Abstract:
A mounting bracket assembly for a gondola upright that includes a mounting bracket having a mounting detail and a substantially flat portion, and a wire hanger configured to be attached to the mounting bracket. In a particular embodiment, the mounting bracket assembly wherein the mounting detail is configured to fit into an opening in the gondola upright. The mounting detail is configured to secure the mounting bracket to the gondola upright. Further, the substantially flat portion is configured to position the mounting bracket and wire hanger in a desired orientation.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention generally relates to retail display systems, and more specifically, to retail display systems incorporating retail gondola systems. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Conventional retail gondola systems have been used in various configurations for mounting shelving and hooks in retail environments for years. These hooks traditionally mount within a peg board or slatwall panel insert that fits between two gondola uprights. These gondola uprights that make up the end structures of the gondola typically have a series of rectangular piercings or stamped out areas that are used by the shelves for mounting in the gondola units. There are also a number of devices that have been developed to take advantage of upright mounting systems, such as cross bars and basket systems. At times, retailers will use a mixture of display systems within a system of gondolas, shelves, cross bars and hooks to create the proper presentation of the goods for sale. 
         [0003]    Conventional mounting hooks have been limited to being mounted between the uprights of the gondola due to the style of the hooks and where the hooks have been designed to mount. It would therefore be desirable to have a mounting hook design capable of mounting individually to a gondola upright. Embodiments of the invention provide such a mounting hook. These and other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a mounting bracket assembly for a gondola upright that includes a mounting bracket having a mounting detail and a substantially flat portion, and a wire hanger configured to be attached to the mounting bracket. In a particular embodiment of the mounting bracket assembly, the mounting detail is configured to fit into an opening in the gondola upright. The mounting detail is configured to secure the mounting bracket to the gondola upright. Further, the substantially flat portion is configured to position the mounting bracket and wire hanger in a desired orientation. 
         [0005]    In another aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a retail display system that includes one or more gondola uprights configured to support the retail display system, and a mounting bracket assembly capable of being mounted in a single gondola upright, the mounting bracket assembly comprising. In a particular embodiment, the mounting bracket assembly includes a mounting bracket has a mounting detail and a substantially flat portion, and a wire hook configured to be attached to the mounting bracket. In a particular embodiment, the mounting detail is configured to fit into an opening in the gondola upright. The mounting detail is configured to secure the mounting bracket to the gondola upright. Further, the substantially flat portion is configured to position the mounting bracket and wire hanger in a desired orientation. 
         [0006]    Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of a gondola upright mounting device, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of a gondola upright mounting device, according to an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a pictorial view of a gondola upright mounting device, according to yet another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a pictorial view of a gondola upright mounting device, according to yet another embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a pictorial view of a gondola upright incorporating the mounting devices of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
       
    
    
       [0013]    While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial illustration of a mounting bracket assembly  100 , according to an embodiment of the invention. The mounting bracket assembly  100  includes a mounting bracket  102  designed with a specific contour  104  for the insertion of the wire hook  106  including snap points  108  to offer resistance to keep the wire hook  106  from being removed from the mounting bracket  102 . Rather than having a round hole to accept one end of the wire hook  106 , the specific contour  104  has multiple flats that make contact with the wire hook  106  to aid in the fit of the wire hook  106  to the mounting bracket  102 . 
         [0015]    The mounting bracket  102  is designed to maintain an even wall thickness where it can, to avoid sinking and deforming from oversized walls. Behind the mounting area for the wire hook  106  is a flat surface  110  that will come in contact with the gondola upright  402  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). The flat surface  110  is wide enough to stabilize the wire hook  106  from side to side movement while staying within the confines of the gondola upright  402  and not making contact to adjoining surfaces that would skew the hang angles. 
         [0016]    A mounting detail  112  of the hook projects outward from the flat surface  110 . The width of the mounting detail  112  is slightly less than the width of the openings  404  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) stamped through the uprights  402  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). This allows for the mounting detail  112  to rotate freely to readily facilitate installation and removal of the mounting bracket assembly  100  from the gondola upright  402 , while at the same time providing stability against rotation to the left or right. 
         [0017]    In a particular embodiment, an upper portion of the mounting detail  112  has standing boss  114  that is spaced apart from the flat surface  110  to which the mounting detail  112  is attached. This spacing controls the hang angle of the mounting bracket assembly  100  and provides the interference that keeps the mounting bracket assembly  100  from being removed without intent. In a particular embodiment, a portion of the standing boss  114  extends below the wire hook  106  (when viewed as shown in  FIG. 1 ) so as to avoid interference from the wire hook  106  when the mounting bracket assembly  100  is installed in the gondola upright  402  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). Another portion of the standing boss  114  extends to a point above the wire hook  106  to establish a flat plane  116  that rests against the inside wall of the gondola upright  402 . 
