Tray unit

Claim 2

A merchandise vending unit having an automatic merchandise advancing means, said unit comprising: a tray having a bottom wall adapted to support a quantity of individual merchandise items; said tray having a front rim and being of a size and shape to retain said items in a longitudinally disposed layer extending rearwardly from said rim; and advancing means affixed to said bottom wall and engageable with a normally rearwardmost one of said items to automatically shift the remaining ones of said items forwardly in said tray when the normally forwardmost one of said items is removed therefrom whereby the next remaining forwardmost item is adjacent said rim, said advancing means including a roll of extensible sheet material having a memory to render the same self-winding, said material including a stretch underlying said items when in a partially extended condition, said advancing means presenting a rolled portion of said material rearwardly of said rearmost item when the advancing means is in engagement with the said rearmost item, said material having an end affixed to said bottom wall proximal said forward rim of said tray whereby said items in the tray are biased in the direction of said rim by said rolled portion, said advancing means further including a cylindrically shaped roller about which said rolled portion of material is wound, said roller being disposed transversely of said material and in contact with said rearmost item.

Claim 3

A tray unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said material is affixed to said bottom wall at a plane lower than that of the bottom of said items.

Claim 4

A tray unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said roller is provided with a radial flange at each end thereof, said flanges being in said contact with said rearmost item and said material being disposed between said flanges and out of contact with said rearmost item.

Claim 5

A merchandise vending unit having an automatic merchandise advancing means, said unit comprising: a tray having a bottom wall adapted to support a quantity of individual merchandise items; said tray having a front rim and being of a size and shape to retain said items in a longitudinally disposed layer extending rearwardly from said rim; and advancing means affixed to said bottom wall and engageable with a normally rearwardmost one of said items to automatically shift the remaining ones of said items forwardly in said tray when the normally forwardmost one of said items is removed therefrom whereby the next remaining forwardmost item is adjacent said rim, said advancing means including a roll of extensible sheet material having a memory to render the same self-winding, said bottom wall being provided with a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally disposed ribs to support said items in a vertically spaced relationship relative to said bottom wall.

Claim 6

A merchandise vending unit having an automatic merchandise advancing means, said unit comprising: a tray having a bottom wall adapted to support a quantity of individual merchandise items; said tray having a front rim and being of a size and shape to retain said items in a longitudinally disposed layer extending rearwardly from said rim; and advancing means affixed to said bottom wall and engageable with a normally rearwardmost one of said items to automatically shift the remaining ones of said items forwardly in said tray when the normally forwardmost one of said items is removed therefrom whereby the next remaining forwardmost item is adjacent said rim, said advancing means including a roll of extensible sheet material having a memory to render the same self-winding, said bottom wall being provided with a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally disposed ribs to support said items in a vertically spaced relationship relative to said bottom wall.

Claim 7

A tray unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein said material is loCated between said ribs, the space between said ribs defining a path along which said material is extended beneath said items.

Claim 8

A tray unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said advancing means includes an elongated roller about which said material is wrapped, said roller being disposed transversely of and supported by said ribs rearwardly of said rearmost item, said roller further having radial end flanges in contact with said rearmost item.

Claim 9

A merchandise vending unit having an automatic merchandise advancing means, said unit comprising: a tray having a bottom wall adapted to support a quantity of individual merchandise items; said tray having a front rim and being of a size and shape to retain said items in a longitudinally disposed layer extending rearwardly from said rim; and advancing means affixed to said bottom wall and engageable with a normally rearwardmost one of said items to automatically shift the remaining ones of said items forwardly in said tray when the normally forwardmost one of said items is removed therefrom whereby the next remaining forwardmost item is adjacent said rim; said advancing means including a roll of extensible sheet material having a memory to render the same self-winding, said material including a stretch underlying said items when in a partially extended condition, said advancing means presenting a rolled portion of said material rearwardly of said rearmost item when the advancing means is in engagement with the said rearmost item, said material having an end affixed to said bottom wall proximal said forward rim of said tray whereby said items in the tray are biased in the direction of said rim by said rolled portion. said rolled portion being in a raised position relative to said bottom wall, said advancing means engaging the rearwardmost item at a point above the lower, rearmost edge thereof, said forward rim being of a sufficient height with respect to said portion to prevent the items from tipping forwardly relative to said tray in response to the forward bias of said advancing means.

Claim 10

A merchandise vending unit having an automatic merchandise advancing means, said unit comprising: a tray having a bottom wall adapted to support a quantity of individual merchandise items; said tray having a front rim and being of a size and shape to retain said items in a longitudinally disposed layer extending rearwardly from said rim; and advancing means affixed to said bottom wall and engageable with a normally rearwardmost one of said items to automatically shift the remaining ones of said items forwardly in said tray when the normally forwardmost one of said items is removed therefrom whereby the next remaining forwardmost item is adjacent said rim; said advancing means including a roll of extensible sheet material having a memory to render the same self-winding, said material including a stretch underlying said items when in a partially extended condition, said advancing means presenting a rolled portion of said material rearwardly of said rearmost item when the advancing means is in engagement with the said rearmost item, said material having an end affixed to said bottom wall proximal said forward rim of said tray whereby said items in the tray are biased in the direction of said rim by said rolled portion. said rolled portion being in a raised position relative to said bottom wall, said advancing means engaging the rearwardmost item at a point above the lower, rearmost edge thereof, said forward rim being of a sufficient height with respect to said portion to prevent the items from tipping forwardly relative to said tray in response to the forward bias of said advancing means.