Special receptacle or package – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-24
2004-05-11
Yu, Mickey (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
Miscellaneous
C040S642020, C211S036000, C211S034000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06732866
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to merchandise aids and relates more particularly to a display unit adapted for use with a merchandise shelf normally supported at a downwardly extending angle and having a depressed well in the forward portion thereof for reception of a stop member designed to support merchandise and prevent the same from sliding off the shelf. Shelf systems of this type may be used by many vendors and adapted to support and display various items to customers passing by. The particular shelf configuration for which the display unit of this invention has been designed is featured in Target® stores and primarily used to support boxes containing shoes.
2. Description of the Related Art
A prior art display unit is illustrated in
FIG. 1
in combination with a shelf system of the type described. The shelf
10
is seen as supported at a forwardly and downwardly extending angle in any conventional manner schematically shown in
FIG. 1
as a bracket
12
, and includes an upper surface
14
adapted to support merchandise for display, such as a shoe box or the like
16
. A stop element is required to preclude the merchandise
16
from sliding off the forward end of the shelf
10
. A prior art embodiment of one such stop element is shown at
18
.
The shelf
10
includes a depressed well
20
, including a front wall
22
, a rear wall
24
and a bottom wall
26
. A channel
28
communicates with the well
20
through the rear wall
24
and defines a lip or shoulder
30
at the rear end of the well
20
. Of course, such a display would commonly include a series of shelves at different levels, usually formed of metal.
The prior art stop element
18
includes an inverted U-shaped member comprising a front wall
32
and a rear wall
34
resiliently interconnected at the bight
36
, with the front wall
32
extending downwardly to form a front support leg
38
, and the rear wall
34
defining a stop for the merchandise
16
, and extending downwardly to form a rear support leg
40
including a rearwardly extending locking portion
42
adapted to engage under the shoulder
30
.
The shelf
10
may include an arcuate bull nose forward portion
44
with a lower edge portion
46
, and the prior art display unit
18
is provided with a forwardly-extending, complementary arcuate portion
48
, with a reverted lower edge
50
adapted to engage over the edge portion
46
of the shelf
10
.
A transparent cover member
52
may be resiliently connected at
54
to the arcuate portion
48
of the prior art display unit
18
to define a pocket
56
for reception of a paper or plastic label to provide information regarding the merchandise
16
on the shelf
10
.
In order to engage the prior art display unit
18
with the shelf
10
, the reverted portion
50
is engaged over the edge portion
46
of the bull nose portion
44
of the shelf
10
and the portions
32
,
34
of the display unit are squeezed together to permit the legs
38
,
40
to be seated in the well
20
. Upon release, the leg
40
springs rearwardly to engage the locking portion
42
beneath the lip
30
.
If the merchandise
16
is relatively heavy, or if the prior art display unit
18
has been used for a period of time and, thereby, weakened, there is a tendency for the merchandise
16
, which is biased downwardly by gravity in the direction of the arrow A, to rotate the prior art display unit
18
free of its locking engagement in the well
20
of the shelf
10
as illustrated by the arrow B. If that happens, the merchandise
16
can slide free of the upper surface
14
of the shelf
10
, likely damaging the merchandise and, possibly, as well as injuring customers nearby.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a display unit for use in combination with a shelf of the type described which avoids the foregoing and other problems associated with prior art display units currently in use. More specifically, the display unit of this invention, when used in combination with a Target®-type shoe shelf, is easily engaged in the well of the shelf and locked in position in a manner that precludes accidental disengagement under the weight of the merchandise carried on the shelf.
Another object of this invention is to provide a combination of a shelf and display unit wherein the display unit is inexpensive to manufacture, simple to engage with the shelf and, when engaged, sufficiently rigid to support merchandise, such as shoe boxes, carried by the shelf, without collapsing in use.
Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a display unit forming a stop for merchandise carried on an angled shelf support with a positive locking member to rigidify the display unit once it has been engaged in the well of the shelf.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a combination shelf and display unit which can incorporate a label holder having a transparent cover member forming a pocket, with a positive finger-engaging edge on the cover member to facilitate inserting or removing paper or plastic labels in the pocket.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5060897 (1991-10-01), Thalenfeld
patent: 5392547 (1995-02-01), Mason
patent: 5931426 (1999-08-01), Heckner
patent: 6105295 (2000-08-01), Brinkman et al.
patent: 6470613 (2002-10-01), Wildrick
Fast Jacob
Fast Robert
Lowry Michael G.
East Industries, Ltd.
Jacobson & Holman PLLC
Pickett Gregory
Yu Mickey
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