Patent Application
20120055894
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a belt merchandising system for use in point-of-sale displays.
2. Background Art
In retail stores, conventional sales techniques for consumer products typically require that they be displayed on shelves or suspended from hangers such that consumers may readily view them and, when appropriate, remove them for the purpose of examination and evaluation. Typically, consumer products will either be enclosed in packaging, displayed in boxes (e.g., “cut cases”) and/or suspended from a hanger.
Enclosed packaging of products will typically provide a greater protection of the product, and increased theft deterrence. However, for certain products, particularly those which are to be worn by a user, such packaging may interfere with the consumer's evaluation of the product. The opportunity for a customer to come into physical contact with the merchandised article is especially beneficial in the context of wearable merchandise because a prospective consumer will typically desire to handle such merchandise and determine its comfort and fit prior to purchase.
Certain merchandise, such as belts and back support systems, is typically handled by the consumer to evaluate size, fit, function, and comfort. Traditionally, the facilitation of such handling requires the use of very basic packaging (e.g., small hang tags with product information) which will not interfere with such an evaluation. Otherwise, separation of the item from its packaging may occur to permit a desired evaluation. Removal, handling, and fitting by a consumer will often result in separation of such merchandise from its packaging, requiring a retail employee to locate, identify, and reunite the loose merchandise with its appropriate packaging, and in the cases of more complex packaging systems, may require significant effort to properly reattach the packaging to the merchandise. Because of the effort involved at the retail level, merchandise that is separated from its packaging often remains unsold and may be returned to the manufacturer, resulting in decreased efficiency and an increased cost for the manufacturer, retailer and consumer. If more robust packaging methods are used, then the risk instead is that the consumer will be unable to satisfactorily evaluate the product, resulting in a lost sale.
Additionally, removal of merchandise from its packaging may result in higher incidence of theft. Often, wearable merchandise is not suitable for the placement of theft-deterrent devices, or the inclusion of such devices would cause additional expense or hinder the consumer's evaluation of the merchandise. Accordingly, there exists a need for a merchandising system that is configured to securely maintain merchandise-packaging integrity while still providing the consumer an opportunity to handle and properly evaluate wearable merchandise.
In one embodiment, the invention comprises a belt display apparatus utilizing a relatively thin, flexible sheet having a number of loop openings for operatively connecting to a tool belt, and a hanger opening for operatively connecting to a hanger in a retail display location.
In one embodiment, the invention comprises a method of preparing a tool belt for display, comprising operatively connecting a tool belt, and at least one tool belt accessory, to a relatively thin, flexible sheet having a number of loop openings for operatively connecting to a hanger in a retail display location.
In one embodiment, the invention comprises a tool belt merchandising system comprising a tool belt display apparatus, a tool belt, and at least one tool belt accessory, all operatively connected.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.
As shown in
In the embodiment of
One or more hanger openings 8, 10 may also be disposed in pairs, or alternatively, may comprise an odd number (including a single, centrally-disposed opening), depending on anticipated size and spacing of hangers for supporting and displaying the belt display apparatus 2 and tool belt. In the embodiment of
As used herein, the term “opening” when referring to handle openings, loop openings, and hanger openings, means an opening formed in the flexible sheet by any means known in the art. Such means may include, but are not limited to, cutting, die-cutting, or forming during formation of the sheet (e.g., during a molding process). Openings may be of any desired size or shape, and may be configured to have a size and/or shape selected to correspond to a hanger, loop, or other element configured to operatively connect to, and/or pass through, the openings. Modifiers to this term, such as “handle” opening, “loop” opening, and “hanger” opening, are terms of convenience to correlate a certain opening to a preferred size, shape, and/or location in the flexible sheet 4, and should not otherwise be construed as limitations upon the term “opening”.
As used herein, the term “sheet” means a generally planar, suitably flexible object, typically configured to correspond in size and shape to a predetermined tool belt and/or back support element. The sheet is typically configured to be suitable for the dual purposes of securing a tool belt in a retail location, and wrapping at least partially around the body of a consumer during an evaluation of an operatively connected tool belt, without undue interference with such evaluation.
