Patent Publication Number: US-10765233-B2

Title: Universal merchandising system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/589,991 which was filed on Nov. 22, 2017, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present invention relates generally to a merchandise display system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a merchandise display platform that has the flexibility to be quickly customized into a desired configuration according the specific needs for the merchandise to be displayed. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A retail store may sell various merchandise. Different stores, and different departments in stores, have different merchandise display needs. For example, a store selling cosmetics may have different merchandise display needs compared to a store selling candy. In addition, certain types of merchandise are seasonal. Seasonal merchandise is replaced periodically with new merchandise that have different sizes and shapes. Thus, even for a same store, e.g., a cosmetic retail store, the display needs may constantly change. 
     The embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are directed to a universal merchandise display system, or it can also be understood as a universal merchandising system (“system”). The system is customizable for different display needs for various merchandise, accommodating different shapes, sizes, heights, products, visual effects, etc., of the merchandise. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a configurable merchandise display system. More particularly, the present invention is a merchandise display platform that has the flexibility to be quickly customized into a desired configuration according the specific needs the merchandise. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, a universal merchandising system includes: a base having a front surface and a top surface; an accessory having an engagement surface having protruding elements; a bristle floor disposed on the top surface of the base, the bristle floor including a plurality of closely-spaced bristles, the bristles being dimensioned and arranged in a density sufficient to provide voids between the bristles that facilitate engagement between the bristle floor and the engagement surface of the accessory to support the accessory in a desired position on the bristle floor; a back wall connected to a back portion of the base; and a binning disposed along a top edge of the back wall, the binning defining support structures for additional support of the accessory in the desired position. 
     In another aspect, the voids receive the engaging surface of the accessory. 
     In another aspect, the accessory is configured as a divider, the divider includes a planar body and the protruding elements are disposed at a lower end of the planar body. 
     In another aspect, when the divider is secured on the bristle floor, the binning receives an upper portion of the planar body of the divider. 
     In another aspect, the accessory is a stopper, the stopper includes a body and the protruding elements are disposed at a bottom surface of the body. 
     In another aspect, the accessory is a multi-floor assembly having: a planar body including a second floor support; a plurality of the protruding elements disposed at a lower end of the planar body; and a second floor display, the second floor display being secured to the second floor support. when the multi-floor assembly is secured on the bristle floor, the binning receives an upper portion of the planar body of the multi-floor assembly. 
     In another aspect, the accessory is a shelf assembly, the shelf assembly includes: a shelf body, a cross bar disposed at a lower portion of the shelf body; and the protruding elements disposed at a lower surface of the cross bar. 
     In another aspect, the accessory is a shelf assembly, the shelf assembly includes: a shelf body, a cross bar disposed at a lower portion of the shelf body; and the protruding elements disposed at a lower surface of the cross bar. 
     In another aspect, the shelf body includes a first tier of cells and a second tier of cells stacked on top of the first tier of cells, the cells being configured to receive merchandise. 
     In another aspect, the system further includes a visual display board assembly, the visual display board assembly including a support base secured to the back wall; a display board secured to the support base, the display board including visual indicia. 
     In another aspect, the system further includes: a template, the template including a carve out, the carve out having an area that matches to an area of mating protrusions of an accessory, such that the accessory is secured to the bristle floor by the mating protrusions passing through the carve out. 
     According to one embodiment, a method of using a universal merchandising system, comprising placing a template on a top surface of a bristle floor, wherein the template includes a first carve out, the first carve out exposes a first portion of the bristle floor; selecting an accessory that has mating protrusions matching the first carve out; and inserting the accessory into the exposed first portion of the bristle floor to removably affix the accessory to the bristle floor. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the concepts and specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features that are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the disclosed systems and methods, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a universal merchandising system according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional end view of the universal merchandising system according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  shows a template used with the universal merchandising system according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  shows an assembly of a divider and a stopper of a universal merchandising system according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  shows a sectional view of a multi-tier assembly of a universal merchandising system according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  shows a visual display board connected to a universal merchandising system according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  shows a shelf display module for use with a universal merchandising system according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing how the protrusions of an accessory connect to the bristle floor  102 . 
         FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of one segment of the back wall, showing the binning. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an individual segment of the back wall. 
         FIG. 11  is a top plan view of segment of a bristle floor. 
         FIG. 12  is a side view from the longer side of the segment of the bristle floor shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a side view from the shorter right hand side as seen from  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 14  shows a three-part construction of each bristle. 
         FIG. 15  is a bottom view of a segment of the bristle floor. 
         FIG. 16  is a flow chart of a method using the universal merchandising system. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference numbers in the figures refer to similar features. The features shown in the figures are exemplary only and should not be construed as to limit the scope of the claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a display unit  100  according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The display unit  100  includes a base  104 . The base  104  includes a top surface  122 , a front surface  124 , a bottom edge  126 , and a back surface  128 , forming a substantially box shape structure. 
     A bristle floor  102  is disposed on a top surface  122  of the base  104 . The bristle floor  102  includes a plurality of tightly-spaced bristles, preferably arranged in a matrix. Each bristle is an elongated resilient and flexible protrusion with an amount of rigidity. The bristle includes a rounded top end. As a result of the arrangement of the bristles, spaces are provided therebetween. These spaces or voids of the bristle floor  102  are configured to receive mating protrusions of other accessories of the universal merchandising system  100 , e.g., a divider  410 , a stopper  450 , a multi-floor assembly  500 , a visual display board  600 , and/or a shelf assembly  700 , shown in figures to be discussed further below. 
     The bristle floor  102  provides a flexible attachment mechanism for other accessories to be easily and releasably secured onto the universal merchandising system  100 . For example, a divider  410  (see  FIG. 4 ) may include a plurality of lower protrusions that engage spaces in the bristle floor  102 . The divider  410  can be secured to any location on the bristle floors  102  by inserting the protrusions of the divider  410 , such as by press-fit, into the spaces of the bristle floor  102 . The divider  410 , as well as any other accessory, can be easily detached and reinserted into a different location on the bristle floor  102  as needed. Thus, the bristle floor  102  provides a customizable attachment mechanism to the accessories such that customized display spaces are configured to accommodate the different sizes, shapes, heights, display sequences of the merchandise to be displayed. 
     The display unit  100  includes a back wall  106 . A section of dividers or “binning”  108  is disposed at a top portion of the back wall  106 . The binning can be configured as dividing slots configured to receive and secure an upper portion or side edge of an accessory. For example, the binning  108  can receive an upper portion of the divider  410 , such that the upper portion of the divider  410  is secured to the display. In one embodiment, the bristle floor  102  secures a lower portion of an accessory and the binning  108  secures an upper portion of the accessory; in this manner, the bristle floor  102  and the binning  108  together secure the accessory on the display unit  100 . In  FIG. 1 , for example, three sections of back wall  106  are employed, but more can be utilized as needed for a larger display. For any given display arrangement, the sections as arranged together will also be referred to collectively as the “back wall  106 ”. The use of sections allows for flexibility in the size of the overall display. 
     The front surface of the back wall  106  may include various indicia, e.g., pictures, graphs, symbols, texts, for any appropriate purposes. For example, the back wall  106  may include text and symbols as assembling instructions of the display unit  100 . In another example, the back wall  106  may include a picture that highlights the merchandise to be displayed. 
     The base  104  includes two side panels  110  disposed on two ends (left and right) of the base. The side panels may include a carve out to serve as a handle  111 . The side panel  110  may include any indicia, e.g., e.g., pictures, graphs, symbols, texts, for any appropriate purposes. 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view of a display unit  100  according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The display unit includes a base  104 . The base  104  includes a top surface  122 , a front surface  124 , a bottom surface  126 , and a back surface  128 , forming a substantially box shape structure. 
     The front surface  124  and the top surface  122  form an angle θ. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the angle θ is less than 90°. For different display needs, in another embodiment the angle θ can be 90°. In yet another embodiment, the angle θ can be greater than 90°. 
