Patent Publication Number: US-2006011565-A1

Title: Four way island merchandiser

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to merchandisers, and in particular to a four-way island merchandiser.  
      Shelving units are used in stores to display merchandise or stock sold in the stores. The shelving units include a plurality of horizontally arranged shelves having the merchandise or stock thereon. Heretofore, once the merchandise or stock was taken from the front of the shelves, a person working at the store would have to move all of the merchandise or stock on the shelves forward to make the merchandise or stock available to a consumer and to provide an atheistically pleasing appearance. Alternatively, the person working at the store could place more stock or merchandise on the shelves to replace the stock or merchandise taken by the consumer.  
      Any improvement to the stocking system that easily moves merchandise forward and makes restocking easy is desired.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      One aspect of the present invention is to provide a merchandiser comprising at least three display modules. At least two of the display modules have a substantially similar horizontal periphery. The display modules each have a front and a rear. At least two of the display modules have shelves, with the at least a portion of rear of the at least two display modules having shelves being open to allow stocking of the shelves from the rear of the at least two display modules having shelves. The display modules are releasably connected together to allow the display modules to be connected and disconnected. The display modules, when disconnected, can be separated to allow the at least two display modules having shelves and having the at least a portion of the rear that is open to be stocked from the rear. Furthermore, the display modules, when connected, can be moved as a unit.  
      Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a four-way island merchandiser comprising four display modules. Each display module has a substantially rectangular horizontal periphery. The display modules each having a front, a rear and a pair of sides. The rear of each display module is adjacent one side of an adjacent display module. At least two of the display module have shelves, with at least a portion of the rear of the at least two display modules being open to allow stocking of the shelves from the rear of the at least two display modules. The display modules are releasably connected together to allow the display modules to be connected and disconnected. The display modules, when disconnected, can be separated to allow the at least two display modules having the at least a portion of the rear that is open to be stocked from the rear. Furthermore, the display modules, when connected, can be moved as a unit.  
      Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of displaying merchandise. The method includes providing at least three display modules, with at least two of the display modules having a substantially similar horizontal periphery. The display modules each have a front and a rear. The rear of each display module is covered when the display modules are connected together. The method also includes providing at least two of the display modules with shelves, with at least a portion of the rear of the at least two display modules having shelves being open. The method further includes disconnecting at least two of the display modules and inserting stock into at least one of the display modules having shelves through the rear of the display module. The method also includes abutting the display modules against each other and connecting the display modules to form a unit.  
      These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims and appended drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a merchandiser of the present invention is an island position.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the merchandiser of the present invention in a loading position.  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a module of the merchandiser of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the module of the merchandiser of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a rear view of the module of the merchandiser of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a connection mechanism of adjacent modules of the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a front view of a second embodiment of the module of the present invention.  
       FIG. 8  is a front view of a third embodiment of the module of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as orientated in  FIG. 1 . However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.  
      The reference number  10  ( FIG. 1 ) generally designates a merchandiser of the present invention. The merchandiser  10  comprises at least three display modules  12 . At least two of the display modules  12  have a substantially similar horizontal periphery. The display modules  12  each have a front  14  and a rear  16 . At least two of the display modules  12  have shelves  18 , with at least a portion of the rear  16  of the at least two display modules  12  having shelves  18  being open to allow stocking of the shelves  18  from the rear  16  of the at least two display modules  12  having shelves  18 . The display modules  12  are releasably connected together to allow the display modules  12  to be connected ( FIG. 1 ) and disconnected ( FIG. 2 ). The display modules  12 , when disconnected, can be separated to allow the at least two display modules  12  having shelves  18  and having the at least a portion of the rear  16  that is open to be stocked from the rear  16 . Furthermore; the display modules  12 , when connected, can be moved as a unit.  
