Abstract:
A method for covering a retail display support structure to alter its appearance is provided. The method first comprising the step of dispensing a length of covering material from a wound state on a roll. Next, the length of covering material is severed from roll to form a placard of the covering material having a dimension that corresponds to at least one dimension of the retail display support structure. Next, the placard is secured to retail display support structure to cover at least a portion of the retail display support structure. The placard may be secured to the retail display support structure by pushpins that push through the placard and into holes for supporting peg hooks or shelves.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention generally relates to merchandise display assemblies and more particularly to methods of maintaining merchandise displays. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Shelving units and pegboard display units are the back bone to retail display for displaying merchandise within a retail establishment store. These shelving units typically have a rigid vertical support structure having a plurality of holes for either mounting shelves or peg hooks that support and display the merchandise that is to be sold. Typically, these display units are made from a substantially rigid sheet metal and have a painted finish to provide a clean appearance. In some retail settings, word fiber board pegboard sheets (board sheets with regularly spaced holes) may also be used. 
         [0003]    Unfortunately, over time, as the display units are used and merchandise is added and removed from the peg hooks or shelves, the appearance of the display unit degrades as the paint begins to chip or the display units become dirty or rusty. Furthermore, as the display units are typically painted a uniform color, the display units are typically non-descript and provide limited visual appeal. However, during seasonal shopping periods for example such as Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the like, it can be desirable to adjust the appearance of the display units to more accurately represent the shopping period or to provide an indicator as to the type of merchandise that is being sold on the specific display unit. However, repainting the display unit for each shopping season would be very time consuming and expensive. 
         [0004]    Thus, there is a need in the art for a quick, easy and/or economical way to modify the appearance of the display unit. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect, the present invention provides an improved method of maintaining a retail display support structure using roll media. The method includes the steps of dispensing a length of covering material from a wound state on a roll. The dispensed covering material is then severed from the roll to form a placard of covering material. The placard of covering material is sized to correspond to at least one dimension of the retail display support structure. Finally, the placard of covering material is secured to the retail display support structure to cover a portion of the retail display support structure. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, the invention provides a kit for covering a retail display support structure with a covering material. The kit including a roll of covering material to cover the product display support. A container carries the roll of covering material. The kit further includes a plastic cutting track mountable to the container. The cutting track includes a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall. The second wall is interposed between the first and third walls to form a cutting groove between the first and second walls and a mounting groove between the second and third walls. The first wall is connected to a first end of the second wall, and the third wall is connected to a second end of the second wall. The first, second and third walls are substantially parallel. The cutting groove is sized for receipt of a cutting blade, and the mounting groove is sized for snug-fit receipt of a wall of the container. 
         [0007]    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 
         [0008]    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: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a product display structure having a piece of covering material partially attached to the product display structure in accordance with teachings of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of the product display structure and the attached covering material of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a roll of covering material within a container in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a further perspective view of the roll of covering material of  FIG. 3  having a portion of the covering material unrolled from the roll; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of an alternative roll of covering material according to the present invention having a portion of the media dispensed from the roll and illustrating a plastic cutting track secured to the free edge of the container; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5B  is an enlarged partial illustration of  FIG. 5A  more clearly illustrating the cutting track secured to the free edge of the container; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a portion of another type of covering material having a plurality of perforated rings in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0016]    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 
       [0017]    The present invention relates to a method of covering product display structures. As explained previously, the finish of a product display structure can become dirty or damaged over an extended period of use making the display less appealing. Additionally, even with clean and undamaged product display structures, it may be desirable to vary the appearance or decorate the product display structure depending on the products being displayed or the time of year. 
         [0018]    Referring now to the figures,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrates a product display structure  10  in a simplified manner. The product display structure  10  includes a vertically extending pegboard  12  and a base  14 . The base  14  supports the pegboard  12  and prevents the product display structure  10  from tipping or falling. Typically, the base  14  will rest on a floor of the retail establishment. Furthermore, multiple product display structures  10  may be aligned end to end to provide rows or aisles for displaying merchandise. 