     The base  104  includes screw holes  120 . The screw holes  120  are used to secure the side panels  110 . In another embodiment, the base  104  may include any other security means in addition to or instead of the screw holes  120 . For example, the base  104  may include snap fit features, magnets, latches, or the like. 
     The bristle floor  102  is disposed on the top surface  122  of the base  104 . The bristle floor  102  includes a plurality of closely spaced bristles. While the bristles may be arranged as a regular matrix with rows and columns, they can be arranged in any manner that provides voids that permit mating with the protrusions of the accessories. Each bristle is an elongated protrusion. In one embodiment, the bristle may include a rounded top end for easy insertion of the mating protrusions of the accessories. The bristles are arranged so that spaces exist between adjacent bristles such that the bristle floor  102  is configured to receive mating protrusions of accessories of the universal merchandising system  100 , e.g., a divider  410 , a stopper  450 , a multi-floor assembly  500 , a visual display board  600 , and/or a shelf assembly  700 . 
     The bristle floor  102  provides a flexible attachment mechanism for accessories to be secured onto the universal merchandising system  100 . For example, a divider  410 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , may include a plurality of protrusions that mate with the spaces (also referred to as “voids”) of the bristle floor  102 . The divider  410  can be secured to any location on the bristle floors  102  by inserting the mating protrusions of the divider  410  into the voids of the bristle floor  102 . The divider  410 , as well as any other accessory, can be easily detached and reinserted at a different location on the bristle floor  102  as needed. Thus, the bristle floor  102  provides a customizable attachment mechanism to the accessories such that customized display spaces are configured to accommodate the different sizes, shapes, heights, display sequences of the merchandise to be displayed. 
     The bristles comprising the bristle floor are preferably formed of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) material and are arranged with a preferred density based on a spacing, from bristle center to bristle center, of about 0.1414 inches, with a bristle length of approximately 0.375 inches. Including the base portion, the height of the base is about 0.475 inches. It has been found that such parameters provide adequate stability of various accessories or components, such as dividers, steps, etc. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , in a back portion of the base  104 , adjacent to a back end of the bristle floor  102 , the base  104  includes a groove  114 . The groove  114  is configured to receive a match protrusion, anchor  112 , of the back wall  106 . The match of the anchor  112  and the groove  114  secures the back wall  106  on the base  104 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the anchor  112  may be formed in a half rectangular shape. In another embodiment, the anchor  112  can be in a curvature shape, a T shape, a block shape, or the like. The groove  114  is a void that receives the anchor  112 . 
     The binning  108  is disposed at a top portion of the back wall  106 . The binning  108  preferably includes dividing slots configured to receive and secure an upper portion of an accessory. For example, the binning  108  can receive an upper portion of the divider  410 , such that the upper portion of the divider  410  is secure to the back wall. In one embodiment, the bristle floor  102  secures a lower portion of an accessory and the binning  108  secures an upper portion of the accessory; in this manner, the bristle floor  102  and the binning  108  together secure the accessory on the display unit  100 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a template  200  of the universal merchandising system according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The template  200  is configured as a flat board that is disposed on top of the bristle floor  102 . The template  200  includes various carve outs  202 ,  204 ,  206  exposing the bristle floor  102  beneath them. The template  200  may include, for example, a plurality of a first carve out  202 . The first carve out  202  is configured to receive a first accessory, e.g., a stopper  450 . The template  200  includes a plurality of a second carve out  204 . The second carve out  204  is configured to receive a second accessory, e.g., a divider  410 . The template  200  may include, for example, a plurality of a third carve out  206 . The third carve out  206  is configured to receive a third accessory, e.g., another stopper different (in size and/or shape) from the stopper  450 . 
     In another embodiment, the template  200  may include various carve outs configured to receive any other accessories, e.g., multi-floor assembly  500 , visual display board  600 , and/or shelf assembly  700 , as shown in  FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 . 
     The top surface of the template  200  may include various indicia, e.g., pictures, graphs, symbols, texts, for any appropriate purposes. In one embodiment, the template  200  may include text and symbols as assembling instructions of the display unit  100 . For example, the template may include text “Stopper 1” adjacent to carve out  202 , “Stopper 2” adjacent to carve out  206 , and “Divider” adjacent to carve out  204 , indicating which accessory should be inserted through the specific carve out. In another example, the template  200  may include a picture that highlights the merchandise to be displayed. 
       FIG. 4  shows an assembly of a divider  410  and a stopper  450  for a universal merchandising system according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The divider  410  is used to divide the display unit  100  into different spaces for displaying merchandise. The divider  410  includes a planar body  414  and protrusions  412  disposed at a bottom surface of the planar body  414 . The protrusions  412  can be inserted into the bristle floor  102  through the specific carve out  204  of the template  200  designed for the divider  410 . The binning  108  receives an upper portion of the planar body  414  of the divider  410 . 
     The divider  410  has a length L 1 , as indicated in  FIG. 4 . In one embodiment, L 1  is shorter than the length (straight or shortest distance from a front end to a back end) of the bristle floor  102 . In another embodiment, L 1  is the same as the length of the bristle floor  102 . In yet another embodiment, L 1  is greater than the length of the bristle floor  102 . The divider  410  has a height. In one embodiment, the height of the divider  410  is greater than a height of the merchandise to be displayed. In yet another embodiment, the height of the divider  410  is equal or less than a height of the merchandise to be displayed. 
       FIG. 4  shows that the divider  410  can have an extension  420 . The extension  420  may have a length L 2 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the sum of L 1  and L 2  is substantially equal to the length of the bristle floor  102 . The extension  420  can be attached to the divider  410  with any appropriate attachment mechanism, e.g., adhesives, hook and loop (e.g., Velcro®), magnets, or the like, or may be slideable with respect to the divider  410  to lengthen or shorten the overall length, as is known in the art to reduce the depth of the bristle floor with respect to the back wall  106 . 
     The stopper  454  is a physical barrier for shortening the depth of the floor  112 . The stopper  450  includes a body  454  and protrusions  452  disposed at a bottom surface of the body  454 . The protrusions  452  can be inserted into the bristle floor  102  through the specific carve out  202  of the template  200  designed for the stopper  450 . In one embodiment, a back surface of the stopper  450  does not contact the binning  108 . In another embodiment, the back surface of the stopper  450  can be in contact with, or secured to, the binning  108 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a multi-floor assembly  500  for a universal merchandising system according to one embodiment of the disclosure. There are situations when two items of merchandise are desired to be displayed one on top of another. The multi-floor assembly  500  allows the merchandise to be stacked and displayed vertically stacked. 
     The multi-floor assembly  500  includes a multi-floor divider  502 . The multi-floor divider  502  includes a planar body  504  and protrusions  506  disposed at a bottom surface of the planar body  504 . The protrusions  506  can be inserted into the bristle floor  102  through the carve out  508  of the template  200  designed specifically for the multi-floor divider  502 . 
     The multi-floor divider  502  includes a second floor support  510 . The second floor support  510  includes a plurality of horizontally extending protrusions. There are voids separating the individual horizontal protrusions of the second floor support  510 . The voids are configured to receive securing protrusions  518  of a second floor display  512 . 
     The second floor display  512  includes a back support  514  and a bottom support  516  connected to each other. The second floor display  512  provides a display platform stacked on top of a lower display space. Securing protrusions  518  are disposed at a bottom surface of the bottom support  516 . The specific size, depth, width, and height of the second floor display  512  can be configured to accommodate the specific merchandise. 
     The multi-floor assembly  500  further includes a lower level stopper  520  that can be inserted into the bristle floor  102  through the carve out  522  of the template  200 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a visual display board assembly  600  for a universal merchandising system according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The visual display board assembly  600  includes a display board  602  and a support base  604 . The display board  602  is secured on the base  604  with one or more anchors  606  through a preferable snap-fit coupling made up of a protrusion extending into opening  608  and may provide for pivoting of edge  602  from a vertical position (not shown) to a horizontal position as shown. The display board  602  may include any indicia desired, e.g., pictures, graphs, text, numbers, symbols, that promotes the sale of the merchandise. 
