Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
13~ 7
--1--
~EADER YOR MERCHANDISE DISPLAY FIXTURE
AND SIGN ASSEMBLY THEREFOR
SPECIFICATION
The present invention relates to a display
5 fixture or unit for displaying merchandise, such as
for instance, greeting cards, and more particularly
relates to header structure for the top of such
display Ullit, with the header beiny adapted to mount
thereon a sign or signs such as an advertising or
10 caption sigrl.
BACKGROUND OF T~E INVENTION
Various types of article display units
or fixtures, are well known in the prior art. For
example, it is known in the art to provide what are
15 called "spinner type" display units which consist of
a column or columns mounting rotatable merchandise
display shelve~ thereon, with such shelves having
upwardly facing pockets for receiving and displaying
merchandise therein, such as for instance, greeting
20 cards. These display units, known in the art as
aforementioned as "spinners" conventionally have a
"header" mounted adjacent the upper end of the
column or columns of the display unit, and such
headers conventionally include thereon caption or
25 advertising indicia.
However, the mounting of signs on such
prior art headers has generally consisted of
fastening a sign embodying caption indicia to the
header, and the a~ility to rapidly mount a sign onto
30 the header alld to rapidly remove and/or change the
13(~89~`7
--2--
sign on the header in the event of desire or
necessity to change the sign, has not, to
applicants' knowledge, heretofore generally been
available to users of the displa~ unit.
5 SU~ARY OF TIE INVENTION
The present invention provides a header
of arcuate configuration in plan, for a merchandise
display fixture or unit, which header includes
track strl~ctore thereon which enables the expeditious
10 threadil-g an~i self directing of a flexible strip
si(~n into the track structure, for mounting the
sign on the }~eader, and for likewise changiny the
sign on the header, or removing the sign from the
header, if it is desired to change the content of the
15 advertising or the caption on the header sign. Also,
the header is initially formed in half sections
which are subsequently disposed in stacked back-to-
back relation with one another and fastened together
along a generally horizontal juncture plane, as by
20 adhesive, or by heat or other suitable bonding
procedures, to forM tlle complete header for the
merchandise display fixture.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a novel header for a merchandise
25 display fixture or unit.
Another object of the invention is to
provide a header which is comprised of half sections
of generally the sarne or identical structure able to
be disposed in stacked relationship with one another
30 along a generally horizolltal juncture plane, and
13~8~
--3--
enabling expeditious alignment and securement of
the two stacked header sections to one another, to
form the complete header, so that the latter can be
utilized in a merchalldise display unit.
~ still further object of the invention
is to provide a header arrangement of the afore-
discussed type which includes thereon track
structure which when the header half sections are
secured or coupled together, provides vertically
10 spaced tracks adapted to receive therein in self
directing relatiorl flexible strip sign means for
mounting the sign means on the header, and wherein
tne sign means can be rapidly threaded into the
tracks for mounting of the sign means, and just as
15 rapidly changed, or completely removed from the
tracks.
A still further object of the invention
is to provide a header of the aforedescribed type
which includes vertical openings extending there-
20 through, for permi~ting light to pass onto theunderlying merchandise displayed in the fixture,
and wherein the header also may provide for
facilitating removal of merchandise from the upper-
most merchandise receiving pockets of the merchandise
25 holding shelves on the display fixture.
~ still further object of the invention
is to provide a novel Merchandise display fixture
which embodies an upright column thereon, and
merchandise receiving shelf members spaced
30 vertically along the column, with at least certain
13C~ 7
--4--
of the shelf members each including an upwardly
opening pocket therein adapted for receiving and
displaying merchandise therein, such as for
instance, greeting cards, and wherein the display
5 fixture includes a header mounted 0!1 the column
above th~ shelf members, with the header having
means th~reon for expeditiously mounting a flexible
strip sign by providing for threading the sign into
the sign mounting means on the header, and just as
10 expeditiously providing for movement of the sign
relative to the header, or complete removal of
the sign from the header, in order to change the
sign format.
A still further object of the invention
15 is to provide a header of the aforedescribed type
which can be mass produced from plastic material,
utilizing known vacuum molding processes, and
wherein shipping of the header is facilitated.
