Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DELIVERY AND DISPLAY SYSTEM
Field of the Invention
(0001] The invention relates to the field of distribution and display of items
stored in a
cylindrical form, and more specifically, to a new and useful delivery and
display system for
distributing and displaying decorative materials.
Baekgrottnd of the Invention
[0002] Decorative ribbon, cord, tape, and other similar items are often wound
in a rotary
fashion (e.g., onto a spool or around a core) to facilitate space-efficient
storage and access to
the material by a user. During the distribution and sale of such decorative
items, many
wound lengths of material are often packaged into a single crate or box for
shipping to the
retail outlet. Upon reaching the retail store, the material has traditionally
been removed from
the shipping crate and displayed to the consumers either in a bin through
which a customer
can sift through the various offerings, or alternatively on shelves where the
various containers
of material are stacked.
[0003] Distributing and displaying decorative materials in this manner has
several
shortcomings. Unpacking the material upon arrival at the store and arranging
it in a display
bin or on a shelf necessitates time and effort at the retail store, thus
resulting in cost to the
store. Additionally, bins and shelves are not ideal display means for these
types of items.
Bins are messy and can often make it difficult for a customer to locate a
particular item.
Shelves allow for the items to be stacked more orderly, but access to the
items not located on
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the front of a shelf is often difficult. Furthermore, the amount of shelving
required will vary
depending upon the amount of inventory carried by the store at any given time,
thus at times
there may be insufficient shelf space available and at other times there may
be empty space
on the shelves. If a store has completely exhausted its inventory, time and
effort must be
expended to disassemble and remove the shelving or bins once they are no
longer required to
avoid using valuable space in the store, and further efforts will need to be
expended to re-
assemble the bins or shelves at a latex time when additional inventory
arrives. These
shortcomings have been further exacerbate by the popularity of warehouse
stores: Such
stores generally display large quantities of material at any given time, thus
requiring a large
number of display bins or display shelves.
(0004] What is desired is a system for distributing and displaying material
that overcomes
the above described shortcomings. This invention fulfils this need, among
others.
Summary of the Invention
(0005] A distribution and display system is provided that comprises a
container having a
framework built of lightweight, durable wire. The container is capable of
storing material
wrapped in a cylindrical form during shipping from the manufacturer to the
retail store.
Upon arrival at the retail store, the container can be used as a display case
to display the
material on the store floor. The containers are stackable such that a
plurality of containers
can be used to build a complete free-standing sales exhibit. Furthermore, the
container in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is disposable
once all of
the items stored in the container are removed. The corutainer in accordance
with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention allows for automatic
replenishment: of the
front row of material to which the customer has access. For example, when a
customer
removes a container from the front row of spools in the display container, a
container residing
behind the removed container will move forward into the front row.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
[0006) For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the
drawings a form
which is presently preferred; it being understood, that this invention is not
limited to the
precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
[0007) Figure 1 is a front view of a display container in accordance with a
first exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0008) Figure 2 is a side view of the display container of Figure 1.
[0009) Figure 3 is a rear view of the display container of Figure 1
[0010) Figure 4 is a perspective view of the display container of Figure 1
shown in an
empty state with the floor removed.
[0011) Figure 5 is a perspective view of the display container of Figure 1
shown filled
with rolls of decorative ribbon.
[0012) Figure 6 is a perspective view of a display case comprising a plurality
of
containers.
[0013) Figure 7 is a front view of a mufti-layered container in accordance
with a second
exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown filled with rolls of
decorative ribbon.
[0014) Figure 8 is a prospective view of the container of Figure 7 shown
partially filled
with rolls of decorative ribbon.
[0015) Figure 9 is a prospective view of the container of Figure 7 and 8 shown
in a filled
state.
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Detailed Description of the Drawings
[0016] Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify
like elements,
components, subassemblies, etc., Figs. 1-6 illustrate a distribution and
display system in
accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figs. 7-
9 illustrate a
display system in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0017] Figures 1-S illustrate a single container used in a distribution and
display system
in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The
container 100
comprises a wire frame having a front 102, a back 302, a top 402, a bottom
404, and two
sides 220, 221. The front, back, top, bottom, and two sides of the container
form an
enclosure 102 in which material, such as spools of decorative ribbon, are
stored. Referring to
Figure 1, a front view of the display container is shown. The front 102 of the
container 100 is
defined by a plurality of wire members. The front 102 comprises a first and a
second side
member 103a, 103b, a top side member 111, and a bottom member 109. A retaining
member
107 extends across the front opening 102, extending from the first side member
103a to the
second side member 103b. The retaining member 107 divides the front 102 of the
container
100, creating a front opening 106. The size of the front opening 106 is large
enough such that
material (e.g., spools of decorative ribbon) stored within the container 100
can be removed by
a customer via the front opening 106. The retaining member 107 serves to keep
the material
properly positioned in the container 100 until a customer intentionally
removes one ar more
rolls of material (e.g., the retaining member prevents a round spool of
material from rolling
out of the front of the container 100).
