Abstract:
A shelving assembly has an integral product display and provides an adjustable track for the product display to roll along. The track may be adjusted both horizontally and vertically to allow the user to tailor the track to fit different shelving sizes and configurations. A carriage within the track rolls on wheels which are oriented in both the vertical and horizontal plane. A slider framework extends downwardly from the carriage and provides a display box for the customer to view an unboxed and preferably assembled sample of a product for sale. The slider framework is removably secured to the carriage, or in the alternative, the display box is removably secured to the slider framework, so the user may easily remove and replace display samples.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a shelving assembly. More particularly the present invention relates to a shelving assembly for storing a product with an integral product display allowing the user to see the product being stored on the shelving assembly. Specifically, the present invention relates to an improvement to a modular shelving assembly where a fully assembled product is shown to the user on a slidable display, and wherein the same product is boxed and available for retrieval on a shelf behind the slidable display, wherein the boxed product is exposed to the user when the slidable display is slidably moved aside. 
         [0003]    2. Background Invention 
         [0004]    There are several common types of retail settings. In one typical retail setting, the retailer displays products on a “showroom” where various products are assembled and on display for the customers to peruse. When the customer is ready to purchase the item, a store associate must travel back to the warehouse to obtain the item. This type of retail setting has several drawbacks. The warehouse must be sufficiently large to house all the boxed products on display. This increases the size of a retail store&#39;s square footage requirements in that a showroom must be sufficiently sized to display all the display items, and the corresponding warehouse must be sized to store all the display items. Further problems develop in this type of retail setting where the display product is stored separately from the boxed product. For example, the warehouse must be managed properly so a sales associate may find the boxed item in a timely manner and return to the waiting customer. The retailer must account for extra security measures to survey and protect this section of the retail store which are separate from the showroom floor. Furthermore, inventory problems are created where the sales associate doesn&#39;t know that an item is out of stock until a customer requests the item and the sales associate returns from the warehouse empty handed. This leads to problems with customer satisfaction and loss of sales. 
         [0005]    Another typical retail setting is one in which the showroom floor essentially is the warehouse. A customer is required to walk the aisle ways and determine what product is contained in the boxes, and further whether the customer is interested in this item. This type of retail setting has several drawbacks. First, the customer may unknowingly pass by items that either the customer is specifically looking to purchase, or that may have resulted in an impulse sale if the customer simply would have noticed the item. This situation results in lost sales for the retailer and a lessened shopping experience for the customer. Secondly, customers without the capability of inspecting the item first will typically open the item themselves. This is a security risk as well as a less than optimal way to display products to customers. The products are typically not returned to their boxed state properly and subsequent customers wonder if the product contains all the parts, or is broken, and often will not purchase the opened item. Furthermore, if customers do not open the item in the store, they will necessarily need to return items more frequently because they don&#39;t fit the customer&#39;s needs or the item was unsatisfactory. If the item would have been on display, the customer could have inspected and made a more informed decision as to whether the item fit the customer&#39;s criteria. 
         [0006]    A further typical retail setting is one in which the product is on display along with the merchandise. This type of retail setting commonly has a shelf with the product boxed and ready for purchase by the customer, and a shelf with the product on display. This type of retail setting provides a display consisting of the opened and unboxed item which is for sale. The customer may inspect and view the opened item and more easily determine if the customer is interested in purchasing the item. This type of retail setting has several drawbacks. Commonly, the boxed items are stacked on a shelf above the display and require a sales associate to retrieve. This adds time to a purchase and lowers the possibility of an impulse purchase, costing the retailer sales. A further drawback to this type of retail setting is the wasted shelf space required for displaying the item as the items on display typically require a dedicated shelf. This reduces the amount of boxed product that can be stored on the sales floor and often results in product being on the sales floor as well as in a warehouse, or the store purposely operating with a very low inventory. Another drawback to this type of retail setting is the shelving assemblies are static and once assembled, must display every product type and size in the same configuration. Furthermore, once the display element is assembled with the shelving framework, the display element is not adjustable for a new product or to fit a new shelving framework. Shelving assemblies corresponding display elements are a very large cost in the initial startup of any retail store. Purchasing a new shelving framework and/or display element for a different sized product is prohibitively expensive and most stores forego this expense, leaving a poorly fitting display on the sales floor for customers to view. This leads to an unpleasing shopping experience for the customer and loss of sales. 
