U.S. patent application number 15/745099 was filed with the patent office on 2018-08-02 for an anti-theft storage and display assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is iDesign Innovations Pty Ltd. Invention is credited to Anthony Draper, Hamish Mclean, Jayben Vanos.
Application Number | 20180213946 15/745099 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57756570 |
Filed Date | 2018-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180213946 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vanos; Jayben ; et
al. |
August 2, 2018 |
AN ANTI-THEFT STORAGE AND DISPLAY ASSEMBLY
Abstract
The invention is directed to an assembly for storing and
displaying goods, the assembly including a carrier for carrying a
plurality of goods, a cover for covering a portion of the carrier,
and one or more weighted units, the carrier and cover defining an
opening for permitting access to the goods, the carrier having an
angled base so as to facilitate sliding of the goods towards the
opening, and wherein the one or more weighted units facilitate the
movement of the goods towards the opening along the angled
base.
Inventors: |
Vanos; Jayben; (Sydney,
AU) ; Draper; Anthony; (Melbourne, AU) ;
Mclean; Hamish; (Newcastle, AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
iDesign Innovations Pty Ltd |
Maroubra |
|
AU |
|
|
Family ID: |
57756570 |
Appl. No.: |
15/745099 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
July 12, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU2016/050605 |
371 Date: |
January 15, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 5/005 20130101;
A47F 3/145 20130101; A47F 2005/165 20130101; A47F 3/002 20130101;
A47F 5/16 20130101; A47F 1/125 20130101; A47F 7/0007 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47F 1/12 20060101
A47F001/12; A47F 5/16 20060101 A47F005/16; A47F 7/00 20060101
A47F007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 13, 2015 |
AU |
2015902747 |
Claims
1. An assembly for storing and displaying goods, the assembly
comprising: a carrier for carrying a plurality of goods, a cover
for covering a portion of the carrier, and one or more weighted
units, the carrier and cover defining an opening for permitting
access to the goods, the carrier having an angled base so as to
facilitate sliding of the goods towards the opening, and wherein
the one or more weighted units facilitate the movement of the goods
towards the opening along the angled base.
2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises
a generally rectangular base having a front side, a rear side, and
two lateral sides extending between the front and rear sides, the
rear side being elevated relative to the front side to create an
angled surface for the base.
3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the two
lateral sides of the base comprises a connecting mechanism to
facilitate connection with other like base units to form a larger
base.
4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is
configured to receive one or more dividers for dividing the base
into two or more columns.
5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the base is
configured to receive the one or more dividers at any interval
along a lengthwise direction of the base.
6. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the base comprises
one or more recesses for receiving the one or more dividers.
7. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein a weighted unit is
provided in each column.
8. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the carrier further
comprises a pair of side panels for mounting to the two lateral
sides of the base.
9. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the carrier further
comprises a transparent front panel for mounting to the front side
of the base.
10. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover has a
generally L-shaped profile for covering a rear side of the carrier
and a portion of an upper side of the carrier.
11. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more
weighted units comprises one or more wheels to facilitate ease of
movement.
12. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the one or
more weighted units comprises a weighted block, and a housing for
housing the weighted block.
13. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the one or
more weighted units comprises two or more weighted blocks.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention described herein relates to an assembly for
storing and displaying goods. In particular, the invention is
directed to an anti-theft storage and display assembly.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In many retail stores, goods are arranged on shelves and are
readily accessible by customers. Certain goods, such as
pharmaceutical goods, cosmetics, and other high value retail goods
are often prone to theft. Typically, shoplifters will target retail
stores that make these goods readily available on conventional
shelves. For example, high value goods on a shelf may be swept into
a large bag by a shoplifter in a single motion. Such unlawful acts
cause retail stores to suffer great losses on a weekly basis.
[0003] Some existing anti-theft retail display systems include
mechanisms which secure each product item to the display via a
cord. Such mechanism are commonly used for high value low volume
items such as mobile phones, cameras and other electronic devices.
However, such mechanisms are too costly and non-practical for high
volume goods such as hand tools, pet care, stationary, cosmetics,
dental goods, drugs, and vitamins.
