Patent Grant
7168579
The present invention relates generally to the field of merchandising systems. In particular, the present invention relates to merchandising systems providing for orderly presentation of articles (such as products) in a display space.
It is known to provide for a merchandising system that may be used for displaying articles in consumer settings such as grocery stores, retail outlets, shops, etc. Such known merchandising systems may be used to present, display and store articles in fixed or limited spaces such as on shelves, in display cases, cabinets, etc.
It is beneficial when merchandising articles to allow potential customers to view or handle them in a convenient and comfortable manner. It is also beneficial to be able to stock the optimum (e.g., maximum) number of articles within a given shelving display system. However, within fixed or limited spaces, known merchandising systems may not be configured to allow for an optimized number of articles to be presented to a customer. Such known merchandising systems do not always work interchangeably with shelving displays having conventional depths and those with larger depths without limiting the increased storage potential of the larger shelving display systems. For example, some known merchandising systems do not provide an enlargeable space for extending articles beyond the depth of a base of the merchandising system. This added space and adjustability can be an important feature for customers and store personnel because it enables more articles to be merchandised on larger shelving displays.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that may be dimensioned for use with a shelving display system having a standard depth, but that may also be used interchangeably with a shelving display system having a larger standard depth without limiting the increased storage potential of the larger shelving display system by providing an enlargeable storage space. It would also be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that may provide storage space or an enlargeable space in which articles or products may be stored or presented. It would also be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that may provide a storage space that extends beyond the depth of a base of the merchandising system. It would also be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that may be configured to eliminate a rear wall of the merchandising system and reduce the frequency that a merchandising system be reloaded or restocked with articles. It would also be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that may provide for the selective modularity in the construction and assembly of the merchandising system.
It would be advantageous to provide a merchandising system or the like of a type disclosed in the present application that provides any one or more of these or other advantageous features.
The present invention relates to a merchandising system for presenting and storing articles comprising a base having a front and a back, the base being configured to support the articles and defining a first space for containing the articles. In addition, the merchandising system comprises an assembly coupled to the base for advancing the articles toward the front of the base wherein the assembly comprises a member configured to extend beyond the base to create a second space for containing the articles in addition to the first space.
The present invention also relates to a merchandising system for presenting and storing articles comprising a support assembly having a front and a back, the support assembly being configured to support the articles in a substantially vertical orientation. In addition, the merchandising system comprises a member movably engaged with the support assembly and configured to extend beyond the back of the base such that the system may be used with a smaller sized shelving system and a larger sized shelving system without limiting the increased storage potential of the larger sized shelving system.
The present invention further relates to a merchandising system for storing and presenting products on a shelf or display case, the products provided in product cases, the merchandising system comprising a means for supporting the products, a means for advancing the products along a predefined path, and a means for retaining one or more of the products beyond a back portion of the means for supporting the products.
The present invention also relates to a merchandising system for dispensing products comprising a base and a pusher for providing a force on the products wherein the pusher comprises a member capable of extending beyond a back of the base such that one or more of the products may be retained by the system beyond the back of the base.
Referring to
According to an exemplary embodiment, system 10 includes a base 22 (e.g., floor, support, support system, panel, member, platform, tray, etc.) having a front end 24 (e.g., front) and a back end 26 (e.g., rear). As shown in
According to various exemplary embodiments, one or more base (e.g., tray system) may be provided. The base may be provided on an existing merchandising system such as a shelf, grid system, display case, etc. The base may be configured to hold, display, retain, store, or otherwise receive articles (e.g., goods, displayed objects, etc.). The base provides for the space division and orderly and convenient presentation of such articles.
Base 22 may be configured to connect or couple adjacent systems into a larger overall merchandising system. According to a preferred embodiment, the base 22 has a “modular” construction and facilitates use with other bases, shelves, or a variety of other existing merchandising systems, including shelving units, support surfaces, grids, brackets, hangers, etc. According to an alternative embodiment, the base may include a back wall to further add support for articles contained within a merchandising system. The base may also be provided with one or more apertures (e.g. holes, cutouts, voids, etc.) in the base.
