U.S. patent application number 16/665427 was filed with the patent office on 2020-07-23 for merchandising system.
This patent application is currently assigned to DISPLAYS PLUS, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is DISPLAYS PLUS, INC.. Invention is credited to Robert Paul Colelli, Eric Edward Oberg.
Application Number | 20200229595 16/665427 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 68314930 |
Filed Date | 2020-07-23 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200229595 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Colelli; Robert Paul ; et
al. |
July 23, 2020 |
MERCHANDISING SYSTEM
Abstract
A merchandising system includes a deck adjustable to various
angles to accommodate merchandise for display on a shelf at such
various angles. The system may include a front stop and
dividers.
Inventors: |
Colelli; Robert Paul; (Yorba
Linda, CA) ; Oberg; Eric Edward; (Huntington Beach,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DISPLAYS PLUS, INC. |
Placentia |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
DISPLAYS PLUS, INC.
Placentia
CA
|
Family ID: |
68314930 |
Appl. No.: |
16/665427 |
Filed: |
October 28, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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16254068 |
Jan 22, 2019 |
10455934 |
|
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16665427 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 2005/165 20130101;
A47F 5/16 20130101; A47B 57/588 20130101; A47F 5/105 20130101; A47B
57/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47B 57/04 20060101
A47B057/04; A47F 5/10 20060101 A47F005/10; A47F 5/16 20060101
A47F005/16 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A merchandising system comprising: a deck having a left side, a
left edge, a right side, a right edge, a front, a back, a top
surface and a bottom surface; a first pair of supports comprising a
first left support and a first right support, each having a first
straight bottom edge and a first straight top edge at a first
non-zero angle relative to the first straight bottom edge; a second
pair of supports comprising a second left support and a second
right support each having a second straight bottom edge and a
second straight top edge at a second non-zero angle relative to the
second straight bottom edge, the second non-zero angle being
different than the first non-zero angle; and a merchandise divider
configured to be removably attached to the top surface of the deck;
wherein the first left support is configured to be removably
secured to the left side of the bottom surface of the deck such
that the first straight top edge of the first left support is
substantially flush with the left side of the bottom surface of the
deck, and the first right support is configured to be removably
secured to the right side of the bottom surface of the deck such
that the first straight top edge of the first right support is
substantially flush with the right side of bottom surface of the
deck, whereby when the first left support is removably secured to
the left side of the bottom surface of the deck and the first right
support is removably secured to the right side of the bottom
surface of the deck, the deck is at the first non-zero angle; and
wherein the second left support is configured to be removably
secured to the left side of the bottom surface of the deck such
that the second straight top edge of the second left support is
substantially flush with the bottom surface of the deck, and the
second right support is configured to be removably secured to the
right side of the bottom surface of the deck such that the second
straight top edge of the second right support is substantially
flush with the right side of bottom surface of the deck, whereby
when the second left support is removably secured to the left side
of the bottom surface of the deck and the second right support is
removably secured to the right side of the bottom surface of the
deck, the deck is at the second non-zero angle.
22. The merchandising system of claim 21, wherein the top surface
of the deck has a front connector at the front of the deck and a
back connector at the back of the deck, the divider has a front
connector and a back connector, and the front and back connectors
of the divider are configured to mate with the front and back
connectors of the deck respectively to removably attach the divider
to the top surface of the deck.
23. The merchandising system of claim 22, wherein the top surface
of the deck has a plurality of front connectors at the front of the
deck and a plurality of corresponding back connectors at the back
of the deck, and the top surface of the deck has front alignment
indicia at the front of the deck and corresponding back alignment
indicia at the back of the deck, such that attachment of the front
connector of the divider to one of the plurality of front
connectors of the deck at a position relative to the front
alignment indicia and attachment of the back connector of the
divider to the corresponding back alignment indicia aligns the
divider along the top surface of the deck in parallel relation to
the left and right edges of the deck.
