Space saving manual shelf management system

Abstract

A manual, bottom supporting, shelf allocation and management system allocates shelf space among rows of products and moves products toward the shelf front and includes a plurality of adjacent shelf allocating and managing units. Each unit includes a base adapted to rest on a shelf and to support the at least one row of products, a perpendicular side divider fixedly attached to a side edge of the base, a puller positioned immediately adjacent to the divider and immediately adjacent to a top of the base, and a back-stop attached to the rear of the puller and protruding laterally across the base which is configured, when the puller is drawn forward, to make contact with a rearmost product resting on the base and to push the rearmost product and any other products on the base forward with the forward movement of the puller.

Claims

1. A bottom supporting shelf allocation and management system for allocating shelf space among rows of products, the system comprises: a plurality of adjacent shelf allocating and managing units, each unit associated with at least one row of products, wherein each unit includes: a base adapted to rest on a shelf and to support the at least one row of products; a perpendicular side divider fixedly attached to a side edge of the base; a puller positioned immediately adjacent to the divider and immediately adjacent to a top of the base, and a back-stop attached to the rear of the puller and protruding laterally across the base which is configured, when the puller is drawn forward, to make contact with a rearmost product resting on the base and to push the rearmost product and any other products on the base forward with the forward movement of the puller.

2. The bottom supporting shelf allocation and management system for allocating shelf space among rows of products according to claim 1 further including a base that is adjustable in width.

3. The bottom supporting shelf allocation and management system for allocating shelf space among rows of products according to claim 1 further including a perpendicular low side divider fixedly attached to a side edge of the base extending to a height of 1/10″ to 3″.

4. The bottom supporting shelf allocation and management system for allocating shelf space among rows of products according to claim 1 further including a product supporting surface of each base whereby select products supported on the product supporting surface of the base are configured to be inclined in a lateral direction and towards the divider of the shelf management unit.

5. A bottom supporting shelf allocation and management system for allocating shelf space among rows of products, the system comprises: a plurality of adjacent shelf allocating and managing units, each unit associated with at least one row of products, wherein each unit includes: a base adapted to rest on a shelf and to support the at least one row of products; a perpendicular side divider fixedly attached to a side edge of the base; a puller positioned immediately adjacent to the divider and immediately adjacent to a top of the base, and a back-stop attached to the rear of the puller and protruding laterally across the base which is configured, when the puller is drawn forward, to make contact with a rearmost product resting on the base and to push the rearmost product and any other products on the base forward with the forward movement of the puller further including a product supporting surface of each base whereby select products supported on the product supporting surface of the base are configured to be inclined in a lateral direction and towards the divider of the shelf management unit, wherein the product supporting surface of each base tapers toward a front of the unit wherein select products supported on the product supporting surface of the base on or in front of the tapered portion are configured to be inclined in a lateral direction and towards the divider of the shelf management unit at less of an incline angle than select products supported on the product supporting surface of the base rearward of the tapered portion.

6. The bottom supporting shelf allocation and management system for allocating shelf space among rows of products according to claim 1 further including a laterally protruding ledge on the puller.

7. The bottom supporting shelf allocation and management system for allocating shelf space among rows of products according to claim 1 wherein the back-stop attached to the rear of the puller and protruding laterally across the base includes a plurality of openings there through.

8. The bottom supporting shelf allocation and management system for allocating shelf space among rows of products according to claim 1 wherein the puller is a removeable free riding unconstrained puller.

9. The bottom supporting shelf allocation and management system for allocating shelf space among rows of products according to claim 1 wherein the puller includes a rounded handle raised above the base.

10. The bottom supporting shelf allocation and management system for allocating shelf space among rows of products according to claim 1 further including a non-tipping backstop configured to provide constant support to the rearmost product such that the product is prevented from falling over backwards regardless of the position of the rearmost product on the base.

11. The bottom supporting shelf allocation and management system for allocating shelf space among rows of products according to claim 1 wherein the side divider includes a tapered forward edge.

