U.S. patent application number 10/882371 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-13 for display strip with non-hanging product attachment.
Invention is credited to Williquette, Jeffrey G..
Application Number | 20050006329 10/882371 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33567769 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050006329 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Williquette, Jeffrey G. |
January 13, 2005 |
Display strip with non-hanging product attachment
Abstract
A point of purchase display strip formed from a single sheet has
unitary product attachment features that support the products from
their undersides as well as wrap around edges of the products to
retain them to the display strip without suspending them. The
attachment features may include arch shaped flaps that are arranged
in sets to capture the top and bottom edges of a product or two or
more corners of a product. The attachment features may also include
a single ledge near the bottom of the strip that supports stacked
products retained at their side edges by vertically extending
straight or bent flaps. The attachment features can be arranged to
support and retain products at both front and back faces of the
display strip.
Inventors: |
Williquette, Jeffrey G.;
(Neenah, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
QUARLES & BRADY LLP
411 E. WISCONSIN AVENUE
SUITE 2040
MILWAUKEE
WI
53202-4497
US
|
Family ID: |
33567769 |
Appl. No.: |
10/882371 |
Filed: |
July 1, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60485275 |
Jul 7, 2003 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/113 ;
211/73 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 2005/0012 20130101;
A47F 5/0006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/113 ;
211/073 |
International
Class: |
A47F 005/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A product display strip comprising a single elongated sheet
extending from a top end to a bottom end and having a plurality of
slits defining at least one product rest for supporting at least
one product from an underside and defining at least one non-hanging
product retainer for contacting without suspending the at least one
product at a portion other than its underside so as to resist
separation of the at least one product from the sheet.
2. The display strip of claim 1, wherein the product retainer
contacts a top side of the at least one product.
3. The display strip of claim 1, wherein the product retainer
contacts a side edge extending between the underside and a top side
of the at least one product.
4. The display strip of claim 1, wherein the display strip has a
front face and a back face and wherein there is at least one
product rest and at least one product retainer at each of the front
and back faces.
5. The display strip of claim 1, wherein the slits define matched
sets of product rests and product retainers.
6. The display strip of claim 5, wherein the sets are spaced apart
along the strip in the direction between the top and bottom ends of
the sheet.
7. The display strip of claim 5, wherein each of the sets includes
one product rest and one product retainer located on the sheet
closer to the top end than the product rest.
8. The display strip of claim 7, wherein the product rest and the
product retainer of each set pivot away from a same face of the
sheet in opposite directions.
9. The display strip of claim 8, wherein each product rest and
product retainer is arch shaped.
10. The display strip of claim 8, wherein each product rest is
hinged to the sheet essentially parallel with each product
retainer.
11. The display strip of claim 10, wherein each product rest is
oriented essentially perpendicular to the direction between the top
and bottom ends of the sheet.
12. The display strip of claim 11, wherein each product rest is
oriented at an oblique angle to the direction between the top and
bottom ends of the sheet.
13. The display strip of claim 1, having a single product rest
proximate the bottom end of the sheet and multiple of the product
retainers spaced between the rest and the top end of the sheet such
that multiple of the products can be stacked one on top of another
and supported by the product rest and retained by the product
retainers.
14. The display strip of claim 1, wherein the at least one product
rest and the at least one product retainer are each hinged to the
sheet along at least one edge so that they can be pivoted with
respect to the sheet.
15. The display strip of claim 1, wherein the at least one product
rest and the at least one product retainer are the same shape.
16. The display strip of claim 15, wherein the at least one product
rest and the at least one product retainer are arch shaped.
17. The display strip of claim 1, wherein the at least one product
rest is oriented essentially perpendicular to the direction between
the top and bottom ends of the sheet.
18. The display strip of claim 17, wherein the at least one product
retainer is oriented to extend essentially in the direction between
the top and bottom ends of the sheet.
19. The display strip of claim 18, wherein the at least one product
retainer includes two flaps spaced apart in the direction
perpendicular to the direction between the top and bottom ends of
the sheet
20. The display strip of claim 19, wherein the spaced apart flaps
are bent to define two inwardly opening channels receiving the at
least one product therebetween.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/485,275 filed Jul. 7, 2003.
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT SPONSORED DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates to product displays and in particular
to product display strips in which the displayed products are
supported from underneath rather than suspended from the strip.
[0004] Producers and suppliers of goods seek to have their products
displayed in prominent locations in an eye-catching manner likely
to attract consumers. Retail outlets typically wish to maximize the
quantity of products displayed for sale, and thus, premium shelf
and floor space is limited. One way to increase the available space
for display of certain products in high traffic areas, such as
aisle end caps and check out lanes, is to attach the products to
display strips. Such strips typically mount to the front of a shelf
and sometimes project out into the aisle to make them more
visible.
[0005] Many conventional product display strips have numerous
hangers on which the products are suspended. One example of such a
product display strip can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,690. This
display strip includes a vertical support that mounts to the front
of shelving and holds a wire bracket suspending a metal strip. The
strip has a number of vertically spaced tabs or tongues cut out at
all but one side on which the products are hung. Each tongue is
bent at angle away from the strip so that products can hang on the
strip by simply slipping the tongue in a slot formed in the product
package.
[0006] Such devices require separate mounting hardware and
connecting tabs that are oriented vertically in the direction of
elongation of the strip so that the attached products cannot
readily fall from the strip. However, when the display strip is
tipped forward or sideways the products can readily fall off of the
strip. Moreover, when the tabs are oriented this way, the products
must be lifted up and slid off of the tongues, which is likely to
dislodge one or more products suspended above the selected product,
since it is customary to overlap adjacent products mounted on such
strips.
[0007] Conventional hanging product display strips are also
disadvantageous because they require the products being displayed
to be adapted for hanging, such as by attaching a hanger to the
product or by having packaging with a hanger feature. And, because
the products are suspended, they are susceptible to falling from
the display and being damaged, for example in the event the hanger
breaks or the hanger is not properly seated on the hook. This
problem is exacerbated when the display is loaded with many
products suspended closely together and overlapping each other (as
is common), which makes it likely that the consumer will
inadvertently knock off one or more products adjacent the product
being taken from the display.
[0008] Accordingly, a product display strip is desired with an
improved construction for supporting and retaining products to the
display strip.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In one aspect the invention provides a product display strip
formed of a single elongated sheet extending from a top end to a
bottom end and having a plurality of slits defining at least one
product rest for supporting at least one product from an underside
and defining at least one non-hanging product retainer for
contacting without suspending the at least one product at a portion
other than its underside so as to resist separation of the at least
one product from the sheet.
[0010] In one preferred form multiple products are held on the
display strip at the top and bottom of each product or product
packaging. Preferably, the slits in the sheet define sets of
product rests and product retainers. The sets are spaced apart
along the strip from top to bottom with each product rest closer to
the bottom end of the strip than its associated product retainer.
Each product rest and product retainer is hinged to the sheet
parallel to each other and essentially perpendicular to the
direction between the top and bottom ends of the strip. Preferably,
each product rest and product retainer is arch shaped and are
pivoted away from the same face of the sheet in opposite directions
to secure the product to the strip.
[0011] In another preferred form the products are attached to the
display strip at the corners, preferably at diagonal corners for
two sided displays or at all four corners for single sided
displays. The rests and retainers are arch shaped, with the product
rests below the product retainers and arranged to be hinged at an
oblique angle (such as 45 degrees) with respect to the length of
the display strip to capture the corners of the products.
[0012] In still another preferred form the products are stacked one
on top of another with the bottommost product resting directly on a
single product rest near the bottom end of the display strip, which
thus indirectly supports all of the products on the strip.
Preferably, the rest is formed with fold down walls that provide a
gusset contacting the strip and supporting it essentially
perpendicular to the strip. The strip is formed with multiple
product retainers spaced between the rest and the top end of the
sheet. The retainers are hinged to the sheet in parallel and
extending in the direction between the top and bottom ends of the
sheet. Preferably, the product retainers define sets of straight or
bent flaps spaced apart in the direction perpendicular to the
direction between the top and bottom ends of the sheet, in the case
of bent flaps defining two inwardly opening channels, receiving the
at least one product therebetween.
[0013] Thus, the present invention provides an improved product
display strip in which, rather than being hung, the products are
supported from underneath and retained along one or more top,
bottom or side edges. This ensures that the products are securely
supported and retained to the strip. The display strip of the
present invention can be made of a single sheet construction with
the rest and retainer features being a unitary part of the sheet
formed by simply cutting slits into the sheet and folding the
features out away from the sheet. As such, the display strip is
easily customizable so as to be of any capacity and accommodate a
wide variety of sizes and configurations of products or product
packages. Since they are in sheet form, the are readily printed on
and can be cut to any desired size or shape. It can also be
efficiently manufactured on automated lines, requiring no assembly
or manual processes. Multiple display strips can be sold and
shipped in stacks with the retailer needing only to fold out the
attachment features and attach the products to the individual
strips.
[0014] The advantages of the invention will appear from the
following description. In this description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in which
there are shown by way of illustration preferred embodiments of the
invention. These embodiments do not represent the full scope of the
invention. Thus, the claims should be looked to in order to
ascertain the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a display strip with
non-hanging product attachment features according to a first
embodiment of the present invention with products on display shown
in phantom;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a front plan view of a blank for the display strip
of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line
3-3 of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a display strip
according to another embodiment of the present invention again with
products on display shown in phantom;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a front plan view of a blank for the display strip
of FIG. 4;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of
FIG. 4;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a display strip
according to yet another embodiment of the present invention again
with products on display shown in phantom;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a front plan view of a blank for the display strip
of FIG. 7;
[0023] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of
FIG. 7;
[0024] FIG. 10 is a front plan view of still another embodiment of
the display strip of present invention similar to the preceding
embodiment; and
[0025] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view take along line 11-11 of
FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] A first embodiment of a point of purchase display 10A
according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-3 to have
two attachment features for each product, a bottom one on which the
product rests and a top one capturing the top edge of the product.
A second embodiment 10B is shown in FIGS. 4-6, being similar to the
previous embodiment, however, having two attachment features
supporting and retaining two diagonal or all four corners of the
product. A third embodiment 10C is shown in FIGS. 7-9 in which the
products are stacked vertically, supported by a single rest at the
bottom of the strip and retained at side edges. FIGS. 10-11 show an
embodiment 10D similar to the preceding embodiment but with a
slightly different product retainers.
[0027] All four embodiments have in common that they include a
display strip 12A-12D of single sheet construction, preferably a
paperboard or plastic sheeting, with the attachment features being
defined by slits cut into the sheet. Preferably, the slits are
formed with a punch cut technique without removing material. In
addition, all four embodiments support products 14A-14D from
underneath and retain them by capturing one or more top, bottom or
side edges. None of the embodiments described herein suspend the
products on the display strips 12A-12D. Note, however, the display
strips 12A-12D themselves are intended to be suspended.
[0028] More specifically, each embodiment is preferably in strip
form having a narrow-width, elongated configuration extending from
a top end 16A-16D to a bottom end 18A-18D between opposite sides
20A-20D and 22A-22D. Preferably, there is a display area 24A-24D
free of attachment features, such as near the top end 16A-16D,
where printing or decals can be placed containing text and graphics
promoting the associated products. Also, preferably, the display
strip 12A-12D includes some type of mounting feature, which in one
form can be a simple hole 26A-26D for suspending the display strip
12A-12D from a clip, nail or other post like element. Other
mounting features (not shown), such as adhesives, magnets, or
clips, can be attached at any suitable location, such as at the
back side of the sheet slightly above center.
[0029] The primary difference between the embodiments is the
configuration, number, orientation and location of the attachment
features, which for all embodiments include at least one product
rest 28A-28D and at least one product retainer 30A-30D.
[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the product display 10A is
designed to be double-sided, that is to display products 14A at
both front and back faces of the display strip 12A. Each product
14A is individually held on the strip by match pairs of product
rests 28A and retainers 30A. The sets are spaced apart along the
length of the strip 12A. The rests 28A and retainers 30A have an
identical arch or rainbow shape having ends hinged to the strip
sheet along lines parallel to each other and perpendicular to the
direction between the top 16A and bottom 18A ends. As shown in FIG.
2, the strip sheet is cut to define from bottom to top two upwardly
arched product rests 28A and two downwardly arched product
retainers 30A spaced vertically so that the spacing between the
upper matched pair of rest 28A and retainer 30A is the same as the
spacing between the lower matched pair of rest 28A and retainer 30A
and essentially the same as the length (or height) of the product
14A (or product package) to be displayed. As shown in FIG. 3, the
lower pair of product rest 28A and product retainer 30A can hinge
away from the strip sheet toward the front face of the strip and
the upper pair of product rest 28A and product retainer 30A can
hinge toward the back face of the strip. Note that because the
product retainers 30A are inverted with respect to the product
rests 28A, they will hinge or fold out in the opposite (in this
case counterclockwise) direction as the associated product rest
28A.
[0031] Two products 14A can be displayed at nearly the same
(slightly offset vertically) height on the display strip 12A at the
front and back faces. This arrangement is repeated along the length
of the strip, three more times in the preferred embodiment shown to
define four matched pairs of product rests 28A and retainers 30A at
each face of the strip (see FIGS. 1 and 2). As shown in FIG. 3, the
underside of each product 14A will be supported from underneath by
the product rest 28A which will also capture the bottom edge,
particularly if the product rest 28A is hinged to be less than
perpendicular to the strip sheet. And, the top edge of the product
14A will be captured by the product retainer 30A. Preferably, the
product rests 28A and retainers 30A in each pair will be spaced so
that the product 14A (or its package) abuts or lies very near the
hinge areas so that there is little play when the product 14A is
attached to the strip 12A. Note that, depending on the composition
of the sheet material selected for the display strip 12A, internal
stresses in both the product rests 28A and retainers 30A may tend
to return them to their original pre-cut position, thereby acting
to close in on the products and further resist separation of the
products 14A from the strip 12A.
[0032] A product 14A can be quickly and easily installed on the
display strip 12A by folding down a rest 28A and setting the bottom
edge of the product 14A on top of it. Then, the associated retainer
30A is folded up so that the product 14A can fit beneath it with
the back of the product 14A against the display strip 12A. After it
they are released, gravity and/or internal stresses will cause each
rest 28A and retainer 30A to bend inwardly onto the bottom or top
edge of the product 14A. The product 14A can be removed simply by
pulling it away from the strip 12A either straight out or at an
angle. The product rest 28A and retainer 30 (and possibly the
product/packaging) will flex momentarily to free the product 14A.
Note that depending on the configuration of the product 14A or its
packaging it may be possible to install and remove a product 14A by
sliding it sideways until its top and bottom edges are free from
the product rest 28A and retainer 30.
[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, the second embodiment 10B has
product rests 28B and retainers 30B that are of a similar but
slightly smaller arch shape and in a different arrangement on the
strip 12B so as to support and capture the corners of the product
14B. In particular, each product rest 28B and retainer 30B is
oriented at an oblique angle, such as approximately 45 degrees, to
the length of extension of the strip 12B between the ends 16B an
18B. Like the preceding embodiment, here the product rests 28B and
retainers 30B are arranged in matched sets, preferably pairs or
sets of four. Going from bottom to top, there are alternating rows
of two product rests 28B and two product retainers 30B spaced apart
vertically the height of the product 14B. The two product rests 28B
in each row are spaced apart laterally, oriented 90 degrees apart,
and arched upward and inward. The two product retainers 30B in each
row are spaced apart laterally the same as the product rests 28B,
oriented 90 degrees apart, and arched downward and inward. In this
way diagonal product rests 28B and retainers 30B are hinged to the
strip sheet essentially parallel to each other. In the preferred
embodiment shown, there are four rows of each of the product rests
28B and retainers 30B defining four groups of attachment
features.
[0034] If products 14B are to be displayed at only one face of the
display strip 12B, each product will be held by two product
retainers 30B at its upper two corners and supported underneath by
two product rests 28B at its lower two corners. Alternatively, and
more preferably, when products 14B are displayed at both the front
and back faces of the display strip 12B, each product 14B is held
at one lower corner by one product rest 28B and a diagonal upper
corner by one product retainer 30B. In this way, two products 14B
can be displayed at essentially the same height (without vertical
offset) at both faces of the display strip 12B. Like above, the
preferred embodiment shown can thus hold eight products, four at
each face. The products are installed and removed in much the same
way as described above, differing only in that the rests 28B and
retainers 30B capture the corners of the products 14B, rather than
the top and bottom edges.
[0035] Referring now to FIGS. 7-9, this embodiment 10C is designed
for the products 14C to be stacked directly one on top of each
other so that the entire stack of products 14C can be supported for
underneath by a single product rest 28C located near the bottom of
the display strip 12C. The single, generally triangular, product
rest 28C is hinged to the strip 12C essentially perpendicular to
the direction between the top 16C and bottom 18C ends. The product
rest 28C has one or more (shown with two) fold down walls 40C that
act as a gusset, contacting the strip 12C and supporting the rest
28C to keep it generally perpendicular to the strip 12C. Here, the
rest 28C will act more as a shelf or ledge and not capture the
bottom edge of the abutting product 14C.
[0036] The product retainers 30C here are also configured and
arranged differently. In particular, the retainers 30C take on a
rectangular flap configuration, being attached to the strip sheet
along only one edge and bent approximately 90 degrees to define a
channel 42, preferably of thickness approximately equal to the side
edges of the products being displayed (see FIG. 9). Note that a
perforated or non-perforated fold line can be formed during
manufacturing to define the bend. The retainers 30C are oriented
vertically along the strip 12C and arranged in two columns
symmetric about the vertical centerline of strip 12C so that the
channels 42 open toward each other. There could be two full length
parallel retainers 30C, or multiple same or various sized
vertically aligned retainers 30C, as shown. Having columns of
multiple retainers 30C is preferable because it facilitates loading
and removal of the products 14C. Also, depending on the product
configuration, the bottom edges of the retainers 30C can act as a
rest surface to directly support the underside of products 14C
located higher up on the strip 12C. In either case, the retainers
30C need to be spaced vertically from the rest 28C no more than the
height of the product 14C.
[0037] The number of products 14C that this embodiment will hold
depends on the height of the products as well as the height and
quantity of vertical "slots" formed by the columns of product
retainers 30C. The embodiment illustrated in the drawings is single
sided, however, like the embodiments described above, this could be
made two sided by including a second set of product rests and
retainers bent out away from the back face of the strip 12C.
[0038] Products 14C can be loaded by sliding them down the slot
formed between the channels 42 of the product retainers 30C one at
a time, with the bottom product sitting directly on the product
rest 28C and additional products stacked one on top of another. The
products 14C can be removed by sliding the uppermost product 14C
upward toward the top end 16C until free of the retainers 30C.
Alternatively, the products 14C, especially the bottommost product
14C, could simply be pulled away from the strip 12C with the
retainers 30C flexing out of the way.
[0039] Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, this embodiment 10D is
very similar to the preceding embodiment 10C with the principal
exception being the configuration of the product retainers 30D.
Here, the retainers 30D are simple vertical flaps (with no bends)
so that they tend to press the products toward the strip 12D. Also,
the retainers 30D have a trapezoidal configuration. As shown in
FIG. 10, one or more retainers 30D (the longer lower two) can have
the tips cut off to reduce the likelihood of getting snagged during
loading and removal of the products 14D. Otherwise, this embodiment
10D has all the features of the preceding embodiment including
being able to display products at one or both faces and including a
single product rest 28D with a support gusset, albeit here formed
by a single fold down wall 40D.
[0040] Thus, the present invention provides an improved product
display strip in which, rather than being hung, the products are
supported from underneath and retained along one or more top,
bottom or side edges. This ensures that the products are securely
supported and retained to the strip. The display strip of the
present invention can be made of a single sheet construction with
the rest and retainer features being a unitary part of the sheet
formed by simply cutting slits into the sheet and folding the
features out away from the sheet. As such, the display strip is
easily customizable so as to be of any capacity and accommodate a
wide variety of sizes and configurations of products or product
packages. Since they are in sheet form, the are readily printed on
and can be cut to any desired size or shape. It can also be
efficiently manufactured on automated lines, requiring no assembly
or manual processes. Multiple display strips can be sold and
shipped in stacks with the retailer needing only to fold out the
attachment features and attach the products to the individual
strips.
[0041] While there have been shown and described what is at present
considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it
will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes
and modifications can be made to the described embodiments without
departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the
particular shape of the product rests and retainers can be altered
significantly, for example, being round, square, triangular or any
other suitable shape than an arch or rectangular or trapezoidal
flap. Accordingly, to ascertain the full scope of the invention,
reference must be had to the following claims.
* * * * *