Pusher tray system

Abstract

A container or tray for use with a pusher dispensing system is provided. The container or tray holds a number of items for sale at a retail store. The container or tray includes a channel configured to accommodate a pusher arm in the pusher dispensing system so that the entire tray can be easily and quickly loaded onto the system.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A tray for use with a pusher dispensing system comprising:
 a bottom panel;   a first side wall extending upward from a first side of the bottom panel;   a second side wall extending upward from a second side of the bottom panel;   a back wall extending upward from a back end of the bottom panel; and,   wherein the bottom panel includes a bottom channel configured to receive a pusher arm of a pusher dispensing system.   
     
     
         2 . The tray of  claim 1  wherein the back wall includes a back channel configured to receive the pusher arm, wherein the back channel is contiguous with the bottom channel in the bottom panel. 
     
     
         3 . The tray of  claim 1  further comprising a front wall extending upward from a front end of the bottom panel. 
     
     
         4 . The tray of  claim 1  wherein the bottom channel in the bottom wall extends from the back end part way to the front end. 
     
     
         5 . The tray of  claim 1  wherein the bottom wall, first side wall, second side wall, back wall, and front wall are formed from a single blank of material. 
     
     
         6 . The tray of  claim 1  wherein the front wall has a first height and the first and second side walls have a second height greater than the first height. 
     
     
         7 . The tray of  claim 1  further comprising a film covering the bottom channel. 
     
     
         8 . A container for transporting items and converting to a tray for use with a pusher dispensing system comprising:
 a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a bottom wall having a detachably connected panel for forming an open channel in the bottom wall when removed, and a top wall.   
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8  wherein the back wall includes a detachably connected panel for forming an open channel in the back wall when removed that is contiguous with the open channel in the bottom wall. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 8  wherein the top wall includes a first portion that is detachably connected. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 8  wherein the entire top wall is detachably connected. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the top wall is formed from a first flap connected to the first side wall by a perforated fold line and a second flap connected to the second side wall by a perforated fold line. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 8  further comprising a front wall. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13  wherein the front hall has a first height and the first and second side walls have a second height greater than the first height. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 9  further comprising a film over the open channel in the bottom wall. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15  further comprising over the open channel in the back wall. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 15  wherein the film is translucent. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 8  wherein the open channel in the bottom wall has a frangible connection to the bottom wall. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 8  wherein the container is formed from a single blank of material. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19  wherein the material is paperboard.