Patent Application
20150096948
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to display devices for modular merchandise units and more particularly to a gravity-feed shelf for a display device designed to hold modular merchandise units such as boxes and to provide a gravity feed for the merchandise unit, so that when a unit is removed, the next unit will descend by gravity and tip into a selected presentation position for access by a consumer.
2. The Prior Art
Various display devices for displaying items of merchandise to potential consumers are known. One problem inherent in display devices employing traditional horizontal shelves with merchandise units arranged one behind another is that when a front-most unit is removed from a shelf, it is difficult for purchasers or prospective purchasers to see the remaining merchandise units which units are spaced back from the front portion of the shelf. This is particularly true for merchandise units disposed on the bottom and lower shelves of a display device.
Some display devices include mechanical pushing devices which push the remaining merchandise units forward when a unit disposed in front of the remaining units is removed. Such mechanical pushing devices, however, may be incompatible with certain types of modular merchandise units. For example, certain merchandise boxes, and in particular cardboard merchandise boxes containing disposable beverage filter cartridges, may be crushed or otherwise damaged by the force of a mechanical pushing device.
Other known display devices include gravity feed devices wherein articles of merchandise move by gravity along a downward course to a forward or dispensing position at the front of the device. When modular merchandise units are moved along a straight gravity fed course, however, the front-most unit assumes a forwardly-tilted position wherein the front or display surface of the merchandise unit is angled down toward the floor. This forwardly-tilted position is undesirable because it makes it difficult for purchasers or prospective purchasers to see the front or display surface of the merchandise unit in this position.
Moreover, even if the gravity feed shelf arrangement is such that a front-most merchandise unit assumes a position wherein a base of the unit is parallel to the floor and the front or display surface of the unit faces straight out, this is still not an optimum presentation position as it may be difficult to see units on the bottom or lower shelves of the display device.
Accordingly, there is a need for a gravity-fed shelf for a display device wherein merchandise units descend by gravity and are guided into a selected presentation position which increases the visibility of the front-most merchandise unit. Moreover, there is a need for a gravity-feed shelf for a display device wherein merchandise units descend by gravity and are guided into a position wherein a front or display surface of the front-most unit is angled upwardly toward a prospective purchaser.
A gravity-feed shelf for a display device for a least one modular merchandise unit is provided. The modular merchandise unit has a substantially flat rear surface, a substantially flat front surface and a substantially flat bottom surface. The gravity-feed shelf includes a first outer wail, a second outer wall disposed substantially parallel to the first outer wall and at least one support disposed between the first outer wall and second outer wall. The support includes an inclined rearward portion elevated at a first angle between 5 degrees and 20 degrees relative to a horizontal, a forward retaining portion and an inclined intermediate portion connecting the inclined rearward portion and the forward retaining portion. The inclined intermediate portion is elevated at a second angle relative to the horizontal greater than the first angle and forms a third angle of substantially 90 degrees with the forward retaining portion. The support defines an unobstructed travel path for the modular merchandise unit so that when the rear surface of the modular merchandise unit is placed on the inclined rearward portion of the support, the modular merchandise unit will descend by gravity and tip into a selected presentation position wherein the rear surface of the modular merchandise unit rests against the inclined intermediate portion, the bottom surface of the modular merchandise unit rests against the forward retaining portion and the front surface of the modular merchandise unit is displayed at an angle relative to the horizontal equal to the second angle.
In another aspect, a display device for a least one modular merchandise unit having a substantially flat rear surface, a substantially flat front surface and a substantially flat bottom surface is provided. The display device includes a housing having at least one open face and at least one gravity-feed shelf supported in the housing. The gravity-feed shelf includes a first outer wall, a second outer wall disposed substantially parallel to the first outer wall and at least one support disposed between the first outer wall and second outer wall. The support includes an inclined rearward portion elevated at a first angle between 5 degrees and 20 degrees relative to a horizontal, a forward retaining portion and an inclined intermediate portion connecting the inclined rearward portion and the forward retaining portion. The inclined intermediate portion is elevated at a second angle relative to the horizontal greater than the first angle and forms a third angle of substantially 90 degrees with the forward retaining portion. The support defines an unobstructed travel path for the modular merchandise unit so that when the rear surface of the modular merchandise unit is placed on the inclined rearward portion of the support, the modular merchandise unit will descend by gravity and tip into a selected presentation position wherein the rear surface of the modular merchandise unit rests against the inclined intermediate portion, the bottom surface of the modular merchandise unit rests against the forward retaining portion and the front surface of the modular merchandise unit is displayed at an angle relative to the horizontal equal to the second angle.
