Patent Publication Number: US-7587849-B2

Title: In-store marketing display insert

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   In the retail industry, a retail establishment commonly uses various types of display structures to present products to customers for purchase. These display structures both support the product for display while simultaneously indicating to the customer the product price. Example display structures include shelf-type structures and rack/hook-type structures. 
   In general, shelf-type display structures display the product by resting it on a shelving unit raised off of the floor. Each shelf display structure includes a price label support that supports a price label. The price label provides pricing and product information for the products stacked on the shelves. In general, shelf-type display structures provide a channel price label support that runs the length of the shelf such that price labels are inserted into the channel in a top down manner. 
   Rack/hook-type display structures generally display products by hanging the products from a rack or pegged hook. Typically, each rack or pegged hook supports a sleeve price label support wherein the price label is inserted into an opening in the side of the sleeve. 
   Often, retailers desire to highlight certain products that are being displayed. For example, a retailer may want to bring certain products to the attention of the customer based on the fact that they were advertised in a certain media format, such as a catalog, a mailer or a commercial. In addition, a retailer may want to highlight certain products that have certain characteristics not possessed by similarly displayed products, such as products that are on sale. Often, retailers highlight these select products by enhancing the visual appearance of the price labels by adding additional visual elements such as tags that indicate that the product is on sale or that the product was featured in an advertisement. These tags are supported by the display structure and typically extend beyond the normal price label so that they draw more attention. 
   With the variety of different types of display structures, enhancing the visual appearance of the price label can become labor intensive. In particular, because different display structures support price labels differently, such as a top opening channel price label support versus a side opening sleeve price label support, and because different price label supports have different shapes, separate tags had to be designed and constructed for each type of price label support found in a retail establishment. This greatly increased the cost of forming new tags. In addition, it can be difficult for a large retailer that has numerous retail outlets or stores to know how many of each type of price label support is found in each store. As a result, it is difficult to know how many of each type of tag to send to each store. 
   The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
   SUMMARY 
   The unique shape of a marketing display insert according to embodiments of the invention allows it to be used in multiple different price label fixtures. The shape of the marketing display insert is defined by a base portion that is wider than it is tall, a support portion that extends from the base portion, and a flag portion that extends from the support portion and is cantilevered over and separated by a distance from the base portion. For shelf-type display structures, cantilevering a flag above a base portion allows a marketing display insert to be inserted into a top of a price label fixture without obscuring the information on the flag portion. For peg hook-type display structures, the space between the base portion and the flag portion and the fact that the base portion is wider than it is tall allows the base portion to be inserted into the price label fixture from the side such that the flag portion appears above the price label fixture. In addition, a score between the flag portion and the support portion allows the flag portion to be bent out of plane from the base portion in the price label fixtures for both the shelf-type display structures and the peg hook-type display structures. 
   This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a marketing display insert under one embodiment. 
       FIG. 2  is a back view of the marketing display insert of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the marketing display insert illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  under one embodiment. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the marketing display insert illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  as inserted into a price label fixture under one embodiment. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the marketing display insert of  FIGS. 1 and 2  positioned in a price label fixture under one embodiment. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the marketing display insert of  FIGS. 1 and 2  positioned in a price label fixture under one embodiment. 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the marketing display insert positioned in the price label fixture illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of the marketing display insert positioned in the price label fixture illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the marketing display insert of  FIGS. 1 and 2  positioned in a price label fixture under one embodiment. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the marketing display insert of  FIGS. 1 and 2  positioned in a price label fixture under one embodiment. 
       FIG. 11  a side view of the marketing display insert positioned in the price label fixture illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 12  a side view of the marketing display insert positioned in the price label fixture illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Embodiments described herein utilize a marketing display insert made from a sheet material to enhance the visual appearance around various types of price label fixtures coupled to a variety of different types of display structures. The marketing display insert can be utilized in a shelf-type display structure, which includes a price label fixture having an in-line shelf strip for supporting at least one price label as well as pegged hook-type display structures, which include price label fixtures having a stand-alone support fixture. In some embodiments, the marketing display insert is oriented into a first orientation regardless of the type of price label fixture with which it is used. In other embodiments, the marketing display insert is oriented into a second orientation regardless of the type of price label fixture with which it is used. 
