U.S. patent application number 12/567403 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-01 for retail store shelving structure.
This patent application is currently assigned to SHURTECH BRANDS, LLC. Invention is credited to Brian A. Vulpitta.
Application Number | 20100078401 12/567403 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42056269 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100078401 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vulpitta; Brian A. |
April 1, 2010 |
RETAIL STORE SHELVING STRUCTURE
Abstract
A retail store shelving structure adapted to be positioned
between a first aisle and a second aisle comprises vertical support
elements. At least one horizontal shelf is supported on the
vertical support elements. A first retail product display volume is
located between the vertical support elements for displaying a
first retail product. The first retail product display volume is
accessible from the first aisle and the second aisle. A second
retail product display volume is located between the vertical
support elements for displaying a second retail product. The second
retail product display volume is accessible from only one of the
first aisle and the second aisle.
Inventors: |
Vulpitta; Brian A.; (Avon
Lake, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FAY SHARPE / SHURTECH
1228 Euclid Avenue, 5th Floor, The Halle Building
Cleveland
OH
44115
US
|
Assignee: |
SHURTECH BRANDS, LLC
Avon
OH
|
Family ID: |
42056269 |
Appl. No.: |
12/567403 |
Filed: |
September 25, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61100301 |
Sep 26, 2008 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/153 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 5/0876 20130101;
A47F 5/0018 20130101; A47F 5/01 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/153 |
International
Class: |
A47F 5/00 20060101
A47F005/00 |
Claims
1. A retail store shelving structure adapted to be positioned
between a first aisle and a second aisle comprising: vertical
support elements; at least one horizontal shelf supported on the
vertical support elements; a first retail product display volume
located between the vertical support elements for displaying a
first retail product, the first retail product display volume being
accessible from the first aisle and the second aisle; and a second
retail product display volume located between the vertical support
elements for displaying a second retail product, the second retail
product display volume being accessible from only one of the first
aisle and the second aisle.
2. The retail shelving structure of claim 1, wherein the first
retail product display volume is substantially unobstructed between
the first aisle and the second aisle allowing the first retail
product to be removable from the first retail product display
volume from the first aisle and the second aisle.
3. The retail shelving structure of claim 1, wherein the first
retail product display volume is modular and includes at least one
divider for separating the first retail product display volume into
retail product sub-volumes, each sub-volume being accessible from
the first aisle and the second aisle.
4. The retail shelving structure of claim 1, further comprising a
third retail product display volume located between the vertical
support elements for displaying a third retail product, the third
retail product display volume being accessible from the first aisle
and the second aisle.
5. The retail shelving structure of claim 4, wherein the third
retail product display volume is substantially unobstructed between
the first aisle and the second aisle allowing the third retail
product to be removable from the third retail product display
volume from the first aisle and the second aisle.
6. The retail shelving structure of claim 4, further including a
partition for separating the first retail display product volume
from the third retail display product volume.
7. The retail shelving structure of claim 4, wherein the first
retail product display volume has a height which is about half a
height of retail store shelving structure and the third retail
product display volume has a height less than the height of the
first retail product display volume.
8. The retail shelving structure of claim 4, wherein the second
retail product display volume is located above both the first
retail display product volume and the third retail display product
volume.
9. A method of displaying consumer products between a first aisle
and a second aisle comprising: positioning a retail shelving store
structure between the first aisle and the second aisle, the retail
shelving store structure including a first retail product display
volume and a second retail product display volume; displaying a
first retail product in the first retail product display volume;
displaying a second retail product in the second retail product
display volume; providing substantially unobstructed access to the
first retail product from both the first aisle and the second
aisle; and providing access to the second retail product from only
one of the first aisle and the second aisle.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising selectively
compartmentalizing one of the first retail product display volume
and the second retail product display volume.