Other benefits and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.
In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:
Turning now to the drawings,
Modular merchandise units 1 may have a substantially flat or planar rear surface 2, a substantially flat or planar front surface 3 and a substantially flat or planar bottom or base surface 4, as well as a top surface. One or more of surfaces 2, 3, 4 of modular merchandise unit 1 typically include printed indicia in the form of text and/or images relating to the product contained within modular merchandise unit 1. When displaying modular merchandise units 1, it is generally preferred to display front surface 3 of the unit 1 most prominently. In other words, the modular merchandise units 1 should be arranged such that front surface 1 is the surface most easily visible to purchasers or prospective purchasers.
As shown in
At least one support 20 is disposed between first outer wall 11 and second outer wall 12. Gravity-feed shelf 10 and its associated walls and supports may be from metal sheet, wire and/or plastic materials and may be formed as an integral unit, such as a single molded part, or as an assembly of multiple components.
As shown in
Support 20 further includes a forward retaining portion 22 and an inclined intermediate portion 23 connecting inclined rearward portion 21 and forward retaining portion 22. Inclined intermediate portion 23 is elevated at a second angle 220 relative to the horizontal greater than first angle 210. Thus, intermediate portion 23 of support 20 inclines rearwardly such that a rear section of intermediate portion 23 adjacent inclined rearward portion 21 is at a greater elevation than a front section of intermediate portion 23 adjacent forward retaining portion 22. The second angle 220 at which intermediate portion 23 is elevated relative to the horizontal may be, for example, between 40 degrees and 50 degrees. More particularly, the second angle 220 at which intermediate portion 23 is elevated relative to the horizontal may be approximately 46 degrees. Inclined intermediate portion 23 forms a third angle 230 with forward retaining portion 22. This third angle 230 may be approximately or substantially 90 degrees.
Support 20, including inclined rearward portion 21, inclined intermediate portion 23 and forward retaining portion 22 defines an unobstructed travel path for the modular merchandise unit 1. In particular, when the rear surface 2 of the modular merchandise unit 1 is placed on inclined rearward portion 21 of support 20, the modular merchandise unit 1 will descend by gravity and tip or rotate into a selected presentation position. In this selected presentation position, the rear surface 2 of the front-most modular merchandise unit 1 rests against inclined intermediate portion 23, the bottom surface 4 of that modular merchandise unit 1 rests against forward retaining portion 22 and the front surface 3 of that modular merchandise unit is displayed at an angle relative to the horizontal equal to second angle 220. In this way, the front-most modular merchandise unit 1 is displayed in a position designed to enhance and maximize visibility of the front display surface 3 of the merchandise unit.
As shown in
In order to further assure that the merchandise units 1 descend by gravity without becoming stuck, a lubricant may be applied to raised rails 211. The lubricant may be applied as a spray, a liquid or solid and may include a silicone-based compound or any other lubricant compatible with raised rails 211 and modular merchandise units 1.
As shown in
Each pair of a respective dividing wall 13 and an adjacent dividing wall 13 or outer wall 11, 12 together with an associated support 20 disposed therebetween, form a channel or chute for a row of modular merchandise units 1, arranged one behind another. For example, in the embodiment shown in
Dividing walls 13 may be spaced according to the dimensions of the modular merchandise units 1 to be supported on the gravity-feed shelf 10 and may be arranged to provide channels or chutes of equal or differing widths. Dividing walls or dividers 13 may be integral with gravity-feed shelf 10, for example they may be molded as a single unit with the shelf, or alternatively may be provided as separate components and fastened to the gravity-feed shelf 10 assembly.
Display device 100 includes a housing 110 of suitable dimensions. For example, housing 110 may be approximately fifty eight inches tall and have a base measuring approximately forty eight inches deep and seventy three and three eighths inches wide. Housing 110 has at least one open face 120 for displaying modular merchandise units 1 on gravity-feed shelves 10. Preferably, housing 110 has two open faces 120 on opposite sides of housing 110.
At least one gravity-feed shelf 10, and preferably a plurality of gravity-feed shelves 10, as previously described and shown in
While a number of embodiments of the present invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