     FIG. 1  is a front view of a marketing display insert  100  showing a first surface  102  under one embodiment, while  FIG. 2  is a back view of marketing display insert  100  showing an opposing second surface  104 . Marketing display insert  100  is formed with a pliable yet resilient sheet material. One exemplary sheet material includes polystyrene, however, other resilient sheet materials may be used. The marketing display insert  100  can be manufactured with a variety of different types of die machines. In particular, the marketing display insert can be manufactured with a punch and die machine. Such a punch and die machine is configured to form edge ends as well as scores. 
   Marketing display insert  100  includes a base or bottom portion  106  as defined by a linear top edge  107 , a bottom edge  108 , a first side end  109  and a second side end  110 . Marketing display insert  100  also includes a flag or cantilevered portion  111  defined by a bottom edge  112 , a top edge  113 , a free side end  114  and an attached end  115 . Marketing display insert  100  also includes a support or connecting portion  116  that couples base portion  106  to flag portion  111 . Support portion  116  is defined by a top edge  117  that is continuous with top edge  113  of flag portion  111  and a first side end or side edge  118  that is continuous with first side end  109  of base portion  106 . Side edge  118  of support portion  116  meets first side end  109  at a point that is aligned with top edge  107 . At least a portion of side edge  118  is at an angle to top edge  107  of base portion  106 . 
   Top edge  107  of base portion  106  includes a first end  119  that terminates at support portion  116  and a second free end  120 . Bottom edge  112  of flag portion  111  includes a first end  121  that terminates at support portion  116  and a second free end  122 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , attached end  115  attaches flag portion  111  to support portion  116  along a score  124 . Score  124  extends along a line that separates flag portion  111  from support portion  116  and intersects with a line that top edge  107  extends along. Although score  124  is shown as being perpendicular to top edge  107 , score  124  may be at other angles to top edge  107 . 
   Bottom edge  112  of flag portion  111  faces top edge  107  of base portion  106 . Second end  122  of bottom edge  112  is separated from top edge  107  of base portion  106  by a first distance  140 , measured perpendicular to top edge  107 . First end  119  of top edge  107  of base portion  106  is separated from first end  121  of bottom edge  112  of flag portion  111  by a second distance  141 . First distance  140  is at least as great as second distance  141 . Under one embodiment and as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , first distance  140  is substantially equal to second distance  141 , for example. Under some embodiments, first distance  140  and second distance are at least about 1/16 of an inch. For example, under one embodiment, first distance  140  and second distance  141  are about 5/32 of an inch. However, it should be understood that this value is an exemplary dimensional value and first distance  140  and second distance  141  can be other values as long as flag portion  111  is allowed to freely bend out of plane with respect to substantially coplanar support portion  116  and base portion  106  without impedance by a price label fixture. 
   Support portion  116  of marketing display insert  100  also includes a second side end  142 , which opposes first side end or side edge  118  and is at least partially contiguous with attached end  115  of flag portion  111 . Second side end  142  includes a side edge  144  that extends beyond attached end  115  to top edge  107  of base portion  106 . Side edge  144  is at an angle to top edge  107 . Side edge  144  defines the separation between top edge  107  of base portion  106  and bottom edge  112  of flag portion  111 . 
   Top edge  107  of base portion  106  includes a width  132  that extends between first end  119  and second free end  120 . Bottom edge  112  of flag portion  111  includes a width  133  that extends between attached end  115  and free side end  114 . Under one embodiment, width  132  is at least as great as width  133 . In general, width  132  is at least about 2¼ inches. In one embodiment, width  132  is about 2⅞ inches and width  133  is about 2¼ inches, for example. It should be understood, though, that these dimensional values are exemplary values and width  132  and width  133  can be any value as long as marketing display insert  100  is sized to fit relative to multiple different types of price label fixtures. 
