Merchandizing device

A merchandizing device is shown in the preferred form according to the teachings of the present invention as including a display portion for displaying a plurality of one half pairs of products and a storage portion associated with the display portion for storing all of the mates of the one half pairs of products displayed in the display portion. the display portion includes a frame including a rectangular back portion and isosceles trapezoid-shaped top and bottom portions for rotatably mounting three shelf units arranged in a clearing, triangular configuration. Each of the shelf units include vertically arrayed, horizontal, adjustable shelves. The storage portion is shown in the preferred form as first and second cabinets movable between a first position behind the display portion such that the display portion prevents access to the interior of the cabinets and a second position located to the side of the display portion allowing access to the cabinets' interiors. In the preferred embodiment, the cabinets are movable by rollers and by drawer glides mounted to the cabinets and the display portion.

BACKGROUND 
The present invention relates generally to merchandising products, 
particulary to displaying products that are normally sold in pairs such as 
footwear, and specifically for displaying a plurality of one half pairs of 
products and for storing the mates of the plurality of one half pairs of 
products in a contained unit. 
With the advent of self-service type, discount stores, a need has arisen 
for displaying merchandise which allows the consumer to easily find and 
select the desired merchandise without supervision of store clerks while 
substantially preventing theft of the merchandise as the result of lack of 
store supervision. Likewise, in self-service as well as semi-self service 
and full-service stores, a need has arisen for displaying merchandise 
which increases the productivity of store personnel. Furthermore, such 
display units should maximize the amount of merchandise on display while 
minimizing the retail space requirements. 
SUMMARY 
The present invention solves these and other needs in merchandising by 
providing, in the preferred embodiment, a merchandising device including a 
display portion for displaying a plurality of one half pairs of products 
and a storage portion for storing the mates of the plurality of one half 
pairs of products displayed in the display portion. The display portion 
includes first, second, and third shelf units rotatably mounted about 
spaced, vertical axes arranged in a triangular configuration and arranged 
to clear one another when rotated about their vertical axes. The shelf 
units each include vertically arrayed shelves arranged perpendicular to 
the vertical axes of the shelf units allowing double-sided display of the 
one half pairs of products located on the shelves. The merchandising 
device maximizes the products displayed while minimizing the sales space 
required. 
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a novel 
merchandising device. 
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel 
merchandising device which displays one half pairs of a plurality of 
products and stores the mates of the one half pairs displayed in a 
contained unit. 
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel 
merchandising device which increases productivity. 
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel 
merchandising device which maximizes the amount of products on display 
while minimizing retail space requirements. 
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel 
merchandising device allowing the consumer to easily find and select the 
desired merchandise. 
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel 
merchandising device which substantially prevents theft. 
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel 
merchandising device which increases impulse purchasing. 
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel 
merchandising device which aids in attracting the consumer's attention. 
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel 
merchandising device which reduces operating costs. 
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel 
merchandising device which is useable in self-service, semi-self service, 
and full-service store operations. 
These and further objects and advantages of the present invention will 
become clearer in light of the following detailed description of an 
illustrative embodiment of this invention described in connection with the 
drawings.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the 
present invention only; the extensions of the Figures with respect to 
number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the 
preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skill of the 
art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read 
and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions 
to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements 
will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings 
of the present invention have been read and understood. 
Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals 
designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms "top", 
"bottom", "upper", "lower", "first", "second", "inside", "outside", and 
similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms 
have reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would 
appear to a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to 
facilitate describing the invention. 
DESCRIPTION 
A preferred form of a merchandising device according to the teachings of 
the present invention is shown in the drawings as a contained display and 
inventory unit and generally designated 10. In the preferred form, unit 10 
is utilized to merchandise products that are normally sold to consumers in 
pairs such as footwear, where one of the pair (one half pair) is displayed 
to the consumer and the other of the pair (the mate of the one half pair) 
is maintained in inventory. The purpose of displaying only one of the pair 
is to maximize the number of product types and styles on display while 
reducing the possibility of theft since only one half of the product is 
accessible to the consumer. 
