Abstract:
A point of sale display station for holding products to be sold, includes a peripheral wall which forms an enclosure for the products, the peripheral wall having a front open area for removal of the products from the enclosure; a roof secured to the peripheral wall, the roof extending substantially to a front surface of the display station; a cover pivotally mounted at a top front section of the peripheral wall for movement between a first position in covering relation to the front open area and a second position above the front open area and substantially flush and parallel with the front surface of the display station, the cover including a display arrangement on a rear surface thereof for providing information regarding the products in the enclosure; and a securing arrangement for releasably securing the cover in the first and second positions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to point of sale display stations, and more particularly, is directed to a point of sale display station for use outdoors to protect and display items for sale. 
   It is known to provide point of, sale display stations for use outdoors to protect and display items for sale. For example, a conventional such display station is sold by the assignee of the present application under the trademark “DOCK LOCKER.” Such display station is made from heavy-duty steel and plastic for holding numerous items, such as hundreds of twelve packs of soda cans, outside a retail establishment, such as a convenience store, gas station and the like. The display station includes a large front open area and a large top open area to permit easy access to the packs of soda cans. A cover is hinged at the top rear and can fold down over the top and front openings, and lock in position, to prevent theft of the contents while the retail establishment is closed. Such a display station provides an increased selling area for the retail establishment, which generally has limited floor space within the store itself. In addition, the front covering portion of the cover, when folded up to expose the large top and front openings, provides promotional graphics and other information, such as the price, product description, etc. which is readily visible at the point of sale. 
   However, there are various problems with this known display station. First, when the cover is placed in the raised, open position, the product, for example, packs of soda cans are exposed to sun, rain and snow. It has been found that the printing on the soda cans fades after about thirty hours in the sun. Therefore, a consumer may not want to purchase the goods. Further, the rain and snow fall directly on the product, which is undesirable. 
   Another problem with such display station is that, when the cover is positioned in covering relation to the top and front openings, a flat horizontal roof is formed. This, however, is disadvantageous for the buildup of snow and rain. 
   In addition, with this construction, there is very little ventilation with the cover in the closed position. As a result, during hot weather, there is a build-up of heat in the display station, which can damage the products. 
   Lastly, the front surface of the cover is provided with opposing L-shaped channels for retention of a pricing insert, generally made of a single panel of corrugated cardboard or plastic material. Each time that a price changes, it is necessary to remove the insert, find a different insert with a different price and insert the same. This means that numerous discrete panels of corrugated plastic must be provided with different pricing thereon. Because of the numerous discrete panels that must be used, this can be burdensome. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a point of sale display station that overcomes the problems with the aforementioned prior art. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a point of sale display station in which the cover provides a display which is flush with the front of the display station in the open position. 
   It is still another object of the present invention to provide a point of sale display station in which the cover is hinged at the top front of the display station. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a point of sale display station in which the fixed roof extends to the top front of the display station to limit exposure of the products therein to sun, rain, snow and other elements. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a point of sale display station in which the roof is sloped so that any rain or snow that falls on the roof does not fall on the products and is quickly removed. 
   It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a point of sale display station in which the hinges of the cover prevent any rain or snow that slides down the roof from exiting from the front of the display station so as not to interfere with the display of the products therein. 
   It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a point of sale display station in which the roof is connected to the rear of the display station by bent flanges that provide gaps as air vents so that air from the outside can circulate within the display station to prevent overheating of the products. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a point of sale display station in which the insert containing the pricing information, which is to be inserted in the L-shaped channels, is a folded insert member which includes a plurality of hinged panels with different pricing or other information thereon. 
   It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a point of sale display station that is easy and economical to assemble, operate and manufacture. 
   In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a point of sale display station for holding products to be sold, includes a peripheral wall which forms an enclosure for the products, the peripheral wall having a front open area for removal of the products from the enclosure; a roof secured to the peripheral wall, the roof extending substantially to a front surface of the display station; a cover pivotally mounted at a top front section of the peripheral wall for movement between a first position in covering relation to the front open area and a second position above the front open area and substantially flush and parallel with the front surface of the display station, the cover including a display arrangement on a rear surface thereof for providing information regarding the products in the enclosure; and a securing arrangement for releasably securing the cover in the first and second positions. 
