Abstract:
Module for playing a plurality of promotions, including: a plurality of fixtures sequentially configurable into the plurality of promotions by rotating at least one fixture while maintaining an original position of each fixture within the reconfigurable module, each fixture including a plurality of sides; and a plurality of fasteners to combine the plurality of fixtures into the reconfigurable module. Key words include corrugate, modular, and rotate.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Field of the Disclosure 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to reconfigurable fixtures, and more specifically, to reconfigurable fixtures for displaying multiple promotions. 
         [0003]    Background 
         [0004]    Typically, retail corrugate fixtures are used to run a single promotion by using the front face of the fixtures. At the end of the promotion, the fixtures are removed and discarded. For example,  FIG. 1  shows a conventional retail corrugate fixture arranged with one side  102  of the fixture  100  (e.g., a box) to form a single promotion.  FIG. 2  shows another conventional retail corrugate fixture arranged with two sides  112 ,  114  of the fixture  110  to form a single promotion. By extension, three or more sides can be used to form a single promotion. 
         [0005]      FIGS. 3 and 4  are top views of the conventional retail corrugate fixtures corresponding to the arrangements of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectively.  FIG. 3  shows the top view of the fixture arranged with one side  102  of the fixture  100  to form a single promotion.  FIG. 4  shows the top view of the fixture arranged with two sides  112 ,  114  of the fixture  110  to form a single promotion. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present disclosure provides for displaying multiple promotions using reconfigurable fixtures. 
         [0007]    In one implementation, a reconfigurable module for displaying a plurality of promotions is disclosed. The reconfigurable module includes: a plurality of fixtures sequentially configurable into the plurality of promotions by rotating at least one fixture while maintaining an original position of each fixture within the reconfigurable module, each fixture including a plurality of sides; and a plurality of fasteners to combine the plurality of fixtures into the reconfigurable module. 
         [0008]    In another implementation, a module reconfigurable from a first promotion to a second promotion is disclosed. The module includes: a plurality of fixtures sequentially reconfigurable from the first promotion to the second promotion by rotating at least one fixture, wherein a position of each fixture within the module is maintained from the first promotion to the second promotion; and a plurality of fasteners to couple the plurality of fixtures together in the first promotion and the second promotion. 
         [0009]    In another implementation, a method of reconfiguring a plurality of fixtures to display multiple promotions is disclosed. The method includes: combining the plurality of fixtures into a modular unit using fasteners to form a first promotion; detaching the fasteners when a predetermined amount of time has elapsed; and rotating at least one fixture of the plurality of fixtures of the first promotion such that different sides of the plurality of fixtures are visible. 
         [0010]    Other features and advantages of the present disclosure should be apparent from the present description which illustrates, by way of example, aspects of the disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The details of the present disclosure, both as to its structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the appended further drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a conventional retail corrugate fixture arranged with one side of the fixture to form a single promotion; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows another conventional retail corrugate fixture arranged with two sides of the fixture to form a single promotion; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows the top view of the fixture arranged with one side of the fixture to form a single promotion; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows the top view of the fixture arranged with two sides of the fixture to form a single promotion; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5A  is a functional diagram of a modular promotional unit formed with multiple fixtures in accordance with one implementation of the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5B  shows a top view of a first promotion which includes two panels with certain sides visible; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5C  shows a top view of a second promotion which includes two panels with different sides visible; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6A  is a functional diagram of a modular promotional unit formed with multiple fixtures in accordance with one implementation of the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6B  shows a top view of a first promotion which includes three panels with certain sides visible; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6C  shows a top view of a second promotion which includes three panels with different sides visible; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating a process for reconfiguring a plurality of fixtures to show multiple promotions in accordance with one implementation of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    As described above, retail corrugate fixtures are used to run a single promotion by using the front face of the fixtures. At the end of the promotion, the fixtures are removed and discarded. Accordingly, there are needs for fixture configurations that can be used for multiple promotions. 
         [0024]    After reading this description it will become apparent how to implement the disclosure in various implementations and applications. Although various implementations of the present disclosure will be described herein, it is understood that these implementations are presented by way of example only, and not limitation. As such, this detailed description of various implementations should not be construed to limit the scope or breadth of the present disclosure. 
         [0025]    In one implementation, by redesigning the fixtures to take advantage of multiple sides of each fixture and combining the fixtures to form a modular unit, the fixtures can be made to run multiple promotions. In one implementation, a fixture is a box containing the media of a movie being promoted. In another implementation, a fixture includes multiple promotions (illustrated on multiple sides) including the promotion for the movie contained in the fixture. In yet another implementation, a fixture is a retail corrugate stand displaying multiple promotions on multiple sides. In yet another implementation, the fixtures of a modular unit are coupled with fasteners (attachment or fastening means) including tapes, ridges, holes, Velcro pads, hooks, tabs, pins, etc. In a further implementation, each fixture of the modular unit is configured to be rotatable such that different sides of the fixture are visible after the rotation. 
