FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of distribution and display of items stored in a cylindrical form, and more specifically, to a new and useful delivery and display system for distributing and displaying decorative materials.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Decorative ribbon, cord, tape, and other similar items are often wound in a rotary fashion (e.g., onto a spool or around a core) to facilitate space-efficient storage and access to the material by a user. During the distribution and sale of such decorative items, many wound lengths of material are often packaged into a single crate or box for shipping to the retail outlet. Upon reaching the retail store, the material has traditionally been removed from the shipping crate and displayed to the consumers either in a bin through which a customer can sift through the various offerings, or alternatively on shelves where the various containers of material are stacked.
Distributing and displaying decorative materials in this manner has several shortcomings. Unpacking the material upon arrival at the store and arranging it in a display bin or on a shelf necessitates time and effort at the retail store, thus resulting in cost to the store. Additionally, bins and shelves are not ideal display means for these types of items. Bins may be messy and can make it difficult for a customer to locate a particular item. Shelves allow for the items to be stacked more orderly, but access to the items not located on the front of a shelf is often difficult. Furthermore, the amount of shelving required will vary depending upon the amount of inventory carried by the store at any given time. Thus, at times there may be insufficient shelf space available and at other times there may be empty space on the shelves. If a store has completely exhausted its inventory, time and effort must be expended to disassemble and remove the shelving or bins once they are no longer required to avoid using valuable space in the store. Further effort may need to be expended to re-assemble the bins or shelves at a later time when additional inventory arrives. These shortcomings have been further exacerbated by the popularity of warehouse stores. Such stores generally display large quantities of material at any given time, thus requiring a large number of display bins or display shelves.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A distribution and display system is provided that comprises a container having a framework that is preferably built of lightweight, durable wire. The container is capable of storing material wrapped in a cylindrical form during shipping from the manufacturer to the retail store. Upon arrival at the retail store, the container can be used as a display case to display the material on the store floor. The container is stackable such that a plurality of containers can be used to build a complete free-standing sales exhibit. The container in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention allows for automatic replenishment of the front row of material to which the customer has access. For example, when a customer removes a container from the front row of spools in the display container, a container residing behind the removed container will move forward into the front row.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
FIG. 1 is a front view of a display container in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in an empty state.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the display container of FIG. 1, having a series of rolls of decorative ribbon positioned therein.
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the display container of FIG. 1, shown in an empty state.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the display container of FIG. 1 shown in an empty state, and with a portion of the floor removed.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the display container of FIG. 1, shown filled with rolls of decorative ribbon.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a display case comprising a plurality of containers.
FIG. 7 is a front view of a multi-layered container in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown filled with rolls of decorative ribbon.
FIG. 8 is a prospective view of the container of FIG. 7 shown partially filled with rolls of decorative ribbon.
FIG. 9 is a prospective view of the container of FIGS. 7 and 8 shown in a filled state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements, components, subassemblies, etc., FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a distribution and display system in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 7-9 illustrate a display system in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a single container used in a distribution and display system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The container 100 comprises a wire frame having a front 102, a back 302, a top 402, a bottom 404, and two sides 220, 221. The front, back, top, bottom and two sides of the container form an enclosure in which material, such as rolls of decorative ribbon, are stored (see, e.g., FIG. 2). Referring to FIG. 1, a front view of the display container is shown. The front 102 is defined by a plurality of wire members, such as a first and second side members 103a, 103b, a top side member 111, and a bottom member 109. A retaining member 107 extends across the front opening 102, extending from the first side member 103a to the second side member 103b. The retaining member 107 divides the front 102 of the container 100, creating a front opening 106. The size of the front opening 106 is large enough such that material (e.g., rolls of decorative ribbon) stored within the container 100 can be removed by a customer via the front opening 106. The retaining member 107 serves to keep the material properly positioned in the container 100 until a customer intentionally removes one or more rolls of material. The retaining member prevents a round roll of material from rolling out of the front of the container 100.
