U.S. patent application number 10/402011 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-09 for adjustable point of purchase display system.
Invention is credited to Churchwell, Eli P., Fryar, Arnold B., Hopkins, Mitchell D..
Application Number | 20030189018 10/402011 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28678304 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030189018 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hopkins, Mitchell D. ; et
al. |
October 9, 2003 |
Adjustable point of purchase display system
Abstract
A display system is shown and includes a shelf consisting of a
bottom horizontal portion and a rear vertical portion. An
adjustment track extends horizontally along and is secured to the
rear vertical portion of the shelf. The adjustment track has a
C-shaped cross-section defining a lower track and an upper track. A
divider support guide is sized to fit within the adjustment track
having top and bottom end edges that fit within the upper and lower
guide tracks respectively. The lower guide track has serrations
therein that cooperate with and engage similarly sized serrations
on the bottom end edge of the divider support guide. The divider
support guide is sized so that the height thereof, i.e. the
distance between its top and bottom edges, is less that the height
or separation between the upper and lower guide tracks. A wire
divider is secured to each divider support guide. In operation, a
plurality of divider support guides are slidingly inserted into an
adjustment track whereby the mutual serrations of the bottom
divider support edge and the lower track of the guide face each
other. The dividers will not move from a particular position as the
result of linear forces there against in either direction along the
adjustment track due to the interaction of their mutual serrations.
However, each can be easily repositioned by lifting upward a
sufficient distance to disengage the mutual serrations and then
moving that guide horizontally in either direction along the
adjustment track to the new desired location.
Inventors: |
Hopkins, Mitchell D.;
(Chattanooga, TN) ; Churchwell, Eli P.; (Hixson,
TN) ; Fryar, Arnold B.; (Chattanooga, TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Sten Erik Hakanson
Patent Attorney
IMI Cornelius, Inc.
One Cornelius Place
Anoka
MN
55303-6234
US
|
Family ID: |
28678304 |
Appl. No.: |
10/402011 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60370023 |
Apr 3, 2002 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/90.02 ;
211/184; 211/90.03 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 5/01 20130101; A47F
5/0056 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/90.02 ;
211/90.03; 211/184 |
International
Class: |
A47F 005/08 |
Claims
In the claims:
1. An adjustable shelf system for supporting and display a
plurality of goods thereon, comprising: a shelf having a bottom
portion and a back portion transverse thereto, a track secured
along the shelf back portion and having a channel for receiving and
retaining therein one or more divider supports, the one or more
divider supports and the track having cooperative engaging means so
that in a lower resting position the cooperative engaging means
thereof engage and prevent movement of each support along the
track, and the one or more supports manually operable to an upper
position to disengage contact between the cooperative engaging
means so that each one or more supports is moveable within the
track to different positions there along for subsequent lowering to
a different resting position, and each one or more supports having
a shelf product divider secured thereto, each divider positioned to
extend transversely to the extension of the shelf for providing
separation of groups of products there along.
2. The shelf system as defined in claim 1, and the cooperative
engaging means comprising mutually interacting serrations.
3. An adjustable shelf system for supporting a plurality of
periodicals and the like, comprising: a first shelf having a bottom
portion and a back portion transverse thereto, the shelf for
supporting a first plurality of periodicals thereon, a track
secured along the shelf back portion and having a channel for
receiving and retaining one or more supports therein, the one or
more supports and the track having cooperative engaging means so
that in a lower resting position the cooperative engaging means
thereof engage and prevent movement of each support along the
track, and the one or more supports manually operable to an upper
position to disengage contact between the cooperative engaging
means so that each one or more supports is moveable within the
track to different positions there along for subsequent lowering to
a different resting position, and each one or more support having a
further second shelf secured thereto, the second shelf for
supporting a further second plurality of periodicals thereon at a
predetermined height above the bottom portion of the first
shelf.
4. The shelf support system as defined in claim 3, and one or more
of the supports having dividers secured thereto, the divider
extending in a plane transverse to the extension of the first shelf
for providing separation of the periodicals there along.
5. The shelf system as defined in claim 3, and the cooperative
engaging means comprising mutually interacting serrations.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention related generally to point of purchase
displays, and in particular to point of purchase displays for the
retailing of books, magazines and newspapers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Point of purchase (POP) displays for the purpose of selling
newspapers, magazines and books are well known in the art. It is
generally preferable, particularly with magazines, that the front
page is presented directly to the consumer, as little if any,
useful information can be seen or read along the bound edge
thereof. As is further understood, retailers sell space to the book
and periodical publishers for presentation and sale of their
publication to the public from their particular POP display, and
there exist rather strict cost constraints with respect to the
design and structure of such displays.
