DISPLAY ASSEMBLY

ENSEMBLE PRESENTOIR

English Abstract

There is described a merchandise display matrix (1) which comprises a support
assembly (2) adapted to be fitted with one or more spacer bars (4), the distal
end (6) of the spacer bar (4) being capable of supporting a hoarding (8)
provided with at least one display aperture (9, 10) wherein one or more
merchandise display trays (13) may be arranged to be visible through the
display aperture. There is also described a method of displaying merchandise
and also a kit comprising a support assembly (2), one or more spacer bars (4),
a hoarding (8) provided with a display aperture (9, 10) and one or more
merchandise display trays (13).

French Abstract

L'invention concerne une matrice de présentation de marchandises (1), qui comprend un ensemble support (2) conçu pour recevoir un ou plusieurs liteaux d'écartement (4) dont l'extrémité distale (6) peut porter un panneau réclame (8) muni d'au moins une ouverture de présentation (9, 10) à travers laquelle un ou plusieurs plateaux de présentation de marchandises (13) peuvent être disposés de manière visible. L'invention concerne en outre un procédé de présentation de marchandises ainsi qu'un nécessaire comprenant un ensemble support (2), un ou plusieurs liteaux d'écartement (4), un panneau réclame (8) muni d'une ouverture de présentation (9, 10) et un ou plusieurs plateaux de présentation de marchandises (13).

Claims

CLAIMS
1. A merchandise display matrix (1) which comprises a support assembly (2)
adapted to be fitted with one or more spacer bars (4), the distal end (6) of
the spacer
bar (4) being capable of supporting a hoarding (8) characterised in that the
hoarding
(8) is provided with at least one display aperture (7) wherein one or more
merchandise display trays (13) may be arranged to be visible through the
display
aperture (7) and the merchandise display tray (13) is capable of being
extended to
facilitate filling of the tray (13).
2. A merchandise display matrix (1) according to Claim 1 characterised in that
the support assembly (2) comprises a track assembly.
3. A merchandise display matrix (1) according to Claim 2 characterised in that
the track assembly comprises a plurality of horizontal grooves (13).
4. A merchandise display matrix (1) according to Claim 1 characterised in that
the end of the spacer bar (4) adjacent the support assembly (12) is provided
with
means for engaging the support assembly (2).
5. A merchandise display matrix (1) according to Claim 4 characterised in that
the engaging means comprises a plurality of hooks.
6. A merchandise display matrix (1) according to Claim 1 characterised in that
the distal end (6) of the spacer bar (4) is provided with means for connecting
to the
hoarding.
7. A merchandise display matrix (1) according to Claim 6 characterised in that
the hoarding connection means comprises an aperture.
7

8. A merchandise display matrix (1) according to Claim 1 characterised in that
the dimensions of each of the spacer bars (4) is such that the length of the
spacer bar
(4) is substantially the same as the length of the merchandise display tray
(13).
9. A merchandise display matrix (1) according to Claim 1 characterised in that
the length of each of the spacer bars (4) is slightly less than the length of
the
merchandise holding tray (13).
10. A merchandise display matrix (1) according to Claim 1 characterised in
that
the hoarding (8) comprises a plurality of display apertures (7).
11. A merchandise display matrix (1) according to Claim 10 characterised in
that
the merchandise display tray (13) comprises a longitudinal arm provided with
means
for attaching the arm to the support assembly (12), the longitudinal arm
comprising at
least one groove in which a merchandise holding tray (13) is slidably mounted
and
moveable from a retracted to an extended position, the tray (13) being
provided with
a slidably mounted product pusher which is resiliently biased towards the
front of the
tray (13) and the arm is provided with means for engaging with the product
pusher.
12. A merchandise display matrix (1) according to Claim 1 characterised in
that
at least two of the merchandise display trays (13) are joined together.
13. A merchandise display matrix (1) according to Claim 12 characterised in
that
the merchandise display trays (13) are joined by a resilient clip.
14. A method of displaying merchandise which comprises the use of a
merchandise display matrix (1) according to Claim 1.
15. A kit comprising a support assembly (2), one or more spacer bars, a
hoarding
(8) provided with a display aperture (7) and one or more merchandise display
trays
(13).
8

16. A merchandise display matrix (1) substantially as described with reference
to
the accompanying description and drawings.