[0004] Other storage and display systems, in particular for
cosmetics, include a partly enclosed assembly in which the goods
are stacked in a column and can be accessed one at a time from a
front end of the assembly. Once the forward-most item is removed, a
spring pushing against the column of goods pushes the remaining
goods forward so that the next item can be accessed. Whilst such a
mechanism restricts the number of goods a shoplifter can access at
any single time, it can often be difficult for costumers to push
against the action of the spring to return an item into the display
assembly. In addition, springs are prone to breakage and
entanglement with the goods, undesirable causing the assembly to
malfunction.
[0005] In many stores, high value and/or restricted goods are
stored in a lockable unit near the point of sale. During purchase,
a personnel needs to manually unlock and retrieve the goods to be
sold. The installation of such lockable units can be costly and
labour intensive. It can also be inconvenient and time consuming to
carry out each transaction by manually unlocking and locking the
unit before and after retrieving the goods.
[0006] It is an aim of the invention to provide an anti-theft
storage and display assembly which overcomes or ameliorates one or
more of the disadvantages or problems described above, or which at
least provides the consumer with a useful choice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided
an assembly for storing and displaying goods, the assembly
including a carrier for carrying a plurality of goods, a cover for
covering a portion of the carrier, and one or more weighted units,
the carrier and cover defining an opening for permitting access to
the goods. The carrier has an angled base so as to facilitate
sliding of the goods towards the opening. The one or more weighted
units facilitate the movement of the goods towards the opening
along the angled base.
[0008] Advantageously, the cover ensures that a large proportion of
the goods are covered and therefore protected from being swept off
a shelf of a retail store in a single motion by a shoplifter. In
other words, access to the number of goods at any single time is
restricted to those exposed by the opening. The angled base and the
weighted units allow the goods to automatically slide towards the
opening under gravity. This simplifies the assembly by eliminating
the need for spring loaded mechanisms, which can be expensive and
prone to breakage and malfunction.
[0009] The base can be any suitable shape and size. Preferably, the
carrier has a generally rectangular base having a front side, a
rear side, and two lateral sides extending between the front and
rear sides. The rear side may be elevated relative to the front
side to create an angled upper surface for the base. The elevation
of the rear side with respect to the front side may vary to thereby
vary the degree of inclination of the angled upper surface.
[0010] Each lateral side of the base may include connecting
mechanisms to allow connection with other like base units to form a
larger base. Any suitable connecting mechanisms may be used. For
example, lateral sides may include protrusions and recesses to
allow adjacent base units to engage with one another.
Advantageously, the size of the base can be easily changed and
adapted to fit with existing shelfing systems of any dimension by
connecting any suitable number of base units together. For example,
each base may have a length of about 300 mm. Combining two or more
similar units may therefore provide larger bases having an overall
length of 600 mm, 900 mm, 1200 mm, 2400 mm and so forth. The base
may therefore be modular so that an assembly of any size to suit
the size of the goods to be carried and the size of the display
shelf, for example in a supermarket.
[0011] The base may be configured to receive one or more dividers
for dividing the base into two or more columns. The base may be
configured to receive the dividers at any interval along a
lengthwise direction of the base. The base may include one or more
recesses for receiving the one or more dividers. An upper surface
of the base may define a plurality of slots immediately adjacent
one another for receiving the one or more dividers at any position
along the base. In addition, the upper surface of the base may
define a pair of openings disposed adjacent opposite ends of each
slot for receiving corresponding protrusions of each divider.
Advantageously, the width of each column may be adjusted according
to the size of the goods to be carried. The width of each column
may be adjusted such that the goods can be stacked in a single file
in each column from the front side to the rear side of the base. In
this manner, access to only a small number of goods adjacent the
front side of the base is permitted at any one time via the
opening. Moreover, the angled base allows goods stacked behind to
slide forward once the forward most goods adjacent the front side
of the base are removed via the opening.
[0012] The carrier may further include a pair of side panels for
mounting to the base. The panels may be mounted to the lateral
sides of the base.
[0013] The carrier may further include a front panel for mounting
to the front side of the base. The front panel may be transparent
to allow visual inspection of the good through the front panel.
[0014] The cover may cover a rear portion of the carrier. The cover
may have a generally L-shaped profile for covering a rear side of
the carrier and a portion of an upper side of the carrier. The
cover may have a front side proximate the front side of the base.
The opening may be located between the front side of the cover and
a front side of the carrier. More particularly, the opening may be
located between the front side of the cover and the front panel of
the carrier.
[0015] The various components of the assembly, including the one or
more base units, side panels, front panel and cover may be fastened
together using any suitable means. For example, the components may
be press fitted together, clipped together, slide fitted together,
fastened together using clips, pins, nuts and bolts and the like,
or any combination thereof.
[0016] Each weighted unit may include one or more wheels to
facilitate ease of movement. The weighted device may further
include a weighted block, such as a lead weight, and a housing for
housing the weighted block. The weighted device may be positioned
behind the last goods item in each column such that when a goods
item is removed from the front of the column via the opening, the
weight of the remaining goods on the angled base and that of the
weighted device act together to move the remaining goods towards
the opening. In this manner, the next goods item may be accessed
via the opening.
[0017] Each weighted unit may include a plurality of weight blocks.
The number of weight blocks may be varied to vary the total weight
of the weight unit. Advantageously, this allows each weight unit to
be easily adapted to suit the size and weight of the particular
goods to be stored. For example, a larger weight unit including
more weight blocks may be used for an assembly for storing light
weight goods which may require more assistance in sliding towards
the opening under action of gravity. Heavier weight blocks may also
be used for bulky goods so as to prevent any goods from being stuck
in the assembly and failing to reach the opening during use.
Conversely, lighter weighted units may be used for heavier or other
suitably sized and weighted goods to ensure that all goods travel
to the opening in an effective manner when the front-most
positioned goods item(s) is/are retrieved from the assembly.
[0018] In order that the invention may be more readily understood
and put into practice, one or more preferred embodiments thereof
will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
[0019] Reference throughout this specification to `one embodiment`
or `an embodiment` means that a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is
included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,
the appearance of the phrases `in one embodiment` or `in an
embodiment` in various places throughout this specification are not
necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the
particular features, structures, or characteristic described herein
may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more
combinations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an anti-theft storage and
display assembly according to an embodiment of the present
invention filled with goods and mounted on a shelf.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the empty anti-theft storage
and display assembly as shown in FIG. 1.
[0022] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the carrier of the assembly
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a further exploded view of the carrier and the
cover of the assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a weighted device of the
assembly as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4
[0025] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the weighted device as shown
in FIG. 5.
[0026] FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective views of a weight device
including four sets of weight blocks according to another
embodiment of the invention.
[0027] FIG. 7C is an exploded view of the weighted device as shown
in FIGS. 7A and 7B.
[0028] FIG. 8A and 8B are perspective views of a weight device
including two sets of weight blocks according to another embodiment
of the invention.
[0029] FIG. 8C is an exploded view of the weighted device as shown
in FIGS. 8A and 8B.
[0030] FIG. 9A and 9B are perspective views of a weight device
including a single set of weight blocks according to another
embodiment of the invention.
[0031] FIG. 9C is an exploded view of the weighted device as shown
in FIGS. 9A and 9B.
[0032] FIGS. 10A and 10B are exploded views of the assembly
including weighted units as shown in FIGS. 8A to 9B.
[0033] FIG. 10C is a perspective view of an assembly shown in FIG.
10B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0034] One embodiment of the anti-theft storage and display
assembly 100 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The assembly 100 includes a
carrier 102 for carrying a plurality of goods 104. The assembly 100
also includes a cover 106 which covers a large portion of the
carrier 102 and thus the goods 104 when the carrier is full. An
opening 108 is provided between the carrier 102 and the cover 106
allowing a limited number of goods 104 to be accessible at any
single time.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 1, the assembly 100 is mounted on, and
support by, a standard retail shelf 120. As explained in further
detail below, the assembly 100 is configured for mounting to a
range of different sized retail shelves 120. Advantageously, the
assembly 100 can be readily and conveniently adopted in retail
outlets without significant re-arrangement of existing display
shelves. This configuration of the assembly 100 also provides a
level of flexibility in the retail store's display arrangement as
the assembly 100 does not require fastening to a fixed location.
