Patent Grant
10172480
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for displaying products, such as beverage containers.
Various commercial enterprises offer beverages for sale in containers. For convenience of consumers, it is beneficial for the beverages to be organized in easily identifiable groups. Often, the amount of shelving or display space is limited. Conventionally, beverage containers may be displayed using racks. However, currently known racks may suffer from one or more of difficulty or inefficiency of shipping, limitations regarding stacking or other use of limited available space, and/or lack of flexibility of use with differently sized shelving environments.
A need exists for a system and/or method of conveniently and reliably displaying products such as beverage containers.
Accordingly, certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a product display assembly that is configured to display beverage containers. The assembly includes a first side member, a second side member, and a cross member. The first side member includes at least one first rack assembly feature. The second side member includes at least one second rack assembly feature. The cross member is configured to be releasably securable to the first side member and the second side member. The cross member includes cross member rack assembly features configured to cooperate with the at least one first rack assembly feature and the at least one second rack assembly feature to releasably secure the cross member to the first side member and the second side member. The cross member is interposed between the first side member and the second side member and oriented perpendicular to the first side member and the second side member. The cross member comprises a support surface configured to support the beverage containers.
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of providing a product display assembly configured to display beverage containers. The method includes providing a first side member comprising at least one first rack assembly feature, providing a second side member comprising at least one second rack assembly feature, and providing a cross member comprising cross member rack assembly features. The method also includes joining the first side member to the cross member via the at least one first rack assembly feature and at least one of the cross member rack assembly features, and joining the second side member to the cross member via the at least one second rack assembly feature and at least one other of the cross member rack assembly features. The cross member is interposed between the first side member and the second side member and oriented perpendicular to the first side member and the second side member.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and preceded by the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not necessarily excluding the plural of the elements or steps. Further, references to “one embodiment” are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular condition may include additional elements not having that condition.
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a beverage container rack (e.g., a gravity fed can dispensing rack). In various embodiments, the units are stackable (e.g., up to three levels of cans). Also, in various embodiments, a three-piece design is provided consisting of two sides and a base or cross member that are joined (e.g., by snapping together). Various embodiments provide for compact and inexpensive transportation or shipping of the assembly (e.g., in a dis-assembled state) and easy setup. Additionally, various embodiments allow retailers to adapt the display to suit available shelf height space. Further, with three separately accessible levels, for example, three different varieties of beverage may be placed in a relatively limited space (e.g., a space that previously would accommodate only two cants sitting vertically.
In various embodiments, a base or cross member includes pentagonal (or other polygonal) shaped holes or openings instead of slats, with the sides being rigid enough to provide for desired modularity and stackability. Various embodiments also provide additional attachment points to connect the sides to the base or cross member. Accordingly, various embodiments are sufficiently rigid to provide stacking of up to 3 levels of racks, and in some embodiments, additional product may be placed on top of an uppermost stack.
Various embodiments also provide a flat panel for improved labelling (e.g., with product logos). Additionally or alternatively, various embodiments provide a recessed or cutaway shape that allows a consumer to easily grasp and remove a beverage container (e.g., can).
Further still, various embodiments provide for scoring or break off lines for convenient removal of portions of a product display assembly to suit a given available space. Also, various embodiments provide a back retention member that may be integrally formed with another component (e.g., base or cross member) and removed from the other component (e.g., snapped off a back end of the cross member) prior to assembly.
As seen in
Generally, the first side member 120 and second side member 140 define sides of the product display assembly 100 when in an assembled state as seen in
As discussed herein, various components of the product display assembly 100 are configured to be securable (e.g., releasably securable) to other components of the product display 100 to place the product display assembly 100 in an assembled state. The assembly in various embodiments may take place at a point of manufacture, at a point of use, or a different location. In the illustrated embodiment, the first side member 120 includes at least one first rack assembly feature 122. Generally the first rack assembly feature 122 is configured to cooperate with at least one cooperating feature of the cross member 160 to join the first side member 120 to the cross member 160 and to align, position, and/or secure the first side member 120 in a desired position with respect to the cross member 160. The first side member 120 (as well as the second side member 140 and cross member 160) in various embodiments may be molded from a plastic.
