BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a shelving assembly. More particularly the present invention relates to a shelving assembly for storing a product with an integral product display allowing the user to see the product being stored on the shelving assembly. Specifically, the present invention relates to an improvement to a modular shelving assembly where a fully assembled product is shown to the user on a slidable display, and wherein the same product is boxed and available for retrieval on a shelf behind the slidable display, wherein the boxed product is exposed to the user when the slidable display is slidably moved aside.
2. Background Invention
There are several common types of retail settings. In one typical retail setting, the retailer displays products on a “showroom” where various products are assembled and on display for the customers to peruse. When the customer is ready to purchase the item, a store associate must travel back to the warehouse to obtain the item. This type of retail setting has several drawbacks. The warehouse must be sufficiently large to house all the boxed products on display. This increases the size of a retail store's square footage requirements in that a showroom must be sufficiently sized to display all the display items, and the corresponding warehouse must be sized to store all the display items. Further problems develop in this type of retail setting where the display product is stored separately from the boxed product. For example, the warehouse must be managed properly so a sales associate may find the boxed item in a timely manner and return to the waiting customer. The retailer must account for extra security measures to survey and protect this section of the retail store which are separate from the showroom floor. Furthermore, inventory problems are created where the sales associate doesn't know that an item is out of stock until a customer requests the item and the sales associate returns from the warehouse empty handed. This leads to problems with customer satisfaction and loss of sales.
Another typical retail setting is one in which the showroom floor essentially is the warehouse. A customer is required to walk the aisle ways and determine what product is contained in the boxes, and further whether the customer is interested in this item. This type of retail setting has several drawbacks. First, the customer may unknowingly pass by items that either the customer is specifically looking to purchase, or that may have resulted in an impulse sale if the customer simply would have noticed the item. This situation results in lost sales for the retailer and a lessened shopping experience for the customer. Secondly, customers without the capability of inspecting the item first will typically open the item themselves. This is a security risk as well as a less than optimal way to display products to customers. The products are typically not returned to their boxed state properly and subsequent customers wonder if the product contains all the parts, or is broken, and often will not purchase the opened item. Furthermore, if customers do not open the item in the store, they will necessarily need to return items more frequently because they don't fit the customer's needs or the item was unsatisfactory. If the item would have been on display, the customer could have inspected and made a more informed decision as to whether the item fit the customer's criteria.
A further typical retail setting is one in which the product is on display along with the merchandise. This type of retail setting commonly has a shelf with the product boxed and ready for purchase by the customer, and a shelf with the product on display. This type of retail setting provides a display consisting of the opened and unboxed item which is for sale. The customer may inspect and view the opened item and more easily determine if the customer is interested in purchasing the item. This type of retail setting has several drawbacks. Commonly, the boxed items are stacked on a shelf above the display and require a sales associate to retrieve. This adds time to a purchase and lowers the possibility of an impulse purchase, costing the retailer sales. A further drawback to this type of retail setting is the wasted shelf space required for displaying the item as the items on display typically require a dedicated shelf. This reduces the amount of boxed product that can be stored on the sales floor and often results in product being on the sales floor as well as in a warehouse, or the store purposely operating with a very low inventory. Another drawback to this type of retail setting is the shelving assemblies are static and once assembled, must display every product type and size in the same configuration. Furthermore, once the display element is assembled with the shelving framework, the display element is not adjustable for a new product or to fit a new shelving framework. Shelving assemblies corresponding display elements are a very large cost in the initial startup of any retail store. Purchasing a new shelving framework and/or display element for a different sized product is prohibitively expensive and most stores forego this expense, leaving a poorly fitting display on the sales floor for customers to view. This leads to an unpleasing shopping experience for the customer and loss of sales.
Heretofore, existing shelving assemblies have been characteristically inefficient and lacking in integration between opened display items and the need to store product out on the sales floor. Therefore, the need exists for a shelving assembly with an integral product display which allows the customer to see an opened display version of the product for sale, while allowing the retailer to store products on the shelving assembly, and which further minimizes the amount of space required to display the product. Furthermore, the shelving assembly should be adjustable in the horizontal plane to expand or contract to different shelving sizes, and be adjustable in the vertical plane as well, to configure the display to position the item at the customer's eye level for proper viewing.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of this invention is to provide a highly customizable and adjustable shelving assembly with an integral product display. The shelving assembly should provide an efficient storage system for items of merchandise products while conveniently displaying an opened product in a manner in which storage space is minimally affected.
