BACKGROUND
Businesses, such as retail stores, use a variety of display structures to present products and related information to customers for purchase. Hang bars or crossbars are components that are used with display structures to support hanging products that are being offered for sale. Shelves are display structures used for supporting products and may be attached to uprights on a gondola display unit.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
SUMMARY
A display unit includes at least one shelf having a first side, an opposing second side, a pair of brackets and at least one hang bar that is mounted to and protrudes from the first side or the second side. The at least one shelf is configured in a first orientation or a second orientation. In the first orientation, the pair of brackets are configured to orient the first side to face in an upward direction and the opposing second side to face in a downward direction. In the second orientation, the pair of brackets are configured to orient the first side to face in a forward direction and the opposing second side to face in a backward direction.
A display unit includes at least one shelf including a first side, an opposing second side, a pair of brackets and at least one hang bar that is mounted to and protrudes from the first side or the second side. A tower assembly including a back frame having a pair of vertical components with a plurality of front facing slots and a pair of right and left side angled frames coupled to the back frame. The at least one shelf is mounted inside the tower assembly by mating the pair of brackets with front facing slots in the pair of vertical components. The at least one shelf is configured into one of a first orientation and a second orientation. In the first orientation, the first side faces in an upward direction and the second side faces in a downward direction. In the second orientation, the first side faces in a forward direction and the second side faces in a backward direction.
A method of displaying merchandise includes mounting at least one shelf inside a tower assembly. The at least one shelf includes a first side, an opposing second side, a pair of brackets, and at least one hang bar that is mounted to and protrudes from the first side or the second side. The tower assembly includes a back frame having a pair of vertical components with a plurality of front facing slots that receive the pair of brackets of the at least one shelf and a pair of right and left side angled frames coupled to the back frame. The method further includes configuring the at least one shelf into a first orientation or a second orientation. In the first orientation, the first side faces in an upward direction and the opposing second side faces in a downward direction. In the second orientation, the first side faces in a forward direction and the second side faces in a backward direction.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display unit including a tower assembly according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the tower assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the tower assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the tower assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a front view of the tower assembly illustrated in FIG. 1 with a crossbar for mounting to a gondola display fixture.
FIG. 6 is a top view of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a right side view of FIG. 5.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 5 showing a bracket of the tower assembly engaged with the crossbar.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing the bracket of the tower assembly disengaged with the crossbar.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a shelf configured for use with the tower assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 in a second orientation according to an embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a perspective of the shelf of FIG. 10 in a first orientation according to an embodiment.
FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the shelf in FIGS. 10 and 11.
FIG. 13 is a front view of FIG. 11.
FIG. 14 is a right side view of FIG. 11.
FIG. 15 is a front view of FIG. 10.
FIG. 16 is a perspective of a shelf configured for use with the tower assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 in a first orientation according to an embodiment.
FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the shelf in FIG. 16.
FIG. 18 is a front view of FIG. 16.
FIG. 19 is a right side view of FIG. 16.
FIG. 20 is a top view of FIG. 16.
FIG. 21 is a bottom view of FIG. 16.
FIG. 22 is a front view of the shelf of FIG. 16 configured for use with the tower assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 in a second orientation according to an embodiment.
FIG. 23 is a back view of FIG. 22.
FIG. 24 is a top view of FIG. 22.
FIG. 25 is a right side view of FIG. 22.
FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a pair of shelves mounted inside the tower assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 according to an embodiment.
FIG. 27 is a front view of FIG. 26.
FIG. 28 is a right side view of FIG. 26.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments described herein include a display unit with at least one shelf so that the shelf may be configured to display merchandise in different ways including the shelf being oriented in a first orientation and being oriented in a second orientation. The display unit also includes a tower assembly. The at least one shelf is mounted inside the tower assembly. More than one shelf may be mounted inside the tower assembly and spaced vertically apart from each other and one or more display units may be mounted to a gondola display fixture.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display unit 100 according to an embodiment. Display unit 100 includes a tower assembly 101 having a back frame 102, a right side angled frame 104, a left side angled frame 106, a base tie plate 108, a top tie plate 110 and a pair of metal mesh weldments 112 and 114. Right and left side angled frames 104 and 106 have a depth dimension 107 and 109 at their tops and a depth dimension 111 and 113 at their bottoms. Dimensions 107 and 109 are greater than dimensions 111 and 113, respectively. Metal mesh weldment 112 is located inside right side angled frame 104 and metal mesh weldment 114 is located inside left side angled frame 106. In one embodiment, metal mesh weldments 112 and 114 are welded to the insides of frames 104 and 106, respectively.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of tower assembly 101. As illustrated and in one embodiment, base tie plate 108 is fastened to a front bottom corner of right side angled frame 104. Likewise, the opposing end of base tie plate 108 is fastened to a front bottom corner of left side angled frame 106. Opposing ends of top tie plate 110 are fastened to front top corners of right side angled frame 104 and left side angled frame 106. Further and in one embodiment, back frame 102 is fastened to back top corners of right side angled frame 104 and left side angled frame 106 and back bottom corners of right side angled frame 104 and left side angled frame 106.
