US3010606A - Multiple bin dispensing rack for cigarette packages - Google Patents

Description

s. HESELOV 3,010,606

MULTIPLE BIN DISPENSING RACK FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGES Nov. 28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12, 1958 8 000 0000 000 0000 0 000 0000 0000 9 0000 0000 0000 0 00 8 m w. w W 0 w m m INVENTOR. SIMON HESELOV ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1961 s. HESELOV 3,010,606

MULTIPLE BIN DISPENSING RACK FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGES Filed Feb. 12, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. SIMON HE$ELOV BY WJ A TTORNE) United States Patent 3,010,606 MULTIPLE BIN DISPENSING RACK FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGES Simon Heselov, 415 Gypsy Lane, Youngstown, Ohio Filed Feb. 12, 1958, Ser. No. 714,732 2 Claims. (Cl. 22192) This invention relates to a dispensing rack which may be attached to a cash register and provide a convenient, attractive display of cigarette packages.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a lightweight, attractive, multiple bin dispensing rack for cigarette packages.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a dispensing rack for cigarette packages which is formed of a plurality of molded plastic components which may be assembled and disassembled to facilitate cleaning.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a multiple bin dispensing rack for cigarette packages which will hold a large variety of different brands of cigarette packages as well as various sizes of cigarette packages.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a multiple bin dispensing rack for cigarette packages wherein the majority of the bottom area of the bottom package in each rack is exposed so that the package may be easily grasped and removed from the rack.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a multiple bin dispensing rack for cigarette packages wherein the configuration of the lower portions of each of the bin portions thereof project the bottom-most package in each bin forwardly, outwardly and slightly upwardly to present it in a position in which it may be easily grasped and removed from the rack.

The multiple bin dispensing rack for cigarette packages disclosed herein comprises a solution to a problem which came into existence with the advent of the self-service store, or super market as it is frequently called, and wherein the supplies of cigarettes for sale were of necessity moved to a position adjacent the check-out counters or cash register locations, as the case may be.

The area of the check-out counters or cash registers in any such self-service store or super market is necessarily limited and various proposals have been made to provide diflFerent forms of shelves, racks, etc., adjacent these areas which would be readily accessible to the super market or store personnel but which would be relatively inaccessible to the purchasing public, while at the same time it is in close relation to the position of the purchaser and thereby enables the purchaser to see the merchandise for sale.

Proposals have been made to form racks of metal wire and position the same on the counters adjacent the cash registers and such racks have been mounted on the cash registers. However, the racks have been incapable of holding a sufficient supply of cigarettes. They have been heavy, bulky and precariously secured to the cash register and have therefore been unsatisfactory. They have required considerable time to re-load, which is objectionable as the space around the cash register or check-out counters is of necessity occupied by customers paying for their purchases at such time as the store is open for business.

The present invention relates to a multiple bin dispensing rack for cigarette packages which solves most, if not all, of the problems which have been occasioned, as aforesaid, by other devices, and provides an attractive, readily demountable and easily disassembled, lightweight device which will handle all of the various brands of cigarettes offered for sale in the various sized packages Most importantly, the device will enable the cigarette packages to be grasped and removed from the rack very easily.

As disclosed herein, the rack is formed of a plurality of molded plastic parts, preferably of transparent plastic, and so arranged that the various parts may be disassembled, cleaned and the rack re-loaded in a minimum amount of time. 7

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the multiple bin dispenser rack for cigarette packages.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of one of the vertical panels used in the rack of FIGURE 1' showing it in assembled relation to a portion of the main panel of the device which is illustrated in cross section.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 33 of FIGURE 1.

, FIGURE 4 is a front plan View in enlarged detail of a portion of the rack shown in FIGURES 1 and 3.

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section comparable with FIGURE 3 showing a modified construction.

FIGURE 6 is a front plan view comparable with FIGURE 4 and showing the modified construction illustrated in FIGURE 5.

By referring to the drawings and FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4 in particular, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be seen and it will be observed that the rack comprises a vertically disposed main panel 10 having integrally formed, oppositely disposed sides 1111'and a bottom portion 12. The sides 11-11 preferably taper inwardly from the bottom to the top of each of the same and are preferably provided with a plurality of vertically spaced openings 1'313.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the main panel 10 has a row of horizontally spaced, squared notches 14-14 across its uppermost edge and three horizontal rows of horizontally spaced, squared openings 1515 therebelow, the several openings and notches being arranged in vertical lines so that a plurality of bin forming, vertically disposed panels 16-16 may be secured to the front surface of the main panel 10, as best shown in FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings.

Each of the plurality of panels 1616 is positioned in right angular relation to the plane of the main panel 10 and each has a plurality of vertically spaced openings 17 therein. Each of the panels 16 has a double flange 18 on its rearward edge, the portions of the flange extending outwardly on each side of each of the panels 16, as best seen in FIGURES 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings.

