Patent Application
20190116977
Not applicable
Not applicable
The present invention relates to shelving systems used to display merchandise in stores. More specifically, the invention relates to decorative panels used to cover standard gondola style store shelves for aesthetic or decorative reasons.
Gondola style shelving systems have been used in retail store settings for more than a half century. An example of a gondola style shelving system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,101,681 granted to E. C. Streater on Aug. 27, 1963.
Gondola style shelving systems are sturdy, safe, durable, easy to assemble, and easy to adjust for the display of merchandise having different sizes, shapes and packaging styles. Gondola style shelving remains ubiquitous in retail store environments for these and other reasons.
Gondola style shelving systems are so sturdy and durable that, once set up, they can stay in place and be used in the same retail space for decades. As such, gondola style shelving is usually painted in a neutral color such as white, gray, beige or black to prevent the gondola style shelving from going out of style. With use over such an extended period, the painted finish on the shelving can become scratched, or lose some of its sheen. Also, the bland coloring is not always desired.
Store managers often want to decorate for holidays using traditional holiday colors and symbols (e.g., red and green and trees for Christmas, orange and black and pumpkins for Halloween, reds and browns and turkeys for Thanksgiving, pastels and bunnies for Easter, reds and pinks and hearts for Valentine's Day, etc.). Likewise, store managers may want a different color scheme or pattern when displaying certain types of merchandise (e.g., green for golf equipment, camouflage patterns for hunting equipment, local school colors for school supplies and back-to-school clothing, team colors for licensed merchandise of professional sports teams, etc.).
Companies that sell merchandise for resale in retail stores understand that sales of their merchandise is impacted by where in the store the merchandise is displayed, the height of the shelves where the merchandise is displayed, and other factors that attract the customer's attention. Merchandise suppliers are willing to compete in any number of ways to ensure their merchandise is displayed as advantageously as possible. However, they are limited in this regard by the uniform and bland nature of gondola style shelving.
Some merchants, or their suppliers, have draped fabric over and around gondola style shelves or attached lights or signage to the shelves. However, there has not existed in the prior art a systematic way to neatly and efficiently cover and treat gondola style store shelves to improve aesthetics of the store environment, or to assist with seasonal decoration of the store. Likewise, there has been no systematic way to neatly and efficiently apply to gondola style shelving, in a non-destructive, temporary way, colors, patterns, trademarks, trade dress or other images and symbols to highlight particular types of merchandise.
The present invention provides inexpensive, yet durable decorative covers for gondola style shelves that can be quickly and conveniently wrapped around a gondola style shelf without even removing the shelf from its supports. Each cover comprises a metal blank having a central section adapted to rest on the top of a gondola style shelf. The central section has opposing front and back edges and opposing side edges extending between the front and back edges. The central section extends across the entire width and depth of the top of a gondola style shelf to cover the top of the shelf.
Extending from each of the opposing sides edges is a side section defined by a scored line extending along a side edge and dividing the side section from the central section. The metal blank is adapted to be bent along these scored lines to transition the side sections from a first position co-planar with the central section to a second position extending downwardly substantially perpendicular to the central section. When the side sections are in this second position and the central plate is positioned on the shelf, the side sections cover the sides of the shelf and prevent side-to-side movement of the cover.
In a similar fashion, a front section, comprising a front cover section and a front tab, extends from the front edge of the central section. The front section is defined by a first front scored line extending along the front edge of the central section between the central section and the front cover section. There is also a second front scored line extending along an edge between the front cover section and the front tab. The metal blank is adapted to be bent along the first front scored line so that the front section moves from a first position co-planar with the central section to a second position extending downwardly substantially perpendicular to the central section. The metal blank is further adapted to be bent along the second front scored line to permit the front tab to then be moved to a capture position in which the tab extends back under the shelf. This prevents the front of the cover from being inadvertently lifted off the front of the shelf during use.
A back section, comprising a back cover section and a back tab, extends from the back edge of the central section. The back section is defined by a first back scored line extending along the back edge of the central section between the central section and the back cover section. There is also a second back scored line extending along an edge between the back cover section and the back tab. The metal blank is adapted to be bent along the first back scored line so that the back section moves from a first position co-planar with the central section to a second position extending downwardly substantially perpendicular to the central section. The metal blank is further adapted to be bent along the second back scored line to cause the back tab to be moved to a capture position in which the back tab extends forward from the back cover section beneath the shelf. This prevents the back of the cover from being inadvertently lifted off the back of the shelf during use. Also, the front and back cover sections, when so bent, cooperate to prevent the cover from sliding back and forth with respect to the shelf.