         [0019]    The pegboard  12  acts as a vertical support structure to which display hooks  16 , also known as peg hooks, and other similar hanger devices are mounted for displaying retail product for sale. Horizontal shelving may arranged in front of the pegboard  12 . The pegboard  12  includes a plurality of holes  18  for receipt of display hook mounts  20  of the display hook  16 . The product display structure  10  is typically made from metal but may be made from any substantially rigid material, such as plastic or wood. 
         [0020]    The display hook  16  may be any commercially available display hook. The illustrated display hook  16  is generally U-shaped and includes two horizontally extending bars  22 ,  24 . The two bars  22 ,  24  are typically formed by bending a generally round rod into the U-shape. The top bar  22  is vertically disposed above the bottom bar  24  and the bars  22 ,  24  are generally parallel. The top bar  22  supports a label holder  25  and the bottom bar  24  supports retail product (not shown). However, other shaped display hooks may be used such as ones where the two bars are laterally spaced apart or display hooks that only have a single horizontally extending bar. The display hook mounts  20  extend rearward from the horizontal bars  22 ,  24  and typically have upturned ends  26 . The display hook mounts  20  extend through the holes  18  in the pegboard  12 . The upturned ends  26  help secure the display hooks  16  to the pegboard  12 , and prevent the display hook  16  from being inadvertently removed from the pegboard  12 . 
         [0021]    As the invention will be described with reference to a pegboard  12  and display hooks  16 , the invention is not so limited. The present invention may be applied to other retail product display structures, and typically other retail product display structures having a main support structure with a plurality of holes. 
         [0022]    As is shown in  FIG. 3 , a roll of media  40  for covering the product display structure  10  in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is housed in a protective container  42 , which may be a box. The roll of media  40  is wound around a hollow center core  44 . A spindle  46  attached to ends of the container  46  passes through the center core  44  and mounts the roll of media  40  to the container  42 . The spindle  46  is sized smaller than the center core  44  and suspends the roll of media  40  to allow it to easily rotate within the container  42 . Rather than utilizing a spindle that extends the entire length of the roll of media  40 , the roll of media  40  could be supported by two stub shafts extending inward from and mounted to the ends of the container  42 . It is preferable for the media  40  to be mounted on the core  44  and spindle  46  configuration or similar structure for ease of dispensing the media  40 ; however, the roll of media  40  may merely rest in the container  42 . In this configuration, somewhat more force will be required to unroll or dispense the media  40  because of the friction between the container  42  and the media  40 . 
         [0023]    The rolled format of the media  40  allows very large or long lengths of media  40  to be stored in a compact container  42  and in a protected configuration while making the media  40  easy to handle. As a result, preformed flat placards which are made at a factory and then shipped to a retail establishment need not be done. Rather, the present invention accomplishes major spacing and shipping advantages. The width of the roll of media  40  may be any width, but is preferably between about 2 feet and about 4 feet. The unwound length of the media  40  wound around the center core  44  will preferably be between about 100 and 1000 feet. The unwound linear length of the roll of media  40  can vary depending on the weight of the media and the width of the media. Preferably, the roll of media  40  has a total weight of less than about 20 pounds so that it can be easily manipulated. The container  42  protects the media  40  from environmental conditions such as dust and light. The media  40  is preferably paper or vinyl, but may be any other suitable material for covering the pegboard  12  while providing an aesthetic appearance. 
         [0024]    One advantage of vinyl is that it may be washed without degradation to the material. By using a covering material that may be washed, the useful life of the covering material maybe extended between replacement by allowing the covering material to be cleaned if it becomes slightly dirty. However, at some point the appearance of the covering material will become such that it will need to be replaced. In a further embodiment when paper is used, the paper may be coated with a substantially liquid impermeable coating that allows the paper to be washed. This coating is preferably non-reactive to most generally cleaning agents that may include ammonia compounds, bleaches, detergents, soaps and the like. 
         [0025]    The present invention provides a method of covering the product display structure  10 , i.e. the pegboard  12  with the media  40 . The preferred method includes the step of measuring the dimensional size of the area of the pegboard  12  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) to be covered. The measurement may include the height and/or the width of the pegboard  12 . Furthermore, one of these dimensions could be doubled if the pegboard  12  were to be covered on both sides with a single piece of media  40 . 
