Patent Application
20170318986
There are no applications related to this application.
This invention is in the field of retail display assemblies, and more specifically, to a magnetic strip with hooks which can be positioned either horizontally or vertically.
In today's market, retail floor space is at a premium. Product vendors try to display and sell as much merchandise as possible and must be increasingly creative in the marketing and display of products such that they maximize the amount of merchandise displayed while minimizing the amount of space required for the display of said merchandise. Space requirements and aisle configurations often differ considerably not only among retailers but also among departments within each retailer. Vendors and retailers must also be concerned with the neatness of product displays.
There currently exists support fixtures which are operable to attach onto existing display equipment to support somewhat small items such as gift cards, or small items with backing that can be suspended from various hooks or clips. Some of these supports, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,957,422 and 7,219,459, can support only lightweight merchandise. Heavy duty hangers, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,166 are not easily or quickly removed and relocated. Also, none of the prior art discloses a flexible display strip which can be vertically or horizontally oriented.
There is a need for a merchandise strip having sufficient strength to hold heavier items while also being flexible enough to attach to a variety of existing displays or surfaces and which can be oriented based on space and display configuration.
In one embodiment, a merchandise display strip contains a strip having a plurality of apertures contained thereon, a plurality of hooks which are removably inserted into a subset of the plurality of apertures contained on the strip, one or more magnets attached to the strip for attachment of the strip to metal surfaces. The strip may be horizontally or vertically oriented.
In another embodiment a merchandise display strip includes a metal strip having a plurality of vertically oriented apertures and a plurality of horizontally oriented apertures contained thereon, a plurality of hooks which are operable to be inserted into either the plurality of vertically oriented apertures or the plurality of horizontally oriented apertures, and one or more magnetic discs which are used to attach the metal strip to other metal surfaces. The metal strip can be vertically oriented with the plurality of hooks inserted into the horizontally oriented apertures or horizontally oriented with the plurality of hooks inserted into the vertically oriented apertures.
And in still another embodiment, a merchandise display strip including a strip having a plurality of apertures contained thereon, a plurality of hooks for insertion into a subset of the plurality of apertures, and at least one magnetic disc attached to the strip. The strip may be vertically oriented or horizontally oriented.
The merchandise display strip 100 of the present disclosure and related inventions includes a strip 10 having a plurality of stamped holes therein for the removable insertion of a plurality of display hooks H for hanging product P therefrom. The merchandise display strip 100 also includes one or more magnetic discs M fastened thereto for the removable attachment of the merchandise display strip 100 to various metal surfaces S, and one or more sign grippers G for holding signage therein. The merchandise display strip 100 can be positioned vertically or horizontally depending on the space available or the configuration of the surface S to which it is to be attached. The merchandise display strip 100 allows for extreme flexibility as it can be easily moved from one location to the next and it provides a space for displaying merchandise in areas where it would not typically reside. For example, the merchandise display strip 100 may be attached to the front, side or any other metal surface which surrounds or is adjacent to a bicycle display rack and may display bicycle bags for wrapping or concealing bicycles given as gifts for birthdays, Christmas or other special occasion. The display strip takes advantage of unutilized space while providing for potential sales of merchandise outside of its normal retail space or for the display and sale of seasonal merchandise.
The metal strip 10 is substantially rectangular having front surface 10A and a rear surface 10B opposite the front surface 10A, as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, three magnetic discs M1, M2, M3 are attached to the strip 10 to accommodate attachment of the strip 10 to any metal surface S. Each disc M1, M2, M3 is inserted into a different one of the three rounded apertures 12A, 12B, 12C contained on the strip 10 and fastened thereto using a pop rivet, as can be seen in
In a preferred embodiment, three hooks H1, H2, H3 can be removably attached to the strip 10 by insertion of each hook H1, H2, H3 into a different one of either the vertically 14V, 16V, 18V or horizontally 14H, 16H, 18H oriented rectangular apertures. If the strip 10 is positioned in a horizontal configuration then the hooks H1, H2, H3 are inserted into the vertically oriented rectangular apertures 14V, 16V, 18V, as shown in
One or more sign grippers G or other type of sign holder may be attached to the strip 10, as shown in
The merchandise display strip of the present disclosure and related inventions provides a flexible option for displaying merchandise on existing displays or other flat metal surfaces. It can be positioned either horizontally or vertically depending on the space available or the configuration of the surface to which it is attached. It is also flexible and convenient because it can easily be moved from one surface to another without any additional work, disassembly or reassembly. In addition to being flexible, the magnetic merchandise display strip is sufficiently strong and durable and also takes advantage of unutilized display space.
While the merchandise display strip has been described herein and shown in the figures as having specific shape, size, length and width dimensions, other shapes and sizes have been contemplated and are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Also, while the merchandise strip has been described herein and shown in the figures as having a specific number and specific placement of apertures, the merchandise strip may have fewer or additional apertures for accommodating fewer or more hooks. The number and size of the magnetic discs may also be changed while still remaining within the scope of the invention. Also, different types of hooks may be used for displaying different types of product. And while certain types of materials have been mentioned herein, other materials have been contemplated and are considered to be within the scope of the invention.
The foregoing embodiments of the present invention have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. These descriptions and embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principle of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in its various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the invention be defined by the following claims.
