DISPLAY HAVING VARIABLE INCLINE SHELVES
A display includes a frame and a plurality of shelves supported by the frame. Each shelf includes a product support surface having a first inclined portion adjacent a front of the display and a second inclined portion extending rearwardly from the first inclined portion. The second inclined portion having a reduced incline relative to the first inclined portion.
The present invention relates to product displays for a retail environment.
A retail display desirably provides prominent and aesthetically pleasing display of and easy access to a product. When attempting to market a product, the seller typically wants consumers to easily recognize and remove the product from the display. Merchandise can be most easily recognized and accessed if located in a generally upright position and maintained in relatively close proximity to the forward edge of the merchandise shelf. It is also desirable for the display to be adaptable for accommodating products and packaging of varying sizes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONSome embodiments of the present invention provide a display including a frame and a shelf supported by the frame and having a product support surface. The product support surface having a first inclined portion adjacent a front of the display and a second inclined portion extending rearwardly from the first inclined portion. The second inclined portion having a reduced incline relative to the first inclined portion.
Other embodiments of the present invention provide a display including a frame and a shelf supported by the frame. The shelf having a plurality of product support surfaces, each product support surface having a first inclined portion adjacent a front of the display and a second inclined portion extending rearwardly from the first inclined portion at an angle relative to the first inclined portion. The shelf also includes a plurality of forwardly and rearwardly extending ribs that each extend adjacent to at least one product support surface to a height above the adjacent product support surface. Where pairs of ribs and a product support surface therebetween define a plurality of product receiving slots.
Other embodiments of the present invention provide a display including a frame and a plurality of shelves, at least some being supported by the frame and having a product support surface. The product support surface includes a first inclined portion adjacent a front of the display and a second inclined portion extending rearwardly from the first inclined portion at an angle with respect to the front portion. The display also includes a front support coupled adjacent to the front of the frame, the front support including a plurality of lateral front cross members, each for supporting a forward portion of a respective shelf. The display also includes a rear support coupled adjacent to the rear of the frame, the rear support including a plurality of lateral rear cross members, each for supporting a rearward portion of a respective shelf.
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or embodiments, or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
The first and second frame members 18, 22 (see
The frame 14 also includes a front support 62 couplable to and positionable along the front uprights 42 of the first and second frame members 18, 22 to at least partially support the variable incline shelves 26 (see
The frame 14 also includes a rear support 74 couplable to and positionable along the rear uprights 46 of the first and second frame members 18, 22 (see
The front and rear supports 62, 74 are configured to allow the user to adjust the position of multiple shelves 26 simultaneously, without the need to adjust individual cross members, or to reposition individual shelves. Adjusting the front or rear supports 62, 74 simultaneously moves each shelf 26 supported thereby. This allows the user to maintain the relative position of the shelves 26 with respect to one another during the adjustment. By changing the positions of the front and rear supports 62, 74 relative to one another, the user is also able to adjust the angular orientation of the shelves 26 relative to the frame 14. Typically, each rear cross member 82 is positioned at a higher elevation than the corresponding front cross member 70 so the shelves are angled downwardly (see
In the illustrated construction, the cross members 70, 82 are substantially parallel one another and equally spaced along the height of the connecting members 66, 78 (see
The frame 14 also includes one or more braces 86 extending between the first frame member 18 and the second frame member 22. The braces 86 work collectively with the front and rear supports 62, 74 to support the frame 14. In the illustrated construction, a brace 86 is located between the first and second frame members 18, 22 proximate the rear support 74 (see
Illustrated in
The top shelf 90 also includes one or more dividers 106 extending generally upwardly from the support surface 94 to separate the support surface 94 into two or more portions 94a, 94b. When in place, the dividers 106 may separate different type of products, help support smaller products, or be used as a stop to limit unwanted the movement of products along the support surface 94. While shown dividing the support surface 94 into front and rear portions 94a, 94b (widthwise), the dividers may also separate the support surface lengthwise into left and right portions (not shown). In the illustrated construction, each divider 106 is generally formed from a “U” shaped length of wire coupled to the underside of the support surface 94 (e.g., by welding), however in alternate constructions, each divider 106 may be removably coupled to the support surface 94 (e.g., by clips, pins, interlocking wire members, and the like) so they can be removed, adjusted, or added, as necessary.
As illustrated in
Illustrated in
Illustrated in
In some embodiments, each shelf 26 may include a plurality of support surfaces 30, each separated by a rib 142 to produce a plurality of slots 146 therebetween. Each slot 146 is associated with a respective support surface 30 and may be specifically configured for a particular product. The positions of the ribs 142 can be altered to change the number or width of the slots 146 located on each shelf 26 (see
Illustrated in
As shown in
The floor assembly 10 may be assembled as follows. Join the first frame member 18 and the second frame member 22 by coupling the upper shelf 90 to both top members 54 and by coupling the bottom shelf 122 to both bottom members 50. The brace 86 is coupled to both rear uprights 46. The front and rear supports 52, 74 are coupled to the front and rear upright 42, 46, respectively. A chosen combination of variable incline shelves 26 are positioned atop a rear cross member 82 and its corresponding front cross member 70. The angle and location of the variable inclines shelves 26 are adjusted by repositioning one or both of the front and rear supports 62, 74.