[0018] Refernng to Figure 2, a side view of the container is shown. Each side
portion
220, 221 of the container 100 is a minor image of the opposite side, thus only
one side is
illustrated. The side portion 220 is defined by the side member 103a, a rear
member. 205, a
bottom member 209, and a top member 201. A side retaining member 203 extends
from the
side member 103a to the rear member 205. The side retaining member 203
prevents material
stored within the container 100 from exiting through the side face of the
container 100.
[0019] Referring to Figure 3, a rear view of the container is shown. The back
302 of the
container is defined by two rear members 205a, 205b, a top rear member 301 and
a rear
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bottom member 303. A rear retaining member 305 extends from the first rear
member 205a
to the second rear member 205b. The rear retaining member 305 prevents
material stored
within the container 100 from exiting through the rear of the container 100.
[0020] A floor 204 is formed at the bottom 404 of the enclosure 102. In an
exemplary
embodiment, the floor 206 resides on a floor support grid 206. The floor
support grid 20fi (as
seen in Figure 4 shown with the floor 204 removed} comprises a wire grid upon
which the
floor 204 rests. The floor support grid 206 is coupled to the bottom member
209 on each side
of the container via one or more support members 207a, 207b. The floor 204
(not shown in
Figure 4} is a solid layer placed on the floor support grid 206 upon which
items stored within
the enclosure 102 of the container rest. In an exemplary embodiment, the floor
204 is
comprised of cardboard. Cardboard provides several advantages. It is
lightweight and
inexpensive, and easily disposable. Alternatively, however, other materials
could be used.
The floor 204 could be constructed from a thin plastic layer, or the floor 204
could comprise
wire by creating the floor support grid 206 using a high number of wires such
that the grid
206 actually becomes the floor 204.
[0021] The material such as spools of ribbon contained within the container
can be
divided into columns using a series of dividing members 11 Sa, 11 Sb, 115c, 11
Sd, 115e, 115f,
115g. In an exemplary implementation as shown in Figs. 1-4, seven dividing
members are
used to create eight columns for material. However, alternative configurations
could contain
various numbers of dividing members depending upon the number of columns
desired and
the width of the material to be stored. The dividing members 115a, 115b, 115c,
115d, 115e,
115f, 115g extend vertically from the retaining member 107 for a short
distance and then the
dividing members 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d, 115e, 115f, 115g bend approximately
90 degrees
and extend to the back of the container where they are coupled to the rear
retaining member
305. In an exemplary embodiment, the dividing members 115a, 115b, 115c, 11 Sd,
11 Se,
11 Sf, 115g are formed in a fixed position. Alternative embodiments al'.so
include coupling the
dividing members to the front retaining member 107 and the rear retaining n
.ember 305 by,
for example, using a sliding ring mounting fixture. This would allow the
retaining members
115a, 115b, 115c, 115d, 115e, 115f, 115g to be adjusted to various widths
depending on the
width of the various materials stored in the container 100.
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[OU22] In an exemplary embodiment, the floor 204 is sl;anted forward, having a
rear
portion 208 raised with respect to a front portion 210. Because of this
configuration, gravity
tends to cause material in a cylindrical configuration stored in the container
to roll towards
the front of the container. For example, referring to Figure 5, eight columns
of cylindrically
shaped items are shown in the container. The forward-most item 501 of a column
is
prevented from exiting the container 100 by retaining member a 07. By using
the slope of the
floor 204, the items stored in the container are urged forward toward the
retaining member
107. The forward-most item 501 of each row rests against tl~e retaining member
10 7, and
each item behind the forward-most item rests against an item in front of it
(e.g., a second item
503 rests against the forward-most item 501, a rear item 505 rests against the
second item
503). When a customer desires to remove an item, he or she grasps one of the
forward-most
items from any column (e.g., the forward-most item 501 in the end column) and
lifts it such
that it clears the retaining member 107 and can be removed through the front
opening 106.
An item that resides immediately behind the item which has been removed (e.g.,
the second
item 503) will roll forward to replace the removed item at the front of the
enclosure. All of
the remaining items in the row from which an item has been removed roll
forward. l:n this
manner, the front row of items is continuously replenished.
[0023] Referring again to Figure 4, landing portions 407a, 407b, 407c, 407d
are located
in the corners of the top 402 of the container 100. The top 402 is comprised
of top front
member 111, two top side members 201a, 201b, and top re;~r member 303. Corners
are
formed where the two top side members 201 a, 201 b join the top front member
111 and the
top rear member 303. Landing portions 407a, 407b, 407c, 407d are formed in
each corner
comprising a flat surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the landing portions
407a, 407b,
407c, 407d are triangular in shape and are formed of metal, although it is
understood that
alternative configurations could also be used. The landing portions provide a
flat, firm
surface to allow for several individual containers to be stacked on top of
each other. In this
manner, a complete free-standing display case can be constructed from a series
of containers
100.