The base 22 may also be provided with at least one track 38 (e.g. guide, notch, groove, recess, slot, etc.). The track 38 may extend substantially along the length of the base 22. As shown in the FIGS., base 22 may include a support 55 (e.g., bar, clip, fastener, etc.) that adheres to the bottom of the base on both sides of the track 38. According to a preferred embodiment, support 55 is permanently coupled to base 22 to provide support to track 38. For example, as shown in
According to an exemplary embodiment, the base 22 may be configured with at least one side member 48 and/or a front wall 46. As shown in
According to alternative embodiments, the configuration of the base may be altered to better accommodate the shape of the articles (e.g., the base may have a circular, triangular or polygonal cross-section, the base may have a non-uniform configuration throughout, etc.). As shown in
As shown in
The side members 48 may be spaced in a substantially contracted position to accommodate a narrower article or product. Alternatively, the side members 48 may be spaced in a substantially expanded position to accommodate a wider article or product. Whether spaced in a substantially contracted position or a substantially expanded position, the side members 48 may remain selectively engaged to the base 22.
According to an exemplary embodiment, system 10 includes member 60 (e.g., paddle, movable panel, scoop, pusher, plate, follower, etc.) that is slidably engaged to the base 22. As shown in
As shown in
Base portion 68 may be provided with tabs 62 (e.g., projections, pegs, etc.) which may be configured to coact or engage with the track 38 of the base 22. The member 60 may also be configured with a platform 64 (tab, ledge, member, shelf, etc.) that may provide support for the biasing mechanism 52. The platform 64 may also guide the biasing mechanism 52 during the movement of the member 60.
According to various alternative embodiments, the member may have a wide variety of shapes and/or configurations which provide for an extended, enlarged or enlargeable space (e.g., area, volume, etc.). As shown in
According to other alternative embodiments, the member (e.g., pusher) may have a wide variety of shapes and configurations, including angular shapes or curved shapes (as shown in
According to an alternative embodiment shown in
As best shown in
According to an alternative embodiment, the coil spring shown in
As shown in
According to exemplary embodiments, as shown in
As shown in
According to one exemplary embodiment, the front wall may be a separate member which attaches to the merchandising system. As shown in
The front wall 46 may be configured to receive or display indicia (e.g. text, graphics, display placards, signage, etc.). For example, indicia may be applied directly to the front wall 46. Alternatively, the front wall 46 comprises one or more channels configured to hold and display indicia. Additionally, the front wall may be clear to increase visibility of the merchandising articles. This configuration allows the articles to be readily visible by minimizing the potential obstruction that could be created by a front wall. According to an exemplary embodiment, the visibility of the articles may be maximized by providing a clear or transparent front wall.
According to an exemplary embodiment, one or more fasteners 50 (e.g., mechanical fasteners, adhesives, suction cups, rubber feet, bolts, Velcro™, brackets, etc.) may be provided on the merchandising system 10 to hold, retain, etc. the merchandising system 10 in place. According to a particularly preferred embodiment as shown in
According to various exemplary embodiments, the assemblies and components of the merchandising system 10 may be constructed from extruded or injection molded plastic. A variety of plastics may be used for construction or assembly. For example, the member(s) may be constructed or assembled from high-impact plastics, polymers, etc. Using plastic offers several advantages including that the pieces may be constructed in a variety of different colors, surface finishes, textures, opacity, etc. According to various alternative embodiments, a variety of other known or suitable materials may be used, including metals, alloys, composites, etc.
According to the various exemplary embodiments shown in the FIGURES, a merchandising system may be provided on a substantially horizontal surface such as a display shelf or may be provided as the substantially horizontal surface of a display shelf merchandising system. According to alternative embodiments, the elements and the assemblies of the various exemplary embodiments may be applied to a merchandising system provided at any orientation and are not limited to a substantially horizontal surface. The exemplary embodiments shown in the FIGURES may be dimensioned to fit any applicable merchandising system (e.g. shelf, display, grid, etc.). For example, the exemplary embodiments advantageously allow a single merchandising system to be used interchangeably with display shelf merchandising systems of different depths without limiting the storage capacity of the merchandising system to the storage capacity of the smallest merchandising shelf system by providing an enlargeable storage space.
The merchandising system may be incorporated into a display shelf system so that the front wall 46 of the merchandising system 10 is near the front edge of the display shelf system. Articles may be placed in the first space 81 (e.g., storage space, compartment, bin, holder, etc.) of the merchandising system 10 defined by the base 22, the two side members 48, the front wall 46 and the member.
The members defining the space configured to store or display articles may be constructed and assembled as a single member or may be constructed and assembled from multiple members. The members may be arranged to form a storage space. The configuration of the members defining the space may advantageously substitute a member for a fixed rear member. Before an article is placed in the space of the merchandising system, the member may be positioned near the front wall. With the member positioned near the front of the wall, the size of the space available to accept articles is minimal. The biasing mechanism positions the member near the front wall of the merchandising system when no articles are loaded in the merchandising system.
