Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Attorney Docket No. 201300449
SHELF-TYPE DISPLAY FIXTURE
BACKGROUND
[0002] In retail stores, merchandise is often displayed on shelves that are
supported by display
units, such as gondola display units. Exemplary merchandise displayed on
shelves includes
binders, books and other individual products that are best displayed standing
in an upward
direction for easy identification and orderly presentation.
[0003] The discussion above is merely provided for general background
information and is not
intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject
matter.
SUMMARY
[0004] A display fixture for displaying an object includes a base having a
shelf engaging portion
that mounts to an underside of a shelf, a brush support portion and a brush
having an elongated
spine. The elongated spine is received by the brush support portion and a
plurality of flexible
bristles that depend downwardly from the elongated spine. Distal ends of the
plurality of flexible
bristles are free from contacting the base, and when not engaged with the
object, the flexible
bristles are oriented substantially normal to the shelf.
[0005] A method includes providing the display fixture that includes a brush
having an
elongated spine that is slid into a brush support portion of a base. The brush
includes a plurality
of flexible bristles that depend downwardly from the elongated spine. A shelf
engaging portion
of the base is mounted to an underside of a first shelf. At least one object
is placed on a second
shelf located directly below the first shelf. A top of the at least one object
engages with distal
ends of the plurality of flexible bristles.
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[0006] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a
simplified form that
are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not
intended to identify
key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it
intended to be used as an
aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed
subject matter is not
limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the
background.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display fixture coupled to an
underside of a shelf
according to one embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of a top of a display fixture
according to one
embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a bottom of the display fixture
illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0010] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the display fixture illustrated in FIG.
2.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of assembling the display fixture
illustrated in FIGS. 2-4.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a section view of the display fixture illustrated in FIG. 2
taken through the line
indicated in FIG. 2.
[0013] FIG. 7 is an exploded section view of the display fixture illustrated
in FIG. 2 taken
through the line indicated in FIG. 4.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a back exploded view of a display fixture according to
another embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a section view of the mounting bracket illustrated in FIG. 8.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a top view of the mounting bracket illustrated in FIG. 8.
[0017] FIG. 11 is a front view of the mounting bracket illustrated in FIG. 11.
[0018] FIG. 12 is a profile view of the display fixture in FIG. 8 as
assembled.
[0019] FIG. 13 is a section view of the brush illustrated in FIG. 8.
[0020] FIG. 14 is a front view of the display fixture illustrated in FIG. 2
coupled to an underside
of a shelf and engaged with objects or products for display.
[0021] FIG. 15A is a perspective view of mounting the display fixture
illustrated in FIG. 2 to an
underside of a shelf of a gondola display unit.
[0022] FIG. 15B is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of FIG. 15A.
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[0023] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of mounting the display fixture
illustrated in FIG. 2 to an
underside of a shelf of the gondola display unit illustrated in FIG. 15A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The display fixture described below aids in the display of objects or
products located on a
shelf or shelves. Exemplary objects or products include bound media, such as
binders, books,
periodicals, cases and other mechanisms for amassing and housing storage
media. The display
fixture includes a base that is mounted to an underside of a shelf located
above the shelf where
objects or products are placed. The base also includes a brush support
portion. A brush having an
elongated spine is received by the brush support portion and a plurality of
flexible bristles
depend downwardly from the elongated spine. The flexible bristles engage with
or interfere with
a top or an upper portion of the objects or products to provide lateral, or
side-to-side, support and
to hold the objects or products in an upward or substantially vertical
orientation. However, when
select flexible bristles are not engaged with objects or products, distal ends
of those select
flexible bristles are oriented substantially normal to the shelf.
[0025] The brush enables the objects or products that are to be displayed to
be pushed through
the flexible bristles to facilitate insertion and removal of the objects or
products from the shelf.
Tipping forces acting on the objects or products are controlled by the
resilience of the bristles.
Since the bristles are generally smaller and closer together than the
pertinent dimensions of the
objects or products that are being displayed and the bristles are disposed
along a row placed
laterally with respect to the shelf or shelves, the brush results in an
infinitely adaptable
arrangement to engage a wide variety of objects or products without the need
for adjustment.
Since shelving systems or units are generally adjustable along a vertical
axis, the only adjustment
that may be needed is the vertical spacing between the shelf upon which the
objects or products
are placed and the shelf located directly above, which supports the base of
the display fixture.