[0024] Alignment cups 409a, 409b are formed around two or more landing
portions. The
alignment cups 409a, 409b are raised portions surrounding 'the outside edges
of selected
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landing portions. The alignment cups facilitate the stacking of several
containers by allowing
the containers to be easily aligned during the stacking process and by
preventing two or more
stacked containers from sliding or shifting with respect to each other after
stacking. In an
exemplary embodiment, two alignment cups are included on th.e container 100,
with the two
alignment cups located on opposite corners of the top of the container with
respect to each
other. While it has been found that two cups provide adequate stability of a
display case
comprising several stacked containers, alternative embodiments may include
alignment: cups
on three or all four corners for added stability.
(0025] Referring to Figure 6, a. free-standing display case 500 constructed
from a
plurality of containers in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention
is shown. Four containers 100x, 100b, 100c, 100d (shown without material in
them for
clarity) are stacked vertically to create a display case for placing the
material on display to the
customer. While the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FigL~re 6 uses four
containers, it is
understood that any number of containers could be used to build the display
case 500. The
case 500 is constructed by placing a first container 100a on the floor, and
then stacking one or
more containers on top of the first container 101 a. A second container 1 O1 b
sits on top of the
landing regions 407a, 407b, 407c, 407d of the first container lOla. Two
alignment cups
409a, 409b of the first container retain the second container 100b in proper
position.
Additional containers 101 c, 1 O 1 d are stacked in the same manner to
complete the display case
500.
(0026) The containers 100x, 100b, 100c, 1004 may be used to ship various
material
from the manufacturer or distributor to a retail location. Thus, when a
container arrives at the
retail location, it is already filled with the items (e.g., decorative ribbon,
cord, tape, etc) that
the retailer wishes to display. The lightweight yet sturdy construction of the
containers allow
the retailer to quickly and easily stack several containers as shown in Figure
6 and create an
aesthetically pleasing free-standing display that allows easy access to the
customer of all the
items within the containers. Additionally, once the items in one or more
containers are
completely sold, the container can be quickly removed and discarded while the
remaining
containers can be easily re-stacked to again form a free-standing display
case.
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[0027] A second exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
Figures 7-9. As
is particularly identified in Figure 7, a container 700 is shown comprising a
wire frame
having a front 730, a back 732, a top 734, a bottom 736, and two sides 738,
739. The front,
back, top, bottom, and two sides of the container form a multi~-layer
enclosure in which layers
of material, such as spools of decorative ribbon, are stored., In the
embodiment shown in
Figures 7-9, the container includes five layers 701, 702, 703, 704, 705. It
is, however,
understood that various numbers of layers could be used. Each layer of the
multilayer
container is constructed in a similar fashion to that described. above with
respect to a single
layer container, and functions in a similax fashion to a single layer
container, as described
above. Each layer has a slanted floor (707, 708, 709, 710, 711 ) which cause
material stored
in each layer to roll forwards towards a front opening in each layer (715,
716, 717, 718, 719).
In a manner similar to that described above for a single layer container, each
front opening
(715, 716, 717, 718, 719) has a retaining member (720, 721, 722, 723, 724)
that extends
across the front opening to keep items contained within the container from
rolling out.
[0028] The multilayer container differs from the single layer container in
that, because of
its size, it is designed to be restocked by a vendor rather than to be
disposable once the items
stored within it are sold. While mufti-layer containers may be designed to
include the
features described above to allow for stacking (e.g., in cases where it may be
desirable to
stack two or more mufti-layer containers in order to achieve a container with
still more layers
than encompassed in any one mufti-layer container), the illustrated embodiment
shown in
Figure 7 does not show such features and is not intended to be stackable.
[0029] The present invention allows for efficient display of materials such as
ribbon,
cord, etc. in the same container in which the materials are received.
Previously labor
intensive steps such as unpacking the material, building display units such as
shelves or bins,
and organizing the material on the display units are all eliminated by the
distribution and
display system in accordance with the present invention. The design of the
individual
containers provide for a sturdy yet lightweight container that allows for
automatic
replacement of the forward most individual spools of material when a spool is
removed from
the front of the container. Stacking several containers allows for an
aesthetically pleasing,
free-standing display to be easily assembled. For these reasons, among others,
the
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distribution and display system in accordance with the present invention
provides a marked
improvement over distribution and display methods used in the prior art.
[0030] The present invention also provides larger, multi-layer containers
which are still
relatively lightweight and also allow for automatic replacement of the forward
most
individual spools of material when a spool is removed from tl:~e front of the
container, but are
also capable of being restocked with additional material and reused.
[0031) A variety of modifications to the embodiments described will be
apparent to those
skilled in the art from the disclosure provided herein. Thus, the present
invention :nay be
embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or
essential attributes
thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims,
rather than to the
foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.
