Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
3~
MERCHANDISE INFORMATION SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Attractive, open display of an abundance of merchandise,
conducive of favorable purchasing decisions whether or not a
patron is assisted by a salesperson, is potentially at odds with
limiting inventory costs, reducing the amount of warehousing and
other handling, controlling piIferage, and limiting losses attri
butable to shop worn or out-of-date merchandise. A variety of
responses have occurred in response to these problems.
One direction taken has been to install an increasing number
of security systems at the retail location including means of
surveillance and alarm systems. This, however, addresses only
the problem of shrinkage attributable to pilferage and tends to
create an atmosphere of distrust not conducive to selling.
Another direction taken has been toward limiting the merch-
andise displayed, as for example in the number of catalog show-
rooms that have arisen in recent years. This tackles the prob-
lems of inventory size, handling, and losses due to out~of-date
merchandise, while usually exposing only a single item to wear-
and-tear or possible theft while on showroom display.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INYENTION
The present invention eliminates the need for exhibition of
the merchandise to the public at the retail location, but instead
affords information via display of product information modules --
cards, packets, or similar tactile elements of durable design and
material that attractively advertise availability of the product
at that outlet and inform the clientele with respect to the
product. It substitutes mass display of each item carried with
~J~
;ass display of such information modules, in an array providiny
high density but individually visible display. And, as will be
evident in the particular embod-iment described and in the
detailed description of the invention, it substitutes physical
examination of a particular sample with physical manipulation of
the product information module, but without requiring a
comparable level of handling by store personnel and without
requiring dedication of a comparable amount of floor space.
In short, the invention contemplates the provision of sup-
port means for holding information display means in the form of
items or modules having information on front and back sides
thereof in high density but individually visible concentration
while allowing each and any module to be manipulated by a pros-
pective customer for ready visual access to all the information
provided thereon.
The support means provided by the invention comprises an
extrusion with which the information display means is so associated
that the information is readily accessible. In a preferred
embodiment, the support means includes flexible attachment means
for permitting the manipulation of the information display means.
The support means can be an elongate extrusion mountable on a
wall or other surface in a position to allow viewing of the
information display means or product information modules. The
support means comprises a relatively rigid support having the
flexible attachment means connected thereto. The flexible
attachment means preferably comprises a plurality of flexible
strips extending from the support and having free ends that
terminate in attaching means adapted to grip the information dis-
play means.
~ 2 ~ r
_
~v ~Z~3~
One class of merchandise for which the invention is partlcu-
larly adapted is that of prerecorded video -tapes. Presenkly
tapes of concerts, motion pictures, or the like are distrlbuted
with a casette housing provided with pictures and other labelllng
that identify the contents, artists, producers, and such other
possible aids to selection as plot synopsis, criical acclaims,
and awards. A retailer may store the cassette packages on s~
shelves accessible to the public or maintain them behind a
counter, in which case the sales impact of the labelling is sub-
stantially reduced. If offering the tapes for rent, the casse~te
is often removed and the housing only displayed on shelving,
requiring that the housing be brought to the checkout counter and
tape and housing matched. The alternative practice of openly
displaying cassette and housing together, or perhaps cassette
~ith specialized housing, requires a good deal of confidence in
the store's other security measures. All of the above practices
have drawbacks that are overcome by such application of time,
space, or restrictive practices that purveying of such tapes has
been primarily limited to specialty stores.
Application of the invention would permit attractive dis-
plays for video cassettes marketed with or without cassette hous-
ings. Information that now goes on the housing package would be
placed on the product information module, employing space on the
front and back of the module. The modules need not be packaged
together with each video tape, but could be supplied to the
retailer by an authorized distributor. They would be attached to
a series of elongate support elements in an individually hinged
manner as taught by the invention. A customer would make his
se]ection at the array presented, being able to view the modules,
read information contained thereon front or back by turning it on
A, ~ 3 /~ ~ v~r
~6C~k', . V''
\\ .