12. The bottom supporting shelf allocation and management system for allocating shelf space among rows of products according to claim 1 further including an open back behind the backstop.

13. A bottom supporting shelf allocation and management unit for allocating shelf space among rows of products, the unit associated with at least one row of products, wherein the unit comprises: a base adapted to rest on a shelf and to support the at least one row of products; a perpendicular side divider fixedly attached to a side edge of the base; a puller positioned immediately adjacent to the divider and immediately adjacent to a top of the base, and a back-stop attached to the rear of the puller and protruding laterally across the base which is configured, when the puller is drawn forward, to make contact with a rearmost product resting on the base and to push the rearmost product and any other products on the base forward with the forward movement of the puller.

14. The bottom supporting shelf allocation and management unit for allocating shelf space among rows of products according to claim 13 further including a perpendicular low side divider fixedly attached to a side edge of the base extending to a height of 1/10″ to 3″.

15. The bottom supporting shelf allocation and management unit for allocating shelf space among rows of products according to claim 14 wherein the perpendicular low side divider fixedly attached to a side edge of the base extends to a height of 2/10″ to 8/10″.

16. The bottom supporting shelf allocation and management unit for allocating shelf space among rows of products according to claim 14 wherein the base is adjustable in width.

17. The bottom supporting shelf allocation and management unit for allocating shelf space among rows of products according to claim 14 wherein the low-height side divider provides lateral containment for narrower products where the bottoms of the narrower products are smaller in width than the width of the base, and imparts a lateral tilt to wider products that extend over the edge of the base.

18. The bottom supporting shelf allocation and management unit for allocating shelf space among rows of products according to claim 14 wherein the back-stop attached to the rear of the puller and protruding laterally across the base includes a plurality of openings there through.

19. The bottom supporting shelf allocation and management unit for allocating shelf space among rows of products according to claim 14 wherein the puller is a removeable free riding unconstrained puller.

20. The bottom supporting shelf allocation and management unit for allocating shelf space among rows of products according to claim 14 further including a non-tipping backstop configured to provide constant support to the rearmost product such that the product is prevented from falling over backwards regardless of the position of the rearmost product on the base.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a view of a shelf allocation and management unit according to one embodiment of the invention showing a product supporting base attached to a single fixed side divider and a separate puller configured to actuate a non-tipping back-stop;

(2) FIG. 2A is a view of the shelf allocation and management unit of FIG. 1 showing the puller and non-tipping back-stop being drawn forward on a shelf with a high front lip;

(3) FIG. 2B is a view of the shelf allocation and management unit of FIG. 1 showing product positioned on the unit;

(4) FIG. 3 is a view of the shelf allocation and management unit of FIG. 1 showing the puller returned to the normal position and the non-tipping back-stop supporting product;

(5) FIG. 4A is a front elevation view of the embodiment of the shelf allocation and management unit shown in FIG. 1 and showing a base that tilts the products in a lateral direction;

(6) FIG. 4B is a front elevation view of the embodiment of the shelf allocation and management unit shown in FIG. 1 and showing a base that tilts the products in a lateral direction except for the front of the base which is flat;

(7) FIG. 5 is a view of the rear of a shelf allocation and management unit according to one embodiment of the present invention showing an integral backstop positioned behind and configured to actuate a non-tipping backstop;

(8) FIG. 6 is a view of a shelf allocation and management unit according to one embodiment of the present invention showing a base that is adjustable in width;

(9) FIG. 7 is a view of a shelf allocation and management unit according to one embodiment of the present invention showing a base that is adjustable in width and an integral back-stop that is high enough to support a high product stack;

(10) FIG. 8 is a view of shelf allocation and management unit according to FIG. 7 showing product positioned on the unit;

(11) FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of the shelf allocation and management unit shown in FIG. 7 showing a shelf allocation and management unit with a wide product and adjusted to a wide width setting;

(12) FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of the shelf allocation and management unit showing a shelf allocation and management unit with a narrow product and adjusted to a narrow width setting;