Similarly, in the illustrated embodiment, the second side member 140 includes at least one second rack assembly feature 142. Generally the second rack assembly feature 142 is configured to cooperate with at least one cooperating feature of the cross member 160 to join the second side member 140 to the cross member 160 and to align, position, and/or secure the second side member 140 in a desired position with respect to the cross member 160.
The depicted cross member 160 is configured to be releasably securable to the first side member 120 and the second side member 140. In the illustrated embodiment, the cross member 160 includes cross member rack assembly features 162. The cross member rack assembly features 162 are configured to cooperate with at least one first rack assembly feature 122 and at least one second rack assembly feature 142 to releasably secure the cross member 160 to the first side member 120 and also to the second side member 140. In the assembled state, the cross member 160 of the illustrated embodiment is interposed between the first side member 120 and the second side member 140 and oriented perpendicular (e.g., within a range permitted by manufacturing tolerances and/or clearances between securement features joining the various components) to the first vertical member 120 and the second vertical member 140. Also the cross member 160 includes a support surface 164 configured to support the beverage containers 102.
As discussed herein, the first side member 120, second side member 140, and cross member 160 include various features configured to secure the first side member 120 to the cross member 160 and to secure the second side member 120 to the cross member 160. For example, tabs and slots may be utilized to secure the various components together. For instance, as best seen in
As seen in
In various embodiments, such an arrangement of the first side member 120, second side member 140, and cross member 160 (e.g., first and second side members 120, 140 extending above and below the cross member 160) provides for improved performance and/or convenience when stacking product display assemblies 100. For example, various embodiments provide improved resistance to twisting and/or improved stability and alignment for stacking.
As seen in
For example, in the embodiment depicted in
Further still, additionally or alternatively, the side members may include one or more additional structures or features configured for improved convenience and/or stability when stacking. For example, as best seen in
In various embodiments, the product display assembly 100 includes one or more features or structures configured to help contain the beverage containers 102 within the interior 103 of the product display assembly 100. For example, the first side member 120 and the second side member 140 help prevent the beverage containers 102 from leaving the interior 103 along lateral directions. As another example, in some embodiments, a back retention member is employed to help prevent the beverage containers 102 from leaving the interior 103 via the rear 116.
As discussed above, the back retention member 180 may be initially provided in various embodiments in a shipping or pre-assembly position in which the back retention member 180 extends straight from the support surface (e.g., as shown in
In various embodiments, the product display assembly 100 may be configured for use with shelves of different lengths. For example, as seen in
As best seen in
It may be noted that, in various embodiments, the support surface 164 is sloped downward from the rear 116 to the front 114 (e.g., the support surface 164 is relatively closer to the bottom 112 proximate the front 114 and relatively closer to the top 110 proximate the rear 116). The slope in various embodiments helps to urge the beverage containers 102 toward the front 114 for more convenient removal from the front 114. The slope may be selected to function effectively in conjunction with both straight and sloped shelves. For example, a slope of 5 degrees may effectively urge beverage container 102 toward the front 114 when the bottom 112 of the product display system 100 is placed on either a flat shelf (e.g., slope of 0 degrees) or a sloped shelf (e.g., slope of 10-15 degrees).
Various embodiments also provide for convenient securement to a shelf or other structure. For example, as best seen in
The method begins at 802, at which a first side member (e.g., first side member 120) is provided. The first side member includes at least one first rack assembly feature as discussed herein. At 804, a second side member (e.g., second side member 140) is provided. The second side member includes at least one second rack assembly feature as discussed herein. Also, at 806, a cross member (e.g., cross member 160) is provided. The cross member includes cross member rack assembly features which are configured to cooperate with the first and second rack assembly features to join the first side member, second side member, and cross member together. It may be noted that, in various embodiments, the first side member, second side member, and cross member may be provided in a dis-assembled or partially assembled condition as part of a kit.
