Patent Application
20160106235
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to display units for merchandise. In particular, the invention relates to a modular display unit that can be configured as a counter top display unit or a floor stand display unit.
2. the Prior Art
Various display devices for displaying items of merchandise to potential consumers are known.
A need exists, however for a modular display unit which can be readily assembled in various configurations, including a counter top display unit and a floor stand display unit. A need further exists for a lightweight, high strength display unit which can accommodate a wide variety of merchandise of various types by positioning horizontal tray and/or shelf elements and hanging product supports in a suitable configuration.
A need also exists for a display unit which provides enhanced ease of manufacture, shipment and assembly by including hinged universal vertical support members which can be positioned to serve as either right side or left side vertical support members and folded substantially flat to provide a compact, disassembled unit for shipping.
A display unit is provided. The display unit includes a first tray having a first tray front wall, a first tray rear wall, a first tray first side wall, a first tray second side wall, a first tray upper merchandise support surface, a first tray underside surface and a first tray plurality of tab receiving slots. A second tray is disposed over and spaced apart from the first tray, and includes a second tray front wall, a second tray rear wall, a second tray first side wall, a second tray second side wall, a second tray upper merchandise support surface, a second tray underside surface and a second tray plurality of tab receiving slots.
A first vertical support member is disposed between the first tray and the second tray and includes a first vertical support member side panel, a first vertical support member rear panel, a plurality of first vertical support member lower tabs and a plurality of first vertical support member upper tabs.
The first vertical support member side panel runs substantially parallel and adjacent to the first tray first side wall and second tray first side wall and extends between the first tray upper merchandise support surface and second tray underside surface. The first vertical support member rear panel is hingedly coupled to the first vertical support member side panel, runs substantially parallel and adjacent to the first tray rear wall and second tray rear wall and extends between the first tray upper merchandise support surface and second tray underside surface.
The plurality of first vertical support member lower tabs is disposed on a lower portion of the first vertical support member. Each of the first vertical support member lower tabs engages an associated tab receiving slot of the first tray plurality of tab receiving slots. The plurality of first vertical support member upper tabs is disposed on an upper portion of the first vertical support member. Each of the first vertical support member upper tabs engages an associated tab receiving slot of the second tray plurality of tab receiving slots.
A second vertical support member is disposed between the first tray and the second tray and includes a second vertical support member side panel, a second vertical support member rear panel, a plurality of second vertical support member lower tabs and a plurality of second vertical support member upper tabs.
The second vertical support member side panel runs substantially parallel and adjacent to the first tray second side wall and the second tray second side wall and extends between the first tray upper merchandise support surface and second tray underside surface. The second vertical support member rear panel is hingedly coupled to the second vertical support member side panel, runs substantially parallel and adjacent to the first tray rear wall and second tray rear wall and extends between the first tray upper merchandise support surface and second tray underside surface.
The plurality of second vertical support member lower tabs is disposed on a lower portion of the second vertical support member. Each of the second vertical support member lower tabs engages an associated tab receiving slot of the first tray plurality of tab receiving slots. The plurality of second vertical support member upper tabs is disposed on an upper portion of the second vertical support member. Each of the second vertical support member upper tabs engages an associated tab receiving slot of the second tray plurality of tab receiving slots.
In another aspect, the plurality of first vertical support member lower tabs include a plurality of first vertical support member side panel lower tabs disposed on a lower portion of the first vertical support member side panel, the plurality of first vertical support member upper tabs include a plurality of first vertical support member side panel upper tabs disposed on an upper portion of the first vertical support member side panel and the plurality of first vertical support member side panel lower tabs are arranged offset from the first vertical support member side panel upper tabs.
In another aspect, the first vertical support member side panel is wider than the first vertical support member rear panel.
In another aspect, the first vertical support member side panel has an opening therethrough.
In another aspect, the first vertical support member side panel and said first vertical support rear panel comprise a strengthening rib.
In another aspect, the display unit includes a first dovetail connector disposed on the first tray first side wall and a second dovetail connector disposed on the first tray second side wall. The first dovetail connector may include a male dovetail connector projecting outwardly from the first tray first side wall and the second dovetail connector may include a female dovetail connector projecting into the first tray second side wall.
In another aspect, the display unit includes a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the first tray underside surface.
In another aspect, the display unit includes a middle shelf suspended from the second tray. The middle shelf may be supported by a plurality of middle shelf supports.
In another aspect, the display unit includes a shelf channel disposed on at least one of the first tray front wall and second tray front wall.
In another aspect, the display unit includes a header secured to the second tray. The header may be suspended above the second tray with at least one header support wire.
