Patent Publication Number: US-7712616-B2

Title: Double sided peg hook strips

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention generally relates to retail merchandise display assemblies, and more particularly, to strip retail merchandise display assemblies having display hooks for supporting retail merchandise. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Retail merchandise display is very important to the retail industry. Products need to be displayed in a visually appealing manner and the display device must be able to hold an adequate volume of product such that the display does not become quickly emptied. Typical means of displaying retail merchandise for sale includes shelving or display hooks connected to a vertical support. However, in many instances, retail establishments will attach additional strip display devices to a shelving unit or at an end of aisles and stock these devices with impulse goods or other point-of-purchase product such as, for example, small toys or candy. These devices will typically hang from a support hook or device that is cantilevered from the shelf or the end of the aisle. 
   Many strip merchandising devices are known in the art. Among the many strip merchandising devices include elongated plastic support strips that include a plurality of axially spaced attachment tongues that extend outward from the strips. The tongues are typically integrally formed with the plastic strips and are merely cut out of the strip material. However, the tongues may be subsequently attached to the elongated support strips. Such plastic support strip devices are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,070 to Jaynes. These devices are cheap to manufacture but are limited to a relatively small volume of light weight product because the tongues are typically short and can be flimsy. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,422 to Shea attempted to provide a larger volume strip-type merchandise display. For example, the Shea patent discloses the use of a more rigid corrugated elongated strip having a plurality of holes for securing rigid peg hooks to the elongated strip. Unfortunately, when a single strip according to the teachings of Shea is used, the peg hook mounts are visible on the opposite side of the strip as the support arm of the peg hooks. If two strips are used in a back-to-back configuration the peg hook mounts are visible from the side of the strips. Additionally, in the back-to-back configuration, the positioning of the peg hook mounts between the two back-to-back strips causes interference between the strips causing them to separate from one another further degrading the visual appearance of the device. 
   There is therefore a need in the art for an improved strip-type display device that is strong enough to support peg hooks for large quantities of product while remaining visually appealing. Such a device would preferably be modular, practical and reliable. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In one aspect, the present invention provides an improved strip-type peg hook product display apparatus having increased strength and visual appeal over the prior art. The peg hook product display includes a support for vertically supported peg hook support housing. The peg hook support housing includes first and second housing bodies joined together. The peg hook product display apparatus further includes at least one peg hook mounted to the peg hook support housing. The at least one peg hook projects laterally outward from the peg hook support housing. 
   In another aspect, the invention provides a peg hook support apparatus for supporting peg hooks having first and second substantially similar housing bodies. The first and second housing bodies have a mated state in which the first body mates with the second body forming a cavity between the two bodies. At least one alignment structure formed into at least one of the housing bodies aligns the first and second housing bodies in a predetermined orientation relative to each other in the mated state. At least one coupling secures the first and second housing bodies together in the mated state. Furthermore, each of the housing bodies defines at least one peg hook support for supporting a peg hook. The peg hook support comprises at least one hole adapted to receive a peg hook mount. 
   In yet another aspect, the invention provides a peg hook support body for supporting a plurality of peg hooks. The support body comprises a pair of substantially similar first and second mating support bodies. Each support body is formed of molded plastic and includes a peg hook mounting panel defining a plurality of holes sized and configured to receive and support a peg hook. First and second sidewalls extend inwardly from the peg hook mounting panel. The sidewalls in combination with the peg hook mounting panel form an interior channel. Each support body includes alignment structure arranged and configured to align the mated support bodies with one another. Each support body further includes at least one snap structure integrally formed into the housing body and projecting inwardly into the interior channel. The at least one snap structure having means for coupling the housing bodies together. 
   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 
     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: 
       FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of a product display shelf having a peg hook support strip in accordance with the teachings of the present invention mounted thereto; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the peg hook support strip of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional illustration of a support body of the peg hook support strip of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional illustration of a pair of support bodies mated in a back-to-back position and forming a peg hook support strip; 
       FIG. 5  is a further cross-sectional illustration of the support body of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a further cross-sectional illustration of the pair of mated support bodies of  FIG. 4  forming a peg hook support strip; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional illustration of another embodiment of a support body in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional illustration of another embodiment of a support body in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the peg hook support strip of  FIG. 1  supported by a base rather than a hanger mounted to a shelf in a cantilevered condition. 
