Product merchandising display unit with replaceable product graphics

• US 6,142,316 A
• Filed: 04/01/1998
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Presence From Innovation, LLC (Jahabow Industries, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Paul Flum Ideas, Inc.
• Inventors: Fowler, Dewalt W., McWilliams, William B., Bidwell, Christopher C., Miller, Donald J. Jr., Harbour, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, Erica B.
• Application Number:
  US09/053,572
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.2, 211/74, 211/175, 211/184, 312/71
• US Class Current: 211/59.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence

Abstract

A product module adaptable for interlocking engagement with other similarly constructed modules to form a composite display assembly for merchandising products therefrom, each product module including at least one elongated product channel defined by a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side walls and a substantially planar product supporting floor portion extending therebetween, each product channel including a product graphic panel which is removably attachable to the front portion of each product channel via a wide variety of different constructional arrangements. Each product graphic panel is preferably dimensioned such that when it is attached to the front portion of a particular product channel, the graphic panel will substantially overlay the product identification and graphics associated with the lead product container positioned within that particular product channel. The present product modules may also optionally include an adjustable mechanism for adjusting the fore and aft position of such module relative to the front portion of an underlying support structure upon which the modules may rest. Still other optional features associated with the present product modules function to more effectively facilitate their utilization in a wide variety of different merchandising applications.

Claims

1. A product module for supporting and merchandising products therefrom, the product module being used in combination with product containers having a defined area associated with a portion thereof for displaying product graphics therewithin, said defined area being located intermediate the top and bottom portion of said product containers, the product module comprising at least one elongated product channel having front and rear portions, said product channel being defined by a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side walls and a substantially planar product supporting floor portion extending therebetween, each of said product channel side walls having opposed front and back portions, the front portion of said pair of product channel side walls defining at least a portion of the front portion for said product channel, a removably attachable panel member including product graphics and having top, bottom and opposed side portions, and cooperatively engageable means associated with the front portion of said product channel and said panel member for removably attaching said panel member to the front portion of said product channel, said panel member being positioned and located in spaced relationship above said supporting floor portion so as to overlay the product graphics within the defined area of the lead product container when products are positioned within said product channel.

2. The product module defined in claim 1 wherein said cooperatively engageable means associated with the front portion of said product channel and said panel member includes at least one front member spaced above said floor portion and extending at least partially across said product channel, and means on said panel member for cooperatively engaging said at least one front member.

3. The product module defined in claim 2 wherein said means on said panel member for cooperatively engaging said at least one front member includes at least one fastening member positioned adjacent the top portion of said panel member, said at least one fastening member being shaped and dimensioned so as to cooperatively engage said at least one front member.

4. The product module defined in claim 1 wherein said cooperatively engageable means associated with the front portion of said product channel and said panel member includes a pair of front members spaced above the floor portion, each of said front members extending at least partially across said product channel, and means on said panel member for cooperatively engaging said pair of front members.

5. The product module defined in claim 4 wherein said means on said panel member for cooperatively engaging said pair of front members includes at least one fastening member positioned adjacent the top portion of said panel member and at least one fastening member positioned adjacent the bottom portion of said panel member, said fastening members being shaped and dimensioned so as to cooperatively engage said pair of front members.

6. A product module for supporting and merchandising products therefrom for use in combination with a product container having a predetermined area positioned between the top and bottom portions thereof for containing product graphics, the product module comprising at least one elongated product channel, each product channel having front and rear portions and each being defined by a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side walls and a substantially planar product supporting floor portion extending therebetween, a panel member including product graphics and having top, bottom and opposed side portions the front portion of each product channel side wall including at least one slot located in the plane of said side wall adaptable for receiving one of the opposed side portions of said panel member, said panel member being removably attachable to the front portion of each product channel in spaced relationship above said supporting floor portion so as to overlay the predetermined area of product graphics associated with the lead product container by insertably positioning at least a portion of the opposed side portions of said panel member into the respective slots associated with said product channel side walls.

7. The product module defined in claim 6 wherein the front portion of each product channel side wall includes a pair of slots, each pair of slots being adaptable for receiving at least a portion of one of the opposed side portions of said panel member.