         [0007]    Heretofore, existing shelving assemblies have been characteristically inefficient and lacking in integration between opened display items and the need to store product out on the sales floor. Therefore, the need exists for a shelving assembly with an integral product display which allows the customer to see an opened display version of the product for sale, while allowing the retailer to store products on the shelving assembly, and which further minimizes the amount of space required to display the product. Furthermore, the shelving assembly should be adjustable in the horizontal plane to expand or contract to different shelving sizes, and be adjustable in the vertical plane as well, to configure the display to position the item at the customer&#39;s eye level for proper viewing. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A primary object of this invention is to provide a highly customizable and adjustable shelving assembly with an integral product display. The shelving assembly should provide an efficient storage system for items of merchandise products while conveniently displaying an opened product in a manner in which storage space is minimally affected. 
         [0009]    These features are obtained by the shelving assembly of the present invention the general nature of which includes a shelving framework having at least one product support shelf; a track assembly secured to the shelving framework; and a carriage assembly having a carriage slidably mounted on the track assembly and moveable horizontally along the track assembly adjacent the product support shelf. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of the shelving assembly with integral product display; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective rear view thereof with the shelving assembly removed; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the carriage assembly; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view with parts cutaway and a first mounting bracket shown in phantom; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged sectional view taken on line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the first mounting bracket with the carriage assembly rails fully recessed; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a front view similar to  FIG. 6  with carriage assembly rails fully extended; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a front elevational view of the shelving assembly similar to  FIG. 1  with the displayed product being moved to expose the stored product; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a front elevational view similar to  FIG. 8  with two carriage assemblies and two distinct products on display and being stored on the shelf; 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The shelving assembly of the present invention is generally indicated at 1, and is shown in  FIGS. 1-9 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , shelving assembly  1  is comprised of a shelving framework  3 , a track assembly  5 , and a carriage assembly  7 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , shelving framework  3  is comprised of a first sidewall  9 , a second sidewall  11 , a backwall  13 , and a plurality of shelves  15 . Sidewalls  9  and  11  are spaced apart and generally parallel in a vertical orientation. Backwall  13  is secured to each sidewall  9  and  11  and extends perpendicularly between sidewalls  9  and  11 . Shelves  15  are parallel to one another in a general horizontal orientation within display  1 , with ends affixed to sidewalls  9  and  11 , and a side affixed to backwall  13 . Shelving framework  3  provides a typical shelving system for displaying commercial products and may be comprised of other elements common in commercial shelving art. Any affixation means common in the art may be used, including welding or machine screws for securing the shelves and walls together. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 , track assembly  5  is comprised of a first mounting bracket  17 , a second mounting bracket  19 , an upper rail  21 , a lower rail  23 , and a plurality of support tubes  25 . Mounting brackets  17  and  19  each include an upper gutter  27 , a lower gutter  29 , a frontplate  31 , a plurality of holes  33  formed in frontplate  31 , a sideplate  35 , and a plurality of mounting tabs  37  formed in sideplate  35 . Rails  21  and  23  are positioned parallel to one another in a general horizontal orientation within display  1 , with support tubes  25  extending vertically therebetween. An upper end  22  of each support tube  25  is affixed to upper rail  21  and a lower end  24  of each support tube  25  is affixed to lower rail  23 . Rails  21  and  23  have an inverted “U-shape” cross-sectional configuration with a backwall  52  and two extending sidewalls  54  forming a U-shaped channel  20  therebetween. Channel  20  is oriented in display  1  such that the open ends of the “U” are directed towards one another to form a track  39  therein. Rails  21  and  23  are fittably received in gutters  27  and  29  respectively on each bracket  17  and  19 , and affixed therein by a threaded bolt  40  through a hole  33  ( FIGS. 4 ,  6 ,  7 ). A bumper  42  is secured by a machine screw  41  at each end of rails  21  and  23  within U-shaped channel  20 . Screw  41  passes through a nut  38  welded on rails  21  and  23  and continues through bumper  42  into a hole  44 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , each mounting tab  37  extending outwardly from sideplate  35  of mounting brackets  17  and  19  is received in a tab hole  43  formed in sidewalls  9  and  11  of shelving framework  3  to adjustably mount track assembly  5  on shelving framework  3 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , carriage assembly  7  is comprised of a display box  45 , a slider framework  47 , and a carriage  49 . Display box  45  includes two spaced horizontal walls  46 , two spaced vertical walls  48 , and a back cover  50 . Slider framework  47  includes two spaced side tubes  51 , two spaced display