24. The merchandising system of claim 21 wherein the left side of
the bottom surface of the deck has a slot and the right side of the
bottom surface of the deck has a slot, and wherein the first left
support has a leg configured to be removably secured into the slot
of the left side of the bottom surface of the deck, the first right
support has a leg configured to be removably secured into the slot
of the right side of the bottom surface of the deck, the second
left support has a leg configured to be removably secured into the
slot of the left side of the bottom surface of the deck, and the
second right support has a leg configured to be removably secured
into the slot of the right side of the bottom surface of the
deck.
25. The merchandising system of claim 24, wherein the left side of
the bottom surface of the deck has a second slot and the right side
of the bottom surface of the deck has a second slot, and wherein
the first left support has a second leg configured to be removably
secured into the second slot of the left side of the bottom surface
of the deck, the first right support has a second leg configured to
be removably secured into the second slot of the right side of the
bottom surface of the deck, the second left support has a second
leg configured to be removably secured into the second slot of the
left side of the bottom surface of the deck, and the second right
support has a second leg configured to be removably secured into
the second slot of the right side of the bottom surface of the
deck.
26. The merchandising system of claim 21, further comprising a left
rail attached to the bottom surface of the deck on the left side
and having a slot therein, and a right rail attached to the bottom
surface of the deck on the right side and having a slot therein,
and wherein the first left support has a leg configured to be
removably secured into the slot of the left rail, the first right
support has a leg configured to be removably secured into the slot
of the right rail, the second left support has a leg configured to
be removably secured into the slot of the left rail, and the second
right support has a leg configured to be removably secured into the
slot of the right rail.
27. The merchandising system of claim 26, wherein the left rail has
a second slot and the right rail has a second slot, and wherein the
first left support has a second leg configured to be removably
secured into the second slot of the left rail, the first right
support has a second leg configured to be removably secured into
the second slot of the right rail, the second left support has a
second leg configured to be removably secured into the second slot
of the left rail, and the second right support has a second leg
configured to be removably secured into the second slot of the
right rail.
28. The merchandising system of claim 21, wherein the first
non-zero angle and the second non-zero angle are both selected from
the group consisting of: 4 degrees; 6 degrees; 8 degrees; 10
degrees; and 12 degrees.
29. The merchandising system of claim 21, wherein the first
non-zero angle and the second non-zero angle are both angles in the
range between approximately 4 degrees and approximately 12
degrees.
30. The merchandising system of claim 21, wherein the first left
support and the first right support have angle indicia
corresponding to the first non-zero angle, and the second left
support and the second right support have angle indicia
corresponding to the second non-zero angle.
31. A merchandising system comprising: a deck having a left side, a
left edge, a right side, a right edge, a front, a back, a top
surface and a bottom surface; a first pair of supports comprising a
first left support and a first right support, each having a first
straight bottom edge and a first straight top edge at a first
non-zero angle relative to the first straight bottom edge; and a
second pair of supports comprising a second left support and a
second right support each having a second straight bottom edge and
a second straight top edge at a second non-zero angle relative to
the second straight bottom edge, the second non-zero angle being
different than the first non-zero angle; wherein the first left
support is configured to be removably secured to the left side of
the bottom surface of the deck such that the first straight top
edge of the first left support is substantially flush with the left
side of the bottom surface of the deck, and the first right support
is configured to be removably secured to the right side of the
bottom surface of the deck such that the first straight top edge of
the first right support is substantially flush with the right side
of bottom surface of the deck, whereby when the first left support
is removably secured to the left side of the bottom surface of the
deck and the first right support is removably secured to the right
side of the bottom surface of the deck, the deck is at the first
non-zero angle; wherein the second left support is configured to be
removably secured to the left side of the bottom surface of the
deck such that the second straight top edge of the second left
support is substantially flush with the bottom surface of the deck,
and the second right support is configured to be removably secured
to the right side of the bottom surface of the deck such that the
second straight top edge of the second right support is
substantially flush with the right side of bottom surface of the
deck, whereby when the second left support is removably secured to
the left side of the bottom surface of the deck and the second
right support is removably secured to the right side of the bottom
surface of the deck, the deck is at the second non-zero angle; and
wherein the first left support has a pull ring with a catch
configured to be removably secured into a slot of the left side of
the bottom surface of the deck when a leg of the first left support
is removably secured into the slot of the left side of the bottom
surface of the deck, and the first right support has a pull ring
with a catch configured to be removably secured into a slot of the
right side of the bottom surface of the deck when a leg of the
first right support is removably secured into the slot of the right
side of the bottom surface of the deck.
