U.S. patent application number 11/286043 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-08 for merchandise display system.
Invention is credited to Paul John Campbell, Dennis James Polvere.
Application Number | 20060118502 11/286043 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36573027 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060118502 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Polvere; Dennis James ; et
al. |
June 8, 2006 |
Merchandise display system
Abstract
An inexpensive and easy to assemble merchandise display system
is disclosed. The system includes at least one elongated wall
having front and rear edges and including a plurality of slits
extending from the front edge into the wall, and at least one shelf
having front and rear edges and including a plurality of slits
extending from the rear edge into the shelf. The wall and shelf
slits are configured to be matingly engageable so that the shelf
and wall can be selectively interlocked by engagement of a shelf
slit and a wall slit to form a skeletal structure that defines
uniform or non-uniform areas, as desired.
Inventors: |
Polvere; Dennis James;
(Millstone Township, NJ) ; Campbell; Paul John;
(New York City, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WINSTON & STRAWN LLP
1700 K STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Family ID: |
36573027 |
Appl. No.: |
11/286043 |
Filed: |
November 22, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60633329 |
Dec 3, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/135 ;
211/187 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 5/112 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/135 ;
211/187 |
International
Class: |
A47F 5/00 20060101
A47F005/00 |
Claims
1. A merchandise display system, comprising: at least one elongated
wall having front and rear edges and including a plurality of slits
extending from the front edge into the wall; and at least one shelf
having front and rear edges and including a plurality of slits
extending from the rear edge into the shelf, wherein the wall and
shelf slits are configured to be matingly engageable so that the
shelf and wall can be selectively interlocked by engagement of a
shelf slit and a wall slit to form a skeletal structure that
defines uniform or non-uniform areas, as desired.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises a skeletal
structure including two shelves interlocked with two walls.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each shelf includes an article
retaining lip provided at the front edge of the shelf.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each wall includes a stand
portion provided on the rear edge of the wall.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the slits of the wall are
generally aligned with each other but are present in a non-uniform
pattern.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the slits of the shelf are
generally aligned with each other but are present in a non-uniform
pattern.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the wall and
the shelf is made of corrugated cardboard.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the corrugated cardboard is
bent to form first and second side portions.
9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the corrugated cardboard is
bent to form the front lip of the shelf.
10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the corrugated cardboard is
bent to form the stand portion of the wall.
11. The apparatus of claim 7, which further comprises at least one
flute wire inserted into at least one of the wall and shelf.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wall and the shelf are
made of the same material.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the material comprises at
least one of a paper composite material, cardboard, corrugated
cardboard, plastic, rubber, fiberglass, metal or a composite
material.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising articles for
display arranged in the areas.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wall slits extend about
half-way into the wall.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shelf slits extend about
half-way into the shelf.
17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the housing is rectangular
and comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, a
second side wall, and a rear wall.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the housing is of one piece
construction.
20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the skeletal structure is
configured to be fitted into the housing.
21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the wall, the shelf and the
housing are all made of the same material.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the material comprises at
least one of a paper composite material, cardboard, corrugated
cardboard, plastic, rubber, fiberglass, metal or a composite
material.
23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein each shelf includes an
article retaining lip provided at the front edge of the shelf.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein each wall includes a stand
portion provided on the rear edge of the wall.
25. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising articles for
display arranged in the areas so that they stand on the shelf and
are retained by the lip.
26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the article retaining lips
include at least one of artwork, advertising or promotional
material.
27. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one of the wall and
the shelf includes a non-uniform pattern of slits.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional
application 60/633,329 filed Dec. 3, 2004, the entire content of
which is expressly incorporated herein by reference thereto.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] The present invention generally relates to an inexpensive
and flexible merchandise display system. In an embodiment, the
merchandise display system includes at least one elongated wall
having front and rear edges and including a plurality of slits
extending from the front edge into the wall, and at least one shelf
having front and rear edges and including a plurality of slits
extending from the rear edge into the shelf. The shelf and wall can
be selectively interlocked by engagement of a shelf slit and a wall
slit to form a skeletal structure defining uniform or non-uniform
areas, as desired. The merchandise display is easy to assemble, and
provides for the easy loading, organization, storage, shipment,
display, promotion and dispensing of containerized or packaged
goods, for example, goods contained within jars, bottles, cans and
boxes.
[0003] Adjustable product or merchandise display and dispensing
units are known. For example, a wide variety of modular display
devices have been designed and manufactured for use in organizing
and merchandising shelved products to consumers. Supermarkets and
other retail stores commonly utilize the displays to show and focus
attention on the products displayed therein.