     The support base  604  can be secured at any location on the back wall  106  through screws  610  or any other appropriate securing structure. 
       FIG. 7  shows a shelf assembly  700  for a universal merchandising system according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The shelf assembly  700  includes a shelf body  702 . The shelf body  702  includes multiple cells  706  and  708 . The cells  706 ,  708  are used to store and display merchandise. The shelf body  702  may include a plurality of floors of cells. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the shelf  702  includes cells  706  in a first floor and cells  708  in a second floor. 
     The shelf assembly  700  includes a cross bar  710  disposed at a bottom of the shelf body  702 . A plurality of bristle connectors  704  are attached to the cross bar  710  with protrusions facing downward. The protrusions of the bristle connectors  704  can be inserted into the voids of the bristle floor to secure the shelf assembly  700  in place. 
     The template  200  may include specific carve outs that match the orientation of the bristle connectors  704 . 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram showing how protrusions  412  of an accessory  410 , for example, engage with the bristle floor  102 . As can be seen in the figure, when the protrusions  412  engage the bristle floor  102 , they lodge in the voids between the floor bristles. 
       FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of one segment of back wall  106 , showing the binning  108 . Also shown in  FIG. 9  is a tab  1004  that can be inserted into a corresponding slot  1008  (see  FIG. 10 ) of an adjacent wall segment to form a multi-segmented back wall  106 , for example as shown in  FIG. 1 . The width of each binning element is preferably about 0.056 inches and the pitch between the elements is preferably about 0.86, from center to center between adjacent elements. Preferably each segment of back wall  106  has a height of about 7.324 inches and width of about 12.291 inches. The corresponding slot  1008  can be seen in  FIG. 10 , which is a perspective view of an individual segment of back wall. 
       FIG. 11  is a top plan view of segment of a bristle floor  102 . Depending upon the size of the display, the bristle floor might require multiple segments. Thus, the term bristle floor  102  and a segment of such a floor will generally be used interchangeably herein, since what is being described will be clear from context. A side male connector  1104  can be seen at the left of  FIG. 11 . This connector can engage a side female connector  1108 , which will be illustrated in a figure to be discussed below. 
       FIG. 12  is a side view from the longer side of the segment  102 . As can be seen in  FIG. 12 , the side male connector  1104  protrudes at the left side of the figure. Mold release structures  1110  are used to help release the mold from which the segment  102  is formed from the tool—which is preferably formed from injection molding. Clips  1112 , shown in  FIG. 12 , are used to clip into the substructure of the display under the floor  102 . The slots  1116  shown in  FIG. 11  are used for forming the clips  1112  during the molding process of the segments  102 . 
       FIG. 13  is a side view from the shorter right hand side as seen from  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 13  shows the two clips  1112  and indicates an area of detail A, which is shown in  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 14  shows a three-part construction of each bristle  103 . That is, preferably, each bristle  103  has a tip  103   a , a shaft  103   b  and a frustoconical base  103   c.    
       FIG. 15  is a bottom view of a segment of the bristle floor  102 . In addition to the structures shown in other figures,  FIG. 15  shows the side female connector  1108 , which, as discussed above, is used to connect to male connector of an adjacent segment of a bristle floor to form a multi-segmented floor  102 . 
       FIG. 16  shows a flow diagram of a method  800  of using the universal merchandising system. Step  802  includes placing a template  200  on top of a bristle floor  102 . The template includes a first carve out and a second carve out. The first carve out exposes a first portion of the bristle floor  102 . The second carve out exposes a second portion of the bristle floor  102 . 
     Step  804  includes selecting a first accessory that has protrusions matching the first carve out. Step  806  includes inserting the accessory into the first portion of the bristle floor through the first carve out. 
     Step  808  includes selecting a second accessory that has protrusions matching the second carve out. Step  810  includes inserting the second accessory into the second portion of the bristle floor through the second carve out. The method  800  can be applied to any of the accessory embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-15 . 
     Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the present invention, disclosure, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.