   The roof is sloped to remove precipitation therefrom, and preferably has an inverted V-shaped configuration. The peripheral wall includes a rear wall, opposite side walls connected to the rear wall, and a front panel secured to the opposite side walls, and further comprising a bottom wall connected with the peripheral wall. 
   The securing arrangement includes at least one first swivel plate on the peripheral side wall and at least one second swivel plate on the roof, and the cover includes a panel having at least one opening therein for receiving the at least one first swivel plate in the first position and the at least one second swivel plate in the second position. Each swivel plate has an enlarged head for insertion through the at least one opening, and at least one enlarged head has an opening for receiving a lock. 
   The cover is formed from a plurality of panels which are hinged together. The cover includes at least one living hinge for hingedly connecting together the panels. Specifically, the cover includes first through fourth the panels which are hinged together in sequence, the first panel being fixed to the top front section of the peripheral wall, the second panel including the display arrangement on a rear surface thereof for providing information regarding the products in the enclosure and the fourth panel including part of the securing arrangement. In addition, the roof is sloped, and the third panel is sloped in the second position and forms a continuation of the sloped roof in the second position. The second panel is substantially flush and parallel with the front surface of the display station in the second position. The first through fourth panels are aligned in a planar configuration in the first position in covering relation to the front open area. 
   The display arrangement includes at least one set of opposing L-shaped channels and at least one information insert which is insertable within the at least one set of opposing L-shaped channels, at least one information insert being formed by a plurality of panels hinged together in sequence at edges thereof and each panel having different information indicia thereon. 
   In addition, air vents are provided between the roof and the peripheral wall for the circulation of air into and out of the display station. Specifically, the peripheral wall includes bent over flanges, and the roof includes a bent peripheral flange which overlaps the bent over flanges so as to provide an air gap between the roof and the peripheral wall, and the peripheral wall further includes at least one opening between the bent over flanges which, together with the air gap, defines the air vents. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a point of sale display station for holding products to be sold, includes a peripheral wall which forms an enclosure for the products, the peripheral wall having a front open area for removal of the products from the enclosure; a roof secured to the peripheral wall; a cover pivotally mounted to the peripheral wall for movement between a first position in covering relation to the front open area and a second position above the front open area; a securing arrangement for releasably securing the cover in the first and second positions; and air vents between the roof and the peripheral wall for the circulation of air into and out of the display station. 
   The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a point of sale display station according to the present invention, in a closed configuration; 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the display station; 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the space station; 
       FIG. 4  is a right side elevational view of the space station, the left side being a mirror image thereof; 
       FIG. 5  is a rear elevational view of the space station; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a point of sale display station according to the present invention, in an open configuration; 
       FIG. 7  is perspective view of the roof locking mechanism; 
       FIG. 8  is a blown apart, perspective view of a portion of the roof, showing the folded inserts; and 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the top rear portion of the space station, showing the attachment of the roof to the rear wall in a manner to provide air vents. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to the drawings in detail, a point of sale display station  10  according to the present invention includes a rectangular bottom wall  12  and a rectangular rear wall  14  having its bottom edge secured to a rear lengthwise edge of bottom wall  12 . A right side pentagonal wall  16  is connected with the right vertical edge of rear wall  14  and with a right side widthwise edge of bottom wall  12 , with right side pentagonal wall  16  having a rectangular lower portion  16   a  and a triangular upper portion  16   b . A left side pentagonal wall  18  is connected with the left vertical edge of rear wall  14  and with a left side widthwise edge of bottom wall  12 , with left side pentagonal wall  18  having a rectangular lower portion  18   a  and a triangular upper portion  18   b . L-shaped channel members  19  are secured to front edges of rectangular lower portions  16   a  and  18   a , and in particular, have a first elongated leg  19   a  secured to an outer surface of each rectangular lower portion  16   a  and  18   a  at a front edge thereof, and a second elongated leg  19   b  extending slightly inwardly from the respective first elongated leg  19   a . L-shaped channel members  19  are also secured to rear edges of rectangular lower portions  16   a  and  18   a  and end edges of rear wall  14 . 