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a third
retail product display volume on the retail shelving store
structure, displaying a third retail product in the third retail
product display volume, and providing substantially unobstructed
access to the third retail product from both the first aisle and
the second aisle.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising positioning the
second retail product display volume above at least one of the
first retail product display volume and the third retail product
display volume.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising separating the first
retail product display volume from the third retail product display
volume via a partition.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying a fourth
retail product on a first end of the retail shelving store
structure.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising displaying fifth
retail product on a second end of the retail shelving store
structure.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising abutting a second
end of the retail shelving store structure to an end of an
associated second retail store shelving structure.
17. A retail store shelving structure adapted to be positioned
between a first aisle and a second aisle comprising: a base; first
and second vertical end walls connected to the base, one of the
first and second vertical end walls supporting a retail product
display structure; a transverse support element extending at least
partially between the first and second end walls; a first retail
product display volume at least partially defined by the base and
one of the first and second vertical end walls, the first retail
product volume being accessible from the first aisle and the second
aisle and being substantially unobstructed between the first aisle
and the second aisle; and a second retail product display volume at
least partially defined by the base, one of the first and second
vertical end walls and the transverse support element, the second
retail product display volume being accessible from only the first
aisle or the second aisle.
18. The retail shelving structure of claim 17, further comprising a
third retail product display volume at least partially defined by
the base and one of the first and second vertical end walls, the
third retail product volume being accessible from the first aisle
and the second aisle and being substantially unobstructed between
the first aisle and the second aisle, the third retail product
display volume being separated from the first retail product
display volume by a vertically extending partition.
19. The retail shelving structure of claim 18, wherein each
vertical end wall is generally perpendicular to the first and
second aisles and the transverse support element is generally
parallel to the first and second aisles.
20. The retail shelving structure of claim 17, wherein the other of
the first and second vertical end walls is configured to directly
abut an associated second retail store shelving structure.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority from U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/100,301 filed 26 Sep.
2008, which provisional patent application is expressly
incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Exemplary embodiments herein relate to shelving structures
used in retail stores. More particularly, the present application
relates to shelving structures adapted to be placed between two
aisles in a retail store for displaying various sized retail
products to consumers.
[0003] Many retail stores have become large, complicated places.
These large retails stores display a large number of retail
products for sale to consumers and are adapted to consumers
finding, selecting and physically taking products to a checkout
counter for purchase. Many large retail stores are configured as
groups of parallel aisles with adjacent aisles separated by product
displays. The product displays are often on "gondolas" which
consist of large racks having a central wall and shelves on both
sides of the central wall displaying products at various heights.
Some products are displayed on shelves. Some products are displayed
on pins extending from peg boards on the central wall. This permits
a consumer to walk down an aisle with a cart and examine products
presented to the consumer. Gondolas are to the left and to the
right as the consumer shops. In many situations, this is an
efficient method of presenting many retail products to the consumer
in a visually appealing way.
[0004] End cap displays are also sometimes used in retail stores.
An end cap is a presentation of retail products on a wall at the
end of a gondola between two adjacent aisles. End caps can consist
of a bin containing bulk products, and/or can consist of stacked
products and/or can consist of pins and pegs holding products and
supported on the end wall of the gondola. Other configurations of
end caps are also available. The configurations described above are
often seen in portions of general merchandise stores and also in
portions of supermarkets.
[0005] One area in which the above-described product display
structures are used is for mailing, packaging and moving products.
Some stores will display envelopes, labeling products, packaging
materials, wrapping materials, some tape products, disassembled
boxes and other mailing, packaging and moving products in a single
aisle on one side on the shelves of a gondola. Many gondolas
support shelves are two feet deep on one side and two feet deep on
the other side. For most products this is sufficient depth. For
instance, tape products can be displayed this way as can labels. A
box (as a product, not a container), even a box longer than two
feet, can be stood on its edge with its largest dimensions
vertically disposed. However, this may take up several shelves and
therefore occupy a large area of the gondola. This also limits the
number of product types and the number of units within a product
type that can be displayed and presented for sale.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0006] In accordance with one aspect, a retail store shelving
structure adapted to be positioned between a first aisle and a
second aisle comprises vertical support elements. At least one
horizontal shelf is supported on the vertical support elements. A
first retail product display volume is located between the vertical
support elements for displaying a first retail product. The first
retail product display volume is accessible from the first aisle
and the second aisle. A second retail product display volume is
located between the vertical support elements for displaying a
second retail product. The second retail product display volume is
accessible from only one of the first aisle and the second
aisle.
