The present disclosure relates to a product display unit, and more particularly, to a product display unit having a lateral or width extension configured to increase the width of the product display unit.
Various types of product display units and merchandisers are commonly used in retail environments to display different types of products. As opposed to simply positioning products on shelves, product display units are commonly used to position products on a shelf in manner which automatically advances (e.g., via gravity or a pusher) a trailing or distal product (i.e., a product that is behind a lead or proximal-most product) closer to a consumer once the lead product has been removed from the shelf. As can be appreciated, such product display units facilitate the arrangement and upkeep of products, as the trailing products do not have to be manually moved toward the front of the shelf, for instance.
Additionally, in retail environments, for example, floor space, shelf space, and space in cold vaults is limited, and retailers typically attempt to maximize the amount of products they can store/display in their retail space. Further, retailers and other users of product display units often use products display units of different sizes to fit on a variety of types and sizes of shelves and cabinets, for example. Such users of product display units must typically stock a variety of sizes of display units to ensure they have enough product display units to accommodate displaying a variety of goods.
Further, when display units are used in on shelves supported by uprights, for example, the space in between the proximal and distal uprights is not typically occupied by any product display unit and thus lacks the ability to store/display products.
Accordingly, it is often desirable for retailers to display products in as many viewable and reachable places as possible, while still allowing the products to automatically advance toward the proximal portion of the shelf. It is also desirable for retailers to be able to use product display units on a variety of sizes of shelves without the need to stock different sizes of product display units. Further, it is often desirable to use the space between proximal and distal shelf supports.
The present disclosure relates to a product display unit including a width extension. The product display unit including a width extension includes a first lateral sidewall, a second lateral sidewall, and a track. The first lateral sidewall is configured to releasably engage a sidewall of a product display member. The second lateral sidewall includes a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment. The second segment is parallel to the first lateral sidewall. The first segment is disposed at an angle with respect to the second segment. The third segment is disposed at an angle with respect to the second segment. The track is disposed between the first lateral sidewall and the second lateral sidewall. The track is configured to support products thereon.
In disclosed embodiments, the first segment may define a first angle with respect to the second segment, and the third segment may define a second angle with respect to the second segment. It is further disclosed that the first angle may be between about 15° and about 45°. Additionally, it is disclosed that the first angle may be equal to the second angle. It is also disclosed that the first angle may be different from the second angle. In embodiments, the second angle may be about 90°. It is further disclosed that the first angle may be between about 15° and about 45°. Additionally, it is disclosed that the first segment may be disposed adjacent a proximal portion of the track.
In disclosed embodiments, the track may include a main portion and an extension portion disposed laterally adjacent part of the main portion, each of the main portion and the extension portion may be configured to support a row of products thereon such that the track is configured to support two rows of products thereon.
The present disclosure also relates to a product display kit including a product display member and a product display unit including a width extension. The product display member includes a track for supporting a plurality of products. A first sidewall is disposed adjacent a first lateral side of the track of the product display member, and a second sidewall disposed adjacent a second lateral side of the track of the product display member. The product display unit including a width extension includes a first lateral, a second lateral sidewall, and a track. The first lateral sidewall configured to engage the first sidewall of the product display member. The second lateral sidewall includes a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment. The second segment is parallel to the first lateral sidewall, the first segment is disposed at an angle with respect to the second segment, and the third segment is disposed at an angle with respect to the second segment. The track of the product display unit including a width extension is disposed between the first lateral sidewall and the second lateral sidewall, and is configured to support products thereon.
In disclosed embodiments, the first segment may define a first angle with respect to the second segment, and the third segment may define a second angle with respect to the second segment. It is further disclosed that the first lateral sidewall may be configured to separately engage both of the first sidewall of the product display member and the second sidewall of the product display member. In embodiments, the first angle may be between about 15° and about 45°. It is also disclosed that the first angle may be equal to the second angle. It is further disclosed that the first angle may be different from the second angle. In embodiments, the second angle may be about 90°. Additionally, it is disclosed that the first angle may be between about 15° and about 45°. It is also disclosed that the first segment may be disposed adjacent a proximal portion of the track.
In disclosed embodiments, the track of the product display unit including a width extension may include a main portion and an extension portion disposed laterally adjacent part of the main portion. Each of the main portion and the extension portion may be configured to support a row of products thereon such that the track of product display unit including a width extension is configured to support two rows of products thereon.
The present disclosure also relates to a method of supporting products on a product display unit including a width extension. The method includes supporting a first product on a track in a first row of the product display unit including a width extension, and supporting a second product on the track in a second row of the product display unit including a width extension and in contact with the first product. The product display unit including a width extension includes a first lateral sidewall, and a second lateral sidewall. The second lateral sidewall includes a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment. The second segment is parallel to the first lateral sidewall. The first segment is disposed at an angle with respect to the second segment. The third segment is disposed at an angle with respect to the second segment.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings wherein:
Embodiments of the presently disclosed product display unit and width extension are now described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. As used herein the term “distal” refers to that portion of the product display unit, width extension, or component thereof, farther from a user (e.g., customer), while the term “proximal” refers to that portion of the product display unit, width extension, or component thereof, closer to the user.
An embodiment of a product display unit including a width extension is illustrated in
The track 120 includes a product-supporting surface and is configured to slidably support a plurality of products “P” thereon (
The sidewalls 140 are disposed at both lateral sides of the track 120 and are configured to help maintain products on the track 120. As shown in
The proximal member 180 is positioned adjacent the front or proximal portion of the track 120 and is configured to help maintain products “P” on the track 120. More specifically, the proximal member 180 helps prevent a proximal-most product from falling proximally off of the track 120. Additionally, the proximal member 180 opposes the gravitational force and/or the force supplied by a pusher (not shown). Further, while the illustrated embodiments include a certain type of proximal member 180, the present disclosure includes the use of any suitable type and number of proximal members 180 per product display member 100.
The distal member 160 is configured to help maintain products “P” on track 120. More particularly, the distal member 160 is configured to help prevent a distal-most product from falling distally off of the track 120.
Product display unit including width extension 500 is configured to engage a sidewall 140 of a product display member 100. More particularly, product display unit including width extension 500 is configured to separately engage (e.g., releasably engage) a first lateral sidewall 140a and a second lateral sidewall 140b of product display members 100 of product display assembly 1000. Various types of mechanical structures (e.g., snap-fit connections, etc.) are contemplated for releasably engaging product display unit including width extension 500 and product display assembly 1000. Additionally, product display unit including width extension 500 is configured to be supported by a shelf extension “SE” that extends laterally outward of product display assembly 1000 (see
Product display unit including width extension 500 includes a base 502, a bottom member 510, a track 520, sidewalls 540, and two stop members 580a, 580b. When product display unit including width extension 500 is engaged with first sidewall 140a of product display assembly 1000 (
With particular reference to
It is further envisioned that an angle is formed within each of first segment 542b and third segment 546b, thus creating proximal and distal portions of each segment 542b, 546b separated by a curve, point or angle. It is also disclosed that first segment 542b and third segment 546b are mirror images of each other (facilitating the ability to engage product display unit including width extension 500 on either side of product display assembly 1000), include more than one linear section, and/or include an arcuate portion (e.g., when viewed from above).
In embodiments where product display unit including width extension 500 is engaged with first sidewall 140a of product display assembly 1000 (
The orientation of second lateral sidewall 540b of product display unit including width extension 500 dictates the size and the shape of the track 520. As can be appreciated, the track 520 of the width extension 500 can support more products “P” than the track 120 of a traditional product display member 100 as the track 520 includes a greater surface area than track 120. With particular reference to
Various sizes and distances of product display unit including width extension 500 are included and contemplated by the present disclosure. In the embodiment illustrated in
Additionally, while the illustrated embodiments show the extension portion 504 of product display unit including width extension 500 supporting five products “P” thereon, the present disclosure also includes the extension portion 504 supporting more or fewer than five products “P” (e.g., by changing the angle/shape of the first segment 542b and/or the third segment 546b, or by changing the size/shape of the track 520).
With reference to
Product display unit including width extension 500′ is configured to mechanically one lateral sidewall (e.g., 140a) of product display member 100 of product display assembly 1000. Product display unit including width extension 500′ includes a first sidewall 540a′ and a second sidewall 540b′. Second sidewall 540b′ includes a first segment 542b′, a second segment 544b′, and a third segment 546b′. First segment 542b′ is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis “A-A.” Second segment 544b′ is parallel to the longitudinal axis “A-A.” Third segment 546b′ is disposed at an angle α3 with respect to the second segment 544b′. It is envisioned that α3 is between about 15° and about 45°. Other angles are also envisioned. This configuration of sidewall 540b′ allows more products “P” in the second row “R2” with respect to product display unit including width extension 500 and its sidewall 540. As can be appreciated, a mirror image of product display unit including width extension 500′ can be used to mechanically engage the other lateral sidewall (e.g., 140b) of product display member 100 of product display assembly 1000.
Additionally, while product display unit including width extension 500′ includes a first stop member 580a′ and a second stop member 580b′, it is envisioned that second stop member 580b′ is a distal member similar to distal member 160 of product display member 100.
The present disclosure also relates to a product display kit including the product display assembly 1000, and at least one product display unit including width extension 500, 500′. It is further envisioned that the product display kit includes a plurality (e.g., two) of product display units including width extensions 500, 500′ and/or product display unit including width extension 500, 500′ having different main portions 503 having different widths “w1” from each other, and/or extension portions 504 having different widths “w2” from each other. As can be appreciated, such product display kits enable retailers a great amount of flexibility with regards to how the space between various proximal and distal uprights can be utilized.
Further, while the accompanying figures illustrate a particular number of product display members 100 disposed adjacent each other, it is envisioned and within the scope of the present disclosure to include more or fewer amounts of product display members 100, and to include product display members 100 of other sizes, and disposed at different angles than those illustrated, for example. Additionally, the present disclosure contemplates the use of a pusher assembly to urge products proximally on the track 120, 520 (e.g., when the slope of the shelf supporting the product display member 100 is insufficient to urge the products proximally via gravity).
The present disclosure also includes methods of using product display unit including width extension 500. Methods include supporting products “P” in two rows of product display unit including width extension 500—a first row “R1” of products “P” being supported by main portion 503, and a second row “R2” of products “P” being supported by extension portion 504. The greatest width “w” of product display unit including width extension 500 is less than the combined width of two products “P” (one product “P” from the first row “R1,” and one product “P” from the second row “R2”) supported thereon. As shown in
Further details of related product display units are described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,176, which issued on Jul. 8, 1997, the entire contents of which being incorporated by reference herein.
It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of various embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/152,287 filed on Apr. 24, 2015, the entire contents of which being herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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