The present invention relates to a shelf display device, e.g. as used in the retail of bottled beverages.
Supermarket shelves and the like are usually constructed from sheet metal mounted on a frame with provision for adjusting the height between shelves, dependent on the items being accommodated for display. It is also common for each shelf to have a receiving channel that can hold a clip-in plastic device that displays price information etc. Such a device has been known to be configured to hold more substantial information, such as a pamphlet with promotional material.
A problem noted with conventional display shelves is that, when a bottle is pulled by a shopper over the clip-in plastic device, it can be popped out of the channel. The fallen display device then needs to be put back into place by retail staff. A similar problem is experienced when shelves are stocked in the first place, particularly if there is not a great deal of clearance between the product and the shelf above, i.e. the display tag becomes an obstruction.
The present invention seeks to address these problems and/or provide a display device that can be used with available shelf systems in a retail outlet.
In one broad aspect of the invention there is provided a shelf display device including a base with a hinged panel extending therefrom.
In use, the base is a mat placed on a shelf such that the hinged panel is located at the forward edge of said shelf. The base mat may be fixed via suitable fasteners/adhesives or held in place by the weight of product stocked thereon, e.g. a glass bottle of alcoholic beverage.
Preferably, the hinged panel is spring-biased, preferably in both (forwards and backwards) directions, such that when product is pulled or pushed over said panel it automatically returns to its display/rest position.
In a preferred embodiment there are multiple panels, e.g. approximately the same width as product (a beverage bottle), arranged on the mat.
Preferably the mat includes perforations such that it can be customised to a shelf width or available product space in situ.
Preferably, the base mat includes holes (preferably perforated for removal in situ) on its surface for receiving fasteners to be affixed with a metal shelf.
As illustrated, the shelf display device 10 according to the invention comprises a base mat 11 with a front edge ridge 12 that is able to locate thereon a hinged panel 13. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, panel 13 is primarily constructed of a connector or clip element 14 to which is hingedly attached a face element 15 in a conventional hinged arrangement, e.g. a single pivot axis X defined by spaced spigots in the clip element 14 which are received by corresponding holes in the face element 15.
The clip element 14 connects to the edge ridge 12 of base mat 11 by clipping into place in an interference fit. Alternatively, the face element 15 could be attached for hinged movement directly to a suitable molding in the base mat 11 or the connector element 14 could be slidably engaged with a front edge of the base mat in some other way.
In a yet further embodiment the connector element 14 with hinged face panel 15 could clip/attach directly to a shelf in a supermarket (provided with an edge ridge or otherwise attached by fasteners/adhesives).
As seen in
Preferably each mat unit 11 includes a dovetail 24 to enable multiple mats to be joined together.
Also visible in
Multiple hinged panels 13 can be located adjacent one another as illustrated in
Also in
By the nature of front ridge 12 and connector element 14 it will be appreciated that the hinged panel 13 can slide to any position on the base mat 11 to allow for any number of face panels and configurations.
The hinged panel 13 allows the customer to remove product without having to lift the bottle up and over the door, and also allows for easy restocking of the shelf by the store associates and shelf stackers.
The display device of the present invention can be molded from suitable plastics components as illustrated, however, other forms are possible within the scope of the invention.