Patent Application
20220157208
Signs are commonly used in retail settings to present information to customers about a promotion and/or a product for purchase. For example, overhead signs are hung over a grouping of display structures including related products and are used to indicate a general location of the products. Upright signs can be positioned adjacent display structures or in aisles between display structures to direct the customer to a product location or to inform the customer of sales or promotions. In other instances, signs are attached directly to the display structures, such as on shelving, to provide identifying and/or price information to the customer.
One aspect of the present invention relates to a header configured to be coupled to a retail display structure includes a front panel and a rear panel. The rear panel is formed coplanarly with the front panel and borders the front panel along a longitudinally extending fold line. The rear panel is folded about the longitudinally extending fold line to fit adjacent to and be adhered to an interior surface of the front panel. The at least two hooks are initially coplanarly formed in an interior of the rear panel and coupled to a remainder of the rear panel via a fold line. Each of the at least two hooks is folded rearwardly away from the rear panel to define an offset portion and a downwardly extending portion. The downwardly extending portion is spaced from an exterior surface of the rear panel via the offset portion in a manner configured to receive at least a portion of the retail display structure between the exterior surface of the rear panel and the downwardly extending portion of each of the at least two hooks. Other systems, fixtures, headers, assemblies, methods, etc. are also disclosed.
Embodiments of the invention will be described with respect to the figures, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, and in which:
The following detailed description of the invention provides example embodiments and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description of the invention. Relational terms herein such a first, second, top, bottom, etc. may be used herein solely to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying an actual such relationship or order. In addition, as used herein, the terms “about” and “substantially” each applies to all numeric values or descriptive terms, respectively, and generally indicate a range of numbers or characteristics that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values or terms, that is, having the same function or results.
A header is provided for displaying indicia on a retail display fixture and is configured to draw the attention of consumers, to inform consumers about the price or other features of items offered for retail sale, to enhance aesthetics of a retail environment, to identify the items offered for retail sale near the header, and/or to direct a consumer toward the location of items offered for retail sale. In one embodiment, the header is formed of a single, substantially planar blank folded about fold lines and perforations to form integral hooks extending rearwardly form a back of a sign. The integral hooks, folded out of plane with a front of the sign, have a downward orientation configured to receive a cross bar of a retail display fixture such that the header extends in a longitudinal direction largely covering a front of the cross bar.
Turning to the figures,
The retail fixture members, that is, the assembly of vertical fixture members 20, cross bar 12, and any other may be positioned within a retail store or environment in any desired position, such as, along a wall of the environment and/or spaced from any said interior or exterior walls of the environment. In one example, vertical members 20 each define a linear array of slots 22 extending substantially vertically thereon, and cross bar 12 includes hooked mounts 24 on opposing ends thereof. In this manner, hooked mounts 24 are selectively engaged and disengaged with individual slots of each of the array of slots 22 to adjust placement of cross bar 12 vertically relative to vertical members 20 as desired for a particular display in the retail environment.
Header 10 as shown in
Blank 28 is scored, marked, or otherwise formed with a plurality of fold lines defining a front panel 34, a primary rear panel 36, an auxiliary rear panel 38, and side panels 40, in one embodiment. For example, front panel 34 extends between a first substantially linear longitudinal fold line 42 and a second substantially linear fold line 44 in a substantially rectangular manner. Primary rear panel 36 extends from first fold line 42 to a free edge 50, where free edge is substantially parallel to first fold line 42, in one embodiment. Auxiliary rear panel 38 is optional, but in one embodiment, extends from front panel 42 in an opposite direction as primary rear panel 36. For example, auxiliary rear panel 38 extends from second fold line 44 to a free edge 90, opposite free edge 50, where in one example, free edge 90 is substantially parallel to one or more of first fold line 42, second fold line 44, and free edge 50. Opposing side panels 40 each extend from a different one of opposite side fold lines 46 away from front panel 34 to a free side edge 100.
