Patent Application
20140319988
Advertising displays have been of great importance for many years. However, some goods are more easily displayed than others. For instance, in the case of bathroom cabinetry and fixtures, the usual method for advertising the line of goods is by either showing photographs of the goods in varying styles and finishes, or by providing a sample of cabinets with a countertop and faucet fixtures attached, sometimes accompanied by an array of molding pieces with differing stain finishes.
In the case of large hardware stores catering to do-it-yourself homeowners, an array of exemplary vanity cabinets may be displayed with the goods to be sold stored in warehouse space on the store premises. If several styles of cabinets are on display, a sizeable amount of floor space is taken which might be better used for display of additional types of goods for sale.
Improvements in the efficiency of displays for cabinetry goods and bathroom fixtures would conserve space while allowing a potential buyer to examine a wide selection of goods.
An improved display system is disclosed which can be moved as a unit and placed within a space in pallet rack shelving commonly used in a warehouse and frequently used in retail display spaces of a do-it-yourself oriented home improvement store. The disclosed system is sized to generally fill the volume of one lower compartment of a pallet rack between the floor and first shelf of the pallet rack. The disclosed system includes an open sided enclosure having a floor, a ceiling, opposing side walls and a rear wall. The floor, ceiling and rear wall are all interconnected by the opposing side walls so that an open front side is provided.
A series of pivotable panels are installed in the enclosure with each panel offset from its neighboring panels in both the front-to-rear dimension and in the left-side to right-side dimension.
Each pivoting panel is pivotable about a vertical axis provided by coaxial stub axles extending from upper and lower rails of the panel. The stub axles connect to the floor and to the ceiling of the enclosure. The vertical axis about which each panel is pivotable is located at a hinge end of the panel. The pivot axis of each panel is offset laterally, as well as forward to rearward, from the next adjacent panel's pivot axis. Each panel may be rotated from a rest position to an open position after each panel in front of that panel has been rotated to an open position. In the rest or closed position, each panel is substantially parallel to the rear wall of the enclosure. In the open position, each panel is rotated to a position about ninety degrees from each panel's respective closed position and the rear face of one panel is viewable at the same time as the front face of the next neighboring panel.
Each panel includes a front face oriented toward the open front of the enclosure when the panel is in closed position and each panel has an opposing rear face which is oriented to the rear wall of the enclosure when the panel is in closed position. Each face is equipped so that a selection of cabinet elements can be attached to the panel faces. Specifically, when a first front-most panel is moved about its pivot axis to its open position, the front face of the second (next neighboring) panel is exposed while the rear face of the first panel is also exposed, so that the goods displayed on the reverse face of the first panel may be observed at the same time as the goods displayed on the front face of the second panel. In the case of display of bathroom cabinet goods, either the rear face of one panel or the front face of the next neighboring panel may carry a front facade of a particular bathroom cabinet, so that a prospective customer may observe a three-dimensional front face of a particular model of cabinet, with a matching mirror or matching medicine cabinet mounted above it, while the exposed face on the adjacent panel may carry further detail information and samples of finishes for the cabinet items displayed on the first face.
Samples of the profiles of the exterior elements of the first model of cabinet may also displayed either on available space of the front face of the second panel or on the rear face of the first panel. Therefore, a potential buyer of bathroom cabinet goods may inspect multiple styles or appearances of an available line of cabinets by moving each panel in succession to its open position while also having access to view multiple finish colors of the particular models of the cabinet. Therefore, if there are four pivotable panels, three styles of a particular line of cabinets may be displayed on facing pairs of panel faces as each panel is rotated approximately 90° from its rest position to its open position.
A fourth model of the same line of cabinets may be shown in full size mounted along the rear wall of the enclosure, alongside the set of panels. The full size cabinet may be displayed with a coordinated full depth medicine cabinet or mirror being mounted to the rear wall of the enclosure above the full size cabinet.
