Supports: racks – Special article – Stacked articles
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-05
2003-11-25
Lev, Bruce A. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Special article
Stacked articles
C211S184000, C211S059400, C211S175000, C211S169000, C108S060000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06651828
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally directed to a merchandise display apparatus and preferably a so-called gravity-feed display apparatus, including integrated divider assemblies for displaying and holding merchandise in a stacked, front-facing formation for enhanced merchandise visibility and consumer access.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various shelf and display unit designs are known for holding merchandise and displaying it to consumers. Display units and shelves typically have two main design objectives: (i) to display the merchandise in a clear and conspicuous manner, and (ii) to permit easy access to the merchandise by consumers. How this is accomplished often depends on the dimensions and type of merchandise.
In the supermarket or grocery store, for example, most items, except perishable items, are displayed on flat shelves that line the aisles of the supermarket or grocery store. The merchandise is often arranged on the shelves from front to back for easy viewing and access by the consuming public. As the merchandise in the front is purchased, it becomes necessary for supermarket employees to bring the merchandise manually from the back of the shelf toward the front of the shelf to keep the merchandise in a conspicuous position. This is a labor intensive exercise, and susceptible of sloppy or untimely execution.
To address such shortcomings, some shelves have been configured with a sloping display surface such that as an item of merchandise is removed from the front of the shelf the items located in the rear slide forward under the influence of gravity, i.e., so-called gravity-feed shelves. Gravity-feed shelves are an improvement over conventional display shelves in that less labor is required to maintain the merchandise proximate the front of the shelf where it is easily viewed and accessed by consumers. However, these shelves may not be useful for all types of merchandise.
An adaptation of this type of specialty shelf is used for displaying smokeless tobacco. That product is often sold in canisters which are loaded in specially designed, gravity-feed type displays that automatically feed the canisters toward the front of the display. The smokeless tobacco displays include a track that holds and displays the canisters in a single file. Like with other gravity-feed displays or shelves, as the canisters toward the front of the display are removed after purchase other canisters from further back on the display are fed under the influence of gravity toward the front. However, these displays work only with smokeless tobacco canisters of standard size and typically cannot accommodate any other products.
While many designs are available, there is still need for a display that may be conveniently loaded and easily customized to accommodate merchandise of varying dimension or scale, while nonetheless affording the product visibility and accessibility which is desired. There is especially a need for gravity-feed display apparatus in which configuration-adjustability is easy and convenient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to address and overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by providing apparatus that can be configured to display and hold merchandise items of varying size in and, at the same time, afford product visibility and accessibility, and further providing advantageous methods of displaying such merchandise.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a display apparatus and methods involving utilization of integrated divider assemblies, each for displaying merchandise in a stacked, forward-facing formation.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide apparatus and methods involving utilization of a display channel to permit the arrangement and display of variously sized merchandise in a stacked, forward-facing formation within such display channels, thereby enhancing merchandise visibility and accessibility.
Accordingly in one aspect the invention is in a display apparatus, which comprises a shelf element, a plurality of partitions pivotally mounted to the shelf element for movement between a closed position and a substantially upright position, said shelf element having recesses formed therein adapted to receive the partitions in their closed position, at least a pair of the partitions being oriented such that in their upright position they define a channel for holding an item of merchandise between them. Thus, the apparatus includes a plurality of integrated divider assemblies for defining one or more display channels that hold an item or items of merchandise such as canisters of smokeless tobacco in a stacked, forward facing formation. (As discussed hereinafter, typically, though not necessarily, each divider assembly comprises an elongated rectangular partition that extends substantially between a first edge and a second edge of a display surface of the shelf.) An equal number of recesses is also provided in the shelf element for holding the partitions in their closed positions.
In another aspect the invention is in a method of displaying an item of merchandise, which comprises supporting a pair of partitions on a shelf element such that they are capable of pivoting between a closed position in which each of the partitions lies in a recess in the shelf element, and a substantially upright position in which the partitions are arranged to define a channel between them, and holding said item of merchandise in said channel with said partitions in the upright position.
In a further aspect the invention is in a method of displaying an item of merchandise, which comprises loading said item of merchandise into a channel formed between a pair of partitions which are pivotally mounted on a shelf element, the partitions being movable between a closed position in which each of the partitions lies in a recess in the shelf element and an upright position in which the partitions are arranged to define said channel.
Substantial advantages accrue with practice of the invention. More specifically, the fundamental benefits of apparatus enabling stacked, forward-facing display of merchandise can still be secured, while also enjoying greater versatility and convenience. Thus, successful display formats with which the purchasing public is familiar can be retained. Furthermore, the invention permits a convenience in loading which makes it attractive in the retail environment. And, the invention is not exclusively adapted for use with smokeless tobacco canisters, but instead has utility for other products as well. Indeed, in certain embodiments, the spacing between partitions can be varied to change the size of the channel they form in order to accommodate different sized products.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention appear from the following detailed disclosure.
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Dimattio Thelma M.
Lowenbraun Howard
Moreira-Caunedo Debra
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Lev Bruce A.
Novosad Jennifer E.
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Brands Inc.
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