Patent Application
20070125009
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for holding and displaying merchandise. More particularly, it relates to assemblies suspended from overhead structure of a retail store or the like and used to display merchandise, thereby utilizing formerly unused space and providing ready customer access to the displayed goods.
Various constructions of display arrangements such as multi-faceted display stands provided with one or more shelves, bins, receptacles or the like for goods to be displayed are widely used. Display stands of this type are intended for use in store aisles and at similar locations where potential customers may approach the display stand from different directions or move about the stand to examine the goods on display and have ready access for removal and purchase.
Convenience stores have highly refined the art of displaying the maximum amount of goods in the minimum amount of floor space. Such stores typically have several aisles of open shelf displays, a number of refrigerated sections behind glass doors and counter space for hot and cold drink dispensers and unpackaged goods such as doughnuts and the like. The open shelf displays, however, are rarely over five feet in height and the space above counters is generally unused. Thus, there remain substantially large amounts of space above the shelves in such stores which are not used for display of goods or advertising because display assemblies for holding and displaying goods or advertising displays in the open space above counters, above display shelves and elsewhere have not herefore been available. Convenience stores generally do not have floor space to spare for the typical floor-mounted display stands used by larger supermarkets, hardware stores and the like, but often have large amounts of open space above and between aisles of fixed display shelves which are unused or underutilized.
Convenience stores typically have overhead structures comprising drop-style suspended ceilings which use a grid of supports spanning the ceiling space. Such drop-style suspended ceilings include a plurality of parallel supports suspended from the interior superstructure of the building. The support members are generally in the shape of an inverted T having horizontal base portions supported by a vertical portion. Ceiling tiles are supported on the grid of support members. Spacing of grid supports is standardized and the standard grid pattern provides adequate support for the suspended displays contemplated herein.
Most prior suspension apparatus for display of merchandise has been unsatisfactory for a variety of reasons. Most lack either adequate support and/or stability. Some are difficult to assembly and use and some are simply too expensive to be of practical use. A need thus exists for apparatus which promotes display of merchandise in the space above floor stands, counter tops, fixed display shelves and in other open spaces which overcomes the deficiencies of prior devices. The displays must provide product and/or promotion presentation at a position convenient for customer access and, preferably, act in a manner to attract the attention of the customer. However, the display assembly must be easy to assemble and use and must be inexpensive and reliable. The displays must also be adaptable to display various types of merchandise without major modification of the display apparatus and should provide easily removable and changeable advertising graphics and the like for promotion of the merchandise displayed.
In accordance with the present invention display apparatus is provided which includes a flexible suspension strand suspended from overhead structure and supporting a plurality of product display hooks. The suspension strand is preferably link chain or the like made of suitable lightweight material such as plastic. The suspension strand is supported from the ceiling grid support by a connector attached to the base of the grid support member and locked into place by the ceiling tiles. In the preferred embodiment, the connector incorporates a display panel for advertising graphics or the like. Display hooks incorporated into the suspension strand or interconnected therewith provide means for suspending and displaying advertising graphics and/or products individually or in pre-packaged arrangements. The display hooks may be removably attached to the suspension strand to permit mounting the hooks at adjustably variable elevations on the suspension strand so that the product may be supported and displayed at any convenient level. By suspending the display apparatus from overhead structure, the display apparatus of the invention may be conveniently positioned to take advantage of otherwise unused space and present merchandise in a convenient location for customer access. The novel display apparatus thus supports and presents merchandise products and/or advertising materials at convenient customer access positions in a place of business. The suspended display apparatus takes advantage of space above counter tops, etc., which is otherwise unused and, since it is suspended, permits movement to attract customers. The apparatus of the invention is formed of simple, inexpensive mass-produced parts which can be easily and readily assembled into useable display assemblies which may be disassembled and reconfigured as desired to display a wide variety of products and materials in otherwise unused space.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become more readily understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the appended claims and attached drawing in which:
The drawing is incorporated into and forms part of the specification to illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention. For clarity of illustration, like reference numerals designate corresponding elements throughout the drawing. It will be recognized that the principles of the invention may be utilized and embodied in many and various forms. In order to demonstrate these principles, the invention is described herein by reference to specific preferred embodiments. The invention, however, is not limited to the specific forms illustrated and described in detail.
While the invention is described and illustrated herein as apparatus for supporting and displaying “merchandise,” “product,” etc., these terms are intended to be given their broadest possible meaning and may include anything from food products to beverages to hardware and the like, packaged or unpackaged. Likewise, the term “hook” is used in its broadest sense to mean any receptacle on or through which merchandise or promotional material may be supported or suspended. Similarly, spatial orientation and directional terms such as “upwardly,” downwardly,” “horizontally,” “laterally,” “inner,” “outer,” “above,” below,” etc., are used in their normal sense in reference to the apparatus of the invention oriented in its normal intended use position.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
A support hook 105 depends from support shank 104 and is adapted to engage the upper end of flexible strand 12. In the embodiment of
In the embodiment shown in
As illustrated in
In the embodiment illustrated suspension strand 12 is link chain or the like made from lightweight materials such as plastic. Such lightweight plastics provide suitable tensile strength to support the display and may be advantageously formed of colored materials, if desired. The suspension strand 12 is preferably formed of interconnected links 21 to permit the strand to flex. Such interconnected links also advantageously provide a vertically extended aperture 20 in each link 21 which permits convenient attachment of display hooks for supporting and displaying product and/or advertising materials thereon. Suspension strands 12 may be formed in other flexible configurations or may be in the form of cables or ropes provided with loops or other attachments which provide an aperture for mounting product display hooks.
Alternative embodiments of the support connector 11 are illustrated in
In the embodiment of
The product hook may take many various forms. In the embodiment illustrated in
Removable product hooks are illustrated in
In the preferred embodiment the central portion 81 of the product hooks 80 include retainer posts 83. Posts 83 are formed in pairs with each pair extending laterally in opposite directions from the central position 81. The posts 83 on each side of the central portion 81 are separated by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a chain link 21. Accordingly, the central portion 81 may be positioned within an aperture 20 in a chain link 21 so that the pair of posts 83 on each side thereof are positioned to retain one side of chain link 21 therebetween. The retainer posts 83 thus securely but removably maintain the serpentine body of product hooks in a fixed position within the chain link 21.
As illustrated in
All components of any of the various designs of apparatus for practicing the invention may be fabricated and assembled using readily available materials and manufacturing techniques. Furthermore, many suitable structures are readily and inexpensively available for use as the suspension strands of the invention, and all components may be readily manufactured using any of a wide variety of suitable materials.
While only exemplary embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail herein, it will be readily recognized that the principles of the invention may be used in various forms using a wide variety of components assembled in accordance with the teachings of this invention to achieve the benefits and advantages thereof. It is to be understood, therefore, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the invention have been set forth in the foregoing description together with details of the structure and function of the various embodiments, this disclosure is to be considered illustrative only. Various changes and modifications may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and materials as well as arrangement and combination of parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
