Illuminated product display with consumer interaction and product synchronization

Abstract

An illuminating product display providing customer interaction and product synchronization is disclosed. The product display may include an upright display member having an illuminating member and lighting niches through which dynamic light shows may be projected. A product may be positioned in a lighting niche. A product experience shelf may also be coupled to the upright display member. The product experience shelf may include translucent recesses for holding and illuminating demonstration products. The product experience shelf may also incorporate an illuminated ring or border lining the outer edge of each recess for additional lighting effects. An interactive customer interface may allow customers to adjust a control module which coordinates synchronized dynamic light shows throughout the display. The customer interface may also be illuminated and positioned on the product experience shelf. Furthermore, the dynamic light shows may be synchronized with the lighting products.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to product displays for use in retail establishments, and more particularly, relates to a customer interactive display for showcasing multisensory products.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Product displays and fixtures for promoting merchandise within a retail environment are well known in the art. Promotional displays serve to catch the attention of customers, spark an interest in a product, and to eventually persuade customers to purchase the product. Displays attempt to accomplish this in any one of a variety of ways and may take any form. But in particular, product displays need to set a product apart from its competition within a retail environment, without being too excessive or intrusive to customers.

Some of the more common types of product displays use images, posters, signage or banners to promote a product. Because of the widespread use of such imagery, however, such displays tend to be too plain and blend into a retail setting. To further set a product apart from its surroundings, some displays may employ sound effects, music, video or other media. However, the volume on such displays may be set too low for the environment to effectively advertise the product. Alternatively, the continuous playback of such media may prove to be too loud, annoying, and deter rather than attract customers. Although some displays also include motion sensors to play such media only when customers are nearby, the sensors are often too sensitive and do not help to that effect. While there are several ways to effectively promote a product at the point of sale, the more effective displays tend to provide alluring displays that also allow customers to fully sample the product. More specifically, a display may provide a proper showcase and a demonstration, or dummy model, of a particular product for customers to evaluate and test in the store before purchase.

With respect to lighting products, a demonstration model of the product may be displayed within the store. However, displays promoting lighting products are generally uninteresting, unattractive, and offer customers limited, if any, interaction with the device. Furthermore, typical retail stores do not provide an elaborate display for only one product or manufacturer. Specifically, if a demonstration model is provided for one lighting unit it will almost certainly be surrounded by several other similar displays for competing units grouped into the same aisle, department, or the like. This arrangement makes it difficult to set a particular lighting product apart from the competition. Additionally, light from surrounding units and strong overhead lights typically found in retail stores make it extremely difficult to evaluate the illumination of a single lighting product.

Displays promoting fragrance objects similarly provide demonstration bottles or testers for sampling. Testers are bottles of perfume that customers can spray into the air or onto a sampling card at the point of sale to sample a scent. However, multiple testers from different manufacturers are usually grouped together in a single area designated for sampling. As with displays for lighting products, this makes it difficult to distinguish and advertise one particular fragrance product over the competition. Furthermore, testers are generally provided only for perfumes and colognes, but not for fragrance dispensers designed for the home. Consequently, when selecting a fragrance for home use, customers are forced to guess by reading the description on package labels, smelling the packaging, or opening the package in the store.