[0003] As a result of the foregoing, prior art book and periodical
displays typically consist of low cost wire rod shelves and
dividers simply spot-welded together. Thus, the various widths of
the particular periodicals are known and shelves having dividers
set at those particular widths are manufactured. A problem with
this approach is the inability to change the spacing between the
dividers as everything is welded in place. Various spring biased
pin or screw mechanisms are known that would provide adjustability,
but result in unacceptable cost increases. Accordingly, it would be
very desirable to have an adjustable POP display system for books
and periodicals that is durable and is also low in cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The POP display system of the present invention includes a
plurality of L-shaped wire rods equally spaced form each other and
held together by further spanning rods spot welded and extending
transversely thereto. The L-shaped rods thereby form a shelf
consisting of a bottom horizontal portion and a rear vertical
portion. An adjustment track extends horizontally along and is
secured to the rear vertical portion of the shelf. The adjustment
track has a C-shaped cross-section defining a lower track and an
upper track. A divider support guide is sized to fit within the
adjustment track having top and bottom end edges that fit within
the upper and lower guide tracks respectively. The lower guide
track has serrations therein that cooperate with and engage
similarly sized serrations on the bottom end edge of the divider
support guide. The divider support guide is sized so that the
height thereof, i.e. the distance between its top and bottom edges
is less that the height or separation between the upper and lower
guide tracks. A wire divider is releasably or permanently secured
to each divider support guide.
[0005] In operation, a plurality of divider support guides are
slidingly inserted into an adjustment track whereby the mutual
serrations of the bottom divider support edge and the lower track
of the guide face each other. It will be appreciated that the
dividers will not move from a particular position as the result of
linear forces there against in either direction along the
adjustment track due to the interaction of their mutual serrations.
However, as the vertical height of each divider support guide is
sized somewhat smaller than the vertical height of the adjustment
track, each can be easily repositioned by lifting upward a
sufficient distance to disengage the mutual serrations and then
moving that guide horizontally in either direction along the
adjustment track to the new desired location. Those of skill will
appreciate that the adjustable POP system of the present invention
is mechanically simple yet robust, while retaining a very low cost
of manufacture.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] A better understanding of the structure, design, operation
and objects and advantages of the present invention can be had by
reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments set
out below, which detailed description refers to the following
figures, wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the adjustable display
shelf of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a track of the present
invention.
[0009] FIG. 3 shows a further perspective view of the track of FIG.
2 and including a divider support positioned therein.
[0010] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a divider support.
[0011] FIG. 5 shows a front plan view of the divider support of
FIG. 4.
[0012] FIG. 6 shows an environmental view of the present invention
with a digest shelf secured thereto.
[0013] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a digest shelf alone.
[0014] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of an alternate support
embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 9 show a side plan view of the support of FIG. 8
[0016] FIG. 10 show an end view of an alternate track
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The adjustable display shelf of the present invention is
seen in FIGS. 1 and 6 and generally referred to by the numeral 10.
Shelf 10 includes a plurality of L-shaped wires 12 held together by
one or more spanning wires 14. The wires 12 thereby form an
L-shaped shelf structure 16 having a bottom horizontal shelf
portion 16a and a vertical shelf portion 16b. A plurality of
L-shaped brackets 17, are secured to vertical shelf portion 16b and
include extensions 17a for cooperating with slots 18a of upright
shelf support rods 18. Thus, it can be understood that brackets 17
provide for securing of one or more shelves 10 to a shelf support
structure, and in this case it can be understood that said securing
is releasable and easily adjustable to different levels along
upright support rods 18. In addition, brackets 17 provide for an
angling of shelves 10 so that any periodical or other goods placed
thereon will lean in a backward direction against shelf portion 16b
decreasing any tendency for such objects to fall forward off from
shelf 10. An elongate channel 19 is secured to the end of wires 12
of shelf bottom portion 16a. Channel 19 provides for additional
securing together of wires 12 and includes a front channel portion
19a in which price and other sales indicia tags are placed and
held. A shelf end wire loop 20 is secured to each end of shelf 10
and is secured to spanning wires 14 channel 19 and to a track 21,
discussed below.
[0018] A seen by also referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the present
invention also includes an adjustable track 21. Track 21 is
C-shaped in cross-section and includes a bottom channel 22 and a
top channel 24 separated by and integral with a vertical back or
riser portion 26. Back portion 26 includes to channels 28 for
providing added rigidity and to permit welding engagement thereof
with shelf portion 16b. Bottom channel 22 also includes a plurality
of serrations or alternating V-shaped grooves and peaks 23. As seen
in FIG. 1, track 21 is secured to wires 12 along a bottom end of
vertical shelf portion 16b.