The full size cabinet is provided with a full size countertop equipped with a sink and faucet fixture. The finish and style of the full size cabinet on display may differ from the styles and colors of the facade samples mounted to the facing pairs of panel faces of the adjoining panels, but the potential customer will be able to review a given line of cabinet goods with multiple style and finish color options while successively rotating the panels in the enclosure.
The enclosure may be provided with an auxiliary compartment with an open front in which boxed goods may be stored. In addition, cabinet units and mirror units in cartons may be stored on shelves of the pallet rack shelving so that a customer may select the desired cabinet and medicine cabinet or mirror and take cartons containing those goods to the point of sale location.
The entire enclosure equipped with the display panels and full size cabinet sample may be moved as a unit from a delivery truck to an empty pallet rack compartment. When the enclosure is in place in the pallet rack compartment, the empty shelves of the pallet rack may carry boxed goods ready for retail sale.
It is an object of the invention to provide an attractive and efficient display system for bulky items which are sold in retail outlets which employ warehouse pallet rack shelving units.
It is specifically an object of the invention to provide a display system which can display cabinet products in various colors and styles in a stand-alone display enclosure which requires no assembly at the destination location.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a self contained display system for bathroom cabinet products which may be operated manually by a shopper in a self service retail outlet.
These and other desirable objects of the invention will be better understood from examination of the detailed description which follows:
The present invention is a self-contained display system for pallet rack shelving in a retail outlet.
Pallet rack shelving unit 11 may contain within its right hand half 29 a subdivider shelf 13 on which alternative cabinet models 61, 63, 65 may be supported while additional product cartons 30, 32 may be stored on bottom shelf 31 of pallet rack shelving unit 11. It should be understood that pallet rack shelving unit 11 may be rearranged but may be used as a housing for self-contained display system 10 as long as a suitable compartment 25 is available and unoccupied in pallet rack shelving unit 11.
Generally compartment 25 is about 94 inches in height, about 98 inches in width and about 98 inches deep while self-contained display system 10 has maximum dimensions which will fit easily within compartment 25, namely: width—about 96.75 inches; depth—about 37.75 inches; and height—about 92.75 inches. It is to be understood that minor variations in the dimensions may be made so long as the self-contained display system 10 will fit easily within compartment 25 of the pallet rack shelving unit 11. Self-contained display system 10 equipped with the display panels 40, 42, 44, 46 and full size cabinet 60 may be moved as a unit from a delivery truck to an empty pallet rack shelving unit 11 with moving equipment such as a forklift or pallet truck and then the self-contained display system 10 may then be slid on the building floor 15 into place into compartment 25. Preferably self-contained display system 10 will occupy essentially the entirety of the compartment 25. It is also useful to understand that pallet rack shelving unit 11 will be accessible from both its front and its rear and therefore, the front-to-back depth of self-contained display system 10 will be no more than one half the front-to-back dimension of the pallet rack shelving unit 11, so that other goods may be stored or displayed in the opposing side of the pallet rack shelving unit 11. Alternatively, a second self-contained display system 10 may be placed into the back side of compartment 25 from the rear side of the pallet rack shelving unit 11.
The height of display volume 26 is preferably sufficient to accommodate the height of the most adult persons so that such an adult consumer may enter enclosure 26 and stand upright while inspecting cabinet 60 and mirror unit 64 and while rotating panels 40, 42, 44, 46.
Referring now to
Pivotable panels 40, 42, 44, 46 are located within display volume 26 generally along divider wall 20 but spaced from divider wall 20 by successively increasing distances from front to rear to allow pivotable panels 40, 42, 44, 46 to be pivoted from a closed position wherein each panel 40, 42, 44, 46 is generally parallel to rear wall 24 to an open position wherein each panel 40, 42, 44, 46 is generally perpendicular to rear wall 24.
Situated alongside panels 40, 42, 44, 46 and mounted to rear wall 24 is a full size bathroom vanity cabinet 60 equipped with a countertop 62 and with a faucet unit 70 mounted to the countertop 62. The vanity cabinet 60 is mounted to the rear wall 24 of the self-contained display system 10 and abuts the right side wall 16. Mounted to the rear wall 24 above and spaced from countertop 62 is a mirror unit 64 which includes a mirror 66 and a mirror frame 68, the mirror frame 68 preferably matching the appearance and wood from which the vanity cabinet 60 is constructed. Mirror unit 64 may include a medicine cabinet located behind mirror 66 and mirror frame 68. Vanity cabinet 60 and mirror unit 64 are of full size in order to provide the potential end user with an opportunity to inspect the entire goods. Vanity cabinet 60 and mirror unit 64 provide a sample of one style and color of a line of cabinets available to the consumer who has the opportunity to view the full size vanity cabinet 60 and mirror unit 64 mounted within the self-contained display system 10.
Referring again particularly to
In
In the preferred embodiment of
In the open position, each panel 40, 42, 44, 46 is substantially perpendicular to rear wall 24 but none of panels 42, 44, 46 may be rotated to its open position unless each panel forward of the panel is already in the open position due to the small spacing between the panels 40, 42, 44. For example, each of panels 40, 42, 44 must be moved to its open position before panel 46 can be rotated ninety degrees to its open position. From the drawings, it can be understood that panels 40, 42, 44, 46 must be moved to its open position sequentially with the frontmost panel 40 required to be rotated first.
Mounted to rear wall 24 behind fourth panel 46 is a stationary panel 48 which may include another cabinet facade and matching mirror unit, or another cabinet facade and matching mirror unit may be substituted for stationary panel 48 and mounted to rear wall 24. Stationary panel 48 is generally aligned with fourth panel 46 when fourth panel 46 is in its closed position, that is, while fourth panel 46 is parallel to the rear wall 24.
Continuing with reference to
In the specific embodiment illustrated in the drawings, upper pivot pin 56 extending from panel 46 is spaced away from the upper pivot pin 56 which extends from panel 44 a greater distance than the separation of the upper pivot pins 56 of the other panels, in order to provide additional space between panels 44 and 46 when panel 44 is in its closed position, because a deeper vanity front is intended to be used on the front face 76 of panel 46. The need to space a selected panel further from its adjacent panels is determined by the depth or thickness of the products to be displayed on the selected panel. In the embodiment disclosed in the figures, the spacing between pivot pins 56 is at least 5.3 inches and may be larger such as is the case of the pivot pin 56 spacing between panels 44, and 46 where the spacing is approximately 6.5 inches.
Now referring in particular to
Preferably the upper and lower pivot pins 56, 58 of first panel 40 are set back from open front 36 by about twenty-one inches so that when first panel 40 is in its open position, the free edge 84 of first panel 40 will not extend more than about ten inches beyond open front 36 to avoid creating a large obstruction to persons or moving machinery passing in front of pallet rack shelving unit 11.
By proper selection of elements of cabinetry to display on rear face 80 and front face 82, the user of the self-contained display system 10 may provide to an observer a wide array of options for a particular size of vanity bathroom cabinet such as vanity cabinet 60, while providing an alternative to the shape and appearance of the specific vanity cabinet 60 by mounting a front facade 88 of a first alternative cabinet to the front face 82 of second panel 42 while also displaying a first alternative mirror unit 64′ on front face 82 which matches the style, finish, color and appearance of the front facade 88 of the first alternative vanity cabinet. The first alternative mirror unit 64′ is mounted to front face 82 of second panel 42 above and spaced apart from the front facade 88 of the first alternative vanity cabinet, to replicate the appearance of these cabinet elements in a bathroom. On the rear face 80 of the front panel 40 may be attached molding segments % in differing finish colors but matching the appearance of the wood front facade 88 so that the potential buyer of the cabinet goods may compare available colors and finishes. Photographic or graphic material 98 or other cabinet elements may also be mounted to rear face 80 of first panel 40 to provide additional information to the potential buyer about selections to be made about the cabinet product line in the particular model of the first alternative vanity cabinet as shown by facade 88 and alternative mirror unit 64′ shown on front face 82 of second panel 42 which cooperates with rear face 80 of first panel 40 to exhibit various aspects of a first alternative vanity cabinet from the same cabinet line as full size vanity cabinet 60.
Similarly, when both first panel 40 and second panel 42 have been rotated to their respective open positions, then the rear face of the second panel 42 and the front face of the third panel 44 may be observed in a side-by-side arrangement though with the panels 42, 44 defining a ninety degree angle between them. A second alternative style or model of cabinet facade, matching mirror unit, and samples of moldings with varying finish colors and other information may be exhibited on the juxtaposed pair of panels 42, 44, in a similar manner as seen in
When all four panels 40, 42, 44, 46 have been rotated to their respective open positions, then the rear of panel 46 becomes observable along with the stationary panel 48 mounted to rear wall 24, wherein one more iteration of the cabinet line expressed generally as vanity cabinet 60 and mirror unit 64 may be inspected.
From reference to
In referring to
The lower rail 74 is spaced apart a small distance from the floor 12 so that lower rail 74 does not scrape along floor 12. The lower pivot pin 58 extends from the lower rail 74 of panel 40 near the hinge end 76 of the panel 40 and is received in the upper part of socket 50. Similarly, an upper pivot pin 56 extends from the upper rail 78 of each panel 40, 42, 44, 46. Upper pivot pins extend to the ceiling 22 and are attached to ceiling 22 and are of sufficient length so that upper rail 78 does not scrape along ceiling 22 when the panel 40 is rotated. The upper pivot pin 56 of each panel 40 is coaxial with the lower pivot pin 56 of the panel 40 and together upper pivot pin 56 and lower pivot pin 58 define a vertical pivot axis around which panel 40 may rotate. Plates 54 are also used to secure the pivot pins 56, 58 to the respective upper and lower rails 74, 78.
The frame 72 of each panel 42, 44, 46 is generally identical to the frame 72 of panel 40 illustrated in
The self-contained display system 10 may be moved from a loading dock to a selected location in a do-it-yourself style retail outlet to be placed in an empty compartment of a unit of pallet rack shelving which has dimensions of at least 94 inches in height, 49 inches in depth and 98 inches in width. When the self-contained display system 10 is shipped from the manufacturer, it is equipped with the full size vanity cabinet 60 and mirror unit 64 and with the four moveable panels 40, 42, 44, 46 and stationary panel 48, each of which having been equipped with display material including cabinet facades 88 of available alternative styles to vanity cabinets 60 and mirror units 64. As a potential customer for cabinet goods approaches the self-contained display system 10, the potential customer may observe one style of the vanity cabinet and an accompanying mirror unit in place, in full size on the rear wall 24 of the self-contained display system 10 while the customer may then move each rotatable panel 40, 42, 44, 46 in succession in order to observe the facades of alternative styles of the same cabinet line along with matching mirror units which match the appearance of the cabinet facade on display on the front face of a given panel which remains in its closed position but which is made observable by the rotation of the panels in front of the panel to be observed. At the time that the front face of one of the panels is observable, adjoining it in view is the rear face of the panel next forward of the panel remaining in closed position, and on the rear face of the panel in open position which adjoins, the manufacturer will have mounted samples of other colors and finishes of the style of cabinet which matches the facade on the front face of the observed adjacent closed panel. By using multiple panels which are all supported on pivot pins and with each pivot pin set offset from those of each successive panel, both laterally and from front to back, the potential customer may sequentially rotate the panels and sequentially inspect multiple versions of the styles of cabinet which are available which include the basic features of the full size bathroom vanity cabinet on display and mounted at the right hand wall and along the rear wall 24 of the self-contained display system 10.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated within this document or as otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