support tubes  53 , and two spaced carriage support tubes  55 . Side tubes  51  are positioned parallel to one another in a general vertical orientation within display  1 , with support tubes  53  and carriage  55  positioned horizontally therebetween. As shown in  FIG. 2 , display box  45  is affixed to slider framework  47  by securing vertical walls  45  to tubes  51 , and horizontal walls  46  to tubes  53 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , carriage  49  is constructed from six tubes formed in a general rectangular shape. More particularly, carriage  49  is formed from a pair of spaced apart and parallel side tubes  57 , a pair of spaced apart and parallel outer tubes  59  having an outwardly facing side  60 , and a pair of spaced apart and parallel inner tubes  61 . Side tubes  57  are positioned parallel to one another in a general vertical orientation within display  1 , with outer tubes  59  positioned horizontally therebetween. Four gussets  63  are secured to carriage  49  at the  90  abutment created where side tubes  57  and side  60  of outer tubes  59  meet. Each gusset  63  provides bracing for tubes  57  and  59 , and an affixation point for a vertical roller  65 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , a hole  67  is formed in the radial center of vertical roller  65  and a hole  69  is formed in gusset  63 . Roller  65  is secured to gusset  63  by a machine screw  71  passing through holes  67  and  69 . Roller  65  is sized to fit within channels  20  formed in rails  21  and  23 . In a similar affixation manner as vertical roller  65 , a horizontal roller  73  is affixed to side  60  of outer tubes  59  by a machine screw  75  passing through a hole  77  formed through side  60  of outer tube  59 , and a hole  79  formed in the radial center of horizontal roller  73 . The affixation method of rollers  65  and  67  provide for axial rotation around machine screws  71  and  75  respectively. 
         [0026]    Carriage support tubes  55  of slider framework  47  are affixed to inner tubes  61  of carriage  49  and removably secure slider framework  47  to carriage  49 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , a machine screw  81  is passed through a hole  83  formed in carriage support tube  55  and continuing through a similar hole  85  into inner tube  61 . A threaded insert  87  extends into inner tube  61  from an opposed side relative screw  81  and receives screw  81  therein. While slider framework  47  and carriage  49  may be secured to one another by any means common in the art, machine screw  81  is the preferred method as tubes  55  and  61  are easily separated by removing screw  81 , and likewise rejoined. 
         [0027]    Shelving assembly with integral product display  1  is constructed by first assembling shelving framework  3 . Shelving framework  3  is assembled by securing sidewalls  9  and  11  to backwall  13 , and securing shelves  15  between sidewalls  9  and  11  and abutting backwall  13 . This creates a typical shelving system commonly used to hold inventory in commercial settings. 
         [0028]    Next, carriage  49  is assembled by securing side tubes  57  to outer tubes  59 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , gussets  63  are secured to the outwardly facing abutment point where tubes  57  and  59  meet. Inner tubes  61  are secured to side tubes  57  to add stability to the framework of carriage  49  as well as to provide an affixation point for slider framework  47 . Vertical rollers  65  are rotatably affixed to gussets  63 , and horizontal rollers  73  are rotatably affixed to side  60  of outer tubes  59 . 
         [0029]    Slider framework  47  is assembled by securing display support tubes  53  and carriage support tubes  55  in a horizontal orientation to side tubes  51  in a vertical orientation. This creates a rectangular framework with which to secure display box  45  and carriage  49 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in the preferred embodiment, back cover  50  of display box  45  is secured around the periphery to slider framework  47  by display support tubes  53  and side tubes  51 . However, in an alternative embodiment, display box  45  may be removably secured to slider framework  47  to facilitate changing display items within display box  45 . 
         [0030]    Once slider framework  47  and carriage  49  are assembled, these two elements are affixed to each other to form carriage assembly  7 . Carriage assembly  7  is assembled by securing carriage support tubes  55  of slider framework  47  to corresponding inner tubes  61  of carriage  49 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , threaded insert  87  is inserted into hole  85  in inner tube  61 . Threaded insert  87  includes a receiving end  88  and an opposite and spaced apart brace end  89 . Brace end  89  acts as a stopper to prevent threaded insert  87  from being fully inserted into hole  85 . Receiving end  88  of threaded insert  87  is formed to receive a threaded end  86  of machine screw  81  and retain it therein. Machine screw  81  is inserted into hole  83  in carriage support tubes  55 . Hole  83  extends through tubes  55  and allows threaded end  86  of machine screw  81  to pass through tubes  55 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , a head  84  on machine screw  81  prevents screw  81  from passing entirely through support tubes  55 . Threaded end  86  of machine screw  81  extends out of support tubes  55  and enters hole  85  in inner tubes  61  of carriage  49  where it is received by receiving end  88  of threaded insert  87 . As machine screw  81  is tightened, brace end  89  of threaded insert  87  and head  84  of screw  81  act as a vice, pulling carriage  49  and slider framework  47  together and holding them securely thereto. As shown in  FIG. 3 , each carriage support tube  55  includes two holes  83 , and each inner tube  61  includes two holes  85  complimentarily spaced to align with holes  83  when slider framework  47  and carriage  49  are abutting in the proper position. 