      In the illustrated embodiment, the display modules  12  ( FIGS. 3-5 ) are configured to display merchandise or stock. The display modules  12  include the front  14  and the rear  16 . The display modules  12  are configured to display the merchandise or stock such that the merchandise or stock is obtainable from a purchaser through the front  14  of the display modules  12 . In the illustrated example, the display modules  12  are all identical and include a rectangular horizontal periphery. The display modules  12  with the rectangular horizontal periphery include a first side  20  and a second side  22 . When the merchandiser  10  is in the connected configuration, the first side  20  of each display module  12  abuts against a portion of a rear  16  of a second display module  12  (see  FIGS. 1, 2  and  4 ). However, it is contemplated that the display modules  12  could have other configurations. For example, all of the display modules  12  could be square. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the display modules  12  could be triangular, with three display modules  12  combining to make the merchandiser  10  or the display modules  12  could be trapezoidal, with four display modules  12  combining to make the merchandiser. If three triangular display modules  12  are used, the rear of the display modules includes at least a portion of the two sides facing inwardly when the display modules are connected to form the merchandiser. Moreover, it is contemplated that the merchandiser  10  could be formed of any number of display modules  12  of and could have any geometric shape as a periphery. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the merchandiser  10  could include display modules  12  having more than one geometric horizontal periphery. For example, the merchandiser  10  could include two display modules  12  having a square periphery and two display modules having a rectangular periphery.  
      The illustrated display modules  12  have a bottom section  24 , a first wall  26  defining the first side  20  of the display module  12 , a second wall  28  defining the second side  22  of the display module  12 , a top section  30 , the shelves  18  and a support system  32  for supporting the shelves  18 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first wall  26  extends upwardly from the bottom section  24  and is L-shaped, having a first portion  34  and a second portion  36 . The first portion  34  extends the depth of the display module  12  and the second portion  36  extends outwardly from the first portion  34  at a perpendicular angle. The second wall  28  extends upwardly from the bottom section  24  and is parallel to the first portion  34  of the first wall  26 . The second wall  28  includes a front edge  38  that curves rearwardly as it moves upward. The top section  30  of the display module  12  extends between the first wall  26  and the second wall  28 . A curved border member  40  extends along the front edge  38  of the second wall  28 , the top of the top section  30  and a side of the top section  30  spaced from the second wall  28  and adjacent the first wall  26 .  
      In the illustrated example, the display modules  12  include the shelves  18  for holding the merchandise or stock. The support system  32  of the display modules  12  supports the shelves  18 . The support system  32  comprises a U-shaped cage  42  including a first leg  44  connected to the outside of the first wall  26  and a second leg  46  connected to the inside of the second wall  28 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the first leg  44  of the U-shaped cage  42  is hidden by the second portion  36  of the first wall  26  and the second leg  46  is hidden by the curved border member  40  as the display module  12  is viewed from the front  14 . The U-shaped cage  42  is comprised of a plurality of horizontal rods  48  and vertical rods  50 . The U-shaped cage  42  includes at least one horizontal rod  48  extending across the rear  16  of the display module  12  for each shelf  18 . The support system  32  also include a horizontal support bar  52  extending between the first wall  26  and the second wall  28  of the display module  12 .  
      The illustrated shelves  18  are configured to support the merchandise or stock and present the merchandise or stock. The shelves  18  include a front area  54  and a rear area  56 . The shelves  18  include a plurality of hooks  58  on a rear end thereof configured to hook over one of the horizontal rods  48  of the U-shaped cage  42  to support the rear area  56  of the shelf  18 . Each shelf  18  is also positioned over one of the horizontal support bars  52  to support the front area  54  of the shelf  18 . The shelves  18  include an angled portion  60  whereby the rear area  56  of the shelves is higher that the front area  54 . Therefore, when the merchandise or stock is placed on the rear area  56  of the shelf  18 , the merchandise or stock will slide down the angled portion  60  because of gravity and move the merchandise or stock to the front area  54  of the shelf  18 . Accordingly, the display modules  12  can be stocked with the merchandise or stock by placing the merchandise or stock onto the rear area  56  of the shelves  18  through the open rear  16  of the display modules  12  and the merchandise or stock will move to the front area  54  of the shelves  18  for easy access from the front of the display module  12  by a purchaser of the merchandise or stock. Preferably, the front area  54  of the shelves  18  include a horizontal section  59 . In the illustrated example, the merchandise or stock comprise battery packages  62 . Furthermore, the shelves  18  include divider walls  64  for maintaining the battery packages  62  in a lane  66  on the shelves  18 . Preferably, the shelves  18  include a front face having a conventional price tag channel  70  similar to those used on the front of shelves holding merchandise in retail stores. The price tag channel  70  includes an upper retaining flange  72  and a lower retaining flange  74  for holding price tags, merchandise identification cards, etc. For example, the price tag channel  70  of the present invention could be used to hold identification cards identifying the type of battery (e.g., AA, AAA, etc.) located in the battery package  62  in the lane  66  behind the identification card. Although a specific system for supporting the shelves  18  is disclosed herein, it is contemplated that any system could be used to support the shelves  18  such that the merchandise or stock on the shelves  18  is accessible from the front of the display modules  12 .  