In the preferred form of the present invention, unit 10 generally includes 
a display portion 12 and a storage portion 14. In the most preferred form 
of the present invention, display portion 12 is generally triangular in 
configuration and generally includes a frame 16 which rotatably mounts 
three shelf units 18-20. Frame 16 generally includes a back portion 22 
having a generally rectangular shape including a top rail 24 and a bottom 
rail 26 having their ends interconnected by side rails 28. Frame 16 
further includes a top portion 29 having a generally triangular 
configuration and particularly is in the form of an isosceles trapezoid 
including a front rail 30 which is generally parallel to and of a length 
significantly shorter than top rail 24 and side rails 32 extending between 
the ends of rails 30 and 24. Frame 16 further includes a bottom portion 34 
having a generally triangular configuration indentical to top portion 29 
and particularly is in the form of an isosceles trapezoid including a 
lower rail 36 which is generally parallel to and of a length significantly 
shorter than bottom rail 26 and side rails 38 extending between the ends 
of rails 26 and 36. In the most preferred form, suitable members 40 such 
as legs are provided to support frame 16 in a generally spaced condition 
above the showroom floor or other surface. Thus, legs 40 support display 
portion 12 on the floor such that no retail wall space is wasted. In its 
most preferred form, frame 16 includes a panel 42 secured to back portion 
22 on the side opposite to top and bottom portions 29 and 34. Face 44 of 
panel 42 located in back portion 22 may be mirrored or provide an 
advertising surface of the products being merchanized in unit 10. In the 
most preferred form, arrangements are made to have panel 42 and/or face 44 
interchangeable to allow changing the merchandising environment of display 
portion 12. 
In the most preferred form of the present invention, shelf units 18-20 
generally comprise vertically arrayed shelves 46 which are adjustably 
supported in a framework 48. Framework 48 is generally rectangular in 
shape and includes a top arm 50 and a bottom arm 52 having their ends 
interconnected by upright arms 54. Shelves 46 are demountable attached 
between upright arms 54 by members 56 shown in their preferred forms as 
trough shaped members 58 which are received on the opposite sides of 
shelves 46 and may be removably positioned along upright arms 54. In the 
most preferred form, members 58 include pin members 60 which are removably 
received in one of a complementary set of an array of apertures 62 
arranged longitudinally along upright arms 54. 
Shelf unit 18 is rotatably mounted in frame 16 by spindles 63 extending 
between the intermediate points of front rail 30 and top arm 50 and of 
lower rail 36 and bottom arm 52. Shelf units 19 and 20 are rotatably 
mounted in frame 16 by spindles 63 extending between the intermediate 
points of side rails 32 and top arm 50 and of side rails 38 and bottom arm 
52. Thus, shelf units 18-20 are arranged to be rotatable about vertical 
axes, with the axes being perpendicular to shelves 46 of shelf units 
18-20. In the preferred form, shelf units 18-20 are arranged to clear one 
another when they are rotated in frame 16. 
In the preferred form of the present invention, storage portion 14 
generally includes first and second storage cabinets 64 and 66. Cabinets 
64 and 66 in their most preferred form have a height generally equal to 
the height of display portion 12 and a width generally equal to one half 
of the width of panel 42 of frame 16. Generally, cabinets 64 and 66 
include a closed top 68, a closed back 70, a closed bottom 72, closed 
sides 74, and an open front 78 defining an interior. To allow storage of 
footwear in individual bags and relieving the need for boxes, compartment 
inserts 80 are removably received in the interiors of cabinets 64 and 66 
and generally include vertical dividers 82 and horizontal dividers 84. 
Dividers 82 and 84 include complementary slots 86 extending one half the 
length of dividers 82 and 84 so that they may be interfitted to form 
insert 80 defining a plurality of individual compartments. It should then 
be noted that with insert 80 received in the interiors of cabinets 64 and 
66 in a manner as shown in the exploded version of dividers 82 and 84 of 
FIG. 1, vertical dividers 82 can be removably arranged to provide for 
individual compartments of varing sizes to accomodate various size 
products such as loafers and boots. Likewise, due to the removable nature 
of insert 80, insert 80 may be reversed in position from the exploded 
version of FIG. 1 such that horizontal dividers 84 can be removably 
arranged to provide for individual compartments of varying sizes to 
accomodate various size products such as loafers and boots. 
