Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02633953 2008-05-28
TITLE: RETAIL DISPLAY STAND
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to retail display stands and more
particularly to
display stands suitable for selling cosmetics.
Cosmetic products come in a variety of shapes and sizes. This has several
consequences. First, the different sizes tend to create a jumbled appearance
in the aisle.
Second, the different configurations and arrangements of the stands used to
display the
products make it difficult or time consuming to re-organize the product
facings. Thus, in turn,
makes effective merchandising more difficult.
BRIEF SUMMARY
The applicants have developed a new retail display stand that is believed to
be
particularly useful for retailing cosmetics. The new display stand
successfully incorporates a
modular approach that enables retailers to create a more attractive, organized
aisle and to
facilitate the rearrangement or re-organization of product facings. This, in
turn, enables the
retailer to do more effective merchandising.
The new display stand uses product holders that are mounted in interchangeable
cases.
The cases are removably connected to a mounting rack. The mounting rack has at
least one
display side, a base, and rows of mounts that are each recessed rearwardly
from lower mounts.
The cases are stacked on top of each other, and mounted side-by-side on the
rack. Each case
has a rigid, substantially planar top, a rigid bottom, and at least one
connecting wall that keeps
the top and the bottom spaced apart. An open front face on each case enables
purchasers to
see and access the products that are held in the case.
Many options are possible. For example, the mounting rack can have back-to-
back
display sides, each side having rows of mounts. Rows of mounts can also be
provided on the
return module that crosses the end between two back-to-back display sides.
Mating recesses and projections can be provided on the top and bottom of each
case to
help prevent stacked cases from moving laterally with respect to each other.
There is flexibility in how the individual cases are arranged. For example, in
some
instances, a product holder in a case may have a floor that slopes forwardly
and downwardly,
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so that products near the front face of the case are held at a lower elevation
than products
further back in the case. This can be used, for example, to help feed products
like eye
shadows toward the front of the display without the need for moving parts. In
other situations,
for example in cases that hold thin, elongated products like pencils or
lipsticks, it may be
preferred for the floor to slope the other way, so that purchasers can more
easily see
information on the ends of the products.
The cases can also be arranged to hold product information or signage. For
example, a
forwardly-facing display surface can be provided on the front face, extending
downwardly
from a front edge of the top of the case. A raised rim around the display
surface and a
resiliently-mounted transparent overlay sheet can be used to help to hold a
thin, replaceable
information sheet in position against the display surface. The sheet can have
one edge that is
fixed to the case. A notched portion on the sheet can be used to obtain a grip
on the sheet so
that it can be pulled back to provide access to the display surface, allowing
the retailer to
change the information displayed on the display surface.
A pull-out panel can be provided on the bottom of a case and pulled forwardly
from a
concealed position to an exposed position in front of a forwardly-projecting
lower front
section on the case. This panel can be used to hold UPC information or other
information
about products that are held in the case. For example, product dividers in a
case can extend
rearwardly into the case to create rows for different products, and
information about each
respective product can be provided in a position on the pull-out panel that is
aligned with the
row that contains that particular product.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention can be better understood by referring to the accompanying
drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an arrangement of cases that
can be
used to create a retail display stand that uses the invention.
FIGS. 2-4 are front, top, and side views of the arrangement of cases seen in
fig. 1.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a mounting rack that can be used in the
arrangement
seen in fig. 1.
FIGS. 6 and 7 are front and side views of the mounting rack seen in fig. 5.
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FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a mounting rack.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a retail display stand that has one possible
return
module that connects back-to-back sides of the display stand.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of interchangeable cases being attached to a
mounting
rack.
FIG. 11 is a detail side view of a connection between a case and the mounting
rack.
FIGS. 12 and 13 are exploded perspective views of a case without a product
holder
installed.
FIGS. 14 and 15 are perspective views of two types of product holders that can
be
installed in a case.
FIGS. 16-21 are perspective views of interchangeable cases holding different
types of
product holders.