Where the vertical shelf spacing on a shelving system or unit is incremental,
such as one-inch
adjustment steps, a length of the bristles can be selected to ensure that
there can always be
interference with the objects or products. For example, the bristles may have
a length of 1.5
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inches, or at least a length greater than the incremental step of the shelving
system, which in this
example is one inch.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display fixture 10 coupled to an
underside of a shelf 20
according to one embodiment. While FIG. 1 illustrates two floating shelves 20
and 22, where
shelf 20 supports display fixture 10 and shelf 22 supports objects or products
24, it should be
realized that shelves 20 and 22 can be connected to a free-standing gondola
display unit as can
be found in a retail store or connected to a bookcase or other free-standing
furnishings that
supports shelves in other environments. For example, other environments,
besides retail stores,
that can advantageously utilize display fixture 10 include public libraries,
home libraries, offices,
museums and etc. As is often the problem with bound media, when space on a
shelf next to
bound media is open or empty, the bound media has the tendency to fall over on
its side because
of its inability to support itself in an upright position without the aid of
the adjacent bound media
or of a bookend. This problem can occur frequently in any of the above
environments especially
in retail stores where bound media is frequently taken off the shelves for
inspection or purchase.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, display fixture 10 supports objects or products 24
in an upright position
even though there are empty spaces next to objects or products 24.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a back, top perspective view of a display fixture 100
according to one
embodiment. FIG. 3 is a front, bottom perspective view of display fixture 100.
FIG. 4 is an
exploded view of display fixture 100. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of
assembling the display
fixture illustrated in FIGS. 2-4. FIG. 6 is a section view of display fixture
100 taken through the
line indicated in FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is an exploded section view of display
fixture 100 taken through
the line indicated in FIG. 4.
[0028] Display fixture 100 includes a base or mounting bracket 106 and a brush
or tool 108.
Base 106 is an extruded part made of, for example, a polymer, such as
polystyrene. However,
base or mount 106 can be made of other types of material that can be extruded,
such as metal. In
one embodiment, base 106 includes a shelf engaging portion or horizontal
section 110, a
downward depending portion or vertical section 112 and a brush support portion
or channel 114.
Shelf engaging portion 110 is substantially planar except for a plurality of
ribs 120 and is
connected to brush support portion or channel 114 by downward depending
portion 112.
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Downward depending portion 112 is substantially planar and is substantially
normal to shelf
engaging portion 110.
[0029] In one embodiment, brush 108 includes an elongated spine or base 116
and a plurality of
bristles or filaments 118. Elongated spine or base 116 acts as the brush block
that holds the
plurality of bristles or filaments 118 together. For example, elongated spine
116 can include a
polymer that uses adhesives to secure the bristles 118 together. Bristles or
filaments 118 can be
made of natural or synthetic fibers. For example, bristles or filaments 118
can be made of nylon
or polyester.
[0030] Shelf engaging portion 110 of base 106 is mountable to an underside of
a shelf, such as
underside 25 (FIG. 1) of shelf 20 and elongated spine 116 is receivable by
brush support portion
or channel 114 by, for example, elongated spine 116 being inserted into or
slid into channel 114
from one of the ends of channel 114. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, channel
114 includes and is
defined by an upper wall 122, a front wall 124, a rear wall 126 and a lower
wall 128. Rear wall
126 is in alignment with and is connected to downward depending portion 112,
while front wall
124 is spaced forward from downward depending portion 112 by upper wall 122
and lower wall
128. Channel 114 includes an opening 130 in lower wall 128 that extends along
a length 132
(FIG. 3) of channel 114.
[0031] Lower wall 128 includes a depth or dimension 134. Dimension 134 is the
distance from
back edge of downward depending portion 112 to a front edge of front wall 124
of channel 114.
Opening 130 includes a depth or dimension 136 that is less than dimension 134
of lower wall
128. As described above, elongated spine 116 is received by channel 114.
Therefore, bristles 118
of brush 108 depend downwardly from elongated spine 116 through opening 130 in
lower wall
128 of channel 114 and terminate at distal ends 119. In this way, bristles 118
extend downwardly
from base or mounting bracket 106 to engage with portions of the objects or
product that display
fixture 100 is to support in an upward or vertical orientation. More
specifically, distal ends 119
of bristles 118 are free from contacting base or mounting bracket 106. When
bristles 118 are not
engaged with objects or products, bristles 118 are oriented substantially
normal to shelf 20 or
shelf engaging portion 110. When engaged with objects or products, distal ends
119 of bristles
118 still do not contact base or mounting bracket 106. However, when engaged
with objects or
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products, portions of bristles 118 can be oriented in other directions besides
being oriented
substantially normal to shelf 200 or shelf engaging portion 110 as is
illustrated by display fixture
in FIG. 1.