These features are obtained by the shelving assembly of the present invention the general nature of which includes a shelving framework having at least one product support shelf; a track assembly secured to the shelving framework; and a carriage assembly having a carriage slidably mounted on the track assembly and moveable horizontally along the track assembly adjacent the product support shelf.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the shelving assembly with integral product display;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective rear view thereof with the shelving assembly removed;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the carriage assembly;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view with parts cutaway and a first mounting bracket shown in phantom;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a front view of the first mounting bracket with the carriage assembly rails fully recessed;
FIG. 7 is a front view similar to FIG. 6 with carriage assembly rails fully extended;
FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the shelving assembly similar to FIG. 1 with the displayed product being moved to expose the stored product;
FIG. 9 is a front elevational view similar to FIG. 8 with two carriage assemblies and two distinct products on display and being stored on the shelf;
Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The shelving assembly of the present invention is generally indicated at 1, and is shown in FIGS. 1-9. Referring to FIG. 1, shelving assembly 1 is comprised of a shelving framework 3, a track assembly 5, and a carriage assembly 7.
Referring to FIG. 1, shelving framework 3 is comprised of a first sidewall 9, a second sidewall 11, a backwall 13, and a plurality of shelves 15. Sidewalls 9 and 11 are spaced apart and generally parallel in a vertical orientation. Backwall 13 is secured to each sidewall 9 and 11 and extends perpendicularly between sidewalls 9 and 11. Shelves 15 are parallel to one another in a general horizontal orientation within display 1, with ends affixed to sidewalls 9 and 11, and a side affixed to backwall 13. Shelving framework 3 provides a typical shelving system for displaying commercial products and may be comprised of other elements common in commercial shelving art. Any affixation means common in the art may be used, including welding or machine screws for securing the shelves and walls together.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, track assembly 5 is comprised of a first mounting bracket 17, a second mounting bracket 19, an upper rail 21, a lower rail 23, and a plurality of support tubes 25. Mounting brackets 17 and 19 each include an upper gutter 27, a lower gutter 29, a frontplate 31, a plurality of holes 33 formed in frontplate 31, a sideplate 35, and a plurality of mounting tabs 37 formed in sideplate 35. Rails 21 and 23 are positioned parallel to one another in a general horizontal orientation within display 1, with support tubes 25 extending vertically therebetween. An upper end 22 of each support tube 25 is affixed to upper rail 21 and a lower end 24 of each support tube 25 is affixed to lower rail 23. Rails 21 and 23 have an inverted “U-shape” cross-sectional configuration with a backwall 52 and two extending sidewalls 54 forming a U-shaped channel 20 therebetween. Channel 20 is oriented in display 1 such that the open ends of the “U” are directed towards one another to form a track 39 therein. Rails 21 and 23 are fittably received in gutters 27 and 29 respectively on each bracket 17 and 19, and affixed therein by a threaded bolt 40 through a hole 33 (FIGS. 4, 6, 7). A bumper 42 is secured by a machine screw 41 at each end of rails 21 and 23 within U-shaped channel 20. Screw 41 passes through a nut 38 welded on rails 21 and 23 and continues through bumper 42 into a hole 44. As shown in FIG. 4, each mounting tab 37 extending outwardly from sideplate 35 of mounting brackets 17 and 19 is received in a tab hole 43 formed in sidewalls 9 and 11 of shelving framework 3 to adjustably mount track assembly 5 on shelving framework 3.
Referring to FIGS. 2-5, carriage assembly 7 is comprised of a display box 45, a slider framework 47, and a carriage 49. Display box 45 includes two spaced horizontal walls 46, two spaced vertical walls 48, and a back cover 50. Slider framework 47 includes two spaced side tubes 51, two spaced display support tubes 53, and two spaced carriage support tubes 55. Side tubes 51 are positioned parallel to one another in a general vertical orientation within display 1, with support tubes 53 and carriage 55 positioned horizontally therebetween. As shown in FIG. 2, display box 45 is affixed to slider framework 47 by securing vertical walls 45 to tubes 51, and horizontal walls 46 to tubes 53.