8. The product module defined in claim 7 wherein the front portion of each product channel side wall includes a notched portion, said notched portion defining said pair of slots adaptable for receiving at least a portion of one of the opposed side portions of said panel member.

9. The product module defined in claim 6 including at least one front member associated with each product channel, said one front member being spaced above said floor portion and extending at least partially across said product channel, at least a portion of said panel member mating with at least a portion of said at least one front member when said panel member is removably attached to the front portion of said product channel.

10. The product module defined in claim 6 including a pair of front members associated with each product channel, each of said pair of front members being spaced above said floor portion and each extending at least partially across said product channel, at least a portion of the top portion of said panel member mating with at least a portion of one of said pair of front members and at least a portion of the bottom portion of said panel member mating with at least a portion of the other of said pair of front members when said panel member is removably attached to the front portion of said product channel.

11. The product module defined in claim 10 wherein the one of said pair of front members which mates with at least a portion of the top portion of said panel member includes a downwardly extending projection which forms an abutment surface for mating with at least a portion of the top portion of said panel member, and wherein the other of said pair of front members includes at least a partially extending raised projection which forms an abutment surface for mating with at least a portion of the bottom portion of said panel member.

12. The product module defined in claim 6 wherein each product channel side wall includes a projection, and wherein each of the opposed side portions of said panel member includes a tab portion having an opening associated therewith positioned and located so as to cooperatively receive one of said projections, each of said tab openings being cooperatively engageable with a corresponding projection when said panel member is removably attached to the front portion of said product channel.

13. The product module defined in claim 6 wherein said product module includes opposed side portions, and cooperatively engageable means associated with the respective side portions of said product module enabling said module to be coupled together with a substantially similarly constructed module.

14. The product module defined in claim 13 wherein said cooperatively engageable means associated with the respective side portions of said product module include a keeper member located adjacent the upper and forward portion of one of said opposed product module side portions and a corresponding keying slot located in opposed relationship adjacent the upper and forward portion of said other opposed product module side portion.

15. The product module defined in claim 13 including a plurality of said product modules laterally coupled together in side-by-side relationship to form a composite assembly for supporting products therein.

16. The product module defined in claim 15 wherein said plurality of product modules include modules which differ in width.

17. The product module defined in claim 15 wherein at least some of said plurality of modules include modules having a different number of product channels associated therewith.

18. The product module defined in claim 15 including additional locking means associated with each of said modules for preventing inadvertent separation when two such modules are coupled together.

19. The product module defined in claim 18 wherein said additional locking means includes at least one outwardly extending projection associated with one side portion of each of said product modules and a corresponding recess associated with the opposite side portion of each of said product modules, said recess being positioned and dimensioned to receive said projection when adjacent modules are coupled together.

20. The product module defined in claim 6 including means extending transversely across said product module between said product channel side walls at an intermediate location between the front and rear portions thereof for weakening said module whereby said module can be separated along said weakening means into separate front and rear portions.

21. The product module defined in claim 6 wherein said floor portion includes track means extending therealong within said product channel for supporting products positioned thereon.

22. The product module defined in claim 6 wherein said product channel side walls include means for allowing portions thereof to flex sidewardly to prevent binding of products located in said product channel.

23. The product module defined in claim 6 wherein each of said product channels includes a rear wall portion, said rear wall portion including means for receiving and holding a product identification card.

24. The product module defined in claim 23 wherein said means for receiving and holding a product identification card includes a channel formed in said rear wall portion.

25. The product module defined in claim 6 wherein said product module includes top, bottom, front and rear portions and is used in conjunction with an underlying support structure having at least a transversely extending front member associated therewith, means forming an abutment surface for engaging at least a portion of the transversely extending front member of said underlying support structure, and means associated with the bottom portion of said product module for selectively adjusting the position of said abutment surface relative to the front portion of said product module.

26. A product module for supporting and merchandising products therefrom comprising at least one elongated product channel, each product channel having front and rear portions and each being defined by a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side walls and a substantially planar product supporting floor portion extending therebetween;

a panel member adaptable for receiving product graphics having opposed top and bottom portions and opposed side portions;

first and second front members associated with each product channel;

said first front member being spaced above said floor portion and extending at least partially across said product channel;

said second front member being disposed intermediate said first front member and said floor portion and extending at least partially across said product channel;

said first front member including at least one slot formed therethrough adaptable for receiving said panel member;

said panel member being removably insertable through the slot associated with said first front member such that the bottom portion of said panel member lies adjacent said second front member.