   Under one embodiment, marketing display insert  100  includes eight edges with two interior corners and two exterior corners. Of the eight available corners, four corners are convexly rounded. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , marketing display insert  100  includes first convexly rounded corner  125  located at a junction of bottom edge  112  and free side end  114 . Marketing display insert  100  also includes a second convexly rounded corner  126  located at a junction of top edge  113  and free side end  114 . Marketing display insert  100  also includes a third convexly rounded corner  127  located at a junction of top edge  117  and first side end  118 . Marketing display insert  100  also includes a fourth convexly rounded corner  128  located at a junction of bottom edge  108  and first side end  109 . Each of the convexly rounded corners  125 ,  126 ,  127  and  128  serves as a safety mechanism when marketing display insert  100  is positioned in a price label fixture. For example, convexly rounded corners  125 ,  126 ,  127  and  128 , as compared to sharp corners, are generally perceived as being safer to a customer or retail employee. Note that other corners are not rounded since they are designed to be placed within a support structure and as such would not be exposed to a customer. 
   Marketing display insert  100  includes indicia  129  on first surface  102  and second surface  104 . One exemplary type of indicia includes informational or textual indicia  130  as included on first surface  102  and second surface  104  of flag portion  111 . Information or textual indicia  130  can include alpha-numeric type characters. Informational or textual indicia  130  provides information to customers such as indicating that the product was advertised in some sort of media format, such as a catalog, a mailer or a commercial, and/or the product has certain characteristics not possessed by similarly displayed products, such as the product is on sale. For example, informational or textual indicia  130  can indicate that a product is “as advertised,” a “catalog item,” a “sale item,” a “sugar-free candy,” etc. Informational indicia are not placed on base portion  106  because base portion  106  is designed to be placed within a support structure and thus would be obscured. 
   Another exemplary type of indicia includes decorative indicia  131  as included on first surface  102  and second surface  104 . In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , decorative indicia  131  are included on flag portion  111  and support portion  116 . However, it should be understood that decorative indicia  131  can be located on any portion of marketing display insert  100 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of marketing display insert  100  under one embodiment. In  FIG. 3 , top edge  113  of flag portion  111 , top edge  117  of support portion  116 , and a portion of top edge  107  of base portion  106  are illustrated. Also, a top view of score  124  is illustrated. Score  124  is formed on both first surface  102  and second surface  104  of marketing display insert  100  as an indentation in the sheet material, which can be formed during the die cutting of marketing display insert  100 . 
     FIG. 4  is a perspective view of marketing display insert  100  under one embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , marketing display insert  100  includes a marketing display insert height  135  that extends from bottom edge  108  of base portion  106  to top edge  113  of flag portion  111 , a marketing display insert width or base portion width  136  that extends from first side end  109  to second side end  110  of base portion  106 , a marketing display insert thickness  137  that extends from first surface  102  to second surface  104 , a base portion height  138  that extends from bottom edge  108  to top edge  107  of base portion  106  and a flag portion height  139  that extends from bottom edge  112  to top edge  113  of flag portion  111 . Under one embodiment, marketing display insert width or base portion width  136  is greater than base portion height  138 . In some embodiments, marketing display insert height  135  is about 2 7/16 inches, marketing display insert width or base portion width  136  is about 3⅝ inches, marketing display insert thickness  137  is about 20 mils, base portion height  138  is about 1 1/32 inches and flag portion height  139  is about 1¼ inches, for example. Again, these values are exemplary dimensional values and each height, width or thickness can be any value as long marketing display insert is sized to fit relative to a price label fixture on different types of display structures. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , flag portion  111  can be bent out of plane from substantially coplanar support portion  116  and base portion  106  along score  124 . Thus, flag portion  111  can be in two different orientations. In a first orientation, flag portion  111  is out of plane from support portion  116  and base portion  106  as shown in  FIG. 4 . In a second orientation, flag portion  111  remains substantially coplanar with support portion  116  and base portion  106  as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  are perspective views of marketing display insert  100  as inserted into a price label fixture  146  on a shelf  147  of a shelf-type display structure under one embodiment.  FIGS. 7 and 8  are side views of the marketing display insert  100 , the price label fixture  146  and the shelf  147  of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , respectively. In  FIGS. 5 and 7 , flag portion  111  is bent out of plane from substantially coplanar support portion  116 , while in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , flag portion  111  is substantially in plane with support portion  116 . 
