Planogram measuring device

• US 6,473,984 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Inventors: Splain, William D., OʼNeil, Noreen E., Bowser, James C., Vigneau, Andrew P., Prideaux, Douglas G., Bredow, Patricia A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Madeline
• Application Number:
  US09/519,074
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 33/411, 33/416, 337/60, 335/28, 335/33, 336/13, 336/44, 336/45, 334/52, 334/64
• US Class Current: 33/613
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2003/1074 associated with the casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/004 for measuring coordinates of points

Abstract

A method of positioning a product on a display. The method including the steps of defining an indicia row associated with the display, defining an indicia column associated with the display, providing a product coordinates set specifying an intended position of the product on the display, and locating the product on the display using the positioning coordinates set at a location corresponding to the product coordinates set.

Claims

1. A method for positioning a product on a merchandise display, the method comprising the steps of:

removably attaching an indicia row to the merchandise display;

slidingly engaging an indicia column to the indicia row such that a positioning coordinates set is defined on the merchandise display;

sliding the indicia column relative to the indicia row to identify a positioning coordinates set corresponding to a designated product coordinates set;

extending and retracting the indicia column relative to the indicia row;

locating one or more products on the merchandise display at the product coordinates set;

removing the indicia row from the merchandise display;

moving the indicia row to a second merchandise display; and

releasably attaching the indicia row to the second merchandise display.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein merchandise display is selected from the group consisting of merchandising panels, pegboards, perforated boards, wire grids, slatwalls, slotwalls, and display panels.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the indicia column is substantially vertically oriented.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the indicia row is substantially horizontally oriented.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of positioning a display support member at the product coordinates set.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of placing the product on the display support member.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

(e) moving the indicia row and the indicia column relative to the display,

(f) providing a second product coordinates set, and

(g) locating a second product on the display at a location corresponding to the second product coordinates set.

8. A system for facilitating the positioning of at least one salable product on a plurality of merchandise displays, the system comprising:

(a) a plurality of merchandise displays selected from the group consisting of merchandising panels, pegboards, perforated boards, wire grids, slatwalls, slotwalls, and display panels,

(b) a coordinate indicia row releasably attachable to and moveable between the plurality of merchandise displays, and

(c) an indicia column including an extendable and retractable coordinate portion slidingly engaged with the indicia row,

whereby the indicia row and the indicia column cooperate to define at least one product coordinates set at a point on the merchandise display where the product is to be positioned.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein at least one of the merchandise displays comprise a perforated board having a plurality of apertures defined therein.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the coordinate indicia row comprises a substantially horizontally oriented horizontal member adapted to removably engage the display.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the horizontal member includes at least one securing member affixed thereto, the at least one securing member being adapted to engage the plurality of merchandise displays.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the coordinate indicia column is substantially vertically oriented.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the coordinate indicia column is slidable relative to the indicia row.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the coordinate indicia column comprises a tape measure.

15. A device for facilitating the positioning of a product on a merchandise display, the device comprising:

(a) a first horizontal member adapted to removably attach to the merchandise display, the horizontal member including coordinate indicia thereon, and

(b) a coordinate member slidingly engaged with the first horizontal member, wherein the coordinate member includes an extendable and retractable coordinate portion,

whereby a coordinate from the first horizontal member and a coordinate from the coordinate member form a product coordinates set for facilitating positioning of the product on the merchandise display.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the coordinate member is removably engageable with a plurality of merchandise displays.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein the coordinate member is affixed to a carriage, the carriage being slidable relative to the first horizontal member.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the carriage is slidably affixed to the first horizontal member.

19. The device of claim 15 in combination with the display, wherein the display is selected from the group consisting of merchandising panels, pegboards, perforated boards, wire grids, slatwalls, slotwalls, and display panels.

20. The device of claim 15 wherein the first horizontal member has a front surface and a back surface, wherein at least one securing member is affixed to the back surface.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the at least one securing member includes a plurality of pegs for removably engaging the merchandise display.

22. The device of claim 15 wherein the coordinate indicia comprises a first and second coordinate sets each having first and second opposite ends, wherein the first coordinate set comprises a plurality of alphabetical, numeric or alphanumeric elements that progress alphabetically, numerically or alphanumerically in a first direction from the first end to the second end, and wherein the second coordinate set comprises substantially the same elements as the first coordinate set, the elements progressing in a second direction from the first end to the second end, wherein the second direction is substantially opposite to the first direction, and wherein the first end of the first coordinate set is substantially aligned in a vertical direction with the second end of the second coordinate set.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the first and second coordinate sets comprise alphabetical elements.

24. The device of claim 22 wherein the first and second coordinate sets comprise numerical elements.

25. The device of claim 22 wherein the first and second coordinate sets comprise alphanumeric elements.

26. The device of claim 22 further comprising a third coordinate set on the coordinate member, the third coordinate set comprising alphabetical, numeric or alphanumeric elements that progress alphabetically, numerically or alphanumerically in a third direction, wherein the third direction is substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein the third coordinate set can move in the first and second directions.

28. A device for facilitating the positioning of at least one product on a merchandise display, the device comprising:

(a) a substantially horizontally oriented horizontal member including at least one coordinate indicia row, the horizontal member including at least two securing members affixed thereto, the securing members each being adapted to attach to the merchandise display,

(b) a carriage slidable relative to the horizontal member, the carriage slidably engaging the horizontal member, and

(c) a substantially vertically oriented extendible and retractable coordinate indicia column extending from the carriage.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the coordinate indicia column comprises a tape measure, and wherein the carriage comprises a pair of side members that secure the tape measure in place.

30. The device of claim 29 wherein the side members each have an opening defined therein that is sized to receive the horizontal member, thereby slidably securing the tape measure to the horizontal member.

31. The device of claim 28 wherein the horizontal member includes first and second coordinate indicia rows each having first and second opposite ends, wherein the first coordinate indicia row comprises a plurality of alphabetical, numeric or alphanumeric elements that progress alphabetically, numerically or alphanumerically in a first direction from the first end to the second end, and wherein the second coordinate indicia row comprises substantially the same elements as the first coordinate set, the elements progressing in a second direction from the first end to the second end, wherein the second direction is substantially opposite to the first direction, and wherein the first end of the first coordinate set is substantially aligned in a vertical direction with the second end of the second coordinate set.