More specifically, in one example, primary rear panel 36 includes a first angled side edge 52 and a transversely extending side edge 52 on each opposing side thereof to collectively extend from first fold line 42 to free edge 50, in one example. First angled side edge 52 angles inwardly from first fold line 42 to an intersection with transversely extending side edge 52, which, in one example, from first angled side edge 52 to free edge 50 in a manner that may be substantially perpendicularly to one or both of first fold line 42 and free edge 50. As will be further described below, in one embodiment, first angled side edge 52 and transversely extending side edges 54 are shaped and sized to not overlap with side panels 40 when header 10 is assembled and both are folded to abut interior surface of front panel 42.
Similarly, to first angled side edge 52 and transversely extending side edges 54 of primary rear panel 36, auxiliary rear panel 38 includes a second angled side edge 92 angled inwardly from second fold line 44 to an intersection with second transversely extending side edge 94, which, in one example, extends from second angled side edge 92 to free edge 90 in a manner that may be substantially perpendicularly to one or both of second fold line 44 and free edge 90. As will be further described below, in one embodiment, second angled side edges 92 and transversely extending side edges 94 are shaped and sized to not overlap with side panels 40 when header 10 is assembled and both are folded to abut interior surface of front panel 42.
One of primary rear panel 36 and auxiliary rear panel 38, for example, primary rear panel 36, integrally includes hooks 18 on an interior portion thereof, that is spaced from an outer perimeter of front primary rear panel 26 collectively formed by first fold line 42, free edge 50, first angled side edge 52, and transversely extending side edge 52. For instance, in the illustrated embodiment, two or more, for example, four our more such hooks are spaced longitudinally from each other, with each being formed to be substantially the same size and spaced substantially the same distance from first fold line 42. In one example, each of hooks 18 is substantially identical. In this manner, each hook 18 is defined between a hook fold line 74 and a cutline 56 that extends from one end of hook fold line 74 to the other to form hook 18 as a closed shape. More specifically, in one embodiment, hook fold line 74 is substantially linear and extends substantially perpendicularly relative to first fold line 42.
Cutline 56 extends from one end of hook fold line 74 to the other in a manner including a top segment 58, a first side segment 60, a cutback segment 62, a second side segment 64, a bottom segment 66, a third side segment 70, and return segment 72, in one example, for instance, such that hook 18 is defined symmetrically about a center fold line 76. In one example, top segment 58 extends away from what will be a top of hook fold line 74 in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto and/or substantially parallel to first fold line 42. Top segment 58 extends to a corner intersection with first side segment 60, which extends downwardly therefrom in a substantially linear manner to cutback segment 62. Cutback segment 62 extends from first side segment 60 partially back toward hook fold line 74 to second side segment 64. In one example, cutback segment 62 is sized with a length corresponding to a thickness of cross bar 14 (see
Second side segment 64 extends substantially parallel to first side segment 60, from cutback segment 62 to bottom segment 66. Bottom segment 66 extends from second side segment to side segment 64 to third side segment 70, for example, extending substantially parallel to top segment 58. Third side segment 70 extends upwardly from bottom segment 66 and is sized and shaped substantially similar to second side segment 64. For example, third side segment 70 is linear and has a substantially identical length to second side segment and/or extends substantially parallel to second side segment 64. Return segment 72 extends from an end of third side segment 70 opposite bottom segment 66 substantially parallel or colinear with cutback segment 62 to a bottom end of fold line 74. In one example, center fold line 76 extends substantially parallel to hook fold line 74 between top segment 58 and bottom segment 66 in such a manner that cutback segment 62 and second side segment 64 are symmetrically positioned relative to third side segment 70 and return segment 72, respectively, about center fold line 76. In one embodiment, each of hook fold line 74 and first side segment 56 are symmetrically sized and positioned relative to one another about center fold line 76. In such an embodiment, hook 18 is divided into two substantially identically sized and shaped halves on either side of center fold line 76. Assembly including folding out of hook 18 is described in additional detail below.
In one embodiment, each of primary rear panel 36 and auxiliary rear panel 38 includes pre-applied adhesive 48 or is applied with adhesive 48 during assembly to allow each of primary rear panel 36 and auxiliary rear panel 38 to be adhered to front panel 34 during assembly. In one embodiment, auxiliary rear panel 38 is eliminated and/or primary rear panel 36 extends further toward second fold line 44, which may or may not be replaced with a free edge, as will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the present application.