   

   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 
   Referring now to the figures,  FIG. 1  illustrates a peg hook support strip  10  for supporting merchandise  12  connected to and supported by a horizontal display shelf  14 . The support strip  10  is connected to the display shelf  14  by a wire hanger  15  connected to the display shelf  14  in a cantilevered condition. The display shelf  14  has a front edge  16  and several rows of transversely spaced and vertically extending holes  18 . The wire hanger  15  is generally U-shaped having a pair of spaced apart arms connected at one end and terminating in distal ends  19  (see  FIG. 2 ) to form the U-shape. The distal ends  19  attach the wire hanger  15  to the display shelf  14  by inserting into the holes  18  in the display shelf  14 . The wire hanger  15  connects to the support strip  10  by passing through a hole in the support strip  10  proximate an upper end  20  such that the support strip  10  freely hangs from the wire hanger  15 . The display shelf  14  is typically secured to a vertical support structure (not shown) and is particularly suited to display large quantities of retail merchandise. The invention is illustrated with reference to a horizontal shelf but may be mounted to other shelving or support structure such as directly to the vertical supports for the shelving, pegboards, display bins and the like. 
   The support strip  10  includes two elongated support bodies  24 ,  24 ′ attached together in a back-to-back orientation. In a preferred embodiment, the two support bodies  24 ,  24 ′ are formed from molded plastic and are substantially identical to one another (as used herein, substantially identical or substantially similar includes identical). By having substantially identical support bodies, advantageously, the same mold or mold design may be used to form each of the support bodies  24 ,  24 ′. Also, inventory, supply, tooling and assembly issues are simplified and costs are reduced. Each of the support bodies  24 ,  24 ′ includes a plurality of laterally and vertically spaced apart peg hook mounting holes  30 ,  30 ′ for receipt of peg hook mounts  32  (see also  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) to secure peg hooks  34  to the support bodies  24 ,  24 ′. The peg hooks  34  extend outward from the support strip  10  and support the merchandise  12  carried by the support strip  10 . As illustrated, the peg hooks include  34  include laterally extending support arms terminating in up-turned distal ends  36  to prevent merchandise  12  from inadvertently and easily falling off of the peg hook  34 . The peg hooks  34  may take many forms and may include multiple arms. Furthermore, the peg hooks  34  may be formed from plastic or metal. 
   As more fully illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the support strip  10  includes two separate, yet substantially identical, support bodies  24 ,  24 ′, which may be structurally the same. In a preferred embodiment, the support bodies  24 ,  24 ′ are substantially identical such that only a single type of support body need be molded. For ease of understanding, the present invention will be first explained with reference to a single support body  24 . 
   The support body  24  is an elongated body that generally includes a front panel  40  and first and second sidewalls  42 ,  44 . The front panel  40  includes the peg hook mounting holes  30  for securing peg hooks. The front surface  48  of the front panel  40  is generally planar and smooth. 
   The first and second sidewalls  42 ,  44  are laterally spaced apart and extend rearward from the front panel  40  forming a channel therebetween. The sidewalls  42 ,  44  preferably extend the entire length of the support body  24  from a first end  50  to a second end  52 . The sidewalls  42 ,  44  increase the rigidity of the support body  24 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second sidewalls  42 ,  44  include alignment flanges  56 ,  58 , respectively, that extend only a portion of the length of the respective sidewall  42 ,  44 . The alignment flanges  56 ,  58  begin at an end  50 ,  52  of the support body  24  and extend toward the opposite end  52 ,  50  of the support body  24 , but in the illustrated embodiment, the alignment flanges  56 ,  58  do not extend axially beyond the center of the respective sidewalls  42 ,  44 . In other words, the alignment flanges  56 ,  58  extend no more than half the length of the side walls  42 ,  44 , respectively. This prevents the alignment flanges  56 ,  58  from interfering with the alignment flanges  56 ′,  58 ′ of the second support body  24 ′ when two bodies  24 ,  24 ′ are mated together in the back-to-back orientation. 
   With reference to  FIG. 3 , the outer flange surface  60  of the alignment flange  58  of sidewall  44  is spaced laterally inward from the outer wall surface  62  of the sidewall  44  forming a stepped profile. Preferably, the outer flange surface  60  of the alignment flange  58  substantially aligns with an inner wall surface  64  of the sidewall  44 . Furthermore, the alignment flange  58  extends rearward, relative to the front panel  40 , beyond an abutment surface  66  of the sidewall  44 . As further illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the alignment flange  58  of the sidewall  44  of the first support body  24  and the alignment flange  56 ′ of a sidewall  42 ′ of the second support body  24 ′ function to laterally align and position the first support body  24  relative to the second support body  24 ′ when the first and second support bodies  24 ,  24 ′ are mated. In the mated position, the first and second support bodies  24 ,  24 ′ align back-to-back and head-to-toe. The illustrated embodiment must be mated head-to-toe to prevent the alignment flanges of the first and second support bodies  24 ,  24 ′ from interfering with each other. In the mated condition, the abutment surfaces  66 ,  68  of the sidewalls  42 ,  44  of the first support body  24  abut with the abutment surfaces  66 ′,  68 ′ of sidewalls  42 ′,  44 ′ of the second support body  24 ′, respectively. 