FIG. 22 is an enlarged, perspective view of an exposed position of a panel on
an
interchangeable case.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The figures show an example of a new retail display stand. The stand 10 that
is
illustrated in figs. 1-4 has a mounting rack 12 (figs. 4-8) and a plurality of
interchangeable
cases 14. In these figures, product holders within the cases are not shown.
The product
holders can vary, and are described in more detail below. In the example seen
in figures 1-4,
the display stand is set on a table 16, and carries an illuminated sign 18.
Other arrangements
can also be used.
The mounting rack
The mounting rack 12 that is seen figs. 5-7 has a display side 20, a base 22,
and rows
of mounts 24. Each will be discussed in turn.
The display side 20 is a side of the rack 12 on which the interchangeable
cases 14 can
be attached. Here, the display side includes parallel mounting arms 26 that
all lie on a plane
that is angled upwardly and backwardly. The illustrated mounting arms are made
of inetal
and are about 2" wide, and are spaced about 10" apart. A tie rod 28 connects
the top of the
mounting arms, helping to maintain the desired spacing and to provide
rigidity. Other
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materials, spacings, and arrangements could also be used. One example of an
alternative
arrangement is seen in fig. 8, where the mounting arms 26' are taller and an
intermediate tie
rod 28' is used to provide more rigidity and strength.
The base 22 supports the mounting arms 26. The base illustrated in figs. 5-7
is made
of thin metal plate, has a front edge 32 that is connected to the base of each
mounting arm, and
is about 9" wide. Optional legs 34 (figs. 5 and 7) extend from the base to an
upper portion of
some of the mounting arms. Again, other materials, spacings, and arrangements
could also be
used. For example, the mounting arms could be made of wire or tubes. In the
example seen
in fig. 8, the mounting arms connect to a central portion of the base 22',
rather than to the
front edge of that base.
The illustrated mounts 24 are fixed to the mounting arms 26 and arranged in
rows that
are each recessed rearwardly from lower mounts. Although it is not always
necessary, each
row shown in the illustrated examples has one mount on each mounting arm.
Here, a
lowermost row of mounts is positioned just above the base 20, and an uppermost
row of
mounts is positioned just below the upper end of the mounting arms. Each
illustrated mount is
made of a 2-inch-wide bent metal plate that is hook shaped, having a%z-inch to
I-inch long
horizontal part 36 (see fig. 11) and a'/4-inch to 1-inch tall upright part 38.
The particular
dimensions shown here are designed to correspond with dimensions of the cases
14 that are
described in more detail below. Other arrangements and sizes are also
possible.
Multiple racks 12 can be used together to provide larger displays. The display
stand
10 seen in figs. 1-4, for example, is nineteen cases wide. Rather than using a
single rack with
nineteen mounting arms 26 (which may be awkward to transport), the illustrated
display stand
can be built using racks with seven mounting arms on each side of a rack with
five mounting
arms, or (for example) using racks with five mounting arms on each side of a
rack with nine
mounting arms. If desired, clips or connectors on the sides of the racks can
be used to hold
adjacent racks together.
The display stand 10 illustrated in fig. 1 has opposed display sides 20 (see
fig. 4), with
product facings on each side. Separate racks 12 can be positioned back-to-back
to achieve
this. Again, if desired, clips or connectors can be used to hold the racks
together.
Alternatively, a two-sided rack can be used.
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A return module can be used with the illustrated display stand. From a purely
functional standpoint, the preferred return module might be made by stacking a
series of
interchangeable cases in a straight vertical wall that extends at right angles
to the primary
display sides 20, covering the open end seen in figs. I and 4. Such a return
module could be
built using cases similar to those described below, arranged so that they
stack vertically.
The arrangement seen in fig. 9, on the other hand, is an alternative,
ornamental
arrangement for the return module. The curved, vertically recessed arrangement
of this return
module 39 requires the use of multiple cases of different sizes, and thus does
not provide all of
the advantages of the invention described below. It is, however, aesthetically
pleasing.
