Display assembly with integral roller base

Abstract

A display assembly and shelving unit. The display assembly includes a base with one or more channels that extend between the front and back of the base. The back is higher than the front so that the base is retained at an angle to the horizontal within the shelving unit. A conveyor mechanism operable under force of gravity is provided across the channels. The conveyor mechanism includes roller assemblies that have rods with a plurality of small rollers thereon. The rollers are able to rotate about the stationary rod individually and independently. When a product for sale is removed from a front end of a first channel, then the products remaining in that first channel slide downwardly on the rollers until they engage a stop. Products in adjacent channels will remain stationary as the rollers in those additional channels will not rotate when product is removed from the first channel.

1 . A display assembly for use in a shelving unit; said display assembly comprising:
 a base adapted to be positioned between a front region and a rear region of the shelving unit;   a first channel provided on the base and extending from a back end of the base to a front end thereof; and   a conveyor mechanism provided in the first channel; said conveyor mechanism being operable under force of gravity and being adapted to move products disposed thereon from the back end of the base to the front end thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The display assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a second channel provided on the base and extending from the back end to the front end thereof; and wherein the conveyor mechanism extends across both of the first and second channels. 
     
     
         3 . The display assembly as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the base is disposed at an angle relative to the horizontal. 
     
     
         4 . The display assembly as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the angle is between 3° and 15° relative to the horizontal. 
     
     
         5 . The display assembly as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the conveyor mechanism extends laterally across both of the first and second channels. 
     
     
         6 . The display assembly as defined in  claim 2 , wherein a first portion of the conveyor mechanism is disposed in the first channel and a second portion of the conveyor mechanism is disposed in the second channel, and the first and second portions operate independently of each other. 
     
     
         7 . The display assembly as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the conveyor mechanism comprises a roller assembly that extends from a first side of the base to a second side thereof, and wherein the roller assembly includes:
 a plurality of rods that extend from the first side of the base to the second side thereof; and   a plurality of rollers disposed on each rod, said rollers being rotatable about the rod.   
     
     
         8 . The display assembly as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the rod remains stationary and the rollers rotate independently about the rod when the conveyor is operable. 
     
     
         9 . The display assembly as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the base is expandable. 
     
     
         10 . The display assembly as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the base comprises:
 a frame including:
 a front bar, 
 a back bar, 
 at least two crossbars extending between the front and back bars; and 
   at least two expansion members engageable with the at least two crossbars, the expansion members being movable between a collapsed position and an extended position.   
     
     
         11 . The display assembly as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a bore defined in each crossbar; wherein each of the expansion members is at least partially received in the bore of the crossbar with which it is engaged, and when the expansion member is in the collapsed position the portion thereof disposed in the bore is larger, and when the expansion member is in the extended position, the portion thereof disposed in the bore is smaller.   
     
     
         12 . The display assembly as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising a locking mechanism, said locking mechanism being selectively engageable to lock the expansion member to the crossbar in one of the collapsed position, the extended position and a partially extended position. 
     
     
         13 . The display assembly as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising a securing assembly  15  disposed rearwardly of the back bar, said securing assembly being adapted to engage the rear beam of the shelving unit, and wherein the expansion member is connected at a first end to the back bar and at a second end to the securing assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The display assembly as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a connector mechanism engaged with a free end of each of the crossbars;   an aperture defined in a rear wall of the connector mechanism;   a plurality of apertures defined in the securing assembly, said plurality of apertures being vertically spaced from each other; and   a fastener selectively receivable through an aligned one of the plurality of apertures in the securing assembly and the aperture in the rear wall of the connector mechanism.   
     
     
         15 . The display assembly as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the first channel and the second channel are adjustable in width. 
     
     
         16 . A display assembly for use in a shelving unit, said display assembly comprising:
 a front bar adapted to engage a front beam of the shelving unit,   a back bar adapted to engage a rear beam of the shelving unit,   at least one crossbar extending between the front and back bars;   a plurality of notches defined in the crossbar, said notches being oriented at right angles to the crossbar;   a roller assembly engaged in each notch;   a first divider engaged between the front and back bars; and   a second divider engaged between the front and back bars and spaced from the first divider; and wherein the roller assembly, first and second dividers define a channel for retaining one or more products for sale therein.   
     
     
         17 . The display assembly as defined in  claim 16 , wherein each roller assembly includes:
 a rod engaged in one of the plurality of notches; and   a plurality of rollers, each roller being individually engaged with the rod and being individually rotatable about the rod.   
     
     
         18 . The display assembly as defined in  claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second dividers includes:
 a tube having a first and a second end;   a first stop secured at the first end;   at least one leg extending outwardly and forwardly from the first stop and sized to engage the front bar;   a second stop secured at the second end; and   at least one leg extending outwardly and rearwardly from the second stop and sized to engage the back bar.   
     
     
         19 . In combination:
 a shelving unit including a plurality of uprights and:
 a front beam extending between some of the plurality of uprights; and 
 a rear beam extending between other of the plurality of uprights, said rear beam being retained a spaced distance away from the front beam; 
   a display assembly engaged with the shelving unit, said display assembly comprising:
 a base positioned between the front beam and the rear beam of the shelving unit; 
 a first channel provided on the base and extending from a back end of the base to a front end thereof, said first channel being adapted to retain a plurality of products for sale therein; and 
 a conveyor mechanism provided in the first channel; said conveyor mechanism being operable under force of gravity and being adapted to move the plurality of products disposed thereon from the back end of the base to the front end thereof. 
   
     
     
         20 . The combination as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the conveyor mechanism comprises:
 a roller assembly that extends from a first side of the base to a second side thereof, and wherein the roller assembly includes:   a plurality of rods that extend from the first side of the base to the second side thereof; and   a plurality of rollers disposed on each rod, said rollers being individually and independently rotatable about the rod.