Therefore, multiple needs exist for an attractive illuminating display that provides an interesting destination within a retail environment as well as proper demonstrations of products associated with lighting, fragrance, or the like. More specifically, needs exist for a display promoting products that attracts customers from a distance, sets the products apart from the competition, substantially blocks unwanted ambient light, and also provides customer interaction. An ideal display should also be cost-conscious and provide a display that may be easily installed and readily adaptable to new products or changing retail environments. The display should also require minimal space and mountable on existing shelving units.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a merchandise display apparatus is provided. The merchandise display apparatus comprises an upright display member having a lighting niche for displaying a first object; a first dynamic light source disposed in the lighting niche for projecting light onto the first object; a second dynamic light source disposed in the first object for illuminating the first object; a control module operatively associated with the first and second dynamic light sources for coordinating one or more light shows, the one or more light shows synchronized between the first and second dynamic light sources, the control module comprising a mechanism for receiving an external power source, a microprocessor, and a memory for storing the one or more light shows; and an interactive customer interface for controlling the one or more light shows.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a merchandise display apparatus is provided. The merchandise display apparatus comprises an upright display member having a lighting niche for displaying an object; a first dynamic light source disposed in the lighting niche for projecting light onto the object; a control module operatively associated with the first dynamic light source for coordinating one or more light shows, the control module comprising a mechanism for receiving an external power source, a microprocessor, and a memory for storing the one or more light shows; and an interactive customer interface for controlling the one or more light shows.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a merchandise display apparatus is provided. The merchandise display apparatus comprises an upright display member having a lighting niche for displaying a first object and a product experience shelf for displaying a second object, the product experience shelf removably coupled to the upright display member; a first dynamic light source disposed in the lighting niche for projecting light onto the first object; a second dynamic light source disposed in the product experience shelf for projecting light onto the second object; a control module operatively associated with the first and second dynamic light sources for coordinating one or more light shows synchronized between the first and second light sources, the control module comprising a mechanism for receiving an external power source, a microprocessor, and a memory for storing the one or more light shows; and an interactive customer interface for controlling the one or more light shows.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a merchandise display apparatus is provided. The merchandise display apparatus comprises an upright display member having a lighting niche for displaying a first object, a product experience shelf for displaying a second object, and an illuminating member disposed on top of the upright member; a first dynamic light source disposed in the lighting niche for projecting light onto the first object; a second dynamic light source disposed in the product experience shelf for projecting light onto the second object; a third dynamic light source disposed in the illuminating member for projecting light upwardly; a control module operatively associated with the first, second and third dynamic light sources for coordinating one or more light shows synchronized between the first, second and third light sources, the control module comprising a mechanism for receiving an external power source, a microprocessor, and a memory for storing the one or more light shows; and an interactive customer interface for controlling the one or more light shows.

These and other aspects of this disclosure will become more readily apparent upon reading the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary product display constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the product display of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of an upright display member with an illuminating member and lighting niches;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a replaceable cover for an upright display member;

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are front, side and top plan views, respectively, of a lighting niche;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary product experience shelf,

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of dynamic light sources positioned throughout an interior of an illuminating product display; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary control module for the illuminating product display of FIG. 7.

While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the present invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling with the spirit and scope of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings and with particular reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary product display apparatus for showcasing products is provided and referred to as reference number 10. It is understood that the teachings of the disclosure can be used to construct illuminating product displays above and beyond that specifically disclosed below. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the following are exemplary embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1, an illuminating product display 10 may showcase a variety of products and provide an attractive destination within a retail establishment. Moreover, the illuminating display 10 may serve to provide customers with interactive sampling of products such as lighting products, fragrance products, or any other product, at the point of sale. The display 10 may be a standalone structure, or installed on existing shelves so as to facilitate installation and to reduce costs. More specifically, the display 10 may be provided on a wall, a countertop, an endcap or a midsection of a shelving structure, or configured using other means commonly used in retail environments. Furthermore, the display 10 may be constructed of subcomponents, or modules, that may be interchanged with one another within a single display, or with other displays. Such modular designs may provide the display 10 with the flexibility to be installed in almost any retail setting and to accommodate almost any product with ease.

Referring now to FIG. 2, another illuminating product display 10a for use as an endcap in a retail environment is provided. In general, the display 10a may be situated so as to leave some shelves unoccupied. The unoccupied shelves may be used to stock the products presented within the display 10a so that customers do not have to look far for an item they have decided to purchase. The display 10a may also provide several elements that serve to enhance or reinforce product features, as well as attract the attention of customers. Specifically, the display 10a may include an upright display member 12a having an illuminating member 14a, such as a crown, lighting niches 16a, a product experience shelf 18a, such as a fragrance bar, and an interactive customer interface 20a for controlling dynamic light output. Furthermore, these elements may be formed as interchangeable and or removable modules within the display 10a. For instance, the lighting niches 16a and or the product experience shelf 18a may be rearranged to form a different configuration than shown in FIG. 2. Additionally, the illuminating member 14a, one or more lighting niches 16a, or the product experience shelf 18a may be omitted from the display 10a.