The back surfaces of the major portion of the double flanges 18 normally rest in direct contact with the front of the main panel 10 and are held in that position along with the forwardly projecting panel 16 by a pair of hooks 19-19 which are integrally formed with the panel 16 and the double flange 18. The books 1919 engage the notches 14-14 and/ or the openings 1515 in the main panel 10 in a key hole-like registry in that each of the hooks 19 is as wide as the double flange 18 and only slightly narrower than each of the notches and openings. Each of the hooks 19-49 has a vertical height only slightly less than the vertical height of each of the open ings 15 -15.

This construction makes possible the positioning of each of the bin forming panels 16 on the main panel by simply engaging the hooks 19 on each panel 16 1n the lowermost rows of openings 15, as seen in the lower half of both FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, wherem each of the panels 16 may be brought into registry with the main panel 10 and then lowered relative thereto to cause the hooks 19 to engage the portions of the mam panel 10 defining the lower edge of each of the openings '15.

7 Thus, the lower row of bin forming panels 1 6 are secured-to the main panel 10. It will be obvious'to those skilled in the art that the upper row of the panels 16, as I shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, are secured to the main panel 10 by engaging the hooks 19 on each of the panels 16 in the notches 14 and the uppermost horizontal row of openings 15.

The cross sectional -T-shaped formation of each of the panels 16 and its integrally formed double flanges 18, combined with the wide offset depending hooks 19, quickly and easily locate and secure the plurality ,of panels 16 in assembled relation on the main panel 10, as in FIG- URE l.

The horizontal spacing that'exists between the notches 14 and openings 15 is arranged so that the horizontal spacing between the panels 16' is slightly greater than the.

normal width of a conventional cigarette package. Thus,

a plurality of cigarette packages arranged in superim-' posed relation may be positioned between each pair of the panels 16. a 7 a The lower ends of each of the panels 16 are formed so that the double flanges 18, as heretofore described, define a radius beginning near the lower row of hooks; 19 and extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom defining approximately 100 degrees of a circle from which point the double flanges 18 extend outwardly and upwardly on an angle from horizontal and project forwardly of the forward edges of the panels 16, as best shown in FIG URE 2 of the drawings.

'By referring again to FIGURES 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that a plurality of superimposed cigarette packages, as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, will, when positioned in the area between each pair of panels 16, rest on the forwardly and upwardly inclined angular portion of the double flanges 18 of each of the panels 16 in a position substantially forwardly of the main vertical portions of the double flanges 18 by reason of the radius of the flanges 18 which cause the lowermost packages of each superimposed stack to move forwardly and outwardly with respect to the panels 16 to a position where the lowermost package is partially projected forward of the remaining packages and is therefore very easy to grasp.

It will be observed that the area between the double flanges 18 of each of a pair of panels 16 positions the bottom package of cigarettes with the majority of its bottom in exposed relation so that grasping of the bottom package is considerably facilitated.

The remaining packages in each superimposed stack automatically position themselves on the same tilted position from horizontal as the bottom package, and this automatically insures the positioning of the plurality of cigarette packages in each of the stacks between the panels 16 despite jarring or movement of the rack as each package tends to slide into the rack rather than out of it.

The panels 16 are of an over-all height so that'a carton of twenty packages of cigarettes may be positioned in each, plus a few additional if desired, so that servicing the rack is facilitated as a standard twenty package carton may be opened and added to the rack at one time. 7

Each of the panels 16 is provided with a forwardly extending arm 20 which is notched as at 21 at its upper side near its forward end. The arms 20, and notches 21 in particular, receive and retain a longitudinal strip 22 which is notched upwardly from ts lower edge as at 23, in horizontal spaced relation so that each of the notches 23 in the strip 22 will register with the plurality of notches 21 in the plurality of arms 20.

The strip 22 performs two functions. It provides a structural connection between the forward edges of each of theplurality of panels 16 which insures their proper parallel positioning with respect to one another and hence the proper spacing between the same. The strip 22 also is provided with a plurality of card receiving formations preferably taking the form of forwardly projecting cross sectionally T-shaped flanges positioned in spaced relation to one another longitudinally of the strip 22 and immediately adjacent each of the notches 23 formed therein so that a plurality of identifying name cards may be positioned therebetween and thus held on the forward side of the strip 22 immediately in front of each of the bins defined-by the plurality of panels 16. Thus, the name brands of each of'the packages of cigarettes positioned in each of the bins may be quickly and easily applied along with the price thereof if desired.

Two pairs of depending clamping members 99 are secured to the bottom 12 of the device'in spaced relation to one another and each pair is provided with an interconnecting fastener '88 so that the device may be a secured to the top portion of a cash register.

It will be seen that the preferred form of the invention has been disclosed and described and that the several advantages and objects heretofore mentioned may be realized thereby.

