Modular display for consumer products

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular display for consumer products, which contains a support frame, several modular display shelves that can be displaced in a rotating manner upwards and downwards in relation to the frame, several containment elements that can slide laterally on a support grille, frontal securing elements and bracket elements that allow the modular shelves to rotate. The invention's modular display allows the products to stay organized, contained and permanently at the front of the display. The display also facilitates the counting and distribution of the products. In addition, the modular display allows products of different dimensions, height and width to be displayed, by means of simple adjustments to their configuration.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One of the most important aspects of the industry of manufacturing and distributing consumer products, such as snacks, fried foods, bread, cookies, sweets and similar items, is the way in which the products are displayed to the consumer at points of sale. Consumer products should be displayed in such a way that they are always within the consumer's reach, well ordered and classified in the display; in addition, the display must facilitate the substitution and replacement of such products by distribution personnel. Market studies have demonstrated that the sales of a product increase significantly when the product is permanently "put forward," i.e., whenever the products are placed at the front of the display, so as to catch the attention of the consumer and allow for easy removal from the display. On the other hand, the consistency, weight and geometry of products packed in plastic bags, for example snacks, make it particularly difficult for the displayed products to remain well ordered, and to be pushed towards the front of the display. Several types of displays are known for consumer products, generally consisting of a series of shelves and panels with divisions in order to accommodate in rows the various products to be exhibited for sale. However, these displays do not keep the product up front and are difficult for the distributors to replenish. U.S. Patent No. 4,109,797 discloses a display assembly for sale products comprising an elongated basket secured to a pair of upright supports, the basket further comprising divisions for accommodating the products in rows. This display assembly does not, however, maintain the products for sale at the front of the display as the consumer removes them, neither does it allow for easy replenishment of the products by the distributor. Another known type of display is that which is described in Mexican patent application No. 9603837, which has the advantage of maintaining the products in order and permanently at the front of the display, while also facilitating their filling by the distributors. However, in spite of its advantages, said display has a relatively complicated structure, in which all the shelves of the display are displaced upwards and downwards together, and the products are placed on trays with pre-established sizes, which limit the placement of products of different sizes on the display. On the other hand, due to the structural characteristics of this display, it is certainly difficult to quickly assemble and disassemble it, which makes its transport and distribution to points of sale difficult. In view of the above, one of the objectives of this invention is to supply a product display which keeps the products orderly and permanently at the front of the display, in spite of their gradual removal from the display. Another objective of this invention is to supply a versatile consumer product display, allowing the display of products of various sizes, height and width, with simple adjustments in its configuration. Another objective of the invention is to supply a display that facilitates the distribution, counting, and accommodation of the products at the point of sale. Yet another objective of this invention is to supply a modular display, with a simple structure and construction, facilitating its transport and assembly at the point of sale. These and other objectives of the invention will become apparent from the description of the preferred embodiment detailed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention concerns a modular display for consumer products, that includes: a support frame 90 having uprights 94, wherein said uprights 94 include at least one longitudinal row of grooves 95 capable of receiving display shelves 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 in various positions, depending on the height of the products to be displayed, and wherein said display shelves 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 include a support grille 70, two end containment elements 40, several intermediary containment elements 50 for the products to be displayed, which can be slid laterally on the support grille 70, to adjust to the width of the products to be displayed, frontal securing elements 60 of the containment elements, and bracket elements 80 joining said display shelves 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 to said support frame 90 in which, the modular display comprises display shelves 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 that can be rotated and displaced