PRODUCT HANGER

Abstract

A product hanger for use in a grid wall display system, the product hanger configured to removably secure to the horizontal members of a grid wall display panel. The product hanger includes a forwardly extending peg for retaining products thereon and an attachment hook, the attachment hook including a top portion configured to engage a horizontal member of the grid wall panel, and a bottom portion including a forwardly facing open arm configured to snap fit on to another horizontal member of the grid panel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to grid wall or panel product display systems used in commercial and/or retail environments, and more particularly to product accessories, such as product hangers, configured to mount to the grid wall or grid panel system.

Retailers utilize many types of merchandising and display systems to market, display and sell products. Product display systems can be wall mounted, free-standing or floor mounted, and can include a wide number of accessories for shelving, hanging and/or displaying products. In typical retail environments, the ability to efficiently and attractively organize products within a display system is critical to successful merchandising. Indeed, retailers invest significant time and resources setting up and configuring merchandise display fixtures in order to achieve the best product placement and sales conditions in a consumer friendly environment.

A common type of product display system includes a grid-like arrangement that is mounted to a wall or flat surface. Typically, grid wall product display systems include parallel, slotted vertical support members between which grid panels are hung with the use of mounting brackets. Grid wall panels include a plurality of horizontally extending bars and a plurality of vertically extending bars mounted on a frame structure.

A number of different accessories, such as baskets, racks, hangers, faceouts and other product display members that secure to the horizontal and/or vertical members of the grid can be used with grid wall display systems. Any type of grid wall accessory must be configured to securely attach to the members of the grid system.

However, when consumers remove products from certain accessories, in particular product hangers or hooks, there is a tendency for the hook to be lifted upwards, coming loose from the grid wall, with the hanger and the remaining products falling to the ground. In addition, when the conventional product hanger must be restocked, movement, shifting and/or lifting of the hanger is frustrating and time consuming for personnel.

Accordingly, a need exists for a product hanger that can be easily secured to a grid wall display system, without having the disadvantage of being easily lifted upwards from, or being removed from the grid wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides, in part, a product hanger for removable attachment to a product gird display wall. In particular, the present invention includes a product hanger having a mounting bracket or attachment portion on a rear end thereof that is in snap-fit engagement with the horizontal members of a product grid display wall.

The product hanger can be any type of product hanger known to those skilled in the art typically found on product display grid wall display systems. This can include, but is not limited to, double or single peg product hangers, knife brackets, product hanging hooks, baskets, product shelving, faceouts, sign and/or label holders, or any type of accessory that is typically fastened to a grid wall.

The mounting bracket of the product hanger includes top and bottom attachment portions for removably securing the product hanger to the grid wall. The top attachment portion includes two downwardly disposed hooks configured to removably receive one of the horizontal members of the grid wall. The bottom attachment portion of the product hanger includes two latch members configured to snap on to the horizontal members of the grid wall.

Preferably, each latch includes a forward crimp to allow the product hanger to snap-fit to one of the horizontal members of the grid wall. Each crimp extends forwardly, towards the front of the product hanger, at an angle sufficient to position an end of the latch underneath a portion of the horizontal member of the grid wall on to which the product hanger is going to be snap fit.

It will be appreciated that the product hanger of the present invention is prevented from becoming dislodged from the grid wall when products are removed from the display by the consumer. In particular, the snap-fit crimp on the end of each of the latches prevents the product hanger from being lifted off of the horizontal members of the grid wall, and in turn, prevents the top, rear hooks of the product hanger from lifting off a horizontal member, even if lifting of the product bag and/or lifting of one or both of the pins or arms of the product hanger is required for removal of the product off the product hanger.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that one or more aspects of this invention can meet certain objectives, while one or more other aspects can lead to certain other objectives. Each objective may not apply equally, in all instances, to every aspect of the present invention. As such, these and other objects can be viewed in the alternative with respect to any one aspect of the present invention. Other objects, features, benefits and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in this summary and descriptions of the disclosed embodiments, and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such objects, features, benefits and advantages will be apparent from the above as taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures and all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a product hanger removably secured to a grid wall;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the product hanger illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial front view of the product hanger illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the product hanger illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, shown installed on the grid wall,