- ~z~
;ts hinge, and obtain his selection at the checkout haYing access
to the actual cassette. Encoded slips may be supplied at the
location of the product information module for use at the check
out, or some other means of relating customer selection rnay be
employed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of part of a display system in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 indicating an
alternative functionality of the preferred embodiment;
Fig. 3 is an exploded end view, drawn to a larger scale, of
elements that may be brought together in the preferred
embodiment;
Fig. 4 is a front view of an assembled display system in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 5 is a front view similar to Fig. 4 indicating the
alternative functionality also shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 6 is a front vi~w of a wall moun~ed information display
system in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the inven-
tion and employlng additionally the alternative functionality of
Figs. 2 and 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INYENTION
Reference is now made to Fig. 1 oF the drawings which shows
part of an infor~ation display system in accordance with a pre-
ferred embodiment of the invention. A preferred support of this
invention in the form of a rail 10 made of synthetic resin or
plastic material is secured to a wall W by horizontally spaced
screws 14. With additional reference to Fig. 3, the rail 10 has
integral upper and lower ribs 16 and 18 respectively which define
4 ,'
",
$
,. . .
spaces or recesses R between such ribs 16, 18 and the wall W into
which the lips 26' and 2~' of the support means Z0 are snapped
or slid. The support means 20 is of relatively complex cross-
section, being extruded into such form and having different por-
tions 24, 24' and 24" possessing different mechanical properties
for reasons which will be explained hereinafter.
The portion 24 includes the upper and lower flanges 26 and
28 having the aforesaid ribs 26' and 28' which are received in
the spaces R, R. The flanges are spaced apart so as respectively
to snap fit over the ribs 16 and 18 of the plastic rail 10. The
portion 24 is made of relatively rigid plastic or synthetic
resinous material and is extruded integrally with the portion 24'
which is relatively flexible and is in turn extruded integrally
with the portion 24". The portion 24" is less flexible than
the portion 24' but more flexible than the portion 24. These
mechanical properties of the several portions are achieved by
introdu-cing the materials having the requisite, corresponding
properties side-by~side in the extrusion process.
The portion 24 forms an elongate support for an array of the
product information display means 36 so that a prospective cus-
tomer may view the information on the front side of each item
attached to the support 24. Each display means is capable of
being manipulated by swinging it upwardly as indicated by the
arrow A to the dotted line position 43, the information on the
reverse side of the means 36 then being accessible to the pros-
pective customer. The flexible attachment means provided by the
portions 24' and 24" permit this manipulation. The portions 24'
and 24" are divided into a plurality of individual attachment
means that extend serially the length of the support 24, cumula-
tively commensurate in lenath with the support 24 and accordingly
/
3 ~
of an individual length fractional thereto. The notches 38 sepa-
rate the individual attachment means, formed of the aforesaid
portions 24l and 24 ", each from its neighboring individual
attachment ~eans. It will be apparent that the notches 38 are
made after extrusion of the continuous support means 20. The
free ends of the individual attachment means 24 " are formed into
tubular clips 32 of C-shaped cross sections provided by the slots
34 extending the length of each clip 32.
Each product information display means 36 is o~ generally
rectangular configuration and comprises a graphics card 37 or two
such graphics cards or sheets which provide all the requisite
information about the video tape, which graphics cards are
enclosed or encased in the clear plastic envelope 39. The side
or face of the display means 36 which is normally exposed to the
customer's view will usually be provided with the title and an
attractive picture and the reverse side of the display means
facing the wall will usually be provided ~ith more detailed
information about the corresponding video tape. The plastic
envelope 39 is preferably sealed to provide the information
display means in packet form. Further, this packet includes the
tubular bead 41 which is slightly larger in diameter than the
interior of tubular clip 32. When the bead 41 is inserted into
the tubular clip 32 either by forcing it through the slot 34 or
by sliding it lengthwise into the clip 32, an attachment between
the product information packet 36 and support means 20 is effec-
ted which permits the packet to be manipulated so that its
reverse side may be viewed by the prospective customer, as per-
mitted by flexure of the flexible portion 24'. The spacing of
the notches 38 and lengths of the tubular clips 32 limited by the
width of the packets 36, to allow each packet to be manipulated
without interfering with the orientation Gf neighboring packets
or information display means.
ln Fig. 1, it will be appreciated that, because each infor-
mation display means 36 is swung upwardly such as indicated by
reference character 43, information on the back of the packet
will have to lie head to toe so that on the front of the label to
permit it to be easily read. Also, it will be noted that when the
packet is released, it will simply fall to the original position
as shown by the central dispay means 36 in Fig. 1. If for any
reason a particular display means 36 must be replaced, same may
be done either by snapping it out of its tubular clip 32 with a
sharp pull or by sliding it out lengthwise of the clip 32.