[0032] With reference back to base or mounting bracket 106 and as previously
described, shelf
engaging portion or horizontal section 110 includes a plurality of ribs 120.
In one embodiment
and as illustrated in FIGS. 2-7, shelf engaging portion or horizontal section
110 includes two ribs
120. In other embodiments, shelf engaging portion or horizontal section 110
can include any
number of ribs 120. Ribs 120 provide shelf engaging portion 110 with
structural rigidity and
strength and minimum material thickness. Although display fixture 100 does not
support product
loads, display fixture 100 needs to have high structural rigidity to withstand
other types of forces,
such as torsion. Ribs 120 are spaced apart from each other and run a length of
shelf engaging
portion 110.
[0033] In the embodiment in FIGS. 2-7 and specifically illustrated in FIG. 2,
shelf engaging
portion 110 includes two lengths 138 and 140. The smaller length 138 is
located at the front of
display fixture 100 and the larger length 140 is located at the back of
display fixture 100. In other
words, shelf engaging portion 110 includes two cutouts on the front of shelf
engaging portion
110. The two cutouts are included in shelf engaging portion 110 so that shelf
engaging portion
110 does not block holes in the shelf at the ends of the shelf. This way other
hardware or
fixturing can be used, such as a wire divider, without shelf engaging portion
110 being in the
way. In particular, length 140 is substantially the same as length 132 of
channel 114. One of the
ribs 120 is located within length 138 of shelf engaging portion 110 and the
other of the ribs 120
is located within length 140 of shelf engaging portion 110. In this way, the
ribs 120 do not
extend for the same length, but extend the entire length of shelf engaging
portion 110 whether
that length is length 138 or length 140. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, each
rib 120 forms a
concave depression relative to a top surface 142 of shelf engaging portion
110. Likewise, each
rib 120 forms a convex bump relative to a bottom surface 144 of shelf engaging
portion 110.
[0034] FIG. 5 illustrates mounting bracket 106 and brush 108 being assembled
together. In FIG.
5, the elongated brush 108 is inserted into an extrusion channel in the
mounting bracket 106. The
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two units slide together to form an integrated brush assembly prior to
attaching to a shelving
system.
[0035] Further and as illustrated in FIG. 6, shelf engaging portion 110
includes a depth 145.
Together downward depending portion 112 and brush support portion 114 includes
a height 147
and between distal ends 119 of bristles 118 and a bottom of brush support
portion 114 includes a
distance 149. In one embodiment, depth 145 of shelf engaging portion 110 is
about 3.75 inches,
height 147 of downward depending portion 112 and brush support portion 114 is
approximately
1.44 inches and distance 149 between the bottom of brush support portion 114
and distal ends
119 of bristles 118 is about 1.25 inches. Therefore, the distance from the
underside of a shelf that
shelf engaging portion 110 is mounted to distal ends 119 of bristles 118 must
be great enough so
that distal ends 119 of bristles 118 are lower than a top edge of the objects
or products to which it
is to engage. In one embodiment, this dimension is about 2.69 inches given the
recited
dimensions of height 147 and distance 149. However, this dimension can be
other values as long
as the distal ends 119 of bristles 118 engage with a top end of bound media.
[0036] Shelf engaging portion 110 also includes a plurality of apertures 146
as illustrated in
FIGS. 2-5. Each aperture 146 is configured to receive a fastener for mounting
shelf engaging
portion or horizontal section 110 to the underside of a shelf. Performing the
step of mounting
will be described in detail below.
[0037] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a display fixture 200 according to
another embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a section view of base or mounting bracket 206 of display fixture
200. FIG. 10 is a top
view and FIG. 11 is a front view of mounting bracket 206 of display fixture
200. FIG. 12 is a
profile view of display fixture 200 and FIG. 13 is a section view of brush
108. Display fixture
200 includes a mounting bracket 206 and a brush 208. The embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 8
shows that bracket 206 is elongated and has plural mounting slots 246 used to
attach it to a shelf.