The merchandising system 10 may be initially loaded with articles by either manually positioning the member 60 toward the back of the base 22 and then loading the articles into the expanded space, or by loading the articles through the front and having the articles move the member 60 towards the back of the base 22 as more articles are added to the space. As articles are loaded and the member 60 is moved further from the front wall 46, the tension force in the biasing mechanism 52 may increase. The tension developed in the biasing mechanism 52 may cause the member 60 to apply a force to the articles in the merchandising system 10. The force applied by the member 60 may securably contain the articles within the space defined by the base 22, the two side members 48, the front wall 46, and the member 60. Additionally, the force applied to the articles positions or urges the articles toward the front wall 46 of the merchandising system 10. The biasing mechanism 52 may be adjusted or configured so that the force applied to the articles by the member 60 does not damage the articles.
Once loaded with articles, the merchandising system 10 advantageously allows for the forward movement of the articles after an article is removed. When an article is removed from the front of the merchandising system 10, the remaining articles are positioned forward by the member 60 to fill the void left by the removed article. Moving the remaining articles to the front of the merchandising system 10 maximizes the visibility of the articles by eliminating the possibility that adjacent articles positioned near the edge of the display shelf system could obstruct the view of an article set back from the edge of the display shelf system. Additionally, the movement of the article to the front of the merchandising system reduces the difficulty of trying to reach an article positioned away from the front edge of a display shelf system. Furthermore, the forward movement also eliminates the need to manually reposition all of the remaining articles in the merchandising system after an article has been removed.
The side members 48 of the merchandising system may retain the articles when the articles are stored or presented in the merchandising system. The side members 48 may guide the article as the article is positioned or urged in the merchandising system by the member 60. The front wall 46 may prevent the articles from being urged off the front of the merchandising system. When the member 60 positions or urges the articles toward the front of the merchandising system, the front wall 46 may retain the articles in the merchandising system. According to an alternative embodiment, the merchandising system may be configured so that a front wall 46 is not needed to retain the urged article (e.g., an additional member may be added, the configuration of the base and/or side wall may sufficiently retain the article, the angle of the merchandising system, etc.).
The various exemplary embodiments shown in the FIGURES may advantageously provide for an enlargeable space in which articles may be loaded. The exemplary embodiments may provide for an enlargeable space by eliminating a fixed rear wall. Alternatively, the enlargeable space and/or the member may extend beyond a rear fixed wall. Mounting the first end 70 of the biasing mechanism 52 near the front edge of the base 22 and coacting the second end 72 of the biasing mechanism 52 with the member 60, may eliminate the need for a fixed rear wall to direct or guide the movement of a member 60. Additionally, the members of the merchandising system may be configured to provide approximately the rigidity that a fixed rear wall would provide the merchandising system. As best shown in
According to a preferred embodiment in which the biasing mechanism is a coil spring, the member may provide at least one platform to support the coil spring. When the member is positioned near the front wall of the merchandising system, the portion of the coil spring that is uncoiled may be minimal. The platform may support the coiled portion of the spring and may further act as a guide for the coiled spring by preventing the coiled spring from interfering with the merchandising system during the movement of the member.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, as shown in
The same technique used to initially load the merchandising system may be used to reload the merchandising system as articles are removed. In a particularly preferred mode of operation, the new article is reloaded from the front of the merchandising system as it remains incorporated with the display shelf system.
As shown in the FIGURES, providing an adjustable merchandising system allows for the selective reconfiguration of the merchandising system. Accordingly, the merchandising system may be reconfigured to hold varying sizes of articles. As shown in
The various embodiments of the merchandising system shown in the FIGURES may advantageously allow for individual merchandising systems to be positioned adjacently or stacked vertically, providing for selective modularity in the construction and assembly of the merchandising system. According to alternative embodiments, adjacent systems may be coupled to each other with a variety of fasteners, including dovetails, screws, bolts, adhesives, joints, etc.
It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the merchandising system as shown in the preferred and other exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present inventions have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. It is important to note that any dimensions shown are dimensions of particularly preferred embodiments, and are not intended to be limited to those dimensions. Elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements show as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied (e.g., by variations in the number of engagement slots or size of the engagement slots or type of engagement). It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures and combinations. It should also be noted that the system may be used in association with a rotating display, or alternatively other, fixed and non-movable displays or any of a wide variety of other surfaces in any of a wide variety of other applications. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present inventions. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. In the claims, any means-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present inventions.
The present application claims the benefit of priority as may be available under 35 U.S.C. §§ 119–121 from the following application: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/408,752 (“MERCHANDISING SYSTEM”) filed Sep. 6, 2002 (incorporated herein by reference).
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| 60408752 | Sep 2002 | US |
