Patent Publication Number: US-2003234228-A1

Title: Merchandising system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] The present application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from the following application: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/382,657 (“MERCHANDISING SYSTEM”) filed May 22, 2002 (incorporated by reference herein). The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. D473,076 (“MERCHANDISING SYSTEM”) filed May 22, 2002 and U.S. patent application Nos. 29/161,150 (“MERCHANDISING SYSTEM”) filed May 22, 2002 and 29/167,630 (“MERCHANDISING SYSTEM”) filed Sep. 18, 2002. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a merchandising system. The present invention more specifically relates to a merchandising system providing for orderly presentation of product in a display space.  
       [0003] It is known to provide for a merchandising system that may be used for displaying product such as digital versatile disks (DVDs), compact disks (CDs), tapes, cassettes, etc. Conventional merchandising systems may be used to present, display and store product in fixed or limited spaces such as on shelves, in display cases, cabinets, etc.  
       [0004] Conventional merchandising systems may display products to a consumer by providing the products in a side-to-side or end-to-end configuration. Within fixed or limited spaces, conventional merchandising systems may not be configured to balance or optimize the number of products or product facings presented to a customer with providing relatively high visibility of the product presented to the customer.  
       [0005] Accordingly, it would be advantageous to optimize or balance the number and visibility of product facings to be presented to customers in limited spaces such as shelves and display cases. It would also be advantageous to provide storage for additional products near the facings. It would further be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that may provide for the display and storage of a relatively large number of articles in a relatively compact space. It would further be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that may provide for the orderly presentation and display of products. It would further be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that may provide for selective modularity in the construction and assembly of the merchandising system.  
       [0006] It would be advantageous to provide a merchandising system or the like of a type disclosed in the present application that includes any one or more of these or other advantageous features.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007] The present invention relates to a merchandising system for product of a type that is configured for presentation and storage in a vertical orientation and in a horizontal orientation. The merchandising system includes a first compartment having a front and a base. The first compartment is configured to receive product in a vertical orientation. The merchandising system further includes a second compartment coupled to the first compartment and provided below the first compartment, the second compartment having a front. The second compartment has a first portion to receive product in a vertical orientation between the front of the first compartment and the front of the second compartment, and a second portion configured to receive product in a horizontal orientation below the base of the first compartment  
       [0008] The present invention also relates to a merchandising system for presenting and storing product. The merchandising system includes a first compartment to receive product, and a second compartment provided behind the first compartment, the second compartment configured to receive product. The first compartment is provided at an angle relative to the second compartment.  
       [0009] The present invention further relates to a merchandising system for storing and presenting products on a shelf to a viewer. The merchandising system includes means for presenting at least two adjacent product facings to the viewer, and means for storing products provided behind the means for presenting at least two adjacent product facings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a merchandising system according to an exemplary embodiment.  
     [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a module of the merchandising system shown in FIG. 1.  
     [0012]FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the module shown in FIG. 2.  
     [0013]FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the module shown in FIG. 2.  
     [0014]FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the module shown in FIG. 2.  
     [0015]FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a module of a merchandising system according to an exemplary embodiment.  
     [0016]FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the module shown in FIG. 6.  
     [0017]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the module shown in FIG. 6.  
     [0018]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a merchandising system according to an exemplary embodiment.  
     [0019]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the merchandising system shown in FIG. 9 with product.  
     [0020]FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a merchandising system according to an exemplary embodiment.  
     [0021]FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of the merchandising system shown in FIG. 11.  
     [0022]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a merchandising system according to an exemplary embodiment.  
     [0023]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a merchandising system according to an exemplary embodiment.  
     [0024]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the merchandising system shown in FIG. 14.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
     [0025] According to the various exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 through 15, a merchandising system may be provided on an existing merchandising system (such as a shelf, shelving unit, display case, etc.). The merchandising system shown in the FIGURES may be provided to merchandise, display, and/or store various products (including DVD cases, CD cases, video games, movies, videocassettes, etc). The merchandising systems shown may be provided for the storage and presentation of articles (such as products and product containers) in a store, retail sales outlet, storage facility, or other environment.  
     [0026] According to any preferred embodiment, the merchandising systems are intended provide for the display and/or storage of additional product and product facings within a space. Within fixed or limited spaces (such as on a shelf or in a display case), the merchandising systems shown are intended to increase the number of products or product facings presented to a customer while also maintaining relatively high visibility of the product to enhance commercial sales. Also, the merchandising systems shown are intended to provide storage for additional products near the increased number of facings. For example, merchandising system  10  shown in FIGS.  1 - 5  may be provided on a number of vertically spaced shelves or in a display case and provide for an increased number of rows of product (e.g. product display areas, compartments, facings, etc.) along the height of the display case, whereas other conventional systems (providing product in an end-to-end configuration) will provide fewer rows of product. The merchandising systems shown in FIGS.  6 - 15  are intended provide an increased number of staggered facings of product along the width of a shelf, whereas other conventional systems (providing product in a side-by-side configuration) will provide fewer facings of product. The merchandising systems also are intended to provide for storage of additional products near the product facings.  
