Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PANORAMIC PRODUCT DISPLAY ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to pallet display assemblies and also to a
method of
displaying pallet display assemblies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In-store displays are effective marketing tools for product manufacturers and
retailers.
When customers see a product display that prominently shows a product logo or
trademark, the
customer may be more likely to purchase the product based on customer loyalty,
positive
consumer perception of that product, or increased consumer interest due to the
prominence of the
display itself. To take advantage of this, product manufacturers and retailers
design product
packages to provide the customer with a positive visual first impression of
the product - that is,
while the product is still on display at the retail location. Consequently,
product display
assemblies generate product sales and revenue.
One feature that prior art product display assemblies share is that there is a
vast amount of
"white space" that faces towards consumers. The white space tends not to
convey any positive
marketing or product statements to the consumer and thus, fails to take full
advantage of an
opportunity to speak to consumers while in the retail space. It is especially
the case that one side
of a product display assembly will be such that virtually no positive
marketing or product
statements, and merely contains regulatory or technical product inforrnation.
It is often the case
that this side of the product display assembly must be arranged such that this
side is backed
against a wall or another product display assembly in order to camouflage the
unattractiveness of
this side. This being the case, the possible areas in which a product display
assembly can be set-
up in a retail location are dramatically limited.
Because product display assemblies impact product revenue, manufacturers and
retailers
have a vested interest in displaying product packages in the most effective
way possible. That
being said, presenting and maintaining effective displays may provide
obstacles for a retailer. For
instance, ensuring product display assemblies are properly set-up in a retail
location increases.
costs because personnel are required to set up the displays. In addition, in
many of the larger
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retail or "club" locations, products are loaded directly onto a pallet and not
onto a shelf or
dedicated display unit, or against a wall. In fact, club locations often place
fully loaded pallets (as
they have been arranged from the manufacturer) into open aisle areas
throughout the store. As a
result, it is possible that the side of packaging that does not contain (or
contains minimal) positive
marketing or product statements will be exposed to the consumers as they
navigate the retail
space. Consequently, the retailer and producer have not given the consumer the
best possible
first-impression of a product as possible.
Thus, there exists the need for a system and method of effectively displaying
product
packages such that the maximum possible positive visual first impression is
provided to the
consumer no matter what side or angle the consumer approaches a product
display assembly
from.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment of the invention, a product display assembly is provided.
The product
display assembly comprises:
a supporting medium comprising a maximum length boundary of a shipping and
display space and a maximum width boundary of the shipping and display space;
a plurality of product packages arranged on the supporting medium further
comprising
a maximum height boundary of the shipping and display space;
wherein the plurality of product packages further comprise a length boundary
and a
width boundary;
wherein the outward facing sides of the product packages comprise
substantially
related consumer indicia;
wherein no negative sides are outward-facing; and
wherein one or more product packages are outward facing to any direction in
the x-y
plane.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of displaying a
plurality of product
packages comprising:
providing a pallet comprising a maximum length boundary of a shipping and
display
space and a maximum width boundary of the shipping and display space;
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loading onto the pallet a plurality of product packages arranged on the
supporting
medium further comprising a maximum height boundary of the shipping and
display space;
wherein the plurality of product packages further comprise a length boundary
and a
width boundary;
wherein the outward facing sides the product packages comprise substantially
related
consumer indicia;
wherein no negative sides are outward-facing;
wherein one or more product packages are outward facing to any direction in
the x-y
plane
wherein the product packages comprise disposable paper products; and
delivering the loaded pallet to a retail location to display the product
packages.
In a different embodiment of the present invention, a product display assembly
is provided. The
product display assembly comprises:
a pallet comprising a maximum length boundary of a shipping and display space
and a
maximum width boundary of the shipping and display space;
a plurality of product packages arranged on the supporting medium further
comprising
a maximum height boundary of the shipping and display space;
wherein the plurality of product packages further comprise a length boundary
and a
width boundary;
wherein the outward facing sides the product packages comprise substantially
related
consumer indicia;
wherein one or more product packages are outward facing to any direction in
the x-y
plane; and
wherein one or more product packages on the product display assembly is
removed
such that the outward facing sides of the remaining product packages on the
product display assembly create a hangman effect.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present
invention can be
best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where
like structures are
indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
Fig. I is a schematic view of a product display assembly according to one or
more
embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 2(A) is a schematic view of a single product package of one embodiment of
the
present invention.