Other objects and advantages of the
20 invention will be apparent from the following
description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
_
FIGURE 1 is 2 generally diagramrnatic,
25 front perspective view of a "spinner type" display
fixture including a header er~odying the invention,
a number of the conventional individually rotatable
shelf members on the columns have been deleted in
the FIGURE 1 showing,
FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of
~3~ 7
--5--
one of the half sections of the header structure
illustrated in FIGURE 1, which is adapted to be
dispose~ in stacked rel~tion with another like half
section along a generally horizontal juncture plane
5 and secured to one another, to form the complete
header
FIGURE 3 is an end view of the header half
section of FIGURE 2 taken from the left hand end
thereof,
FIGURE ~ is an end view of the header l-alf
section of E`IGURE 2 taken from the right hand end
thereof:
FIGURE 5 iS a sectional view taken
generally along the plane of line 5-5 of FIGURE 2
15 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view
taken generally along the plane of line 6-6 of
FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, sectional view
20 taken generally along the plane of line 7-7 of
FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIGURE 8 iS a fragmentary, sectional view
taken generally along the plane of line 8-8 of
FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIGURE 9 iS a fragmentary, sectional view
taken generally along the plane of line 9-9 of
~IGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIGURE 10 iS a perspective illustration
showing the threading of a flexible strip sign into
30 the verticall.y spaced tracks commencing with the
central circular section of the header structure of
FIGURES 1-9:
13~ i 7
--6--
FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10
but showing self directing progress of one embodiment
of sign about the periphery of the central section of
the header structure with the sign ~eing slidably
S movable via the tracks from the central section ~nto
an adjacent header section (in this instance the
right hand header section);
FIGURE 12 is a top plan view of another
embodiment of header structure utilizing only two
10 circular header sections connected together at
their peripheries, rather than the three connected
sections shown in FIGURES 1-11;
FIGURE 13 is a sectional view taken
generally along the plane of line 13-13 of
15 FIGURE 12 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary, sectional view
taken qenerally along the plane of line 14-14 of
FIGURE 12 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary, sectional view
20 taken generally along the plane of line 15-15 of
FIGURE 12 looking in the direction of the arrows,
FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary, sectional view
taken generally along the plane of line 16-16 of
FIGURE 12 looking in the direction of the arrows,
FIGURE 17 iS a fragmentary, sectional view
taken generally along the plane of line 17-17 of
FIGURE l? looking in the direction of the arrows;
FlGURE 18 is a perspective view of the
header of FIGURES 12-17, from the top thereof;
FIGURE 19 is a generaily front elevational
l3a~8~ia 7
--7--
view of the header of FIGURES 12-18, and as mounted
on a pair of columns of a merchandise display unit,
which may be of the aforementioned "spinner type"
display unit,
FIGURE 20 is a top plan view of a further
embodiment of header for a merchandise display unit,
utilizing a single circular portion having arcuate
txack means thereoll for threadin~ly receiving and
moun~ing in self directin~3 relation a flexible strip
10 sign;
FIGURE 21 is a sectional view taken
generally along the plane of line 21-21 of FIGURE 20
looking in the direction of the arrows:
YIGU~E 22 is a fragmentary, sectional view
15 taken generally along the plane of line 22-22 of
FIGURE 20 looking i. the direction of the arrow.s,
FIGURE 23 is a fragmentary, sectional view
taken generally along the plane of line 23-23 of
FIGURE 20 looking in the direction of the arrows:
FIGURE 24 is a fraqmentary, sectional view
taken generally along the plane of line 24-24 of
FIGURE 2~ looking itl the direction of the arrows;
FIGU~ 25 is a diagrarnmatic perspective
view of a three section header of the type of
25 FIGURES 1-11, illustrating the threading of a
flexible strip sign into the receiviny tracks on the
right hand header section, for mourlting of the