32. The merchandising system of claim 31, wherein the first left
support and the first right support have angle indicia
corresponding to the first non-zero angle, and the second left
support and the second right support have angle indicia
corresponding to the second non-zero angle.
33. The merchandising system of claim 31, wherein the first
non-zero angle and the second non-zero angle are both selected from
the group consisting of: 4 degrees; 6 degrees; 8 degrees; 10
degrees; and 12 degrees.
34. The merchandising system of claim 31, wherein the first
non-zero angle and the second non-zero angle are both angles in the
range between approximately 4 degrees and approximately 12
degrees.
35. The merchandising system of claim 31, wherein the first left
support and the first right support have angle indicia
corresponding to the first non-zero angle, and the second left
support and the second right support have angle indicia
corresponding to the second non-zero angle.
36. The merchandising system of claim 31, further comprising a
front stop configured to be removably attached to a shelf and to
the front of the deck, and to extend vertically upward relative to
the shelf when attached to the shelf and to the front of the
deck.
37. The merchandising system of claim 36, wherein the front stop
has slots and the deck has deck tabs at the front, and the slots of
the front stop are configured to mate with the deck tabs to
removably attach the front stop to the front of the deck.
38. The merchandising system of claim 31, further comprising a
front stop integrated into the front of the deck and configured to
be removably attached to a shelf and to extend vertically upward
relative to the shelf when attached to the shelf.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The metal shelf has been the backbone of brick and mortar
retail stores for almost a century. Today, it is still common for
merchandise to be placed onto shelves. Most standard shelves are
horizontal to the ground, but some shelves are positioned at a
non-zero angle to the around for better consumer viewing and/or to
assist in gravity feeding of the merchandise. However, this type of
angled shelf is at a fixed angle and cannot be adjusted to
accommodate various target angles for various applications. In
other words, if a different angle is desired other than the angle
of the fixed-angle shelf, then a different fixed angle shelf is
needed. There is thus a need for a merchandising system to allow
simple and effective placement of merchandise on a shelf at various
angles, without having to replace the entire shelf to accommodate
the desired angle(s).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is a merchandising unit and methods of
use thereof. The merchandising unit facilitates presentation of
merchandise on a retail shelf using a deck adjustable to various
target angles to accommodate merchandise for display on the shelf
at such angles. The system includes a deck and one or more pairs of
angled supports to be removably attached to the bottom surface of
the deck, each pair supporting the deck at a corresponding target
angle. The angled supports may have visual indicia on them
corresponding to their respective target angles.
[0003] The system may also include a front stop to be removably
attached to the shelf and to the front of the deck, for retaining
merchandise that might otherwise fall off the shelf due to gravity
and/or other contact forces. The system may also include dividers
for placement on the top surface of the deck to help separate
merchandise into various columns, and the deck may have alignment
indicia/tally marks at the front and corresponding alignment
indicia/tally marks at the back to help align dividers.
[0004] A single unit may suffice for certain applications, or
multiple units may be placed adjacent each other to cover a wider
shelf area as needed, either continuously to cover an entire shelf,
or intermittently to cover various sections of the shelf. Likewise,
multiple units may be used together with angled supports of
differing target angles for applications requiring various shelf
space to accommodate merchandise at various angles. The angles may
also facilitate gravity feeding of the merchandise, especially when
the top surface of the deck is configured to assist in gravity
feed, but the present invention may also be used with spring-loaded
pusher systems, manual feed systems, and/or other merchandising
systems.
[0005] Typically each unit will include a deck (preassembled), a
front stop (preassem bled), a plurality of pairs of angled supports
configured to support the deck at differing target angles, and a
plurality of dividers. To install a unit, the desired pair of
angled supports is removably attached to the bottom surface of the
deck, the front stop is removably attached to the shelf using
locking tabs or the like, the front of the deck is removably
attached to the front stop using locking tabs or the like, and then
the angled supports are laid to rest on the shelf to support the
deck at the target angle. Dividers may be removably attached to the
top surface of the deck. If no front stop is used, the angled
supports are simply laid to rest on the shelf without attaching the
deck to a front stop.
[0006] The system has a relatively flat profile which facilitates
shipping. Further, the system (preassembled deck, preassembled
front stop, angled supports, and dividers) can be assembled for use
on location and installed on conventional shelving such as gondola
and refrigerator coolers in minutes without tools. These and other
advantages as described herein will be apparent to a person of
ordinary skill in the art, when read in conjunction with the
attached drawings.
DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a top perspective exploded view of a merchandising
system in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a top perspective assembled view of the
merchandising system of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a deck in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 4A is a bottom perspective exploded view of the deck of
FIG. 3, showing a pair of angled supports.
[0011] FIG. 4B is a bottom perspective view of the deck and angled
supports of FIG. 4a, showing the angled supports inserted into the
bottom surface of the deck.
[0012] FIG. 4C is a bottom perspective view of the deck and angled
supports of FIG. 4a, showing the angled supports installed onto the
bottom surface of the deck.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of a deck in accordance
with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of five angled supports
configured for five separate target angles respectively.
[0015] FIG. 6B is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment
of a pair of angled supports.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a back perspective view of a front stop in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of two assembled merchandising
units in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, in
use on a shelf.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a method in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] FIG. 1 shows an exploded (unassembled) view of a
merchandising system 5 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. The system 5 includes a deck 10, one or more
pairs of angled supports 15, a front stop 20, and one or more
dividers 25. FIG. 1 shows only one pair of angled supports 15L(8)
and 15R(8). Reference number 15 is used herein to refer to a single
angled support (e.g., 15L(x)) and/or a pair of angled supports
(e.g., 15L(x) and 15R(x)) depending on the context. The L and R
references refer to Left and Right respectively for convenience,
although two angled supports 15 in a matching pair are typically
identical and interchangeable. The "(x)" refers to the target angle
of the angled support 15. For example, x=8 for the angled supports
15 shown in FIG. 1 since they are configured for a target angle of
8 degrees (as seen by angle indicia 115), and thus are referred to
as 15L(8) and 15R(8). The system shown in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG.
2, assembled.
[0020] Deck 10 is typically rectangular and flat, and thus has a
left side 30, a right side 35, a left edge 40, a right edge 45, a
front 50, a back 55, a top surface 60, and a bottom surface 65.
Deck 10 is typically 12 inches wide and 18 inches, 20 inches, or 22
inches deep, but may be any dimensions. Deck 10 may be made of
plastic, metal, or any suitable material. In one embodiment, top
surface 60 comprises a grooved low-friction surface such as a
MOTION MAT by Sandee Manufacturing in Franklin Park, Ill., to
facilitate gravity feeding of merchandise as the front specimens
are removed by consumers. In such a case, the MOTION MAT is affixed
to deck 10 by glue and/or other suitable means, typically as part
of the factory assembly process. For example, magnets (with
corresponding flat washers), or lock washers may be used for easier
replacement and maintenance.
[0021] Deck 10 has a front panel 70 and a back panel 75 each having
correspondingly-aligned connectors (such as slots) 80f and 80b
respectively for receiving complimentary connectors (such as tabs)
85f and 85b respectively of dividers 25. Deck 10 also has tabs 95
to mate with slots 150 of front stop 20 as explained herein. Panels
70 and 75 may be part of a single-piece deck body, or they may be
separate pieces as shown in FIGS. 1-5, and 8, attached by tongue
and groove, screws (155), snaps, glue, and/or other suitable means,
in which case they would typically be attached as part of the
factory assembly process. Panels 70 and 75 may also have
corresponding alignment indicia 90 to provide visual reference for
installing dividers 25. For example, alignment indicia 90 called
out on front panel 70 of deck 10 in FIG. 1 corresponds to alignment
indicia 90 called out on the back panel 75 of deck 10 in FIG. 1, as
both are fourth from the left edge 40 of deck 10. Indicia 90 may be
painted dots, stickers, numbers, or any other suitable visual
marker, and may be uniform in appearance, or may vary such that
each corresponding pair is more easily matched such as by using
different colors for different corresponding pairs. In such a
manner, attachment of front connector 85f of a divider 25 to one of
the front connectors 80f of deck 10 at a position relative to an
alignment indicia 90 on front panel 70, and attachment of back
connector 85b of the divider 25 to the corresponding alignment
indicia 90 on back panel 75, aligns divider 25 along top surface 60
of deck 10 in parallel relation to left and right edges 40 and 45
of deck 10, as seen in FIG. 2.
[0022] Turning now to FIG. 3, a bottom perspective view of deck 10
is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
To achieve a purpose of the invention, bottom surface 65 of deck 10
is configured to receive any pair of angled supports 15 such that
merchandising system 5 may be placed/installed on a shelf 145 (FIG.
8) to allow deck 10 to rest at any target angle corresponding to
any pair of angled supports 15, and thus present merchandise at
such angle accordingly. Various angles may be desired for
aesthetics, accessibility, gravity-feed strength, loss prevention,
or any other reason. For example, a first pair of angled supports
15L(10) and 15R(10) may be configured to support deck 10 at a first
non-zero angle such as 10 degrees, and a second pair of angled
supports 15L(8) and 15R(8) may be configured to support deck 10 at
a second non-zero angle different than the first non-zero angle
such as 8 degrees. Other pairs of angled supports may be configured
to support deck 10 at other non-zero angles such as 4 degrees, 6
degrees, and 12 degrees respectively (see FIG. 6A).
[0023] An angled support 15 may be attached to bottom surface 65 of
deck 10 in any suitable manner, but in one embodiment of the
present invention, bottom surface 65 of deck 10 has a slot 100L on
the left side 30 configured to receive a leg 105L extending from
one angled support (e.g., 15L(8)), and a slot 100R on the right
side 35 configured to receive a leg 105R extending from another
angled support (e.g., 15R(8)). In another embodiment, an angled
support 15 has two legs 105, and bottom surface 65 of deck 10 is
configured to receive both legs 105 of angled support 15, either in
a single slot 100, or in two slots 100 as seen in FIGS. 3, 4A-4C,
and 5. In the embodiment in which angled supports 15 have two legs
105 each, each angled support 15 may be installed (removably
attached) into slots 100 as seen in FIGS. 4Aa, 4B, and 4C in
sequence. In this example, legs 105 are manually press fitted into
slots 100 then slid forward (or backward as the case may be) to
catch under lip portions 130 of slots 100. Specifically, FIG. 4A
shows an exploded view before angled supports 15 are inserted. FIG.
4B shows legs 105 of angled supports 15 inserted into slots 100.
FIG. 4C shows legs 105 then installed (securely but removably
attached) by sliding backward to catch and "lock" under lips 130 of
slots 100. An angled support 15 may have more than two legs 105
(e.g., 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or more), and bottom surface 65 of deck
10 would be configured to accept all such legs 105 in one or more
corresponding slots 100.
[0024] In another embodiment of the present invention as seen in
FIG. 5, bottom surface 65 of deck 10 has left and right rails 110L
and 110R respectively attached thereto with corresponding slots
100L and 100R instead of slots being formed directly into bottom
surface 65 of deck 10. In all embodiments, legs 105 may be
removably attached to bottom surface 65 of deck 10 by
press-fitting, slide-locking, snapping, clipping, or any other
suitable manner. One such mechanism suitable for the embodiment
with rails 110 is a plastic barbed channel lock manufactured by
Lockdowel, Inc. of Fremont, Calif., SKU E900BPMini.
[0025] Turning now to FIG. 6A, five pairs of angled supports 15 are
shown. Multiple pairs of angled supports 15 should be part of each
merchandising system 5 in accordance with the present invention,
configured to support deck 10 at angles ranging from approximately
4 degrees to approximately 12 degrees. Each pair consists of a left
support 15L(x) and a right support 15R(x), which will typically be
identical to each other in all material respects and thus
interchangeable. Supports 15 may have angle indicia 115 indicating
the target angle at which deck 10 will be positioned when such
supports 15 are used in accordance with the present invention.
