U.S. patent application number 14/058796 was filed with the patent office on 2015-04-23 for mechandising system and method of use.
This patent application is currently assigned to Display Technologies, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Display Technologies, Inc.. Invention is credited to Matthew Pichel.
Application Number | 20150108074 14/058796 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51786828 |
Filed Date | 2015-04-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150108074 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pichel; Matthew |
April 23, 2015 |
MECHANDISING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE
Abstract
A merchandising system for a displaying a plurality of products
is disclosed. The system includes a base and a proximal member. The
base includes a product-supporting surface which defines a
longitudinal axis. The proximal member is disposed in mechanical
cooperation with a proximal portion of the base. The proximal
member includes an arcuate portion extending between a first
lateral side and a second lateral side of the proximal member. The
proximal member includes a scalloped portion extending from an
upper portion of the proximal member toward a lower portion of the
proximal member.
Inventors: |
Pichel; Matthew; (Englewood,
NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Display Technologies, Inc. |
Lake Success |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Display Technologies, Inc.
Lake Success
NY
|
Family ID: |
51786828 |
Appl. No.: |
14/058796 |
Filed: |
October 21, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/59.3 ;
211/59.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 1/126 20130101;
A47F 1/125 20130101; A47F 5/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/59.3 ;
211/59.4 |
International
Class: |
A47F 5/00 20060101
A47F005/00; A47F 1/12 20060101 A47F001/12 |
Claims
1. A merchandising system for a displaying a plurality of products,
the system comprising: a base including a product-supporting
surface, the product-supporting surface of the base defining a
longitudinal axis; and a proximal member disposed in mechanical
cooperation with a proximal portion of the base, the proximal
member including an arcuate portion extending between a first
lateral side and a second lateral side of proximal member, and a
scalloped portion extending from an upper portion of the proximal
member toward a lower portion of the proximal member.
2. The merchandising system of claim 1, further including a pusher
assembly, the pusher assembly including a pusher member disposed in
mechanical cooperation with the base and being configured to urge
products on the base toward the proximal portion of the base.
3. The merchandising system of claim 1, wherein the proximal member
further includes a cutout extending therethrough, the cutout being
fully enclosed by the remainder of the proximal member.
4. The merchandising system of claim 3, wherein the cutout is
between about 30% and about 70% of the size of the entire proximal
member.
5. The merchandising system of claim 3, wherein a height of a
center of the cutout as measured from the product-supporting
surface of the base is between about 0.5 inches and about 2.5
inches.
6. The merchandising system of claim 1, wherein the arcuate portion
of the proximal member defines a radius of curvature of between
about 2 inches and about 4 inches.
7. The merchandising system of claim 1, wherein a height of a
bottom of the scalloped portion as measured from the
product-supporting surface of the base is between about 1.5 inches
and about 6 inches.
8. The merchandising system of claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of products positioned on the base, wherein each product
has a height of between about 3 inches and about 9 inches, and
wherein each product has a center of gravity of between about 1.5
inches and about 5 inches.
9. The merchandising system of claim 8, wherein the center of
gravity of the product is lower than a midpoint of the height of
the product.
10. A method of stocking a merchandising system, the method
comprising: providing a merchandising system including a base and a
proximal member disposed in mechanical cooperation with a proximal
portion of the base, the proximal member including an arcuate
portion extending between a first lateral side and a second lateral
side of the proximal member, a scalloped portion extending from an
upper portion of the proximal member toward a lower portion of the
proximal member, and a cutout extending through the proximal
member; and positioning a first product in contact with the
proximal member; contacting the first product through the cutout in
the proximal member; pushing the first product distally along a
portion of the base; and inserting a second product proximally of
the first product.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising urging the products
on the base toward the proximal portion of the base with a pusher
assembly.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a merchandising
system for displaying products on a shelf. More particularly, the
present disclosure relates to a merchandising system and method for
storing and/or displaying products to provide for the
space-efficient presentation of groups of products within a given
or fixed display area, and/or allowing for convenient and orderly
presentation, dispensing, stocking, and storage of products.