associated sign on that header section;
FI~URE 26 is a fragrnerltary, perspective
30 view illustrating the commencement of insertion of a
13(;~ 7
--8--
fillet member into the tracks, at the connection
between two adjacent header sections which have
already had individual signs mounted thereon, for
giving tlle general appearance of one continuous
5 sign to the front of the header assembly in the
manner illustrated in FIGURE 1, with such fillet
also hidinq the connection structure between the
header sections,
FI~URE 27 is a broken front elevational
10 view of a flexible strip sign having a plurality of
different type, spaced, advertising or caption indicia
thereon, for use with the headers of FIGURES 1-26; and
FIGURE 28 is a broken elevational view of
a strip sign illustrating another embodiment thereof,
15 and wherein all of the spaced advertizing or caption
indicia thereon are the same type or style.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND
ALTERNATE ~.~ODIMENTS
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Re~erring now again to the drawings, and
20 particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof, there is
illustrated a merchandise display fixture or unit
10, which in the embodiment illustrated is of the
"spinner" type and comprised of three columns 12,
14 and 16, each of which extends upwardly from a
25 respective base portion 18, and which have a
plurality of merchandise receiving members or
shelves 20 disposed vertically along the
respective column. Each shelf 20 in the embodiment
illustrated, comprises upwardly opening pocket
30 structure 22 which is adapted to receive therein
merchandise for display, such as for instance
greeting cards 22a shown in phantom in FIGURE 1.
13(~ 7
g
Shelves 20 are preferably rotatable in generally
horizontal planes with respect to the associated
column for making readily accessible to the front
of the merchandise display unit, the various
5 pockets of merchandise on a respective shelf.
Conventionally, a merchandise display
unit may have vertically spaced shelves extending
from close to the base 18 thereof all the way up to
adjacent tl~e upper end of the display unit, and
10 rel~tively ~lose to the header stru-ture 24 mounted
on the top of the columns 12, 14 and 16, and as
illustrated in FIGURE 1. However, for ease and
simplicity of illustration, only a few of the
shelves conventionally mounted on the column or
15 columns are illustrated in FIGURE 1.
Header structure 24, with which the
invention is particularly concerned, comprises, in
the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1, three,
arcuate in plan (circular in the embodiment
20 illustrated FIGURES 2, 10 and 11) sections 24a,
24b and 24c which are connected together by
connecting portions 26 at predetermined peripheral
locations on the header sections, to form the total
header. Each header section 24a, 24b or 24c is
25 associated with a respective column 12, 14 or 16 of
the display unit, and has peripheral track 28
extending thereabout, and communicating at the
connecting portions 26, with the tracks 28 on the
other header sections.
Referring now particularly to FIGURE 2,
it will be understood that FIGURES 2-9 illustrate only
one half section 29 of the total header structure, with
-10-
the complete header structure being illustrated in
FlGURES 1 and 10 and 11. Thus, to form the total
or complete header structure illustrated in FIGURES 1
and 10 and 11, two of the header half sections 29
5 illustrated in FIGURES 2-9 are utilized in stacked,
back-to-back relation with respect to one another
alo!lq a g~neral horizolltal ahutment plar-e X-X and
then such upper al~d lower stackecl half header
sectio!ls ar~ secured to ol)e another by a~y suitable
1~ Ill~'a!~S, to torm ~he complete header. FIGURES 10 and 11
as aforemen~iosed illustrate the comp'ete header
comprised of two of the header half sections 29
of FIGURES 2-9 having been fastened to one another
in stacked hack-to-back relation along the afore-
15 mentioned abutmellt or juncture plane X X. Suchfasteniry of the }-eader half sections can be
accomplisl-ed by any suita~le means as for instance,
adhesive means, or by heat bonding or heat welding,
all of which are known in the art. The header half
20 sections may be expeditiously formed and mass
produced for installce, by vacuum molding of suitable
known plastic or plastics and which has been found
to be an e~pe(3itious method of producing the header.
