Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CONSUMER PRODUCT MERCHANDISING RACKING SYSTEM
BACKGROUND
1. Field
The present disclosure relates to merchandising systems, and more particularly
to racking
systems for displaying merchandise in retail settings.
2. Description of Related Art
Traditional merchandizing of products in a retail setting often involves
shelving systems
that allow consumers to browse the products, e.g. in an aisle of a retailer,
and remove products
from the shelving systems for purchase. Some traditional shelfing units are
peunanent fixtures
such as a gondola or rack with smaller shelves held by the gondola or rack.
The conventional techniques have been considered satisfactory for their
intended
purpose. However, there is an ever present need for improved systems and
methods for
merchandising and the like. This disclosure provides a solution for this need.
1
SUMMARY
A system includes a rear frame assembly having a plurality of rear mount
assemblies
configured to mount the rear frame assembly to a rack. A foot extends from a
base of the rear
frame assembly for supporting the rear frame assembly in an upright position
from a floor. At
least one shelf is mounted to the rear frame assembly.
The rack can be included, wherein the rear mount assemblies mount the rear
frame
assembly to the rack. The rack can include a first bay and a second bay,
wherein the rear frame
assembly is a first rear frame assembly and is mounted in the first bay, and
further comprising a
second rear frame assembly with a rear mount assembly mounting the second rear
frame
assembly in the second bay. The second rear frame assembly can be mounted to
the rack,
wherein a vertical beam of the first rear frame assembly is mounted to the
rack proximate to
where a vertical beam of the second rear frame assembly is mounted to the rack
to faun an
interior column between two rear columns of the rack. The second rear frame
assembly can
include at least one shelf mounted thereto, wherein each shelf has a corner
notch accommodating
the interior column. Each shelf can also have a corner notch accommodating a
respective outer
vertical column of one of the first or second rear support frame assemblies.
Each shelf can have a respective back connection mounted to the rear frame
assembly
and a front end opposite the back connection that is cantilevered from the
back connection
without being mounted to the rack. The shelf can be mounted directly to the
rear frame assembly
while not being mounted directly to a front vertical column of the rack
opposite the rear frame
assembly. The shelf assembly can include between one and six shelves,
inclusive. It is also
contemplated that the shelf assembly can include four shelves evenly spaced
apart by a constant
vertical span. A lowest one of the four shelves can be spaced above the first
foot to provide a
2
lower bay, wherein the lower bay has a height taller than the constant
vertical span by which he
shelves are evenly spaced apart. A floor skid can be positioned in the lower
bay under the lowest
one of the shelves. The floor skid can include an overhanging lateral edge
adjacent the first foot
that accommodates the first foot. Each of the shelves can be angled downward
in a direction
proceeding from the rear frame assembly toward where the shelves are mounted
to the rack for
gravity feeding product toward consumers. Each of the shelves can include a
roller surface to
facilitate gravity feeding the product toward the consumers. The shelves can
be mounted to the
rear frame assembly, wherein each shelf in the plurality of shelves has a
respective back
connection directly mounting the shelf to the rear frame assembly, and a front
connection
directly mounting the shelf to the rack.
At least one respective front fence can mount each respective one of the at
least one shelf
of the first rear frame assembly to a respective one of the at least one shelf
of the second rear
frame assembly. The at least one respective front fence can be mounted to the
respective shelves
on a front shelf edge opposite the first and second rear frame assemblies. The
front fence can
include a main strip and a pair of polymer strips, one polymer strip for each
respective shelf,
wherein the polymer strips are sandwiched between their respective shelves and
the main strip.
It is also contemplated that the front fence can include a main strip directly
mounted to the
respective shelves and a wire hoop structure attached to the main strip. The
wire hoop structure
can stand proud from the main strip.
A floor skid includes a skid body defining tapered lateral edges parallel to a
pair of
grooves. The tapered lateral edges define a lower footprint on a common face
with the pair of
grooves that is smaller than an upper load surface opposite the footprint. The
pair of grooves are
3
configured to accommodate tines of a forklift or hand truck. The skid body can
include a frame
of tubing, and a skin surrounding the frame to enclose an interior space.
A method includes mounting a rear frame assembly to a rack, and mounting a
shelf
assembly to the rear frame assembly. The rear frame assembly can be a first
rear frame assembly
and the method can include mounting a second rear mounting frame to the
existing rack next to
the first rear frame assembly. The method can include mounting a respective
shelf assembly to
each of the rear frame assemblies and to the existing rack. It is also
contemplated that the
method can include assembling a respective floor skid below each shelf
assembly.
The method can include mounting a front fence to two adjacent shelves, wherein
one of
the adjacent shelves is part of the first shelf assembly and another one of
the adjacent shelves is
part of the second shelf assembly. The front fence can include a main strip
and the method can
include mounting a wire hoop structure to the front fence, standing proud from
the main strip.