[0038] With reference to FIG. 9, bracket 206 is a plastic extrusion. It is
generally a right-angled
bracket having a horizontal portion 210 and a vertical portion 212. Horizontal
portion 210 is
attached to the underside of a shelf using a slot 246 in bracket 206. Slot 246
is located in a
recessed portion 247 that provides clearance for fasteners. At the lower end
of vertical portion
212 is a brush channel 214 formed for receiving spine 216 of elongated brush
208 (illustrated in
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FIGS. 8, 12 and13). The length of bracket 206 is generally coextensive with
the width of a shelf
to which bracket 206 is to be attached.
[0039] FIG. 10 provides a view of the horizontal portion 210 of the bracket
extrusion 206
showing the three mounting slots 246. The brush mounting channel 214 is
visible in phantom
lines. FIG. 11 shows a front view of the vertical portion 212 of mounting
bracket 206. This view
also shows the location of the elongated brush mounting channel 214 in phantom
lines.
[0040] FIG. 12 is a profile view drawing of mounting bracket 206 and brush
208. In particular,
FIG. 12 shows brush 208 engaged with the brush mounting channel 214 formed
into mounting
bracket extrusion 206.
[0041] FIG. 13 is a section view drawing of brush 208. The elongated brush
embodiment is
fabricated using a row of nylon bristles 218 that are wrapped about a wire
spindle 274. Bristles
218 are held in place on spindle 274 using a formed spine 216 that is crimped
about spindle 274.
In this illustrative embodiment, spine 216 is formed from aluminum. However,
other metal and
non-metal materials can be used. The length of bristles 218 is selected to
provide adequate
engagement with objects or products to be displayed in light of the
incremental shelf spacing of
the shelving system to which it is applied.
[0042] FIG. 14 illustrates a front view of a portion of display fixture 100 as
mounted to an
underside of a shelf 300 and engaged with objects or products 304, such as
bound media, which
are being supported by shelf 302. Objects or products 304 are placed on shelf
302 and slid
toward the back of shelf 302. As bound media 304 are being slid to the back, a
portion or top of
the objects or products 304 engage with bristles 118 of brush 108. This
engagement causes the
bristles 118 in the area where the objects or products 304 contact the
bristles to separate and fan
on either side of the portion of the bound media 304 that engages bristles
118. In this way, while
most bristles 118 remain depending downwardly and oriented substantially
normal to shelf 300,
the bristles 118 that engage with bound media 304 are oriented in directions
that are other than
substantially normal to shelf 300.
[0043] FIG. 15A illustrates a perspective view of mounting display fixture 100
to an underside
403 of a shelf 400 on a freestanding shelf system or gondola display unit 401.
FIG. 15B
illustrates an enlarged perspective view of a portion of FIG. 15A. More
specifically, FIG. 15B
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illustrates a front corner of freestanding shelf system or gondola display
unit 401. Gondola
display unit 401 includes a back wall 450, a pair of uprights 451 and 452 that
are slotted, a base
453 with an integrated base deck 454 and a plurality of shelves 456a, 456b,
456c and 456d
placed at incremental heights along the slotted uprights 451 and 452. Although
display fixture
100 can be mounted to the underside of any or all of the plurality of shelves
456 of gondola
display unit 401, display fixture 100 is illustrated in FIG. 15A and 15B as
being mounted to
underside 403 of upper shelf 456a on gondola display unit 401.
[0044] Each shelf 456 and more specifically the upper shelf 456a includes at
least one row of a
plurality of apertures or perforated holes 458 that that are located across
shelf 456a and formed
therethrough. Such perforations are common in retail, commercial and
industrial shelving
systems. In addition, each shelf 456a, 456b, 456c and 456d includes a front
edge that has a price
label channel 460. Price label channel 460 is configured to receive price
labels or price label strip
holders for holding price labels. The price labels are indicative of a price
of the goods that are to
be placed on shelves 456. More specifically, the price labels are indicative
of a price of the
objects or products to be displayed, such as bound media 24 or 304, and are to
be placed on
shelves 456a, 456b, 456c and 456d.
[0045] Before stocking shelves 456a with objects or products, display fixture
100 is mounted to
the undersides of shelves 456 or more specifically underside 403 of upper
shelf 456a. To do this,
top surface 142 is placed in contact with underside 403 of upper shelf 456a
such that that brush
108 of display fixture 100 is located towards the back wall 450 of gondola
display unit 401.