Referring to FIG. 2, a side view 221 of the container 100 is shown. Each side portion 220, 221 of the container 100 is a mirror image of the opposite side, thus only one side is illustrated. The side portion 221 is defined by the side member 103b, a rear member 205b, a bottom member 209 and a top member 201. A side retaining member 203 extends from the side member 103b to the rear member 205b. The side retaining member 203 prevents material stored within the container 100 from exiting through the side face 221 of the container 100.
Referring to FIG. 3, a rear view of the container 100 is shown. The rear or back 302 of the container is defined by two rear members 205a, 205b, a top rear member 301 and a rear bottom member 303. A rear retaining member 305 extends from the first rear member 205a to the second rear member 205b. The rear retaining member 305 prevents material stored within the container 100 from exiting through the rear of the container 100.
A floor 204 is formed at the bottom of the inside of the container enclosure. In an exemplary embodiment, the floor 204 resides on a floor support grid 206. The floor support grid 206 is shown in FIG. 4 (with a portion of the floor 204 removed) comprises a series of wires that extend between two sides 220, 221. The floor support grid 206 is coupled to the bottom member 209 on each side of the container via one or more support members 207a, 207b (see FIG. 2). The floor 204 is preferably a solid layer placed on the support grid 206 upon which items stored within the enclosure rest. In an exemplary embodiment, the floor 204 is comprised of cardboard. Cardboard provides several advantages. It is lightweight and inexpensive, and easily disposable. Alternatively, however, other materials could be used. The floor 204 could be constructed from a thin plastic layer, or could comprise wire by creating the floor support grid 206 using a high number of wires such that the grid 206 actually becomes the floor 204.
The material such as spools of ribbon contained within the container can be divided into columns using a series of dividing members 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d, 115e, 115f, 115g. In an exemplary implementation as shown in FIGS. 1-4, seven dividing members are used to create eight columns for material. However, alternative configurations could contain various numbers of dividing members depending upon the number of columns desired and the width of the material to be stored. The dividing members 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d, 115e, 115f, 115g extend vertically from the retaining member 107 for a short distance and then the dividing members bend approximately 90 degrees and extend to the back of the container where they are coupled to a rear retaining member 307. In an exemplary embodiment, the dividing members 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d, 115e, 115f, 115g are formed in a fixed position. Alternative embodiments also include coupling the dividing members to the front retaining member 107 and the rear retaining member 307 by, for example, using a sliding ring mounting fixture. This would allow the retaining members to be adjusted to various widths depending on the width of the various materials to be stored in the container 100.
In an exemplary embodiment, the floor 204 is slanted forward, having a rear portion 208 raised with respect to a front portion 210 (see, e.g., FIG. 5). Because of this configuration, gravity tends to cause material stored in the container to move towards the front 102 of the container 100. For example, referring to FIG. 5, eight columns of cylindrically shaped items are shown in the container. The forward-most item 501 of a column is prevented from exiting the container 100 by retaining member 107. By using the slope of the floor 204, the items stored in the container are urged forward toward the retaining member 107. The forward-most item 501 of each row rests against the retaining member 107, and each item behind the forward-most item rests against an item in front of it (e.g., a second item 503 rests against the forward-most item 501, a rear item 505 rests against the second item 503). When a customer desires to remove an item, he or she grasps one of the forward-most items 501 from any column and lifts it such that it clears the retaining member 107 and can be removed through the front opening 106. The item 503 that resides immediately behind the item which has been removed will roll forward to replace the removed item at the front of the enclosure. The remaining item 505 in the row from which an item has been removed will then roll (in the case of the cylindrical rolls shown in the figures as exemplary) forward. In this manner, the front row of items is continuously replenished.
Referring again to FIG. 4, landing portions 407a, 407b, 407c, 407d are located in the corners of the top 402 of the container 100. The top 402 is comprised of top front member 111, two top side members 201a, 201b, and top rear member 303. Comers are formed where the two top side members 201a, 201b join the top front member 111 and the top rear member 303. Landing portions 407a, 407b, 407c, 407d are formed in each corner comprising a flat surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the landing portions 407a, 407b, 407c, 407d are triangular in shape and are formed of metal, although it is understood that alternative configurations could also be used. The landing portions provide a flat, firm surface to allow for several individual containers to be stacked on top of each other. In this manner, a complete free-standing display case can be constructed from a series of containers 100.