Referring to FIGS. 2-4, carriage 49 is constructed from six tubes formed in a general rectangular shape. More particularly, carriage 49 is formed from a pair of spaced apart and parallel side tubes 57, a pair of spaced apart and parallel outer tubes 59 having an outwardly facing side 60, and a pair of spaced apart and parallel inner tubes 61. Side tubes 57 are positioned parallel to one another in a general vertical orientation within display 1, with outer tubes 59 positioned horizontally therebetween. Four gussets 63 are secured to carriage 49 at the 90 abutment created where side tubes 57 and side 60 of outer tubes 59 meet. Each gusset 63 provides bracing for tubes 57 and 59, and an affixation point for a vertical roller 65. As shown in FIG. 5, a hole 67 is formed in the radial center of vertical roller 65 and a hole 69 is formed in gusset 63. Roller 65 is secured to gusset 63 by a machine screw 71 passing through holes 67 and 69. Roller 65 is sized to fit within channels 20 formed in rails 21 and 23. In a similar affixation manner as vertical roller 65, a horizontal roller 73 is affixed to side 60 of outer tubes 59 by a machine screw 75 passing through a hole 77 formed through side 60 of outer tube 59, and a hole 79 formed in the radial center of horizontal roller 73. The affixation method of rollers 65 and 67 provide for axial rotation around machine screws 71 and 75 respectively.
Carriage support tubes 55 of slider framework 47 are affixed to inner tubes 61 of carriage 49 and removably secure slider framework 47 to carriage 49. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a machine screw 81 is passed through a hole 83 formed in carriage support tube 55 and continuing through a similar hole 85 into inner tube 61. A threaded insert 87 extends into inner tube 61 from an opposed side relative screw 81 and receives screw 81 therein. While slider framework 47 and carriage 49 may be secured to one another by any means common in the art, machine screw 81 is the preferred method as tubes 55 and 61 are easily separated by removing screw 81, and likewise rejoined.
Shelving assembly with integral product display 1 is constructed by first assembling shelving framework 3. Shelving framework 3 is assembled by securing sidewalls 9 and 11 to backwall 13, and securing shelves 15 between sidewalls 9 and 11 and abutting backwall 13. This creates a typical shelving system commonly used to hold inventory in commercial settings.
Next, carriage 49 is assembled by securing side tubes 57 to outer tubes 59. As shown in FIG. 3, gussets 63 are secured to the outwardly facing abutment point where tubes 57 and 59 meet. Inner tubes 61 are secured to side tubes 57 to add stability to the framework of carriage 49 as well as to provide an affixation point for slider framework 47. Vertical rollers 65 are rotatably affixed to gussets 63, and horizontal rollers 73 are rotatably affixed to side 60 of outer tubes 59.
Slider framework 47 is assembled by securing display support tubes 53 and carriage support tubes 55 in a horizontal orientation to side tubes 51 in a vertical orientation. This creates a rectangular framework with which to secure display box 45 and carriage 49. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the preferred embodiment, back cover 50 of display box 45 is secured around the periphery to slider framework 47 by display support tubes 53 and side tubes 51. However, in an alternative embodiment, display box 45 may be removably secured to slider framework 47 to facilitate changing display items within display box 45.
Once slider framework 47 and carriage 49 are assembled, these two elements are affixed to each other to form carriage assembly 7. Carriage assembly 7 is assembled by securing carriage support tubes 55 of slider framework 47 to corresponding inner tubes 61 of carriage 49. As shown in FIG. 5, threaded insert 87 is inserted into hole 85 in inner tube 61. Threaded insert 87 includes a receiving end 88 and an opposite and spaced apart brace end 89. Brace end 89 acts as a stopper to prevent threaded insert 87 from being fully inserted into hole 85. Receiving end 88 of threaded insert 87 is formed to receive a threaded end 86 of machine screw 81 and retain it therein. Machine screw 81 is inserted into hole 83 in carriage support tubes 55. Hole 83 extends through tubes 55 and allows threaded end 86 of machine screw 81 to pass through tubes 55. As shown in FIG. 5, a head 84 on machine screw 81 prevents screw 81 from passing entirely through support tubes 55. Threaded end 86 of machine screw 81 extends out of support tubes 55 and enters hole 85 in inner tubes 61 of carriage 49 where it is received by receiving end 88 of threaded insert 87. As machine screw 81 is tightened, brace end 89 of threaded insert 87 and head 84 of screw 81 act as a vice, pulling carriage 49 and slider framework 47 together and holding them securely thereto. As shown in FIG. 3, each carriage support tube 55 includes two holes 83, and each inner tube 61 includes two holes 85 complimentarily spaced to align with holes 83 when slider framework 47 and carriage 49 are abutting in the proper position.