Each of the bends described above is made by the user without the need for any tools. Installation of the cover on a shelf by a user may be completed in seconds.
Plain metal blanks of the type described above would add nothing (but expense) to a gondola shelving system. For this reason, the entire blank is treated with a decorative finish matching the desire of the user to complete the assembly of the cover.
The finish may be of a solid color or a pattern. If the finish is applied as a liquid paint or using a powder coat finishing process, the finish should be durable, non-brittle and flexible after curing so that the cover can be bent along the scored lines without damaging the finish. Also, one side of the cover may be painted or coated with a first color and the second side of the cover painted or coated with a second color to give options to the user. For example, a cover intended for use at Halloween may be black on one side and orange on the other so that a set of such covers may be employed with the black and orange sides exposed in an alternating fashion on a set of shelves. Likewise, the paint or coating can be applied in multiple coats such that a background color is first applied as a first coat and letters, symbols or other pattern elements are applied as subsequent coats.
Alternatively, the finish may be a polymeric thermoplastic shrink wrap or stretch wrap film to which a color, a pattern, an image, text, a trademark or other advertising material has been applied. The film employed should adhere to the sides of the blank and not bubble or separate from the blank when the blank is bent along the scored lines during installation. When a shrink wrap film is used, the film may be printed and then formed into a bag, or formed into the bag and then pre-printed. A blank is then inserted into the bag. This assembly is then heated to cause the bag to shrink about the blank.
Another alternative finish is a first film panel of printed (e.g., painted or colored) material adhered to a first side of the blank and a second panel of such material adhered to the second side of the blank. The material and adhesive should be selected so that no bubbles or delamination occurs when the blank is bent along the scored lines during installation.
The foregoing features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments, especially when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals depict like parts:
This description of the preferred embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description of this invention. In the description, relative terms such as “lower”, “upper”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “above”, “below”, “up”, “down”, “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “downwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as “connected.”, “connecting”, “attached”, “attaching”, “join” and “joining” are used interchangeably and refer to one structure or surface being secured to another structure or surface or integrally fabricated in one piece, unless expressively described otherwise.
Referring first to
Shelf 10 has a top plate 12, depending and opposing sidewalls 14 and front and back depending walls 16. Integrated or attached to the sidewalls 14 and extending rearwardly of the back wall are hooks 18. The hooks 18 are adapted to engage slots in adjacent vertical rails 20 to secure the shelves in place.
The present invention relates to a cover 30 for such a shelf. See
The blank 31 also comprises side sections 34 and 36. Side sections 34 and 36 project from the side edges 35 and 37 of the central section 32 of the blank 31. The side sections 34 and 36 are defined, in part, by score lines 38 and 39 at the boundaries between the side sections 34/36 and the central section 32. These lines are scored in the sense that the blank 31 from which the cover 30 is formed is treated along each of these lines to make it easier for the user to bend the side sections 34 and 36 relative to the central section 32. More specifically, the user can bend the side sections 34 and 36 from a first position co-planar with center section 32 (see
The blank 31 further comprises a front section 40 projecting from the front of the central section 32. The front section 40 includes a front cover section 42 immediately adjacent the central section 32. The front cover section 42 is attached to the central section 32 along a scored line 44. The metal along line 44 is treated to enable a user to bend the front section 40 from a first position (shown in
The blank 31 of cover 30 also comprises a back section 50. The back section 50 includes a back cover section 52 joined to the central section 32 along a first back scored line 54. Extending from the back cover section 52 along a second back scored line 58 is a back tab 56. The first back scored line 54 allows the back section 50 to be bent from a first position (shown in
From the foregoing, one will appreciate that the cover 30 is easily installed in a matter of seconds without any tools by centering the center section 32 of the cover 30 over the top plate 12 of the shelf, bending side sections 34 and 36 downwardly along the associated scored lines 38 and 39 to prevent side to side movement of the cover 30 relative to the shelf. Installation is completed by bending the front section 40 and back section 50 downwardly along the associated scored lines 44 and 54 and the tabs 46 and 56 inwardly along their associated scored lines 48 and 58. The front section 40 and the back section 50 cooperate to prevent back and forth movement of the shelf cover 30 relative to the shelf 10. The tabs 46 and 56 further cooperate to prevent the cover from lifting off of the shelf 10 inadvertently.
