Merchandising system
A merchandising system for articles comprising a base, a member coupled to the base having a front and a rear and configured to suspend the articles, and a pusher that advances along the member so that articles are advanced from the rear to the front of the member. The member is positioned substantially above the pusher as the articles are advanced along the member.
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The present application claims the benefit of and priority as available under 35 U.S.C. §§ 119-121 to the following U.S. Patent Application (which is incorporated by reference in the present Application): U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/478,700 (“MERCHANDISING SYSTEM”) filed Jun. 13, 2003.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates generally to the field of merchandising systems. In particular, the present invention relates to merchandising systems providing for orderly presentation of articles (such as products) in a display space.
It is known to provide for a merchandising system that may be used for displaying products in consumer settings such as grocery stores, retail outlets, shops, etc. Such known merchandising systems may be used to present, display and store products in fixed or limited spaces such as on shelves, in display cases, in cabinets, etc.
It is beneficial when merchandising an article such as a product to allow potential customers to view or handle it in a convenient and comfortable manner. Known merchandising systems may display products to a consumer by providing the products in inefficient configurations. Products and product containers come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and some products may be more difficult to merchandise (e.g., present for potential retail sale) than others. Within fixed or limited spaces, known merchandising systems may not be configured to optimize the presentation of such products to a consumer. Such known merchandising systems also do not always provide convenient ways for dispensing products, especially those with unique or irregular shapes. Ease of use can be an important concern for customers and store personnel. As is sometimes the case, product or container design may be dictated by considerations separate from the ease or difficulty with which the product may be presented.
Some known merchandising systems may not provide effective means for displaying, storing and presenting articles that are difficult to stack or support themselves. For example, the packaging of many articles, such as lunchmeat or cheese, is often made from thin, defonnable plastic which is not ideal for stacking or arranging on a flat platform. Some merchandising systems fail to provide adequate support for these types of articles, as well as smooth, efficient sliding of the article along the length of the system. Further, some merchandising systems do not provide sufficient means of advancing these types of articles along the merchandising system. Further, some merchandising systems do not provide strong and/or rigid support for articles. Accordingly, many merchandising systems may not provide articles in a straight, linear, or level arrangement due to sagging, deformation, bowing, deflection and/or movement due to the weight of the articles. In addition, many merchandising systems may not evenly distribute weight from articles and/or product along the length of the system. This may result in a higher force when loading or stocking the unit (e.g., some spring pusher systems may require higher spring tension).
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that is configured for stocking, orderly presentation, and convenient storage of products with a shape that may not be easily stored, presented, or displayed, such as products with uniquely shaped containers. It would also be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that is configured for selective modularity in the construction and assembly of the merchandising system. It would also be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that allows for the construction and assembly of a merchandising system with any number of product facings, modules, compartments, etc. It would also be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that advances a product and/or allows a product to advance along a defined path. It would also be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that self-faces articles (e.g., moves articles to the front of the system after articles are removed). It would be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that conveniently advances articles in systems where the articles are suspended and/or hang from members such as rods. It would also be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that rnay withstand large vertical forces when in an extended position, a stowed position, or any position therebetween. It would also be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that may evenly distribute the weight of articles and/or products over the length of the system. It would also be advantageous to provide a merchandising system that allows for smooth, efficient gliding of articles and/or products along the length of the system.
It would be advantageous to provide a merchandising system or the like of a type disclosed in the present application that provides any one or more of these or other advantageous features.
SUMMARYThe invention relates to a merchandising system for articles comprising a biasing system comprising a track comprising a front and a rear, a mount, a biasing mechanism, and a pusher. The mount is configured to couple with a base and the biasing system is configured to move the articles from the rear of the track to the front of the track.
The present invention also relates to a merchandising system for articles comprising a base, a member coupled to the base having a front and a rear and configured to suspend the articles, and a pusher that advances along the member so that articles are advanced from the rear to the front of the member. The member is positioned substantially above the pusher as the articles are advanced along the member.
Another embodiment of the present invention relates to, in a system for merchandising products suspended from a member, an improvement comprising a track adjacent to the member and having a front and a back and a pusher coupled to the track and configured to advance products suspended from the member from the back of the track to the front of the track. The pusher comprises an aperture that the member at least partially extends through as the pusher advances along the track.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to the FIGURES, various exemplary and alternative embodiments of a merchandising system intended for displaying articles such as products, containers, items, units, etc. in consumer settings such as grocery stores, retail outlets, shops, etc. are shown. According to a preferred embodiment, the merchandising system is intended to dispense, store, merchandise, display, etc. articles to provide for the space-efficient presentation of groups of articles within a given or fixed display area, and/or to allow for convenient and orderly presentation, dispensing, stocking, and storage of articles (such as products or product containers) having any of a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and profiles (e.g., wedges, cylinders, rectangular, non-rectangular, etc.).
