U.S. patent application number 10/144304 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-13 for display shelf for stackable products.
Invention is credited to Belokin, Martin P., Belokin, Norman P., Belokin, Paul.
Application Number | 20030209505 10/144304 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29400303 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030209505 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Belokin, Paul ; et
al. |
November 13, 2003 |
Display shelf for stackable products
Abstract
A display shelf which employs a mounting or support panel for
attachment to one face of a transparent wall is provided with a
floor which projects horizontally from the support panel, a
containment wall which projects upwardly from the floor, and a
retaining wall positioned above and in register with the
containment wall to retain products stacked on products resting on
the floor. The support panel does not extend above the floor so
that product resting on the floor and product stacked thereon are
directly visible through the transparent wall. The containment wall
and/or retaining wall may be appropriately shaped to provide
individual compartments for each unit of product displayed.
Advertising material may be displayed on the support panel adjacent
the transparent wall.
Inventors: |
Belokin, Paul; (Denton,
TX) ; Belokin, Martin P.; (Denton, TX) ;
Belokin, Norman P.; (Corinth, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jack A. Kanz
502 So. Cottonwood Drive
Richardson
TX
75080
US
|
Family ID: |
29400303 |
Appl. No.: |
10/144304 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/75 ;
211/88.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 5/08 20130101; A47F
7/283 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/75 ;
211/88.01 |
International
Class: |
A47F 005/08 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A shelf for supporting and displaying stackable products having
a finite vertical height adjacent one face of a substantially
transparent panel comprising: (a) a support panel having a first
face lying in a substantially vertical plane and defining a lower
edge, first and second laterally opposed end edges, and an upper
edge; (b) a floor having a top face lying in a substantially
horizontal plane substantially normal to and intersecting said
vertical plane of the support panel between the laterally opposed
ends of the support panel; (c) a containment wall extending
upwardly from the top face of said floor with a substantial portion
thereof spaced horizontally from and substantially parallel with
the plane of said first face of said support panel; and (d) a
retaining wall supported on said support panel above said top face
of said floor a distance greater than the finite height of
stackable products to be placed on said floor and substantially in
register with said containment wall.
2. A shelf as defined in claim 1 wherein said support panel
displays advertising material on a portion of the front face
thereof between said laterally opposed edges and below said
floor.
3. A shelf as defined in claim 1 wherein said containment wall
includes a plurality of sections with each section shaped to define
a containment compartment for an individual product.
4. A shelf as defined in claim 3 wherein said containment wall
comprises a plurality of joined semi-cylindrical sections.
5. A shelf as defined in claim 3 wherein said retaining wall
includes a plurality of sections with each section shaped to define
a retaining wall for an individual product.
6. A shelf as defined in claim 4 wherein said retaining wall
comprises a plurality of joined semi-cylindrical sections, each
aligned with a corresponding semi-cylindrical section of said
containment wall.
7. A shelf as defined in claim 1 wherein said containment wall
defines openings which aid in removal of product from said
shelf.
8. A shelf as defined in claim 1 wherein the ends of said
containment wall and said retaining wall joins said support panel
at positions interiorly spaced from said first and second laterally
opposed edges and said support panel extends upwardly from the
plane of the floor and outwardly from the ends of said containment
wall to define spaced apart support flanges.
9. A shelf as defined in claim 8 including at least one mounting
slot in each said support flange.
10. The combination comprising: (a) a substantially transparent
wall having first and second oppositely disposed and substantially
vertically aligned faces; and (b) a shelf for supporting and
displaying stackable products adjacent the first face of said
substantially transparent wall comprising: (i) a support panel
having a first face lying in a substantially vertical plane and
defining a lower edge, first and second laterally opposed end
edges, and an upper edge; (ii) a floor having a top face lying in a
substantially horizontal plane substantially normal to and
intersecting said vertical plane of the support panel between the
laterally opposed ends of the support panel; (iii) a containment
wall extending upwardly from the top face of said floor with a
substantial portion thereof spaced horizontally from and
substantially parallel with the plane of said first face of said
support panel; (iv) a retaining wall supported on said support
panel above and substantially in register with said containment
wall; and (v) means attaching said support panel to and
substantially parallel with the first face of said substantially
transparent wall.
11. The combination defined in claim 10 wherein said substantially
transparent wall forms at least part of one wall of a refrigerated
vault.