The assembly 100 can therefore be effortlessly moved to any
suitable location of the retail store.
[0036] An exploded view of the carrier 102 is illustrated in FIG.
3. The carrier 102 includes a base 122 having an angled upper
surface 124. In the particular embodiment shown, the base 122
includes three like base units 126a, 126b, 126c (collectively
referred to herein as `126`) interlocked together. The base 122 can
include any suitable number of base units 126 to match the size of
the shelf 120 on which the assembly 100 is to be mounted. In one
embodiment, the length of a single base unit 126 is approximately
300 mm. Combining two base units 126 together will therefore
provide a base 122 having a length of 600 mm; combining three base
units 126 together will provide a base 122 having a length of 900
mm as shown in FIG. 3; combining four base units 126 together will
provide a base 122 having a length of 1200 mm; combining eight base
units 126 together will provide a base 122 having a length of 2400
mm, and so forth. The modularised configuration of the base 122
advantageously allows the assembly 100 to be easily adaptable for a
range of differently sized shelves, which provides significant cost
savings compared with other storage and display assemblies which
must be custom built to fit the available space.
[0037] The base units 126 can be interlocked together via any
suitable means. As shown in FIG. 3, base unit 126c includes a pair
of protrusions 128 on a lateral side 130, which are received in a
pair of corresponding recesses (hidden) on a corresponding lateral
side 132 of adjacent base unit 126b. Base unit 126b is connected to
base unit 126a in a similar manner.
[0038] Each base unit 126 is generally rectangular when viewed from
an elevated position. Each base unit 126 has two lateral sides 132,
134 for connection with adjacent base units 126, a front side 136
and a rear side 138. (The front 136 and rear 138 sides are defined
relative to the placement of the assembly 100 on a shelf 120. The
front side 136 faces the customer accessing the goods 104 whilst
the rear side 138 faces away from the customer.) The rear side 138
is elevated relative to the front side 136 so as to create an
angled upper surface 124. The amount by which the rear side 138 is
elevated relative to the front side 136 can vary to create vary the
degree of inclination of the angled upper surface 124. In one
embodiment, the degree of inclination is roughly 12.degree..
[0039] The angled surface 124 advantageously allows the goods 104
to automatically slide towards the front side 136 of the base 122
and thus the opening 108 under action of gravity. The angled
surface 124 thereby avoids use of various costly spring loaded
devices which actively push the goods towards an opening, which can
be prone to breakage and malfunction.
[0040] The carrier 102 further includes side panels 140, 142 for
mounting to lateral sides 145, 146 of the base 122. Any suitable
fastening means can be used to attach the side panels 140, 142 to
the base 122. For example, each panel 140, 142 is attached to a
respective lateral side 145, 146 using nuts and bolts, or like
fasteners.
[0041] The carrier 102 further includes a front panel 150 mounted
adjacent the front side 136 of the base 122. In particular, the
front panel 150 is inserted into a slot 152 which runs parallel
with the front side 136 of the base 122. The front panel 150 is
transparent to allow visual inspection of the goods 104 in the
carrier 102 therethrough.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 4, the carrier 102 further includes a
plurality of dividers 144 which divide the carrier 102 into a
plurality of columns 146. The position of the dividers 144 and thus
the width of the columns 146 can be adjusted according to the size
of each of the goods 104 to be carried. A plurality of slots 148
are provided on the upper surface 124 of the base 122 to receive
the dividers 144 therein. Recesses 152, 154 are also provided
adjacent opposite ends of each slot 148 to receive end protrusions
of each divider 144 (hidden). Any suitable number of dividers 144
can therefore be inserted into any one of the slots 148 on the base
122.
[0043] As more clearly shown in FIG. 1, the goods 104 can be
arranged in a single file in each column facing the front panel 150
and the opening 108. Advantageously, the carrier 102 can be
conveniently adjusted to carry any sized goods 104, which provides
further cost savings as the assembly 100 does not have to be custom
built for goods of a specific size.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, the cover 106 has a generally L-shaped
profile. The cover 106 is fitted over an upper portion of the
carrier 102 and over the rear side 138 of the base 122. The cover
106 is assembled by inserting lateral side portions 156, 158 in
corresponding slots 160, 162 of side panels 140, 142. In addition,
the cover 106 is secured adjacent the rear side 138 of the base 122
via bolts 164. As more clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the opening
108 is located between the cover 106 and the front panel 150. The
cover 106 is transparent so as to allow visual inspection of the
goods 104 in the assembly 100 (see FIG. 1). The size of the cover
106 and side panels 140, 142, to accommodate goods of different
heights.
[0045] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the assembly 100 also includes a
weighted unit 200 for locating at the back and behind each column
146 of goods 104. Under the effects of gravity, each weighted unit
200 has a tendency to move from the higher rear side 138 of the
base 122 towards the lower front side 136 and thus the opening 108.
The weighted units 200 therefore facilitate movement of the goods
104 towards the opening 108.
[0046] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each weighted unit 200 includes a
housing 204, and four wheels 206. The wheels 206 facilitate
movement of the weighted unit 200 towards the lower front side 136
of the base 122. As shown in FIG. 6, the weighted unit 200 further
includes a weight block 208 enclosed by the housing 204. The weight
block 208 provides the necessary weight for the weighted unit 200
to function effectively. The housing 204 includes a sleeve member
210 for receiving the weighted block 208, and a pair of side wall
members 212, 214 for press fitting onto opposite sides of the
sleeve member 210. The wheels 206 are fitted onto respective axles
216 projecting from the side wall members 212, 214.
[0047] During use, goods 104 are stacked in single file columns 146
as shown in FIG. 1. Goods 104 exposed by the opening 108 are
readily accessible by a customer. As an item of goods 104 is
removed from the opening 108 in each column 146, the weight of the
remaining goods 104 in that column 146, combined with the action of
the weighted unit 200 under gravity on the angled surface 124 of
the carrier base 122, causes the remaining goods 104 in the column
146 to slide towards the opening 108 until the next forward most
item of goods 104 is prevented from further movement by the front
panel 150.
[0048] The assembly 100 therefore restricts the number of goods 104
which could be access by a customer at any one time, and thereby
effectively prevents shoplifters from stealing a large number of
goods displayed on a shelf by sweeping those goods into a bag.
Moreover, the assembly 100 is configured to be modular and
adjustable to fit different sized shelves 120 and goods 104. In
addition, the angled surface 124 and the weighted unit 200 ensures
that goods in the carrier 102 are always easily accessible by
ensuring that the goods automatically slide towards the front panel
150 and opening 108. Furthermore, goods 104 which would otherwise
be placed towards the back of a shelf 120 and difficult to access
by a customer, especially if the shelf is quite high, would be
easily accessible by adopting the assembly 100.
[0049] The foregoing embodiments are illustrative only of the
principles of the invention, and various modifications and changes
will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention is
capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways and in
other embodiments. It is also to be understood that the terminology
employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be
regarded as limiting.
[0050] As shown in FIGS. 7A to 10C, the weighted unit can be of any
suitable shape and size to suit the specific application and use.
For example, FIGS. 7A to 7C illustrate a relatively large weighted
unit 700 having four weighted blocks 702 and a plurality of smaller
blocks 704 disposed on either side of, and between the weighted
blocks 702. The blocks 702, 704 are mounted to a base assembly 706.
The base assembly 706 includes two base plates 708, 710 and three
wheel assemblies 712. A cover 714 for covering the blocks 702, 704
is mounted to the base assembly 706.
[0051] Similarly, FIGS. 8A to 8C illustrate a medium sized weighted
unit 800 having two weighted blocks 802; FIGS. 9A to 9C illustrate
a relatively small weighted unit 900 having a single weighted block
902.
[0052] As shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C, an assembly 100' in which
large weighted units 700 are used can be easily assembled and used
according to the same principles previously described.
[0053] The term "comprise" and variants of that term such as
"comprises" or "comprising" are used herein to denote the inclusion
of a stated integer or integers but not to exclude any other
integer or any other integers, unless in the context or usage an
exclusive interpretation of the term is required.
[0054] Reference to prior art disclosures in this specification is
not an admission that the disclosures constitute common general
knowledge.
* * * * *