In one example, side panels 40 are similarly sized and shaped to extend outwardly from opposing sides of front panel 34 in a substantially symmetrical manner. For instance, each side panel 40 extends outwardly from a different one of side fold lines 46 to a different one of free side edges 100, which, in one embodiment, extend substantially parallel to side fold lines 446, which, in one embodiment, extend substantially perpendicularly relative to first fold line 42 and second fold line 44. In one example, first and second fold lines 42 and 44 each intersect or nearly intersect with opposing ends of each of side fold lines 46. Each side panel 40 includes an angled offset edge 102 on each of top and bottom sides thereof extending between corresponding ones of side fold lines 46 and free side edges 100. Angled offset edge 102 may be substantially perpendicular to side fold line 46 or, for example, as illustrated in the figures, may be tapered inwardly from each of first fold line 42 and second fold line 44 toward the other of first fold line 42 and second fold line 44. In one example, each angled offset edge 102 is collinear with a different one of first angled side edge 52 or second angled side edge 92. In one embodiment, each of side panels 40 includes pre-applied adhesive 48 or is applied with adhesive 48 during assembly to allow each of side panels 40 to be adhered to front panel 34 during assembly, as will be additionally described below. A cutout or slot 104 may or may not be formed along any one of first fold line 42, second fold line 44, and side fold lines 46 to allow a crisper and/or easier fold to be made along side fold lines 46 when each side panel 40 is folded rearwardly about the corresponding fold line.
Once blank 28 is cut from a planar material and fold lines and interior cut lines are formed, it is easily, stacked and flat packed for sending to a retail store or other suitable environment for assembly and use. Upon arrival of blank 28 at the retail store, for example, a team member can quickly assemble blank 28 into header 10 and hang header 10 on a cross bar 14 (wee
Once blank 28 is so placed, primary rear panel 36, auxiliary rear panel 38, and side panels 40 are each folded about a respective one of first fold line 42, second fold line 44, and side fold lines 46 nearly 180 degrees such that each of primary rear panel 36, auxiliary rear panel 38, and side panels 40 are adhered, with portions of interior surface 32 facing each other, to front panel 34. For example, as shown in
Turning to
In one embodiment, each of side panels 40 and auxiliary rear panel 38 are sized and shaped to neatly nest with each other at lower corners of header 10 forming a neat, for example, an at least partially mitered corner of header 10. More particularly, turning to
Turning to
In one embodiment, each of side panels 40 and primary rear panel 32 are sized and shaped to neatly nest with each other at upper corners of header 10 forming a neat, for example, an at least partially mitered corner of header 10. More particularly, as illustrated, in one example, since first angled side edge 52 is collinear to angled offset edge 102 when in the form of blank 28, when a side panel 40 and primary rear panel 32 are folded into place, angled offset edge 102 and first angled side edge 52 substantially abut one another to form a substantially mitered corner. Where a height of primary rear panel 32 extends beyond a free corner of one of side panels 40, first angled side edge 52 of primary rear panel extends immediately adjacent to an along a lower portion of free edge 100 of side panel 40 opposite auxiliary rear panel 38, in one example. In one embodiment, primary rear panel 32 extends along a rear of front panel 34 a sufficient distance such that free edge 50 is positioned adjacent to free edge 90 of auxiliary rear panel 38. In this manner a substantial entirety of the corresponding header 10 is of dual thickness, but otherwise remains a substantially planar member of sufficient strength to maintain the substantially planarity during a lengthy use time on cross bar 14.
In order to hang header 10 in a positioned as desired, hooks 18 are folded out, rearwardly from primary rear panel 32 to extend further away from front panel 34 than a remainder of primary rear panel 32, as show, for instance in
Turning to
When formed as described in the example embodiment above, each of hooks 18 extends rearwardly and then downwardly from a portion of exterior surface 30 defined by primary rear panel 36. Once fully assembled, header 10 is ready to be hung as part of retails display system 12 (
Although the invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments, such embodiments are meant for the purposes of illustrating examples only and should not be considered to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Various alternatives, modifications, and changes will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this application. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the above detailed description.