[0007] In accordance with another aspect, a method of displaying
consumer products between a first aisle and a second aisle is
provided. A retail shelving store structure is positioned between
the first aisle and the second aisle. The retail shelving store
structure includes a first retail product display volume and a
second retail product display volume. A first retail product is
displayed in the first retail product display volume. A second
retail product is displayed in the second retail product display
volume. Substantially unobstructed access is provided to the first
retail product from both the first aisle and the second aisle while
access to the second retail product is provided from only one of
the first aisle and the second aisle.
[0008] In accordance with yet another aspect, a retail store
shelving structure adapted to be positioned between a first aisle
and a second aisle comprises a base and first and second vertical
end walls connected to the base. One of the first and second
vertical end walls supports a retail product display structure. A
transverse support element extends at least partially between the
first and second end walls. A first retail product display volume
is at least partially defined by the base and one of the first and
second vertical end walls. The first retail product volume is
accessible from the first aisle and the second aisle and is
substantially unobstructed between the first aisle and the second
aisle. A second retail product display volume is at least partially
defined by the base, one of the first and second vertical end walls
and the transverse support element. The second retail product
display volume is accessible from only the first aisle or the
second aisle.
[0009] In accordance with still yet another aspect, a retail store
shelving structure adapted to be positioned between a first aisle
and a second aisle has vertical support elements which support
horizontal shelves and define two types of display volumes. A first
display volume type is accessible from both the first aisle and the
second aisle, that is, allowing the positioning of products and
access to products completely through the gondola. A second retail
product display volume is accessible from only the first aisle or
only the second aisle. The second retail product display volume is
bounded on one side by a generally vertical element parallel to the
aisles separating adjacent product volumes so that they are
accessible from only one aisle or the other. The retail store
shelving structure has a vertical end wall generally perpendicular
to the two aisles and the end wall supports retail product display
structures facing outwardly at the end of the two aisles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retail store shelving
structure according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the
retail store shelving structure having exemplary retail products
stored thereon;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the retail store shelving
structure of FIG. 1 with some of the exemplary retail products
being removed;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective of a retail store shelving structure
according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the retail
store shelving structure having exemplary retail products stored
thereon; and
[0013] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of retail store including the
retail store shelving structures of FIGS. 1 and 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] It should, of course, be understood that the description and
drawings herein are merely illustrative and that various
modifications and changes can be made in the structures disclosed
without departing from the present disclosure. Referring now to the
drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the
several views, FIGS. 1 and 2 depict an exemplary first retail store
shelving structure 10. The first retail store shelving structure 10
includes a base 12, a first vertical end wall 14 and a second
vertical end wall 16 connected to the base, and a top 18. The
vertical end walls 14, 16 may support the top 18 and can provide
structure to the entire first retail store shelving structure 10.
Alternatively, an internal frame can provide the structure for the
first retail store shelving structure 10 and supports the vertical
walls 14, 16 and top 18. For example, a transverse support element
20 can extend at least partially between the first and second end
walls 14, 16. In a typical retail store environment (see FIG. 4),
each vertical end wall 14, 16 is generally perpendicular to first
and second aisles A, B. The transverse support element 20 is
generally parallel to the first and second aisles.
[0015] As shown in FIG. 4, the first retail store shelving
structure 10 is configured for "island" presentation. An island
presentation is created by isolating the first store shelving
structure 10 from adjacent store shelving structures thereby
opening the vertical end walls 14, 16 for the presentation of
additional retail products in an end cap fashion. In the depicted
exemplary embodiment of the first retail store shelving structure
10, the vertical end walls 14, 16 are presented with racks allowing
the placement of smaller retail products, such as, for example,
rolls of packaging material including wrapping paper 22 and
envelopes 24. Prepared labels 26 may also be presented.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, larger retail products are presented on
aisle facing sides 28, 30 of the first retail store shelving
structure 10. In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the larger
retail products are large boxes 32 in a flat state. The large boxes
32 are presented in the lower region of the aisle facing side 28.
The large boxes are frequently sold in the flat state for erection
by the purchaser. This is because erected boxes are inconvenient to
store on a shelving structure and transport by a customer. The
large boxes 32 are displayed on edge with their large face
perpendicular to the aisle facing side 28 and parallel to the
vertical end walls 14, 16. This is possible because a first retail
product display volume 34 in which the large boxes 32 are located
penetrates the entire depth of the first retail store shelving
structure 10. A height of the first retail product display volume
34 is about half a height of retail store shelving structure 10. As
shown in FIG. 2, the first retail product display volume 34 is open
and accessible to consumers on both the aisle facing sides 28, 30
of the first retail store shelving structure 10. Large boxes having
one or two face dimensions in excess of about two feet can be
displayed on edge thereby saving considerable presentation area on
each aisle facing side. Thus, substantially unobstructed access is
provided to the retail product from both the first aisle A and the
second aisle B allowing the retail product to be removable from the
first retail product display volume 34 from the first aisle and the
second aisle (FIG. 4).
[0017] The large boxes 32 are accessible to the consumer and their
approximate size is apparent from the edge facing the consumer.
Thus, a presentation of these box products to consumers occupying a
very small percentage of conventional presentations (flat side
facing the aisle) is made possible. The first retail product
display volume 34 can be selectively compartmentalized so that
additional boxes of varying sizes can be stocked in a given aisle
facing side. Consumers can be given more choices. Because of this,
sales per linear foot of aisle facing can be increased. Retail
efficiency is supported.
[0018] This is true not only for boxes but for other large retail
products. Again, referring to FIG. 1, to the left of the boxes 32,
large rolls of cushioning material 40, for example, can be
presented on the base 12 in another retail product display volume
42. The retail product display volume 42 has a height less than the
height of the retail product display volume 34. The large rolls of
cushioning material, while not as long as the boxes 32, do consume
an excessive amount of shelf frontage for the value of the product.
Moreover, the rolls of cushioning material are deep. By displaying
them in the retail product display volume 42, which is
substantially unobstructed from one aisle facing side 28 of the
first retail store shelving structure 10 to the other aisle facing
side 30 of the retail store shelving product, increased volume and
more efficiently usable volume is presented.
[0019] Known retail store shelving structures are about four feet
in depth. In many prior art retail store shelving structures, a
vertical wall extends down the center line of the store shelving
structure thus creating product presentation areas of about two
feet deep for each aisle facing side. For a roll of cushioning
material 40 having a fourteen inch or greater diameter, only a
single layer of product can be presented. In the exemplary retail
store shelving structure 10, the vertical wall (for example, the
transverse support element 20) at the center line does not extend
the entire height of the retail store shelving structure. As shown
in FIG. 2, an end of the transverse support element 20 is spaced
from the base 12. Rolls of cushioning material 40 can be packed
more tightly and nestled together to take advantage of the voids
between adjacent items in a row resulting in increased numbers of
units available per shelving aisle facing area. Directly above the
large rolls of cushioning material 40, smaller retail products,
such as, for example, smaller rolls of cushioning material 46, are
presented to consumers on wire racks 48.
[0020] A vertical wall 50 parallel to the first vertical end wall
14 and the second vertical end wall 16 is positioned intermediate
the first vertical end wall and the second vertical end wall. In
the depicted embodiment, the vertical wall 50 is centrally
positioned between the first and second vertical end walls 14, 16;
although, this is not required. The vertical wall 50 can provide
support, strength and stability to the first retail store shelving
structure 10. The wire racks 48 are conveniently only about two
feet deep. This presents a retail product display volume 52
different from the full depth retail product display volumes 34,
42. The wire racks 48 can be mounted between the second vertical
wall 16 and the vertical wall 50. Alternatively, the wire racks can
be mounted to the transverse support element 20. In this
embodiment, the retail product display volume 52 can be at least
partially defined by the base 12, one of the first and second
vertical end walls 14, 16 and the transverse support element 20.
The retail product display volume 52 is accessible from only the
first aisle A or the second aisle B. Because the retail product
display volume 52 is only about two feet deep, a second display
volume displaying the same or different retail products in the same
or different configurations can be mounted on the other aisle
facing side of the first retail store shelving structure 10. Again,
flexibility and retailing efficiency is supported.
[0021] In the depicted exemplary embodiment, an array of retail
products, such as, for example, tape products 54, is displayed
above the cushioning material 46. The tape products 54 are
relatively small and can be advantageously displayed in a retail
product display volume 56 which is only about two feet deep.
Similar to the wire racks 48, the wire racks 58 upon which the tape
products 54 are displayed are easily supported from the second
vertical wall 16 and the central vertical wall 50. Alternatively,
the wire racks may be mounted upon the transverse support element
20 of the retail store shelving structure 10. Further
alternatively, a separate central wall segment may be mounted
between the second vertical wall 16 and the vertical wall 50
parallel to the each aisle facing side 28, 30. Wire racks 58 may
then be projected from this central wall.
[0022] Adjacent the array of tape products 54 and above the large
boxes 32, other smaller retail packaging products, such as, for
example, moving and mailing products 62 including wrapping film,
smaller boxes and the like, are displayed. These products 62 are
shown displayed on horizontal shelves, and in display boxes;
although, this is not required. Because these products are smaller,
the horizontal shelves and display boxes are mounted in a retail
product display volume 64 which is only about two feet deep. This
allows display of separate products in a display volume which is
about two feet deep on the opposite aisle facing side of the retail
store shelving structure 10.
[0023] In the island embodiment seen in FIG. 1, the outwardly
facing surface of the first vertical end wall 14 is available for
product display. Similarly, the outwardly facing surface of the
second vertical end wall 16 is available for product display. Thus,
the "facing area" is presented to the consumer.
[0024] The product display structures and volumes described above
with respect to the exemplary first retail store shelving structure
10 are modular and modifiable by the retailer. Thus, the first
retail product display volume 34 displaying larger boxes is shown
as broken up into four sub-volumes by two vertical partitions 66,
68 and a shelf 72 between the vertical partitions 66, 68. Each
sub-volume is accessible from the first aisle A and the second
aisle B. This allows a neat, organized presentation of boxes and
wrapping paper as seen. However, these partitions and shelves can
be removed and replaced with other arrangements to support
different products requiring a product display volume of about four
foot deep. Additionally, the vertical partitions, 66, 68 and the
shelf 72 can be removed and replaced with structures supporting
display volumes separate from one another on each outwardly aisle
facing side 28, 30 of the store shelving unit, each such volume
being about two feet deep.
[0025] With reference to FIG. 3, an exemplary second retail store
shelving structure 80 is depicted. Similar to the first retail
store shelving structure 10, the second retail store shelving
structure 80 comprises a base 82, a first vertical end wall 84, a
second vertical end wall 86 and a top 88. However, the second
vertical end wall 86 does not have any product display means on its
outer surface. Rather, the outer surface of the second vertical end
wall 86 is planar. As shown in FIG. 4, in a typical retail store
environment, the second vertical end wall 86 would be directly
abutting another second retail store shelving structure 80' and a
conventional shelving structure SH as a part of a longer aisle. In
the exemplary second retail store shelving structure 80, the first
vertical end wall 84 can be provided with a rack allowing product
presentation in an end cap type array. Alternatively, the first
vertical end wall 84 can be identical to the second vertical wall
86 allowing the second retail store shelving structure 80 to be
placed in the middle of an array of store shelving structures
facing two aisles but not having end caps.
[0026] Additionally, as depicted, the second retail store shelving
structure 80 does not have a central vertical wall which extends
between the end walls and the base and top. With such a
configuration, retail product display volumes, which are about two
feet deep and about four feet deep, are created by structures
mounted on an internal structure of the shelving structure 80
and/or the vertical end walls 84, 86. Thus, a display volume 90 of
about four feet deep for, for example, large boxes 92 penetrates
through the entire depth of the store shelving structure 80 and is
bounded by partitions 94, 96. An additional display volume 98 of
about four feet deep for, for example, cushioning material 100 is
provided between the partition 94 and the second vertical wall 86.
Directly above the display volume 98, wire racks 102 can be
provided to create a display volume 104 of about two feet deep for
smaller products, such as smaller rolls of cushioning material 106.
The display volume 104 may optionally have a wall at its rear or
may not have a wall at its rear. Without a wall at its rear, the
display volume is defined by the wire racks alone.
[0027] In the second retail store shelving structure 80, the entire
top half can be made up display volumes 110 of about two feet deep
presenting smaller products for sale on wire racks or horizontal
shelving or the like. The opposite face of the second retail store
shelving structure 80 may have similar or different two feet deep
display volume as is desired by the retailer. The top 88 of the
retail store shelving structure 80 has a vertically outwardly
facing surface conveniently used for point of purchase promotional
and explanatory materials.
[0028] A exemplary method of displaying consumer products between a
first aisle A and a second aisle B of a retail store is provided. A
retail shelving store structure 10, 80 is positioned between the
first aisle A and the second aisle B. The retail shelving store
structure includes a first retail product display volume 34, 90 and
a second retail product display volume 52, 56, 64, 104. A first
retail product 32, 92 is displayed in the first retail product
display volume. A second retail product 46, 54, 62, 106 is
displayed in the second retail product display volume.
Substantially unobstructed access is provided to the first retail
product from both the first aisle and the second aisle while access
to the second retail product is provided from only one of the first
aisle and the second aisle. One of the first retail product display
volume and the second retail product display volume can be
selectively compartmentalized.
[0029] The exemplary method further comprises providing a third
retail product display volume 42, 98 on the retail shelving store
structure. A third retail product 40, 100 is displayed in the third
retail product display volume. Substantially unobstructed access is
provided to the third retail product from both the first aisle and
the second aisle. The second retail product display volume is
positioned above at least one of the first retail product display
volume and the third retail product display volume. The first
retail product display volume is separated from the third retail
product display volume via a partition 50, 94.
[0030] The exemplary method further comprises displaying a fourth
retail product on a first end 14, 86 of the retail shelving store
structure 10, 80 and displaying fifth retail product on a second
end 16 of the retail shelving store structure 10. Alternatively, a
second end 84 of the retail shelving store structure 80 abuts to an
end of another second retail store shelving structure.
[0031] Aisle facing presentations in retail stores is an expensive
commodity. Even in very large general merchandising stores, there
is a limited amount of surfaces where one can present products to
consumers. Retailers must use this valuable resource efficiently.
The exemplary first and second retail storage shelving structures
10, 80 provide for increased efficiency in the use of shelf facing
of an array of large and small related products in the retail
environment. Heretofore, a two feet depth limitation limited the
efficiency of mixed size product presentation and large size
product presentation in the retail environment. As is evident from
the foregoing, the present invention provides increased efficiency
of presentation and flexibility of presentation thereby providing
increased efficiency in use of shelf facing area and shelf volume.
The exemplary first and second retail storage shelving structures
10, 80 efficiently display both large and small products having
differing depths for sale at retail. The exemplary first and second
retail storage shelving structures 10, 80 provide for adjacent
single aisle facing product display volumes and for full depth
(aisle to aisle) product display volume to accommodate larger or
deeper products thereby providing increased shelving efficiency in
the retail environment.
[0032] It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed
and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be
desirably combined into many other different systems or
applications. For example, it should be appreciated that the
mailing and moving retail products depicted in the drawing were
only examples of the various retail products that can be displayed
on the retail storing shelving structures. Also that various
presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications,
variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by
those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed
by the following claims.
* * * * *