upwards and downwards in relation to the support frame 90, said bracket elements 80 joining said display shelves 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 to said support frame 90 allowing the front end of said display shelves 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 to rotate upwards and downwards in relation to the support frame 90, and maintaining the display shelves 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 in a lower inclined position, or in a horizontal upper position so that the modular display allows products of various dimensions to be displayed, and sliding the products through containment elements towards the front of the display, as the consumer gradually removes the products contained therein, and wherein the end containment elements 40 contain a front wall 41, a back wall 48, a bottom wall 46, and a lateral wall 42, which in addition contains, at its upper end, a guide element 44 which works together with the guide element of the adjacent containment elements to guide the products when they slide towards the front of the display. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic perspective of an embodiment of the modular product display under this invention, showing the shelves in their inclined position; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective, similar to Figure 1, showing one of the shelves in its horizontal position; Figure 3 is a detailed view of the modular display in Figure 1; Figure 4A is a plane view from above of one of the end containment elements in Figure 3, while the other end is a mirror image of same; Figure 4B is an elevated lateral view of the end containment elements in Figure 4A; Figure 4C is a frontal perspective of the end containment elements in Figure 4A; Figure 4D is an elevated detailed lateral view of the frontal part of the end . containment elements in Figure 4B; Figure 5A is a plane view from above of one of the intermediary containment elements in Figure 3; Figure 5B is an elevated lateral view of the intermediary containment elements in Figure 5A; Figure 5C is a posterior view of the intermediary containment elements in Figure 5A; Figure 6A is an elevated posterior view of the frontal containment elements in Figure 3; Figure 6B is a cross section view of the frontal containment elements in Figure 6A; Figure 6C is an additional cross section view of the frontal containment elements in Figure 6A; Figure 7 is a perspective of the support grille in Figure 3; Figure 7A is a plane view from above of the support grille in Figure 7; Figure 7B is a frontal elevated view of the support grille in Figure 7; Figure 7C is a lateral elevated view of the support grille in Figure 7; Figure 8A is a view of the bracket elements in Figure 3; Figure 8B is a frontal elevated view of the bracket elements in Figure 8A; Figure 9A is a view of the frame elements in Figure 3; Figure 9B is an elevated lateral view of the frame elements in Figure 9A; and Figure 9C is an elevated frontal view of one of the stringers in the frame elements in Figure 9A. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figures 1 and 2 illustrate in a general schematic manner this invention's modular product display 10, which includes a frame 90 (see Figures 9A to 9C), several decorative elements 12, 14, 16, 26 and 27 (see Figure 3), joined to frame 90 and several display shelves 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19, which can be displaced upwards and downwards rotating in relation to the frame 90. Figure 1 shows display shelves 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19, in their downward position, the position in which they remain in order to display the products contained therein. Figure 2 shows display shelves 11, 13, 15 and 17 in their horizontal position, the position in which the shelves are placed by distribution personnel in order to replenish them and change products, while display shelf 19 remains in its downward position. Figure 3 shows a detailed view of the various elements composing the invention's modular display. The invention will now be described with reference to Figure 3 and the following Figures, which illustrate each of the elements of the modular display in more detail. Each of the display shelves is joined to a frame 90, with a variable number of display shelves, whereby the separation between them depends on the size of the products to be displayed in each of them, i.e., the modular display allows products of different sizes to be displayed, depending on specific display needs. As shown in Figures 9A to 9C, the frame 90 consists of two uprights 94, joined in their lower part to the base elements 98, which, together with the uprights 94, have an L-shape configuration, as can be seen in Figure 9B. The two L-shaped elements are joined by two reinforcement crosspieces 92 and 93, placed crosswise between them. In addition to giving structural resistance to the frame, these crosspieces 92 and 93 establish the distance that must exist between the two uprights 94. The uprights 94 include two parallel longitudinal rows of grooves 95 and 97, receiving the brackets which support each of the various modular display shelves 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 in a fixed position, depending on the desired separation between each of said shelves, as will be described in more detail below. In Figure 3, each of