FIG. 3 is a front view of tower assembly 101. In one embodiment, back frame 102 includes a plurality of slots located on portions of the front faces of the vertical components 103 and 105 of back frame 102. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of tower assembly 101 including select slots of the plurality of slots 116. Slots 116 are configured to receive brackets for the mounting of display components. While slots 116 are illustrated as extending from a bottom of the front faces of vertical components 103 and 105 to an area of back frame 102 that is greater than half way up the back frame, but less than three-fourths the way up the back frame, it should be recognized that slots 116 can be located on any portion of the front faces of vertical components 103 and 105 for receiving display components.
FIG. 5 is a front view, FIG. 6 is a top view and FIG. 7 is a right side view of display unit 100 with a crossbar 120 for mounting tower assembly 101 to a gondola display fixture. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 5 showing a support 126 of tower assembly 101 engaged with crossbar 120, and FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing support 126 of tower assembly 101 disengaged from crossbar 120. As previously described and under one embodiment, one or more display units 100 may be mounted to a gondola display fixture and, under another embodiment, display units 100 may be horizontally spaced apart from each other along the gondola display fixture. Each display unit 100 is mounted to a gondola display fixture with a cross bar 120. The opposing ends of each cross bar 120 include brackets 122 and 124 that are mounted into slots in standard uprights of the gondola display fixture. The back faces of each vertical component 103 and 105 of back frame 102 (that oppose the front faces of each vertical component 103 and 105 that include slots 116) includes supports 126 and 127. As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 and in one embodiment, supports 126 and 127 are slid over the main body of cross bar 120 to securely mount display unit 100 and therefore tower assembly 101 to a gondola display fixture.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a shelf 200 according to an embodiment. In this embodiment, shelf 200 is a rotatable shelf and in FIG. 10 is oriented in a second orientation. FIG. 11 is a perspective of rotatable shelf 200 in a first orientation. FIG. 12 is an exploded view of rotatable shelf 200. Rotatable shelf 200 includes a first side 227, an opposing second side 229, a base 230, a backing 232, a slat wall 234, a hang bar 236, a bracket support 238 and a pair of brackets 240 and 242. FIG. 13 is a front view of rotatable shelf 200 in the first orientation, FIG. 14 is a right side view of rotatable shelf 200 in the first orientation and FIG. 15 is a front view of rotatable shelf 200 in the second orientation.
Base 230 includes a first surface 244 and an opposing second surface 246. As illustrated in FIG. 12, slat wall 234 and hang bar 236 are mounted to second surface 246 of base 230 and therefore second side 229 of rotatable shelf 200. In particular, slat wall 234 is directly mounted to second surface 246 and hang bar 236 is mounted to second surface 246 through slat wall 234. Hang bar 236 therefore protrudes from second surface 246 of base 230. In the illustrated embodiment, hang bar 236 is mounted so that it aligns and couples with a top of a first slat 248 in slat wall 234. First slat 248 is located closer to a free end 250 of base 230 compared to other slats in slat wall 234. However, in other embodiments, hang bar 236 may be mounted so that it aligns and couples with a different slat than first slat 248 in slat wall 234. Fixed end 252 of base 230 is coupled to backing 232 and backing 232 is coupled to bracket support 238. First bracket 240 is attached to a first end 254 of bracket support 238 and second bracket 242 is attached to a second end 256 of bracket support 238.
As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 15, rotatable shelf 200 may be configured in the second orientation. In other words, second side 229, second surface 246, slat wall 234 and the slats on slat wall 234 as well as hang bar 236 are oriented to face in a forward direction 260, while first side 227 and first surface 244 of base 230 face in a backward direction 262. In one embodiment, first side 227 and first surface 244 face a back wall of a gondola display fixture where rotatable shelf 200 is directly coupled to uprights of the gondola display unit with brackets 240 and 242. In another embodiment, first side 227 and first surface 244 face a back wall of a gondola display fixture where rotatable shelf 200 is directly coupled to slots in vertical components 103 and 105 in back frame 102 of tower assembly 101 and display unit 100 is directly coupled to uprights of the gondola display fixture. In the second orientation, hang bar 236 protrudes outwardly toward customers or guests. In one embodiment, merchandise, such as hanging merchandise, may be directly hung on hang bar 236 for display. In another embodiment, saddle mount peg hooks, face out bars, waterfalls and hooks may be coupled to hang bar 236 to present hanging merchandise in alternative ways.