Track assembly 5 is assembled by securing first mounting bracket 17 to first sidewall 9. As shown in FIG. 4, mounting tabs 37 on first mounting bracket 17 are inserted through tab holes 43 formed in first sidewall 9. The plurality of tab holes 43 in each sidewall 9 and 11 allow an assembler to adjust the horizontal position of brackets 17 and 19 to produce the desired horizontal position of display box 45 (FIG. 1) relative a customer's viewpoint. Next, a first end 26 of upper rail 21 is inserted into upper gutter 27. Within upper gutter 27, upper rail 21 is positioned so the open end of U-shaped channel 20 is directed toward the lower gutter 29. Likewise, first end 26 of lower rail 23 is inserted into lower gutter 29 with the open end of U-shaped channel 20 directed toward upper gutter 27. Rails 21 and 23 are secured by threaded bolt 40 passed through hole 33 in first mounting bracket 17. After first ends 26 of rails 21 and 23 are secured within gutters 27 and 29 of first mounting bracket 17, carriage 49 is inserted at second ends 28 of rails 21 and 23 into track 39 formed from U-shaped channels 20 of rails 21 and 23. Carriage 49 is retained in track 39 by vertical rollers 65 and horizontal rollers 73 of each outer tube 59 positioned within U-shaped channels 20 of rails 21 and 23. To close track 39 and slidably retain carriage 49 therein, second end 28 of upper rail 21 is inserted into upper gutter 27 of second mounting bracket 19 and second end 28 of lower rail 23 inserted into lower gutter 29 of second mounting bracket 19. Second mounting bracket 19 is then positioned against second sidewall 11 and mounting tabs 37 are inserted into tab holes 43 to secure bracket 19 to sidewall 11. To complete the assembly of display 1, threaded bolt 40 is passed through hole 33 in second mounting bracket 19 to secure second ends 28 of rails 21 and 23 within gutters 27 and 29 of second mounting bracket 19.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, carriage 49 slides within track 39. Vertical rollers 65 are sized and positioned on gussets 63 to rollably abut backwalls 52 of rails 21 and 23. Shown more particularly in FIG. 5, vertical rollers 65 are sized to maintain contact with backwall 52 as carriage 49 rolls within track 39. This constant contact eliminates “wobble” as carriage 49 slides and ensures a smooth rolling motion for the user. Horizontal rollers 73 are positioned on outer tubes 59 to space carriage 49 within track 39 but do not extend the entire distance between each sidewall 54. As shown more particularly in FIG. 5, horizontal rollers 73 do not maintain contact with both sidewalls 54 to allow for some “play” within the track. This space reduces the tension which would be created by having horizontal rollers 73 constantly in contact with sidewalls 54. As carriage 49 slides within track 39, horizontal rollers 73 act as rolling bumpers to keep carriage 49 generally upright and tightly fitted within U-shaped channels 20 of rails 21 and 23, without adding a constant tension from horizontal rollers 73 maintaining contact with sidewalls 54. Horizontal rollers 73 do not extend the entire distance between sidewalls 54 and are sized with a sufficient diameter to extend horizontally beyond the other elements comprising carriage 49. As shown in FIG. 5, horizontal roller 73 extends horizontally in U-shaped channel 20 beyond vertical roller 65, gusset 63, machine screw 71, outer tube 59, and side tube 57. This ensures that rollers 73 make contact with sidewalls 54 as carriage 49 moves within track 39. This interaction between carriage 49 and track 39 provides a low friction rolling interaction instead of a high friction scraping or sliding interaction which would occur if the other elements of carriage 49 made contact with sidewalls 54.
The shelving assembly of the present invention presents several options to a user for adjusting elements of display 1 which allows customization to a particular product or display area. Shelving framework 3 may be configured to match a variety of retail shelving areas, including moving sidewalls 9 and 11 closer or farther apart, and positioning shelves 15 where desired. Mounting tabs 37 on brackets 17 and 19 allow a user to place track assembly 5 in multiple vertical positions. These vertical positions may be adjusted by placing tabs 37 in various tab holes 43 in sidewalls 9 and 11. Changing the vertical position of track assembly 5 within display 1 necessarily and correspondingly changes the vertical position of carriage assembly 7 and hence display box 45. This customization allows the user to ensure that a display product 86 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 is at the general eye level of the customer. Furthermore, customization may be done by bumpers 42, which can be used to stop carriage assembly 7 at any point on track 39, allowing the user to configure the horizontal stopping points of carriage assembly 7.