Alignment cups 409a, 409b are formed around two or more landing portions. The alignment cups 409a, 409b are raised portions surrounding the outside edges of selected landing portions. The alignment cups facilitate the stacking of several containers by allowing the containers to be easily aligned during the stacking process and by preventing two or more stacked containers from sliding or shifting with respect to each other after stacking. In an exemplary embodiment, two alignment cups are included on the container 100, with the two alignment cups located on opposite corners of the top of the container with respect to each other. While it has been found that two cups provide adequate stability of a display case comprising several stacked containers, alternative embodiments may include alignment cups on three or all four corners for added stability.
Referring to FIG. 6, a free-standing display case 500 constructed from a plurality of containers in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. Four containers 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d (shown without material in them for clarity) are stacked vertically to create a display case for placing the material on display to the customer. While the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 uses four containers, it is understood that any number of containers could be used to build the display case 500. The case 500 is constructed by placing a first container 100a on the floor, and then stacking one or more containers on top of the first container 100a. A second container 100b sits on top of the landing regions 407a, 407b, 407c, 407d of the first container 100a. Two alignment cups 409a, 409b of the first container retain the second container 100b in proper position. Additional containers 100c, 100d are stacked in the same manner to complete the display case 500.
The containers 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d may be used to ship various material from the manufacturer or distributor to a retail location. Thus, when a container arrives at the retail location, it is already filled with the items (e.g., decorative ribbon, cord, tape, etc) that the retailer wishes to display. The lightweight yet sturdy construction of the containers allow the retailer to quickly and easily stack several containers as shown in FIG. 6 and create an aesthetically pleasing free-standing display that allows easy access to the customer of all the items within the containers. Additionally, once the items in one or more containers are completely sold, the container can be quickly removed and discarded while the remaining containers can be easily re-stacked to again form a free-standing display case.
A second exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7-9. As is particularly identified in FIG. 7, a container 700 is shown comprising a frame, preferably made of wire, having a front 730, a back 732, a top 734, a bottom 736 and two sides 738, 739. The front, back, top, bottom, and two sides of the container form a multi-layer enclosure in which layers of material, such as spools of decorative ribbon, are stored. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-9, the container includes five layers 701, 702, 703, 704, 705. It is, however, understood that various numbers of layers could be used. Each layer of the multilayer container is constructed in a similar fashion to that described above with respect to a single layer container, and functions in a similar fashion to a single layer container, as described above. Each layer has a slanted floor (707, 708, 709, 710, 711) which cause material stored in each layer to roll forwards towards a front opening in each layer (715, 716, 717, 718, 719). In a manner similar to that described above for a single layer container, each front opening (715, 716, 717, 718, 719) has a retaining member (720, 721, 722, 723, 724) that extends across the front opening to keep items contained within the container from rolling out.
The multilayer container differs from the single layer container in that, because of its size, it is designed to be restocked by a vendor rather than to be disposable once the items stored within it are sold. While multi-layer containers may be designed to include the features described above to allow for stacking (e.g., in cases where it may be desirable to stack two or more multi-layer containers in order to achieve a container with still more layers than encompassed in any one multi-layer container), the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 7 does not show such features and is not intended to be stackable.
The present invention allows for efficient display of materials such as ribbon, cord, etc. in the same container in which the materials are received. Previously labor intensive steps such as unpacking the material, building display units such as shelves or bins, and organizing the material on the display units are all eliminated by the distribution and display system in accordance with the present invention. The design of the individual containers provide for a sturdy yet lightweight container that allows for automatic replacement of the forward most individual spools of material when a spool is removed from the front of the container. Stacking several containers allows for an aesthetically pleasing, free-standing display to be easily assembled. For these reasons, among others, the distribution and display system in accordance with the present invention provides a marked improvement over distribution and display methods used in the prior art.
The present invention also provides larger, multi-layer containers which are still relatively lightweight and also allow for automatic replacement of the forward most individual spools of material when a spool is removed from the front of the container, but are also capable of being restocked with additional material and reused.
A variety of modifications to the embodiments described will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure provided herein. Thus, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20060043034