[0004] It is also common practice to provide product display
apparatus to product manufacturers for loading, organizing and
shipping products to retailers. The retailers set up the loaded
product displays within their retail stores. Such product displays
typically include a housing made of cardboard and multiple interior
cardboard walls or wire guides, and are delivered in kit form to
the manufacturers' site for assembly and loading of products. A
manufacturer may hire a third party co-packer to assemble such
display devices and to load them with products for shipping to
retailers. Such cardboard containers tend to be difficult to
assemble and typically are somewhat flimsy. Due to the time and
effort required to assemble and load such product displays,
manufacturers pay the co-packers increased fees and that cost is
either passed on to consumers or eats into profits.
[0005] A need therefore exists for a product display that is
inexpensive, simple to assemble, and that is sturdy and presentable
so as to meet the display and dispensing requirements of
retailers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention relates to an inexpensive, easy to assemble
and flexible merchandise display system. The system includes at
least one elongated wall having front and rear edges and including
a plurality of slits extending from the front edge into the wall,
and at least one shelf having front and rear edges and including a
plurality of slits extending from the rear edge into the shelf. The
slits are configured to be matingly engageable so that the shelf
and wall can be selectively interlocked by engagement of a shelf
slit and a wall slit to form a skeletal structure defining uniform
or non-uniform areas, as desired.
[0007] Advantageously, the skeletal structure includes at least two
shelves interlocked with two walls, wherein each shelf includes an
article retaining lip provided at the front edge of the shelf and
each wall includes a stand portion provided on the rear edge of the
wall. The slits of the wall and/or the shelf are generally aligned
with each other but are present in a non-uniform pattern.
[0008] The wall or shelf, or both, can be made of a paper composite
material, cardboard or corrugated cardboard, plastic, rubber,
fiberglass, metal or a composite material. When cardboard is used,
it can be bent to form first and second side portions that provide
a more stiff or rigid construction. Also, the cardboard can be bent
to form the front lip of the shelf or the stand portion of the
wall. Preferably, the wall and the shelf are made of the same
material.
[0009] The skeletal structure is used to hold articles for display
wherein the articles are arranged in the areas. This enables the
skeletal structure to be configured to different open area
dimensions to accommodate different sized articles or products.
Preferably, the wall slits extend about half-way into the wall and
the shelf slits extend about half-way into the shelf. This
facilitates the secure engagement of the wall and shelf in the
skeletal structure.
[0010] Generally, the apparatus further comprises a housing. This
housing may be any shape and the skeletal structure is configured
to be fitted into the housing. Preferably, the housing is
rectangular and comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side
wall, a second side wall, and a rear wall. It is desirable for the
housing to be of one piece construction. It is possible for the
wall, the shelf and the housing to all be made of the same
material. The article retaining lips include at least one of
artwork, advertising or promotional material to further enhance the
display of the articles.
[0011] The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are
set forth in the accompanying drawings and the detailed description
below. Other features and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the detailed description and drawings, and from the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0012] Other aspects, purposes and advantages of the invention will
become clear after reading the following detailed description with
reference to the attached drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of an assembled
embodiment of a merchandise display system according to the
invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 depicts a partially assembled merchandise display
similar to that of FIG. 1, which includes a skeletal structure and
a housing.
[0015] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of two walls fitted to a
shelf.
[0016] FIG. 4 is an enlarged, rear view of a wall connected to two
shelves.
[0017] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an assembled
merchandise display system 100 according to the invention. In this
implementation, the merchandise display system 100 includes a
housing 2 having a top wall 3, a bottom wall 4, sides walls 6 and
7, and a rear wall 8 (shown in FIG. 2). Merchandise boxes 10 have
been loaded into the merchandise display, and are shown sitting on
the bottom wall 4 and on two shelves 12 and 14 that include article
retaining lips 13 and 15. Separating the merchandise boxes and
supporting the shelves 12 and 14 are two walls 16 and 18. In the
embodiment shown, the article retaining lips 13 and 15 of the
shelves and the outer wall portions of the housing 2 are blank, but
these areas may contain artwork, advertising or other promotional
material. The merchandise boxes 10 may be loaded as shown inside
the housing 2, and in a retail environment consumers remove the
merchandise for purchase from any of the compartments or areas
defined by the shelves 12,14 and walls 16,18. The merchandise
containers shown in the example of FIG. 1 are all boxes, but it
should be understood that other containers such as jars, cans and
boxes of different sizes and shapes could also be housed and
dispensed by a suitably configured and dimensioned product display
100.