FIG. 5 is a side view of the product hanger illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, shown spaced apart from the grid wall;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the product hanger illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, shown partially installed on the grid wall;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the product hanger illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, shown partially installed on the grid wall; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of the product hanger illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, shown installed on to the grid wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A product hanger 50 in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 through 7. While the invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and herein are described in detail, certain illustrative embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to those as illustrated and described herein. For example, although a product hanger including a label holder is shown, the principles of the present invention may be applied to other grid wall display system accessories, including, but not limited to, single peg product hangers, knife brackets, product hanging hooks, baskets, product shelving, faceouts, sign and/or label holders.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the product hanger 50 includes an upper, forwardly extending arm or peg 52 for retaining a label holder 54 at a front or forward portion 53 of the product hanger 50, a lower, forwardly extending arm or peg 56 for retaining products 58 thereon and a rearwardly extending mounting bracket 60. The upper and lower pegs are, in certain preferred embodiments, formed of a single, bent or folded piece of material, including a substantially vertical portion 63 at a rear end portion 65, 67 of the pegs to which the mounting bracket 60 is secured. Without limitation, the product hanger 50 is preferably constructed of metal or another material capable of supporting the active, working weight of the products to be displayed on the hanger, as will be well known to those skilled in the art.

The grid wall 62 is preferably of the type that is mounted to vertical support posts using brackets or the like (shown in phantom in FIG. 4); however, the grid wall 62 can be mounted to any wall or surface, including floor mounted, in any manner known to those skilled in the art. The grid wall 62 comprises a plurality of spaced vertical parallel members 64 and a plurality of spaced parallel horizontal members 66 connected and arranged to form the grid wall 62. The vertical and horizontal members 64 and 66, respectively, have a perpendicular orientation relative to each other. The grid wall 62 may have structural or frame members 68 and 70 located at the top and bottom of the grid wall 62, respectively, to add strength and/or rigidity to the grid wall, depending on the type of construction of the grid wall. As such, consistent with the broader aspects of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the grid wall 62 is not limited to any particular construction, provided that at least a portion of the grid wall includes substantially horizontal members. In certain preferred embodiments, the vertical and horizontal members 64 and 66 are constructed of metal, cylindrical rods. The diameter of each of the members 64 and 66 is preferably about ¼ inch, but other diameters may be used.

Turning next to FIGS. 4 and 5, in addition to FIGS. 1 through 3, the mounting bracket 60 is fastened/secured to the vertical portion 63 of the product hanger 50. It will be appreciated that the mounting bracket 60 may alternatively be integrally formed with the top and bottom pegs of the product hanger 50. The mounting bracket 60 includes a top section 74, a substantially vertical web section 80 and a bottom section 82. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 8, the mounting bracket 60 can preferably comprise a substantially “S” shaped cross-section.

The top section 74 includes two downwardly disposed U-shaped hooks 84. Each of the hooks 84 defines an opening 86 configured to removably receive one of the horizontal members 66 of the grid wall 62. The end 87 of each hook 84 is dimensioned to hang entirely over the horizontal member 66b, as illustrated in FIG. 8. The vertical web section 80 includes upper and lower slots 83 and 85.

The bottom section 82 includes two, forwardly opening latches 88 configured to snap on to the horizontal members 66 of the grid wall. Each latch 88 includes a rearwardly extending portion 94 and a downwardly extending portion 96. As best illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, an end 98 of each of the latches 88 includes a forward crimp 100 to allow the product hanger 50 to snap-fit to a rear portion 110 of one of the horizontal members 66. The crimp 100 is bent or deflected at an angle sufficient to position the end 98 of the latch 88 underneath a lower portion 112 of the horizontal member 66 to prevent the latch from being easily removed therefrom. Without limitation, the length and angle of the deflection of the crimped end 100 of the latch 88 depends on the diameter of the horizontal member, in addition to application of the product hanger, with heavier products requiring different length and/or angle of deflection than lighter products.

The hook 84 and the latch 88 are preferably configured to removably fasten to nonadjacent horizontal members 66 of the grid wall 62; however, the product hanger can be configured to mount to adjacent horizontal members if required by the application of the display system. Further, two hooks 84 and two latches are shown in the figures, one hook and latch, and/or more than two hooks and latches can be formed in the mounting bracket 60, as will be well known to those skilled in the art.

FIGS. 5 through 8 illustrate installation of the product hanger 50 on the grid wall 62. First, the product hanger 50 is tipped or pivoted in a manner that permits the latches 88 to be inserted between two adjacent horizontal members 66d and 66e of the grid wall 62, as indicated in FIG. 6. With the latches 88 in place, the hooks 84 are then rotated or pivoted towards the grid wall 62 so that the opening 86 of each of the hooks 84 is positioned over one of the horizontal members 66b of the grid wall 62. In this manner, the vertical web section 80 of the mounting bracket 60 is in a substantially vertical position and parallel to the grid wall 62. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the product hanger 50 is then slid downward until the latch 50 is in snap-fit engagement with another of the horizontal members 66 of the grid wall.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8, it can be seen that the product hanger 50 is prevented from becoming dislodged from the grid wall 62 when the products 58 are removed from the display. In particular, the snap-fit crimp 100 on the end 98 of the latches 88 prevents the product hanger 50 from being lifted off of the horizontal members 66, and in turn, prevents the hooks 84 from lifting off its horizontal member 66b, even if lifting of the product bag and/or lifting of one or both of the pins 52 and 56 is required for removal of the product from the pin 56 of the product hanger 50. Likewise, the mounting bracket 60 minimizes the risk of the product hanger 50 coming off the grid wall 62 when stocking of the product hanger and/or changing of the product label is required by the retail establishment.

It will be appreciated that the mounting bracket of the product hanger of the present invention can be used to removably secure any type of product hanging accessory to a grid wall. Further, the product hangers of the present invention can be of any size required by the given application, and are not limited in dimension, as will be well known to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A product hanger configured to removably secure to a grid wall having a plurality of spaced apart horizontal members, the product hanger comprising:

at least one forwardly extending arm for retaining products thereon; and

a rearwardly extending bracket attached to a rear portion of the at least one arm, the bracket having a top portion that includes at least two inverted U-shaped hooks configured to hang over one of the horizontal members of the grid wall, the bracket also having a bottom portion that includes at least two forwardly opening latches, each of the latches configured to snap fit on to another one of the horizontal members of the grid wall.

2. The product hanger of claim 1, wherein the rearwardly extending bracket of the product hanger is substantially S-shaped in cross section.

3. The product hanger of claim 1, wherein each of the latches comprises a rearwardly extending portion, a downwardly extending portion and a forwardly crimped end portion, the crimped end portion having a length and an angle of deflection sufficient to permit each of the latches to snap fit on to a rear portion of the horizontal members of the grid wall.

4. The product hanger of claim 1, wherein the latches and the hooks of the rearwardly extending bracket are configured to secure to nonadjacent horizontal members of the grid wall.

5. The product hanger of claim 1, further comprising a second forwardly extending arm, the second arm configured to retain a label holder.

6. A product hanger for securing products to spaced horizontal members of grid wall, the product hanger comprising:

a product display peg having a front end and a rear end; and

a bracket attached to the rear end of the peg, the bracket having a hook extending substantially upwards from the peg, the hook defining a recess with a downwardly disposed opening, the hook configured to engage one of the horizontal members of the grid wall, the bracket also having a latch extending substantially downwards from the peg, the latch defining a substantially forwardly disposed recess and configured to snap fit to another one of the spaced horizontal members of the grid wall.

7. The product hanger of claim 6, wherein the bracket of the product hanger is substantially S-shaped in cross section.

8. The product hanger of claim 6, wherein the latch comprises a forward crimped portion having a length and an angle of deflection sufficient to permit the latch to snap fit on to a rear portion of the horizontal member of the grid wall.

9. The product hanger of claim 6, further comprising a second product display peg configured to retain a label holder.

10. A product hanger for removably securing products to a grid wall having a plurality of spaced apart horizontal members, the product hanger comprising:

a forwardly oriented product hanging device, having a front end and a rear end;

a mounting bracket attached to the rear end of the product hanging device, the bracket including a hook extending substantially upwards from the rear end of the product hanging device, the hook defining a recess with a downwardly disposed opening and configured to engage one of the horizontal members of the grid wall, the bracket also having a latch positioned below the hook and extending substantially downwards from the rear end of the product hanging device, the latch defining a substantially forwardly disposed recess and configured to snap fit to another one of the horizontal members of the grid wall.

11. The product hanger of claim 10, wherein the product hanging device comprises two forwardly extending pegs.

12. The product hanger of claim 10, wherein the hook has a substantially inverted U-shape.

13. The product hanger of claim 10, wherein the latch comprises a rearwardly extending portion, a downwardly extending portion and a forwardly extending end portion, the end portion having crimped to a forward angle sufficient to permit snap-fit engagement of the latch to the other of the horizontal members of the grid wall.

14. The product hanger of claim 10 wherein the hook and the latch of the bracket are configured to removably secure to nonadjacent horizontal members of the grid wall.