         [0018]    Although the mounting detail  112  could be made from molded solid plastic materials, in alternate embodiments, a portion of the mounting detail  112  may be cored out to avoid deforming, dimpling, or sinking of the outer walls of the mounting detail when the molded plastic cools. The height of the mounting detail  112  is made to fit within the heights of the opening  404  in the gondola uprights  402 . The bottom back corner of the mounting detail  112  has a large sweeping radius to allow the rotation of the mounting bracket  102  into place and flat portion at the bottom of the mounting detail  112  allows the mounting bracket  102  to rest in the opening  404  of the gondola upright  402 . A top portion  118  of the mounting bracket  102  has a flat triangular surface to aid in the stability of the wire hook  106 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a pictorial illustration of a mounting bracket assembly  200 , according to an embodiment of the invention. The mounting bracket  202  is designed with a specific contour  204  for the insertion of the wire hook  206 . The specific contour has snap points  208  to offer resistance to prevent the wire hook  206  from being removed from the mounting bracket  202 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the wire hook  206  is roughly U-shaped with an upper wire  205  and a lower wire  207 . The specific contour  204  includes multiple flats that make contact with one end of the wire hook  206  to aid in the fit of the wire hook  206  to the mounting bracket  202 . 
         [0020]    The mounting bracket  202  is designed to maintain an even wall thickness where it can, to avoid sinking and deforming from oversized walls. Behind the mounting area for the wire hook  206  is a flat surface  210  that will come in contact with the gondola upright  402  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). The flat surface  210  is wide enough to stabilize the wire hook  206  from side to side movement while staying within the confines of the gondola upright  402  and not making contact to adjoining surfaces that would skew the hang angle of the mounting bracket assembly  200 . 
         [0021]    The mounting detail  212  of the wire hook  206  projects outward from the flat surface  210 . The width of the mounting detail  212  is slightly less than the width of the opening  404  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) stamped through the gondola upright  402 . This allows for the mounting detail  112  to rotate freely to readily facilitate installation and removal of the mounting bracket assembly  200  from the gondola upright  402 , while at the same time providing stability against rotation to the left or right. 
         [0022]    In a particular embodiment, an upper portion of the mounting detail  212  has a standing boss  214  that is spaced apart from the flat surface  210  to which the mounting detail  212  is attached. This spacing controls the hang angle of the mounting bracket assembly  200  and provides the interference that keeps the mounting bracket assembly  200  from being removed without intent. In a particular embodiment, a portion of the standing boss  114  extends below the wire hook  106  (when viewed as shown in  FIG. 1 ) so as to avoid interference from the wire hook  206  when the mounting bracket assembly  200  is installed in the gondola upright  402  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). Another portion of the standing boss  214  extends to a point above the wire hook  206  to establish a flat plane  216  that rests against the inside wall of the gondola upright  402 . 
         [0023]    Although the mounting detail  212  could be made from molded solid plastic materials, in alternate embodiments, a portion of the mounting detail  212  may be cored out to avoid deforming, dimpling, or sinking of the outer walls of the mounting detail when the molded plastic cools. The height of the mounting detail  212  is made to fit within the height of the opening  404  in the gondola upright  402 . The bottom back corner of the mounting detail  212  has a large sweeping radius to allow the rotation of the mounting bracket  202  into place and then a flat at the bottom for the mounting bracket  202  to rest in the opening  404  of the gondola upright  402 . A top portion  218  of the mounting bracket  202  has a flat triangular surface that is there to aid in the stability of the wire hook  206 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a pictorial view of a mounting bracket assembly  300 , according to an embodiment of the invention. The scan hook  302  has both a hang wire  304  for supporting retail products and an upper wire  306  that is generally parallel to the hang wire  304 . The main purpose of the upper wire  306  is to create an area for the mounting of a label holder (not shown) to the mounting bracket assembly  300 . In a particular embodiment, the hang wire  304  and upper wire  306  are made from the same continuous section of wire. In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the scan hook  302  has two 90-degree bends that create a vertical rise between the hang wire  304  and the upper wire  306 . 
         [0025]    In particular embodiments of the invention, the back, or mounting area, of the mounting bracket  310  is similar to the mounting area of the mounting brackets  102 ,  202  described above. In a particular embodiment, the scan hook  302  is mounted to a vertical plane or wall  312  by welding or brazing. However, other methods for attaching the scan hook  302  to the vertical wall  312  using adhesives or mechanical fasteners, for example, are also envisioned. While the mounting bracket  310  can be configured such that the scan hook  302  can be welded to the vertical wall  312  of the mounting bracket  310 , it is also envisioned that the mounting bracket  310  could be molded from a rigid plastic material. 