27. The product module defined in claim 26 wherein said second front member includes a groove adaptable for receiving at least a portion of the bottom portion of said panel member, the bottom portion of said panel member being insertably receivable within said groove when said panel member is inserted through the slot associated with said first front member.

28. A product module for supporting and merchandising products therefrom for use in combination with product containers having a defined area associated with a portion thereof for containing product graphics, said defined area being located intermediate the top and bottom portions of said product containers, the product module comprising at least one elongated product channel, each product channel being defined by a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side walls and a substantially planar product supporting floor portion extending therebetween, and a front wall member including product graphics extending across said product channel, said front wall member being integrally formed with said upstanding side wall and being positioned in spaced apart relationship above said floor portion so as to overlay the defined area of product graphics associated with the lead product container when said product containers are positioned within said product channel.

29. The product module defined in claim 28 wherein said front wall member is made of a transparent type material.

30. The product module defined in claim 29 wherein said front wall member includes a pair of spaced channel members positioned and located on the rear portion thereof, said pair of channel members being adaptable for insertably receiving a member containing the product graphics, said member including product graphics substantially identical to the product graphics associated with the product containers to be merchandised from said product channel, said member overlaying the defined area of product graphics associated with the lead product container.

31. The product module defined in claim 28 wherein said front wall member includes means for removably attaching product graphics thereto.

32. The product module defined in claim 30 wherein said means for removably attaching product graphics includes a pair of spaced channel members positioned and located on the front portion of said front wall member, said pair of channel members being adaptable for insertably receiving a member containing the product graphics, said member including product graphics substantially identical to the product graphics associated with the product containers to be merchandised from said product channel, said member overlaying the defined area of product graphics associated with the lead product container.

33. A product module for supporting and merchandising products therefrom for use in combination with product containers having a defined area associated with a portion thereof for containing product graphics, the product module comprising at least one elongated product channel, each product channel having front and rear portions and each including a pair of laterally spaced upright posts a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side walls, and a substantially planar product supporting floor portion extending therebetween, said upright posts being positioned and located adjacent the front portion of said product channel, a removably attachable panel member having top, bottom and opposed side portions and including product graphics, and cooperatively engageable means associated with said panel member and said pair of upright posts for removably attaching said panel member to the front portion of said product channel, said panel member being spaced above said floor portion to overlay the defined area of product graphics associated with the lead product container when product containers are positioned within said product channel, said panel member being removably replaceable to be compatible with the specific product graphics associated with the product containers to be merchandised from said product channel.

34. The product module defined in claim 33 wherein said cooperatively engageable means includes at least one slot associated with each respective upright post, each of said slots being adaptable for receiving one of the opposed side portions of said panel member, said panel member being removably attachable to said upright posts by insertably positioning at least a portion of the opposed side portions thereof into the respective slots associated with said upright posts.

35. The product module defined in claim 34 wherein each of said upright posts includes a projection, and wherein each of the opposed side portions of said panel member includes a tab portion having an opening associated therewith, each of said tab openings being cooperatively engageable with a corresponding projection when said panel member is removably attached to said pair of upright posts.

36. The product module defined in claim 33 wherein said cooperatively engageable means includes a pair of slots associated with each respective upright post, each pair of slots being adaptable for receiving at least a portion of one of the opposed side portions of said panel member.

37. The product module defined in claim 33 wherein said cooperatively engageable means includes a notched portion associated with each respective upright post, each notched portion defining a pair of slots adaptable for receiving at least a portion of one of the opposed side portions of said panel member.

38. The product module defined in claim 33 including at least one front member spaced above said floor portion and extending at least partially across said product channel, at least a portion of said panel member mating with at least a portion of said at least one front member when said panel member is removably attached to the front portion of said product channel.

39. The product module defined in claim 33 including a pair of front members spaced above said floor portion and each extending at least partially across said product channel, at least a portion of the top portion of said panel member mating with at least a portion of one of said pair of front members and at least a portion of the bottom portion of said panel member mating with at least a portion of the other of said pair of front members when said panel member is removably attached to the front portion of said product channel.

