Patent Publication Number: US-2003222037-A1

Title: Replaceable graphic display

Description:
[0001] This invention relates to display of products and product containers such as candies, bottles, cans and the like. More particularly, it relates to merchandise display shelves adapted for mounting on one face of a substantially transparent wall to support products on the wall and display the products and graphics such as advertising and the like associated with the products through the transparent wall.  
       [0002] Retail businesses commonly display chilled products for sale in refrigerated vaults or the like which have a transparent door or wall panel. Because a passing customer is more likely to select and purchase merchandise displayed where they can be readily seen and recognized, the retailer desires to maximize visibility of products on display as well as advertising graphics associated with the products on display.  
       [0003] Various devices are used to support and display product on a wall, door or the like. Most such display devices either display no advertising graphics (relying on visibility of the product to advertise the product) or have advertising graphics associated with a particular product permanently formed in or affixed to the display device. Typical of such arrangements are display shelves such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,433 wherein advertising graphics are displayed on a face of the support panel to be visible through the transparent wall to which the support panel is attached.  
       [0004] Advertising graphics associated with merchandise displayed for sale greatly increase visibility of the product and thus promote sales. Accordingly, merchants often desire to change the graphics associated with a product and/or change the product displayed, thus necessitating a change of displayed graphics. However, where the graphics are permanently affixed to the display shelf, the entire display shelf must be replaced to change the graphic display.  
       [0005] In accordance with the present invention, display shelves adapted to be mounted on the face of a substantially transparent panel such as a glass window, door or the like are provided with a removeable and replaceable graphic display panel. The replaceable graphic display panel is formed to define a first section aligned with the face of the support panel of the display shelf and a second section aligned with and adjacent the floor of the shelf supported by the support panel. The first section (on which advertising graphics and the like are displayed) is thus positioned between the face of the support panel and the transparent wall or window on which the display shelf is mounted so that the graphics are visible through the transparent wall along with the products supported on the shelf. The graphic display panel, however, is readily removeable and replaceable with other such panels displaying other graphics. Accordingly, the graphic display panel may be changed as desired without removing the display shelf to change graphics associated with the products displayed. Other features and advantages of the invention will become more readily understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the appended claims and attached drawing in which: 
     
    
    
     [0006]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a display shelf supporting a replaceable graphic display panel in accordance with the invention;  
     [0007]FIG. 2 is an end view of the assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating attachment of the display shelf and graphic display panel on a transparent wall;  
     [0008]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the replaceable graphic display panel of FIG. 1; and  
     [0009]FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the replaceable graphic display panel of FIG. 3 in its folded condition. 
    
