Modular wall assembly for a cosmetic fixture system

• US 9,782,018 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2014
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores Texas LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Hester-Redmond, Sunshine Rae
• Primary Examiner(s): ADAMOS, THEODORE V
• Application Number:
  US14/581,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20150173528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 365225, 365133, 211 26, 211 262, 211134, 211135, 211187, 211150, 211153, 211189, 211190, 211191, 211192, 211193, 211206, 178 681, 178 50, 178 683, 178481, 439215
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/125 with an article-pushing device
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0025 having separate display containers or trays on shelves or on racks
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/08 secured to the wall, ceiling, or the like; Wall-bracket display devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0012 Furniture hospital beds F21V33/0072
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/301 for furniture
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/045 provided with perforations or slots permitting introduction or exit of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/388 in modular walls, e.g. wall panels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a merchandise display system having a modular wall assembly configured to provide electrical power to one or more shelf assemblies. The wall assembly can include a vertically oriented back panel, a cross bar horizontally and detachably mounted to the back panel, a pair of vertical uprights and a top cap. The pair of vertical uprights can be detachably mounted to the cross bar with each of the vertical uprights having an electrically non-conductive portion and an electrically conductive portion. The electrically conductive portion can be electrically isolated from the cross bar by the electrically non-conductive portion. The top cap can be disposed along an upper edge of the back panel and in electrical contact with electrically conductive portion of each of the vertical uprights.

Claims

1. A modular wall assembly configured to provide electrical power to a shelf assembly, the wall assembly comprising:

a vertically oriented back panel;

a cross bar horizontally and detachably mounted to the back panel;

an electrically conductive insert;

first and second vertical uprights detachably mounted to the cross bar, each of the first and second vertical uprights having an electrically non-conductive frame having;

a J-shaped first channel extending continuously along a longitudinal side edge of the electrically non-conductive frame and configured to receive a front panel to cover at least a portion of the vertically oriented back panel,

a J-shaped second channel adjacent to the J-shaped first channel and extending continuously along the longitudinal side edge of the electrically non-conductive frame, and

a pair of opposingly spaced U-shaped third channels that open towards the longitudinal side edge of the electrically non-conductive frame and configured to receive the electrically conductive insert within one of the pair of third channels, the electrically conductive insert being electrically isolated from the cross bar by the electrically non-conductive frame, wherein the electrically conductive insert has an elongate body that extends a length of the electrically non-conductive frame and the elongate body includes a plurality of openings distributed along the length, the openings configured to receive one of first and second electrically conductive arms of the shelf assembly to permit positioning of the shelf assembly at different heights; and

a top cap disposed along an upper edge of the vertically oriented back panel and in electrical contact with the electrically conductive insert of each of the first and second vertical uprights.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each end of the cross bar has a bracket and the back panel is configured to receive the bracket at each end of the cross bar to detachably couple the cross bar to the vertically oriented back panel.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cross bar includes a plurality of mating members disposed along a length of the cross bar and the pair of vertical uprights each include openings configured to receive the mating members to detachably couple the vertical upright to the crossbar.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a power supply mounted to the back panel, the power supply being electrically coupled to the top cap to provide electricity to the top cap.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pair of third channels are continuously open along the longitudinal side edge of the electrically non-conductive frame.

6. A merchandise display system, comprising:

a wall assembly, the wall assembly including;

a vertically oriented back panel;

a cross bar horizontally and detachably mounted to the back panel;

an electrically conductive insert;

first and second vertical uprights detachably mounted to the cross bar, each of the first and second vertical uprights having an electrically non-conductive frame having;

a J-shaped first channel extending continuously along a longitudinal side edge of the electrically non-conductive frame and configured to receive a front panel to cover at least a portion of the vertically oriented back panel,

a J-shaped second channel adjacent to the J-shaped first channel and extending continuously along the longitudinal side edge of the electrically non-conductive frame, and

a pair of opposingly spaced U-shaped third channels that open towards the longitudinal side edge of the electrically non-conductive frame and configured to receive the electrically conductive insert within one of the pair of third channels, the electrically conductive insert being electrically isolated from the cross bar by the electrically non-conductive frame, wherein the electrically conductive insert has an elongate body that extends a length of the electrically non-conductive frame and the elongate body includes a plurality of openings distributed along the length, the openings configured to receive one of first and second electrically conductive arms of the shelf assembly to permit positioning of the shelf assembly at different heights;