[0019] FIG. 2 depicts a partially assembled merchandise display,
with the merchandise boxes 10 waiting to be loaded therein. A
skeletal structure 25 has been assembled that includes two walls 16
and 18 interlocked with two shelf components 12 and 14. The
skeletal structure 25 may be force-fit into the housing 2 so that
the back portions of the walls and shelves are contacting the back
wall 8 of the housing, in order to form the merchandise display as
shown in FIG. 1. The back portions of the walls and shelves may be
provided with an adhesive substance such as glue to secure the
skeletal structure within the housing, or the skeletal structure
may held in place by frictional forces. In a variation, inner
portions of the back wall 8, the side walls 6 and 7, top wall 3 and
the bottom wall 4 may include indentations or channels (not shown)
to accept or seat the corresponding back portions of the skeletal
structure therein.
[0020] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of two walls 16 and 18 fitted to
one shelf unit 12 to form a skeletal structure that may be used as
a merchandise display. It should be noted that each of the walls 16
and 18 includes a plurality of slits 20 that are designed to
interact or interlock with any of the plurality of slits 22 found
on the shelf unit 12. The slits 20 and 22 occur at predetermined
uniform or non-uniform intervals along the length of the walls and
shelves, and are provided so that different combinations of shelf
and wall configurations can be assembled that define different
uniform or non-uniform areas. Any particular configuration of
shelves and walls can depend upon considerations such as the
overall size of the merchandise display, the type and dimensions of
items to be displayed, and the weight of the items. In an
embodiment, the slits 20 and 22 run approximately half the width
"d" of the side panels 17 and 19 of each wall 16 and 18, and the
slits 22 are likewise about half the distance "d1" of the shelf 12.
This provides the most secure engagement of the walls and shelf
members.
[0021] The plurality of slits permits alternate configurations of
shelves to be securely connected or interlocked to the wall panels
in any desired configuration to meet retailer or merchandiser
requirements, and to provide a skeletal structure having
appropriate rigidity to support the desired size or sizes of
merchandise containers. The slits may be formed in predetermined
uniform or non-uniform locations on the front edges of the walls
and the back edges of the shelves so that after assembly the areas
formed are proportional to the dimensions of items or products of a
particular manufacturer. For example, three or more walls could be
used with two or more shelves to create different size areas. Such
a skeletal structure could be used with or without a housing to
display merchandise. When the skeletal structure of assembled walls
and shelves are snuggly fit into the housing 2 as shown in FIG. 1,
a visually clean, presentable, and stable merchandise display is
provided.
[0022] It should also be noted that the preferred embodiment of
walls and shelf components have an "L-shaped" cross section. In
particular, the walls 16 and 18 include stand portions 30 and 32,
and the shelves 12 and 14 include article retaining lips 13 and 15,
respectively (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The L-shape of these components
also function to add stability and rigidity to the skeletal
structure 25 that results when they are assembled, as shown in FIG.
2. In an implementation, at least one of the corrugated cardboard
wall and shelf components includes flute wires, which are wires
that are inserted into the flute-shaped corrugations and function
to provide added support. One or more, preferably two, such flute
wires would be pre-installed before the shelf and/or wall
components are shipped to assemblers. The flute wires may be, for
example, one-sixteenth inch diameter wires that are capable of
being bent to support the stand portions of the wall components
and/or the article retaining lip portions of the shelf
components.
[0023] It should be understood that other cross-sectional shapes
could be used that result in a skeletal structure that functions to
adequately separate and support merchandise containers. The walls
and shelves provide mechanical strength to the resulting skeletal
structure and are sufficiently rigid or non-bending to hold
merchandise containers.
[0024] FIG. 4 is an enlarged, rear view of a wall 18 connected to
two shelves 12 and 14. As shown, one of the slits 20 of the walls
18 is interlocked with a slit 22 of the shelf 12. The shelf unit 14
is connected in like manner, and one or more additional walls (not
shown) may also be interlocked in like fashion.
[0025] Individual components (walls, shelves, housings) of the
unassembled merchandise display system 100 may be shipped
separately to assemblers. In particular, the housing may be
contained within a flat piece of cardboard and then folded to
obtain the generally rectangular shape shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The
wall and shelf members likewise could be shipped flat, and then
folded or otherwise manipulated to into shape and assembled to form
skeletal structures by selecting particular wall slits and shelf
slits on each component to interlock as required. Instructions
could be provided on separate instruction sheets to co-packers
indicating the appropriate configuration to assemble, or could be
printed directly on the housing or on the wall and shelf
components, as appropriate. The components of the present
merchandise display can be shipped more compactly than prior art
merchandise displays, and thus shipping costs are reduced.