In the preferred form of the present invention, cabinets 64 and 66 are 
movable between a first position located behind display portion 12 such 
that panel 42 closes open front 78 of cabinets 64 and 66 and a second 
position located to the side of display portion 12 such that access is 
permitted in the interior of cabinets 64 and 66. In FIG. 1, cabinet 64 is 
shown as located in the first, closed access position and cabinet 66 is 
shown as located in the second, open access position. In the most 
preferred form, cabinets 64 and 66 are provided with rollers 88 for 
rollable support on the showroom floor or other surface. Furthermore, in 
the most preferred form, cabinets 64 and 66 are movably mounted to display 
portion 12 such as by drawer type glides 90 mounted on panel 42 along 
rails 24 and 26 of display portion 12 and on the edges of top and bottom 
68 and 72 defining open front 78 of cabinets 64 and 66. It should then be 
noted that units 10 are very stable and are free standing and are not 
prone to shifts in weight as the result of movement of cabinets 64 and 66 
according to the teachings of the present invention. 
In the preferred form of the present invention, unit 10 further generally 
includes lighting and advertising display portion 92 having a 
configuration substantially the same as the top of display and storage 
portions 12 and 14 with cabinets 64 and 66 in their first, closed access 
positions. Generally, portion 92 includes six sides 94 having a length 
generally equal to front rail 30, side rails 32 of frame 16, sides 74 of 
storage portion 14, and the combined length of backs 70 of cabinets 64 and 
66 of storage portion 14. Sides 94 are adaptable to removably receive 
signs including suitable advertising for the products being merchandised 
in unit 10. Suitable lighting 96 can be provided such as florescent tubes 
in the interior of portion 92 for providing illumination of the signs 
located in sides 94 of portion 92. To allow placement of unit 10 in low 
light or unlighted areas and to illuminate the products displayed in 
portion 12, the bottom of portion 92 can be equipped with paracube or 
parahex lenses 98 to allow light from florescent tubes 96 to pass 
therethrough. Suitable attachment members 100 can be provided to secure 
portion 92 to portion 12 of unit 10 such as L-shaped brackets attached to 
portions 12 and 92. 
Now that the construction of contained display and inventory unit 10 
according to the preferred form of the present invention has been set 
forth, the operation and subtle features of the present invention can be 
set forth and appreciated. Usually when displaying footwear, one half of a 
pair is displayed on a selling floor sales area while the other half of 
that pair or its mate is kept in a storage room at some distance. This 
practice leads to wasted time going back and forth for personnel and 
inconvenience to the consumer. By placing storage portion 14 immediately 
behind display portion 12 according to the teachings of the present 
invention, unit 10 saves time, space and labor for both the consumer and 
retailer. 
It should be noted that the rotatability of shelf units 18-20 according to 
the teachings of the present invention is further advantageous. 
Specifically, shelf units 18-20 allow for two-sided display and can thus 
hold double the amount of merchandise of single-sided display fixtures. 
For example, with shelves 46 having a size of 16 inches by 19 inches, four 
half pairs of footwear can be displayed on one side of shelf 46 and four 
additional half pairs of footwear can be displayed on the other side of 
shelves 46. It is then only necessary to rotate shelf units 18-20 in frame 
16 to allow viewing of both display sides of shelf units 18-20. 
In its most preferred form, shelf units 18-20 include twelve shelves 46 
spaced 6 inches vertically apart such that 96 half pairs of footwear can 
be displayed in each shelf unit 18-20. Thus, the rotatability of shelf 
units 18-20 substantially reduces space requirements. Furthermore, unit 10 
includes three shelf units 18-20 in the most preferred form allowing the 
display of 288 half pairs of footwear. Further, the triangular 
configuration of shelf units 18-20 maximizes the utilization of floor 
space reducing space requirements while maximizing display. 
Further, since access is allowed through fronts 78 of cabinets 64 and 66 of 
unit 10 according to the preferred form of the present invention, unit 10 
can be placed against a wall such that backs 70 of cabinets 64 and 66 are 
parallel and adjacent thereto such that retail space requirements are 
further minimized. 