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According to various exemplary embodiments, the signage and end portion may each be configured to receive or display indicia (e.g. text, graphics, display placards, signage, etc.). For example, indicia may be applied directly to the signage and end portion. According to an alternative embodiment, the signage and end portion may comprise one or more channels configured to hold and display indicia. The signage and end portion may be clear to increase visibility of the merchandising articles. This configuration allows the articles to be readily visible by minimizing the potential obstruction.
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According to a second exemplary embodiment shown in
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According to various alternative embodiments, the biasing member may have a wide variety of shapes and/or configurations. For example, the biasing member may have a curved shape (e.g., curved, scoop, shovel-like, cup-like, bucket-like, etc.). Providing a biasing member with a curved shape may better accommodate certain shapes of articles. For example, the curved shape may better accommodate a bag of articles (such as chips, salty-snacks, etc.) while a biasing member of another shape (e.g., rectangular) may better accommodate a more fixed or rigid article (such as boxed products, etc.). According to an alternative embodiment, the biasing member located on a base may be provided with one or more apertures (e.g., cut-outs, reliefs, holes, etc.). The one or more apertures may advantageously reduce the amount of material needed to build and/or construct the biasing member, or alternatively reduce the weight of the biasing member.
According to an exemplary embodiment, system 10 includes biasing mechanism 92 (e.g., spring, coil spring, helical spring, elastic, biasing element, etc.). Referring to
According to various exemplary embodiments, one or more base and/or track may be provided. The base and track may be provided on an existing merchandising system such as a shelf, grid system, display case, etc. The base and track may be configured to hold, display, retain, suspend, store, or otherwise receive articles (e.g., goods, displayed objects, etc.). The base and track provides for the space division and orderly and convenient presentation of such articles. The base and track may be configured to connect or couple adjacent systems into a larger overall merchandising system. According to a preferred embodiment, the base and track will have a “modular” construction and be configured for attachment or use with any other bases, tracks, shelves, or a variety of other existing merchandising systems, including shelving units, support surfaces, grids, brackets, hangers, etc.
According to various exemplary embodiments, the assemblies and components of the system may be constructed from a variety of suitable materials, including extruded or injection molded plastic, metals, metal alloys, aluminum, polymers, composites, ceramics, etc. A variety of plastics may be used for construction or assembly. For example, the track may be constructed or assembled from high-impact plastics, polymers, etc. Using plastic offers several advantages including that the pieces may be constructed in a variety of different colors, surface finishes, textures, opacity, etc. According to various alternative embodiments, a variety of other known or suitable materials may be used, including metals, alloys, composites, etc. For example, the base and member may be constructed from metal.
According to the various exemplary embodiments shown in the FIGURES, a merchandising system may be provided in a substantially horizontal arrangement (e.g., parallel to the z-axis of
The parts defining the space configured to store or display articles may be constructed and assembled as a single integrally formed piece or may be constructed and assembled from multiple parts. For example, the parts may be formed separately and then connected using a sonic welding process (or other suitable attachment technique). The parts may be arranged to form a storage space. Before an article is placed in the space of the merchandising system, the member may be positioned near the front wall. With the member positioned near the front of the wall, the size of the space available to accept articles is minimal. The biasing mechanism positions the member near the front wall of the merchandising system when no articles are loaded in the merchandising system.
Referring to
Once loaded with articles, the merchandising system advantageously allows for the forward movement of the articles after an article is removed. When an article is removed from the front of the merchandising system, the remaining articles are positioned forward by the biasing mechanism to fill the void left by the removed article. Moving the remaining articles to the front of the merchandising system maximizes the visibility of the articles by eliminating the possibility that adjacent articles positioned near the edge of the display shelf system could obstruct the view of an article set back from the edge of the display shelf system. Additionally, the movement of the article to the front of the merchandising system reduces the difficulty of trying to reach an article positioned away from the front edge of a display shelf system. Furthermore, the forward movement also eliminates the need to manually reposition all of the remaining articles in the merchandising system after an article has been removed. The technique used to initially load the merchandising system may be used to reload the merchandising system as articles are removed. In an exemplary mode of operation, the new article is reloaded from the front of the merchandising system as it remains incorporated with the display shelf system.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the member is mounted to a base system, such as a MAGNA-BAR™ or a “V” bar. The track is mounted to the base system such that the track is positioned above the member. The biasing member and biasing mechanism are provided on the bottom side of the track, and the opening in the biasing member allows the face of the biasing member to substantially surround the member. This configuration allows the merchandising system to apply a generally uniform force around the member, which helps to prevent articles from twisting on the member. If an article were to twist while on the member, it could bind and prevent the merchandising system from operating properly. The force (generally uniform) applied by the biasing member is advantageous because it helps to ensure that the merchandising system functions properly.
According to exemplary embodiments, the merchandising system may be used with different base systems. For example, the merchandising system may be configured such that the track snaps onto a MAGNA-BAR™. According to alternative embodiments, the merchandising system may be configured such that the track is clamped to a “V” bar. According to other embodiments, the track may be configured to couple to a variety of different base systems (e.g., other than a MAGNA-BAR™, a “V” bar, or of other types of bars and systems).
It is important to note that the above-described preferred embodiments are illustrative only. Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous modifications are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, these and all other such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps as recited herein may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. In the claims, any means-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangements of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
Claims
1. A merchandising system for articles comprising:
- a biasing system comprising a track comprising a front and a rear; a mount; a biasing mechanism; and a pusher;
- wherein the mount is configured to couple with a base; and
- wherein the biasing system is configured to move the articles from the rear of the track to the front of the track.
2. The merchandising system of claim 1 further comprising a member configured to suspend the articles for selective removal.
3. The merchandising system of claim 2 further comprising a base coupled to the biasing system and to the member configured to suspend the articles.
4. The merchandising system of claim 3 wherein the member configured to suspend the articles is a rod that allows the articles to slide along a length of the rod.
5. The merchandising system of claim 4 wherein the rod comprises a first end that is configured to at least partially restrain movement of the articles.
6. The merchandising system of claim 5 wherein the first end comprises at least one of a hook and a curved portion.
7. The merchandising system of Claim 5 wherein the first end comprises one or more projections.
8. The merchandising system of claim 4 wherein the pusher includes portions slidably coupled to the track and wherein the biasing mechanism is coupled to the pusher and to the track proximate the front.
9. The merchandising system of claim 8 wherein the mount couples to the base at multiple locations by way of a snap fit.
10. The merchandising system of claim 8 wherein the mount couples to the base at multiple locations with one or more fastener.
11. The merchandising system of claim 8 wherein the biasing member comprises an aperture that the rod at least partially extends through as the biasing member moves along the track.
12. The merchandising system of claim 11 wherein one or more member may be selectively coupled to the base.
13. The merchandising system of claim 11 wherein the biasing mechanism moves the pusher from the back of track to the front of the track by at least one of pushing and pulling the pusher.
14. The merchandising system of claim 13 wherein the rod is positioned substantially above the pusher as articles are advanced along the rod.
15. A merchandising system for articles comprising:
- a base;
- a member coupled to the base having a front and a rear and configured to suspend the articles;
- a pusher that advances along the member so that articles are advanced from the rear to the front of the member;
- wherein the member is positioned substantially above the pusher as the articles are advanced along the member.
16. The merchandising system of claim 15 further comprising an assembly that is configured to couple to the base at a plurality of locations.
17. The merchandise system of claim 16 wherein the member is a rod configured to suspend the articles for selective removal.
18. The merchandising system of claim 17 wherein the base is configured so that one or more rod may be coupled to the base at a plurality of locations by inserting a portion of the one or more rod into one or more aperture of the base.
19. The merchandising system of claim 18 wherein the assembly comprises a track configured to slidably couple to the pusher and a mount configured to couple to the base at multiple locations.
20. The merchandising system of claim 19 wherein the track and the mount are integrally formed.
21. The merchandising system of claim 19 wherein the pusher comprises a biasing mechanism that advances the pusher from the back of the member to the front of the member by at least one of pulling and pushing the pusher.
22. The merchandising system of claim 21 wherein the pusher comprises an aperture that the rod extends through as the pusher moves along the rod.
23. The merchandising system of claim 22 wherein the rod is positioned substantially above the pusher as articles are advanced along the rod.
24. In a system for merchandising products suspended from a member, the improvement comprising:
- a track adjacent to the member and having a front and a back; and
- a pusher coupled to the track and configured to advance products suspended from the member from the back of the track to the front of the track;
- wherein the pusher comprises an aperture that the member at least partially extends through as the pusher advances along the track.
25. The merchandising system of claim 24 wherein the member includes a first end that is configured to at least partially restrain advancement of the articles.
26. The merchandising system of claim 25 wherein the first end of the member comprises a hook.
27. The merchandising system of claim 25 wherein the member is a rod that may be coupled to the base at a plurality of apertures formed in the base.
28. The merchandising system of claim 27 wherein the pusher is slidably coupled to the track and is advanced by a biasing mechanism that urges the pusher from the back of the track to the front of the track.
29. The merchandising system of claim 28 wherein the rod is positioned substantially above the pusher as the articles are advanced along the rod.
30. The merchandising system of claim 29 wherein the track is positioned substantially above the rod as the articles are advanced along the rod.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 10, 2004
Publication Date: Jul 26, 2007
Applicant: DCI Marketing, Inc. (Milwaukee, WI)
Inventors: M. Bryson (Brookfield, WI), Allen Johnson (Hartford, WI)
Application Number: 10/560,052
International Classification: A47F 5/08 (20060101);