         [0031]    Track assembly  5  is assembled by securing first mounting bracket  17  to first sidewall  9 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , mounting tabs  37  on first mounting bracket  17  are inserted through tab holes  43  formed in first sidewall  9 . The plurality of tab holes  43  in each sidewall  9  and  11  allow an assembler to adjust the horizontal position of brackets  17  and  19  to produce the desired horizontal position of display box  45  ( FIG. 1 ) relative a customer&#39;s viewpoint. Next, a first end  26  of upper rail  21  is inserted into upper gutter  27 . Within upper gutter  27 , upper rail  21  is positioned so the open end of U-shaped channel  20  is directed toward the lower gutter  29 . Likewise, first end  26  of lower rail  23  is inserted into lower gutter  29  with the open end of U-shaped channel  20  directed toward upper gutter  27 . Rails  21  and  23  are secured by threaded bolt  40  passed through hole  33  in first mounting bracket  17 . After first ends  26  of rails  21  and  23  are secured within gutters  27  and  29  of first mounting bracket  17 , carriage  49  is inserted at second ends  28  of rails  21  and  23  into track  39  formed from U-shaped channels  20  of rails  21  and  23 . Carriage  49  is retained in track  39  by vertical rollers  65  and horizontal rollers  73  of each outer tube  59  positioned within U-shaped channels  20  of rails  21  and  23 . To close track  39  and slidably retain carriage  49  therein, second end  28  of upper rail  21  is inserted into upper gutter  27  of second mounting bracket  19  and second end  28  of lower rail  23  inserted into lower gutter  29  of second mounting bracket  19 . Second mounting bracket  19  is then positioned against second sidewall  11  and mounting tabs  37  are inserted into tab holes  43  to secure bracket  19  to sidewall  11 . To complete the assembly of display  1 , threaded bolt  40  is passed through hole  33  in second mounting bracket  19  to secure second ends  28  of rails  21  and  23  within gutters  27  and  29  of second mounting bracket  19 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , carriage  49  slides within track  39 . Vertical rollers  65  are sized and positioned on gussets  63  to rollably abut backwalls  52  of rails  21  and  23 . Shown more particularly in  FIG. 5 , vertical rollers  65  are sized to maintain contact with backwall  52  as carriage  49  rolls within track  39 . This constant contact eliminates “wobble” as carriage  49  slides and ensures a smooth rolling motion for the user. Horizontal rollers  73  are positioned on outer tubes  59  to space carriage  49  within track  39  but do not extend the entire distance between each sidewall  54 . As shown more particularly in  FIG. 5 , horizontal rollers  73  do not maintain contact with both sidewalls  54  to allow for some “play” within the track. This space reduces the tension which would be created by having horizontal rollers  73  constantly in contact with sidewalls  54 . As carriage  49  slides within track  39 , horizontal rollers  73  act as rolling bumpers to keep carriage  49  generally upright and tightly fitted within U-shaped channels  20  of rails  21  and  23 , without adding a constant tension from horizontal rollers  73  maintaining contact with sidewalls  54 . Horizontal rollers  73  do not extend the entire distance between sidewalls  54  and are sized with a sufficient diameter to extend horizontally beyond the other elements comprising carriage  49 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , horizontal roller  73  extends horizontally in U-shaped channel  20  beyond vertical roller  65 , gusset  63 , machine screw  71 , outer tube  59 , and side tube  57 . This ensures that rollers  73  make contact with sidewalls  54  as carriage  49  moves within track  39 . This interaction between carriage  49  and track  39  provides a low friction rolling interaction instead of a high friction scraping or sliding interaction which would occur if the other elements of carriage  49  made contact with sidewalls  54 . 
         [0033]    The shelving assembly of the present invention presents several options to a user for adjusting elements of display  1  which allows customization to a particular product or display area. Shelving framework  3  may be configured to match a variety of retail shelving areas, including moving sidewalls  9  and  11  closer or farther apart, and positioning shelves  15  where desired. Mounting tabs  37  on brackets  17  and  19  allow a user to place track assembly  5  in multiple vertical positions. These vertical positions may be adjusted by placing tabs  37  in various tab holes  43  in sidewalls  9  and  11 . Changing the vertical position of track assembly  5  within display  1  necessarily and correspondingly changes the vertical position of carriage assembly  7  and hence display box  45 . This customization allows the user to ensure that a display product  86  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8  is at the general eye level of the customer. Furthermore, customization may be done by bumpers  42 , which can be used to stop carriage assembly  7  at any point on track  39 , allowing the user to configure the horizontal stopping points of carriage assembly  7 . 