It should also be appreciated that having storage portion 14 movable with 
respect to display portion 12 in a manner such as unit 10 of the preferred 
form of the present invention allows for advantageous arrangement of a 
plurality of units 10 while maximizing retail space. For example, two 
units 10 can be arranged with backs 70 of storage portions 14 of units 10 
in a generally abutting arrangement. Likewise, three units 10 can be 
arranged in a U-shaped arrangement, with the area within the units 10 
being utilized as space for additional storage and/or desk and counter 
space. In the preferred form, backs 70 of units 10 forming the legs of the 
U-shaped arrangement extend generally at an angle of less than 90.degree. 
from the back 70 of unit 10 forming the central portion of the U-shaped 
arrangement for ease of mobility of cabinets 64 and 66. Similarly, four 
units can be arranged around a square space having sides generally equal 
to the width of units 10, with the square space being utilized for 
additional storage. It can then be appreciated that unit 10 according to 
the teachings of the present invention is particularly adaptable to 
various arrangements which maximize display and merchandising while 
minimizing space requirements. 
It can then be appreciated that unit 10 according to the teachings of the 
present invention results in synergistic reduction of retail space 
requirements of 60 to 70 percent. Specifically, unit 10 according to the 
preferred form of the present invention utilizes only 10 square feet of 
floor space while storing and displaying 288 pairs of footwear. By 
reducing retail space requirements, operating costs are reduced in both 
square foot rents and other applicable real estate costs. 
In the most preferred form, shelf units 18-20 are arranged and marked by 
footwear size and category such that the consumer can easily find wanted 
merchandise, increasing impulse purchasing. Furthermore ease of selection 
or rejection by the consumer is obtained because all inventory is 
displayed. Furthermore, each compartment of cabinets 64 and 66 is assigned 
a location number for ease of finding the mates of the one half pair 
displayed in display portion 12. Therefore, sales losses due to misplaced 
merchandise is substantially prevented. Likewise, the long trips to a 
separate storage room to determine if merchandise of the desired size or 
the like is available and/or to obtain the other half of the displayed 
merchandise are substantially eliminated since all products are displayed 
and stored in contained unit 10 according to the teachings of the present 
invention. 
It can then be appreciated that unit 10 according to the teachings of the 
present invention results in increased productivity in the range of at 
least three times per square foot of retail space. 
Further, the attention of the consumer is attracted, and thus the turnover 
of the products displayed is increased as the result of the construction 
of unit 10 according to the teachings of the present invention. 
Particularly, the rotation of shelf units 18-20 will aid in attracting 
attention to unit 10. Mirrors attached to panel 42 give proximity for 
consumer use. Likewise, consumers are quickly guided to wanted merchandise 
by signs located in sides 94 of lighting and advertising display portion 
92, by signs attached to rotating shelf units 18-20, and/or by signs 
located on panel 42. Furthermore, the consumer will be attracted to unit 
10 by the large quantity of merchandise displayed in a relatively small 
space in an uncluttered manner. 
Now that the basic teachings of the present invention have been explained, 
many extensions and variations will be obvious to one having ordinary 
skill in the art. For example, it can then be appreciated that display 
portion 12 can be used independently from storage portion 14 as a 
functional store fixture. For example, display portion 12 can be utilized 
in a manner similar to prior practices where the other half of the 
displayed half pair was kept at a remote storage room. 
Likewise, although in the preferred form, storage portion 14 of unit 10 
according to the teachings of the present invention is formed from two 
separate cabinets 64 and 66 and is believed to be particularly 
advantageous, it should be noted that storage portion 14 may have other 
constructions such as a single cabinet according to the teachings of the 
present invention. Further, although in the preferred form access is 
allowed to the interiors of storage portion 14 by the movability of 
cabinets 64 and 66 with respect to display portion 12, other methods of 
access can be provided according to the teachings of the present invention 
such as fixing storage portion 14 to display portion 12 and providing 
doors in storage portion 14. Furthermore, in the preferred form, inserts 
80 are provided in storage portion 14 to define a plurality of individual 
compartments for storing the mate of the half pair displayed, other 
methods of arranging and storing the mate of the half pair displayed can 
be utilized according to the teachings of the present invention such as 
but not limited to permanently formed compartments or other storage 
members. 
Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific 
forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics 
thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments 
described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not 
restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended 
claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which 
come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are 
intended to be embraced therein.