Apertures 146 in shelf engaging portion 110 are aligned with select apertures
458 in shelf 456a.
[0046] Fasteners 462 are inserted through select apertures or perforated holes
458 in shelf 456a
and through apertures 146 in shelf engaging portion 110 to secure display
fixture 100 to shelf
456a. Apertures 146 provide for a degree of adjustment in the position of
mounting bracket 106.
In one embodiment and as illustrated in FIG. 15B, fasteners 462 are screws
having wing nuts.
The steps for mounting display fixture 100 as described in this paragraph can
be repeated for
each shelf 456a, 456b, 456c and 456d on gondola display unit 401 so that all
shelves on gondola
display unit 401 except for upper shelf 456a can receive objects or products
that will stand in an
upward orientation for display. After all display fixtures 100 are mounted,
the objects or products
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can be placed on each shelf 456a, 456b, 456c and 456d. Upon placing the
objects or products, a
portion of bristles will engage with the tops of the objects or products to
hold the objects or
products in an upward direction.
[0047] FIG. 16 illustrates a perspective view of mounting display fixture or
brush assembly 100
to an underside of shelf 456b on freestanding shelf system or gondola display
unit 401. Display
fixture or brush assembly 100 is fastened to the underside of upper shelf 456b
using threaded
fasteners 462 that engage with holes 458 perforated through the shelf
material. A display fixture
or brush assembly 100 is applied to each upper shelf 456a, 456b, 456c and
456d. As used herein,
an "upper" shelf is one that has another shelf below it, and a "lower" shelf
is one that has another
shelf above it. Thusly, it can be appreciated that the shelves function
cooperatively, and that base
deck 454 would never be an upper shelf, and top shelf 456a would never be a
lower shelf.
[0048] In FIG. 16, each of shelves 456a, 456b, 456c and 456d have a display
fixture or brush
assembly 100 attached to its lower surface or underside adjacent the front of
the shelf.
Exemplary objects or products, such as 3-ring binders 404 rest on shelf 456d.
Shelf 456c has a
brush 108 disposed below its lower surface, which acts to engage the upper
edge of each binder
404. As the binders 404 are pushed onto shelf 456d, the upper edge of the
sidewalls of the
binders spread the bristles of brush 208 apart to pass therethrough. Once in
place, bristles 118
resist the binders 404 from tipping side-to-side and maintain the binder 404
in a substantially
vertical orientation. Since brush 108 is disposed across substantially the
entire width of the
shelves, binders 404 can be inserted at any location along the width of the
shelf and still benefit
from the lateral support. In addition, it does not matter what the width is of
each object or
product. In this example, the binders 404 can be one-inch, two-inch, three-
inch or a mixture
thereof and brush 108 would still function to support the objects or products.
[0049] A method of displaying objects or products is described below with
reference to display
fixture 100, however, the method can also apply to display fixture 200.
Display fixture 100 is
provided that includes brush 108 having elongated spine 116 that is slid into
brush support
portion 114 of base 106. To slide elongated spine 116 into brush support
portion 114, the right
side or the left side of elongated spine 116 is inserted into either the right
side of the left side of
brush support portion 114. More specifically and as illustrated in FIGS. 2-4
and 7-8, the ends of
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brush support portion 114 are temporarily open. In this way, elongated spine
116 can be inserted
into and pulled through the channel until the right side and the left side of
the elongated spine
116 are in alignment with the right side and the left side of brush support
portion 114.
[0050] Shelf engaging portion 110 of base 106 is mounted to an underside of a
shelf as described
in detail above. The objects or products, such as objects 204, 304 or 404, are
placed on a second
shelf located directly below the first shelf by engaging distal ends 119 of
the plurality of flexible
bristles 118 with a top of the objects or products. In this way, each display
fixture 100 that is
mounted to the underside of a select shelf is actually for use with objects or
products that are to
be placed on the shelf directly below the select shelf. In addition, placing
objects or products on
a second shelf means that a bottom of the objects or products is in contact
with the second shelf
and the top of the objects or products is engaged with distal ends 119 of the
bristles 118.
[0051] Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to
structural features
and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter
defined in the appended
claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described
above. Rather, the
specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of
implementing the
claims.
