed by any feature of the front of the unit 20 making it more difficult for shoppers to remove items from the shelf 12.

[0088] In a still further modification of the units 20, the side divider 40 may include openings therein to facilitate viewing of the products 14 and/or for stylized purposes and/or to reduce the amount of plastic required for manufacture of the managing unit 20 and/or to facilitate air flow around the products 14 such as in the case where products 14 require refrigeration.

[0089] It should be apparent that the shelf management systems 10 of the present invention will work with cans, jars and boxes. Further, the system 10 can function as an easy- to-install static (non-fronting) row divider system on flat shelves and can function as easy-to- install static row divider system on inclined/gravity shelves. Further, in the present system 10 the existence of the base 30 locks in the lateral position of the units 20, and the associated row or product selling space, and ensures that, even when empty, the units 20 will not migrate too far out of position to the left or right.

[0090] It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications that are within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereto.