U.S. patent application number 12/868047 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-01 for shelf display device.
This patent application is currently assigned to DIAGEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.. Invention is credited to Charles Babboni, George C. Cox, John Farinola, James R. Green.
Application Number | 20120048817 12/868047 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45695742 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120048817 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Green; James R. ; et
al. |
March 1, 2012 |
SHELF DISPLAY DEVICE
Abstract
A shelf display device including a base in the form of a mat
(11) with a hinged panel (13) attachable thereto. Hinged panel is
biased by a spring (17) such that product (such as glass bottles B)
can be pulled or pushed over said hinged panel which displays
product/price information.
Inventors: |
Green; James R.; (Stamford,
CT) ; Cox; George C.; (Hamburg, PA) ;
Farinola; John; (Monroe Township, NJ) ; Babboni;
Charles; (Roseland, NJ) |
Assignee: |
DIAGEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Norwalk
CT
|
Family ID: |
45695742 |
Appl. No.: |
12/868047 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/59.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 5/0068
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/59.3 |
International
Class: |
A47B 73/00 20060101
A47B073/00 |
Claims
1. A shelf display device including a base with a hinged panel
extending therefrom.
2. The shelf display device of claim 1 wherein the hinged panel is
spring-biased.
3. The shelf display device of claim 2 wherein the spring-bias is
in both (forwards and backwards) directions.
4. The shelf display device of claim 1 wherein the base is a mat
and the hinged panel includes a connector element for mating with a
front edge of the mat.
5. The shelf display device of claim 1 wherein there are multiple
hinged panels.
6. The shelf display device of claim 1 wherein the base is a mat
that includes perforations such that it can be customised to a
shelf width or available product space in situ.
7. The shelf display device of claim 6 wherein the mat includes
holes on its surface for receiving fasteners to be affixed with a
metal s.
8. A method of displaying products using a shelf display device
including a base mat with a hinged panel at an edge thereof,
wherein the mat is placed on a shelf such that the hinged panel is
located at the forward edge of said shelf and product is stocked
behind the hinged panel.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a shelf display device,
e.g. as used in the retail of bottled beverages.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Supermarket shelves and the like are usually constructed
from sheet metal mounted on a frame with provision for adjusting
the height between shelves, dependent on the items being
accommodated for display. It is also common for each shelf to have
a receiving channel that can hold a clip-in plastic device that
displays price information etc. Such a device has been known to be
configured to hold more substantial information, such as a pamphlet
with promotional material.
[0003] A problem noted with conventional display shelves is that,
when a bottle is pulled by a shopper over the clip-in plastic
device, it can be popped out of the channel. The fallen display
device then needs to be put back into place by retail staff. A
similar problem is experienced when shelves are stocked in the
first place, particularly if there is not a great deal of clearance
between the product and the shelf above, i.e. the display tag
becomes an obstruction.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present invention seeks to address these problems and/or
provide a display device that can be used with available shelf
systems in a retail outlet.
[0005] In one broad aspect of the invention there is provided a
shelf display device including a base with a hinged panel extending
therefrom.
[0006] In use, the base is a mat placed on a shelf such that the
hinged panel is located at the forward edge of said shelf. The base
mat may be fixed via suitable fasteners/adhesives or held in place
by the weight of product stocked thereon, e.g. a glass bottle of
alcoholic beverage.
[0007] Preferably, the hinged panel is spring-biased, preferably in
both (forwards and backwards) directions, such that when product is
pulled or pushed over said panel it automatically returns to its
display/rest position.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment there are multiple panels, e.g.
approximately the same width as product (a beverage bottle),
arranged on the mat.
[0009] Preferably the mat includes perforations such that it can be
customised to a shelf width or available product space in situ.
[0010] Preferably, the base mat includes holes (preferably
perforated for removal in situ) on its surface for receiving
fasteners to be affixed with a metal shelf.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 shows an overview of a shelf display device according
to the invention with multiple products (glass bottles) in
place.