As can be best seen in FIGURES 2-11, each
25 circular header section 24a, 24b or 24c of each half
section 29 comprises a formed cel~tral spindle 30
which is adapted to be received interiorly of the
upper hollow end of the associated column in mounting
the header on t}-e columns in the merchandise display
30 unit illustrat~d in FIGUR~ 1. The base or back wall 32
13~9G~
--11--
of each of the arcuate header sections is provided with
openinqs 34 therein which permits light to pass through
the header structure onto the underlying merchandise
in the pockets 22 of shelves 20, and the formed
5 hollow recess 35 in the lower half section of the
complete header facilitates the removal of the merchan-
dise from the pockets 22 and more particularly the
merchandise in those upper shelves of the merchandise
display unit which are ~enerally immediately adjacent
lO the bottom o~ the header, and as will be hereinafter
described in ~reater detail. Radially extending
hollow ribs 36 may be provided on back wall 32 and
in recess 35 of each header section, for strengthening
purposes. Such ribs may open to the exterior surfaces
15 of the respective header section, as at 37 (FIG. lO).
Each header half section 29 as illustrated
in FIGURE 2, preferably has a projection 38 formed
on one of its outer arcuate sections (and in the
embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2 is formed on
20 the right hand section 24c) and also a complementary
sized recess 40 formed in the other outer arcuate
section ~and in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE
2 on the left hand circular section 24a). When a
pair of the header half sections 29 (one of which is
25 shown in FIGU~ES 2-9) are assembled with one another
in back-to-back stacked relationship, to form the
complete header, the projection 38 on the lower
half section 29 of the complete header will be
received in the recess 40 on the upper half section
30 29, while the projection 3~ on the upper half section
will be received in the recess 40 in the lower half
13~9~7
-12-
section, for aligning the stacXed header half sections
with respect to one another during the attachment there-
cf together. As aforementioned, this attachment may
be conveniently accomplished by utilization of adhesive
or by conventional heat bonding and/or heat riveting
methods known in the art, for securing together molded
plastic members. In any event, the header half
sections ?9 when so disposed in stacked and secured
relation, form the complete header.
The vertically spaced tracks 28 on the
complete header define upwar~ly and downwardly facing
channels for mounting a flexible strip sign e.g. 42
or 42' (FIGURES 1, 10, 27 and 28) on the header. Such
sign may be formed of any suitable material, such as
15 for instance flexible plastic or paper, and has
imprinted or embodied thereon advertising or caption
indicia, such as for instance the caption groups 44,
46 and 48 best illustrated in FIGURES 1, 27 and 28.
The tracks or channels 28 are slotted as at 50 prefer-
20 ably adjacent the junctures of the connecting portions26 with the circular header sections, so that the
flexible sign 42 or 42' can be conveniently threaded
into one header section and slidingly moved along the
track structure 28, with one of the caption indicia
25 on the respective sign being adapted to be positioned
at a frontal showing location on the respective header
section of the merchandise display unit, for advertis-
ing, for instance, the type or the origin of merchan-
dise being displayed in the shelves 20 of the
30 respective section of the display unit.
13~891~I7
-13-
It will be understood that a sign e.g. 42'
can be associated with each individual header section
with such sign embodying thereon a plurality of spaced
identical type advertising or caption indicia groups
5 thereon (FIG. 28) so that the same indicia is located
at spaced locations on the periphery of the header,
or the sign may have a plurality of different type
spa-ed advertising or caption indicia groups thereon
(e.g. FIG. 27) so that the caption indicia that is
10 positioned to appear on the front of the respective
hea~3er section, can be changed by moving the sign
slidingly along the tracks on the respective circular
section. In other words, if the caption indicia 48
(FIG. 27) was initially fronting on the respective
15 header section and it was desired to change such
advertising or caption indicia to say for instance,
the caption indicia 44, the sign may be manually
slidingly moved in its track structure on its respec-
tive header section until such caption indicia 44 is
20 positioned to appear at the front of the merchandise
display unit on the respective header section. Also
of course the entire siyn could be changed by thread-
ing it out of the respective header section and
replacing it with a new sign having a different
25 caption indicia thereon.
It will be noted especially from FIGURES
10 and 11, that the track or channel structure 28 on
the header extend about each individual arcuate
header section and also are connected as at 51 at
30 the connecting portions 26 of the header. Accordingly,
13~g~7
-14-
it is possible to provide one long single strip sign,
with a plurality of spaced advertising or caption
indicia thereon and to thread the sign into a pair
of the spaced slots S0 on the header and then move
5 such single sign about all of the header sections until
the desired advertising or caption indicia group
appears at the front of the respective section of the
header of the merchandise display unit. It will be
understood therefore that it is not absolutely neces-
10 sary to hav~ three separate signs for header sections?4a, ?4b or ?4c, but that one sign with the adequate
grouping of advertising or caption indicia thereon
could be utili~ed for presenting three indicia group-
ings on the sign facing forwardly to the front of the
15 merchandise display unit of FIGURE 1, while providing
for selectively changing such forwardly presented
indicia by sliding the sign lengthwise of the retain-
ing channels 28, until frontal presentation of other
desired caption indicia on the sign is accomplished.
20 However each header section may have its own individual
sign of the type for instance shown in FIGURE 28 wherein
the spaced caption indicia are of the same type.
Each header section 24a, 24b, 24c preferably
embodies sign locating projections or markings 55
25 thcrcon (FI~,S. 7, 3, 10 and 11) which are adapted for
alignment with markings or indicia 55a (FIGS. 27 and
28) on the signs to provide a mechanical means for
proper positioning of the caption groups on the sign,
so that such caption groups face forwardly of the
30 respe^tive header section, without the necessity for
visual orientation by the installer.
13~9~7
It will be noted that the aforementioned
connecting portions 26 on each half section 29 of
the header comprise in the embodiment illustrated, an
embossment 54 which has concave-like exterior defining
5 side surfaces 54a and concave, defining end surfaccs
54b with sush side surfaces and end surfaces being
in general alignment with the associated track means,
for aiding in guidin~ the travel of the flexible
sign as it moves on the tracks or channels about the
10 periphery of the rcspective header section or between
the header sections.
Referring now to FIGURES 12 through 19, there
is shown another embodiment of the header in which
only a pair of arcuate header sections 24a' and 24b'
15 are provided connected at connecting portion 26'.
This type of header is adapted for being used in a
merchandise display unit which embodies only a pair
of columns for mounting shelves 20 thereon rather
than the triple column arrangement of the FIGURE 1
20 display unit.
The formed spindle 30' on each half section
29' in this embodiment, may be provided with radially
extending external ribs 56 (FIGURES 12 and 13) which
are adapted to pass through complementary openings
25 or slots 5~3 (FIGURE 19) at the upper end of the
respective column 14' and 16' (or in an adapter for
each such column) to interlock the header with the
respective column.
In other respects, this header structure
30 is generally similar to that of the header of the
13~t}7
-16-
first described embodiment of FIGURES 1-11 and like
reference numbers have been utilized to refer to
like structural components. This twin circular
section header structure also el~odies projection 38
5 thereon adapted to be received within a complementary
recess 40 of the stacked back-to-back half sections
29' to form the complete header when the header half
sections ar~ joined or fastened together along a
~enerally horizontal juncture plane X-X as for instance,
10 by m~ans of adhesive or the like. Such joined half
sections provide the vertically spaced tracks 28 for
the complete header and in the same general manner
aforedescriked in connection with the FIGURES 1~11
e~bodiment, such track structure preferably including
15 the slots 50 therein for threading thereinto a
flexible strip sign to present advertising or caption
indicia facing forwardly on the merchandise display
unit and for each header section of the header.
Referring now to FIGURES 20~24 there is
20 shown a further embodiment of header wherein only a
single arcuate header section is utilized rather than
the paired grouping or the triple section grouping of
the first described embodiments. FIGURES 20-24, of
course, illustrate only a half header section 29",
25 with the complete header being formed by utilizing a
pair of the half sections illustrated in FIGURES 20-24,
disposed in stacked bacX-to-back relationship, and
joined or connected together along a generally
horizontal plane X-X to form the complete header.