Those skilled in, the art will be aware of the fact that there are certain brands of cigarettes for which there is only a limited public demand as compared with others and that it is therefore necessary or desirable to provide an arrangement whereby one or two or more of the regular height bins may be changed so that bins of lesser height may be installed so that two brands of cigarettes may be carried in each of the vertical bins, as shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings By referring to FIGURES 5 and 6. of the drawings a modification making possible such an adaptation of the device may be seen. In FIGURE 5 of the drawings the vertically. standing main panel 10 will be seen and it is exactly the same as the panel 10 in the preferred embodiment'of the invention heretofore described and includes the horizontal rows of openings 15 through which the books 19 of the panels 16 are engaged.

in FIGURE 5 of the drawings a modified panel comparable with the panel 16 is illustrated, the modified panel comprising a vertical panel 24 with a longitudinal flange 25 on its rear vertical edge, the flange 25 extend ing only to one side of the panel 24, as best seen in FIGURE 6 of the drawings wherein a front plan view is illustrated. The panel 24 and flange 25 are of an overall width approximately one-half that of the panel 16 and its double flange 18, heretofore referred to. The panel .24 is provided with an olfset depending hook 26 which engages one of the openings 15.

In FIGURES 5 and 6 of the drawings the modification illustrated comprises the substitution of two superimposed bins for one of the bins appearing in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings.

The modification is so arranged that the bins on either side of the modified bin extend the full normal length of the bins as shown in FIGURES l, 2, 3 and 4. In order that this can be achieved, two pairs of the shortened panels 24 with their oppositely disposed flanges 25 are utilized and they are positioned between a pair of modified full length panels 2727 which have outwardly extending and, therefore, oppositely disposed flanges 28-28 thereon as well as two hooks 29-29, one adjacent the uppermost end thereof and one adjacent the lowermost end. It will be seen that the panels 27 with their integral flanges 28 are approximately half the width of the panels 16 with their double flanges 18, as heretofore described.

Thus, the two panels 27-27 and the two pairs of panels 2424 are arranged in side to side relation, as best shown in FIGURE 6 of the drawings, the hooks 29 and 26 being in side to side relation and they are respectively engaged in the upper and lower rows of openings in the main panel 10.

The resulting bin comprises an upper section and a lower section, the lower ends of each of which are provided with a. radius matching the radius on the bottoms of the panels 16 and each of the flanges 2525 and 2828 follow the same and extend forwardly therebeyond in exactly the same manner as do the flanges 18 on the panels 16, heretofore described.

Thus, two relatively short stacks of cigarette packages may be positioned in the modified bins and each of the stacks is readily accessible at its bottom.

The modification does not illustrate the application of the forwardly extending arms such as 20 in the preferred embodiment of the invention, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that if desired the modification could includes this structure which would then provide an identity card mounting area in front of the lowermost bin in the modified area while the provision of Such a card or identifying tab carrying structure would be added to the panels 2424 in the upper half of the bin, if desired.

It will thus be seen that the several objects of the invention have been met by the structure disclosed herein and that a relatively simple yet efficient multiple bin dispensing rack for cigarette packages has been disclosed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A multiple bin dispensing rack for cigarette packages including a vertically disposed main panel having a flat front with a plurality of openings therein, a horizontally disposed bottom and vertically disposed sides on said main panel, and a plurality of vertically positioned removably disposed partition forming panels positioned on one side of said main panel at right angles thereto and between said vertically disposed sides and defining a plurality of flat walled vertical bins, rearwardly extending hooks on each of said partition forming panels adjacent their upper and lower ends for registry with said openings in said main panel, right angularly extending flanges on one of the longitudinal edges of each of said partition forming panels, said flanges disposed adjacent said main panel and said flanges curving progressively downwardly, outwardly and upwardly of the lower ends of said partition forming panels and terminating forwardly of the forward edges of said partition forming panels whereby a plurality of superimposed cigarette packages positioned on said flanges between said partition forming panels will move progressively downwardly and outwardly thereof, each of said partition forming panels having an integral forwardly extending arm notched on its upper edge, an elongated strip having its lower edge notched at intervals therealong engaged in said notches in mating association with said notches in said arms and acting to hold said partition forming panels in parallel position.

2. A multiple bin dispensing rack for cigarette packages as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the outwardly extending portion of the flanges on said partition-forming panels lie on a common plane defining an incline with respect to horizontal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 450,271 White Apr. 14, 1891 673,976 Clampitt May 14, 1901 1,382,092 Kilmer June 21, 1921 1,458,510 Ashton June 12, 1923 1,560,122 Vance Nov. 3, 1925 1,621,971 Curtis Mar. 22, 1927 1,745,784 Davis Feb. 4, 1930 1,790,499 De Wilde Jan, 27, 1931 2,148,382 Stevens Feb. 21, 1939 2,226,626 Mann Dec. 31, 1940 2,272,682 Srodulski Feb. 10, 1942 2,708,859 Adashek May 24, 1955 2,744,634 Conley May 8, 1956 2,826,471 Fonda Mar. 11, 1958 2,867,487 Kirkpatrick Jan. 6, 1959

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