         [0026]    Thus, in one implementation, fixtures are combined into a modular unit using fasteners to form a first promotion which is displayed for a predetermined period of time. After the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the fasteners are detached and the fixtures of the first promotion are rotated (without having to significantly move the center of rotation of each fixture) so that different sides of the fixtures are visible. The rotation of the fixture is configured so that the center of rotation does not have to be moved significantly. Thus, the term “not . . . significantly” refers to a movement within a limited space in which the promotion is being displayed. Further, the change in configuration from the first promotion to the second promotion is such that the position of each fixture within the first or second promotion is made to remain constant. This enables the change in configuration to be made without having to shuffle the fixtures in a limited space. The rotated fixtures are then combined again with the fasteners into another modular unit to form a second promotion. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5A  is a functional diagram of a modular promotional unit  500  formed with multiple fixtures  510 ,  520 ,  530 ,  540 ,  550 ,  560  in accordance with one implementation of the present disclosure. In the illustrated implementation of  FIG. 5A , the modular unit  500  displays each promotion on two panels. The first panel is formed with sides  512 ,  522 ,  532  of fixtures  510 ,  520 ,  530 , respectively. The second panel is formed with sides  514 ,  544  of fixtures  510 ,  540 , respectively. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5B  shows a top view of a first promotion  580  which includes two panels with sides  512 ,  522 ,  532 ,  514 ,  544  visible. In  FIG. 5B , fixtures  520 ,  530 ,  540  use two sides, one for each promotion. Fixture  520  uses side  522  for the first promotion and side  524  for the second promotion. Fixture  530  uses side  532  for the first promotion and side  534  for the second promotion. Fixture  540  uses side  544  for the first promotion and side  542  for the second promotion. Further, in  FIG. 5B , fixture  510  uses four sides, two for each promotion. Sides  512 ,  514  are used for the first promotion, while sides  516 ,  518  are used for the second promotion. Thus, for a viewer  582  standing near the corner of the two panels, sides  512 ,  522 ,  532  comprise a front-facing panel, while sides  514 ,  544  comprise a side-facing panel. 
         [0029]      FIG. 5C  shows a top view of a second promotion  590  which includes two panels with sides  516 ,  524 ,  534 ,  518 ,  542  visible. Thus, for a viewer  592  standing near the corner of the two panels, sides  516 ,  524 ,  534  comprise a front-facing panel, while sides  518 ,  542  comprise a side-facing panel. 
         [0030]    To convert the first promotion  580  to the second promotion  590 , fixtures  510 ,  520 ,  530 ,  540  are rotated 180 degrees. Fixture  520  is rotated 180 degrees so that side  522 , which was visible in  FIG. 5B  as part of the front-facing panel is hidden in  FIG. 5C , while side  524 , which was hidden in  FIG. 5B , is shown in  FIG. 5C  as part of the front-facing panel. Fixture  530  is rotated 180 degrees so that side  532 , which was visible in  FIG. 5B  as part of the front-facing panel is hidden in  FIG. 5C , while side  534 , which was hidden in  FIG. 5B , is shown as part of the front-facing panel in  FIG. 5C . Fixture  540  is rotated 180 degrees so that side  544 , which was visible in  FIG. 5B  as part of the side-facing panel is hidden in  FIG. 5C , while side  542 , which was hidden in  FIG. 5B , is shown in  FIG. 5C  as part of the side-facing panel. Fixture  510  is rotated 180 degrees so that sides  512 ,  514 , which were visible in  FIG. 5B  as part of the front-facing ( 512 ) and side-facing ( 514 ) panels are hidden in  FIG. 5C , while sides  516 ,  518 , which were hidden in  FIG. 5B , are shown in  FIG. 5C  as part of the front-facing  516  and side-facing  518  panels. 
         [0031]    It should be noted that while converting from the first promotion of  FIG. 5B  to the second promotion of  FIG. 5C , the position of each fixture within the modular promotional unit  580 ,  590  is fixed. For example, the position of fixture  510  is fixed at front left side, while the position of fixture  520  is fixed at front middle of the unit  580 ,  590  in both  FIG. 5B  and  FIG. 5C . Further, it should be noted that sides of fixture  550  are not visible from the front or the sides. However, fixture  550  would be visible from the back side if the back panel including the back side of fixture  550  is used as well. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6A  is a functional diagram of a modular promotional unit  600  formed with multiple fixtures  610 ,  620 ,  630 ,  640 ,  650 ,  660  in accordance with one implementation of the present disclosure. In the illustrated implementation of  FIG. 6A , the modular unit  600  displays each promotion on three panels. The first panel is formed with sides  612 ,  622 ,  632  of fixtures  610 ,  620 ,  630 , respectively. The second panel is formed with sides  614 ,  644  of fixtures  610 ,  640 , respectively. The third panel is formed with sides  636 ,  664  of fixtures  630 ,  660 , respectively. 