Turning to FIG. 3, another upright display member 12b is provided with an illuminating member 14b and lighting niches 16b. As previously described, the illuminating member 14b and the lighting niches 16b may be modular in design such that they may be rearranged on the upright member 12b or omitted according to preference. The illuminating member 14b of FIG. 3 may essentially be a translucent diffuser enclosing a dynamic light source and disposed as a crown on top of the upright display member 12b. Light from the illuminated crown 14b may be projected in an upward direction through the diffuser to attract customers from a distance. Alternatively, similar illuminating members 14b may be positioned on other areas of the upright display member 12b, for example, on the front, along the sides, along the edges, or any combinations thereof. Lighting niches 16b may serve to properly showcase a product, or object 21b, within a brightly lit retail environment. Specifically, lighting niches 16b may be arranged to substantially block bright illumination light typically used in retail environments which may wash out light produced by the display 10b and or the object 21b. The lighting niches 16b may further provide its own dynamic light source to illuminate the interior of the niche 16b and an object 21b provided therein. Alternatively, the object 21b may be a lighting object which provides its own dynamic light source to produce a soothing glow from within the product.

Still referring to FIG. 3, the upright display member 12b may further include a cover 22b disposed on the front of the upright display member 12b. The cover 22b may be configured to expose the lighting niches 16b and or additional storage or shelving compartments. Alternatively, the cover 22b may be configured to expose only those areas associated with the lighting niches 16b to provide a more aesthetically pleasing appearance, as shown in FIG. 3. The cover 22b may also provide room for company logos, advertisement messages and or other graphics specific to a product line. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the cover 22b may also be replaceable and made of a substantially thin material such as paper, cardboard, plastic, plexiglass, glass, or the like. Additionally, the cover 22b may be detachably coupled to the front of an upright display member 12b via clips, hinges, screws, straps, Velcro®, or other similar fasteners. Interchangeable covers 22b may allow for a quick and easy replacement of an older outdated cover with a new cover having updated graphics. Such an arrangement may provide a display 10b readily adaptable to changing products and or retail environments.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A-5C, various views of an exemplary lighting box, or niche 16b, is provided. The lighting niche 16b may employ one or more dynamic light sources to illuminate the interior of the niche 16b. For instance, the lighting niche 16b may employ a plurality of colored light emitting diodes (LEDs) 24b for projecting light onto or through an object 21b. As shown in the front and side views of FIGS. 5A and 5B, respectively, a horizontal row of LEDs 24b may be distributed across the top and towards the back of the lighting niche 16b to project light down onto an object 21b. As shown in the side and top views of FIGS. 5B and 5C, respectively, the lighting niche 16b may further include two vertical columns of LEDs 24b toward the front of the niche 16b to illuminate the front of an object 21b. Alternatively, the lighting niche 16b may employ other lighting arrangements and dynamic light sources other than LEDs 24b to optimize the aesthetic appearance of the object 21b.

Turning to FIG. 6, an exemplary product experience shelf 18b that may be used with the illuminating product display 10b of FIG. 3 is provided. The product experience shelf 18b may be in the form of a fragrance bar, as shown in FIG. 6, to provide a surface upon which fragrance products, or objects 26b, may rest. Alternatively, the product experience shelf 18b may include a product test panel, sampling counter, product demonstrations and or other means for readily displaying products to a customer. The products to be displayed on the product experience shelf include but are not limited to fragrances, personal care products, lighting products, cleaning products and the like. As a fragrance bar, the product experience shelf 18b may include recesses 28b formed thereon and may be shaped to receive specific products or objects 26b related to fragrance. The product experience shelf 18b may also provide additional recesses 29b for product samples 27b, for example, fragrance sampling cards, or the like. One or more dynamic light sources may also be disposed inside the product experience shelf 18b and configured to illuminate the recesses 28b, 29b and project light therethrough. More specifically, the dynamic light sources may be used to illuminate the samples 27b, as well as any container or contents of each product 26b. Dynamic light sources within the product experience shelf 18b may also project light downward onto unoccupied shelves situated below the display 10b. Accordingly, the product experience shelf 18b, the products 26b, samples 27b, the recesses 28b, 29b, or any combination thereof, may be formed of a clear or translucent material so as to transmit or diffuse the light emitted by the dynamic light sources from within the product experience shelf 18b. The product experience shelf 18b may also incorporate a translucent ring or border lining the outer edge of the recesses 28b, 29b for creating additional lighting effects. The light emitted may be provided by colored LEDs, lasers, or any other dynamic light source commonly known in the art.