Description

10-12-2001 GB000489i
CA 02393427 2002-06-03
DISPLAY ASSEMBLY
This invention relates to a novel merchandise display assembly for use in
conjunction
with merchandising and merchandising display stands.
S
Merchandising display stands conventionally comprise a merchandise tray
optionally
provided with a product pusher to urge merchandise to the front of the tray.
More
recently slidable merchandise trays have been developed, such a tray is
described for
example in UK Patent No 2290077. A slidable merchandise tray is also described
in
co-pending tJK Patent application (as yet unpublished) which describes an
assembly
for fitting to a merchandising display stand comprising a longitudinal arm
provided
with means for attaching the arm to the display stand, the longitudinal arm
comprising an at least one groove in which a merchandising holding tray is
slidably
mounted and moveable from a retracted to an extended position, the tray being
provided with a slidably mounted product pusher which is resiliently biased
towards
the front of the tray and the arm is provided with means for engaging with the
product pusher.
US Patent No 4,817,538 describes a merchandise display matrix comprising a
support assembly adapted to be fitted with one or more spacer bars the distal
end of
the or each spacer bar being capable of supporting a hoarding constituted by
panels,
several merchandise trays being disposed at the interspaces of these panels.
The development of slidable merchandise trays has now enabled us to produce a
display matrix which is advantageous over prior art systems.
Thus according to the invention we provide a merchandise display matrix which
comprises a support assembly adapted to be fitted with one or more spacer
bars, the
distal end of the spacer bar being capable of supporting a hoarding
characterised in
that the hoarding is provided with at least one display aperture wherein one
or more
merchandise holding trays may be arranged to be visible through the display
aperture
1
AMENDED SHEET

10-12-2001 GB0004891
CA 02393427 2002-06-03
and the merchandise display tray is capable of being extended to facilitate
filling of
the tray.
The support assembly may comprise a conventionally known assembly. Thus, the
assembly may be a track assembly or it may comprise, for example, a peg board.
A
preferred assembly is a track assembly and especially one which comprises a
plurality
of grooves or apertures, eg slots, into which one or more spacer bars may be
fitted.
IS
25
35
P36167W0 1& Ia
la
AMENDED SHEET

CA 02393427 2002-06-03
WO 01/45537 PCT/GB00/04891
The grooves or apertures may be horizontal, vertical or angled grooves or
apertures,
or a mixture thereof. However, the preferred support assembly comprises a
plurality
of horizontal grooves or apertures and especially a plurality of horizontal
grooves.
The track assembly may be free standing or may be provided with legs to enable
it to
be free standing or it may be adapted to be wall mounted.
It is preferred, although not essential, that all of the spacer bars used are
the same.
Thus, the spacer bars may be in the form of a buttress. The end of the spacer
bar
adjacent the track assembly is provided with means for engaging the track
assembly,
such means may be, but is not limited to, a hook or a plurality of hooks.
Preferably,
such engaging means will be the same as the engaging means used in the
merchandise display tray. The distal end of the spacer bar is provided with
means for
connecting to the hoarding. Any conventional means may be included at the
distal
end of the spacer. Preferably, the hoarding connection means will comprise an
aperture, which may correspond to an aperture positioned in the hoarding. The
aperture may, optionally be screw threaded, but is at least capable of
receiving a
connection member, such as a screw.
The dimensions of the spacer bar may vary, but preferably the length of each
of the
spacer bars will be the same and will be substantially the same as the length
of the
merchandise tray, enabling the display tray to be readily visible through the
display
aperture of the hoarding. Preferably, the length of each of the spacer bars
will not be
greater, and more preferably will be slightly less than the length of the
merchandise
display tray so that the merchandise display tray, carrying merchandise, will
slightly
protrude through the display aperture of the hoarding.
The hoarding may comprise any material conventionally used as an advertising
material, eg plastics, metal, cardboard, laminate, glass or any combination
thereof.
The hoarding allows an advertising display to be placed upon it (or within it,
if it has
a laminar structure), thus allowing a manufacturer or retailer to carry
promotional
material adjacent the product display. An essential feature of the hoarding is
that it is
2

CA 02393427 2002-06-03
WO 01/45537 PCT/GB00/04891
provided with at least one display aperture, but preferably a plurality of
display
apertures, eg two or three, allowing the merchandise to be visible. Each of
the
display apertures may be dimensioned to allow more than one merchandise tray
to be
visible. The hoarding may be provided with integral means for engaging with
the
spacer bars. Alternatively, the hoarding may simply be provided with one or
more
apertures positioned so as to correspond with the engaging means or the
aperture in
the end of the spacer bar adjacent the hoarding (ie distal to the support
display).
The merchandising display tray may be any conventionally known such tray.
However, preferentially the tray is one which is capable of being extended to
facilitate filling of the tray. Most preferentially, the tray is one which is
described in
co-pending UK Patent application No GB 9929911.7. Thus, the merchandise
display
tray may comprise a longitudinal arm provided with means for attaching the arm
to
the support assembly, the longitudinal arm comprising at least one groove in
which a
merchandise holding tray is slidably mounted and moveable from a retracted to
an
extended position, the tray being-provided with a slidably mounted product
pusher
which is resiliently biased towards the front of the tray and the arm is
provided with
means for engaging with the product pusher.
Thus the merchandise holding tray is provided with a longitudinal aperture to
facilitate the sliding of the product pusher. The base of the tray may
preferably be
provided with means for engaging with the longitudinal arm. This engaging
means
should be such that the tray is capable of sliding freely in the arm. However,
preferentially, the engaging means should restrict the vertical movement of
the tray.
This is particularly advantageous in that when the tray is in an extended
position the
tray is hindered from tilting, e.g. under the weight of any loaded
merchandise. Thus,
the arm is preferably provided with one or more longitudinal grooves which
engage
with a hook member in the base of the tray. The hook member may be a
conventionally known 'L' shaped hook, or an inverted T-shaped hook. In the
most
preferred embodiment, the base of the tray is provided with a pair of L-shaped
hooks
3