         [0026]    After measuring, the method includes the step of dispensing a portion of the media  40  from the roll corresponding to the measurements of the area to be covered. The media  40  is dispensed by pulling on the free edge  52  of the roll of media  40 , in a direction indicated by arrows  54 , causing the roll of media  40  to rotate within the container  42  about the spindle  46 . As the roll of media  40  rotates, a portion of the media  40  is unwound from the roll of media  40 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0027]    After a sufficient length of media  40  has been unwound, the unwound length of media  40  is severed from the roll, as is shown in  FIG. 4  to form a placard. Length, when used with reference to the media is meant to include the linear amount of media unwound from the roll of media, even if the unwound length of media is shorter than the width of the roll. The step of severing may be performed by cutting with a cutting tool  60 , such as is illustrated in  FIG. 4  or by tearing, cleaving or like processes. A free edge  62  of the container  42  can be used as a guide to provide a straight edge for making a straight cut. Similarly, the edge  62  can be used to help tear the media and may include a blade secured thereto. Furthermore, the flap  63  of the lid  64  of the container  42  can be inserted behind the media  40  on the inside of the container  42  to secure the media  40  between the flap  63  and the wall  65  of the container  42 . This configuration holds and stabilizes the uncut portion of media  40  during severing. 
         [0028]    Alternatively, a removable cutting track  66  may be provided that attaches to the free edge  62  of the container  42 , as is illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . The cutting track  66  includes a cutting groove  68 . When severing the media  40 , the position at which the media is to be severed is aligned with the cutting groove  68  and the blade  70  of the cutting tool  60  follows the cutting groove  68 . The cutting track  66  provides a safety feature by guarding the blade  70  as the media  40  is severed and further promotes a straight cut of the media  40 . The cutting track  66  includes a mounting groove  69  that receives the free edge  62  of the container  42  for mounting the cutting track  66  thereto. As is illustrated, the cutting track  66  is substantially Z-shaped with the cutting groove  68  opening vertically upward and the mounting groove  69  opening vertically downward and the two grooves  68 ,  69  being separated by a common wall. Preferably, the mounting groove  69  is sized to make a snug fit engagement with the free edge  62  to prevent removal during cutting. The cutting groove  68  is sized larger than the width of the blade  70  but not too large as to provide a significant amount of slop or play when the blade  70  is inserted into the cutting groove  68 . It is an aspect of the present invention that the roll of media  40 , container  42  and cutting track  66  may be provided as display covering kit. 
         [0029]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the media  40  may include cutting alignment markers  71  proximate the edge  72  of the media  40  for indicating predetermined lengths of media. The cutting alignment markers  71  may also be used to align the media  40  relative to the free edge  62  of the container  42  to further provide a straight cut. Preferably, the cutting alignment markers  71  are evenly spaced apart along the edges  72 ,  73  of the media  40 . Preferably the cutting markers may be spaced apart between about ½″ to about 1′ depending on the application. If the covering material is typically used for pegboards having a single predetermined standard size, the cutting alignment markers  71  could be spaced apart the predetermined distance for quick and easy determination of how much media  40  to dispense from the roll of media  40 . The cutting alignment markers  71  as illustrated only extend a short distance from the edges  72 ,  73 . However, the cutting alignment markers  71  could extend entirely across the media from edge  72  to edge  73 . Preferably, the cutting alignment markers  71  are on the side opposite the aesthetic face of the media. 
         [0030]    After the length of media  40  is removed from the roll of media  40  forming a placard  74 , the placard  74  is secured to the product display structure  10 . As is shown in  FIG. 1 , a free edge  76  of the placard is aligned with a top edge  78  of the pegboard  12 . Furthermore, another free edge  72  of the placard  74  is aligned with a vertical edge  82  of the pegboard  12 . With the placard  74  aligned with the pegboard  12 , the placard  74  is secured to the pegboard  12 . A plurality of pushpins  88  are pushed through the placard  74  and through a hole  18  in the pegboard  12  to secure the placard  74 . The pushpins  88  seat in the holes  18  and prevent the placard  74  from being removed. In one method, the step of securing requires the pushpin  88  to be pushed through the placard  74  such that the pushpin  88  punctures the placard  74 . The pushpins  88  are preferably plastic and more preferably a translucent plastic. 