Mounting the wire hoop structure to the front fence can include welding the
wire hoop structure
to the main strip. The method can include bending the wire hoop in a direction
away from the
shelf assemblies, which bending can be perfouned after assembly of the font
fence to the shelves.
Mounting the front fence to the shelves can include using fasteners to join
the front fence to the
shelves.
These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure
will
become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following
detailed description
of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings.
4
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains
will readily
understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject
disclosure without
undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in
detail herein below
with reference to certain figures, wherein:
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a system
constructed in
accordance with the present disclosure, showing the rack ready to receive
installation of the rear
frame assemblies;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the system of Fig. 1, showing the rear frame
assemblies
mounted in the rack;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the system of Fig. 1, showing the floor skids
in place
beneath the shelves;
Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of one of the floor skids of Fig. 3,
showing the
frame of tubing; and
Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the system of Fig. 1, showing front
fences on
the shelves.
5
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals
identify
similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes
of explanation and
illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an embodiment of a system
in accordance with
the disclosure is shown in Fig. 1 and is designated generally by reference
character 100. Other
embodiments of systems in accordance with the disclosure, or aspects thereof,
are provided in
Figs. 2-4, as will be described. The systems and methods described herein can
be used to
provide retail display of product, making product accessible to consumers in
the retail setting by
gravity fed means wherein there is increased capacity for holding more product
than in
traditional systems.
The system 100 includes a rear frame assembly 102 having a plurality of rear
mount
assemblies 104 and associated fasteners 106 configured to mount the rear frame
assembly 102 to
a rack 108, e.g. an existing rack fixture. A first foot 110 extends from a
first end 112 of the rear
frame 102 at a base 114 of the rear frame 102 for supporting the rear frame
102 in an upright
position from a floor. A second foot 116 extends from a second end 118 of the
rear frame 102
opposite the first end 112, at the base 114 of the rear frame 102 for
supporting the rear frame 102
in an upright position. A shelf assembly 120 includes a plurality of shelves
122 mounted to the
rear frame assembly 102. Each shelf 122 in the plurality of shelves 122 has a
respective back
connection 124 where the shelf 122 is mounted directly to the rear frame
assembly 102. As
shown in Fig. 2, an opposite, front end 126 of the shelf is cantilevered from
the back connection
124, so the front ends 126 of the shelves to not have to be mounted directly
to the rack 108, e.g.,
the front ends 126 do not have to be directly affixed to the adjacent vertical
columns 148 of the
rack 108.
6
With reference now to Fig. 2, the rack 108 can be included, wherein two rear
mount
assemblies 104 and fasteners 106 (shown in Fig. 1), mount the rear frame
assembly 102 to the
rack 108. The rack can, for example, be a permanent fixture defining an aisle
in a retail space,
for example. The rack 108 can include a first bay 128 and a second bay 130. A
second rear
frame assembly 102, similar to that described above, can be mounted in the
second bay 130 with
a respective rear mount assembly 104. The second rear frame assembly 102 can
be mounted to
the rack 108, wherein a vertical beam 132 of the first rear frame 102 assembly
is mounted to the
rack 108 proximate to where a vertical beam 134 of the second rear frame
assembly 102 is
mounted to the rack 108 to foim an interior column 136 between two rear
columns 138 of the
rack. Each of the rear frame assemblies 102 is mounted to a top cross beam 140
and to a bottom
cross beam 142 (i.e. with the respective rear mount assemblies 104 and
associated fasteners 106)
to form the interior column 136. The remaining rear mount assemblies 104 mount
the outer
vertical beams 134, 136 of the respective rear frame assemblies 102 to the
cross beams 140, 142
of the rack 108. The shelf assemblies 120 each include a plurality of shelves
122 in each of the
first and second bays 128, 130. Each shelf 122 has a corner notch 144 (labeled
in Fig. 1)
accommodating the interior column 136. Each shelf 122 also has a corner notch
146 (labeled in
Fig. 1) accommodating a respective outer vertical column or beam 134, 136 of
the respective
rear support frame assemblies 102. The shelf assemblies 120 can each be
mounted directly to
the respective rear frame assembly 102 and directly to a front vertical column
148 of the rack
108 opposite the rear frame assemblies 102. If the rack 108 previously
contained hardware such
as shelving units, that existing hardware can be removed in preparation for
installing rear frame
assemblies 102, as indicated schematically in Fig. 1 by the arrow 109.