[0002] Various types of product merchandisers are commonly used in
retail environments to display different types of products. As
opposed to simply positioning products on shelves, product displays
are commonly used to position products on a shelf in manner which
automatically advances (e.g., via gravity or a pusher) a trailing
or distal product (i.e., a product that is behind a lead or
proximal-most product) closer to a consumer once the lead product
has been removed from the shelf. As can be appreciated, such
product displays facilitate the arrangement and upkeep of products,
as the trailing products do not have to be manually moved toward
the front of the shelf, for instance.
SUMMARY
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a merchandising system for
a displaying a plurality of products. The system includes a base
and a proximal member. The base includes a product-supporting
surface which defines a longitudinal axis. The proximal member is
disposed in mechanical cooperation with a proximal portion of the
base. The proximal member includes an arcuate portion extending
between a first lateral side and a second lateral side of the
proximal member. The proximal member includes a scalloped portion
extending from an upper portion of the proximal member toward a
lower portion of the proximal member.
[0004] In disclosed embodiments, the merchandising system further
includes a pusher assembly disposed in mechanical cooperation with
the base. The pusher assembly is configured to urge products on the
base toward the proximal portion of the base.
[0005] In disclosed embodiments, the proximal member further
includes a cutout extending therethrough. The cutout is fully
enclosed by the remainder of the proximal member. Here, it is
disclosed that the cutout is between about 30% and about 70% of the
size of the entire proximal member. It is further disclosed that a
height of a center of the cutout, as measured from the
product-supporting surface of the base is between about 0.5 inches
and about 3.5 inches.
[0006] In disclosed embodiments, the arcuate portion of the
proximal member defines a radius of curvature of between about 2
inches and about 4 inches.
[0007] In disclosed embodiments, a height of a bottom of the
scalloped portion as measured from the product-supporting surface
of the base is between about 1.5 inches and about 6 inches.
[0008] In disclosed embodiments, the merchandising system further
includes a plurality of products positioned on the base. Each
product has a height of between about 3 inches and about 9 inches,
and wherein each product has a center of gravity of between about
1.5 inches and about 5 inches. Here, it is disclosed that the
center of gravity of the product is lower than a midpoint of the
height of the product.
[0009] The present disclosure also relates to a method of stocking
a merchandising system. The method comprises providing a
merchandising system including a base and a proximal member
disposed in mechanical cooperation with a proximal portion of the
base. The proximal member includes an arcuate portion extending
between a first lateral side and a second lateral side of the
proximal member, a scalloped portion extending from an upper
portion of the proximal member toward a lower portion of the
proximal member, and a cutout extending through the proximal
member. The method also includes positioning a first product in
contact with the proximal member, contacting the first product
through the cutout in the proximal member, pushing the first
product distally along a portion of the base, and inserting a
second product proximally of the first product.
[0010] In disclosed embodiments, the method further comprises
urging the products on the base toward the proximal portion of the
base with a pusher assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described
hereinbelow with reference to the drawings wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a merchandising system for
displaying items on a shelf according to embodiments of the present
disclosure, the merchandising system is illustrated including three
guide assemblies with each guide assembly including one product
thereon;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the merchandising system of
FIG. 1 including a plurality of products on each guide
assembly;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the merchandising system of
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrated with no products thereon;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a top view of the merchandising system of the
present disclosure including three guide assemblies;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a single guide assembly of
the merchandising system of the present disclosure;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view with parts separated of the
merchandising system of the present disclosure including three
guide assemblies;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a side view of one guide assembly of the
merchandising system of the present disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a rear, perspective view of one guide assembly of
the merchandising system of the present disclosure, wherein one
lateral guide is omitted for clarity;
[0020] FIGS. 9-11 are various views of a proximal member of a guide
assembly of the merchandising system of the present disclosure;
[0021] FIGS. 12-14 are various views of a pusher member of a guide
assembly of the merchandising system of the present disclosure;
and
[0022] FIG. 15 is a rear-looking cut-away view of a guide assembly
of the merchandising system of the present disclosure.
DESCRIPTION
[0023] Embodiments of the presently disclosed merchandising system
are described in detail with reference to the drawings wherein like
numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of
the several views. As is common in the art, the term "proximal"
refers to that part or component closer to the user, e.g.,
customer, while the term "distal" refers to that part or component
farther away from the user.
[0024] Generally, with particular reference to FIGS. 1-3, a
merchandising system 10 is disclosed that includes a plurality of
guide assemblies 100. In the illustrated embodiments, each guide
assembly 100 includes a base 200, a pusher assembly 300, two
lateral guides 400 (or shared lateral guides 400 with an adjacent
guide assembly 100), and a proximal member 500. While the
illustrated embodiments show each guide assembly 100 configured for
merchandising one row of products "P," it is envisioned and within
the scope of the present disclosure that each guide assembly 100 is
configured for merchandising more than one row of products.
[0025] One merchandising system 10 includes a plurality guide
assemblies 100. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and 6,
merchandising system 10 includes three guide assemblies 100. In
disclosed embodiments, merchandising system 10 includes any number
of guide assemblies 100. As can be appreciated, several
merchandising systems 10 are able to be positioned adjacent one
another on a shelf.
[0026] The base 200, which is designed to be placed on a horizontal
or inclined store shelf (or to be secured to a gondola), is
configured to support a plurality of products "P" thereon. In the
illustrated embodiments, base 200 is shown with a particular type
of product "P" having packaging that includes a pouch (e.g., salad
dressing, beverages, soups, condiments, packaged meat, etc.).
Generally, the center of gravity of such products are significantly
below the midpoint of the height, thus making the products
bottom-heavy. For example, it is envisioned that the products "P"
illustrated herein have a height "hP" of between about 4 inches and
about 12 inches (e.g., approximately 10 inches), and have a center
of gravity "cgP" of between about 1.5 inches and about 6 inches
(e.g., approximately 3.5 inches) from its bottom surface (see FIG.
2). However, while a certain type of product is shown,
merchandising system 10 can be used to support other types of
products.
[0027] The pusher assembly 300 is configured to urge product(s) "P"
on the base 200 toward proximal member 500. The lateral guides 400
are disposed in mechanical cooperation with base 200 (e.g., are
integrally formed therewith, connectable thereto, etc.) and help
maintain the products "P" on the base 200. A distal wall 201
extends upward from base 200 and is also configured to help
maintain the products "P" on the base 200. The proximal member 500
is disposed in mechanical cooperation (e.g., via a snap-fit
connection) with a proximal portion 202 of base 200 and is
configured to resist the proximal force enacted by pusher assembly
300 and to help maintain the products "P" on the base 200.
[0028] With reference to FIG. 8, the base 200 includes a
product-supporting surface 210 and a track 250. The
product-supporting surface 210 defines a longitudinal axis A-A and
is configured to support products thereon. The track 250 extends at
least partially along product-supporting surface 210 and is
configured to guide a pusher member 310 of pusher assembly 300.
[0029] With reference to FIGS. 6, 8 and 12-14, the pusher assembly
300 includes pusher member 310 and a biasing member 360 (e.g., a
coiled spring). Pusher assembly 300 is configured to bias products
"P" on base 200 in a proximal direction. With particular reference
to FIGS. 12-14, pusher member 310 includes a base member 320 and a
substantially vertical member 330. In the illustrated embodiment,
the vertical member 330 has an arcuate shape as viewed from above
(e.g., to correspond to the contour of a distal face of the product
"P" positioned thereagainst), but it is envisioned that vertical
member 330 includes a planar shape or another type of shape. In the
illustrated embodiment, an upper portion 312 of vertical member 330
also includes an arcuate shape, but it is envisioned that upper
portion 312 includes a planar shape or another type of shape.
[0030] Base member 320 includes rails 322 positioned on each
lateral side which are configured to engage track 250 of base 200
(see FIG. 8). Base member 320 also includes a slot 324 which is
configured to allow a portion of biasing member 360 to pass through
and/or be secured to. A proximal portion 362 of biasing member 360
is disposed in mechanical cooperation with a proximal portion of
base 200 and/or with proximal member 500 (see FIG. 6). Pusher
member 310 is configured to longitudinally slide with respect to
the product-supporting surface 210 of the base 200. A coiled
portion of biasing member 360 is positioned in mechanical
cooperation with base member 320 and distally of vertical member
330 (see FIG. 8, for example).