Claims
1. A display comprising:
- a frame; and
- a shelf supported by the frame and having a product support surface, the product support surface having a first inclined portion adjacent a front of the display and a second inclined portion extending rearwardly from the first inclined portion, the second inclined portion having a reduced incline relative to the first inclined portion.
2. The display of claim 1, wherein the product support surface is one of a plurality of product support surfaces, and wherein the shelf further includes a plurality of forwardly and rearwardly extending ribs, wherein pairs of ribs combine with a product support surface to define a product-receiving slot.
3. The display of claim 1, wherein the first inclined portion of each of the plurality of product support surfaces is substantially co-planar with the first inclined portion of the others of the plurality of product support surfaces.
4. The display of claim 1, further comprising a stop positioned substantially adjacent to a lower edge of the first inclined portion, the stop extending forwardly from the lower edge and at an angle relative to the first inclined portion.
5. The display of claim 4, wherein the stop is pivotally coupled to the shelf and is pivotable between an open position that allows product to slide off of the first inclined portion and a closed position that impedes product from sliding off of the first inclined portion.
6. The display of claim 1, further comprising:
- a front support coupled adjacent to the front of the frame, the front support including a lateral front cross member for supporting a forward portion of the shelf; and
- a rear support coupled adjacent to the rear of the frame, the rear support including a lateral rear cross member for supporting a rearward portion of the shelf, wherein the lateral rear cross member is positioned at a higher elevation than the lateral front cross member.
7. The display of claim 6, wherein the front support includes a plurality of lateral front cross members at different elevations, and the rear support includes a plurality of lateral rear cross members at different elevations, and wherein the shelf is one of a plurality of shelves, each shelf supported by a respective pair of lateral front cross members and lateral rear cross members.
8. The display of claim 7, wherein the plurality of shelves may be adjusted by repositioning at least one of the front support and the rear support.
9. The display of claim 2, wherein the shelf is one of a plurality of shelves, and wherein a first shelf includes a first number of slots, and a second shelf includes a second number of slots different from the first number of slots.
10. A display comprising:
- a frame; and
- a shelf supported by the frame and having a plurality of product support surfaces, each product support surface having a first inclined portion adjacent a front of the display and a second inclined portion extending rearwardly from the first inclined portion at an angle relative to the first inclined portion, and where the shelf also includes a plurality of forwardly and rearwardly extending ribs that each extend adjacent to at least one product support surface to a height above the adjacent product support surface, wherein pairs of ribs and a product support surface therebetween define a plurality of product receiving slots.
11. The display of claim 10, wherein the first inclined portion of each of the plurality of product support surfaces is substantially co-planar with the first inclined portion of the others of the plurality of product support surfaces.
12. The display of claim 10, further comprising a stop positioned substantially adjacent to a lower edge of the first inclined portion, the stop extending forwardly from the lower edge and at an angle relative to the first inclined portion.
13. The display of claim 10, wherein each slot on the shelf is substantially the same width.
14. The display of claim 10, wherein the shelf is one of a plurality of shelves, and wherein a first shelf includes a first number of slots, and a second shelf includes a second number of slots different from the first number of slots.
15. A display comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of shelves, at least some being supported by the frame and having a product support surface, the product support surface having a first inclined portion adjacent a front of the display and a second inclined portion extending rearwardly from the first inclined portion at an angle with respect to the front portion;
- a front support coupled adjacent to the front of the frame, the front support including a plurality of lateral front cross members, each for supporting a forward portion of a respective shelf; and
- a rear support coupled adjacent to the rear of the frame, the rear support including a plurality of lateral rear cross members, each for supporting a rearward portion of a respective shelf.
16. The display of claim 15, wherein the lateral rear cross member is positioned at a higher elevation than the corresponding lateral front cross member.
17. The display of claim 15, wherein each shelf is supported by a respective pair of lateral front cross members and lateral rear cross members.
18. The display of claim 17, wherein the plurality of shelves may be adjusted by repositioning at least one of the front support and the rear support.
19. The display of claim 17, wherein the relative position of each shelf of the plurality of shelves is substantially maintained with regards to any adjacent shelves when at least one of the front support and rear support are adjusted.
Type: Application
Filed: May 14, 2010
Publication Date: Nov 17, 2011
Inventor: Blake Daily (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 12/780,674
International Classification: A47B 81/00 (20060101);