Patent Publication Number: US-6658771-B1

Title: Replaceable indicia panel for merchandising bin

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/406,009 filed on Aug. 26, 2002. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to merchandising bins for storing and displaying retail goods as part of a marketing display and, in particular, to a panel removable attached to the merchandising bin which allows convenient identification of the goods disposed within the bin. 
     II. Description of the Prior Art 
     Retailers and merchandisers have learned that one of the key factors in successfully marketing products to consumers is to catch their eye and immediately provide as much product information as possible. Consumers no longer have the patience to file through boxes sitting on shelves to find a product. Consumers prefer to scan a display of product choices and specifications to quickly locate the desired product. Such product marketing is key to increased sales. 
     Pull-out and tilt bins have been used to store small components. Typically, these bins are used in groups to display similar products or different product sizes. A display card or sticker may be affixed to the bin or the shelf proximate the bin. to provide detailed specifications for the product. However, such product cards can be difficult to replace or may not be easily associated by the consumer with the bin storing the part in question. Furthermore, open bins can cause product mingling when consumers simply toss a product back into the wrong bin. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior known merchandising bins by providing an indicia panel which is secured to the bin to clearly identify the product stored therein yet is easily removable to alter the information on the panel. 
     The present invention is directed to a merchandising bin forming a part of a display of numerous consumer products. Preferably the bins are open at the top to access the parts therein and tilt or pivot outwardly to allow access to the top opening. Normally, the bins form a wall display of a plurality of parts allowing consumers to scan the display to determine the desired parts. As a part is found, the bin is tilted outwardly providing access to the parts stored in the bin. 
     In order to quickly identify. the part stored in a particular bin, the bins of the present invention are provided with a replaceable indicia panel.. The indicia panel may be used to display specifications and illustrations for the part within the bin. The panel may also be used to display an actual sample of the part stored in the bin. Simply stated, the removable panel is used to provide sufficient information to the consumer that they can make a quick but informed decision on their product choice. However, just as pressed for time as consumers are, they are also fickle, demanding a variety of product choices. In order to allow a quick change-out of product, the display panels for the individual bins are conveniently replaceable. Just as quickly as the product can be replaced in the bins, a new panel can be attached to the merchandising bin. 
     The indicia panel is a planar member retained on the front face of the bin by one or more clips which lockingly engage the bin. The bin includes a front face with retaining channels spaced apart in accordance with the width of the display panel. One or more slots are formed in the front face between the channels. The slots are configured to receive the elongated retaining clips. The clips include a retaining shoulder designed to receive the bottom edge of the indicia panel and a resilient finger biasingly engageable with the slot to removable retain the spring clips within the corresponding slot. 
     The indicia panels are mounted to the merchandising bin by sliding the panel member into the channels which retain the side edges of the panel member. Thereafter, at least one spring clip is slid into the corresponding slot until the resilient finger enters the face of the bin and the bottom edge of the panel is received within the retaining shoulder. Removal of the indicia panel is accomplished simply by releasing the spring clips allowing the clips and the panel to be instantly removed from the face of the merchandising bin. 
    
    
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a selectively retractable merchandising bin embodying a replaceable indicia panel of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partial perspective view of a retaining clip engaging a front face of the merchandising bin; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the merchandising bin and indicia panel; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the indicia panel seated on the front face of the merchandising bin; and 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the assembled merchandising bin and indicia panel. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown an individual merchandising bin  10  forming a part of a larger merchandising display (not shown) designed to market a variety of products to consumers. The merchandising bin  10  is preferably transparent so that consumers can immediately determine the contents of each bin  10 . The merchandising bins  10  are preferably arranged in rows and columns in the display allowing the consumer to quickly find the desired product. The individual bins  10  may be pulled out like drawers or tilt out to provide access to the products stored within the bin  10 . In this manner, a large number of products may be displayed to the consumer within convenient access. 
     The merchandising bin  10  is a container having side walls  12  and a bottom wall  14  leaving an open top  16  through which merchandise is placed and removed. One of the side walls  12  forms a front face  18  displayed to the consumers. In one form of the bin  10 , the front face  18  includes a handle  20  for moving the bin  10  between an open and closed position. In order to identify the product within the bin  10 , the front face  18  is provided with a removable indicia display  22  in accordance with the present invention. 
     Referring now to all figures of the drawing, the indicia display  22  primarily comprises an indicia panel  24  removably mounted to the front face  18  of the bin  10  such that as product is changed out of the bin  10  the panel  24  can be replaced to reflect the product contained therein. The panel  24  can include specifications and illustrations for the product and may include a sample mounted to the panel  24 . The front face  18  of the bin  10  includes opposing channels  26  dimensioned to slidably receive the panel  24 . The channels  26  are spaced apart in accordance with the length of the panel  24  although, in a preferred embodiment, the channels  26  are formed proximate the outer edges  28  of the front face  18  such that the panel  24  extends across the face  18 . 
     In order to prevent the panel  24  from inadvertently sliding out of the channels  26 , retaining clips  30  designed to releasably engage the bin  10  and the panel  24  are utilized. At least one clip  30  will be used although the number of clips  30  required will be dependent upon the size of the bin  10  and panel  24 . In a preferred embodiment as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the clip  30  has an elongated body  32 . Formed at a lower end of the body  32  is a retaining shoulder  34  configured to receive a bottom edge of the panel  24 . Extending from an upper end of the body  32  is a resilient finger  36  designed to biasingly engage the bin  10 . Preferably, the resilient finger  36  extends downwardly from the upper end of the body  32  and substantially parallel to the body  32 . The end of the resilient finger  36  includes a locking tab  38 . In order to ensure proper alignment of the clip  30  and therefore the panel  24 , an abutment member  40  is formed on the body  32  opposite the retaining shoulder  34 . The abutment member  40  positions the clip  30  in spaced apart relation to the bin face  18  for vertical alignment of the panel  24 . 
     Although the retaining clips  30  may be used to simply engage the front face  18  of the bin  10 , in a preferred embodiment, slots  42  are formed in the face.  18  to receive the clips  30 . The slots  42  have a width corresponding to the width of the clips  30 . An aperture  44  open to the interior of the bin  10  is formed within the slot  42 . The aperture  44  is configured to receive the locking tab  38  of the clip  30  yet allow release of the tab  38  from the interior of the bin  10 . 
     The retaining system for the indicia display  22  of the present invention facilitates convenient replacement of the indicia panel  24  when product is changed-out of the bin  10 . The system eliminates the need to remove screws, adhesives or other fasteners typically used in the prior known labeling systems. Once a particular product is placed in the bin  10 , the appropriate indicia panel  24  can be slid into the channels  26  of the front face  18 . Thereafter, the retaining clips  30  are inserted into the slots  42  with the elongated body  32  behind the panel  24  until the locking tab  38  enters the aperture  44 . The panel  24  will rest on the shoulder  34  of the clip  30 . When removal becomes necessary, the locking tab  38  can be accessed from the interior of the bin  10  to release the resilient finger  36  and allow removal of the clip  30  from the slot  42  and removal of the panel  24 . As a result, accurate specification for the product displayed in the bin  10  can be easily maintained through replacement of the indicia panel  24 . 
     The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.