    
     [0010] The above-described drawing is incorporated into and forms part of the specification to illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Throughout the drawing, like reference numerals designate corresponding elements. This drawing, together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention and is included for the purpose of illustrating preferred and alternative examples of how the invention can be made and used. The drawing is not to be construed as limiting the invention to the illustrated and described examples.  
     [0011] The embodiment illustrated comprises a display shelf  40  with a replaceable graphics panel  50 . The display shelf  40  comprises a mounting or support panel  10  which has a first face  11  lying in a substantially vertical plane and defining lower edge  12 , first and second laterally opposed end edges  13 ,  14  and upper edge  15 . Floor  20  is supported on the support panel and has a top face  21  which lies in a plane substantially normal to the plane of first face  11  and intersects the plane of the first face  11  well below the upper edge  15  of the support panel. The support panel  10  does not extend into the area directly above the floor  20  for a substantial lateral portion thereof between the laterally opposed edges  13 ,  14  so that products supported on floor  20  may be placed directly adjacent the transparent wall on which the shelf is mounted and thus visible through the transparent wall.  
     [0012] A containment wall  30  extends upwardly from the top face  21  of the floor  20 . A major portion of wall  30  is spaced horizontally from the plane of first face  11  of the support panel  10 . The ends of the containment wall join the support panel  10  to define a open-topped cavity  31  defined by floor  20 , containment wall  30  and the transparent wall  70  (see FIG. 2) on which the display shelf is mounted. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the ends of containment wall  30  join support panel  10  at positions interiorly spaced from first and second edges  13 ,  14  and the support panel  10  extends upwardly from the plane of top face  21  of the floor  20  and outwardly from the ends of the containment wall  30  to define flanges  33 ,  34 . Flanges  33 ,  34  thus form coplanar spaced apart portions of support panel  10 .  
     [0013] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 the containment wall  30  defines a plurality of joined vertically extending semi-cylindrical sections shaped to define individual containment compartments for a plurality of individual vertically arranged cylindrical or otherwise vertically extending products or packages. Each section  36  defines a semi-cylindrical arc extending upwardly from the floor  20 . Each of the arcuate sections  36  is shaped to define a containment compartment for cylindrical objects such as cans, bottles, etc. Obviously, shapes other than arcuate or semi-cylindrical may be employed, depending on the shape and dimensions of the product units to be displayed. Furthermore, it is to be understood that terms such as “containment wall” and “containment compartment” as used herein are meant to describe structures which restrain lateral movement of an object placed within the boundaries thereof and are not intended to describe fully enclosed compartments. For example, the semi-cylindrical sections  36  of wall  30  do not define enclosed containment compartments but define boundaries for supporting substantially cylindrical objects vertically and act as containment walls or the like for limiting lateral movement of individual products positioned on the display shelf. Therefore, sections  36  need not be joined to form a continuous wall structure. Furthermore, the shape of sections  36  need not be arcuate but may be of any suitable configuration depending on the product to be displayed on the floor  20  or shelf  40 .  
     [0014] In the embodiment illustrated the first face  11  of support panel  10  is positioned parallel with the surface of a transparent wall  70  on which the shelf  40  is mounted and extends below the floor  20 . Thus first face  11  may conveniently be used to display advertising or the like which is visible through the transparent wall  70  immediately below the product supported by the shelf  20 . Positioning the support panel  10  to extend the full length of and past the outer edges of floor  20  provides rigid support for the floor  20  and permits display of advertising or other information associated with the displayed product on the support panel  10  without obstructing view of the displayed product.  
     [0015] The outer edges of support panel  10  terminate in flanges  33 ,  34  as described hereinabove. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the flanges  33  and  34  may include slots  41  for mounting the support panel  10  adjacent the inner surface of a transparent wall  70  as shown in FIG. 2. Various means for securing the support panel  10  to the transparent wall, such as suction cups  60  or the like, may be used. As illustrated in FIG. 2, suction cups  60  each have a shank  61  which extends through a slot  41  to support the first face  11  of support panel  10  parallel with a surface of transparent wall  70 . While use of suction cups is illustrated in FIG. 2, it will be readily appreciated that various other means such as adhesives, clamps, magnets, bolts and the like may be used to attach the display shelf  40  to a transparent wall  70 . All such mounting means, however, result in mounting first face  11  adjacent and parallel with the transparent wall  70  but spaced from the wall  70  forming a space  99  between the inner face of transparent wall  70  and first face  11  of the display shelf  40 .  
     [0016] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 some slots  41  are formed at the inner edges of flanges  33 . If desired (and to permit more secure mounting of the shelf) slots  41  may be formed in the lower edge  12  of support panel  10  and arranged so that the entrance of each slot  41  is at the lower edge of support panel  10 . Alternatively (or in conjunction with other slots, holes or the like), slots  41  may be formed in flanges  33 ,  34  and arranged to have their entrances at the outer edges of the flanges. It will be appreciated that various other combinations and arrangements of slots, holes and the like may be used to mount the display shelf adjacent a transparent wall.  
     [0017] Where advertising or other graphic information is displayed on the front of face  11 , the graphic information is displayed directly below the product supported on the floor  20  and thus visible through transparent wall  70 . When the graphic information is formed on or permanently affixed to first face  11 , the entire shelf  40  must be removed and replaced to replace the graphic display. In accordance with the invention, however, the graphic information is displayed on the first section  51  of replaceable graphic panel  50 . Panel  50  (see FIGS. 3 and 4) comprises sheet of paper, plastic or the like having opposed major faces which is divided into a first section  51  and a second section  52  by a score line  53 . Score line  53  may be a perforated line, a score which only partially penetrates the panel  50 , a permanent crease or any other device or structure which permits the first section  51  to hingedly depend from the second section  52 .  
     [0018] The first section  51  is preferably sized, shaped and adapted to extend into the space  99  between the first face  11  and the transparent wall  70 . Accordingly, graphics displayed thereon will be displayed and visible through transparent wall  70  directly below the product resting on floor  20 . The second section  52  is sized, shaped and adapted to lie on the floor  20 . The second section  52  may be temporarily attached to floor  20  by adhesive, tape or the like if desired, but may be simply secured to floor  20  by the weight of displayed product resting thereon. Since panel  50  is not permanently attached to the display shelf  40 , the display panel  50  may be easily and readily removed and replaced to change the advertising graphics associated with the product displayed on the shelf  40 .  
     [0019] In the preferred embodiment, advertising graphics and the like are displayed on the face of first section  51  to be visible through the transparent wall. Since the purpose of the graphic display is to attract attention to the product displayed in the shelf  40 , the graphic display need not be limited to printed graphics or the like. Active displays such as flashing lights, rotating discs or other attention-getting devices may be mounted on or otherwise supported by first section  51  so long as the active display fits within the space  99  between first face  11  and transparent wall  70 .  
     [0020] Where the thickness of first section  51  is substantially less than the width of space  99 , it may be desireable to either secure the exposed face of first section  51  directly in contact with wall  70  or spaced from wall  70  with section  51  directly against the first face  11  of the shelf  40 . To effect this arrangement, a relatively small portion of the first section  51  may be folded from the major plane of first section  51  to form a foot  54 . The foot  54  may be formed on the bottom edge of section  51  as shown in FIGS.  1 - 4  or along one or both side edges of first section  51 . Where section  51  is to be held against the front of face  11 , the foot  54  is folded to extend toward the transparent wall  70  as illustrated in FIG. 2. Where the face of first section  51  is to be held in contact with the transparent wall  70 , the foot  54  is folded to extend toward first face  11 . The length of foot  54  will depend on the width of space  99  and the result to be achieved. Where panel  40  is formed of heavy plastic sheet, paper stock or the like, foot  54  is preferably longer than the width of space  99  and folded at an acute angle so that foot  54  remains trapped against transparent wall  70  (or face  11 ) as the folded portion attempts to return to its original position, thus urging the first section  51  in the direction opposite that in which the foot  54  extends.  
     [0021] Any of various graphic displays (passive or active) may be carried on the first face of first section  11 . For example, product-specific information and/or pricing information may be displayed. Since the display panel  40  is easily removeable, different display panels may be substituted at will without removing the display shelf  40  from its mounting.  
     [0022] From the foregoing it will be recognized that the principles of the invention may be employed in various arrangements to obtain the benefit of the many advantages and features disclosed. It is to be understood, therefore, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the invention have been set forth together with details of the structure and function of the invention, this disclosure is to be considered illustrative only. Various changes and modifications may be made in detail, especially in matters of size, shape and arrangements of parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.