(13) FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of the shelf allocation and management unit shown in FIG. 7;

(14) FIG. 12 is a front view of two product packages positioned side-by-side showing the gaps between the packages;

(15) FIG. 13 is a front elevation view showing two shelf allocation and management units holding products and positioned side-by-side; and

(16) FIG. 14 is a front elevation simplified schematic view of a shelf allocation and management unit according to one embodiment of the present invention showing a base featuring a fixed side divider that provides lateral containment for a narrower product and an inclined base that urges a wider product in a lateral direction away from the open end of the base;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(17) 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.

(18) The broad concepts of the operation of the manual shelf management system 10 of the present invention are found in the applicant's prior '527 patent and '302 publication discussed above and incorporated herein by reference. The general construction and operation of a shelf management system 10 is shown schematically in 527 patent and '302 publication. The '527 patent shelf management system 10 includes dividers 40 that provide positive row segregation and lateral support to the products 14 on shelf 12, an integral fronting mechanism via dividers 40 and backstop 60 which allows rapid merchandise fronting, a floating tray design where product 14 rows are positioned on top of the tray or base 30 thereby allowing product 14 rows to be easily repositioned to the left or right or to be moved to another shelf 12 location altogether, and universality in accommodating merchandise 14 of varying widths so that one size of the shelf management system units 20 may be used for a range of different merchandise package widths. A manual shelf management system 10 incorporating all of these features may be referenced herein as a '527 patent type shelf management system 10 and the following disclosure is a variation on the basic features of the '527 type shelf management system.

(19) 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 dairy shelf 12 among rows of products 14; for placing new products 14 on the shelf 12; 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 10, as opposed to spring assisted systems or gravity assisted systems.

(20) The system 10 includes a plurality of adjacent shelf allocating and managing units (also called managing units) 20. Each managing unit 20 will be a multiple piece managing unit 20 the pieces of which can be formed easily as via injection molding. It will be desirable for the managing unit 20 to be formed as an assembly for the purpose of allowing fronting operation and making the managing unit 20 adjustable in some embodiments.

(21) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, the present invention features a base 30 with integral fixed divider 40′ and separate puller 44 where the puller 44 rests on the base 30 and is attached at the rear to integral back-stop 65, which may further be configured to actuate a non-tipping back-stop 61. This system 10 may be referred to as the “Yogurt Embodiment” as it is particularly well suited for such containers. The fixed divider 40′ is distinctly different from the dividers 40 of the '527 patent type shelf management system 10, and the free riding puller 44 differs significantly from the backstop moving elements of the '527 patent type shelf management system 10. This Yogurt Embodiment is a design that allows the row fronting mechanism to be actuated in the case of a shelf with a high front lip 122 which is common on shelves 12 used for yogurt merchandising. Yogurt is among the highest selling areas of a supermarket, so stores dedicate high numbers of man-hours to stocking and fronting the yogurt section, so a yogurt embodiment system 10, which is principally a system 10 designed to allow easier and faster stocking and row fronting, could present significant benefits if installed in the yogurt area.

(22) As shown in FIG. 2A some retail store shelves 12, especially in the dairy section of a supermarket, feature a lip 122 that protrudes upward from the front edge of the shelf 12 and this lip 122 may be approximately 0.35″ high but can range from 0.15″ to 0.50″ high. The Yogurt Embodiment system 10 will feature units 20 with a base 30 and a divider 40′ that corresponds in length to the shelf 12 depth. The height of the divider 40′ of the Yogurt Embodiment units 20 will generally be between 4.00″ and 9.00″, with a typical height of 7.00″, to provide lateral containment to single-serve yogurt cups which are typically stacked 2-4 high.

(23) Puller 44 is positioned on the inside of divider 40′ and immediately adjacent to divider 40′ such that puller 44 may be situate alongside and touching divider 40′ and will rest on top of and along the length of base 30, but independent thereof, removeable and free riding. As noted above a free riding puller within the meaning of this application defines a puller that is not confined in a channel or guideway making the puller 44 easier to manipulate and can be selectably removable. The removability allows the unit 20, which further includes an open back behind the backstop 65, to be applicable to rear stocking shelves.