   Price label fixture  146  includes label strip  148 , a support channel  154  and a price holder  156  that each extend along the entire width  151  of a shelf  147 . Label strip  148  includes a front surface  153  and an opposing back surface  155 . Support channel  154  is coupled to or is an integral part of a shelving unit display structure and is configured to support price holder  156 . Shelf  147  and support channel  154  are typically formed of a metallic material. Price holder  156  is configured to retain label strip  148  and typically is formed of a polymer such as plastic. At least front side  152  of price holder  156  is formed of a transparent polymer such that front surface  153  of label strip  148  can be clearly viewed. As illustrated in embodiments of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , marketing display insert  100  is also retained in price holder  156  and is positioned adjacent back surface  155  of label strip  148 . As also illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , marketing display insert  100  is inserted in price holder  156  behind label strip  148  from a top end  157  of the holder because price holder  156  extends along the entire width of support channel  154 . In  FIGS. 5-8 , support portion  116  of marketing display insert  100  extends out of price holder  156  to support flag portion  111 . 
   As illustrated under one embodiment in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , label strip  148  can be a continuous in-line strip of sheet material wherein price indicia  149  are printed at varying positions on label strip  148 . In some embodiments, each price indicia  149  can be adhered to label strip  148 . In some embodiments, each price indicia  149  is its own price label and is inserted into price label fixture  146  in front of label strip  148  and is spaced apart from other price labels. Marketing display insert  100  is inserted into price label fixture  146  generally behind label strip  148  to enhance the visual appearance of the space around price indicia  149 . 
     FIGS. 9 and 10  are perspective views of marketing display insert  100  as inserted into a price label fixture  158  on a pegged hook-type display structure under one embodiment.  FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate side views of marketing display insert  100  positioned in price label fixture  158  as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , respectively. In  FIGS. 9 and 11 , flag portion  111  is oriented in a first orientation in which it is bent out of plane from substantially coplanar support portion  116  and base portion  106 . In  FIGS. 10 and 12 , flag portion  111  is oriented in a second orientation in which it is substantially in plane with substantially coplanar support portion  116  and base portion  106 . 
   Price label fixture  158  includes price label  164  and a price holder  170 . Price label  164  is a sheet of material that includes a front surface  174  with pricing information and an opposing back surface  176 . Price holder  170  is coupled to and supported by first peg hook  159  and typically is formed of a polymer such as plastic. At least the front side  172  is formed of a transparent polymer such that price label  164  can be clearly viewed. Under one embodiment, price holder  170  is mounted on first peg hook  159  by inserting peg hook  159  into an opening  200  such that peg hook  159  makes frictional contact with price holder  160 . Peg hook  159  is attached to a peg board (not illustrated). A second peg hook  160  is attached to the peg board and configured to support a product  162  such that product  162  hangs from second hook  160 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 9-12 , marketing display insert  100  is retained in price holder  170  and is positioned adjacent back surface  176  of price label  164 . Marketing display insert  100  is inserted into price holder  170  behind price label  164  from side  178  in a direction indicated by arrow  165 . In  FIGS. 9-12 , support portion  116  of marketing display insert  100  extends out of price holder  170  to support flag portion  111 . 
   The unique shape of marketing display insert  100  allows it to be used in multiple different price label fixtures. For shelf-type display structures, the positioning of the flag above the base portion allows marketing display insert  100  to be inserted into the top of price label fixture  146  without obscuring the information on the flag portion. For peg hook-type display structures, the space between the base portion and the flag portion and the fact that the base portion is wider than it is tall allows the base portion to be inserted into price label fixture  158  from the side such that the flag portion appears above the price fixture. In addition, the score  124  allows the flag portion to be bent out of plane from the base portion in the price label fixtures for both the shelf-type display structures and the peg hook-type display structures. 
   Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.