[0019] As seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a mounting or slideable support
structure 30 is shown. Support 30 is essentially square in shape
and sized to be mounted within track 21 by slipping into an end
thereof. Support 30 includes serrations or V-shaped grooves and
peaks 32 extending along a bottom end 34 thereof for cooperatively
engaging the similar serrations 23 of track channel 22. The overall
height H1 of track 21 is slightly greater than the height H2 of
support 30. Thus, support 30 can be lifted upward in the direction
of arrow A so that the serrations 32 thereof can be taken out of
engagement with serrations 23 of channel 22, and conversely put
back in engagement therewith by lowering support 30 onto channel 22
in the direction as indicated by arrow B. Support 30 also can
include a divider attachment pocket 36 for receiving therein and
retaining a triangularly shaped divider wire loop 38.
[0020] In operation, it will be appreciated that divider loops 38
are secured to and carried on supports 30. When supports 30 are
resting on and in track 21, the serrations 32 thereof and
serrations 23 of channel 22 are in cooperative engagement wherein
each divider loop 38 is retained in its particular position along
track 21. Thus, two such divider loops 38 can be spaced apart a
desirable distance commensurate with the width of the particular
book, magazine or periodical that is to be displayed by resting on
bottom shelf portion 16a so that the front surface thereof is
presented to the consumer. When a different separation is required,
each support 30 is simply lifted within track 21 sufficiently to
disengage the mutual serrations or teeth 32, 23 respectively
thereof. Each support 38 can then be moved within track 21 sliding
in either direction there along to a new suitable position after
which it is lowered into place re-engaging the teeth 23, 32. It can
further be understood that channel track 19, by virtue of extending
somewhat upward of shelf portion 16a, can serve to prevent any
slipping forward of the bottom of, for example a magazine, that
might occur in a direction from vertical self portion 16b towards
channel 19, also possibly resulting in the magazine falling from
shelf 16.
[0021] Those of skill will appreciate the shelf and track system of
the present invention can be manufactured of suitable sheet metal
and wire stock to be quite robust and long lasting. Moreover, such
wire and sheet metal components are relatively inexpensive and can
be assembled at low cost using, for example, spot welding to secure
the various parts together. Of course, various changes can be made
to the present invention and yet remain within the spirit and scope
thereof. For example, support 30 need not have retainer pocket 36
whereupon a divider loop 38 could simply be secured by spot welding
to a flat front surface thereof. Naturally, divider loops 38 could
take on a wide variety of shapes and need not be closed loops.
Also, other than shelf wires 12 could be used to form the shelf
structure 16. Of course, the present invention can be scaled in
size to accommodate a wide variety of materials for display
including not only books, and the like, but also any of a variety
of consumer goods.
[0022] A further aspect of the present invention can be understood
by referring to FIGS. 6 and 7. In the case of certain periodicals,
it is desirable to present to the consumer an additional visual
stimulus or enhanced presentation. A digest shelf 50 includes a
wire frame 52 having an upper loop 53 creating an upper horizontal
step or shelf area 54, and a vertical loop 56 creating between it
and shelf portion 16a a lower shelf step or area 58. Wire frame 52
is secured to a support 60 the same in all respects as support 30,
but lacking the divider attachment pocket 36. Thus, support 60 is
also positionable along track 21 in the same manner as discussed
above relative to support 30.
[0023] In operation, digest shelf 50 is held in place in track 21
as is seen in FIG. 6. The same periodicals can now be placed
between a pair of divider loops 38 wherein a portion thereof rest
on lower shelf area 58 and on upper shelf area 54. Those of skill
will appreciate that the full front surface of the front-most of
such periodicals that are placed on lower shelf area 58 will be
fully visible to the consumer. However, for the remainder of such
same periodical placed on the upper shelf 54 there will be a top
portion of the front-most thereof that will also be visible. The
amount of the top portion thereof visible to the consumer will, of
course, be a function of the height differential between shelf
portion 16a and loop 53. This stepped view is desirable to certain
periodical retailers as they will print their product so that a
headline, their logo or other such attention getting graphics fit
within this top portion so that such is clearly visible to the
consumer. This digest or stepped appearance creates some additional
eye appeal within essentially the same space. Of course, those of
skill can understand that digest shelf 50 can include additional
steps, as space permits, to provide any of a plurality of stepped
levels from which to present the periodical.
[0024] As seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, a further support 70 is shown.
Support 70 includes a raised button area 72 on the front surface
thereof. Button 72 is formed from support 70 by a stamping action
performed on the reverse side 74 thereof resulting in the formation
of raised button area 72 and the corresponding concave area 76.
Thus, various shelf wires or other product supports can be directly
welded to buttons 72 where a permanent securing is desirable. It
will also be appreciated by those of skill that the alternate track
embodiment 78, seen in FIG. 10, can eliminate the channels 28
whereupon the shelf structure can be directly spot welded to the
back side 80 thereof. It will be apparent to those of skill that
various other modifications can be made to the present invention
without exceeding the spirit and scope thereof. And moreover, the
illustrative preferred embodiment shown herein is specifically
designed for the display of periodicals and the like, however those
of skill will understand that the present invention is suitable for
the support and display of a wide variety of products and not
necessarily limited to publications.
* * * * *