         [0026]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the mounting bracket  310  has two ears  316  spaced such that the width of a mounting detail  318  is slightly less than the width of the openings  404  found in the gondola upright  402  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). The height of the mounting detail  318  is made to fit within the height of the opening  404  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) in the gondola upright  402 . The bottom back corner of the mounting detail  318  has a large radius to allow for rotation of the mounting bracket  310  into place within the opening  404 . The mounting detail  318  further includes a flat portion at the bottom which allows the mounting bracket  310  to rest securely in the opening  404  of the gondola upright  402 . 
         [0027]    A lower portion  314  of the mounting bracket  310  includes a strong channel  319  that has weld projections  320  for the use of resistant welding of the scan hook  302  to the mounting bracket  310 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , two flanges  322  extend from each side of the channel  319  in a lateral direction to stabilize the mounting bracket  310  and reduce or prevent both vertical rotation and side to side movement of the mounting bracket  310 . In alternate embodiments of the invention, the mounting bracket  310  may have fewer or greater than two flanges. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is a pictorial view of a mounting bracket assembly  350 , according to a particular embodiment of the invention. The mounting bracket  352  has two containing areas  354 ,  355  for capturing and retaining the scan hook  356 . The upper containing area  354  is U-shaped and restricts side-to-side movement of the scan hook  356 . The upper containing area  354  also restricts downward movement of the scan hook  356 . In a particular embodiment, the upper containing area  354  has a notched area in front that creates a snap fit when the scan hook  356  is inserted into the mounting bracket  352 . 
         [0029]    The lower containing area  355  is generally a U-shaped as well, using a common vertical wall  366  that supports the upper containing area  354 . A standing core area  368  with an undercut front edge extends horizontally from lateral flanges  374  and includes a channel  369  to create a containing fit for the scan hook  356 . In a particular embodiment, the lower containing area  355  is oriented in an approximately 180-degree rotation from the upper containing area  354 . Between these two areas  354 ,  355 , the scan hook  356  is substantially restricted from movement in all three dimensions. The details for attaching the mounting bracket assembly  350  into the gondola upright  402  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) are similar to those of the mounting bracket assembly  300  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0030]    The scan hook  356  has both a hang wire  358  for supporting retail products and an upper wire  360  that is generally parallel to the hang wire  358 . The main purpose of the upper wire  360  is to create an area for the mounting of a label holder (not shown) to the mounting bracket assembly  350 . In a particular embodiment, the hang wire  358  and upper wire  360  are made from the same continuous section of wire. In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the scan hook  356  has two 90-degree bends that create a vertical rise between the hang wire  358  and the upper wire  360 . 
         [0031]    The mounting bracket  352  has two ears  370  spaced such that the width of a mounting detail  372  is slightly less than the width of the openings  404  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) found in the gondola upright  402  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). The height of the mounting detail  372  is made to fit within the height of the opening  404  in the gondola upright  402 . The bottom back corner of the mounting detail  372  has a large radius to allow for rotation of the mounting bracket  352  into place within the opening  404 . The mounting detail  372  further includes a flat at the bottom which allows the mounting bracket  352  to rest securely in the opening  404  of the gondola upright  402 . 
         [0032]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , two lateral flanges  374  extend from each side of the common vertical wall  366  in a lateral direction to stabilize the mounting bracket  352  and reduce or prevent both vertical rotation and side to side movement of the mounting bracket  352 . In alternate embodiments of the invention, the mounting bracket  352  may have fewer or greater than two flanges. 
         [0033]    In a particular embodiment, the mounting detail  372  comprises a U-shaped portion  362 . The width of this U-shaped portion  362  restricts movement of the mounting detail  372 , and therefore the mounting bracket  352 , from side to side within opening  404  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). Further, the U-shaped portion  362  includes a vertical plane or wall  364  to restrict vertical movement of the scan hook  356  in the mounting bracket  352 . 
         [0034]    In a particular embodiment, the mounting bracket  352  is created from a metal stamping, an example of which is provided by the R36 mounting bracket  352  manufactured by Southern Imperial Inc. of Rockford, Ill. In alternate embodiments of the invention, the mounting bracket  352  is made from molded plastic. 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  shows a pictorial view of a gondola upright  402  incorporating each of the mounting bracket assemblies  100 ,  200 ,  300  described above. The gondola upright  402  supports one side of peg board  406 . Each of the mounting bracket assemblies  100 ,  200 ,  300  fits into one of the plurality of openings  404  in the gondola upright  402 . Thus, a single gondola upright can support a variety of mounting bracket assemblies, including the embodiments described herein. As such, retail items which previously could only be displayed from mounting system supported between gondola uprights using the peg board  406 , for example, can be displayed prominently from any single gondola upright  402 . It is also envisioned that embodiments of the invention described herein could be used to the mounting of various retail items such as aisle markers and/or signage. 
         [0036]    All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
         [0037]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0038]    Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.