     [0027] The merchandising systems shown are intended to achieve increased space efficiency in part by providing product in compartments such that individual product, containers, product cases (such as DVD cases) overlap each other or are staggered relative to each other. For example, increased space efficiency or optimization may be provided by merchandising system  10  shown in FIGS.  1 - 5  by providing a vertical overlap between adjacent DVD cases. The overlap contributes to space savings, and thus allow for the display of additional facings throughout the height of the display case. The merchandising systems shown in FIGS.  9 - 15  also achieve increased space efficiency (or optimization of product facings and product visibility) by staggering products at an angle (such as an angle relative to a shelf) while still allowing the front of the product to be viewed. These arrangements assist in decreasing the width needed to display a product (such as a DVD case) and increasing the number of facings which may be provided along the width of the shelf.  
     [0028] According to various alternative embodiments, the compartments may be configured to receive a wide variety of products, packages, sizes and configurations. For example, the particularly preferred embodiments shown in the FIGURES are configured for DVD cases. According to various alternative embodiments, the merchandising system may be configured for articles such as CD cases, videocassettes, audio cassettes, albums, vinyl, books, magazines, articles, objects, etc. According to other alternative embodiments, the merchandising system may be configured for more than one type of article (e.g. a combination display providing for CD cases in a first compartment and DVD cases in a second compartment, etc.).  
     [0029] According to one exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 5 , a merchandising system  10  may comprise one or more modules  12  (shown as a product display module) for displaying product  14  (shown in broken lines). Module  12  comprises a first compartment  20  and a second compartment  40 . One or more modules  12  may be provided to assemble merchandising system  10  having a modular configuration, with variable sizes, configurations, orientations, number of compartments, facings, etc.  
     [0030] As shown in FIG. 2, first compartment  20  may be provided on an upper portion of module  12 . First compartment  20  may be a product facing section, display, display area, holder, slot, retainer, product display, etc. According to one particularly preferred embodiment, first compartment  20  is configured to hold, display, retain, or otherwise restrain articles (e.g. products, goods, display objects, etc.) such as DVD cases or CD cases.  
     [0031] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, first compartment  20  comprises a front member  22 , a rear member  24 , a base  26 , and two side members  28 . Front member  22  and rear member  24  are configured to restrict the front to back motion of product  14  (shown as DVD cases). Side members  28  are configured to restrain the side to side motion of product  14 . Base  26  is configured to provide a support for product  14 . Front member  22 , rear member  24  and a portion of base  26  may be constructed in a single structure. Two side members  28  and a portion of base  26  may also be constructed in a single structure. Alternatively, the various members may be constructed from separate structures or assemblies.  
     [0032] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, first compartment  20  is configured to display product  14 . According to a preferred embodiment, first compartment  20  is configured to display four DVD cases in a vertical orientation. According to various alternative embodiments, one or more DVD cases may be provided or displayed in a vertical orientation, and one or more stacks of DVD cases may be provided or stored in a horizontal orientation (such as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, or supported along edge  32 ).  
     [0033] As shown in FIG. 2, a second compartment  40  may be provided on a lower portion of module  12 . Second compartment  40  is configured to hold, display, retain, store and/or otherwise restrain product  14 .  
     [0034] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, second compartment  40  comprises a front member  42 , a rear member  44 , a base  46 , and two side members  48 . Front member  42  and rear member  44  are configured to restrict the front to back motion of product  14 . Side members  48  are configured to restrain the side to side motion of product  14 . Base  46  is configured to provide a support for product  14 . Front member  42 , rear member  44  and a portion of base  46  may be constructed in a single structure. Additionally, side members  48  and a portion of base  46  may also be constructed in a single structure. Alternatively, the various members may be constructed from separate structures or assemblies.  
     [0035] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, second compartment  40  is configured to display product  14 . Second compartment  40  may be configured to display one or more product  14  in a vertical orientation, and store one or more product  14  in a horizontal orientation. According to a preferred embodiment, second compartment  40  is configured to store a stack of product  14  “one deep” (i.e. a single stack of product  14   a  may be stored behind vertical product  14   b ). According to various alternative embodiments, one or more product  14   b  may be provided or displayed in a vertical orientation, and one or more stacks of product  14   a  may be provided or stored in a horizontal orientation (i.e. the compartment may hold two or more stacks deep of product  14   a ). (It should be noted that horizontal orientation includes both products  14   b  as shown in FIG. 3, as well as products supported along edge  32 .)  