   A lower front panel  20  is removably connected by wing nuts (not shown) to the lower ends of second elongated legs  19   b  of L-shaped channel members  19 , and can be easily removed for restocking of product. Lower front panel  20  extends about one-third of the height of rectangular lower portions  16   a  and  18   a , thereby providing a large front opening  21  through which products can be deposited and removed. Because of triangular upper portions  16   a  and  18   a  of pentagonal walls  16  and  18 , a roof  22  which is connected to the upper edges of triangular upper portions  16   a  and  18   a  and rear wall  14  has an inverted V-shape configuration, with a forward sloping portion  22   a  and a rearward sloping portion  22   b  meeting at an apex  22   c . As a result, roof  22  extends to the upper ends of front edges of pentagonal walls  16  and  18  to limit exposure of the products within display station  10  to sun, rain, snow and other elements. Further, because roof  22  is sloped, any rain or snow that falls on roof  22  does not fall on the products and is quickly diverted. Roof  22  has end flanges  22   d  that fold down over and are secured to the upper edges of triangular upper portions  16   a  and  18   a  and rear wall  14  by carriage bolts  23 . 
   In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, a cover  24  is provided for covering front opening  21 , and also serving as a point of sale display. Specifically, cover  24  is formed by first through fourth rectangular panels  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32 . First rectangular panel  26  has a relatively narrow width and has opposite ends thereof flush against the upper edges of second elongated legs  19   b  of L-shaped channel members  19  and fixedly secured thereto by bolts  34 . Second rectangular panel  28  has its upper lengthwise edge connected to the lower lengthwise edge of first rectangular panel  26  by a living hinge  36  that permits second rectangular panel  28  to be pivoted upwardly from the position shown in  FIG. 1  to the position shown in FIG.  6 . The use of living hinge  36  provides the advantage that there are no discontinuities resulting from the hinged area. This means that rain and snow which slide down forward sloping portion  22   a  of sloped roof  22  impact at living hinge  36  and then are diverted to the sides of display station  10  for removal, rather than falling down the front of display station  10  where the snow and rain could fall through front opening  21  onto the products. 
   Third rectangular panel  30  has its upper lengthwise edge connected to the lower lengthwise edge of second rectangular panel  28  by a living hinge  38  that permits third rectangular panel  30  to be pivoted upwardly from the position shown in  FIG. 1  to the position shown in FIG.  6 . Preferably, second and third rectangular panels  28  and  30  are the largest of the rectangular panels and thereby cover the majority of front opening  21  in the closed position of FIG.  1 . Fourth rectangular panel  32  has its upper lengthwise edge connected to the lower lengthwise edge of third rectangular panel  30  by a living hinge  40  that permits fourth rectangular panel  32  to be pivoted upwardly from the position shown in  FIG. 1  to the position shown in FIG.  6 . However, since fourth rectangular panel  32  is used primarily for securement purposes, it is much narrower than second and third rectangular panels  28  and  30 , and thereby has a width similar to that of first rectangular panel  26 . 
   In the closed position of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , first through fourth rectangular panels  26 - 32  are aligned with each other so that cover  24  assumes a planar configuration that completely covers front opening  21 . 
   Fourth rectangular panel  32  includes two end slots  42   a  and  42   b , and a center slot  42   c . A U-shaped metal reinforcing plate  44  is inserted over fourth rectangular panel  32 , from the lower end thereof, in association with each slot  42   a - 42   c . Each U-shaped metal reinforcing plate  44  includes a slot  46  in alignment with the respective slot  42   a - 42   c.    
