Modular display rack having horizontally separable front barrier

Abstract

A display rack for rounded articles generally includes a product track with a pusher block slidably mounted thereon. The pusher block is biased toward a front portion of the display rack, and the side walls of the display rack are configured to support a circular or elliptical product. Additionally, the display rack can be provided with front and/or rear removable panel carriers configured to removably receive front and rear panels.

1 . A shelf management system for storing and displaying products on a shelf, the shelf comprising a front and a support surface that extends over a length of the shelf, said shelf management system comprising: 
 a product track extending generally transverse to the length of the shelf and being adapted to be positioned in multiple locations along the length of the shelf;    a pusher block slidably attached to said product track;    a biasing member urging said pusher block toward an end of said product track that is disposed closest to the front of the shelf;    a carrier plate adapted to be positioned between at least a portion of said product track and said support surface of the shelf, said carrier plate comprising a pair of upstanding members that together define a slot,    a panel comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, said upper portion comprising a flange that extends over at least a portion of said product track and said lower portion being adapted to be engaged within said slot.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upstanding members of said carrier plate includes a flange for retaining the lower portion of the panel within said slot.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the panel further comprises a flange for retaining said lower portion of said panel in said slot.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a second product track, said panel sized to span a distance between said product track and said second product track.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said lower portion of said panel comprises at least one protuberance that engages within said slot of said carrier.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said carrier is made of extruded plastic.  
   
   
       7 . A modular display rack comprising: 
 a product track comprising a base and a pair of raised rails that extend upward from said base;    a pusher block slidably attached to said pair of raised rails;    a biasing member abutting a portion of said pusher block;    a carrier having a longitudinal slot adapted to extend transversely to said product track, said carrier also comprising a support portion adapted to underlie and support at least a portion of said product track;    a removable panel having a lower portion adapted to be received in a slot of said carrier.    
   
   
       8 . The rack of  claim 7 , wherein said slot of said carrier comprises a flange adapted to substantially limit the lower portion of the panel from being vertically removed from said slot.  
   
   
       9 . The rack of  claim 8 , wherein the lower portion of the panel further comprises a flange adapted to substantially limit the lower portion of the panel from being vertically removed from said slot.  
   
   
       10 . The rack of  claim 7 , wherein said panel is frictionally retained within said slot of said carrier.  
   
   
       11 . The rack of  claim 10 , wherein said carrier is positioned at a front end of said product track.  
   
   
       12 . The rack of  claim 11 , wherein said panel is configured to retain products that abut said barrier.  
   
   
       13 . The rack of  claim 7 , wherein said panel is sized to extend beyond a plurality of product tracks.  
   
   
       14 . A horizontally separable front barrier for use with a product display rack, said barrier comprising: 
 a carrier comprising a base portion and a spaced pair of walls extending upward from said base, said walls forming a channel;    a panel comprising a lower portion sized and configured to be received in said channel of said carrier and an upper portion that extends upward from said lower portion and that comprises a flange that extends generally normal to said spaced pair of walls of said carrier.    
   
   
       15 . The barrier of  claim 14 , wherein said base is configured to underlie at least a portion of a product display track.  
   
   
       16 . The barrier of  claim 14 , wherein said lower portion of said panel is frictionally retained within said channel of said carrier.  
   
   
       17 . The barrier of  claim 14 , wherein said lower portion of said barrier comprises a protuberance sized to cause an interference fit within said channel.  
   
   
       18 . The barrier of  claim 14 , wherein the panel and the carrier comprise inter-engaging structures adapted to substantially prevent the panel from being vertically removed from the channel.  
   
   
       19 . The barrier of  claim 18 , wherein said inter-engaging structures are further adapted to allow the panel to be supported in a position in which said upper portion is substantially perpendicular to at least one of said spaced walls.