Patent Publication Number: US-2009223907-A1

Title: Merchandise Display Unit

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of product displays. More particularly, the present invention relates to product displays that allow a customer to evaluate the performance of electronic merchandise. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This section is intended to provide a background or context to the invention that is recited in the claim. The description herein may include concepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily ones that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, what is described in this section is not prior art to the description and claims in this application and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section. 
     Retailers often seek ways to display merchandise that will increase sales. Traditionally, retailers displayed merchandise in the merchandise packaging. Displaying the merchandise in the packaging allows the retailer to easily move the merchandise to various locations within the sales area. The packaging also allows for the inclusion of security or anti-theft devices which may reduce retail losses due to theft. However, displaying the merchandise in the merchandise packaging does not allow consumers to fully evaluate or experience the functionality of many types of merchandise. In the case of electronic merchandise such as cameras and video camcorders, consumers are often unable to evaluate how the cameras and video camcorders operate while the merchandise is in the packaging. 
     Therefore, display apparatuses have been developed that allow a retailer to display electronic merchandise free of the merchandise packaging. Existing apparatuses however, do not allow for the merchandise, while displayed outside of the merchandise packaging, to be freely moved to various locations within the sales area. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Various embodiments provide for an improved merchandise display unit capable of being coupled to fixed shelving. The merchandise display unit may comprise a display unit frame and a display tier. In various embodiments, the merchandise display unit allows for the mobile display of merchandise, with the merchandise displayed outside of its packaging. The merchandise can easily be moved to various locations within a sales area while being operatively connected to a fixed structure. Various embodiments also allow for display of the performance of the merchandise. 
     These and other advantages and features of the invention, together with the organization and manner of operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements have like numerals throughout the several drawings described below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a merchandise display unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2(   a ) is a front view of a merchandise display unit constructed according to an additional embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2(   b ) is a right side view of the merchandise display unit of  FIG. 2(   a ); 
         FIG. 2(   c ) is a perspective view of the merchandise display unit of  FIG. 2(   a ) and  2 ( b ); and 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a merchandise display unit constructed according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS 
     Various embodiments provide for an improved merchandise display unit capable of being coupled to fixed shelving. The merchandise display unit may comprise a display unit frame and a display tier. In various embodiments, the merchandise display unit allows for the mobile display of merchandise, with the merchandise displayed outside of its packaging. The merchandise can easily be moved to various locations within a sales area while being operatively connected to a fixed structure. Various embodiments also allow for display of the performance of the merchandise. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a merchandise display unit that is one embodiment of the invention, shown generally at  100 , comprises a right side display face  105 , a front side display face  110  and a left side display face  115  on the lower portion of the merchandise display unit  100 . A first display tier  120  is operatively connected to the right side display face  105 , the front side display face  110  and the left side display face  115  above the right side display face  105 , the front side display face  110  and the left side display face  115 . A second display tier  125  is operatively connected to the first display tier  120  above and recessed from the first display tier  120  and a display top  130  is operatively connected to the second display tier  125  above and recessed from the second display tier  125 . 
     The first display tier  120  and second display tier  125  are configured to display merchandise outside of the merchandise packaging in merchandise connection areas  135 . The merchandise connection areas  135  allow the merchandise to be connected to anti-theft devices, power sources, or a mechanism for displaying audio and/or video capabilities. The use of multiple display tiers allow for the display of more merchandise than individual display tiers. The number of display tiers may vary and, in other embodiments, the merchandise display unit  100  may have three or more display tiers. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the first display tier  120  and second display tier  125  place the merchandise at a convenient height for the average consumer to evaluate the merchandise by both touch and sight while standing. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the right side display face  105 , the front side display face  110  and the left side display face  115  are configured to display associated items or the displayed merchandise in the merchandise packaging. For example, if the displayed merchandise is a camera or a camcorder, associated items may include memory cards, batteries and storage cases, as well as other items associated with the merchandise. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the right side display face  105  and the front side display face  110  are configured to create a right corner display face  140 . Similarly, the left side display face  115  and front side display face  110  are configured to create a left corner display face  145 . The right corner display face  140  and left corner display face  145  allow for additional areas to display merchandise or associated items and at different viewing angles than the right side display face  105 , the front side display face and the left side display face  115 . 
     The right side display face  105 , the front side display face  110 , the left side display face  115 , the right corner display face  140  and the left corner display face  145  may comprise a structure for displaying merchandise on right side display face  105 , the front side display face  110 , the left side display face  115 , the right corner display face  140  and the left corner display face  145 . The structure may comprise, for example, a pegboard sheet and hooks configured to engage the pegboard sheet to facilitate the display of associated items. Alternatively, the structure on the right side display face  105 , the front side display face  110 , the left side display face  1   15 , the right corner display face  140  and the left corner display face  145  may comprise buttons, velcro, or other mechanisms for connecting the merchandise or associated items to the merchandise display unit  100 . In further embodiments, the right side display face  105 , the front side display face  110 , the left side display face  115 , the right corner display face  140  and the left corner display face  145  may comprise a solid surface, shelving units, drawers or cabinets for storage or display of additional merchandise or associated items. In  FIG. 1 , the right side display face  105  comprises both a pegboard sheet  106  and a cabinet  107 . In further embodiments, the right corner display face  140  and the left corner display face  145  may not be used to display merchandise, but may instead be configured to draw attention to the display of merchandise located on other parts of the merchandise display unit  100 . In this particular embodiment, the right corner display face  140  and the left corner display face  145  may comprise a solid material that generally follows the curvature of the right corner display face  140  and left corner display face  145 . Alternatively still, the material may cut straight across the right corner display face  140  and the left corner display face  145 . 
     In another embodiment, the display top  130  may be configured to house at least one video display monitor  1000 . The video display monitor  1000 , when operatively connected to the merchandise through the merchandise connection areas  135 , allows for the consumer to see the performance of the merchandise, i.e., to see a picture generated by the merchandise. When the merchandise to be displayed is a camera or camcorder, the consumer can compare the picture quality of various cameras or camcorders by viewing the video display monitor  1000 . In an embodiment where camcorders may be displayed, the display top  130  may be configured to also include an audio speaker  1010 , thereby allowing the customer to evaluate any microphone capabilities of the camcorder. The merchandise display unit  100  is configured to connect with the video display monitor  1000  in the video display monitor region  150 . Similarly, the merchandise display unit  100  is configured to connect with the audio speaker  1010  in the audio speaker region  155 . The location of the video display region  150  and the audio display region  155  may vary, and in other embodiments may not be located on the display top  130 . 
     The addition of a video display monitor  1000  and/or an audio speaker  1010  therefore allows the consumer to make a more informed purchasing decision. This better informed decision can increase sales net of returns, as the consumer is less likely to be confused as to the performance of the merchandise at the time of purchase. 
       FIGS. 2(   a ),  2 ( b ) and  2 ( c ) show an additional embodiment of a merchandise display unit, shown generally at  200 , having two display tiers. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 2(   a ),  2 ( b ) and  2 ( c ), the merchandise  205  is displayed proximate associated items  207 . Additionally, the embodiment in  FIGS. 2(   a ),  2 ( b ) and  2 ( c ) allows for the retailer to attach a video display monitor  2000  to display the performance of the merchandise  205  in a video display monitor region  208 . The embodiment in  FIGS. 2(   a ),  2 ( b ) and  2 ( c ) also allows for the retailer to attach an audio speaker  2020  to display the audio performance of the merchandise  205  in an audio speaker region  209 . 
     The particular merchandise display unit  200  of  FIGS. 2(   a ),  2 ( b ) and  2 ( c ) comprises a display unit frame  203  that includes four vertical support beams  210  and four horizontal support beams  215 . In other embodiments the number of vertical support beams  210  and horizontal support beams  215  may vary. In the particular merchandise display unit  200  of  FIGS. 2(   a ),  2 ( b ) and  2 ( c ), the four horizontal support beams  215  are joined together at the ends to form a rectangular-shaped base  217 . The four vertical support beams  210  are connected at their ends, one each to the corners of the rectangular-shaped base  217 . The vertical support beams  210  project perpendicular from the rectangular-shaped base  217  on the same side of the rectangular-shaped base  217 . These vertical support beams  210  and horizontal support beams  215  may be bolted together, may be welded together, or may be connected using other connecting mechanisms that provide sufficient strength to the joint. 
     A first display tier  220  is operatively connected to the display unit frame  203  above the display unit frame  203 . A second display tier  225  is operatively connected to the first display tier  220  or to the display unit frame  203  above and recessed from the first display tier  220 . This arrangement allows the view of the merchandise on the first display tier  220  to be unobstructed. The merchandise  205  is displayed on the first and second display tiers  220  and  225 . The first and second display tiers  220  and  225  may comprise, for example, metal, wood, plastic or any other material or combination of materials having sufficient strength and rigidity to support the merchandise. 
       FIG. 2(   b ) shows that the merchandise display unit  200  is configured such that the merchandise display unit  200  can be coupled to fixed shelving  230  in a retail environment. The merchandise display unit  200  may also be moved around the retail environment with ease, using casters  235  on the bottom of the merchandise display unit  200 . The use of the casters  235  and the configuration of the display unit  200  such that it can be coupled to fixed shelving  230  allows the merchandise display unit to be located at the end of various aisles of fixed shelving  230  within a retail environment. 
     Additionally,  FIGS. 2(   a ) and  2 ( c ) show that product information cards may be attached to the merchandise display unit  200  in product information card display regions  240 . Product information cards allow the retailer to provide information about the merchandise  205  to the consumer. The product information cards may include information regarding the price, warranties, technical specifications and other information about the merchandise  205  that the consumer may want to consider in making a purchase. 
       FIG. 3  shows an alternate embodiment of a merchandise display unit, shown generally at  300 . The merchandise display unit  300  of  FIG. 3  is similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in many respects. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , however, the merchandise display unit  300  has a curved face at the right corner display face  140  and the left corner display face  145 . 
     The forgoing description of embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit embodiments of the present invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of various embodiments of the present invention. The embodiments discussed herein were chosen and described in order to explain the principles and the nature of various embodiments of the present invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the present invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.