(24) Puller 44 runs from the front of the unit 20 to the rear of the unit 20 and features integral backstop 65 which takes the form of prongs that protrudes at approximately a 90 degree angle from the main body of puller 44. The integral back-stop 65 attached to the rear of the puller 44 and protruding laterally across the base 30 includes a plurality of openings there through which can be of assistance in refrigerated shelves. In many refrigerated shelves the cooling air moves across the products from the rear of the shelf and a plurality of openings within the back-stop 65 facilitates the cooling of the products and the efficiency of the refrigeration.

(25) The handle 280 at the front end of puller 44 is configured to be above the base 30 so that it may be easily seen and grasped by an operator. Further, handle 280 is rounded and ergonomically designed to reduce operator fatigue or discomfort when operating puller 44. Puller 44 may take various shapes although, to reduce the lateral profile and provide strength, puller 44 may be shaped as a strip with a rectangular cross section and positioned in the unit 20 on its edge so it assumes a vertical orientation. The body of the puller 44 may be, for example, 1.50″ high and 0.125″ thick. The puller 44 does not travel through a channel or a track but rather is loose (free riding) and is situated at the inside corner of the unit 20 and rests at the corner presented by the intersection of the base 30 and divider 40′. The puller 44 is restrained neither on the lateral or vertical dimension and therefore, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the front of the puller 44 as well as the puller 44 body may be lifted up and pulled out simultaneously. This “up-and-out” movement allows the puller 44 to easily be lifted clear of a high front lip 122 on a shelf 12 during row fronting (or easily removed for use in rear loading shelves).

(26) Because the puller 44 is not positioned in a channel or track but rather is loose, it is easier both to pull the puller 44 forward as during row fronting and, as importantly, it is easier to return the puller 44 to the normal or starting position. Other shelf allocation and management designs that feature a divider (or dividers) fixed to the base and a separate puller that actuates a back-stop are constrained by the fact that the puller rides in a channel or track and, over time, these channels or tracks may become fouled with spilled product (e.g. yogurt) or a sticky combination of condensation and dust making the operation of the fronting feature and the returning of the puller to the starting position laborious. In some such systems, the puller may become essentially immobile.

(27) A potential disadvantage of a shelf allocation and management unit with a stationary divider 40′ and puller 44 is that the puller 44 will, when combined with the thickness of divider 40′, may occupy an objectionable amount of lateral space between product 14 rows with the result that fewer rows of merchandise 14 could be displayed for sale. In the categories for which the Yogurt Embodiment system 10 is intended (e.g. single-serve yogurt cups), however, the combined thicknesses of the divider 40′ and puller 44 will generally have no effect on the amount of lateral shelf space that may be dedicated to the display of merchandise 14. Some merchandise 14 packages in the dairy section of a typical supermarket when positioned side-by-side present large lateral gaps between one package and the next. Single serve yogurt cups (as well as tubs of sour cream, tubs of cottage cheese, etc.) are either frusto-conical in shape or are inverted frusto-conical shapes which defines a large generally triangular gap 296 between two adjacent yogurt cups 14. As shown in FIG. 12 the large triangular gaps 296 have a “triangle” base width of approximately 0.80″ to 1.00″ and a “triangle” height of approximately 2.00″. The Yogurt Embodiment shelf allocation and management units 20 feature puller 44 that is approximately 1.30″ high and so the puller 44 is positioned within the vertical limits of large triangular gap 296. Further, divider 40′ has a thickness of approximately 0.10″ and puller 44 has a thickness of approximately 0.125″ so the combined thickness of divider 40′ and puller 44 is approximately 0.225″ and therefore exists within the lateral limits of large triangular gap 296.