Indicia 115 may be cutouts in supports 15 as seen in FIG. 6A, where
the cutouts "4" "6" "8" "10" and "12" represent 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12
degrees respectively. In other words, if supports 15(8) are used,
deck 10 would be at an 8 degree angle. Likewise if supports 15(4),
15(6), 15(10), or 15(12) are used, deck 10 would be at 4 degrees, 6
degrees, 10 degrees, and 12 degrees respectively. Indicia 115 may
be painted on, engraved, printed on stickers, etc., and may be
numbers, words, pictures, graphics, etc.
[0026] Supports 15 shown in FIG. 6A include two legs 105 each, and
a pull ring 120. Pull ring 120 has a catch 125 near the top. In one
embodiment as seen in FIGS. 4A-4C in which bottom surface 65 of
deck 10 has two slots 100 for each angled support 15, catch 125 is
configured to slide into one of the slots 100 as legs 105 slide
backward and "lock" under lips 130, such that legs 105 cannot
thereafter be slid back out of slots 100 without catch 125 being
lifted away from bottom surface 65 of deck 10. To do so, pull ring
120 is lifted away from bottom surface 65 of deck 10, which lifts
catch 125 away accordingly. Once catch 125 is out of slot 100,
angled support 15 may then be slid forward to free legs 105 from
under lips 130 so angled support 15 may be removed and replaced as
needed with different angled support 15, e.g., to set deck 10 at a
new angle.
[0027] Angled supports 15 each have a straight bottom edge 135 and
a straight top edge 140 at a non-zero angle 160 (see FIG. 6A)
relative to bottom edge 135. It is this non-zero angle 160 that
represents the angle at which deck 10 will rest when placed on
shelf 145, presuming shelf 145 is at zero degrees to the
horizontal. Thus, as described herein, each angled support 15 is
configured to be removably secured to bottom surface 65 of deck 10
such that its straight top edge 140 is substantially flush
therewith (see FIG. 4C), whereby when a pair of corresponding
angled supports 15 is removably secured to bottom surface 65 of
deck 10, deck 10 is at the non-zero angle 160 associated with such
pair. In this manner, a matching pair of angled supports 15 can be
used to set deck 10 at the target angle associated with such pair
when system 5 is placed on shelf 145. Accordingly, with multiple
pairs of angled supports (e.g., as seen in FIG. 6A), deck 10 may be
set to correspondingly multiple angles by simply replacing one pair
of angled supports 15 having a first target angle, with another
pair having a different target angle.
[0028] In alternative embodiments of the present invention, angled
supports 15 may have a profile as seen in FIG. 6B without legs 105,
pull ring 120, or catch 125. For example, in embodiments with rails
110 on bottom surface 65 of deck 10, such features would not be
useful and/or necessary because angled supports 15 without such
features could be secured with the aforementioned Lockdowel, Inc.
barbed channel lock mechanism.