The product experience shelf 18b may also provide an interactive customer interface 20b that allows customers to adjust the dynamic light output of an illuminating product display 10b. The customer interface 20b may be provided in many different forms including but not limited to dials, keypads, switches, touchscreens and or similar input devices, operatively associated with a control module, which in turn, controls the output of dynamic light sources disposed throughout the illuminating product display 10b. Additional dynamic light sources within the product experience shelf 18b may be configured to add illumination underneath and or around the customer interface 20b. The customer interface 20b may also include a translucent ring or border lining the outer edge of the input device for additional lighting effects. Alternatively, the interactive customer interface 20b may be disposed on the cover 22b, within a lighting niche 16b, or on any other portion of the display 10b of FIG. 3.

In other related embodiments, more than one interactive customer interface 20b may be provided on the product experience shelf 18b to allow independent adjustment of subgroups of the dynamic light sources. For instance, a first interface may adjust the dynamic light output within a lighting niche 16b while a second interface may adjust the dynamic light output of a lighting product or object 21b positioned therein. The display 10b may also provide additional customer interfaces 20b so as to allow multiple users to independently control light shows at one display setting.

Turning to the diagram of FIG. 7, a plurality of dynamic light sources may be disposed at various locations throughout an illuminating product display 10c. Specifically, a first set of dynamic light sources 114 may be positioned within an illuminating member 14c or crown to emit light upward while a second set of dynamic light sources 116 may illuminate the interior of the lighting niches 16c. A third set of dynamic light sources 118 may be provided within the product experience shelf 18c to project light up and through the recesses and or down toward the unoccupied shelves. More importantly, the light emitted from all of the dynamic light sources disposed throughout the display 10c may be coordinated by the same control module. Specifically, the control module may synchronize light shows between the dynamic light sources so as to provide a unified glow and smooth color transitions. Alternatively, two or more control modules may be provided to synchronize several light shows and control two or more independent groups of dynamic light sources.

Turning now to FIG. 8, an exemplary control module 32c for use with the illuminating product display 10c is provided. As shown in the embodiment, power to the control module 32c may be provided by a mechanism for connecting to an external power source, for example, an AC plug 34c. The AC plug 34c may provide an AC input voltage to a voltage converter 36c, which may rectify and convert the AC input into a DC signal. Subsequently, the voltage converter 36c may distribute the appropriate DC supply to the microprocessor 38c, memory 40c and driver circuit 42c, as required to coordinate light shows.

Light shows may include any predetermined sequence or pattern of lighting that may be performed by the dynamic light sources provided within the display 10c. For example, light shows may include pulsing of one color, transitions from one color to another, transitions from one set of colors to another, or any combinations thereof. Alternatively, light shows may also be synchronized with music, nature sounds, sound effects, or other audio output. The microprocessor 38c may serve to coordinate such light shows stored on a memory 40c internal to the microprocessor 38c. Alternatively, the memory 40c may be provided as a replaceable cartridge external to the microprocessor 38c so as to provide and facilitate light show modifications and other upgrades. The microprocessor 38c may read the light shows stored in memory 40c and output corresponding instructions to the driver circuit 42c. The driver circuit 42c may output signals to control the lighting effects of each dynamic light source according to the instructions transmitted by the microprocessor 38c. When incorporating audio output, the driver circuit 42c may output corresponding signals to a speaker 44c, as shown in phantom. The microprocessor 38c may also serve to execute instructions input by a customer via the interactive customer interface 20c. For instance, if a customer uses the interface 20c to select a different color or light show, the microprocessor 38c may receive the instruction from the interface 20c and adjust its output to the driver circuit 42c accordingly.

Based on the foregoing, it can be seen that the present disclosure provides an illuminating product display which creates an interesting destination for potential customers within a retail environment. The multisensory technology integrated into the display attracts customers to a product or a product line. Using the embodiments disclosed herein, it is possible to create a display which coordinates light shows throughout the display and allows customer interaction via an interactive customer interface. Specifically, the display allows customers to sample various products at the point of sale. The display also provides light shows synchronized between the product and its display, between one product and another product, or any combinations thereof. Furthermore, by combining interchangeable modules, it is possible to provide a display readily adaptable to accommodate any product, product line or retail environment.

While only certain embodiments have been set forth, alternatives and modifications will be apparent from the above description to those skilled in the art. These and other alternatives are considered equivalents and within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A merchandise display apparatus, comprising: an upright display member having a lighting niche for displaying a first object;a first dynamic light source disposed in the lighting niche for projecting light onto the first object;a second dynamic light source disposed in the first object for illuminating the first object;a control module operatively associated with the first and second dynamic light sources for coordinating one or more light shows, the one or more light shows synchronized between the first and second dynamic light sources, the control module comprising a mechanism for receiving an external power source, a microprocessor, and a memory for storing the one or more light shows; andan interactive customer interface for controlling the one or more light shows.

2. The merchandise display apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an illuminating member disposed on an exterior surface of the upright display member, a third dynamic light source disposed in the illuminating member, the control module operatively associated with the third dynamic light source for coordinating the one or more light shows, the one or more light shows synchronized between the first, second and third dynamic light sources.

3. The merchandise display apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second dynamic light sources comprises a plurality of colored LEDs.

4. The merchandise display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory is removable.

5. The merchandise display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory stores at least three light shows.

6. The merchandise display apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a removable cover.

7. A merchandise display apparatus, comprising: an upright display member having a lighting niche for displaying an object;a first dynamic light source disposed in the lighting niche for projecting light onto the object;a control module operatively associated with the first dynamic light source for coordinating one or more light shows, the control module comprising a mechanism for receiving an external power source, a microprocessor, and a memory for storing the one or more light shows; andan interactive customer interface for controlling the one or more light shows.

8. The merchandise display apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a second dynamic light source disposed in the object for illuminating the object, the control module operatively associated with the second dynamic light source for coordinating the one or more light shows, the one or more light shows synchronized between the first and second dynamic light sources.

9. The merchandise display apparatus of claim 7 further comprising an illuminating member disposed on an exterior surface of the upright display member, a third dynamic light source disposed in the illuminating member, the control module operatively associated with the third dynamic light source for coordinating the one or more light shows, the one or more light shows synchronized between the first and third dynamic light sources.

10. The merchandise display apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first dynamic light source comprises a plurality of colored LEDs.

11. The merchandise display apparatus of claim 7, wherein the memory is removable.

12. The merchandise display apparatus of claim 7, wherein the memory stores at least three light shows.

13. The merchandise display apparatus of claim 7, wherein the interactive customer interface is a dial.

14. The merchandise display apparatus of claim 7, wherein the control module further provides sound.

15. The merchandise display apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a removable cover.

16. A merchandise display apparatus, comprising: an upright display member having a lighting niche for displaying a first object and a product experience shelf for displaying a second object, the product experience shelf removably coupled to the upright display member;a first dynamic light source disposed in the lighting niche for projecting light onto the first object;a second dynamic light source disposed in the product experience shelf for projecting light onto the second object;a control module operatively associated with the first and second dynamic light sources for coordinating one or more light shows synchronized between the first and second light sources, the control module comprising a mechanism for receiving an external power source, a microprocessor, and a memory for storing the one or more light shows; andan interactive customer interface for controlling the one or more light shows.

17. The merchandise display apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a third dynamic light source disposed in the first object for illuminating the first object, the control module operatively associated with the third dynamic light source for coordinating the one or more light shows, the one or more light shows synchronized between the first, second and third dynamic light sources.

18. A merchandise display apparatus, comprising: an upright display member having a lighting niche for displaying a first object, a product experience shelf for displaying a second object, and an illuminating member disposed on top of the upright member;a first dynamic light source disposed in the lighting niche for projecting light onto the first object;a second dynamic light source disposed in the product experience shelf for projecting light onto the second object;a third dynamic light source disposed in the illuminating member for projecting light upwardly;a control module operatively associated with the first, second and third dynamic light sources for coordinating one or more light shows synchronized between the first, second and third light sources, the control module comprising a mechanism for receiving an external power source, a microprocessor, and a memory for storing the one or more light shows; andan interactive customer interface for controlling the one or more light shows.

19. The merchandise display apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a fourth dynamic light source disposed in the first object for illuminating the first object, the control module operatively associated with the fourth dynamic light source for coordinating the one or more light shows, the one or more light shows synchronized between the first, second, third and fourth dynamic light sources.

20. The merchandise display apparatus of claim 18, wherein the product experience shelf and the illuminating member are removably coupled to the upright display member.