In another aspect, the display unit includes a plurality of product support bars secured to the second tray underside surface.
In another aspect, the display unit includes a plurality of molded brackets for receiving an associated product support bar.
An advantage of a display unit according to an aspect of the invention is that a modular display unit is provided which can be readily assembled and configured as a counter top display unit or a floor stand display unit. A further advantage of a display unit according to an aspect of the invention is that the display unit is lightweight and high strength and can be adapted to accommodate a wide variety of merchandise of various types by positioning horizontal tray and/or shelf elements and hanging product supports in a suitable configuration.
Another advantage of a display unit according to an aspect of the invention is that the display unit includes hinged universal vertical support members which can be positioned to serve as either right side or left side vertical support members and can be folded substantially flat to provide a compact, disassembled unit for shipping, thereby providing simple and economical manufacture, shipment and assembly.
Other benefits and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.
In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:
Turning now to the drawings,
The display unit includes a first tray 1 and a second tray 2 disposed over and spaced apart from the first tray 1. First tray 1 includes a first tray front wall 11, a first tray rear wall 12, a first tray first side wall 13, a first tray second side wall 14; a first tray upper merchandise support surface 15, a first tray underside surface 16 and a first tray plurality of tab receiving slots 17. Second tray 2 includes a second tray front wall 21, a second tray rear wall 22, a second tray first side wall 23, a second tray second side wall 24, a second tray upper merchandise support surface 25, a second tray underside surface 26 and a second tray plurality of tab receiving slots 27.
A first vertical support member 10 and a second vertical support member 20 are disposed between the first tray 1 and the second tray 2. The first vertical support member 10 includes a first vertical support member side panel 101 running substantially parallel and adjacent to first tray first side wall 13 and second tray first side wall 23 and extending between the first tray upper merchandise support surface 15 and the second tray underside surface 26. The first vertical support member 10 also includes a first vertical support member rear panel 102 hingedly coupled to first vertical support member side panel 101. The first vertical support member rear panel runs substantially parallel and adjacent to the first tray rear wall 12 and second tray rear wall 22 and extends between the first tray upper merchandise support surface 15 and the second tray underside surface 26.
First vertical support member 10 further includes a plurality of first vertical support member lower tabs 103 disposed on a lower portion of first vertical support member 10. Each of the plurality of first vertical support member lower tabs 103 engages an associated tab receiving slot of the first tray plurality of tab receiving slots 17. First vertical support member 10 further includes a plurality of first vertical support member upper tabs 104 disposed on an upper portion of first vertical support member 10. Each of the plurality of first vertical support member upper tabs 104 engages an associated tab receiving slot of the second tray plurality of tab receiving slots 27.
The second vertical support member 20 includes a second vertical support member side panel 201 running substantially parallel and adjacent to first tray second side wall 14 and second tray second side wall 24 and extending between the first tray upper merchandise support surface 15 and the second tray underside surface 26. The second vertical support member 20 also includes a second vertical support member rear panel 202 hingedly coupled to second vertical support member side panel 201. The second vertical support member rear panel 202 runs substantially parallel and adjacent to the first tray rear wall 12 and second tray rear wall 22 and extends between the first tray upper merchandise support surface 15 and the second tray underside surface 26.
Second vertical support member 20 further includes a plurality of second vertical support member lower tabs 203 disposed on a lower portion of second vertical support member 20. Each of the plurality of second vertical support member lower tabs 203 engages an associated tab receiving slot of the first tray plurality of tab receiving slots 17. Second vertical support member 20 further includes a plurality of second vertical support member upper tabs 204 disposed on an upper portion of second vertical support member 20. Each of the plurality of second vertical support member upper tabs 204 engages an associated tab receiving slot of the second tray plurality of tab receiving slots 27.
As shown, for example in
When configured a floor stand display unit, a plurality of legs 40 may be provided which extend downwardly from the first tray underside surface 16. Preferably, four legs or feet 40 are provided. Legs 40 may be molded legs and may be secured to first tray 1 using a snap fit or any other suitable securing means.
When configured as a counter top display unit, first tray underside surface 16 may include a plurality of downwardly extending bosses. Rubber pads may be secured to each of the bosses using adhesive or other suitable means in order to prevent slipping of the counter top display unit or damage to the count top upon which the unit is placed.