(28) A second type of gap exists between yogurt cups 14 on the shelf 12 and referenced herein as the rim-to-rim gap 297 as shown in FIG. 12. The rim-to-rim gaps 297 are the gaps that exist between the widest point of the yogurt cups which is usually the top rims of the cups 14 (but may be the bottom rims of the cups for frusto-conical shapes). The rim-to-rim gap 297 is the lateral distance from the widest point of a package in one row to the widest point of a package in an immediately adjacent row. Despite the fact that stores desire to use the full amount of available lateral space on a shelf 12 for displaying products 14, the reality is that rim-to-rim gaps 297 of between approximately 0.10″ and 0.20″ are present between rows of yogurt cups 14 on a typical dairy shelf 12. The lateral displacement presented by the Yogurt Embodiment units 20 is effectively limited to the thickness of the divider 40′ because divider 40′ is the only feature of a unit 20 that extends upward and beyond the height of the large triangular gap 296 and so the divider 40′ would occupy the space that is normally present in the rim-to-rim gap 297. Because divider 40′ is approximately 0.10″ thick and the rim-to-rim gap 297 averages approximately 0.15″ the installation of yogurt embodiment units 20 on a shelf 12 would typically cause no lateral disruption to the existing product 14 rows.

(29) The system 10 is comprised of a series of shelf management units 20 typically positioned on a shelf 12 immediately adjacent to, and usually touching or in contact with, one another so that merchandise 14 packages positioned on the base 30 of a shelf management unit 20 are contained on the right side by the side divider 40′ of the subject unit 20 and are contained on the left side by the side divider 40′ of the unit 20 immediately adjacent and to the left. In those cases, however, where a large gap is presented between the subject unit 20 and the unit 20 immediately to the left then the merchandise 14 packages on the subject unit 20 may no longer be contained on the left side and may fall off of the base 30, which is undesirable. A large gap between adjacent units 20 may occur in cases where the merchandise 14 on the left of the subject unit 20 is completely sold out, in the case where units 20 are missing, in a case where a unit 20 is a left-most end unit in a series of units 20, or in a case where, for whatever reason, store management has configured the merchandise 14 on the shelves 12 so that large gaps exist between product rows.

(30) To address the above-described problem, a further aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, provides a laterally inclined base 30 which is formed such that select products are inclined slightly in a lateral direction (at a 90-degree angle in relation to the length of the base 30) so that the force of gravity urges product 14 packages positioned on the base 30 towards the side of the base 30 to which side divider 40′ is attached. The incline in the base 30 may be easily formed by having a rail 43 upon which the products rest and which is distal from the divider 40′ be slightly higher than any other the rail or product 14 supporting surface closer to the divider 40′, with the angle of incline measured between a line (or plane) connecting the tops of the rails or points of contact of the base 30 with the product 14 and the plane of the shelf 12. The amount of incline should be slight and just enough to urge the product 14 away from the open side of the base 30, namely less than 20 degrees and generally 3 to 5 degrees. Additionally if there are more than two rails on the base 30 the height of the intermediate rails should also follow the defined angle of incline such that the tops of all the rails lie in a common plane such that all rails would be used to support the products.

(31) One method for creating the above-described lateral incline is to attach a combination low divider or side rail 43 to the side edge of the base 30 opposite the side to which divider 40′ is attached. The combination low divider or side rail 43 would be very low, for example extending upward only 0.25″, and would serve a dual purpose. A system 10 could be designed for two product types, as shown schematically in FIG. 14 (which has been simplified to illustrate this concept), in which combination low divider or support rail 43 acts as support rail 43 and defines an incline for one wide product 14 type where the product 14 base is wider than the base 30 whereby a portion of the bottom of the product 14 hangs off the edge of 30 and therefore rests on top of support rail 43. For a smaller diameter (base diameter) of product 14 the entire bottom of the product 14 rests on the base 30 and inside of the combination low divider or support rail 43 and, in this case, combination side divider or support rail 43 acts as side divider 43. In this embodiment the support rails 43 (only one of which is shown in schematic FIG. 14) may not all be along the same line because the rail sets may form distinct inclined angles for the distinct products.