   In the mated condition, the alignment flanges  56 ,  58  of the first support body  24  between the sidewalls  42 ′,  44 ′ of the second support body  24 ′. Similarly, the alignment flanges of the second support body  24 ′ are interposed between the sidewalls  42 ,  44  of the first support body  24 . This configuration prevents lateral movement of the support bodies  24 ,  24 ′ relative to one another. 
   In an embodiment, the alignment flange  58  may be canted laterally outward or include a rib to provide a snug fit insertion and engagement of the alignment flange  58  with an inner surface  64 ′ of the sidewall  44 ′ of the second support body  24 ′. Preferably, the alignment flange  58  is canted no more than  10  degrees. Specifically, the outer surface  60  of the alignment flange  58  may extend at an angle laterally outward over the top abutment surface  66  of the sidewall  44 . This configuration assists in securing the first body  24  to the second body  24 ′. The inner surface  64 ′ of sidewall  44 ′ may include a groove or indented region for receipt or engagement of such an alignment flange  58 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the sidewalls  42  may include an alignment flange securing member  72  that forms a channel  74  between itself and the sidewall  42 . The alignment flange securing member  72  includes a portion that is spaced laterally inward from the sidewall  42  to provide the channel  74  therebetween. The channel  74  receives a portion of the alignment flange  56 ′ when two bodies are mated together. The alignment flange securing member  72  may have a tapered end to promote insertion of the other bodies alignment flange  56 ′. 
   In an embodiment, the alignment flanges  56 ,  58  may be replaced by a plurality of pegs  200  and holes  202  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . When two support bodies of this embodiment are mated, the pegs of one support body align with holes of another support body to prevent misalignment of the two support bodies. The pegs  200  and corresponding holes  202  could be any shape. Furthermore, the pegs  200  and holes  202  need not be integral with the walls  204 ,  206  of the support body  208 , but could be positioned anywhere within the support body  208 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , a plurality of clips  76  extend rearward from an inner side  77  of the front panel  40  of the support body  24 . The clips  76  are resilient in nature such that they act as corresponding snaps when the housing bodies are manually pressed together to hold or help hold the bodies together. With reference to  FIGS. 3-6 , clips  76 ,  76 ′ secure the first support body  24  to the second support body  24 ′ in the mated position. The clips  76  are interposed laterally between the first and second sidewalls  42 ,  44 . The clips  76  include a top guide surface  78  and a bottom catch surface  80 . The top guide surface  78  assists engagement of the clip  76  with another clip  76 ′ of the second support body  24 ′ (see  FIG. 6 ). The top guide surface  78  interacts with and abuts with a top guide surface  78 ′ of a corresponding clip  76 ′ while the first and second support bodies  24 ,  24 ′ are mated, particularly if the two support bodies  24 ,  24 ′ are mated by being pressed together in a direction normal to the front panels  40 ,  40 ′. The angled configuration of the guide surface  78  acts as a wedge and helps resiliently bias the corresponding clip  76 ′ during engagement. The bottom catch surface  80  engages the bottom catch surface  80 ′ of the corresponding clip  76 ′ to prevent the first and second support bodies  24 ,  24 ′ from separating. 
   In an embodiment, the alignment flanges  56 ,  58  and clips  76  may be replaced by a tongue and groove system, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The tongue and groove system may function to both align a support body  224  relative to a second substantially similar support body as well as secure the two bodies together. The first sidewall  242  includes a tongue  250  extending rearward relative to a front panel  240  and the second sidewall  244  includes a corresponding groove  252 . The tongue and groove  250 ,  252  extend the length of the first and second sidewalls  242 ,  244 , respectively. In this embodiment, first and second support bodies slidingly engage one another. Particularly, with the two bodies positioned end-to-end and back-to-back, the corresponding tongues and grooves of the two bodies engage one another as the two bodies are slid together. In this embodiment, the tongues and grooves perform the lateral alignment function as well as secure the two bodies together. Thus, separate clips are not required in this system, although snaps may be provided to prevent sliding movement once assembled. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  5 , a plurality of ribs  84  extend rearward from the inner side  77  of the front panel  40 . The ribs  84  are positioned proximate the holes  30  in the front panel  40  and extend laterally from the first sidewall  42  to the second sidewall  44 . The ribs  84  function as supports for peg hook mounts  32  when the peg hook  34  is mounted to the support body  24 . The peg hook mounts  32  press against the ribs  84  and the ribs distribute the force of the peg hook mounts  32  to prevent the peg hooks  34  from locally bending or damaging the front panel  40  proximate the holes  30 . 