12. The combination defined in claim 10 wherein said substantially
transparent wall forms at least part of a door.
13. The combination defined in claim 10 further comprising: (i) a
first stackable product arranged substantially vertically on said
floor and visible through said substantially transparent wall; and
(ii) a second stackable product arranged substantially vertically
on said first stackable product and visible through said
substantially transparent wall.
Description
DISPLAY SHELF FOR STACKABLE PRODUCTS
[0001] This invention relates to display of stackable or nestable
products and product containers such as bottles, cans and the like.
More particularly, it relates to display shelves adapted for
mounting on one face of a substantially transparent wall to support
stacked products on the wall and display the products through the
transparent wall.
[0002] Retail businesses commonly display chilled products for sale
in refrigerated vaults or the like which have a transparent door or
wall panel. Because a passing customer is more likely to select and
purchase products displayed where they can be readily seen and
recognized, the retailer desires to maximize visibility of products
on display and also to maximize utilization of space within the
refrigerated area.
[0003] Various devices are used to support and display product on a
wall, door or the like. However, most displays support only a
single horizontal row of product. Since the horizontal space is
limited, the product-carrying capacity is limited. However, many
products are nestable or packaged in vertically stackable or
nestable containers such as bottles, cans and the like. To
advantageously display such products, they must be arranged
vertically and maintained adjacent the transparent panel. In order
to maximize use of visible space on a transparent panel, the
display shelf must permit unobstructed view of the displayed
product, selectively position the product units adjacent the
transparent panel, and also display advertising or the like related
to the displayed products. Where the product or container is
vertically stacked, the upper product (or container) in the stack
must be securely restrained on the display shelf but should be
readily visible and easily removeable.
[0004] In accordance with the present invention, display shelves
are provided which are adapted to be mounted on the face of a
substantially transparent panel such as a glass window or door. The
display shelves are adapted to support one or more layers (or rows)
of product stacked vertically on a first layer (or row) of product
which rests directly on the support shelf floor. The shelf of the
invention finds particular utility when mounted in a refrigerated
vault or the like to display products through a transparent wall or
door of the vault. However, the display shelf of the invention may
be used in conjunction with any transparent wall, window, door or
the like.
[0005] The display shelf of the invention comprises a mounting or
support panel which has a vertically arranged front face and
mounting slots, holes or the like for mounting the front face of
the support panel adjacent the surface of a substantially
transparent wall, window, door or the like. The support panel
defines a face lying in a substantially vertical plane and has a
lower edge, two laterally opposed end edges and an upper edge. A
floor extends horizontally (normal to the plane of the support
panel) from the support panel. A containment wall is positioned at
the edge of the floor remote from the support panel and cooperates
with the transparent wall to contain a first row or layer of
stackable products or product containers on the floor adjacent the
transparent wall on which the display shelf is mounted. The
containment wall may be shaped to conform to or otherwise restrict
movement of individual product units and thereby confine them to
restricted positions on the floor. The upper edge of the
containment wall may also be slotted and/or curved outwardly to
permit easy access to and removal of products from the shelf.
[0006] The support panel extends upwardly from the outer edges of
the floor and is adapted to be attached to a supporting wall,
window or the like, thus providing rigid support for the floor. A
retaining wall extending from the support panel above the
containment wall is aligned substantially in register with the
containment wall. The retaining wall, however, is not associated
with a floor. Instead, the retaining wall is positioned above the
containment wall to restrain lateral movement of product which is
stacked on and supported by product resting on the floor. The
retaining wall thus permits a second row of nested or stacked
products to be displayed on the supporting wall in a single display
shelf, thus increasing the number of products contained in the
display without substantially increasing the surface area occupied
by the display. The support panel does not extend into the area
directly above the floor so that the entire vertical height of
stacked product is visible through the transparent wall. However,
the support panel may extend below the floor and/or above the
stacked product to provide a surface on which advertising material
or the like may be displayed and visible through the transparent
wall without obstructing the view of the product. The shelf of the
invention thus permits the support and display of multiple rows of
stacked products on a supporting panel, each of which is fully
visible and readily removeable. 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:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment
of the display shelf of the invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 1
illustrating attachment of the display shelf on a transparent wall
and placement of stackable products thereon; and
[0009] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front perspective view of an
alternative embodiment of the display shelf of the invention.