The interchangeable cases
Each of the illustrated interchangeable cases 14 on the primary display sides
20 has a
product holder 40 that is mounted within a cube module 42. These parts will be
discussed in
more detail below. As seen in fig. l, the cases are stacked on top of each
other, mounted side-
by-side. As seen in fig. 10, the cases 14 are connected to the mounts 24 on
the rack 12. It is
not essential that all of the cases on the rack be interchangeable. Some could
be different
sizes or configurations, and some could be fixed in place. However, providing
at least some
interchangeable cases on the main display sides may be adequate to provide the
advantages of
the invention.
The cube modules
The cube module 42 is common to all the disclosed interchangeable cases 14 on
the
primary display sides 20 of the stand 10 seen in figs. 1-4. It is possible to
make
interchangeable cases using more than one type of cube module for the cases,
but using a
single case for all the modules on the primary display sides may provide cost
efficiency. The
illustrated cube module is made of 1/8 inch thick plastic, and is 10 inches
wide and 8 inches
tall. It has a front face that slopes rearwardly, so the top is approximately
6`/2 inches deep
while the bottom is approximately 9 inches deep.
The cube module 42 illustrated in figs. 12 and 13 has a rigid, substantially
planar top
50, a rigid, extended bottom 52, and two side walls 54. It also has a back 55
the top and
bottom need only be large enough to permit the cube modules to be stacked on
top of each
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other, and the side walls need only be structured to keep the top and bottom
spaced apart. The
top, side walls, and back of the illustrated cube are each made of a single
thickness of 1/8-
inch-thick plastic. Other materials and arrangements could be used. The
illustrated front
edges of the sides of cube module are stepped purely for aesthetic purposes.
From a
functionality standpoint, it is believed that the most efficient and practical
arrangement would
be to use linear front edges on the sides of the cube modules, as seen in fig.
18.
To assist with alignment and to help prevent the stacked cases 14 from sliding
laterally, the illustrated cube module 42 has mating recesses and projections
on the top 50 and
the bottom 52. In the illustrated embodiment, the recesses are in the form of
four holes 56 on
the top and the projections are in the form of four bump-ons 58 on the bottom.
The illustrated
bump-ons are glued to the bottom, and have a diameter of approximately 3/8 of
an inch and a
height of approximately 1/8 of an inch. They are spaced approximately 7 inches
apart from
side to side, and about 4 inches apart from front to back. Other arrangements
and spacing can
also be used. The holes 56 on the top have corresponding sizes and spacing, so
that the bump-
ons 58 on one case fit within the holes on an adjoining case, helping to keep
the cases aligned.
In some situations, a single recess and projection on each cube module might
be sufficient.
In the illustrated arrangement, the forward-most holes 56 and bump-ons 58 are
each
located approximately 1'/z inches from the front edges of the top 50 and the
bottom 52. This
vertical offset causes each stacked case 14 to be recessed approximately 2'/2
inches
rearwardly from the case below it. Preferably, the amount of recess for cases
used in the
primary display sides is between 1 and 4 inches per 8 inches of case height,
forming an angle
of between 65 and 85 degrees with respect to the horizontal. For cases used on
a vertical
return module, this offset could be eliminated, or a second, alternative set
of holes could be
provided.
The illustrated cube modules 42 each have a mounting aperture 60 in the back
of 55.
The illustrated back extends vertically from side to side and from the top to
the bottom of the
cube. In this example, the mounting aperture is a rectangular opening through
the back that is
approximately 2'/4 inches wide and 1 7/8 inches high: just large enough to fit
over the upright
part 38 of the mount 24. The lower edge of the illustrated aperture is
positioned
approximately one inch above the bottom of the cube module. Other arrangements
and
positions are also possible. For example, other parts of the back of the cube
module could be
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open, or multiple apertures could be provided. The position of the aperture
could be moved,
or a hook or a clip could be used rather than a through opening. The
illustrated arrangement is
useful because it allows the cube modules to be easily removed from the rack
12 without the
need to access to the back of the cube module.
When a case 14 built from one of the illustrated cube modules 42 is hung on
the rack
12, the rear lower edge of the cube module abuts the mounting arm 26, and
gravity tend to
pull the case forward until the back 62 of the case contacts the inner side of
the upright part 28
of the mount 20. Thus, the case might be supported in a horizontal position
even when an
underlying case is removed.
The product holders
The product holders can vary from case to case. To fit within the illustrated
cube
modules 42, the product holders 40, 42 seen in figs. 14 and 15 are each 9 3/4
inches wide. The
illustrated product holders can be made of clear acrylic, of plastic similar
to the plastic used
for the cases, or from a variety of comparable materials. Some of these
product holders have
sloping tops 70 and rectangular side sections 72 that do not extend all the
way to the bottom of
the back of the cube module. This may conserve materials, reducing cost and
weight.
Preferably, each product holder is designed to hold a specific kind of
cosmetic. For
example, the product holders 40, 42 seen in figs. 13 and 14 have nine vertical
dividers 76 that
are spaced approximately 7/8 of an inch apart, and a floor 78 that slopes
rearwardly down.
These holders are specifically designed to hold tubes of mascara, which
sometimes have
written information on the bottom of the tube. A similar arrangement can be
used for tubes of
lipstick. The slope of the illustrated floor allows customers to see this
information more
easily. In the product holder 42 seen in fig. 15, the dividers 76 and the side
sections 72 are
recessed approximately one inch from the lower front edge of the product
holder. An
approximately 2-inch high opening between the floor 78 of the product holder
and the bottom
of the cube module 42 can be used for a variety of purposes, such as storing
product testers.
The product holder 80 seen in fig. 16 is designed to hold pencils. It is made
of 1/8
inch thick white acrylic, and, like the mascara product holders, has vertical
dividers 76 and a
floor 78 that slopes rearwardly down. Different manufacturers may use
differently-sized cases
for their pencils, and the illustrated product holder has a customized tester
pane182 that
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includes product holes 84 that can be specifically sized to a specific brand
of products to be
carried in that particular case 14. Here, sets of the holes 84 are arranged
vertically above one
another, one set of holes for each row of products formed by the vertical
dividers.
The product holder 90 seen in fig. 17 is designed to hold products 92 that are
packaged
on cardboard cards that have a straight bottom edge and a hole on the top that
allows the
product to be suspended from a hook. Some blushes are packaged this way. The
product
holder has a horizontal, vacuum-formed base 94. The illustrated base has
lateral ribs 96
between which the base of a carded product can be inserted, enabling the
product to be held
between the ribs in an upright position. Product dividers 98 can be used to
separate rows of
different products.
The product holder 100 seen in fig. 18 is designed to hold products like
pressed
powders. It has a sloped front tester panel 102 in front of a set of product
bins 104 that are
separated by dividers 76. Each product bin may include a backer 106.
The product holder 110 seen in fig. 19 is designed for use with nail polish.
This
product holder has a horizontal base 112 and approximately 1-inch-high
dividers 114 that
extend from the front of the holder to the back of the holder, and can be used
to separate
different products. As with the other product holders, other arrangements can
also be used.
For example, a floor that is sloped rearwardly up can help to feed products to
the front of the
case 14 and help customers to read product information on the top of the
stored products. A
stepped front fence 114, which can be customized to a particular brand, can be
used to help
prevent products from accidentally spilling from the case. The number of
dividers 114 can
also be varied.
The product holders 120, 130 seen in figs. 19 and 20 have product bins 124
that are
positioned above (or behind) a vacuum-formed tray 124 that is designed to hold
product
samples. The bins are separated by dividers 128 so that each bin is arranged
directly above
(or behind) a distinct position in the tray where a sample of the product can
be stored. The
product holder seen in fig. 19 is designed for use with a specific brand of
lip gloss that is sold
in an irregular package. The product holder seen in fig. 20 can be used to
hold packages 122
of eye shadows.