As illustrated in FIGS. 11, 13 and 14, rotatable shelf 200 may be configured in the first orientation. In other words, second side 229, second surface 246, slat wall 234 and the slats on slat wall 234 as well as hanger 236 are oriented to face in a downward direction 264, while first side 227, first surface 244 of base 230 is oriented to face in an upward direction 266. In this configuration, free end 250 faces in forward direction 260. In the first orientation, hang bar 236 protrudes in a downward direction 264 to face a base deck of the gondola display fixture. In this embodiment, merchandise, such as hanging merchandise, may be directly hung on hang bar 236 for display. In addition, merchandise may rest on first surface 244 for display. In this first orientation, the display may become viable for cross-merchandising, which is the retail practice of marketing or displaying products from different categories together on the same display.
The pair of brackets 240 and 242 are configured to orient rotatable shelf 200 in one of the first orientation and the second orientation. Each of first bracket 240 and second bracket 242 of rotatable shelf 200 includes a slot 241 and a slot 243, respectively. Slots 241 and 243 are coupled to base 230 using hardware. The hardware guides and holds rotatable shelf 200 in the first orientation illustrated in FIG. 11 by holding the hardware in a first position within slots 241 and 243. The hardware also guides and holds rotatable shelf 200 in the second orientation illustrated in FIG. 10 by holding the hardware in a second position within slots 241 and 243.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a shelf 300 configured for use with tower assembly 101 illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 in a first orientation according to another embodiment. FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of shelf 300, FIG. 18 is a front view of shelf 300 in the first orientation, FIG. 19 is a right side view of shelf 300 in the first orientation, FIG. 20 is a top view of shelf 300 in the first orientation and FIG. 21 is a bottom view of shelf 300 in the first orientation.
Shelf 300 includes a first side 327, an opposing second side 329, a support frame 330, a base 332, a first hang bar 334, a second hang bar 336 and a pair of brackets 340 and 342. Support frame 330 includes a first widthwise member 331, an opposing second widthwise member 333, a first right side member 335 that joins the first and second widthwise members 331 and 333 on a right side and a second right side member 337 that joins the first and second widthwise members 331 and 333 on a left side. Base 332 includes a first surface 344 and an opposing second surface 346 and is located inside members 331, 333, 335 and 337 of support frame 330. In this way, each of members 331, 333, 335 and 337 of support frame 330 also includes a first surface 345 and each of members 331, 333, 335 and 337 of support frame 220 includes an opposing second surface 347. First surface 345 of support frame 330 is located adjacent to first surface 344 of base 332 and second surface 347 of support frame 330 is located adjacent to second surface 346 of base 332.
As illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17, first hang bar 334 includes a first end 339 mounted to first surface 345 of support frame 330 at first right side member 335 in a location where second widthwise member 333 joins first right side member 335. First hang bar 334 includes a second end 341 mounted to first surface 345 of support frame 330 at second left side member 337 in a location where second widthwise member 333 joins second left side member 337. First hang bar 334 therefore protrudes from first side 327 of shelf 300 and first surface 345 of support frame 330. Second hang bar 336 includes a first end 343 mounted to second surface 346 of base 332 and a second end 349 (FIG. 18) also mounted to second surface 346 of base 332. First end 343 is mounted to second surface 346 of base 332 in a location that is spaced apart from the location that second end 349 is mounted to second surface 346. In particular, first end is mounted adjacent to first right side member 335 of support frame 330 and second end 349 is mounted adjacent to second left side member 337 of support frame 330. Second hang bar 336 therefore protrudes from second side 329 of shelf 300 and second surface 347 of support frame 330.
In the first orientation illustrated in FIGS. 16-21, second side 329 of shelf 300 is oriented to face in a downward direction 364, while first side 327 of shelf 300 is oriented to face in an upward direction 366. Also in this first orientation, first widthwise member 331 of support frame 330 is a front member and faces in forward direction 360 and second widthwise member 333 is a back member and faces in backward direction 362. Second hang bar 336 protrudes in downward direction 364 to face a base deck of the gondola display fixture. In this first orientation, merchandise, such as hanging merchandise, may be directly hung on second hang bar 336 for display. In addition, merchandise may rest on first surface 344 of base 330 for display. Therefore, the display may become viable for cross-merchandising, which is the retail practice of marketing or displaying products from different categories together on the same display.