         [0034]    Further customization may be done by using brackets  17  and  19 . Bolt  40  prevents rails  21  and  23  from shifting horizontally within display  1  and acts to pin rails  21  and  23  in the desired position spaced within first and second mounting brackets  17  and  19 . As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the horizontal length of track  39  and consequently the overall horizontal size of display  1  is adjustable by adjusting rails  21  and  23  within gutters  27  and  29  to produce the desired length of track  39 . A plurality of holes  33  are provided within brackets  17  and  19  to allow the user to adjust rail  21  and  23  positions within gutters  27  and  29 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , bolt  40  is secured through one of the holes  33  which correspond to rails  21  and  23  being fully recessed within gutters  27  and  29 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , bolt  40  is secured through one of the holes  33 , preventing rails  21  and  23  from recessing further into gutters  27  and  29 . This may extend the length of track  39  due to gutters  27  and  29  having the same general “U-shaped” channels as rails  21  and  23 , thus allowing carriage assembly  7  to travel beyond the end point of rails  21  and  23  into gutters  27  and  29 . By using U-shaped channels  20  of rails  21  and  23 , as well as the U-shaped gutters  27  and  29  to form track  39 , track assembly  5  is adjustable so carriage assembly  7  may move a greater horizontal distance if desired. 
         [0035]    In operation, a user assembles shelving assembly with integral product display  1  as previously described. A display product  86  is then affixed to display box  45 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8 . Display product  86  is an opened and properly assembled version of a shelved product  90 . A plurality of shelved products  90  rest on one of the shelves  15  in shelving framework  3 . Slider framework  47 , having display box  45  affixed thereto, extends from carriage  49  to allow the user to see display product  86  generally at eye level and as properly assembled as described above. This provides an aesthetically pleasing interaction with display product  86  within the store. Shelved product  90  rests on shelf  15  behind display product  86 . When a user wishes to purchase display product  86 , the user then removes a properly packed version of shelved product  90 , which resides behind display product  86 . To expose shelf product  90 , the user pushes carriage assembly  7  horizontally which moves display product  86  out of the way and allows the user to take shelf product  90 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the user moves carriage assembly  7  in the direction of Arrow A, exposing shelved product  90 . 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , two display products  86 A and  86 B are being displayed and stored by shelving assembly  1 . The user may move carriage assembly  7  holding display product  86 A in the directions of Arrow B to expose shelved product  90 A. Likewise, the user may move carriage assembly  7  holding display product  86 B in the directions of Arrow C to expose shelved product  90 B. Typically, multiple bumpers  42  (not shown) are affixed to rails  21  and  23  to prevent multiple carriage assemblies  7  such as in  FIG. 9 , from moving past a midpoint or various desired stopping points. 
         [0037]    By using shelving assembly  1 , the user may view an assembled version of shelved product  90 , which reduces confusion and mistaken purchases, heightening customer satisfaction. This also reduces returns and overhead for the retailer. Furthermore, the retailer significantly reduces the retail space required for selling this product by displaying the product in the same area being used to store the product. When a new product is put on display, the user removes slider framework  47  from carriage  49  by unscrewing machine screw  81 , releasing slider framework  47  from shelving assembly  1 . The user then can disassemble display product  86  and remove it from display box  45 . The new display product  86  is then affixed to display box  45 . Finally, slider framework  47  is attached to carriage  49  by screwing machine screw  81  back into hole  83  in carriage support tubes  55 , removably securing slider framework  47  to carriage  49 . 
         [0038]    When a different size configuration, or an altogether new shelving framework  3  is desired, the user slides mounting tabs  37  out of tab holes  43  in sidewalls  9  and  11 , releasing track assembly  5  and carriage assembly  7 . When the reconfigured or new shelving framework  3  is assembled, the user simply slides mounting tabs  37  into new tab holes  43  in sidewalls  9  and  11 . If the distance between sidewalls  9  and  11  has changed, the user may adjust the horizontal length of track  39  by securing rails  21  and  23  with threaded bolt  40  at appropriate holes  33 , as discussed previously herein. 
         [0039]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
         [0040]    Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.