During assembly of the display unit, first and second vertical support member 10, 20 are positioned such their respective vertical support member rear panel and side panel portions are substantially perpendicular and form an angle of substantially 90 degrees to one another. The two vertical support members 10, 20 may be placed upside down on a hard surface and the first tray 1 is aligned such that first tray tab receiving slots 17 are aligned with the respective vertical support member lower tabs 103, 203. Sufficient downward force is exerted on the tray 1 to provide a solid snap fit for each of the tabs 103, 203. This process may be repeated in order to provide additional tray and vertical support member assemblies as needed. For example, three such tray and vertical support member assemblies may be assembled when configuring the display unit as a floor stand unit.
The trays and vertical support members may be made from any suitable rigid material. Preferably, the trays and/or vertical support members are made from a lightweight, high strength plastic such as, for example, styrene or ABS plastic. The design and materials of the display unit allow for superior load bearing capacity. For example a floor stand unit may be capable of supporting approximately 15 pounds of merchandise per tray (shelf) and a floor stand display unit configured with four trays and an optional middle shelf assembly as described below may be capable of supporting approximately 84 pounds of merchandise. A counter top display unit configured with one lower tray and one upper tray may be capable of supporting over 40 pounds of merchandise. Moreover, as the bottom tray of the counter top display unit sits on a counter top, the bottom tray can support substantially more weight than the upper tray.
The strength of the unit may be further enhanced by providing the vertical support members 10, 20 with strengthening ribs 106. Strengthening ribs 106 may be provided on one or both of the respective side panels and rear panels of the vertical support members on one or both sides of the respective panel. The strengthening ribs 106 may extend in a vertical orientation along the vertical support member side or rear panel.
The vertical support member side panels 101, 201 may be of equal width, narrower or wider than the associated vertical support member rear panels 102, 202. Additionally, the vertical support member side panels 101, 201 and/or vertical support member rear panels may have one or more openings 105 therethrough which may allow for improved visibility of the merchandise supported on the display unit.
The hinged configuration of the vertical support members 10, 20, wherein the side panels are coupled to the rear panels with a hinge member provides a number of benefits. In particular, the hinged design of the vertical support members allows identical vertical support members to be used as universal supports which can be configured to serve on either side of the display unit, left or right, by pivoting the side panel and rear panel relative to one another into the proper orientation. This provision of a hinged universal vertical support member reduces manufacturing cost and complexity.
Moreover, the vertical support member 10 can be folded flat, as shown in
The first and second vertical support member lower tabs may include one or more vertical support member side panel lower tabs disposed on a lower portion of the respective vertical support member side panel and/or one or more vertical support member rear panel lower tabs disposed on a lower portion of the respective vertical support member rear panel. Likewise, the first and second vertical support member upper tabs may include one or more vertical support member side panel upper tabs disposed on an upper portion of the respective vertical support member side panel and/or one or more vertical support member rear panel upper tabs disposed on an upper portion of the respective vertical support member rear panel.
The lower tabs may be offset from the corresponding upper tabs on the associated vertical support member side panel or rear panel such that the upper tabs of one vertical support member and the lower tabs of a vertically adjacent vertical support member can engage the tab receiving slots of a common tray, as shown for example in
The display unit trays may include dovetail connectors 18, 19 to facilitate joining trays of adjacent display units. The dovetail connectors may include a first or male dovetail connector 18 projecting outwardly from a first tray first side wall 13, as shown for example in
As shown in
The optional middle shelf assembly may include a middle shelf 31 suspended from an upper or second tray 2 by a plurality of middle shelf supports 32. Middle shelf supports 32 may be elongated members having a substantially square upper flange or head at an upper terminal end thereof and a larger, substantially rectangular lower flange or foot at a lower terminal end thereof. To install the middle shelf 31, a middle shelf support 32 may be inserted through an opening provided in one corner of the middle shelf 31 and rotated 90 degrees so that the lower flange or foot prevents the middle shelf support 32 from passing through the smaller opening. The upper flange or head is inserted through a corresponding hole in second shelf 2 and slid over to secure the middle shelf support 32 in place. This procedure is repeated for the remaining three corners of the middle shelf 31 and the middle shelf 31 is pressed downward to ensure all of the middle shelf supports 32 are level and properly engaged.
The display unit may further include a shelf channel 50 disposed on at least one of the first tray front wall 11 and the second tray front wall 21. Shelf channel 50 is configured to receive and display a graphic card which typically includes information regarding the merchandise supported on the associated tray or shelf.
The display unit may further include a header 60 suspended above and/or secured to a second or uppermost tray 2 using at least one header support wire 61. As shown for example in
One or more product support bars (wires) or peg hooks 70 for hanging merchandise to be displayed may be secured to one or more second or upper tray 2 underside surfaces 26. As shown for example in
While a number of embodiments of the present invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