     [0036] Merchandising system  10  may comprise one or more modules  12 . According to a particularly preferred embodiment, merchandising system  10  is configured to provide eight modules, with each module having a first compartment  20  and second compartment  40 . Merchandising system  10  may be provided for use on a shelf or on a variety of other existing merchandising systems, including shelving units, support surfaces, grids, brackets, hangers, etc. According to a preferred embodiment, merchandising system  10  is constructed and assembled from steel wire which may be bent or otherwise formed.  
     [0037] According to another exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS.  6 - 10 , a merchandising system  110  comprises one or more modules  112  (shown as a product display module). Merchandising system  110  may be comprised of any number of modules. Merchandising system  110  may be provided on a variety of other existing merchandising systems, including shelves, shelving units, support surfaces, grids, brackets, hangers, etc.  
     [0038] As shown in FIGS.  6 - 10 , a module  112  comprises a first compartment  120 , a second compartment  140 , and one or more interfaces  160 .  
     [0039] As shown in FIG. 6, first compartment  120  (e.g., display area, holder, slot, channel, retainer, product display, product facing section, etc.) is provided on a front portion of module  112 . According to a preferred embodiment, first compartment  120  is configured to hold, display, retain, or otherwise restrain product  114  (e.g. goods, objects, articles, etc.). As shown in FIG. 10, first compartment  120  is configured to hold or retain product  114  shown as a DVD case.  
     [0040] First compartment  120  is configured to display the product at an angle relative to second compartment  120  (i.e., stagger or provide product at a non-perpendicular angle to second compartment  120 ). As shown in FIG. 9, second compartment  140  (e.g., storage section, compartments, container, holder, partition, etc.) is provided behind first compartment  120 . Second compartment  140  may be configured to hold any number of products. According to one particularly preferred embodiment, second compartment  140  is configured to hold five product  114  in a vertical orientation. Second compartment  140  advantageously provides storage, additional stock, etc. near first compartment  120  (i.e., a product facing). As shown in FIG. 6, the second compartment comprises two sidewalls  142 , a rear wall  144 , and a base  146 .  
     [0041] One or more interfaces  160  (e.g., interconnect, connecting members, attachments, fasteners, etc.) are provided on modules  112  to allow for selective engagement or attachment of one module with adjacent or neighboring modules, thereby allowing for the construction or assembly of a modular merchandising system of variable size. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, interface  160  is a tab or projection  162  provided on the side of module  112 , configured to connect or interface (e.g. fit or coact with) a corresponding aperture, recess or hole  164  provided on an adjacent side of a neighboring module to retain a neighboring module. According to various alternative embodiments, the interface may be any of a wide variety of fasteners, including mechanical fasteners, adhesives, bolt, screws, Velcro™ fasteners, engaging dovetail portions  260  as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, interface  460  (as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 comprising a clip  462  having two flexible members  468  received in a socket  464  formed by an aperture and member  466 ). According to other alternative embodiments, one or more modules may be provided as a single, integrated piece. According to a preferred embodiment, module  112  is constructed and assembled from injection molded plastic.  
     [0042] According to an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a merchandising system  210  may comprise one or more modules  212 . A first compartment  220  may be provided to hold or otherwise retain a plurality of articles in a vertical configuration. First compartment  220  may be substantially similar in construction and arrangement as compartment  120  shown in FIGS. 6 through 10. Compartment  220  further comprises one or more dividers  222  provided along a sidewall  224  of compartment  220 . Product is received between adjacent dividers  222 . Dividers  222  assist in retaining product in a vertical orientation, retaining and dividing multiple products provided in first compartment  220 , and maintaining an orderly stocked appearance.  
     [0043] As shown in FIG. 11, a second compartment  240  may also be provided which is similar in arrangement and construction as compartment  140  shown in FIGS.  6 - 10 . Compartment  240  further includes a plurality of dividers  242  (e.g. members) provided along a back wall  244  of second compartment  240 . Product (such as DVD cases) is received between adjacent dividers  242 . Dividers  242  assist in retaining product in a vertical orientation, retaining and dividing multiple products provided in compartment  240 , and maintaining an orderly stocked appearance.  
     [0044] According to another alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 13, apertures or reliefs  370  may be provided in base  346  of second compartment  340 . Apertures  370  may be utilized to reduce the amount of material needed to construct or assemble module  312 .  
     [0045] It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the merchandising system as shown in the preferred and other exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present inventions have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures, members, connectors or other elements of the system may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present inventions. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present inventions.