         [0033]      FIG. 6B  shows a top view of a first promotion  680  which includes three panels with sides  612 ,  622 ,  632 ,  614 ,  644 ,  636 ,  664  visible. In  FIG. 6B , fixtures  620 ,  640 ,  660  use two sides, one for each promotion. Fixture  620  uses side  622  for the first promotion and side  624  for the second promotion. Fixture  640  uses side  644  for the first promotion and side  642  for the second promotion. Fixture  660  uses side  664  for the first promotion and side  662  for the second promotion. Further, in  FIG. 6B , fixture  610  uses four sides, two for each promotion. Sides  612 ,  614  are used for the first promotion, while sides  616 ,  618  are used for the second promotion. Thus, sides  612 ,  622 ,  632  comprise a front-facing panel, while sides  614 ,  644  comprise a left side-facing panel and sides  636 ,  664  comprise a right side-facing panel. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6C  shows a top view of a second promotion  690  which includes three panels with sides  616 ,  624 ,  634 ,  618 ,  642 ,  638 ,  662  visible. Thus, sides  616 ,  624 ,  634  comprise a front-facing panel, while sides  618 ,  642  comprise a right side-facing panel and sides  638 ,  662  comprise a left side-facing panel. 
         [0035]    To convert the first promotion  680  to the second promotion  690 , fixtures  610 ,  620 ,  630 ,  640 ,  660  are rotated 180 degrees. Fixture  620  is rotated 180 degrees so that side  622 , which was visible in  FIG. 6B  as part of the front-facing panel is hidden in  FIG. 6C , while side  624 , which was hidden in  FIG. 5B , is shown in  FIG. 5C  as part of the front-facing panel. Fixture  640  is rotated 180 degrees so that side  644 , which was visible in  FIG. 6B  as part of the left side-facing panel is hidden in  FIG. 6C , while side  642 , which was hidden in  FIG. 6B , is shown as part of the left side-facing panel in  FIG. 6C . Fixture  660  is rotated 180 degrees so that side  664 , which was visible in  FIG. 6B  as part of the right side-facing panel is hidden in  FIG. 6C , while side  662 , which was hidden in  FIG. 6B , is shown in  FIG. 6C  as part of the right side-facing panel. Fixture  610  is rotated 180 degrees so that sides  612 ,  614 , which were visible in  FIG. 6B  as part of the front-facing ( 612 ) and left side-facing ( 614 ) panels are hidden in  FIG. 6C , while sides  616 ,  618 , which were hidden in  FIG. 6B , are shown in  FIG. 6C  as part of the front-facing ( 616 ) and left side-facing ( 618 ) panels. Fixture  630  is rotated 180 degrees so that sides  632 ,  636 , which were visible in  FIG. 6B  as part of the front-facing ( 632 ) and right side-facing ( 636 ) panels are hidden in  FIG. 6C , while sides  634 ,  638 , which were hidden in  FIG. 6B , are shown in  FIG. 6C  as part of the front-facing ( 634 ) and right side-facing ( 638 ) panels. 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating a process  700  for reconfiguring a plurality of fixtures to show multiple promotions in accordance with one implementation of the present disclosure. In the process  700 , fixtures are combined into a modular unit using fasteners to form a first promotion, at block  710 . A determination is made, at block  720 , whether a predetermined period of time for displaying the first promotion has elapsed. In one implementation, the predetermined period of time is two weeks. Once the predetermined period of time has elapsed (i.e., the determination at block  720  resulted in a positive output), the fasteners are detached, at block  730 , and the fixtures of the first promotion are rotated, at block  740 , so that different sides of the fixtures are visible. Otherwise, the promotion stays on the first promotion (at block  720 ) until the predetermined period of time is reached. 
         [0037]    The rotation of the fixture is configured so that the center of rotation does not have to be moved significantly. Thus, the term “not . . . significantly” refers to a movement within a limited space in which the promotion is being displayed. Further, the change in configuration from the first promotion to the second promotion is such that the position of each fixture within the first or second promotion is made to remain constant. This enables the change in configuration to be made without having to shuffle the fixtures in a limited space. The fixtures are then combined again with fasteners, at block  750 , into another modular unit to form a second promotion. 
         [0038]    The foregoing methods and apparatus are susceptible to many variations. For example, although the specification describes promotions with two and three panels, the promotions can be configured with more than three panels. The configurations of promotions with more than three panels can be ascertained by extending the descriptions for the two-and three-panel configurations. Further, other configurations for the promotions are contemplated. For example, the illustrations in the present disclosure show only one row of panels. However, additional rows of panels can be stacked on top of the present row of panels. Additionally, for clear and brief description, many descriptions of the methods and apparatus have been simplified. Many descriptions use terminology and structures of specific standards. However, the disclosed methods and apparatus are more broadly applicable. 
         [0039]    Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, units, and algorithm steps described in connection with the implementations disclosed herein can often be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled persons can implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular system, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, the grouping of functions within a unit, module, block, or step is for ease of description. Specific functions or steps can be moved from one unit, module, or block without departing from the disclosure. 
         [0040]    The above description of the disclosed implementations is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to these implementations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles described herein can be applied to other implementations without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the techniques are not limited to the specific examples described above. Thus, it is to be understood that the description and drawings presented herein represent a presently preferred implementation of the disclosure and are therefore representative of the subject matter that is broadly contemplated by the present disclosure. It is further understood that the scope of the present disclosure fully encompasses other implementations that may become obvious to those skilled in the art and that the scope of the present disclosure is accordingly limited by nothing other than the appended claims.