[0010] The above-described drawing is incorporated into and forms
part of the specification to illustrate several exemplary
embodiments of the present invention. Throughout the drawing, like
reference numerals designate corresponding elements. This drawing,
together with the description, serves to explain the principles of
the invention and is only for the purpose of illustrating preferred
and alternative examples of how the invention can be made and used.
The drawing is not to be construed as limiting the invention to the
illustrated and described examples.
[0011] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the
display shelf comprises a mounting or support panel 10 which has a
first face 11 lying in a substantially vertical plane and defining
lower edge 12, first and second laterally opposed end edges 13, 14
and upper edge 15. Floor 20 is supported on the support panel and
has a top face 21 which lies in a plane substantially normal to the
plane of first face 11 and intersects the plane of the first face
11 well below the upper edge 15 of the support panel. The support
panel 10 does not extend directly above the floor 20 for a
substantial lateral portion thereof between the laterally opposed
edges 13, 14 of the support panel 10 so that products supported on
floor 20 may be placed directly adjacent the wall on which the
shelf is mounted.
[0012] A containment wall 30 extends upwardly from the top face 21
of the floor 20. A major portion of wall 30 is spaced horizontally
from the plane of first face 11 of the support panel 10. The ends
of the containment wall join the support panel 10 to define a
open-topped cavity 31 defined by floor 20, containment wall 30 and
the transparent wall 50 (see FIG. 2) on which the display shelf is
mounted. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the ends of containment
wall 30 join support panel 10 at positions interiorly spaced from
first and second edges 13, 14 and the support panel 10 extends
upwardly from the plane of top face 21 of the floor 20 and
outwardly from the ends of the containment wall 30 to define
flanges 33, 34. Flanges 33, 34 thus form coplanar spaced apart
portions of support panel 10.
[0013] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 the
containment wall 30 defines a plurality of joined vertically
extending semi-cylindrical sections shaped to define individual
containment compartments for a plurality of individual vertically
arranged cylindrical or otherwise vertically extending products or
packages. Each section 36 defines a semi-cylindrical arc extending
upwardly from the floor 20. Each of the arcuate sections 36 is
shaped to define a containment compartment for cylindrical objects
such as cans, bottles, etc. Obviously, shapes other than arcuate or
semi-cylindrical may be employed, depending on the shape and
dimensions of the product units to be displayed. Furthermore, it is
to be understood that terms such as "containment wall" and
"containment compartment" as used herein are meant to describe
structures which restrain lateral movement of an object placed
within the boundaries thereof and are not intended to describe
fully enclosed compartments. For example, the semi-cylindrical
sections 36 of wall 30 do not define enclosed containment
compartments but define boundaries for supporting substantially
cylindrical objects vertically and act as containment walls or the
like for limiting lateral movement of individual products
positioned on the display shelf Therefore, sections 36 need not be
joined to form a continuous wall structure. Accordingly, a first
horizontal row or layer of vertically arranged products such as
beverage cans 40 (see FIG. 2) may be placed in the open-topped
cavity 31 with each can 40 confined to the surface area bordered by
one of the semi-cylindrical sections 36 and transparent wall 50.
One face 41 of each can 40 is thus held adjacent and visible
through transparent wall 50. The can 40, however, may be withdrawn
vertically from the shelf as desired.
[0014] Many products and product containers are nestable or
stackable so that one row or layer of such products may be stacked
on another row or layer and the stacked arrangement remain at least
somewhat stable. The terms "stackable" and "nestable" are used
interchangeably herein to refer to any product package or container
which has a top end adapted to receive the bottom end of a like
product package or container so that the product package or
container may be vertically stacked to form a substantially stable
vertical column. The mating top and bottom ends may be in the form
of mating male and female ends as currently found in beverage cans,
mating beads and recesses as found in many food containers, or any
other arrangement wherein the bottom end of the product package or
container nests in or on the top end of a like product package or
container.
[0015] In order to support a second row or layer of stackable
products on a first row as described above, the display shelf of
the invention includes a retaining wall 25 supported by the support
panel 10 above and substantially in register with containment wall
30. As illustrated in FIG. 1, retaining wall 25 is preferably
formed of joined vertically extending semi-cylindrical sections
shaped to complement the shape of the product to be retained
therein. In the case of cylindrical products such as cans 40, each
section 26 is semi-cylindrical and supported above and in register
with a similar semi-cylindrical section 36 in containment wall 30.
It will be readily recognized, however, that the shelf of the
invention is not limited to use with cylindrical products. The
shape of containment wall 30 and/or retaining wall 25 may be varied
as desired to accommodate various other shapes of stackable
products. Furthermore, since the products are nestable, the
containment wall 30 and retainer wall 25 need not be particularly
shaped to accommodate such products. Instead, containment wall 30
and/or retainer wall 25 may be simple flat walls. Retainer wall 25,
however, should be vertically spaced above and substantially in
register with containment wall 30 to prevent products stacked on
the first row of products from falling off the product on which it
rests.
[0016] In each of the embodiments illustrated, the first face 11 of
support panel 10 is positioned parallel with the surface of a
transparent wall 50 on which the shelf is mounted and below the
floor 20 of the shelf. Thus first face 11 may conveniently be used
to support advertising or the like which is visible through the
transparent wall 40 immediately below the product supported by the
shelf 20. Positioning the support panel 10 to extend the full
length of and past the outer edges of floor 20 provides rigid
support for the floor 20 and permits display of advertising or
other information associated with the displayed product on the
support panel 10 without obstructing view of the displayed
product.
[0017] The outer edges of support panel 10 terminate in flanges 33,
34 as described hereinabove. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the flanges
33 and 34 may include slots 51 for mounting the support panel 10
adjacent the inner surface of a transparent wall 50 as shown in
FIG. 2. Various means for securing the support panel 10 to the
transparent wall, such as suction cups 60 or the like, may be used.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, suction cups 60 each have a shank 61
which extends through a slot 50 to support the first face 11 of
support panel 10 parallel with a surface of transparent wall 50.
While the use of suction cups is illustrated in FIG. 2, it will be
readily appreciated that various other means such as adhesives,
clamps, magnets, bolts and the like may be used to attach the
display shelf to a transparent wall.
[0018] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, slots 51 are formed
adjacent the inner edges of flanges 33. If desired (and to permit
more secure mounting of the shelf) slots 51 may be formed in the
lower edge of support panel 10 and arranged so that the entrance of
each slot 51 is at the lower edge of support panel 10.
Alternatively (or in conjunction with other slots, holes or the
like), slots 51 may be formed in flanges 33, 34 and arranged to
have their entrances at the outer edge of the flange. It will be
appreciated that various other combinations and arrangements of
slots, holes and the like may be used to mount the display shelf
adjacent a transparent wall.
[0019] The retaining wall 25 should be spaced from and above the
containment wall 30 a sufficient distance that it does not
interfere with removal of stacking product from the bottom row when
there is no product directly above it. Preferably, the vertical
height of the retaining wall 25 is substantially less than the
vertical height of the stackable product and the retaining wall
positioned to engage the stackable product 40 near the upper end
thereof as illustrated in FIG. 2. Since each stackable product to
be placed on the floor has a finite height, the retaining wall 25
should be spaced from the floor 20 a distance greater than the
finite height of the product so that product 40 placed directly on
floor 20 may be removed without interference by retainer wall 25.
In this position, the upper stackable product may be easily removed
as desired. The lower stackable product 40 in the same column may
then be removed without interference by adjacent columns of product
or the retaining wall 25.
[0020] To further aid in removal of product from the display shelf
of the invention the upper surface of each section 26 of retaining
wall 25 and/or section 36 of containment wall 30 may be slotted or
recessed to form an access opening 33 (see FIG. 3). The access
opening 33 may, of course, take many forms but essentially reduces
the vertical height of a small section of the wall to permit each
grasping of the product 40 for removal. The vertical height of the
wall can be reduced by forming an access opening 33 in the upper
edge of the wall or forming a similar access opening 34 in the
lower edge of the wall. A similar access opening 35 may be formed
in the floor 20 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0021] It will be apparent from the foregoing that the principles
of the invention may be used to form display shelves which support
stackable products such as bottles, cans and the like stacked
vertically horizontally extending rows. In each case first row is
supported on the floor of the shelf and visible through the
transparent wall on which the shelf is mounted and the second row
is nestably stacked vertically on the first row. The second row is
held in place by a retaining wall which holds a face of each
product in the second row adjacent and visible through the
transparent wall and prevents the second row of product form
falling off the shelf.
[0022] It is to be understood 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 invention, this disclosure is to be considered
illustrative only. Various changes and modifications may be made in
detail, especially in matters of shape, size, arrangement and
combination of parts, without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *