Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DISPLAY'CASE FOR BEVERAGE CONTAINERS
This invention relates generally to display cases for beverage containers, and
more
particularly to such display cases intended for promoting the sampling of a
variety of types of
beverages.
BACKGROUND
Consumer beverage companies are motivated to entice consumers to sample
different
types of beverage products. To date, most efforts to entice consumers to
sample such
different varieties of beverage products have been via marketing efforts such
as advertising in
various fonns of media. Additional efforts to entice consumers to sample
different types of
beverages include free samples that may be offered at points of sale (e.g.,
grocery stores) or in
other public places. Further, beverage producers make it easier for consumers
to try a -
different beverage by offering beverages in different quantities than the
standard 6-packs and
12-packs of beverage containers. For example, beverages may be offered in a
single 12 or 16
oz. can or bottle.
It is against this background and with a desire to improve on the prior art
that a
display case for beverage containers and other products has been developed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a display case for beverage containers,
showing the
display case filled witli individual containers of beverages and cartons for
carrying, the same.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the display case of Figure 1, shown without the
beverage
containers and cartons.
Figures 3A, 3B, and 3C are exploded views of the display case of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is an upper perspective view of a support base of the display case of
Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a lower perspective view of the support base of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a vertical support member of the display
case of
Figure 2.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a partially assembled version of the display
case of
Figure 2, showing a pair of the vertical support members shown in Figure 6
attached to the
support base shown in Figure 4, along with a pair of cross-support members.
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Figure 8 is a perspective view of a beverage container shelf of the display
case of
Figure 2.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a side rack of the display case of Figure 2,
the side
rack being adapted for holding cartons for the beverage containers.
Figure 10 is a flowchart of a method for enticing consumers to sample a
variety of
different beverages.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which assist in
illustrating the various pertinent features of the packaging design. Although
the invention
will now be described primarily in conjunction with the sale of beverages, it
should be
expressly understood that the invention may be applicable to other
applications where it is
desirable to entice a consumer to sample a variety of products. In this
regard, the following
description of a display case for beverage containers is presented for
purposes of illustration
and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the
invention to the
form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications
cominensurate with the
following teachings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within
the scope of the
display case. The embodiments described herein are further intended to explain
modes
known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to
utilize the
invention in such, or other embodiments and with various modifications
required by the
particular application(s) or use(s) of the display case.
A display case 20 for individual beverage containers 22 is shown in Figures 1
and 2.
As can be seen, the display case 20 has the general shape and appearance of an
enlarged soft
drink or soda can. The display case 20 includes multiple shelves 24 to support
the beverage
containers 22. The display case 20 also includes a pair of side racks 26 for
containing empty
cartons 28 for carrying selected beverage containers 22. As can also be seen
in Figure 1, at
least one of the shelves 24 can be used to display some of the empty cartons
28 or to display
filled 6-packs of beverages. The display case 20 also includes several
locations on surfaces
thereon for the presentation of promotional inaterials relating to the sales
of beverages. For
3 o example, these promotional materials can appear along a front valance at
the front of certain
shelves, they can appear along an outer surface of an upper cap to the display
case, they could
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appear on one or more signs extending upward from the display case, or they
could be
displayed in any other suitable manner. -
As can be seen in Figures 1-4, and particularly in Figures 3A and 3B, the
display case
20 has several components. A support base 30 is adapted for supporting the
entire display
case 20 and rests on the floor or other suitable horizontal surface. A pair of
vertical support
members 32 attaches to the base 30 and supports the plurality of shelves 24
that are hung
therefrom. A pair of cross-support members 34 is used to connect the two
vertical support
members 32 to eacii other and provide stability to the display case 20. The
display case 20
also includes a cap 36 provided at the top and attached to the vertical
support members 32.
The cap may have a sign 38 attached upwardly therefrom.
The support base 30 can be seen best in Figures 4 and 5. The support base 30
includes a sturdy 6-sided frame 40. As can be seen in Figure 4, the frame 40
further includes
a pair of cross-beams 42 connecting a back side 44 of the frame 40 to a front
side 46 of the
frame 40. A curved valance 48 extends from a first lateral side 50 of the
frame 40 to an
opposite lateral side 52 of the frame 40. This valance 48 is visible from the
front of the
display case 20 and helps to give the display case 20 the appearance of a soft
drink can.
As can be seen in Figure 5, five different caster wheels 54 are pivotably
mounted to
the bottom of the frame 40. The caster wheels 54 allow the display case 20 to
be moved
about on the floor of a store where the display case 20 may be located. This
may allow the
2 o display case 20 to be positioned at any of a variety of locations
throughout the store, such as
at the end of an aisle at a grocery store. For stability purposes, the support
base 30 also
includes a pair of feet 56 that are threadedly attached to the frame 40. As
can be appreciated,
by rotating the feet 56 in one direction, the pads 58 on the bottom surface
thereof can be
retracted toward the frame 40 (see Figure 2) and by rotating the feet 56 in
the opposite
direction, the pads 58 can be advanced toward the floor (see Figure 1). Thus,
the feet 56 can
be in a retracted position while the display case 20 is positioned at the
desired location, and
then the feet 56 can be extended to come into contact with the floor so as to
provide increased
stability for the display case 20. One of the vertical support members 32 is
shown in more
detail in Figure 6. As can be appreciated, the vertical support members 32
help to provide the
vertical dimension to the can-like appearance of the display case 20. The
vertical support
members 32 are sufficiently sturdy to support the weight of the shelves 24 and
all of the filled
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beverage containers 22 to be placed on the shelves 24.
The cross-support members 34 are attached to the vertical support members 32.
The
number of cross-support members 34 can be varied as may be suitable for the
application. In
addition, the exact positioning of the cross-support members on the display
case is variable.
The cap 36 shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3B is also attached to the vertical
support
members 32 and generally functions to provide an aesthetic appearance of the
top of the soda
can appearance of the display case 20. Thus, the cap 36 is generally shaped
like the upper
portion of a soda can. As mentioned previously, the cap 36 may, include
multiple locations,
such as are'designated with dashed lines in Figure 1, for placement and
presentation of
promotional materials on the display case 20. The sign 38 extending upwardly
from the cap
36 may also contain promotional materials displayed thereon, as shown in
Figure 1.
The shelves 24 are seen in Figures 1, 2, 3A, 3B, and 8. As can be seen, the
shelves 24
may come in a variety of configurations. For example, they may have a small
valance or a
larger valance, as seen in the shelves 24 in Figure 3B. Also, as shown in
Figure 1, some of
the shelves 24 can have a partial railing extending along an upper front edge
thereof to act as
a fence to prevent cartons from falling out of the display case 20, for
example. Other shelves
24 may not have this upper rail. The shelves 24 may be composed of any
suitable material
and be of any suitable design. In this embodiment, a wire-rack shelf is shown.
The front
edges of the shelves 24 of the display case 20 are curved to add to the soda
can-like
2 o appearance of the display case 20. As can be seen, the shelves 24 can be
attached to the
vertical support members 32 so that the shelves 24 angle downwardly from back
to front at an
angle of approximately 11 , although other angles may also be suitable. This
angle has been
found suitable to provide for gravity-feeding of the shelves 24. In other
words, a store
employee who stocks the display case 20 can add beverage containers from the
rear of the
display case 20 and they will slide forward on the shelves 24 toward the front
edge of the
shelves. In this manner, the shelves 24 can be easily stocked and will provide
a pleasing
appearance of a fully-stocked shelf. lt is also possible to coat the surface
of the shelves 24
upon which the beverage containers rest with a low friction material, such as
styrene, silicone,
or other suitable material.
The side racks 26 are shown in Figures 1, 2, 3A, 3B and 9. As can be seen in
Figure
9, this embodiment of the side rack 26 includes a wire frame with three lower
compartnients
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for containing collapsed cartons 28 and an upper compartment for containing
cartons 28 that
have been unfolded into an orientation to be able to receive beverage
containers 22.
As can be appreciated, the display case 20 can be assembled as follows. The
feet 56
can be attached to the support base 30, if they are not already. As shown in
Figure 7, the
vertical support members 32 can be attached to the support base 30 and the
cross-support
members 34 attached between the vertical support members 32. The cap 36 can
then be
attached to the top of the vertical support members 32 and the various shelves
24 can be hung
from the vertical support members 32. The side racks 26 can be attached to the
outer surfaces
of the display case 20, and the sign 38 can be attached to the cap 36 and
promotional
materials can be provided on the various outer surfaces of the display case 20
as described
previously. The display case 20 can then be stocked with beverage containers
22 and cartons
28 as has been previously described.
A niethod for enticing customers to sample different types of beverages is
shown in
Figure 10. First of all, the assembled display case 20 is provided 70. Next,
the display case
20 is stocked 72 with multiple containers 22 of a variety of different types
of beverages. The
side racks 26 of the display case 20 are also stocked 74 with multiple cartons
for carrying the
multiple beverage containers 22. The opportunity to purchase multiple
containers 22 of a
variety of different beverages can then be promoted 76 to consumers. This can
be done via
promotional materials located on the display case 20 via advertising in any of
various forms
of media, via in-store announcements, or through any of a variety of other
suitable means.
The consumer is then allowed 78 to select a carton 28, select multiple
containers 22 of
beverages, place the containers 22 in the carton 28, and purchase the
combination. It should
be noted that the beverage containers 22 stocked in the display case 20 can be
of any of
various sizes and configurations. One example of a size and configuration is 8
oz. trial-size
beverage cans. It is possible, however, for any other size beverage container
or other type
such as plastic bottles or containing other quantities such as 7 oz., I loz.,
12 oz., 1 liter, or
other suitable amount may also be substituted.
The term sample as used herein refers to both paid and unpaid distribution of
products/services. Also, it should be understood that certain implementation
details can be
varied and the objectives of the invention would still be met. For example,
the number, types,
and angle of the shelves could be varied, a different manner of supporting the
beverage
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containers than shelves could be used, the appearance of promotional materials
could be
eliminated, the appearance of the display case could be of a different type of
beverage
container or have some other appearance, the empty cartons could be contained
in a different
manner, a display case that did not have a support base or vertical support
members could be
used, the cross-support members could be eliminated, the cap could be
eliminated, the sign
extending from the cap could be eliminated, and any other suitable
modification could be
made.
The foregoing description of the display case has been presented for purposes
of
illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to
limit the
invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and
modifications
commensurate with the above teachings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant
art, are
within the scope of the invention. The embodiments described hereinabove are
further
intended to explain best modes known of practicing the invention and to enable
others skilled
in the art to utilize the invention in such, or other embodiments and, with-
various
modifications required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the
invention. It is
intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative
embodiments to the
extent permitted by the prior art.
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