13(~ 7
-17-
~ his embodiment of header as illustrated
also includes ribs 56 on the spindle 30' thereof,
similarly to the FIGURES 12-19 embodiment, and liXewise
in_lucles a projecting portion 38 and a recess portion
5 40 formed thereon, adapted for coaction with the
respective recess and projecting portion on the other
header half section when assembled along the afore-
mentioned generally horizontal juncture plane, for
aligning the stacked upper and lower half sections
10 29" with respect to one another prior to their being
attached, to form the complete header~
Referring now to FIGURES 25 and 26, there
is illustrated in FIGUR~ 25, the insertion of a
flexible strip sign,(e.q. 42'), into the right hand
15 header section of a three section group header (of the
type for instance of FIGURES 1-11) subsequent to having
already inserted a strip sign 42' into the central
header section, and showing one possible entry route
into the tracks 28.
In order to give an improved appearance to
the advertising or caption indicia and the associated
sign structure on the header, aq shown in FIGURE 26,
a flexible fillet member 60 may be inserted into
the track structure at each of the connector portions
25 26 between each header section, so that at least from
the front of the merchandise display unit, the sign
mounted on each individual section of the header will
appear to be smoothly continuous about the arcuate
header configuration, with such fillet member 60 also
30 concealing the connecting structure embossments 54.
13l~
The continuous tracks 28 which extend about the
respective header section and across the associated
connecting ~ortions 26 provide for mounting and
rctaining each applied fillet member 60 in position
S at the respective connecting por~ion 26.
~ eferring now again particuarly to FIGURE 1,
it will be seen that when it is desired to remove
merchandise from the pockets 22 in the shelves 20
lying immediately beneath the header structure of
10 ~he display unit, the merchandise can be raised
upwardly into the overlying recess 35 in the respective
section of the lower half 29 of the header structure,
in order to clear the associated shelf structure, and
then the merchandise can be moved laterally and down-
15 wardly for complete removal from the display unit.
From the foregoing discussion and accompany-
ing drawings it will be seen that the invention pro-
vides novel header arrangements for merchandise
display fixtures or units, which header arrangements
20 include track structure thereon enabling the expeditiou~
threading in generally self directing relation, of a
flexible strip sign into the track structure, for
mounting the sign on the header, and for likewise chang-
ing the caption or advertising indicia of the sign on
25 the respective header section, or removing the sign
from the header if it is desired to completely change
the content of the advertising or caption indicia on
the header sign.
The sign may have a plurality of different
30 type advertising indicia groups thereon, so that
~3~39Ci7
--19--
selected groups can be presented to the frontal side
of the header by sliding the sign relative to the
retaining track structure on the header, thus elimi-
nating the necessity of completely removing a sign
5 from the header if a change in the merchandise being
displayed in the merchandise display unit is made, or
the sign may have all the same type or style of indicia
groups disposed in spaced relation thereon for use
with a selected header section.
The invention also provides a header which
is initially formed in half sections with such half
sections being su~sequently disposed in stacked back-
to-back relation with respect to one another, and
then fastened together along a generally horizontal
15 juncture plane, as by means of adhesive or other
suitable bonding procedures, to form the complete
header for the merchandise display fixture.
The invention also provides a header of the
aforementioned type which includes means thereon for
20 aligning the header half sections with respect to one
another in said horizontal plane prior to accomplishing
attachment of the same together, thus facilitating
the assembly of the half sections to form the complete
header.
The header may also include vertical
openings extending therethrough for permitting light
to pass onto the underlying merchandise displayed in
the fi.Yture, and wherein underside recess areas in
the molded header facilitates the remo~al of merchan-
30 dise from the uppermost merchandise displaying shelves
13(~
-20-
on the merchandise display unit, by providing clearance
for the merchandise to be raised upwardly into the
interior recess space of the header, and then by moving
the merchandise laterally of the shelf members, it
5 is moved out of interfering relationship with and past
the respective shelf member.
The specific indicia on the header signs
used with ~he multi-sectioned headers are physically
separated yet retain a "family" look through the use
10 of the arcuate shape of the grouped sections of the
multi-sectioned headers.
The terms and expressions which have been
used are used as terms of description and not of
limitation, and there is no intention in the use of
15 such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents
of any of the features shown or described, or portions
thereof, and it is recognized that various modifications
are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.