   The front panel  40  includes first and second recessed regions  88 ,  90  proximate the first and second ends  50 ,  52 , respectively. The recessed regions  88 ,  90  are positioned rearward from rest of the front panel  40 . The recessed regions  88 ,  90  include abutment surfaces  92 ,  94  that include holes  96 ,  98  respectively. The holes  96 ,  98  are sized for receipt of the wire hanger  15  to support the support strip  10 , as explained and illustrated in  FIG. 1 . With reference to  FIGS. 4-6 , the first recessed region  88  of the first support body  24  interacts with a corresponding second recessed region  90 ′ of the second support body  24 ′ such that abutment surface  92  and corresponding hole  96  align with abutment surface  94 ′ and corresponding hole  98 ′. With the holes  96 ,  98 ′ aligned, the wire hanger  15  may be inserted therethrough for supporting the support strip  10  (see  FIG. 1 ). Furthermore, as the holes  98 ,  96 ′ at the opposite end of the first and second support bodies  24 ,  24 ′, respectively, align, a pushpin  100  may be inserted into the bottom end of the support strip  10  to further secure the first and second support bodies  24 ,  24 ′ together (see  FIG. 2 ). Other securing or coupling means may also or alternatively be used, including a fastener, a clip, a snap, a peg, a catch, or other connector. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the first and second support bodies  24 ,  24 ′ form a cavity  108  when the two support bodies  24 ,  24 ′ mate. The cavity  108  beneficially hides the peg hook mounts  32 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , with the two support bodies  24 ,  24 ′ in a mated position, the outer surfaces of mated sidewalls  44 ,  44 ′ provide a substantially smooth and planar continuous surface. A label  110  or other indicia may be adhesively secured to the outer surface of the sidewalls  44 ,  44 ′ for displaying pricing information or other pertinent product information. 
   As explained previously, the support strip  10  may be hung in a cantilevered position from a shelf  14  or other support structure. However, it is an aspect of the present invention that the support bodies  24 ,  24 ′ provide sufficient rigidity when secured together that the support strip  10  is sufficiently rigid to be supported at the bottom and extend vertically upwards from an appropriate support. As is illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the support strip  10  is inserted into a pocket  302  of a support base  300 . The support base  300  includes a bottom  304  for resting on a substantially flat surface  306 . The pocket  302  extends vertically upward from the bottom  304 . The pocket  302  is sized for receipt of the support strip  10  without significant slop or play. Preferably, the support strip  10  is snuggly received in the pocket  302  of the support base  300  and the support strip  10  extends vertically upward in a direction substantially normal to a plane that includes the bottom  304  of the support base  300 . 
   In an embodiment, the support base  300  includes a plurality of pads  310  attached to the bottom  304  of the base  300 . The pads  310  may include an adhesive on the free side to secure the support base  300  to the supporting surface  306  such as a table, shelf, floor, or other surface on which the support base  300  may rest. In an another embodiment, the pads  310  may be foam or rubber pads without any adhesive to prevent the support base  300  from slipping on or scratching the surface  306  on which it rests, but such pads would not secure the base  300  to the surface. In a further embodiment, the bottom  304  of the base  300  may not include any pads such that the base  300  directly sits on the surface  300 . 
   Preferably, the individual support bodies  24 ,  24 ′ have a longitudinal length between about 6 inches and four feet and more preferably between about 12 inches and about 36 inches. The sidewalls  42 ,  44  are preferably sized and extend rearward from the front panel such that when two support bodies  24 ,  24 ′ are mated, the front panel  40  of the first support body  24  is spaced between about ½ inches and about 3 inches, and more preferably between about 1 inches and about 2 inches from the front panel  40 ′ of the second support body  24 ′. The width of the support body  24  is preferably between about ¾ inches and 2 inches. However, the length, widths, and depths of the support strips are not limited to these ranges and can be substantially any value for a given application. 
   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. 
   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 “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. 
   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.