the display shelves includes two sliding end containment elements 40, several sliding intermediary containment elements 50, a support grille 70, two brackets 80 and frontal securing elements 60. In the preferred embodiment, each of the display shelves includes two sliding end containment elements 40, and five or more sliding intermediary containment elements 50. However, this configuration may vary depending on display needs. As can be seen from Figures 4A to 4D, each of the end containment elements 40 consists of a frontal wall 41, a lateral wall 42, a back wall 48 and a bottom wall 46. The outside of the frontal wall 41 has a securing profile 43, and the outside of the bottom wall has a securing U-shaped projection 49. On the upper part of the wall 42 there is a guide element 44 which, as described below, helps keep the products organized. On the other hand, as can be seen in Figures 5A to 5C, each of the intermediary containment elements has a frontal wall 51, a central wall 56, a back wall 58 and a bottom wall 52. The outside of frontal wall 51 has a securing profile 53, and the outside of the bottom wall has a securing U-shaped projection 59. On the upper part of intermediary wall 56 there is.a guide element 54 that acts in conjunction with guide element 44 of the sliding end containment elements 40 to help keep the products organized. End and intermediary containment elements are joined to the support grille 70, inserting the rod 75, see Figure 7, into the U-shaped elements 49 and 59, respectively, of the sliding end and intermediary elements 40 and 50, so that the containment elements remain fixed in said support grille 70, and can be slid laterally, so that the channel formed between walls 42 and 56 and the channel or guide formed by elements 44 and 54 can be adjusted to the size of the product displayed, and the product may be slid towards the front of the display when the display shelf is placed in its inclined position. In addition, end and intermediary elements 40 and 50 are attached to the grille by the frontal securing elements 60, see Figure 6, introducing profiles 43 and 53 of each of the containment elements 40 and 50 in the channel 63 formed in the posterior part of such securing elements 60. In turn, frontal securing elements 60 are attached to support grille 70, inserting rod 76 of support grille 70 into channel 65 formed by the projection 67 of the securing elements 60. Thus, each of the containment elements is maintained in its place on the support grilles 70, both in their central and frontal parts, maintaining the possibility of sliding laterally, thus forming the entire structure of modular display shelves 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19. Frontal securing elements 60 include, in addition, a channel 62 on their front face, which allows inserting a tape with legends or drawings, as well as a channel 66 on their upper face, which allows inserting a strip of acrylic or similar material 64, preventing the displayed products from falling when they are displaced towards the front. Both ends of rods 72 and 74 of the support grille 70 are inserted into perforations 84 and 82, respectively, of two brackets 80 (see Figure 8) so that when the projections 85, 87 and 88 of the brackets are inserted into grooves 95 or 97 of the uprights 94 of frame 90, all the shelves are secured to said frame 90 in a rotating manner. Brackets 80 include an upper oval perforation 82 and a lower curve groove 84, which has an undercut 86 at its upper end. This configuration allows the entire displaced shelf to revolve downwards and upwards, from its display position to its replenishing position; when rod 74 of support grille 70 falls into undercut 86, it allows the display shelf to remain in its horizontal position until it is lifted and taken out of the undercut, so that it returns by gravity to its display position. In addition, bracket 80 includes two flanges 86, 89, which give stability to the entire display shelf after said bracket 80 has been joined to upright 94 of frame 90, introducing the projections 85, 87, 88 in the grooves 95. Uprights 94 of the frame 90 have two rows of grooves 95, 97, so as to be able to install, in modular fashion, one display next to another, inserting a bracket corresponding to a display shelf in the row of grooves 95, and introducing another groove corresponding to other adjacent display shelves in the row of grooves 97, thus obtaining the configuration of a modular display with variable length, adjusting the available display space for the products displayed at the point of sale. The upper part of the frame, as well as its sides, are used to place decorative and advertising materials, as can be seen in Figure 3, such as an awning 16, joined to the uprights 94 by attaching elements 18 and, on said awning, a support 14 for an advertising poster 12, as well as lateral covers 26 and 27, which can also hold containers 29, 31 for the advertising material of the products to be displayed. The above description clearly shows that the same modular product display can contain products with different heights, by adding or removing display shelves, and products with different widths, by sliding and adding or removing intermediary containers, as well as interconnecting in a modular fashion two or more frames to increase display capacity, depending on the area available at the point of sale.