(32) As shown in FIG. 4B, in a further embodiment of a laterally inclined base 30, the support rail 43 (or low divider 43) may taper toward the front whereby the defined angle of incline at the front of the base 30 may be reduced so that products 14 positioned at or near the front of the unit 20 will be flat and not tilted and therefore will present a normal appearance to customers. So that products 14 may easily slide along the base 30 from the back of the unit 20 to the front and vice versa without encountering an abrupt change in incline (which might impede the movement of the products 14 along the base 30) the defined angle of incline should be reduced on a gradual taper. For example, products 14 positioned at the middle and rear of the base 30 may be laterally tilted 6 degrees (shown in FIG. 4A) while a product 14 that is 6″ rearward of the front of the unit 20 may be tilted at 4 degrees, a product 14 that is 4″ rearward of the front may be tilted at 2 degrees and a product 14 at the very front of the unit 20 may be completely flat (0 degrees). Another issue solved by tapering the defined angle of incline to flat towards the front of the unit 20 is that, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, Yogurt Embodiment units 20 feature a divider 40′ the front of which is swept back at an angle to allow easier consumer view of the products 14 and which design does not provide lateral containment for the product 14 or product 14 stack positioned at the front of the unit 20. Therefore a product 14 stack positioned at the front of the unit 20 may, if the lateral incline is not tapered to flat towards the front of the base 30, tilt so much that the product 14 stack tips over.

(33) As described above, the bottoms of some packages 14 will be wider than the base 30 and some narrower. For those merchandise 14 packages that are wider than the base 30 a small portion of the package 14 (e.g. 0.30″) will hang off the edge of the base opposite the side of the base to which the divider 40′ is attached. Other merchandise 14 packages will be narrower than the base 30 but typically not more than a small amount (e.g. 0.15″). Because the width of the bottom of most single serve yogurt cups falls within a narrow range (e.g. between 2.60″ and 3.00″) the Yogurt Embodiment shelf allocation and management unit 20 lends itself to having a base 30 that is of a fixed width (e.g. 2.80″). This single-width “one-size-fits-all” unit 20 is easy to order and install as one size will work with most of the various merchandise 14 packages (e.g. yogurt cups), and, when the assortment is changed or re-set in the future (for example the store eliminates 30 rows of narrower yogurt cups and adds 30 rows of wider cups) the store will not be forced to order more of a new size of units 20 to accommodate the new assortment of products 14 on the shelf 12 because the “one-size-fits-all” units 20 work for most available yogurt cup widths. Therefore, in the example above, the units 20 that were used for the 30 eliminated narrower products 14 may be re-used for the 30 newly-introduced wider products 14.

(34) In a further embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the Yogurt Embodiment shelf allocation and management units 20 may also be configured with a base 30 that is adjustable in width to fit merchandise 14 packages of various widths. While the above-described one-size-fits-all single-width unit 20 may be appropriate in stores that carry a modest range of product 14 widths (for example a width range of 2.6″ to 3.6″), the rapid introduction by yogurt companies of an ever-increasing variety of package 14 widths may necessitate the use of a width-adjustable unit 20 in stores that carry this very wide range of products 14 where the product 14 widths may range from 2.6″ to 4.5″. One embodiment of such a width-adjustable unit 20, as shown in FIG. 6, features male protrusions 39A that are inserted, in incremental positions formed by ridges 39C, into corresponding female channels 39B. FIG. 9 shows an adjustable-width unit 20 that is adjusted to a wide position for a wide yogurt cup 14 while FIG. 10 shows the same adjustable width unit 20 but adjusted to a narrow position for a narrow yogurt cup 14.