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a frontal view of a shelf display device
according to the invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a further frontal view.
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a frontal exploded view of components of
the hinged panel according to the invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a rear exploded view of components of the
hinged panel.
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates a frontal view showing hinged panels in
three respective positions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] As illustrated, the shelf display device 10 according to the
invention comprises a base mat 11 with a front edge ridge 12 that
is able to locate thereon a hinged panel 13. In the preferred
embodiment illustrated, panel 13 is primarily constructed of a
connector or clip element 14 to which is hingedly attached a face
element 15 in a conventional hinged arrangement, e.g. a single
pivot axis X defined by spaced spigots in the clip element 14 which
are received by corresponding holes in the face element 15.
[0018] The clip element 14 connects to the edge ridge 12 of base
mat 11 by clipping into place in an interference fit.
Alternatively, the face element 15 could be attached for hinged
movement directly to a suitable molding in the base mat 11 or the
connector element 14 could be slidably engaged with a front edge of
the base mat in some other way.
[0019] In a yet further embodiment the connector element 14 with
hinged face panel 15 could clip/attach directly to a shelf in a
supermarket (provided with an edge ridge or otherwise attached by
fasteners/adhesives).
[0020] As seen in FIG. 2, the base mat 11 includes a perforation 16
to enable its length to be broken into a shorter piece, such that
the size of the device can be tailored to available shelf space. By
way of example such perforations may be provided at foot long
intervals or any appropriate dimension.
[0021] Preferably each mat unit 11 includes a dovetail 24 to enable
multiple mats to be joined together.
[0022] Also visible in FIG. 2 is a keyhole perforation 22 to
receive a fastener such as a push pin or screw that can join the
mat 11 to a wooden or metal shelf underneath.
[0023] Multiple hinged panels 13 can be located adjacent one
another as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6. Preferably the width of
a panel 13 will correspond somewhat to the product being displayed
as in FIG. 6 where bottles B are removed/replaced from/to a shelf;
however, as in FIG. 1, the width of hinged panels may be twice the
width of a product or more. In the preferred form the hinged panel
should be sized to accommodate a 750 mL, 1000 mL, 1125 mL or 1750
mL glass bottle. Likewise, the depth of mat 11 is sized to
accommodate the intended product, e.g. three or four bottles
deep.
[0024] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate detail of the hinged panel 13;
specifically showing a resilient element in the form of an L-shaped
spring 17 which is received at one end by two holes in a molded
part 18 of the connector element 14. The loop end of spring 17 is
received by a slot 19 in the rear side of face element 15. When
assembled, spring 17 provides a bias in both directions such that
the hinged panel will return to an upright rest position R shown in
FIGS. 3 and 6. It is intended that when a bottle B is pulled from
the shelf, hinged panel 13 is able to move forward (position F)
and, when a bottle B is restored to a shelf, hinged panel 13 is
able to move backward (position B) if necessary.
[0025] Also in FIGS. 4 and 5, a snap-fit holder element 20 is
provided that mates with suitable flanges 21 in the rear side of
face element 15. This results in a compartment that can hold
promotional literature (e.g. a take-away pamphlet, cocktail recipe
cards) in addition to the front of face element 15 that may display
pricing and basic product information. Preferably, the movement of
hinged panel 13 is limited (e.g. by a stop element or maximum
extension of spring 17) to prevent promotional matter from falling
out but also, in the illustrated embodiment, a spring paper clip 23
in the surface of holder element 20 can be provided to secure items
within the compartment.
[0026] By the nature of front ridge 12 and connector element 14 it
will be appreciated that the hinged panel 13 can slide to any
position on the base mat 11 to allow for any number of face panels
and configurations.
[0027] The hinged panel 13 allows the customer to remove product
without having to lift the bottle up and over the door, and also
allows for easy restocking of the shelf by the store associates and
shelf stackers.
[0028] The display device of the present invention can be molded
from suitable plastics components as illustrated, however, other
forms are possible within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *