Display Device

Abstract

Display device having a cantilevered element and a plurality of color-coded sections. The element forms a lower prong of a U-shaped hook, the upper prong containing a faceplate having identifying indicia.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a display device and more particularly to a method of merchandising.

With the advent of computers, significant advances have been made in many business operations. Frequently, the computer is utilized in conjunction with other systems to more efficiently mechanize operations which heretofore required large clerical staffs to service. Many new and more recent computer applications have been programmed to do specific job functions but heretofore there has not developed the need for providing an improved marketing system wherein the present archaic methods of servicing accounts are eliminated.

Accordingly, it is the principle object of the invention to provide an improved method of merchandising and to provide associated display devices which when used in conjunction with said method provide an efficient system of distributing merchandise.

Another object of the invention is to provide a marketing system wherein every product offered for sale in a department is disposed at a fixed location known to all department personnel.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide for the reduction and/or elimination of backroom stock within the department or store itself.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a quick and simple method of reordering merchandise and an efficient and neat manner of maintaining goods within the store.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a study of the following portions of this application which describes and discloses at least one preferred embodiment or modification of the invention. Other embodiments or modifications may be suggested to those having the benefits of the teachings herein and such other embodiments or modifications are intended to be reserved since they fall within the scope of this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view, taken from above, of a display panel embodying display devices of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front end view of one of the display devices;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the display device of FIG. 2, taken along the lines 3--3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating in block form how a computer will be utilized to set up the novel method of merchandising; and

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged plan view showing a portion of the order form shown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a display element or hook, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. The display element 10 is illustrated as a two prong element which comprises a lower prong 12 and an upper prong 14. The lower prong 12 is partitioned with a plurality of sections, coded so as to distinguish one section from the other sections. Suitably, the sections may be coded by painting the prong 12 with various colors. Preferably, for example, the sections are color coded by plastic colored tubing, so that for example, in the display element 10 shown, there are three sections, red, white and blue, respectively, shown as 16, 18 and 20.

A plurality of packages 22 containing goods are suspended for display and merchandising purposes. In operation, as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter, a plurality of display elements are utilized, each holding a plurality of packages, usually different. In FIG. 1, there is shown a display board 24 containing three display devices, holding packages 22, 26 and 28. Of course, such a display board may hold many, many more display elements, but for purposes of the disclosure, only three are shown.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the display element 10 comprises an integral U-shaped hook. The connecting or yoke portion 29 contains suitable protruding hooks 31 which are cooperatively associated with matching apertures in the display board 24. Such a board is commonly known as a peg board. It will be appreciated the display element may be fastened to the display board in any other suitable manner, such as by adhesives, fasteners, such as screws, nails, etc., clamps or the like.

The distal end 30 of the lower prong 12 is suitably disposed upwardly so as to preclude the last few packages from sliding off the prong 12. The upper prong 14 is provided at its distal end 32, which is suitably bent on a right angle, with a small front face plate 34 containing suitable indicia markings as will be explained hereinafter. The plate 34 is secured to the end 32, suitably by a weld or other fastening means.

If desired, the display element 10 may simply comprise a single prong, since such an element can have its corresponding indicia marking disposed right on the display board above such an element 10.

In the marketing system according to the invention, there is provided a suitable computer 40, as shown in the schematic block diagram of FIG. 4. Such a computer 40 is supplied with order information (see reference number 42 representing an order form), received by the marketing concern from stores. This information is suitably keypunched on cards, and, such orders are thereafter fed as inputs into the machine. The cards, if desired, may be replaced by an order form readable by a suitable optical character reader. The computer, in turn, generates a warehouse picking list 44, invoice 46 (and duplicate copies thereof), and a listing 48 of all items in the customer's stores and their respective department location numbers. This latter paper is an optional output in that it essentially contains a "store profile" which is not necessarily needed on each and every order.

The warehouse picking list preferably contains at least for each order the customer's name and address, customer's number, invoice number, and distributor order number. For each item to be picked, the picking list contains warehouse location, quantity ordered, the items nomenclature or description, the retail price and the suggested selling price for price marking. The invoice, of course, would also contain similar information as well as the terms of billing, the name of party if items are to be shipped to another party not billed, the percentage discount, if any, and the peg or prong location.

