Product display shelf, system and method

• US 10,130,196 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2015
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Artform International Limited (IMI PLC)
• Original Assignee: Artform International Limited (IMI PLC)
• Inventors: Burns, Alistair Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US15/501,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20170224135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 362 92, 362 94, 362640, 362652, 362655-659
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2220/0075 Lighting
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2220/0077 Lighting for furniture, e.g. cupboards and racks
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2220/0091 Electronic or electric devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/408 with a security device
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/021 Structural features of shelf bases
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/06 Brackets or similar supporting means for cabinets, racks or shelves A47B96/022 takes precedence; aspects of adjusting height or inclination A47B57/00 ; brackets for the display of articles A47F5/08
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 11/10 Arrangements of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0025 having separate display containers or trays on shelves or on racks
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0043 Show shelves shelves in general A47B96/02; brackets or similar shelf-supporting means A47B96/06; advertising or price indication G09F
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/10 Adjustable or foldable or dismountable display stands foldable racks in general A47B43/00; dismountable racks in general A47B47/00; assemblies of elements of the same kind, e.g. stackable A47B87/00; publicity panels G09F15/0068
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0413 Frames or casing structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/045 Signs, boards or panels specially adapted for doors
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 with LEDs

Abstract

A product display shelf, system and method are disclosed. The product display system includes a shelf unit having a back shelf portion and a front shelf portion. The back shelf portion includes a first connecting element for releasably attaching the back shelf portion to an electrically powered support member, and the front shelf portion includes a second connecting element for releasably attaching the front shelf portion to the back shelf portion. The front shelf portion can also include a body portion and a display panel connected to or integral with the body portion, suitable for displaying information to a user.

Claims

1. A product display system comprising:

a shelf unit comprising a back shelf portion and a front shelf portion, the back shelf portion and the front shelf portion releasably attached to each other to form a shelf wherein both of the back and front shelf portions are configured to provide support for a product to be displayed;

wherein the back shelf portion comprises a first connecting element for releasably attaching the back shelf portion to an electrically powered support member, and the front shelf portion comprises a second connecting element for releasably attaching and electrically connecting the front shelf portion to the back shelf portion.

2. A product display system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the electrically powered support member.

3. A product display system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the front shelf portion is electrically connected to the electrically powered support member via the back shelf portion.

4. A product display system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the front shelf portion includes an illumination element.

5. A product display system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the illumination element is or includes a light bulb, a light emitting diode, a liquid crystal display device, an electroluminescent device, a light emitting cell, a light emitting electrochemical cell or an organic light emitting diode.

6. A product display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first connecting element is or includes a hooked member configured to be inserted into a complementary recess in the electrically powered support member, or wherein the first connecting element is or includes a recess configured for receiving a complementary hooked member of the electrically powered support member.

7. A product display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second connecting element is or includes a protruding member configured to be insertable into a complementary recess in the back shelf portion.

8. A product display system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the protruding member is resiliently biased.

9. A product display system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second connecting element is or includes a recess configured for receiving a complementary protruding member of the back shelf portion.

10. A product display system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the front shelf portion further comprises at least one conductive sprung contact member for resiliently engaging with a corresponding conductive track in the back shelf portion.

11. A product display system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second connecting element is or includes a conductive element for engaging with a corresponding conductive track in the back shelf portion.

12. A product display system according to claim 1 further comprising an additional front shelf portion configured to be interchangeable with the front shelf portion, the back shelf portion and the additional front shelf portion releasably attachable to each other to form a shelf wherein both of the back and additional front shelf portions are configured to provide support for a product to be displayed, wherein the additional front shelf portion comprises a second connecting element for releasably attaching the additional front shelf portion to the back shelf portion.

13. A product display system according to claim 12 wherein the front shelf portion and the additional front shelf portions have different depths.