Patent Application
20120228447
This invention generally relates to retail display systems, and more specifically, to retail display systems incorporating retail gondola systems.
Conventional retail gondola systems have been used in various configurations for mounting shelving and hooks in retail environments for years. These hooks traditionally mount within a peg board or slatwall panel insert that fits between two gondola uprights. These gondola uprights that make up the end structures of the gondola typically have a series of rectangular piercings or stamped out areas that are used by the shelves for mounting in the gondola units. There are also a number of devices that have been developed to take advantage of upright mounting systems, such as cross bars and basket systems. At times, retailers will use a mixture of display systems within a system of gondolas, shelves, cross bars and hooks to create the proper presentation of the goods for sale.
Conventional mounting hooks have been limited to being mounted between the uprights of the gondola due to the style of the hooks and where the hooks have been designed to mount. It would therefore be desirable to have a mounting hook design capable of mounting individually to a gondola upright. Embodiments of the invention provide such a mounting hook. These and other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.
In one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a mounting bracket assembly for a gondola upright that includes a mounting bracket having a mounting detail and a substantially flat portion, and a wire hanger configured to be attached to the mounting bracket. In a particular embodiment of the mounting bracket assembly, the mounting detail is configured to fit into an opening in the gondola upright. The mounting detail is configured to secure the mounting bracket to the gondola upright. Further, the substantially flat portion is configured to position the mounting bracket and wire hanger in a desired orientation.
In another aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a retail display system that includes one or more gondola uprights configured to support the retail display system, and a mounting bracket assembly capable of being mounted in a single gondola upright, the mounting bracket assembly comprising. In a particular embodiment, the mounting bracket assembly includes a mounting bracket has a mounting detail and a substantially flat portion, and a wire hook configured to be attached to the mounting bracket. In a particular embodiment, the mounting detail is configured to fit into an opening in the gondola upright. The mounting detail is configured to secure the mounting bracket to the gondola upright. Further, the substantially flat portion is configured to position the mounting bracket and wire hanger in a desired orientation.
Other aspects, objectives and advantages 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.
The mounting bracket 102 is designed to maintain an even wall thickness where it can, to avoid sinking and deforming from oversized walls. Behind the mounting area for the wire hook 106 is a flat surface 110 that will come in contact with the gondola upright 402 (shown in
A mounting detail 112 of the hook projects outward from the flat surface 110. The width of the mounting detail 112 is slightly less than the width of the openings 404 (shown in
In a particular embodiment, an upper portion of the mounting detail 112 has standing boss 114 that is spaced apart from the flat surface 110 to which the mounting detail 112 is attached. This spacing controls the hang angle of the mounting bracket assembly 100 and provides the interference that keeps the mounting bracket assembly 100 from being removed without intent. In a particular embodiment, a portion of the standing boss 114 extends below the wire hook 106 (when viewed as shown in
Although the mounting detail 112 could be made from molded solid plastic materials, in alternate embodiments, a portion of the mounting detail 112 may be cored out to avoid deforming, dimpling, or sinking of the outer walls of the mounting detail when the molded plastic cools. The height of the mounting detail 112 is made to fit within the heights of the opening 404 in the gondola uprights 402. The bottom back corner of the mounting detail 112 has a large sweeping radius to allow the rotation of the mounting bracket 102 into place and flat portion at the bottom of the mounting detail 112 allows the mounting bracket 102 to rest in the opening 404 of the gondola upright 402. A top portion 118 of the mounting bracket 102 has a flat triangular surface to aid in the stability of the wire hook 106.
The mounting bracket 202 is designed to maintain an even wall thickness where it can, to avoid sinking and deforming from oversized walls. Behind the mounting area for the wire hook 206 is a flat surface 210 that will come in contact with the gondola upright 402 (shown in
The mounting detail 212 of the wire hook 206 projects outward from the flat surface 210. The width of the mounting detail 212 is slightly less than the width of the opening 404 (shown in
In a particular embodiment, an upper portion of the mounting detail 212 has a standing boss 214 that is spaced apart from the flat surface 210 to which the mounting detail 212 is attached. This spacing controls the hang angle of the mounting bracket assembly 200 and provides the interference that keeps the mounting bracket assembly 200 from being removed without intent. In a particular embodiment, a portion of the standing boss 114 extends below the wire hook 106 (when viewed as shown in
Although the mounting detail 212 could be made from molded solid plastic materials, in alternate embodiments, a portion of the mounting detail 212 may be cored out to avoid deforming, dimpling, or sinking of the outer walls of the mounting detail when the molded plastic cools. The height of the mounting detail 212 is made to fit within the height of the opening 404 in the gondola upright 402. The bottom back corner of the mounting detail 212 has a large sweeping radius to allow the rotation of the mounting bracket 202 into place and then a flat at the bottom for the mounting bracket 202 to rest in the opening 404 of the gondola upright 402. A top portion 218 of the mounting bracket 202 has a flat triangular surface that is there to aid in the stability of the wire hook 206.
In particular embodiments of the invention, the back, or mounting area, of the mounting bracket 310 is similar to the mounting area of the mounting brackets 102, 202 described above. In a particular embodiment, the scan hook 302 is mounted to a vertical plane or wall 312 by welding or brazing. However, other methods for attaching the scan hook 302 to the vertical wall 312 using adhesives or mechanical fasteners, for example, are also envisioned. While the mounting bracket 310 can be configured such that the scan hook 302 can be welded to the vertical wall 312 of the mounting bracket 310, it is also envisioned that the mounting bracket 310 could be molded from a rigid plastic material.
In the embodiment of
A lower portion 314 of the mounting bracket 310 includes a strong channel 319 that has weld projections 320 for the use of resistant welding of the scan hook 302 to the mounting bracket 310. In the embodiment of
The lower containing area 355 is generally a U-shaped as well, using a common vertical wall 366 that supports the upper containing area 354. A standing core area 368 with an undercut front edge extends horizontally from lateral flanges 374 and includes a channel 369 to create a containing fit for the scan hook 356. In a particular embodiment, the lower containing area 355 is oriented in an approximately 180-degree rotation from the upper containing area 354. Between these two areas 354, 355, the scan hook 356 is substantially restricted from movement in all three dimensions. The details for attaching the mounting bracket assembly 350 into the gondola upright 402 (shown in
The scan hook 356 has both a hang wire 358 for supporting retail products and an upper wire 360 that is generally parallel to the hang wire 358. The main purpose of the upper wire 360 is to create an area for the mounting of a label holder (not shown) to the mounting bracket assembly 350. In a particular embodiment, the hang wire 358 and upper wire 360 are made from the same continuous section of wire. In the embodiment of
The mounting bracket 352 has two ears 370 spaced such that the width of a mounting detail 372 is slightly less than the width of the openings 404 (shown in
In the embodiment of
In a particular embodiment, the mounting detail 372 comprises a U-shaped portion 362. The width of this U-shaped portion 362 restricts movement of the mounting detail 372, and therefore the mounting bracket 352, from side to side within opening 404 (shown in
In a particular embodiment, the mounting bracket 352 is created from a metal stamping, an example of which is provided by the R36 mounting bracket 352 manufactured by Southern Imperial Inc. of Rockford, Ill. In alternate embodiments of the invention, the mounting bracket 352 is made from molded plastic.
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 herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