      In the illustrated example, the merchandiser  10  can be moved from the connection configuration to the unconnected configuration to allow the display modules  12  of the merchandiser  10  to be filled with the stock or merchandise from the open rear  16  of the display modules  12 . Each illustrated display module  12  includes a first connection mechanism  100  and a second connection mechanism  102 , with each first connection mechanism  100  being configured to be releasably connected to the second connection mechanism  102  of an adjacent display module  12  to releasably connect the display modules  12  together ( FIG. 6 ). Therefore, the first connection mechanism  100  can be disconnected from the second connection mechanism  102  to allow the merchandiser  10  to be moved to the unconnected configuration. In the unconnected configuration, the open rear  16  of the display modules  12  is accessible for placing the stock or merchandise on the rear area  56  of the shelves for stocking the display modules  12 . The merchandiser  10  is moved to the unconnected configuration by disconnecting the first connection mechanism  100  from the second connection mechanism  102  and moving at least one of the display modules  12  (e.g., by rolling the display modules  12  on wheels  90  or by sliding the display modules  12 ) such that the open rear  16  is accessible (see  FIG. 2 ).  
      The illustrated display modules  12  of the merchandiser  10  each include the first connection mechanism  100  and the second connection mechanism  102  whereby the display modules  12 , when disconnected, can be separated to allow the display modules  12  to be stocked from the rear and whereby the display modules  12 , when connected, can be moved as a unit. In the illustrated example, the first connection mechanism  100  is a pin  110  extending from the second wall  28  of the display module  12  and the second connection mechanism  102  is a rotatable latch  120  extending from the bottom section  24  of the display modules  12  in a direction perpendicular to the second portion  36  of the first wall  26 . The rotatable latch  120  is configured to rotate and includes a downwardly facing slot  122 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a first one of the display modules  12  is connected to a second one of the display modules  12  by placing the rear  16  of the first one of the display modules  12  against the first wall  26  of the second one of the display modules  12 , with the rear  16  of the first one of the display modules  12  being hidden by the second portion  36  of the first wall  26 . Thereafter, the latch  120  is rotated until the pin  110  is accepted into the slot  122  of the latch  120 . After all of the display modules  12  are connected together, the merchandiser  10  can be moved as a unit.  
       FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate a closed shelf display module  12   a  and a peg board display module  12   b , respectively, that can be substituted for one of the display modules  12 . The closed shelf display module  12   a  includes a plurality of horizontal shelves  200  having dividers  202  thereon. The closed shelf display module  12   a  includes a rear wall  204 , whereby the closed shelf display module  12   a  cannot be stocked through the rear of the closed shelf display module  12   a . The horizontal shelves  200  are configured to be connected to a support system and/or the first wall  26  and the second wall  28  of the closed shelf display module  12   a . The peg board display module  12   b  includes a peg board  300  along a rear face thereof. The peg board  300  includes a plurality of openings  302  therein. The openings  302  are configured to accept hanger rods  304 . Battery packages and other merchandise can be hung from the hanger rods  304  by inserting the rods  304  into slots in the top of the battery packages as is well known to those skilled in the art.  
      In the illustrated merchandiser  10 , the merchandise placed thereon can be displayed in every direction and the merchandise can easily be stocked onto the shelves  18  by moving the merchandiser  10  to the unconnected configuration and placing the stock on the shelves  18  such that they are moved into a displayed position at the front of the shelves  18  by gravity. Therefore, the shelves  18  can be easily stocked and the merchandise will always be positioned on the front of the shelves  18  for easy accessibility and display. Likewise, by placing the stock on the rear of the shelves  18 , the older stock will be taken from the merchandiser  10  and purchased by the consumer. Therefore, the merchandiser  10  can provide that the stock placed on the shelves  18  first is the first stock purchased (i.e., first in, first out). However, it is contemplated that the shelves could be stocked from the front by pushing the stock currently on the shelves  18  backward and inserting new stock in the front area of the shelves. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the top section  30  and the outside of the second wall  28  of the display modules  12  could include advertising thereon for notifying shoppers of the merchandise sold on the merchandiser  10 .  
      The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiments only. Modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the invention.