[0031] Referring now to FIGS. 4-10, further details of proximal
member 500 are shown. Proximal member 500 includes a contoured
surface 510 (when viewed from the top; see FIGS. 4 and 11), and a
scalloped portion 520 (when viewed from the front; see FIGS. 5 and
9). Contoured surface 510 is curved with respect to an axis B-B
(FIG. 11) that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A, and
extends between a first lateral side 512 and a second lateral side
514 of proximal member 500. Contoured surface 510 is designed to
mimic or substantially mimic the curvature of the product "P" that
is positioned thereagainst. Additionally, contoured surface 510 is
configured to reduce the possibility of products "P" folding over
proximal member 500 as a result of the biasing force acting
thereagainst and being provided by pusher assembly 300. It is
envisioned that the radius of curvature of contoured surface 510 is
between about 2 inches and about 4 inches, and is approximately
equal to 2.75 inches.
[0032] Scalloped portion 520 extends from an upper portion 522 of
proximal member 500 toward a lower portion 524 of proximal member
500, such that a lower-most portion 526 of scalloped portion 520 is
between first lateral side 512 and second lateral side 514 of
proximal member 500 (see FIGS. 7 and 9). Scalloped portion 520 is
configured to increase visibility of a lead product "P" and to
further reduce the possibility of products "P" folding over
proximal member 500. That is, by lowering the height of an upper
edge 502 of proximal member 500, upper edge 502 is closer to the
center of gravity of product "P," such that the upper and lighter
portion of the product "P" is less likely to become folded over
upper edge 502 of proximal member 500 due to the pressure exerted
by pusher assembly 300, for example. It is envisioned that a height
of upper edge 502 (i.e., at lower-most portion 526 of scalloped
portion 520) is aligned or substantially aligned with the height of
the center of gravity of the product "P." It is further envisioned
that the height "hsp" of the bottom of scalloped portion 520 as
measured from product-supporting surface 210 of base 200 is between
about 1.5 inches and about 6 inches, and is approximately equal to
3.5 inches.
[0033] As shown in the illustrated embodiment, proximal member 500
also includes a cutout 530 extending therethrough. Cutout 530 is
configured to facilitate stocking or re-stocking products "P" onto
guide assembly 100. That is, a user (e.g., store clerk) is able to
force the products "P" on base 200 distally by placing his or her
hand or a tool through cutout 530 and pushing the products "P."
More particularly, due to the nature of the packaging of product
"P" (e.g., substantially similar to the illustrated package), the
product "P" may tend to fall over or slump when its upper portion
is pushed rearwardly, especially in the circumstances where pusher
assembly 300 (and/or a gravity-fed guide assembly 100) is urging
the products "P" proximally. When existing products "P" are pushed
distally through cutout 530, the product "P" tends to remain
upright, thus facilitating placement of other products "P" (i.e.,
proximally of existing products "P").
[0034] While cutout 530 is illustrated as having a particular size
and shape, it is envisioned that cutout 530 is any reasonable size
and any regular or irregular shape. For example, it is envisioned
that cutout 530 is between about 30% and about 70%, e.g., about
50%, of the size of the entire proximal member 500. It is further
envisioned that a vertical center of cutout 530 is aligned with,
substantially aligned with, or below the vertical center of gravity
of the product "P" designed to be positioned on base 200. Here, the
vertical center of cutout 530 (i.e., distance from
product-supporting surface 210) is between about 2 inches and about
4 inches, and is approximately equal to 2.75 inches (see FIG.
7).
[0035] It is further envisioned that at least a portion of proximal
member 500 is transparent or translucent to allow a consumer to
view a portion of the proximal-most product "P" on the
merchandising system 10 therethrough.
[0036] The present disclosure also includes a method of displaying
items or products, and a method of stocking or restocking products
using the merchandising system 10 described above. The present
disclosure also includes a system including the merchandising
system 10 described above along with particular products, such as
those described above.
[0037] While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown
in the figures, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited
thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope
as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise.
Therefore, the above description should not be construed as
limiting, but merely as exemplifications of various embodiments.
Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within
the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *