Dewalt W Fowler

US Patent:

49828401, Jan 8, 1991

Filed:

Nov 8, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/434095

Inventors:

Christopher C. Bidwell - Beverly Lake GA
Dewalt W. Fowler - Manchester MO

Assignee:

Paul Flum Ideas, Inc. - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

B65D 6900

US Classification:

206223

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for converting a barrel type unit into an assembly for holding chilled products, particularly, barrel units having an upper annular portion of a smaller circumference as compared to other annular portions thereof, the barrel unit also including top and bottom end closure walls, the method including supplying a kit of separate components including a tub member adapted to hold ice and product positioned therein, and a sizing device for determining the proper location for severing the barrel side wall, the tub member having an annular support flange associated with the upper portion thereof adapted to be cooperatively engageable with a peripheral edge portion of the barrel unit when the barrel unit is severed at a particular location therearound, the sizing device enabling a user to locate the particular location on the barrel side wall at which to sever the same such that the annular edge resulting therefrom will be compatible with the annular support flange associated with the tub member. Once the proper severance location is determined, the barrel unit is severed at such predetermined location and the tub member is positioned therewithin such that the annular support flange engages the severed edge portion of the barrel unit. The tub member may also include a fluid outlet to drain the waste water from the melted ice which will accumulate therein, and drain tubing can be provided and attached to conduct the waste water from the tub member to a suitable location exterior the assembly.

US Patent:

51995840, Apr 6, 1993

Filed:

Jan 23, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/824296

Inventors:

Dewalt W. Fowler - Manchester MO
Robert J. Swain - Creve Coeur MO

Assignee:

Paul Flum Ideas, Inc. - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

A47F 500

US Classification:

211184

Abstract:

A variable shelf organizer for merchandising products therefrom capable of being assembled to accommodate any shelf width and any product dimension including a substantially flat product supporting floor member having a plurality of channel-like spaces associated therewith for cooperatively receiving any one of a plurality of divider members, each divider member being selectively engageable with the channel-like spaces to form any number of segregated product guide channels for arranging products therebetween, the width of each such product guide channel being selectively adjustable by engaging the respective divider members forming the same with different pairs of the channel-like spaces thereby varying the distance between any two adjacent divider members. The product supporting floor member further includes a joinder mechanism enabling a plurality of similarly constructed floor members to be cooperatively engaged in side-by-side relationship with one another so as to form an assembled organizer unit capable of accommodating any particular shelf width.

US Patent:

56950756, Dec 9, 1997

Filed:

Apr 9, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/629533

Inventors:

Paul L. Flum - Ladue MO
Dewalt W. Fowler - Manchester MO
Keith Harbour - Florissant MO

Assignee:

Paul Flum Ideas, Inc. - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

A47F 700

US Classification:

211 592

Abstract:

A gravity feed product merchandising display device for suspending a plurality of product containers in parallel rows therefrom, the display device comprising one or more adjacent product channels adaptable for receiving the cap or closure portion associated with a wide variety of product containers when positioned therewithin, each product channel including a pair of rail members for engaging the product containers positioned therebetween whereby the product containers are slidably movable therealong towards the front portion of the device for easy access and removal therefrom, and a stop member positioned adjacent the front portion of each product channel, the stop member including a generally forwardly facing aperture located in communication with each respective product channel, the stop member aperture being sized and shaped to engage the closure portion of the lead product container in each product channel so as to prevent its passage through the aperture when the product container is oriented in its suspended free state orientation but being sized and shaped so as to allow the closure portion of each product container to pass therethrough when the product container is angularly oriented at at least a minimum predetermined angle relative to its suspended free state orientation. The present invention also discloses several optional configurations and various components for accommodating product containers having differently sized neck and closure portions. Several methods for manufacturing the present display devices are also disclosed herein.

US Patent:

61423165, Nov 7, 2000

Filed:

Apr 1, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/053572

Inventors:

Keith Harbour - Springfield IL
Christopher C. Bidwell - Dunwoody GA
Donald J. Miller - Belleville IL
Dewalt W. Fowler - Manchester MO
William B. McWilliams - Columbia MO

Assignee:

Paul Flum Ideas, Inc. - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

A47F 112
A47B 7300

US Classification:

211 592

Abstract:

A product module adaptable for interlocking engagement with other similarly constructed modules to form a composite display assembly for merchandising products therefrom, each product module including at least one elongated product channel defined by a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side walls and a substantially planar product supporting floor portion extending therebetween, each product channel including a product graphic panel which is removably attachable to the front portion of each product channel via a wide variety of different constructional arrangements. Each product graphic panel is preferably dimensioned such that when it is attached to the front portion of a particular product channel, the graphic panel will substantially overlay the product identification and graphics associated with the lead product container positioned within that particular product channel. The present product modules may also optionally include an adjustable mechanism for adjusting the fore and aft position of such module relative to the front portion of an underlying support structure upon which the modules may rest. Still other optional features associated with the present product modules function to more effectively facilitate their utilization in a wide variety of different merchandising applications.