[0029] Turning now to FIG. 7, a front stop 20 is shown in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Front stop
20 may be a single integrated piece, as seen in FIG. 7, or may
include multiple pieces, in which case typically the pieces would
be preassembled as part of the factory assembly process. Front stop
20 may be removably attachable to deck 10, or may be permanently
attached thereto or even manufactured (machined, molded, cut,
printed, etc.) as an integrated portion of deck 10. Front stop 20
may be made of plastic, metal, glass, rubber, and/or any other
suitable material(s). Front stop 20 may have tabs 170 for removably
attaching front stop 20 to shelf 145 through holes 180 in shelf
145, and/or may be removably attachable to shelf 145 by magnets,
screws, and/or other suitable means. Tabs 170 extend from back of
front stop 20 as seen in FIG. 7, so after insertion of tabs 170
into shelf holes 180 with front stop 20 at a slight angle to allow
such insertion, front stop 20 is rotated downward to rest snugly on
shelf 145. Front stop 20 may have additional tabs (not shown)
extending perpendicular to bottom surface of front stop 20, for
insertion into additional holes 180 of shelf 145 for further
securement. Once secured, a guard rail portion 185 of front stop 20
extends vertically upward relative to shelf 145 to retain
merchandise on deck 10 as merchandise is fed forward. Guard rail
portion 185 is typically 2, 3, or 4 inches tall, but may be any
height. Deck 10 is configured to be removably attached to front
stop 20 at front panel 70 of deck 10. For example, front stop 20
has slots 150 for receiving tabs 95 of front panel 70 of deck 10,
and additional tabs 175 extending vertically upward to mate with
corresponding slots (not shown) on bottom side of front portion 70
of deck 10 for further securement of deck 10 to front stop 20.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 8, two fully-assembled merchandising
units 5 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
are shown installed on shelf 145. One unit is positioned at a 12
degree angle as seen by angle indicia 115 in angled support 15R(12)
in the form of a "12" cutout. The other unit is positioned at a 4
degree angle as seen by angle indicia 115 in angled support 15R(4)
in the form of a "4" cutout. This example thus shows two units 5
installed on the same shelf 145 at different target angles. Each
unit 5 is shown with only a single divider 25, though multiple
dividers 25 may be used as needed. Dividers 25 are removably
attached to top surface 60 of deck 10 by mating divider connectors
85f (e.g., tabs) with complimentary connectors 80f (e.g., slots) on
front and back panels 70 and 75. Dividers 25 are shown with guards
165 along their upper edges for extra protection and rigidity.
Guards 165 may be plastic, metal, rubber, and/or any other suitable
material. Dividers 25 are typically 1, 2, or 3 inches tall, but may
be any height.
[0031] Turning now to FIG. 9, a flowchart shows a method in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, to install
a merchandising system 5 as described herein on a shelf 145 having
a top surface. The method starts at Step 900. At Step 910 an angled
support 15L(x) is removably secured to left side 30 of bottom
surface 65 of deck 10 as described herein, and at Step 920 an
angled support 15R(x) is likewise removably secured to right side
35 of bottom surface 65 of deck 10. Angled supports 15L(x) and
15R(x) allow unit 5 to rest on a top surface of shelf 145 at a
non-zero angle x 160 relative to top surface of shelf 145. In
embodiments that do not include front stop 20, the method skips
Steps 930 and 940, and the unit 5 is simply placed on shelf 145 at
Step 950 such that straight bottom edges 135 of angled supports
15L(x) and 15R(x) rest on top surface of shelf 145, resulting in
deck 10 being positioned at the non-zero angle x 160 relative to
the top surface of shelf 145. In embodiments that include front
stop 20, front stop 20 is removably attached to shelf 145 at Step
930 as described herein, and in embodiments in which front stop 20
is not an integrated portion of deck 10, deck 10 is removably
attached to front stop 20 at Step 940 as described herein. Although
it may be more practical to perform Steps 910-950 in the order
described, Steps 910-950 may be performed in any order. The method
may then skip Steps 960, 970, and 980, to end at Step 990.
[0032] But to change the non-zero target angle 160 from an angle x
to another angle y, angled supports 15L(x) and 15R(x) are detached
from bottom surface 65 of deck 10 at Step 960, and replaced with a
different pair of angled supports 15L(y) and 15R(y) at Step 970,
configured to achieve the new target angle y 160. The unit 5 with
new angled supports 15L(y) and 15R(y) attached thereto is then
placed back on shelf 145 at Step 980. This may include reattaching
deck 10 to front stop 20 if deck 10 was removed form front stop 20,
and reattaching front stop 20 to shelf 145 if front stop 20 was
removed from shelf 145. In this manner, a unit 5 may be efficiently
adjusted to any desired target angle 160 thus allowing merchandise
to be presented at such angle, without having to replace an entire
shelf 145. With multiple units 5 on a shelf 145, this also allows
only desired sections of shelf 145 to be reconfigured as opposed to
having to reconfigure an entire shelf 145.
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