[0026] The unassembled components may also be shipped as kits, and
two or more walls and shelves may be provided in each kit depending
on the type of skeletal structure required. In a particular
embodiment similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the walls
16 and 18 may be about 24 inches long, and the shelf components 12
and 14 may be about 12 inches long, which are standard dimensions
for certain merchandise displays in the retail industry. The
length, width and depth of the housing, wall and shelf components
may vary, depending on the items or merchandise to be seated
thereon. Of course, the shelf, wall and housing components can be
made to be larger or smaller depending on various conditions such
as merchandise size and weight.
[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the housing, walls and the shelf
components are made of a durable, lightweight, corrugated material
such as cardboard. As mentioned above, such a merchandise display
system may be shipped to a co-packer or to a product manufacturer
for assembly at a product site, such as a warehouse, and could be
provided as a flat or planar form with scored sections that enable
folding of the form to produce the housing, along with a plurality
of walls and shelf components. But it should be understood that
other materials could also be used, such as a resilient plastic,
wood, rubber, fiberglass, metal or a composite material, so long as
the merchandise display components have sufficient rigidity to
resist bending under the weight of the merchandise, and during
prolonged use. In particular, when in place, the skeletal structure
must be strong enough to support the weight of the merchandise
containers and must provide uninterrupted access to the merchandise
for loading or unloading. Thus, if the product containers to be
inserted into the merchandise display are heavy, more walls could
be used to support the shelves, or the shelves and walls could be
made of a strong material.
[0028] Other configurations of the merchandise display are
contemplated that would accommodate products of different sizes and
weights. Furthermore, as also mentioned above, the walls and shelf
components could have other cross-sectional shapes. In addition, a
portion of one or both tips or ends of these components could have
a reduced size to facilitate fitting the walls and/or shelves into
a cavity or slit provided in the housing so as to firmly seat the
skeletal structure therein.
[0029] If the merchandise display is to be loaded with heavy items,
such as shampoo containers or tomato sauce jars, and then shipped
to retail outlets, then the housing, walls and shelves used to
separate and display the products must also be designed to
withstand shipment of such heavy products when the product display
is laid on its back during shipment. Moreover, the walls and
shelves may be required to support the heavy products during
shipment without breakage to either the product containers or to
the walls and shelves themselves. Additional walls and/or shelves
could be supplied and located behind or underneath the heavy
products to act as a support during shipment, and to support the
items during display in some cases. Provision could be made in
housing so that such additional walls and/or shelves are centered
behind the products, and these additional components would be
inserted into the housing during assembly in the same manner
described above.
[0030] It should be understood that the merchandise display system
presented herein could be suitable for use by retailers,
wholesalers, manufacturers or any others requiring an easy to
assemble, inexpensive and durable merchandise display. Simple
assembly and low material costs are achieved by using a small
number of common or shared walls and interlocking shelves that
include a plurality of slits, and that may be inserted within a
standard size housing. Such a merchandise display system could be
used to display many different merchandise item combinations, and
made of any number of desired materials to match any budget and any
marketplace. In particular, any of the disclosed embodiments could
be made from a paper product such as corrugated board, durable
cardboard stock or a paper composite material, which can be
prepared so that it is easy to fold to form the generally
rectangular shape of the housing or the shapes of the wall and
shelf components. Use of such paper product materials lowers costs,
especially when compared to prior art product displays of this type
which typically used more costly materials that required special
tooling and longer assembly time. The factors considered when
choosing the material in which to fabricate a product display
system according to the invention include durability, retail life
span, product perception, retail environment and budget
constraints.
[0031] The merchandise displays described herein could also be made
of a durable plastic, a polymer material, or a rubberized material
which would potentially allow the product display to be reused many
times. If the same or even if different products are to be loaded
into such a reusable merchandise display, a co-packer or retail
store employee need only change any advertisements or other artwork
appearing on the merchandise display to make the merchandise
display appear to look like new again.
[0032] It should also be understood that the manufacturing
processes used to make the various components may include any of
vacuum forming a plastic material, die cutting a material, using
injection molding and all other types of molding to form a
component, heat bending, wood routing and other manufacturing
processes known to those skilled in the art. Such manufacturing
processes could be used alone or in any combination.
[0033] A number of embodiments of the invention have been
described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within
the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *