Merchandising system

Abstract

A merchandising system for presenting and storing articles. The merchandising system comprises a plurality of bases including a first base and a second base for supporting the articles and a plurality of connectors configured to removably couple the first base to the second base. The plurality of bases comprise apertures for coupling with the plurality of connectors and the plurality of connectors comprise portions configured to engage the apertures of the plurality of bases. The plurality of connectors are adapted to support the first base in an upper position relative to the second base and the second base in a lower position relative to the first base when the portions of the plurality of connectors configured to engage the apertures of the plurality of bases are coupled to the apertures of the plurality of bases.

1 . A merchandising system for presenting and storing articles comprising: 
 a plurality of bases including a first base and a second base for supporting the articles; and    a plurality of connectors configured to removably couple the first base to the second base;    wherein the plurality of bases comprise apertures for coupling with the plurality of connectors;    wherein the plurality of connectors comprise portions configured to engage the apertures of the plurality of bases; and    wherein the plurality of connectors are adapted to support the first base in an upper position relative to the second base and the second base in a lower position relative to the first base when the portions of the plurality of connectors configured to engage the apertures of the plurality of bases are coupled to the apertures of the plurality of bases.    
   
   
       2 . The merchandising system of  claim 1  wherein the portions of the plurality of connectors configured to engage the apertures of the plurality of bases comprise couplers.  
   
   
       3 . The merchandising system of  claim 2  wherein the couplers of the plurality of connectors comprise teeth.  
   
   
       4 . The merchandising system of  claim 3  wherein the teeth have varying shapes and one or more of the teeth are adapted to couple to the base by sliding into the apertures of the base.  
   
   
       5 . The merchandising system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors comprises a support.  
   
   
       6 . The merchandising system of  claim 5  wherein the support comprises a ridge configured to engage a portion of the base to prevent the at least one of the plurality of connectors from moving when coupled to a base.  
   
   
       7 . The merchandising system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors is configured to couple to a connector provided on at least one of the plurality of bases.  
   
   
       8 . The merchandising system of  claim 7  wherein the at least one of the plurality of connectors is configured to couple to the connector provided on the at least one of the plurality of bases and at least one of the apertures provided on the at least one of the plurality of bases.  
   
   
       9 . The merchandising system of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of bases comprise an assembly for advancing the articles from a back end to a front end of each of the plurality of bases.  
   
   
       10 . The merchandising system of  claim 9  wherein the assembly for advancing the articles comprises a pusher device that provides a biasing force against the articles.  
   
   
       11 . The merchandising system of  claim 10  wherein the assembly for advancing the articles provides a biasing force from the back end of each of the plurality of bases toward the front end of each of the plurality of bases along a slot located on each of the plurality of bases.  
   
   
       12 . The merchandising system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of connectors provide support to the plurality of bases at side supports provided on the plurality of bases.  
   
   
       13 . The merchandising system of  claim 12  wherein the side supports are integrally formed as part of the plurality of bases.  
   
   
       14 . The merchandising system of  claim 12  wherein the first base and the second base further comprise base connectors provided on the side supports.  
   
   
       15 . The merchandising system of  claim 14  wherein the first base and second base may be coupled together by inserting the base connectors of one of the first base and the second base into the apertures of the other of the first base and the second base.  
   
   
       16 . The merchandising system of  claim 15  wherein the first base and the second base are positioned side-by-side when the base connectors of one of the first base and the second base are inserted into the apertures of the other of the first base and the second base.  
   
   
       17 . The merchandising system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of bases further comprises: 
 a third base and a fourth base; and    wherein the plurality of connectors are adapted to support the third base in an upper position relative to the fourth base and the fourth base in a lower position relative to the third base.    
   
   
       18 . A merchandising system for presenting and storing products comprising: 
 a first tray for holding products;    a second tray for holding products; and    a first set of connectors configured to removably couple the first tray to the second tray;    wherein the first tray and the second tray comprise apertures for coupling with the first set of connectors;    wherein the first set of connectors comprise portions configured to engage the apertures of the first tray and the second tray; and    wherein the first set of connectors are adapted to support the first tray in an upper position relative to the second tray and the second tray in a lower position relative to the first tray when the portions of the first set of connectors configured to engage the apertures of the first tray and the second tray are coupled to the apertures of the first tray and the second tray.    
   
   
       19 . The merchandising system of  claim 18  further comprising a third tray, a fourth tray, and a second set of connectors; 
 wherein the first tray, second tray, third tray and fourth tray comprise apertures and tray connectors.    
   
   
       20 . The merchandising system of  claim 19  wherein the first tray is coupled to the third tray by way of the tray connectors of one of the first tray and the third tray being inserted into the apertures of the other of the first tray and the third tray so that the first tray and the third tray are positioned side-by-side.  
   
   
       21 . The merchandising system of  claim 20  wherein the second tray is coupled to the first tray by way of the first set of connectors so that the second tray is positioned above the first tray.  
   
   
       22 . The merchandising system of  claim 21  wherein the third tray is coupled to the fourth tray by way of the second set of connectors so that the fourth tray is positioned above the third tray.  
   
   
       23 . The merchandising system of  claim 22  wherein the second tray is coupled to the fourth tray by way of the tray connectors of one of the first tray and the third tray being inserted into the apertures of the other of the second tray and the fourth tray so that the second tray and the fourth tray are side-by-side.  
   
   
       24 . A merchandising system for articles comprising: 
 a first set of platforms for holding articles including a first platform and a second platform;    a first set of connectors configured to couple the first platform to the second platform in a multi-level arrangement wherein one of the first platform and the second platform is positioned above the other of the first platform and the second platform;    wherein the first platform and the second platform comprise apertures and connectors for coupling the first platform and the second platform together side-by-side;    wherein the first platform and the second platform are adapted to either be coupled in the multi-level arrangement by way of the first set of connectors, or side-by-side by way of apertures and platform connectors;    wherein the first set of connectors comprise teeth of varying shapes configured to engage the apertures of the first set of platforms; and    wherein the first platform and the second platform further comprise an assembly for advancing the articles from a back end to a front end of the first platform and the second platform.    
   
   
       25 . The merchandising system of  claim 24  wherein the connectors of the first set of platforms are hooks that fit into the apertures to couple the first platform and the second platform together with a snap-fit.