7
With reference now to Fig. 3, each shelf assembly 120 is shown including four
shelves
122 evenly spaced apart by a constant vertical span S, however, between one to
six shelves can
be accommodated on each rear frame assembly 102, and the spacing between the
shelves does
not necessarily have to be constant. A lowest one of the four shelves 122 is
spaced above the
first and second feet 110 and 116 (visible in Fig. 1) to provide a lower bay
150 in each of the
bays 128, 130. The lower bay 150 has a height H taller than the constant
vertical span S by
which he shelves 126 are evenly spaced apart. A respective floor skid 152 can
be positioned in
each lower bay 150 under the lowest one of the four shelves 122, e.g. where
less than five or six
shelves 122 are assembled onto a given rear frame assembly 102. If five or six
shelves 122 are
assembled onto a given rear frame assembly 102, the floor skid 152 can be
omitted thereunder.
Each floor skid 152 can include an overhanging lateral edge 154 adjacent the
respective foot 110,
116 (foot 116 is visible in Fig. 1) that accommodates the foot 110, 116. Each
of the shelves 122
is angled downward in a direction D proceeding from the rear frame assembly
102 toward the
connection 126 where the shelves 122 are mounted to the rack 108. The
resultant shelf angle 0
(e.g. 6.86 ) of the direction D below the horizontal plane P, indicated
schematically in Fig. 3,
provides for gravity feeding product toward consumers. As consumers remove
product from the
front of the system 100, additional product stocked in shelves 122 is gravity
fed to the front of
the system 100. Each of the shelves includes a smooth surface 156 and/or a
roller surface made
of a plurality of parallel rollers (one roller 159 for which is indicated
schematically in Fig. 3) to
facilitate gravity feeding the product toward the consumers.
With reference now to Fig. 4, the floor skid 152 includes a skid body defining
the tapered
lateral edges 154 parallel to a pair of grooves 158. The tapered lateral edges
154 define a lower
footprint 160 on a common face with the pair of grooves 158 that is smaller
than an upper load
8
surface 162 opposite the footprint 160. The pair of grooves 158 are configured
to accommodate
tines of a forklift or hand truck. The skid body can include a frame 164 of
tubing, e.g. welded
metal tubing, and a skin 166, e.g. of sheet metal, surrounding the frame 164
to enclose an interior
space 166. The metal tubing can be configured for either manual or automated
assembly into the
frame 164 or other suitable structure. Product loaded onto floor skids 152 can
be positioned into
the first and second bays 128 and 130 as indicted in Fig. 3, using a hand
truck, forklift, or the like.
Consumers can remove product from the floor skids 152 in addition to removing
product from
the shelves 122. The skids 150 can each include a pricing channel 168 for
posting a price or
promotional information to consumers.
With reference now to Fig. 5, a respective front fence 170 can mount each
respective
shelf 122 of the first rear frame assembly 102 to a respective one shelves 122
of the second rear
frame assembly 102. In Fig. 5, one of the front fences 170 is shown exploded
away from the
system 100, and three of the front fences 170 are shown mounted to their
respective shelves 122.
Each front fence 170 is mounted to the respective shelves 122 on a front shelf
edge 172 opposite
the first and second rear frame assemblies 102. Pem studs 174 can be used,
mounted in bores in
each front fence 170, which are threaded on the backsides relative to the view
in Fig. 5 to mount
the front fences 170 to the respective shelves 122, e.g. by threading a nut
onto each pem stud 174
after passing the pin studs 174 through respective bores in the shelves 122.
The front fence can
include a main strip 176 and a pair of polymer strips 182, one polymer strip
182 for each
respective shelf 122, wherein the polymer strips 182 are sandwiched between
their respective
shelves 122 and the main strip 182. The polymer strips 182 can be made of
polycarbonate. It is
also contemplated that in lieu of the strips 182, a wire hoop structure 178
can be attached to the
main strip 176. Each wire hoop structure 178 stands proud from its respective
main strip 176.
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Mounting the wire hoop structures 178 to the front fences 170 can include
welding the
wire hoop structure 178 to the respective main strip 176. After assembly of a
hoop structure 178
to its respective main strip 176, and after assembly of the main strip 176 to
its respective shelves
122, the wire hoop structure 178 can be bend in a direction away from the
shelf assemblies 120,
as indicated by the curved arrow in Fig. 5. This bending can leave a bend
angle a of 4 from
vertical in the hoop structure 178 as indicated in Fig. 5. The front fences
170 can help prevent
bowing of the shelves 122 when loaded with product.
The shelves 122 can be mounted to their respective rear frame assembly 102,
wherein
each shelf 122 in the plurality of shelves has a respective back connection
directly mounting the
shelf 122 to the rear frame assembly 102, i.e., the shelves 122 are not
directly connected to the
rack 108 in the back. In the front, a front connection in the faun of the
front supports 180 can
directly mount each shelf to the rack 108, namely to a respective front
vertical column 148 of the
rack 108.
The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and
shown in the
drawings, provide for gravity fed retail display of product. While the
apparatus and methods of
the subject disclosure have been shown and described with reference to
preferred embodiments,
those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or
modifications may be made
thereto without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.