(35) As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10 a unit 20 that is adjustable in width may, in a further embodiment, also feature a low divider 43 that protrudes upward at a right angle from the side edge of base 30 opposite the side to which divider 40′ is attached. This width-adjustable unit 20 would not feature a laterally inclined base (which is mostly useful in keeping products 14 that are wider than base 30 from sliding off the unit 20) but would rather contain the full width of products 14 on the base 30 with the combination of divider 40′ and low divider 43. The thickness of low divider 43 would be approximately 0.060″ to 0.100″. Low divider 43 would be just high enough, for example 0.50″, to prevent the bottom of the products 14 from sliding off the base 30. Regarding height of the low divider 43 of the units 20, as noted above a low divider within the meaning of this specification is a divider 1/10″ to 3.″ Preferably a low divider 43 will be 2/10″ to 8/10″ in height, and most preferably 3/10″ to 6/10″ in height. So, in this width-adjustable embodiment, low divider 43 is low enough to allow products 14 to easily be placed on the base 30 from the side of the unit 20 enabling store clerks to practice proper stock rotation by placing new products 14 at the rear of an existing row of products 14 in a unit 20. Because the units 20 are not attached to the shelf 12 the store clerk may easily pull the entire unit 20 forward and outward exposing the open side of the unit 20 so that new yogurt cups 14 can easily be placed in the unit 20 from the side, and this method is faster than if the store clerk is required to perform this stocking and rotation function from the front of the unit 20 in which case all of the existing products 14 must be removed from unit 20 and then new products 14 placed at the rear of unit 20, and then, finally, the existing products 14 placed at the front of unit 20. If low divider 43 were much higher (for example, 7″ high) then a unit 20 would have two tall dividers, and in this case the preferred method of stocking from the side of the unit would no longer be feasible.

(36) As shown in FIG. 13, when two width-adjustable Yogurt Embodiment shelf allocation and management units 20 featuring low divider 43 are positioned side-by-side the combined thickness of puller 44 (approximately 0.125″), divider 40′ (approximately 0.10″) of the subject unit 20 and the thickness of low divider 43 (approximately 0.10″) of a unit 20 immediately adjacent and to the right totals 0.325″ and so this combined thickness is less than the width of large triangular gap 296 (0.80″ to 1.00″) that naturally exists between rows of single-serve yogurt cups 14. As low divider 43 is approximately 0.50″ high it does not extend higher than large triangular gap 296. Therefore the installation of a series of units 20 (on shelves 12 merchandising single-serve yogurt cups 14) featuring both divider 40′ and low divider 43 as well as puller 44 will not cause lateral disruption to the product 14 rows.

(37) A further aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, is a non-tipping backstop 61 configured to prevent merchandise 14 with a high center of gravity in a unit 20 from tipping backwards. Integral backstop 65 may be positioned on the unit 20 behind non-tipping back-stop 61 and is configured to contact non-tipping backstop 61 such that when puller 44 is pulled forward integral backstop 65 also comes forward which, in turn, brings non-tipping backstop 61, and all merchandise 14 on the unit 20, forward. If merchandise 14 in a unit 20 tips or falls over backwards then the store clerk must remove all of the standing merchandise 14 from the unit 20, retrieve and re-position the tipped merchandise 14 and finally replace the previously standing merchandise 14 back on the unit 20. This is a time-consuming process and should be eliminated. Many types of merchandise 14 have a low center of gravity (e.g. pasta sauce jars) and, as these types of packages rarely tip over backwards, integral backstop 65 of a unit 20 will suffice. Some types of merchandise 14, however, have a high center of gravity and are therefore prone to tipping over. This includes, for example, tall air freshener cans and tall spray paint cans. Also prone to tipping are merchandise 14 items that are stacked two-high, three-high or greater. This type of merchandise 14 stacking is often seen, for example, with single-serve yogurt cups and baby food jars. Despite the advantages presented with the use of non-tipping back-stop 61, for the sake of simplicity it may be preferable in some cases to not use non-tipping back-stop 61 and instead use a variant of integral back-stop 65, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, that is raised in height to be approximately as high as fixed divider 40′ (e.g. 7″) and therefore provides support to a product 14 stack at least during row fronting.