As shown in the embodiment of
As shown in the embodiments of
Typically, the flexible sheet 4 will have a length generally corresponding to that of the back support element 25 of the tool belt 20. In one embodiment, the length of the flexible sheet 4 will be between 80% and 120% of the length of the back support element 25. In one embodiment, the length of the flexible sheet 4 will be between 90% and 110% of the length of the back support element 25. Generally corresponding lengths for the flexible sheet 4 and back support element 25, as well as proper distribution of the loop openings 12, 14 and hanger openings 8, 10 along the length of the flexible sheet 4, will advantageously provide substantial support to the tool belt 20 in a retail display area, a secure connection of tool belt 20 and display apparatus 2, and a balanced and stable positioning of the tool belt 20 in the retail display area. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, substantially corresponding lengths of the flexible sheet 4 and back support element 25 advantageously provide an efficient use of retail space by utilizing approximately the same width of space as is occupied by the back support element 25 of the tool belt 20, and not requiring a display width corresponding to the entire length of the belt 24, which will typically be substantially longer than the back support element 25.
Referring again to
In one embodiment, it may be desirable to utilize a flat surface, such as a table top, to facilitate the operative connecting of the various components of the tool belt display system. Utilizing such a surface, an assembly worker would typically (1) lay the back support element 25 on the surface, (2) position the flexible sheet on the back support element 25 such that the loop openings 12, 14 are generally aligned with loops 30 operatively connected to the back support element 25, (3) pass the loops through the loop openings 12, 14 of the flexible sheet 4, (4) pass the non-buckle end of the belt 24 through a first loop 30 and then through the tunnel loops of any tool belt accessories such as pouches 26, hammer loops 28, tape holders (not shown), etc. and additional loops 30 of the back support element 25, as desired, to achieve a desired configuration of a tool belt 20, such that the flexible sheet 4 is operatively connected generally between the back support element 25 and belt 24. The end(s) of the belt 24 may be secured to the flexible sheet 4, or to one or more tool belt accessories (e.g., pouches 26), by any means known in the art, or may, alternatively, remain unsecured. Securing the end(s) of the belt 24 advantageously decreases the likelihood that the various components of the belt display system 2 will become separated. Other connection elements, e.g., zip ties, staples, and other fasteners, may be used as desired to further secure selected components of the system. In one embodiment, tool belt accessories may be configured with clips instead of tunnel loops, and accordingly, may be clipped to the belt 24 after the belt is operatively connected to the flexible sheet 4.
As shown in the embodiment of
As shown in
An additional advantage of certain embodiments of the tool belt display system as described herein is that it facilitates the configuration and/or reconfiguration of tool belts without destruction of packaging. For example, if it becomes desirable to reconfigure a tool belt 20 that is operatively connected to the flexible sheet 4, only a partial disassembly of the belt display system may be required, as necessary to add, remove, and/or replace a predetermined tool belt accessory.
In one embodiment, product-related information is displayed on the flexible sheet 4. The display of such information may be by any means known in the art. Embodiments of the flexible sheet 4 may comprise a printable material, and/or may be coated or covered in a printable material, to facilitate the inclusion of such information on the flexible sheet 4. In one embodiment, only a portion of the flexible sheet 4, typically that portion expected to be visible after operatively connecting a tool belt 20, will comprise a printable material.
In one embodiment, one or more hang tags may also be operatively connected to the tool belt 20 and/or flexible sheet 4. One advantage of such a configuration is that information generic to a certain class or style of tool belt may be permanently disposed on the flexible sheet 4, while information specific to a certain configuration of tool belt 20 may be disposed on hang tags, which are removable/replaceable as needed to match specific configurations of the tool belt 20.
The flexible sheet 4 may comprise any material know in the art, including but not limited to polycarbonate, vinyl, polyethylene, PVC, and combinations thereof. The flexible sheet may be formed by any means known in the art, and may be of any suitable color, shape, size, and/or configuration. In certain embodiments, the flexible sheet 4 will be configured without sharp edges and/or corners to minimize the risk of injury to a consumer who is handling or wearing the belt display apparatus, and to increase comfort when worn.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.