         [0031]    While securing the placard  74  to the pegboard  12 , the placard  74  is smoothed across the surface  89  of the pegboard  12  as more and more pushpins  88  are inserted into the placard  74  and pegboard  12 . Furthermore, the user may run his finger or hand over the surface of the placard  74  with light pressure to determine the location of the holes  18  in the pegboard  12 . The pressure should be light enough that the placard  74  is not significantly pulled causing the portion of media surrounding installed pushpins  88  to tear. Coverage of the pegboard  12  may typically range between 80 and 100 percent of the surface of the pegboard, but it is preferable that substantially all (which term includes but not limited to all) of the pegboard surface be covered by the placard  74 . 
         [0032]    After the placard  74  is secured to the pegboard  12 , the display hook  16  or other hanger devices may be secured to the pegboard  12 . Specifically, the upturned ends  26  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the display hook mounts  20  are pushed through and puncture the placard  74  in positions that correspond to the holes  18  of the pegboard  12  and are then inserted through the holes  18  in the pegboard  12  similar to the step of securing the placard  74  with the pushpins  88 . 
         [0033]    The media  40  may include a plurality of die cut holes  90 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The holes  90  correspond to and are similarly spaced as the holes  18  in the pegboard  12 . During the step of aligning the placard  74 , the placard  74  will be aligned such that the holes  90  in the placard  74  align with the holes  18  in the pegboard  12 . By having the holes  90  precut in the media  40 , when the pushpin  88  or the display hook mounts  20  are pushed through the placard  74 , the pushpins  88  and display hook mounts  20  do not puncture or tear the placard  74  keeping the edges of the hole  90  through the placard  74  clean and unragged. 
         [0034]    Alternatively, the plug or portion of media that is removed to form the hole  90  in  FIG. 3  may not be completely removed from the media. In this embodiment, with reference to  FIG. 6 , the media may include scored rings  92 , illustrated by dashed line circles, outlining a plug  94 . The scored rings  92  are precut prior to rolling up the media  40  such as by die cutting preferably into the non-aesthetic side of the media  40 . This scored configuration allows for removal of only the individual plugs  94  that need to be removed for insertion of pushpins or display hook mounts but eliminates unnecessary holes which detract from the design and appearance of the placard  74 ′. Furthermore, using scored rings  92  rather than printed rings allows the plug  94  to more easily removed from the placard  74 ′, thereby, creating a cleaner puncture of the placard  74 ′. Similar to the die-cut holes, the perforated rings  92  must be spaced apart according to the positions of the holes  18  of the pegboard  12 . 
         [0035]    Furthermore, the media  40  may include perforated lines  96 ,  98  running the width of the media  40  and/or the length of the media  40 , respectfully, as illustrated in  FIG. 5A . These perforated lines  96 ,  98  could be spaced apart to allow a removed placard of material to be more easily sized to pegboards of various sizes. The perforated lines  98  running the length of the media  40  allow for the width of the media  40  to be easily altered by severing or tearing along these perforated lines  98 . The perforated lines  96 ,  98  may be used for guide lines for cutting the media  40  or be used to provide a more accurate and clean tearing of the media  40 . Furthermore, the perforated lines  96 ,  98  may be used to align a first placard with a second placard if multiple placards are required to completely cover a display structure. 
         [0036]    Not only may the covering material come with cutting markers, die-cut holes, scored hole plugs, and perforated lines, the covering material may come in any number of colors, patterns or styles. The ability to provide various patterns allows for decorating the pegboard  12  as can be seen in  FIG. 1 . By providing various designs, the display structure  10  can be decorated for various times of the year, holidays, events or for the type of product displayed. Thus, in a method according to the present invention may include the step of removing previously installed covering material. For example, when switching a display from displaying Thanksgiving merchandise to displaying Christmas merchandise, the display may have covering material having a Thanksgiving design while the new material may have a Christmas design. 
         [0037]    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. 
         [0038]    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. 
         [0039]    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.