(38) The non-tipping backstop 61 is used in conjunction with a unit 20 with integral backstop 65. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the non-tipping backstop 61 is shaped like an “L” and features a rear plate 63 and a tongue 64. The rear plate 63, which in most cases will be from 6″ to 8″ high, is attached to a tongue 64 that rests on the base 30 and protrudes forward of the rear plate 63 a distance approximately equal to the height of the rear plate 63, or approximately 7″. As shown in FIG. 3, the tongue 64 is configured so that at least two individual pieces of merchandise 14 or two stacks of merchandise 14 may be positioned on top of the tongue 64 immediately forward of (ideally touching) the rear plate 63 thereby providing weight that stabilizes the rear plate 63 of the non-tipping backstop 61. When merchandise 14 is positioned on top of the tongue 64 in this manner then the center of gravity of this collection of merchandise 14 positioned on the non-tipping backstop 61 is significantly lower than it would be were that same merchandise 14 not resting on the non-tipping backstop 61, and therefore this merchandise 14 is significantly less prone to tipping over backwards.

(39) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, puller 44 may feature a ledge 45 (or reinforcing ridge or rib) which runs along the length of puller 44 and protrudes on a perpendicular plane approximately 0.30″ from the inside face of puller 44 (which is the side of puller 44 that faces the side the unit 20 opposite the side to which divider 40′ is attached). One purpose of ledge 45 is to prevent non-tipping back-stop 61 from tipping backwards. In the event that non-tipping back-stop 61 began to tip backwards, tongue 64 would begin to rise upward but would, after rising just a few degrees, make arresting contact with ledge 45 and therefore tongue 64 would be prevented from rising any further and non-tipping backstop 61, then, would be prevented from tipping over backwards. Rear plate 63 of non-tipping back-stop 61 features a notch which allows ledge 45 to pass through. Ledge 45 also serves as a rib or ridge to impart rigidity to puller 44 so that, especially when it is returned to the normal position after row fronting, puller 44 is less likely to bend.

(40) The non-tipping backstop 61 is not attached to the backstop 65 or to puller 44 or to the base 30. Rather the non-tipping backstop 61 slides freely forward and backward along the top of the base 30. The non-tipping backstop 61 includes opening therethrough that allows refrigerated air to move from the back of the shelf 12 over the products similar to the design of the backstop 65. Backstop 65 prevents merchandise 14 from falling off the rear of the base 30 and also pushes merchandise 14 forward when puller 44 is drawn forward during row fronting. Because the default or storage position of backstop 65 is at the rear of the shelf 12, backstop 65 provides no support to merchandise 14 positioned in the middle or towards the front of base 30. For example, for a unit 20 without a non-tipping back-stop 61, when puller 44 and integral backstop 65 of a unit 20 is in the storage position (at the rear) and if single-serve yogurt cups are stacked three-high on a unit 20 and if a ten-inch gap exists between integral backstop 65 and the rearmost stack of yogurt cups on the base 30 then the rearmost stack of yogurt cups will be prone to tipping over backwards when a store clerk adds new yogurt cups to the front of the unit 20. Tipping may also occur when the front of the row of yogurt cups 14 is bumped as could occur when a shopper selects a yogurt cup 14 for purchase. The non-tipping backstop 61 travels with and supports the rearmost pieces of merchandise 14 (or rearmost merchandise 14 stack) thereby preventing the merchandise 14 from tipping backwards regardless of how full is the row of merchandise 14 in a unit 20.

(41) The non-tipping backstop 61 may in some embodiments feature a coupling mechanism integral to the underside of tongue 64 and corresponding features on the top of base 30 (or laterally inclined base 30) where the coupling mechanism would provide lateral stability to the non-tipping backstop 61 such that it would be prevented from moving sideways and would be prevented from tipping backward or forward, yet would freely slide backwards and forwards along the top of base 30 (or laterally inclined base 30) of a unit 20.

(42) 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.