Referring again to FIG. 3, and more particularly to the color-coded lower prong 12, it will be appreciated that any number of color-coded sections such as 2, 4, etc., can be employed. The length of each section is predetermined in that it can hold a predetermined number of packages, such as blister packages. For purposes of illustration, sections 16, 18 and 20 may each hold 10 packages and thus by observing the color-coded section which is exposed because it does not contain any packages suspended therefrom, one can, therefore, readily ascertain the remaining quantity on the prong. For purposes of inventory, all one needs to know is whether the red, white or blue section is protruding beyond the remaining packages suspended from the prong. In operation, one simply observes the last completely empty color-coded section adjacent the packages suspended from the next adjacent color-coded section. There is no need to count the packages remaining and one does not consider a color-coded section as empty unless the next color-coded section is visible.

In FIG. 5, a partial enlarged view of the invoice form is shown. In reordering, a store's personnel without specific knowledge of the products can simply write up a reorder by observing the color-coded section completely visible on each display device and its corresponding indicia or item number located on the faceplate 34. Such a clerk would fill in the order form and only enter the color-coded section fully visible opposite each and every prong (display device) which has a corresponding locating number. A simple order form comprising a checkerboard pattern of squares, wherein the squares are alphabetically numbered along the ordinate from A to Z, Aa-Zz, etc., and the abscissa is in numerical order so that any box in the order form could be identified by reading across and upwardly or downwardly so as to identify a box for example by a letter and a number.

For simplicity, the clerk may use the letters R, W and B for marking the order sheet next to the peg or prong location viewed, and that should none of the color-coded sections be completely visible, then the clerk would leave blank the associated box in the order form for such a peg or prong.

In the order form of FIG. 5, other additional information is shown besides location, and quantity and may be included, if desired. In a store or department employing the display devices and operating under the method of merchandising disclosed herein, the department or store is divided into sections or such other predetermined lengths or zones as is appropriate. Each such section or length is given a letter code. Thus, for example, in a 20 foot department, one might provide sections A, B, C and D. Within each section, each display device or prong would be given a location number starting for example with 01 in the upper left-hand corner numerically increasing vertically downward and across the section until the last lower right-hand corner. Of course, because of various product sizes, the number of display devices or prongs in a section may differ from the section next to it.

The computer has in its master file or memory bank information, such as every customer's location and product numbers, customer name list, location of inventory, customer sales in each category, addresses, discount percent and other sales data, such as prices, number of pieces ordered, supplies, etc.

Each store will receive with its previous order either a printed order form as hereinbefore described or a computer generated form to be used for reordering. Such form may be printed in location number sequence or randomly, and can show a complete profile of the store or department.

The order form also has provisions for the date of the previous order so that the possibility of a duplicate order is precluded. If a previous order has not yet been received and the store has ordered merchandise for (A1) on both orders, then the computer will simply indicate that shipment is to be made only on the difference between what was ordered previously and the quantity on the latest order. It should be appreciated that, if desired, manual product substitutions can be made by punching up a card with the store number, peg or prong location number, and the new item number. Such a manual substitution will override any automatic substitution made by the computer during the processing of the reorder.

While the invention is shown, illustrated, described and disclosed in terms of embodiments which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention should not be deemed to be limited thereby.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Display means, for a merchandise inventory control system, displaying and supporting merchandise in the form of predetermined number of display packages on a hole-punched pegboard or the like; comprising merchandise hanger means, adapted to be detachably mounted to said pegboard, and having a generally horizontally extending cantilevered element means forming a U-shaped member; said U-shaped member having a lower prong and an upper prong disposed apart from said lower prong, said upper prong having a faceplate containing removably identifying indicia regarding the merchandise displayed beneath same on said lower prong, and said lower prong having an upwardly inclined tip portion and a plurality of adjacently disposed coded sections containing a predetermined number of display packages, whereby a merchandise inventory control system may be maintained by the periodic observation and replenishment of said display package removed from said lower prong leaving at least one vacant coded section.

2. The display means according to claim 1, wherein said lower prong is coded by means of a plurality of differently colored sections along the length of said lower prong.

3. The display means according to claim 1, wherein said upper and lower prongs are made integral.

4. The display means according to claim 3, wherein said upper and lower prongs reside in the same vertical plane.

5. The display means according to claim 4, wherein said upper prong is shorter in length than said lower prong.

6. The display means according to claim 2, wherein said color-coded sections are painted.

7. The display means according to claim 2, wherein said color-coded sections are provided by means of colored sleeve tubing disposed about said lower prong.

8. The display means according to claim 2, wherein each of said color-coded sections contain the same number of packages.