CA 02393427 2002-06-03
WO 01/45537 PCT/GB00/04891
e.g. opposite facing hooks. In such a case the arm is provided with a pair of
longitudinal grooves e.g. a groove at either side of the arm.
The resilient biasing means preferably comprises a spring. The spring means
can
take any convenient form such as a coil or leaf spring. The biasing means for
the
product pusher conveniently comprises a coiled flat spring, the free end of
which is
attached to the tray, e.g. adjacent the front of the tray and the remainder of
the spring
is coiled and mounted on the rear face of the product pusher.
The longitudinal arm is provided with means for engaging the product pusher.
Preferentially, this engaging means is also adapted to engage the merchandise
tray
e.g. the base of the tray. The engaging means is preferably a lip which
engages with
the base of the product pusher. Thus, when the base of the product pusher
engages
with the lip of the arm, the product pusher cannot be drawn further towards
the front
of the merchandise tray. Furthermore, when the merchandise tray is withdrawn
from
the arm to enable it to be restocked, the product pusher remains stationary,
thus,
effectively moving it adjacent the rear of the merchandise tray. In one
embodiment,
the product pusher is simply prevented from sliding out of the tray by the
rear wall of
the tray.
Furthermore, the "underneath" of the merchandise tray may be provided with a
ridge
which is also capable of engaging with the lip of the arm. Thus, the ridge
acts to
prevent the merchandise tray from easily sliding back in to the arm of the
assembly.
In use, an operator must therefore lift the merchandise tray, allowing the
ridge to pass
back over the lip, before the merchandise tray can slide back into its
position in the
arm assembly. In a preferred embodiment the rid-ge is provided with a sloping
surface to facilitate the outward sliding of the ridge over the lip of the arm
assembly.
The product pusher may comprise a conventionally known assembly. Preferably,
the
product pusher is an L-shaped piece of plastics material which is provided
with a
hook in its base as hereinbefore described.
4

CA 02393427 2002-06-03
WO 01/45537 PCT/GB00/04891
The merchandise display matrix of the invention may comprise an individual
unit
which may be attached to a track assembly. As previously mentioned, such track
assemblies are already known.
The merchandise display trays may optionally be joined together, eg two or
more
merchandise trays, allowing them to be extended from their respective arm
assemblies together. This may be achieved using a resilient clip as described
in co-
pending UK Patent application No GB 9929911.7.
We also provide a kit comprising a support assembly, one or more spacer bars,
a
hoarding provided with a display aperture and one or more merchandise display
trays
as hereinbefore described.
The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference
to
the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the
merchandise display assembly.
Referring to Figure l, a merchandise display matrix (1) comprises a track
assembly
(2) provided with a plurality of longitudinal horizontal grooves (3). Attached
to the
track assembly are a plurality of spacer bars (4). Each spacer is provided
with means
(not shown) at a first end (5) for engaging with the track assembly (2). At
the
second, distal end (6) each spacer bar (4) is provided with an aperture (7).
The
display matrix (1) is provided with a display hoarding (8) which comprises a
pair of
display apertures (9 and 10). The hoarding (8) is also provided with
attachment
apertures (11) positioned so as to correspond with apertures (7) in the spacer
bars (4).
The hoarding (8) is held in place against the spacer bars (4) by a snap fit
screw (12)
which passes through the attachment aperture (11) of the hoarding (8) and
snaps into
the aperture (7) in the spacer bar (4).
5

CA 02393427 2002-06-03
WO 01/45537 PCT/GB00/04891
A merchandise display tray (13) rest on a tray support (14) comprises a
longitudinal
L-shaped arm provided with hooks (not shown) which engage with the grooves (3)
of
the track assembly(2)
In use, the merchandise display tray (13) is visible through the display
apertures (9
and 10) of the hoarding (8) or alternatively, protrudes through the display
apertures (9
and 10). The hoarding (8) may carry advertising or promotional or other
material.
15
25
35
6
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

Representative Drawing