40. The product module defined in claim 33 including at least one front member spaced above said floor portion and extending at least partially across said product channel, and means on said panel member for cooperatively engaging said at least one front member.

41. The product module defined in claim 33 including a pair of front members spaced above said floor portion, each of said front members extending at least partially across said product channel, and means on said panel member for cooperatively engaging said pair of front members.

42. The product module defined in claim 33 including a first member attaching one of said product channel side walls to one of said upright posts, and a second member attaching the other of said product channel side walls to the other of said upright posts.

43. A product display device for supporting and merchandising products therefrom for use in conjunction with an underlying support structure having at least a transversely extending front member associated therewith, said display device including top, bottom, front and rear portions, a member separate from the underlying support structure and being removably positioned relative thereto, said member having an abutment surface positionable for engagement with at least a portion of the transversely extending front member of said underlying support structure, and means associated with the bottom portion of said display device for engaging said member and selectively adjusting the position of the abutment surface associated therewith relative to the front portion of said display device, said abutment surface being engageable with at least a portion of the transversely extending front member at each selected position.

44. The product display device defined in claim 43 wherein said member includes opposed end portions, at least one of said opposed end portions forming said abutment surface.

45. The product display device defined in claim 44 wherein said means associated with the bottom portion of said display device for selectively adjusting the position of the abutment surface associated with said member includes a plurality of recesses extending across at least a portion of the bottom portion of said display device, each of said recesses being configured and dimensioned so as to cooperatively receive at least one end portion of said member.

46. The product display device defined in claim 44 wherein said means associated with the bottom portion of said display device for selectively adjusting the position of the abutment surface associated with said member includes a plurality of cavities extending across at least a portion of the bottom portion of said display device, each of said cavities being configured and dimensioned so as to cooperatively receive at least one end portion of said member.

47. The product display device defined in claim 43 wherein said member includes a substantially I-shaped member having opposed end portions, each of said opposed end portions forming said abutment surface.

48. The product display device defined in claim 47 wherein said means associated with the bottom portion of said display device for selectively adjusting the position of the abutment surface associated with said member includes a plurality of channels extending across at least a portion of the bottom portion of said display device, each of said channels being configured and dimensioned so as to cooperatively receive at least one end portion of said substantially I-shaped member.

49. The product display device defined in claim 48 wherein at least one end portion of said substantially I-shaped member includes a projection, each of said plurality of channels including an opening adaptable to cooperatively receive said projection when said one end portion is received within one of said channels.

50. A product module for supporting and merchandising products therefrom comprising at least one elongated product channel, each product channel having front and rear portions and each being defined by a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side walls and a substantially planar product supporting floor portion extending therebetween, a panel member adaptable for receiving product graphics having top, bottom and opposed side portions, the front portion of each product channel side wall including at least one slot adaptable for receiving one of the opposed side portions of said panel member, said panel member being removably attachable to the front portion of each product channel by insertably positioning at least a portion of the opposed side portions of said panel member into the respective slots associated with said product channel side walls, a pair of front members associated with each product channel, each of said pair of front members being spaced above said floor portion and each extending at least partially across said product channel, at least a portion of the top portion of said panel member mating with at least a portion of one of said pair of front members and at least a portion of the bottom portion of said panel member mating with at least a portion of the other of said pair of front members when said panel member is removably attached to the front portion of said product channel, said front member which mates with at least a portion of the top portion of said panel member further including a downwardly extending projection which forms an abutment surface for mating with at least a portion of the top portion of said panel member, and said other front member further including at least a partially extending raised projection which forms an abutment surface for mating with at least a portion of the bottom portion of said panel member.

51. A product module for supporting and merchandising products therefrom comprising at least one elongated product channel, each product channel having front and rear portions and each being defined by a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side walls and a substantially planar product supporting floor portion extending therebetween, a panel member adaptable for receiving product graphics having top, bottom and opposed side portions, the front portion of each product channel side wall including at least one slot adaptable for receiving one of the opposed side portions of said panel member, said panel member being removably attachable to the front portion of each product channel by insertably positioning at least a portion of the opposed side portions of said panel member into the respective slots associated with said product channel side walls, each product channel side wall further including a projection, and each of the opposed side portions of said panel member further including a tab portion having an opening associated therewith positioned and located so as to cooperatively receive one of said projections, each of said tab openings being cooperatively engageable with a corresponding projection when said panel member is removably attached to the front portion of said product channel.

52. A product display device for supporting and merchandising products therefrom for use in conjunction with an underlying support structure having at least a transversely extending front member associated therewith, said display device including top, bottom, front and rear portions, a substantially I-shaped member having opposed end portions, each of said opposed end portions forming said abutment surface for engaging at least a portion of the transversely extending front member of said underlying support structure, and means associated with the bottom portion of said display device for selectively adjusting the position of one of said abutment surfaces relative to the front portion of said display device.

53. A product module for supporting and merchandising products therefrom wherein the products include product graphics, the product module comprising at least one elongated product channel having front and rear portions, said product channel being defined by a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side walls and a substantially planar product supporting floor portion extending therebetween, each of said product channel side walls having opposed front and back portions, the front portion of said pair of product channel side walls defining at least a portion of the front portion for said product channel, a pair of front members associated with the front portion of said product channel and each being spaced above the floor portion, each of said front members extending at least partially across said product channel, and a removably attachable panel member adapted to receive product graphics and having lop, bottom and opposed side portions, said pair of front members each including a plurality of spaced recesses, said panel member including a plurality of spaced projections positioned adjacent the top and bottom portions thereof, said plurality of projections being cooperatively engageable with said plurality of recesses for removably attaching said panel member to the front portion of said product channel, said panel member being located above said supporting floor portion to overlay the product graphics associated with the lead product when products ale positioned within said product channel.

54. A product module for supporting and merchandising products therefrom wherein the products include product graphics, the product module comprising at least one elongated product channel having front and rear portions, said product channel being defined by a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side walls and a substantially planar product supporting floor portion extending therebetween, each of said product channel side walls having opposed front and back portions, the front portion of said pair of product channel side walls defining at least a portion of the front portion for said product channel, a removably attachable panel member adapted to receive product graphics and having top, bottom and opposed side portions, at least one recessed cavity associated with each product channel side wall and at least one corresponding fastening member associated with each opposed side portion of said panel member, said fastening members being cooperatively engageable with said corresponding cavities for removably attaching said panel member to the front portion of said product channel, said panel member being located above said supporting floor portion to overlay the product graphics associated with the lead product then products are positioned within said product channel.

55. The product module defined in claim 54 wherein said product module further includes at least one front member associated with the front portion of said product channel, said front member being spaced above said floor portion and extending at least partially across said product channel, and at least one fastening member positioned adjacent the top portion of said panel member, said at least one fastening member being shaped and dimensioned so as to cooperatively engage said at least one front member.

56. A product module for supporting and merchandising products therefrom wherein the products include product graphics, the product module comprising at least one elongated product channel having front and rear portions, said product channel being defined by a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side walls and a substantially planar product supporting floor portion extending therebetween, each of said product channel side walls having opposed front and back portions, the front portion of said pair of product channel side walls defining at least a portion of the front portion for said product channel, a removably attachable panel member adapted to receive product graphics and having top, bottom and opposed side portions, at least one slot associated with each product channel side wall and at least one corresponding fastening member associated with each opposed side portion of said panel member, said fastening members being cooperatively engageable with said corresponding slots for removably attaching said panel member to the front portion of said product channel, said panel member being located above said supporting floor portion to overlay the product graphics associated with the lead product when products are positioned within said product channel.

57. A product module for supporting and merchandising products therefrom wherein the products include product graphics, the product module comprising at least one elongated product channel having front and rear portions, said product channel being defined by a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side walls and a substantially planar product supporting floor portion extending therebetween, each of said product channel side walls having opposed front and back portions, the front portion of said pair of product channel side walls defining at least a portion of the front portion for said product channel, and a removably attachable panel member adapted to receive product graphics and having top, bottom and opposed side portions, said panel member being integrally formed with the front portion of said product channel, said panel member being located above said supporting floor portion to overlay the product graphics associated with the lead product when products are positioned within said product channel.