This invention generally relates to retail merchandise display assemblies and more particularly to covering for retail merchandise assemblies.
Slatwall displays are often used in the retail merchandise industry to display retail merchandise. A typical slatwall has an array of slats or flat surfaces separated by adjacent channels. A wide variety of retail merchandise support structures may be affixed to a slatwall display via these channels. Typically, a given retail merchandise support structure will be adapted to lock into the slatwall by having mounting features that correspond to the channels, and a backing feature that rests against the horizontal slat between adjacent channels. Prior to installation of the retail merchandise support structures, the slatwall may be painted or fabricated from a colored material to assist in the aesthetic display of retail merchandise contained in the later installed retail merchandise support structures. Several embodiments of slatwalls are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,578 to Fishman, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,846 to Lamb.
Over time, as the retail merchandise support structures are installed and uninstalled from the slatwalls, the slats and the channels of the slatwall tend to become damaged or marred from repeated engagement by the mounting features of the retail merchandise support structures. Fortunately, the damage caused does not inhibit the functionality of the slatwalls, yet it is still not desirable to use the slatwalls once damaged for aesthetic reasons. The cost to replace an otherwise functional slatwall can be very high given that the construction of the slatwall is robust and incorporates a substantial amount of material and manufacturing time.
Moreover, once a particular slatwall has been painted or manufactured to be a certain color, it must be repainted or discarded when a new color is desired, such as during the holiday season. In order to repaint or change out the slatwall, one must remove all the retail merchandise support structures thereon. The time required for removal coupled with the time required for repainting can also become very costly.
There exists, therefore, a need in the art for a way to cover and protect the slatwall, as well as way to quickly change the appearance of the slatwall without the high cost of repainting or discarding it for a new color. The invention disclosed herein provides such a solution. These and other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.
The present invention has several aspects that may be claimed and stand as patentable independently and individually or in combination with other aspects, including but not limited to the following.
In one aspect, an embodiment of the invention provides a conformable slatwall cover. A folded slatwall insert according to this aspect comprises a slatwall cover having a center portion that has a width substantially corresponding to the width of a horizontal slat of the slatwall. The center portion serves as a cover for the horizontal slat. The folded slatwall insert also has first and second anchor portions on opposed sides of the center portion. The anchor portions are adapted for anchoring the slatwall cover to the slatwall.
In other aspects, an embodiment of the invention provides a retail display system that may be quickly configured to have different appearances. A slatwall display system according to this aspect comprises a slatwall having a plurality of channels and a plurality of slats defined between adjacent channels. The slats have a front face defined between adjacent channels. The slatwall display system also has at least one slatwall cover that has a center portion and first and second anchor portions. The anchor portions project into and anchor the center portion over the front face of a given slat.
Once installed, the slatwall cover serves to protect the front face and the adjacent channels from being marred or damaged during the installation of retail merchandise support structures. Also, the slatwall display system may be quickly modified to display a different color by removing the slatwall cover and replacing it with another slatwall cover having a different appearance. Changing the slatwall cover itself is a more cost effective solution than repainting or discarding the slatwall. Additionally, the slatwall cover may be manufactured from a transparent material and printed graphics may be placed against a front face of a slat of the slatwall and underneath the slatwall cover, thus allowing for easy viewing while maintaining the condition of the graphics.
In other aspects the invention provides a method for installing a slatwall cover onto a slatwall. A method according to this aspect comprises the steps of anchoring at least one slatwall cover into the channels of the slatwall and covering at least one slat of the slatwall with the slatwall cover. The method may also include unrolling the slatwall cover from a roll and cutting the slatwall cover to a predetermined length. The method may also further include inserting a printed graphic between the slatwall and the slatwall cover or printing a decoration directly on the slatwall cover prior to installation.
Other embodiments of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
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Additionally, a graphic 60 may be interposed between a rear face 56 of the slatwall cover 10 center portion 26 and the front face 19 of the slat 18. The graphic 60 may be printed and be a mere design, i.e. seasonal symbols, or contain product information thereon. When the slatwall cover 10 is constructed from a transparent material, the graphic may be viewed while simultaneously being protected from damage when placed behind the slatwall cover 10.
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The slatwall cover 10 may be manufactured by a variety of methods. As an example, the slatwall cover may be manufactured on a flexographic printing press, which can trim the slatwall cover to an appropriate width 58 (See
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As described herein, the folded slatwall cover 10 prevents surface damage to slatwall 12 slats 18 and channels 20, 22 thus preserving the usage life of a typical slatwall. Moreover, the slatwall cover 10 allows a typical slatwall 12 to take on an infinite number of appearances in a cost efficient manner, by quickly changing out one color/design of slatwall cover for another.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated.
This patent application is a Continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/184,350, filed Aug. 1, 2008, the entire teachings and disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20120247044 A1 | Oct 2012 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12184350 | Aug 2008 | US |
Child | 13494483 | US |