Further customization may be done by using brackets 17 and 19. Bolt 40 prevents rails 21 and 23 from shifting horizontally within display 1 and acts to pin rails 21 and 23 in the desired position spaced within first and second mounting brackets 17 and 19. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the horizontal length of track 39 and consequently the overall horizontal size of display 1 is adjustable by adjusting rails 21 and 23 within gutters 27 and 29 to produce the desired length of track 39. A plurality of holes 33 are provided within brackets 17 and 19 to allow the user to adjust rail 21 and 23 positions within gutters 27 and 29. As shown in FIG. 6, bolt 40 is secured through one of the holes 33 which correspond to rails 21 and 23 being fully recessed within gutters 27 and 29. As shown in FIG. 7, bolt 40 is secured through one of the holes 33, preventing rails 21 and 23 from recessing further into gutters 27 and 29. This may extend the length of track 39 due to gutters 27 and 29 having the same general “U-shaped” channels as rails 21 and 23, thus allowing carriage assembly 7 to travel beyond the end point of rails 21 and 23 into gutters 27 and 29. By using U-shaped channels 20 of rails 21 and 23, as well as the U-shaped gutters 27 and 29 to form track 39, track assembly 5 is adjustable so carriage assembly 7 may move a greater horizontal distance if desired.
In operation, a user assembles shelving assembly with integral product display 1 as previously described. A display product 86 is then affixed to display box 45, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. Display product 86 is an opened and properly assembled version of a shelved product 90. A plurality of shelved products 90 rest on one of the shelves 15 in shelving framework 3. Slider framework 47, having display box 45 affixed thereto, extends from carriage 49 to allow the user to see display product 86 generally at eye level and as properly assembled as described above. This provides an aesthetically pleasing interaction with display product 86 within the store. Shelved product 90 rests on shelf 15 behind display product 86. When a user wishes to purchase display product 86, the user then removes a properly packed version of shelved product 90, which resides behind display product 86. To expose shelf product 90, the user pushes carriage assembly 7 horizontally which moves display product 86 out of the way and allows the user to take shelf product 90. As shown in FIG. 8, the user moves carriage assembly 7 in the direction of Arrow A, exposing shelved product 90.
As shown in FIG. 9, two display products 86A and 86B are being displayed and stored by shelving assembly 1. The user may move carriage assembly 7 holding display product 86A in the directions of Arrow B to expose shelved product 90A. Likewise, the user may move carriage assembly 7 holding display product 86B in the directions of Arrow C to expose shelved product 90B. Typically, multiple bumpers 42 (not shown) are affixed to rails 21 and 23 to prevent multiple carriage assemblies 7 such as in FIG. 9, from moving past a midpoint or various desired stopping points.
By using shelving assembly 1, the user may view an assembled version of shelved product 90, which reduces confusion and mistaken purchases, heightening customer satisfaction. This also reduces returns and overhead for the retailer. Furthermore, the retailer significantly reduces the retail space required for selling this product by displaying the product in the same area being used to store the product. When a new product is put on display, the user removes slider framework 47 from carriage 49 by unscrewing machine screw 81, releasing slider framework 47 from shelving assembly 1. The user then can disassemble display product 86 and remove it from display box 45. The new display product 86 is then affixed to display box 45. Finally, slider framework 47 is attached to carriage 49 by screwing machine screw 81 back into hole 83 in carriage support tubes 55, removably securing slider framework 47 to carriage 49.
When a different size configuration, or an altogether new shelving framework 3 is desired, the user slides mounting tabs 37 out of tab holes 43 in sidewalls 9 and 11, releasing track assembly 5 and carriage assembly 7. When the reconfigured or new shelving framework 3 is assembled, the user simply slides mounting tabs 37 into new tab holes 43 in sidewalls 9 and 11. If the distance between sidewalls 9 and 11 has changed, the user may adjust the horizontal length of track 39 by securing rails 21 and 23 with threaded bolt 40 at appropriate holes 33, as discussed previously herein.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.
Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.
Patent Application
20100224582