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The interchangeable cases that carry these product holders are easy to make
and
provide practical access to a wide variety of different kinds of cosmetics. No
moving parts are
needed.
Display surface
The illustrated cases 14 are adapted to provide information on a forwardly-
facing
display surface 130 on the front of the case. In the cases seen in fig. 22,
the display surface is
between 1 and 3 inches high and extends downwardly from the front edge of the
top 50 of the
cube module 42 and all the way across the front of the case from side to side.
Other
arrangements are possible.
A thin, replaceable information sheet 136 that bears product indicia can be
positioned
on the display surface 130. For example, a printed paper sheet that bears (for
example) the
manufacture's name, promotional text, or a price, etc., can be placed over the
display surface.
A transparent overlay sheet 140 can be used to hold the replaceable
information sheet
136 in place. The illustrated overlay sheet extends over the display surface
130 and has one
edge that is fixed to the case. In this example, the sheet is made of 0.020
inch thick folded-
over piece of transparent, flexible plastic that is adhered to the display
surface, leaving the
lower, folded edge 142 effectively fixed to the case 14. In use, this
connected edge of the
sheet and a raised rim 144 that extends around three sides of the display
surface help to hold
the information sheet to the display surface.
When desired, three unconnected edges 146 of the overlay sheet 140 can be
resiliently
pulled back from the display surface 130, permitting access to the replaceable
information
sheet 136. A notched portion 148 on the overlay sheet that is spaced from the
raised rim 144
and from the edge 142 can be used to obtain a grip on the overlay sheet when
it is covering the
display surface. In this case, the notched portion is on an upper corner of
the overlay sheet;
other arrangements can also be used. When the overlay sheet is released, it
resiliently returns
to covering the display surface, again holding the information sheet in
position against the
display surface.
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Pull-out panel
The bottom 52 of the illustrated cube module 42 has been specially designed to
accommodate a pull-out panel 150. As seen in figs. 12 and 13, the bottom is
formed of two
spaced sheets 152 that form a pocket for the pull-out panel. The sheets are
spaced about 1/8
inch apart, the approximate thickness of the pull-out panel. The pull-out
panel can be made
of, for example, 0.0050 PET G or similar material. In the illustrated example,
a 1 inch by 3/a
inch centering block 154 is glued between the two spaced sheets, passing
through a 1.2 inch
by 4 1/5 inch slot 156 in the pull-out panel. The block, which is spaced
approximately 4 3/4
inches from the back edge of the bottom 52, helps to maintain an appropriate
the spacing
between the sheets 152, prevents the pull-out panel 150 from being removed,
and helps to
maintain alignment of the panel when it is pulled out.
With this arrangement, the pull-out panel 150 can be pulled forwardly from a
concealed position to an exposed position in front of the front of the case
14. The illustrated
panel has a small upwardly-angled finger grip 160 that facilitates this.
Product-specific materials, such as UPC information, can be mounted on the
panel
150. In the illustrated example, the information can be positioned on the
panel in alignment
with an associated row of products. For example, in a case such as the one
seen in fig. 20, six
different pieces of information (such as product color) can be provided on the
panel, each
piece of information being associated with, and positioned directly beneath,
an associated row
of products. For example, UPC information about a product stored in the first
row of the case
120 might be positioned on the left-hand side of the pull-out tray, so that
when the panel is
pulled forwardly that information appears directly beneath the row that
contains that particular
product. In this way, the pull-out panel can be used for a variety of
purposes, such as
providing stocking information, offering color samples, etc.
This description of various embodiments of the invention has been provided for
illustrative purposes. Revisions or modifications may be apparent to those of
ordinary skill in
the art without departing from the invention. The full scope of the invention
is set forth in the
following claims.