When a user wishes to remove the cover, the user simply bends the tabs 46 and 56 downwardly along scored lines 48 and 58 and lifts the cover 30 off the shelf 10. The cover can then be recycled with other metal items or stored for future use.
The blank 31 of cover 30 may be created in a variety of ways from thin gauge sheet metal such as steel or aluminum. For example, the blank 31 may be formed using a punch and die. The blank may also be formed using a laser jet cutter, a water jet cutter or a torch. Either as part of the same step as forming the blank 31 of as a subsequent step, the scored bend lines the 38, 39, 44, 48, 54 and 58 are formed in the blank. As shown in
Once construction of the blank 31, including formation of the scored lines, is complete, the surfaces of the blank are treated with a finish 70 to complete the cover 30. The finish 70 may provide the blank 31 with a solid color or a patterned finish. The finish 70 may also include a solid background with letters, numbers, shapes, trademarks, or images superimposed over the background. The finish 70 may be paint applied to the blank 31. The finish 70 may also be a film laminated onto the blank 31.
When paints are used, the paints may be a latex paint or an oil based paint. A wide variety of colors are commercially available. When latex paint is used, acrylics, vinyl or rubber based compounds may be added. These compounds will give the paint the ability to bend with the metal because they allow the paint to stretch after it is applied and dried. These compounds will also quicken the drying process. When latex paint is used, it is generally advisable to first apply a primer. This not only will cause the paint to adhere better to the metal blank 31, but will also reduce the risk of oxidation of the metal caused by the paint.
Many consider oil based paint to be a better option when painting metal because oil based paints tend to be more resistant to chipping. Also, the need to use a primer is avoided. Of course, proper ventilation is essential when using oil based paint. Cost can also be an issue because the solvents used to make oil based paint are expensive. Oil based paints typically require more labor to apply and clean up than latex paints.
Whether the paint used is latex or oil based paint, the paint can be applied to the blank 31 in a variety of ways. Preferably, the blanks are either dipped into the paint or the paint is sprayed onto the blank 31 to form a base coat. Spraying is generally preferred when a finish other than a single solid color is desired. A finishing method involving both dipping and spraying may be used. For example, the blank 31 can be dipped to provide a background color and a sprayer used to apply patterns, letters, numbers, trademarks or images over the background color. Alternatively, a base coat of paint can be applied and, when the paint is dry, one or more decals made of a printed thermoplastic material may be applied using a suitable clear adhesive. Further, the background colors can be applied at the factory by the manufacturer of the cover and decals applied at the store by store personnel.
The finish may also be applied using an electrostatic powder coating process. Various thermoplastic or thermoset polymer powders may be used to create a hard finish typically more durable than conventional liquid latex or oil-based paints. Also, several differently colored powders may be applied before curing to provide desirable visual affects. Powder coat finishes are often less likely to chip, scratch, corrode or fade than liquid painted finishes.
Instead of using a painted or powder coated finish, the finish may be a polymeric film applied to the top and bottom surfaces of the blank 31. The film is ideally pre-preprinted and then applied to the blank 31. In some embodiments, an adhesive is used to apply panels of the film to the top and bottom surfaces of the blank 31. In other embodiments, no adhesive is required.
For example, a variety of stretch wrap and shrink wrap films suitable for use are available. Stretch wrap films are highly stretchable polymeric films having elastic recovery properties that tightly bonds the stretch wrap to the blank 31. Shrink wrap films, on the other hand, are applied loosely around the blank 31. Heat is then applied and the wrap shrinks tightly around the blank 31. Linear low-density polyethylene is an example of a stretch wrap material. Examples of shrink wrap materials include polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and polypropylene. Shrink wrap films are useful in the construction of the covers 30, particularly shrink wrap films that are mono-directional, i.e., they shrink in only one direction. This is because it is easier to prevent and control distortion of images printed on the wrap material.
Shrink wrap materials may be formed into bags 100 of a suitable size to hold a blank as illustrated in
The mess, cleanup and drying time associated with applying a paint finish to the blanks 31 is avoided by simply placing the blank 31 in a pre-printed shrink bag 100 made of one of these materials as shown in
The lightweight, flat, finished covers 31 can then be packaged for shipment. A stack comprising a predetermined number of such covers 31 may be boxed or shrink wrapped together for shipment.
This invention has been described herein in considerable detail to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use embodiments of the example as required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different devices and that various modifications can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.