Another display means 36 may then be slid or snapped into the
clip 32, and thus may the product information display means 36 be
replaced or rearranged at will. It will also be appreciated that
Fig. 1 illustrates in phantom lines the lower portions of display
means 36' carried by a further support means as illustrated in
Fig. 4.
In order to assemble the display system as sho~ln in Fig. ~,
the rails 10 are first spaced apart vertically at a distance Dl such
that when the product information means 36 are mounted as shown
in Fig. 4 each such means can be freely raised to Yiew its reYerse
side. In Fig. 4, all display cards hang f~om ~he tubula~ clips 3~and
none are inserted into the channel 60. Once ,he spacing has been set
and the rails ~0 secured, the support means 20 can be cut to size
and slid into place. The product information modules 36 can next
be sorted and arranged and then inserted into their appropriate
positions by use of the tubular clips 32. Finally, other label-
ling or indicia 46 may be applied to the surface ~5. In addition
or alternatiYely, product identification label carriers 54 may be
~ \ ~ 7
used. Fig. 3 illustrates khe construction of such carrlers
wherein it will be seen that each carrier comprises a vertical
web 57 providing a front surface 57' to which the labelling may
be applied, a front overhang 56 for ease of grasping, and a hook
portion 58 which allows the carrier to be hung over the top edge
of the web 47. The carriers may be taken by a customer and
handed in to the sales clerk.
The front side of the elongate support 24 is provided with
two forwardly projecting and mutually convergent ribs, ~0 and 42,
that define, with the front face 45, a wide shallow channel 44
extending the length of the support means 20 and within which
labels such as indicated at 46 can be placed to contain further
information such as identification of the product advertised by a
corresponding display means 36.
Still referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the upstanding portion 48
is joined to the web 47 by the bight 49 to define an upwarddly
opening channel 60, said channel being dimensioned so that addi-
tional product information means 36 or other ancillary display
information may be inserted thereinto. The ramp 52 projects
upwardly and rearwardly from the upper edge of the portion 48 to
assure easy insertion of such elements into the channel 60.
Flgs. 2 and 5 Illustrate more clearly the alternative
display arrangement described above involving the use of the
channel 60 but without the use of the flexible attaching means
24', 24''. Instead, a vertically spaced series of support means
20, 20' and 20 " are attached to the wall W through the interme-
diary of the supports 10, 101 and 10''. The spacing D2 between
the supports is such that the display means 36, 36a and 36b asso-
ciated with the several support means 20, 20' and 20 " receive
the display means 36, 36a and 36b with a higher denslty than is
8 ~ /"~ ~
~L26~3~
,
the case where, as in Fig. 4, the means 3~ are all associated
with the flexible attachment means 24', 24 " as was described
with relation to Figs. 1 and 3. This higher density is achieved
by virtue of the fact that since the portions 24' and 24 " are
not used, they may be overlapped by the display means as shown.
With reference to Fig. 6, it will be appreclated that the
capacity of each support means can be doubled by a spacing D3 and
use of both the tubular clips 32b and channel 60 previously
described to display both the suspended product information means
36 and the channel-received means 36b. The suspended means will
of course have to be equipped with the edge bead 41 to hang from
the clips 32b whereas the channel-received means 36b do not
require such beads.
Various modifications may be made to the embodirnents herein-
before described. The invention may be practiced in display, in-
formation, or exhibit contexts other than a retail outlet. The
support means could be secured other than through a cooperative
rail element. Orientations other than horizontal rnay be em-
ployed. Surfaces to which the system is attached may have fixed,
moveable, or other characteristics. For example, the support
elements For modules below a comfortable viewing height could be
suspended on vertical strips formed of a flexible material so
that they could be lifted to examine modules attached thereto. In
addition, attachrnent means other than tubular clips could be
employed. Or the clips could be given smaller, fractional
lengths to permit retention of modules in a range of sizes.
The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment
disclosed or suggested variants thereof. Its scope is properly
determined and is made apparent by the appended clairns.
9 ~' ! //' '
,, .