At 808 in the depicted embodiment, portions of the first side member, second side member, and cross member are removed. In various embodiments, the portions may be removed (e.g., removed by bending and snapping a portion off, removed by cutting, removed by sawing) along predefined score lines provided at predetermined locations (e.g., corresponding to available shelving lengths) on the first side member, second side member, and cross member. The portions may be removed before joining the various components together. In other embodiments, for example embodiments where an available shelf length exceeds the maximum length of the product display assembly, this step may be omitted and portions need not necessarily be removed.
At 810 in the depicted embodiment, a back retention member (e.g., back retention member 180) is removed from a pre-assembly position. For example, in some embodiments, the back retention member, in the pre-assembly position, extends straight from the cross member (e.g., along a plane defined by a base or support surface of the cross member). In some embodiments, the back retention member may be initially formed integrally with the cross member (e.g., as part of a molding process), and then snapped off, cut off, or otherwise removed from the cross member. It may be noted that in other embodiments, this step may be omitted. For example, in some embodiments, a back retention member may not be utilized. In other embodiments, as another example, a back retention member (or members) may be formed in a retaining position integrally with one or more of the first side member, second side member, or cross member (e.g., extending perpendicularly from or at an oblique angle from the first side member, second side member, or cross member).
At 812, the first side member is joined to the cross member. For example, in some embodiments, at least one first rack assembly feature and at least one cross member rack assembly feature are used to join the first side member to the cross member. For instance, one or more slots associated with one of the first side member or the cross member may accept one or more tabs associated with the other of the first side member or the cross member.
At 814, the second side member is joined to the cross member. For example, in some embodiments, at least one second rack assembly feature and at least one cross member rack assembly feature are used to join the second side member to the cross member. For instance, one or more slots associated with one of the second side member or the cross member may accept one or more tabs associated with the other of the second side member or the cross member.
At 816, the back retention member (e.g., back retention member 180) is mounted to the cross member. In various embodiments, back retention tabs of the back retention member are inserted into back retention slots of the cross member.
In some embodiments, more than one product display assembly may be utilized. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, at 818, an additional product display assembly is provided (e.g., using steps 802-816 above). At 820, the additional product display assembly is stacked with a previously obtained or provided product display assembly. In various embodiments, the product display assemblies are stacked using stacking cooperating features as discussed herein. For example, the product display assemblies may be stacked using first stacking cooperating features disposed proximate a top of a product display assembly and second stacking cooperating features disposed proximate a bottom of a different product display assembly. The first and second stacking cooperating features in various embodiments are configured to cooperate with each other to align and/or secure product display assemblies together in a stacked arrangement. For example, in various embodiments, slots, tabs, and/or ledges may be utilized.
Referring to
While various spatial and directional terms, such as top, bottom, lower, mid, lateral, horizontal, vertical, front and the like may be used to describe embodiments of the present disclosure, it is understood that such terms are merely used with respect to the orientations shown in the drawings. The orientations may be inverted, rotated, or otherwise changed, such that an upper portion is a lower portion, and vice versa, horizontal becomes vertical, and the like.
As used herein, a structure, limitation, or element that is “configured to” perform a task or operation is particularly structurally formed, constructed, or adapted in a manner corresponding to the task or operation. For purposes of clarity and the avoidance of doubt, an object that is merely capable of being modified to perform the task or operation is not “configured to” perform the task or operation as used herein.
It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the various embodiments of the disclosure without departing from their scope. While the dimensions and types of materials described herein are intended to define the parameters of the various embodiments of the disclosure, the embodiments are by no means limiting and are exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the various embodiments of the disclosure should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. § 112(f), unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure.
This written description uses examples to disclose the various embodiments of the disclosure, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various embodiments of the disclosure, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the various embodiments of the disclosure is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if the examples have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if the examples include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20180344051 A1 | Dec 2018 | US |