FIG. 22 is a front view of shelf 300 configured for use with tower assembly 101 illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 in a second orientation according to an embodiment. FIG. 23 is a back view of shelf 300 in the second orientation, FIG. 24 is a top view of shelf 300 in the second orientation and FIG. 25 is a right side view of shelf 300 in the second orientation.
In the second orientation, first side 327 of shelf 300 and first surface 344 of base 332 are oriented to face in a forward direction 360, while second side 329 of shelf 300 and second surface 346 of base 332 are oriented to face in a backward direction 362. In one embodiment, second side 329 and second surface 346 face a back wall of a gondola display fixture where shelf 300 is directly coupled to uprights of the gondola display unit with brackets 340 and 342. In another embodiment, second side 329 and second surface 346 face a back wall of a gondola display fixture where shelf 300 is directly coupled to slots in vertical components 103 and 105 in back frame 102 of tower assembly 101 and display unit 100 is directly coupled to uprights of the gondola display fixture. In the second orientation, first hang bar 334 protrudes from first side 327 outwardly toward customers or guests in forward direction 360. In one embodiment, merchandise, such as hanging merchandise, may be directly hung on first hang bar 334 for display. In another embodiment, saddle mount peg hooks, face out bars, waterfalls and hooks may be coupled to first hang bar 334 to present hanging merchandise in alternative ways.
The pair of brackets 340 and 342 are configured to orient shelf 300 in one of the first orientation and the second orientation. Each of first bracket 340 and second bracket 342 of rotatable shelf 200 includes four sides: a first side 370, a second side 371, a third side 372 and a fourth side 373. First side 370 and third side 372 are parallel to each other and second side 371 and fourth side 373 are parallel to each other and perpendicular to first side 370 and third side 372. Each of first bracket 340 and second bracket 342 also include a set of first hooks and a set of second hooks. The set of first hooks includes hooks 374 and 375 and the set of second hooks includes hooks 376 and 377. Protruding from first side 370 are the set of first hooks 374 and 375 and protruding from second side 371 are the set of second hooks 376 and 377.
Bracket 340 is mounted to the outer side of first right side member 335 and bracket 342 is mounted to the outer side of second left side member 337. When shelf 300 is oriented in the first orientation, first sides 370 of brackets 340 and 342 are in alignment with the back of support frame 330, the first set of hooks 374 and 375 protrude in the backward direction 362 from support frame 330 and the second set of hooks 376 and 377 protrude in the downward direction 364 from support frame 330. In this way, the first set of hooks 374 and 375 are used to mount shelf 300 to tower assembly 101 so that shelf 300 is in the first orientation. When shelf 300 is oriented in the second orientation, first sides 370 of brackets 340 and 342 are in alignment with the top of support frame 330, the first set of hooks 374 and 375 protrude in the upward direction 366 and the second set of hooks 376 and 377 protrude in the backward direction 362. In this way, the second set of hooks 376 and 377 are used to mount shelf 300 to tower assembly 101 so that shelf 300 is in the second orientation.
FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a pair of shelves 300a and 300b mounted inside tower assembly 101 according to an embodiment. It should be realized that a pair of rotatable shelves, such as rotatable shelf 200, could in the alternative be mounted inside tower assembly 100. In particular, shelves 300a and 300b are mounted inside tower assembly 100 by mating each of their pair of brackets 342 and 344 with the front facing slots 116 of vertical components 103 and 105 of back frame 102. However, before mounting shelves 300a and 300b inside tower assembly 101, tower assembly 101 is mounted to a gondola display fixture using cross bar 120 as shown in FIGS. 5-9.
FIG. 27 is a front view of FIG. 26 and FIG. 28 is a right side view of FIG. 26. In FIGS. 26-28, upper shelf 300a is oriented in the second orientation and lower shelf 300b is oriented in the first orientation. It should be realized that any number of shelves 300 may be mounted to tower assembly 101 and the shelves 300 that are mounted to display structure 100 may be in either the first or the second orientation. For example, in FIGS. 26-28, upper shelf 300a may include a saddle mount face out bar that supports hanging merchandise along a forward direction from back frame 102 of display unit 100 towards the customer or guest, while lower shelf 300b may support hanging merchandise between right side angled frame 104 and left side angled frame 106 of display unit 100
Although elements have been shown or described as separate embodiments above, portions of each embodiment may be combined with all or part of other embodiments described above.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
Patent Application
20200085190