Claims: A modular display (10) for consumer products, that includes: a support frame (90) having uprights (94), wherein said uprights include at least one longitudinal row of grooves capable of receiving display shelves in various positions, depending on the height of the products to be displayed, and wherein said display shelves include a support grille (70), two end containment elements (40), several intermediary containment elements (50) for the products to be displayed, which can be slid laterally on the support grille (70), to adjust to the width of the products to be displayed, frontal securing elements of the containment elements, and bracket elements (80) joining said display shelves to said support frame characterised in that , the modular display comprises several display shelves (11, 13, 15, 17, 19) that can be rotated and displaced upwards and downwards in relation to the support frame, said bracket elements joining said display shelves to said support frame allowing the front end of said display shelves to rotate upwards and downwards in relation to the support frame, and maintaining the display shelves in a lower inclined position, or in a horizontal upper position so that the modular display allows products of various dimensions to be displayed, and sliding the products through containment elements towards the front of the display, as the consumer gradually removes the products contained therein, and wherein the end containment elements contain a front wall (41), a back wall (48), a bottom wall (46) and a lateral wall (42), which in addition contains; at its upper end, a guide element (44) extending at right angles to the lateral wall (42) and cooperating with a guide element (54) of the adjacent containment elements (50) to guide the products when they slide towards the front of the display. The modular display for consumer products according to claim 1, where the intermediary containment elements contain a front wall, a back wall, a bottom wall and a central wall, which in addition contains, at its upper end, a guide element which works together with the guide element of the adjacent containment elements to guide the products when they slide towards the front of the display. The modular display for consumer products according to any of claims 1 or 2 where the end and intermediary containment elements for products are joined, with the ability of being released and slid, to at least one rod of the support grille by at least one U-shaped projection formed on the external side of the bottom wall of said containment elements. The modular display for consumer products according to any of claims 1 or 2 where some of the end and intermediary containment elements for products are joined with others, with the ability to be slid, through a profile formed on the external face of the front wall of the containment elements, which is inserted into frontal securing elements which, in turn, are joined to a front rod of the support grille. The modular display for consumer products according to any of claims 1 to 4 where the frontal securing elements include a groove on their rear side, suitable to be adjusted to the shape and size of the profile of the containment elements, and a projection in its lower part which joins them, with the possibility of releasing them, to the front rod of the support grille. The modular display for consumer products according to claim 5 where the frontal securing elements also include a groove on their front side, which allows for the insertion of an acrylic slip, which prevents the displayed products from falling when they are displaced towards the front of the display. The modular display for consumer products according to claim 5, where the frontal securing elements also contain a groove on their front side, which allows for the insertion of a strip with legends or drawings. The modular display for consumer products according to any of claims 1 to 7, where the bracket elements contain an oval groove on their top part, and a semicircular groove in their lower part, so that two back rods of the support grille are introduced into said slots, in order to allow the display shelves to rotate. The modular display for consumer products according to claim 8, where the semicircular groove also contains an undercut at its top, allowing the back rod of the support grille to enter into said slot, when the display shelves rise to their horizontal position, maintaining the display shelf in a horizontal position. The modular display for consumer products according to claim 8, where the bracket elements also contain at least one L-shaped securing element, preferably three, on its back side, suitable to join the bracket to the support frame. The modular display for consumer products according to claim 8, where bracket elements contain two projections at the back end of their lateral sides, diametrically opposed, which give stability to the product display shelves. The modular display for consumer products according to any of claims 1 to 11, where the uprights of the support frame contain two parallel longitudinal rows of grooves, allowing for the adjacent placement of two product display shelves. The modular display for consumer products according to any of claims 1 to 12, where the upper part and sides of the support frame are used to place covers or advertising and ornamental elements for the products to be displayed.

Inventors: DE LA FUENTE RAMON, DE LA FUENTE, RAMON
Applicants: SABRITAS S A DE C V, SABRITAS, S.A. DE C.V.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A47F5
IPC codes: A47F5