a top cap disposed along an upper edge of the back panel and in electrical contact with the first and second vertical uprights to provide electricity to the first vertical upright and receive returned electricity from the second vertical upright;

a shelf assembly, the shelf assembly including;

an area configured to hold merchandise for display;

first and second electrically conductive support arms extending from the shelf assembly, the shelf assembly being detachably mounted to the wall assembly via the-first and second electrically conductive arms so that the first and second electrically conductive arms are in electrical contact with the first and second vertical uprights to receive electricity from the first vertical upright and return electricity to the second vertical upright; and

circuitry selectively engaging the first and second electrically conductive arms to energize a light source.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein each end of the cross bar has a bracket and the back panel is configured to receive the bracket at each end of the cross bar to detachably couple the cross bar to the vertically oriented back panel.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the cross bar includes a plurality of mating members disposed along a length of the cross bar and the pair of vertical uprights each include openings configured to receive the mating members to detachably couple the vertical upright to the crossbar.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the wall assembly further comprises a power supply mounted to the back panel, the power supply being electrically coupled to the top cap to provide electricity to the top cap.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the wall assembly further comprises a recessed surface of the vertically oriented back panel, configured to be recessed with respect to a side edge element disposed along a vertical side edge of the vertically oriented back panel.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the wall assembly further comprises a flush surface of the vertically oriented back panel, configured to be flush with respect to a side edge element disposed along a vertical side edge of the vertically oriented back panel.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the cross bar includes a bracket extending outwardly from a recessed surface of the vertically oriented back panel, the bracket being configured to bridge a gap created by the recessed surface.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the cross bar has a plurality of brackets configured to attach to a plurality of mounting geometries on the vertically oriented back panel.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein the pair of third channels are continuously open along the longitudinal side edge of the electrically non-conductive frame.

15. A method of configuring a reconfigurable merchandise display, comprising:

securing a cross bar to a vertically oriented back panel;

securing first and second vertical uprights to the cross bar, each of the first and second vertical uprights having an electrically non-conductive frame having a J-shaped first channel extending continuously along a longitudinal side edge of the electrically non-conductive frame and configured to receive a front panel to cover at least a portion of the vertically oriented back panel, a J-shaped second channel adjacent to the J-shaped first channel and extending continuously along the longitudinal side edge of the electrically non-conductive frame, and a pair of opposingly spaced U-shaped third channels that open towards the longitudinal side edge of the electrically non-conductive frame and configured to receive an electrically conductive insert within one of the pair of third channels;

inserting the electrically conductive insert into one of the pair of third channels formed in the electrically non-conductive frame, the electrically conductive insert being electrically isolated from the cross bar by the electrically non-conductive frame, wherein the electrically conductive insert has an elongate body that extends a length of the frame and the elongate body includes a plurality of openings distributed along the length, the openings configured to receive electrically conductive arms of a shelf assembly to permit positioning of the shelf assembly at different heights;

securing a top cap in electrical contact with the electrically conductive insert of each of the first and second vertical uprights;

securing the shelf assembly to the first and second vertical uprights, the shelf assembly including an area configured to hold merchandise for display, first and second electrically conductive support arms extending from the shelf assembly, and circuitry selectively engaging the electrically conductive arms; and

electrically coupling a power supply mounted to the vertically oriented back panel to the top cap to provide electricity to the top cap;

wherein electricity flows from the top cap through the first vertical upright to the first electrically conductive arm to supply the electricity to the circuitry and flows from the circuitry through the second electrically conductive arm and the second vertical upright back to the top cap.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

configuring the cross bar to include a plurality of cross brackets disposed along a front wall of the cross bar;

attaching an attachment member of each of the vertical uprights to the cross brackets, wherein the cross brackets are configured to receive the attachment member to detachably couple the vertical uprights to the cross bar.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the reconfigurable merchandise display comprises a base frame, and the method comprises coupling a detachable object support structure having a plurality of settings for modular reconfiguration to the base frame.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the reconfigurable merchandise display comprises a base frame, and wherein the circuitry is held in electrical contact with the electrically conductive arms via a friction fit between the circuitry and the base frame.