   A swivel plate  48  is secured to each second elongated leg  19   b  immediately above the upper edge of lower front panel  20 , and is also secured to a plate  50  that is secured to the upper end of lower front panel  20 . When cover  24  is in the closed position of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , swivel plates  48  extend through slots  42   a - 42   c  and slots  46 . Each swivel plate  48  has a relatively flat, enlarged head  48   a  with an opening  48   b  therein. Thus, when each enlarged head  48   a  is inserted through the respective slots and rotated, cover  24  is locked in position. A combination or key lock can then be inserted through openings  48   b  to prevent opening of cover  24  when the retail establishment is closed, thereby providing a security feature for the goods inside of display station  10 . 
   In the open configuration shown in  FIG. 6 , rectangular sections  28 ,  30  and  32  are formed in a substantially triangular configuration, so as to be positioned on forward sloping portion  22   a  of roof  22 . In this configuration, second rectangular section  28  extends vertically up from living hinge  36  so as to be flush with the front of display station  10  in the open position, and third rectangular section  30  is sloped down rearwardly substantially as a continuation of rearward sloping portion  22   b  of roof  24 , although it need not be at the same angle of inclination of rearward sloping portion  22   b . The reason for the flush arrangement of second rectangular panel  28  is that cover  24  is hinged at the top front of display station  10 . Because of this arrangement, roof  22  can extend to the top front of display station  10  to limit exposure of the products therein to sun, rain, snow and other elements. 
   Further swivel plates  48  are secured to opposite ends of forward sloping portion  22   a  of roof  22  adjacent apex  22   c . When cover  24  is in the open position of  FIG. 6 , swivel plates  48  extend through slots  42   a  and  42   b  and slots  46 . Thus, when each enlarged head  48   a  is inserted through the respective slots  42   a ,  42   b  and  46  and rotated, cover  24  is locked in the open position. 
   Alternatively, magnets can be used at the positions of swivel plates  48  and slits  42   a - 42   c  to hold cover  24  in the open and closed positions. In such case, a transverse flange can be provided at the lower edge of rectangular panel  32  and a similar transverse flange can be provided at the upper edge of front panel  20  for abutting thereagainst, each having aligned holes for receiving a padlock. 
   In the open configuration of  FIGS. 6 and 8 , the rear surface  28   a  of second rectangular panel  28  faces outwardly. Rear surface  28   a  is provided with opposing sets of L-shaped channels  52 . A folded insert member  54 , preferably made of corrugated cardboard or plastic material, formed of a plurality of panels  54   a  hinged together in sequence by living hinges  54   b , can be removably inserted in the direction of arrow  56  in  FIG. 8 , within respective sets of opposing L-shaped channels  52  for displaying pricing and other information. Each panel  54   a  has different information printed thereon. Each time that a price or other information changes, the respective insert  54  is removed from channels  52  and folded in a different manner so that the desired information can be viewed when insert  54  is replaced in the respective opposing L-shaped channels  52 . Accordingly, unlike known arrangements, it is not necessary to provide numerous discrete panels with different information thereon, thereby reducing the burden of changing the pricing and other information. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, roof  22  is connected to the rear of display station  10  by bent over flanges that provide gaps as air vents so that air from the outside can circulate within display station  10  to prevent overheating of the products therein. Specifically, the upper edge of rear wall  14  is formed with spaced apart flanges  58  that are bent down over the rear surface at the upper end of rear wall  14 , as shown in FIG.  9 . Recessed openings  60  are provided at the upper edge of rear wall  14  between bent over flanges  58 . In this manner, the rear end flange  22   d  of roof  22  is bent over flanges  58  and secured thereto by bolts  23 . Because of this arrangement, it will be appreciated that rear end flange  22   d  is spaced away from rear wall  14  by the thickness of bent over flanges  58 . As a result, this spacing and the formation of recessed openings  60  form air vents for the circulation of air into and out of display station  10 , as shown by arrows. 
   Having described a specific preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to that precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention defined by the appended claims.