Fig. 2(B) is a schematic view of a single product package of one embodiment of
the
present invention.
Fig. 2(C) is a schematic view of a single product package of one embodiment of
the
present invention.
Fig. 2(D) is a schematic view of a single product package of one embodiment of
the
present invention.
Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a product display assembly according to one or
more
embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As defined herein, the "shipping and display space" refers to the available
volume of space to
be occupied by product packages loading space for product packages 40 on a
supporting medium
5 during shipping. The shipping and display space comprises a maximum length
10 boundary
and a maximum width boundary 20 defmed by the length and width dimensions of
the supporting
medium 5, and a maximum height boundary 30 defmed by the total height of the
product
packages 40.
As defmed herein, the "negative side" refers to a side of a product package
that has some
characteristic that has one or more features that the retailer or manufacturer
does not want
consumers to see as part of their visual first impression of the product as it
is arranged in a full
pallet-display assembly in a retail location. Examples of such characteristics
include, but are not
limited to: seams, closures, adhesive, regulatory information, and mechanical
fasteners.
As defmed herein, "consumer indicia" refers to any indicia that is associated
with a particular
product or product line. Consumer indicia includes, but is not limited to:
brand logos, brand
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names, words, symbols, pictures, trademarks, graphics, text, product samples,
advertising
information, letters, messages, and combinations thereof.
As defined herein, "substanti'ally related" refers to anything which, in the
eyes of an ordinary
observer, has the related points of distinction as something else or has
points of distinction that
5 form a larger indicia when combined with the points of distinction of
something else. The points
of distinction from one object may be different from the points of distinction
from another object,
but the points of distinction of the two objects may still be substantially
related. A point of
distinction is anything that an ordinary observer can perceive, either alone,
or in concert with
something else that creates a unique impression to that observer.
As defmed herein, "substantially similar" refers to anything which, in the
eyes of an
ordinary observer, has the same points of distinction as something else.
As defmed herein, "outward-facing" refers to any exposed or uncovered face of
a product
package in the x-z or y-z plane, or an x-z or y-z plane that has been rotated
about the x, y, or z
axis. In other words, any face visible to the consumer to the consumer facing
the product at any
angle while the product is loaded in a product display assembly.
As defmed herein, "product package" refers to the outer enclosure of a product
that is to
be sold to consumers. Individual products can come in different sizes, forms,
package counts,
etc. Nonlimiting examples of product packages include boxes with products
inside, and
shrinkwrapped products.
As defmed herein, "disposable paper product" refers to any fonned, fibrous
structure
products, traditionally, but not necessarily, comprising cellulose fibers or
synthetic fibers that can
be used for a variety of tasks which include, but are not limited to: drying,
cleaning, wiping, and
combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the paper products of the present
invention include
tissue-towel paper products.
The present invention relates to product display assemblies and methods of
arranging
packages on a supporting medium. In one embodiment of the invention, a product
display
assembly is provided. The product display assembly comprises a supporting
medium defming a
maximum length boundary of a shipping and display space and a maximum width
boundary of
the shipping and display space. The product display assembly further comprises
a plurality of
product packages arranged on the pallet and defming a maximum height boundary
of the shipping
and display space. The plurality of product packages are arranged on the
supporting medium
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such that one or more outward-facing sides of one or more product packages
displays one or
more consumer indicia. The plurality of product packages further comprise a
length boundary
and a width boundary. In another embodiment, all outward-facing sides of one
or more product
packages displays one or more consumer indicia. In yet another embodiment, all
outward facing
sides of all product packages displays one or more consumer indicia. In a
different embodiment
still, the supporting medium comprises a pallet.
In one embodiment, the method of displaying the product display assembly
according to
the present invention includes the steps of delivering the product display
assembly and placing
the product display assembly at a retail location for display. In another
embodiment, the method
of displaying the product display assembly according to the present invention
includes the steps
of covering the product display assembly with a shipping cover prior to the
delivery step and
removing the shipping cover after the delivery step. In another embodiment,
the product display
assembly comprises product packages wherein the product packages further
comprise disposable
paper products.
Disposable products such as paper towels, facial tissues, sanitary tissues,
and the like, are
made from one or more webs of tissue paper. If the products are to perform
their intended tasks
and to find wide acceptance, they, and the tissue paper webs from which they
were made, must
exhibit certain physical characteristics. Among the more important of these
characteristics are
strength, softness, and absorbency. Strength is the ability of a paper web to
retain its physical
integrity during use. Softness is a pleasing tactile sensation the user
perceives as the paper is
crumpled in their hand and is contacted to various portions of the anatomy.
Absorbency is the
characteristic of the paper web that facilitates the take up and retention of
fluids, particularly
water, aqueous solutions, and suspensions. Two important characteristics of a
paper web include
the absolute quantity of a fluid the given amount of paper will hold, but also
the rate at which the
paper web will absorb the fluid. When the paper web is formed into a device
such as a towel or
wipe, the ability of the paper web to cause a fluid to preferentially be taken
up into the paper web
and thereby leave a wiped surface dry is also important. In certain
embodiments of the present
invention, the products that may be packaged on the pallet may include, but
are not limited to,
feminine care products, baby care products, and hygienic care products.
Fig. 1 is a non-limiting example of a product display assembly of the present
invention. A
product display assembly comprises a supporting medium 5 wherein the
supporting medium 5
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defines a maximum length boundary 10 of a shipping and display space and a
maximum width
boundary 20 of the shipping and display space. The product display assembly 1
further
comprises a plurality of product packages 40. The product packages 40 are
arranged on the
supporting medium 5 and defme a maximum height boundary 30 of the shipping and
display
space. The plurality of product packages further comprises a length boundary
11 and a width
boundary 21. One or more product packages are outward facing to any direction
in the x-y plane.
In some embodiments of the invention, the length boundary of the plurality of
product packages
11 is selected from the group consisting of: larger than the maximum length
boundary of the
supporting medium 10, smaller than the maximum length boundary of the
supporting medium 10,
the same as the maximum length boundary of the supporting medium 10, and
combinations
thereof. In other embodiments of the invention, the width boundary of the
plurality of product
packages 21 is selected from the group consisting of: larger than the maximum
width boundary
of the supporting medium 20, smaller than the maximum width boundary of the
supporting
medium 20, the same as the maximum width boundary of the supporting medium 20,
and
combinations thereof. Consumer indicia 50 is displayed on the outward facing
sides 70 of the
product packages 40. The products associated with the product packages 40 may
comprise any
consumer product sold in a retail location, including, but not limited to,
club stores,
supermarkets, department stores, warehouses, discount outlets, convenience
stores, etc.
The product display assembly 1 may be placed at various locations inside the
above store
locations. For example, the product display assembly 1 may be placed on its
own, near a
checkout location, in the center of an aisle, on the end of an aisle, or any
other suitable store
location to one of ordinary skill in the art. In a further exemplary
embodiment, the product
display assembly 1 may also be placed on the outside of a retail location, for
example, near the
entrance and/or exit doors or in the parking lot of the retail location.
Figs. 2(A)-(D) are nonlimiting examples of individual product packages 40 in
accordance
with the present invention., A product package 40 has six or more distinct
sides 42, 44, 46, 47,
48, and 49 that may be outward-facing 70. One or more sides has one or more
characteristics that
results from preparing the package for retail sale. This side 46 is referred
to as the "negative
side." Further, the package has a bottom side 47 which is parallel with the x-
y plane and a top
side 49, also parallel with the x-y plane. Consumers will typically view the
product from the x-z
or y-z planes, or an x-z or y-z plane that has been rotated about the x, y, or
z axis. In other
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embodiments, the bottom side 47 and top side 49 are not parallel to the x-y
plane. Although Figs.
1, 2(A)-(D), and 3 depict the product packages 40 as rectangular boxes,
numerous other shapes
and configurations known to one skilled in the art are possible. In a
particular embodiment, the
negative side 46 of a product package does not face outward towards the
consumers when a
plurality of product packages 40 are arranged on a supporting medium 5.
Fig. 3 is a non-limiting example of a product display assembly of the present
invention. A
product display assembly comprises a supporting medium 5 wherein the
supporting medium 5
defines a maximum length boundary 10 of a shipping and display space and a
maximum width
boundary 20 of the shipping and display space. The product display assembly I
further
comprises a plurality of product packages 40. The product packages 40 are
arranged on the
supporting medium 5 and defme a maximum height boundary 30 of the shipping and
display
space. The plurality of product packages further comprise a length boundary 11
and a width
boundary 21. In some embodiments of the invention, the length boundary of the
plurality of
product packages 11 is selected from the group consisting of: larger than the
maximum length
boundary of the supporting medium 10, smaller than the maximum length boundary
of the
supporting medium 10, the same as the maximum length boundary of the
supporting medium 10,
and combinations thereof. In other embodiments of the invention, the width
boundary of the
plurality of product packages 21 is selected from the group consisting of:
larger than the
maximum width boundary of the supporting medium 20, smaller than the maximum
width
boundary of the supporting medium 20, the same as the maximum width boundary
of the
supporting medium 20, and combinations thereof. Consumer indicia 50 is
displayed on the
outward facing sides 70 of the product packages 40. One or more product
packages have been
removed 41 from the product display assembly 1 such that the outward facing
sides of the
remaining product packages 40 create an incomplete consumer indicia. Without
wishing to be
bound by theory, it is believed that an incomplete consumer indicia that
results from one or more
product packages 40 being removed from a product display assembly 1 creates a
"hangman
effect" that will intrigue a consumer who views the product display assembly
1. The hangman
effect is intended to, but not limited to, cause an observer to recognize the
intended effect of a
complete product display assembly despite one or more packages being removed.
In a different embodiment, one or more consumer indicia is printed on one or
more sides
of the product package. A consumer indicia can occupy any percentage of the
side of the product
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package that it is displayed on. In one embodiment one or more consumer
indicia occupies from
about 5% to about 95% of one or more sides of a product package. In another
embodiment, one
or more consumer indicia occupies from about 25% to about 75% of one or more
sides of a
product package. In yet another embodiment, one or more consumer indicia
occupies from about
35% to about 65% of one or more sides of a product package. In still another
embodiment, the
consumer indicia occupying the aforementioned percentages of the product
package is the logo
associated with that product.
In one embodiment, one or more consumer indicia on the outward-facing side of
one
product package is substantially related or is substantially similar to the
consumer indicia on the
outward-facing side of one or more other product packages. In another
embodiment, the
consumer indicia on all the outward-facing sides of the product packages are
substantially related
or are substantially similar. In an embodiment wherein the consumer indicia of
all the outward
facing sides of the product packages are substantially related, the outward
facing consumer
indicia are such that the consumer indicia on the multiple product packages
form a larger
consumer indicia. In another embodiment, a single consumer indicia can occupy
more than one
side of the product package.
When displaying the product display assembly, it is desirable to display as
many product
indicia to the consumer as possible. In one embodiment, the product display
assembly comprises
a supporting medium comprising a maximum length boundary of a shipping and
display space
and a maximum width boundary of the shipping and display space, a plurality of
product
packages arranged on the supporting medium further comprising a maximum height
boundary of
the shipping and display space, wherein the outward facing sides of the
product packages
comprise substantially related consumer indicia; and wherein no negative sides
are outward-
facing. In another embodiment, the top side displays consumer indicia. In
still another
embodiment, the bottom side displays consumer indicia.
In one embodiment of the invention, at least one product package measures from
about
10" (0.254 m) to about 20" (0.508 m) in length. In another embodiment of the
invention, at least
one product package measures from about 14" (0.3556 m) to about 18" (0.4572 m)
in length. In
one embodiment of the invention, at least one product package measures from
about 6" (0.1524
m) to about 14" (0.3556 m) in width. In another embodiment of the invention,
at least one
product package measures from about 8" (0.2032 m) to about 12" (0.3048 m) in
width. In one
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embodiment, at least one product package measures from about 12" (0.3048 m) to
about 40"
(0.4572 m) in height. In another embodiment, at least one product package
measures from about
20" (0.508 m) to about 30" (0.762) in height. In one embodiment, at least one
product package
measures about 17" (0.4318 m) wide, about 11.25" (0.28575 m) long, and about
22" (0.5588 m)
5 high.
In an embodiment of the invention, the product packages are loaded vertically,
from about
one to about six high on a supporting medium. In another embodiment of the
invention, the
product packages are loaded from about two to about four high on a supporting
medium. In
another embodiment of the invention, the product packages are loaded from
about one to about
10 six wide on a supporting medium. In another embodiment of the invention,
the product packages
are loaded from about two to about four wide on a supporting medium. In yet
another
embodiment of the invention, the product packages are loaded from about one to
about ten deep
on a supporting medium. In another embodiment of the invention, the product
packages are
loaded from about three to about seven deep on a supporting medium. In one
embodiment the
packages are loaded from about 2 to about 4 wide, from about 2 to about 4
deep, and from about
2 to about 4 high on the supporting medium.
In one embodiment of the invention, the supporting medium is from about 25"
(0.635 m)
to about 65" (1.651 m) wide. In another embodiment of the invention, the
supporting medium is
from about 30" (0.762 m) to about 60" (1.524 m) wide. In yet another
embodiment of the
invention, the supporting medium is from about 40" (1.016 m) to about 50"
(1.27 m) wide. In
one embodiment of the invention, the supporting medium is from about 20"
(0.508 m) to about
60" (1.524 m) deep. In another embodiment of the invention, the supporting
medium is from
about 25" (0.635 m) to about 55" (1.397 m) deep. In yet another embodiment of
the invention,
the supporting medium is from about 30" (0.762 m) to about 45" (1.143 m) deep.
In one
embodiment, the supporting medium measures about 48" wide and about deep.
In another embodiment of the invention, product packages in a product display
assembly
may be selected from the group consisting of: product packages of different
sizes, product
packages containing different products, product packages having different
counts of the same
product, product packages having different product sizes, and combinations
thereof. In still
another embodiment, product packages in a product display assembly are the
same dimensions.
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Because the product display assembly I is shipped in a "ready to display"
configuration,
the product display assembly 1 requires no additional setup in displaying the
product indicia 50
upon delivery to a store location. Consequently, the "ready to display"
product display assembly
1 reduces setup costs and ensures that the product packages 40 on the product
display assembly 1
are arranged as desired by the retailer and/or manufacturer.
It is noted that terms like "specifically," "preferably," "typically',
"generally", and "often"
are not utilized herein to limit the scope of the claimed invention or to
imply that certain features
are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the
claimed invention.
Rather, these terms are merely intended to highlight alternative or additional
features that may or
may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the present invention. It is
also noted that terms
like "substantiall}~" and "about" are utilized herein to represent the
inherent degree of uncertainty
that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or
other
representation.
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being
strictly
limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise
specified, each such
dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range
surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is
intended to mean
"about 40 mm".
All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, in
relevant part,
incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be
construed as an
admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the
extent that any meaning
or defmition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaning or
defuution of the
term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or defmition
assigned to the term in
this written document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated
and
described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other
changes and
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. It is
therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and
modifications that are
within the scope of this invention.