US Patent:

49828495, Jan 8, 1991

Filed:

Mar 5, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/489027

Inventors:

Paul L. Flum - Ladue MO
Dewalt W. Fowler - Manchester MO

Assignee:

Paul Flum Ideas, Inc. - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

A47B 4700
A47B 5704

US Classification:

211 592

Abstract:

An adapter member for angularly orienting at least one horizontally disposed shelf member in a modular display unit having one or more similar shelf members vertically arranged in spaced apart relationship one above the other and a plurality of support members disposed therebetween, the adapter member having first and second opposed end portions, the first adapter end portion being adapted to cooperatively engage respective upper and lower portions associated with each of the shelf members, the second adapter end portion being adapted to cooperatively engage the opposed end portions of each of the support members, the first and second adapter end portions being angularly related and tranversely offset relative to each other such that when a plurality of adapter members are operatively positioned between and engaged with the respective shelf members and support members forming the modular display unit, the shelf members engaged with the adapter members will be angularly oriented relative to the horizontal and the support members will be in corresponding vertical alignment with each other throughout the unit. The present adapter is constructed so as to be compatible and engageable with the cooperatively engageable components associated with many known modular display units, and conversion is achieved by integrally incorporating a plurality of the present adapter members into such units in a particular combination and orientation with existing components to form the desired configuration.

US Patent:

56240422, Apr 29, 1997

Filed:

Jun 15, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/259889

Inventors:

Paul L. Flum - Ladue MO
Dewalt W. Fowler - Manchester MO
Donald J. Miller - Belleville IL

Assignee:

Paul Flum Ideas, Inc. - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

A47F 104

US Classification:

211 592

Abstract:

A product support module adaptable for interlocking engagement with substantially similarly constructed modules to form a selectable width composite display assembly for merchandising products therefrom, each product module including a plurality of friction keeper members associated with one side edge portion of the module and a plurality of corresponding keying slots associated with its opposite side edge portion, the keeper members being substantially T-shaped in cross-section and each including a stem portion and an overhanging flange portion, the stem portion associated with at least the front keeper member being outwardly tapered along its entire length from bottom to top such that the mating surface formed between the stem portion and the overhanging flange portion forms an angle with the front wall side portion of the module. The taper associated with at least the front keeper stem portion enables its corresponding slot to become progressively tighter as the slot is moved progressively downwardly over the front keeper stem portion. The thickness of the wall portion forming the front keying slot may likewise be similarly tapered from bottom to top so as to be compatible with the taper associated with the front keeper stem portion to further improve the locking capability therebetween.

US Patent:

50481711, Sep 17, 1991

Filed:

Mar 2, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/499994

Inventors:

Christopher C. Bidwell - Berkely Lake GA
Dewalt W. Fowler - Manchester MO

Assignee:

Paul Flum Ideas, Inc. - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

B21K 2116

US Classification:

294011

Abstract:

A method for converting a barrel type unit into an assembly for holding chilled products, particularly, barrel units having an upper annular portion of a smaller circumference as compared to other annular portions thereof, the barrel unit also including top and bottom end closure walls, the method including supplying a kit of separate components including a tub member for holding ice and product positioned therein, and a sizing device for determining the proper location for severing the barrel side wall, the tub member having an annular support flange associated with the upper portion thereof for cooperatively engaging with a peripheral edge portion of the barrel unit when the barrel unit is severed at a particular location therearound, the sizing device enabling a user to locate the particular location on the barrel side wall at which to sever the same such that the annular edge resulting therefrom will be compatible with the annular support flange associated with the tub member. Once the proper severance location is determined, the barrel unit is severed at the predetermined location and the tub member is positioned therewithin such that the annular support flange engages the severed edge portion of the barrel unit. The tub member may also include a fluid outlet to drain the waste water from the melted ice which will accumulate therein, and drain tubing can be provided and attached to conduct the waste water from the tub member to a suitable location exterior the assembly.

US Patent:

D3589552, Jun 6, 1995

Filed:

Mar 1, 1994

Appl. No.:

D/019361

Inventors:

Dewalt W. Fowler - Manchester MO

Assignee:

Paul Flum Ideas, Inc. - St. Louis MO

US Classification:

D 6495