Retail display unit for multiple shaped products

Abstract

A retail display unit includes a base having a frame member and a bracket coupled to the frame member and a holder. The bracket is configured to mount to a retail display fixture. The holder is coupled to the frame member and includes a front, a back, opposing sides, a bottom and is configured to hold and display products of different shapes. The bottom of the holder includes a first curved surface, a second curved surface and a channel located between the first and second curved surfaces and extends from the front to the back of the holder.

Claims

1. A retail display unit comprising: a base including a frame member and a bracket coupled to the frame member that is configured to mount to a retail display fixture; a holder coupled to the base and including an interior, an exterior, a front, a back, opposing sides, a bottom and configured to hold and display products of different shapes, wherein the bottom comprises: a first curved surface; a second curved surface; a channel located between the first and second curved surfaces and extending from the front to the back of the holder, wherein the channel includes first and second sides, an open top that intersects with the interior and a bottom; and a plurality of locking features that at least partially protrude from the exterior to mate with the frame member of the base.

2. The retail display unit of claim 1, wherein the frame member comprises a continuous loop member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the proximal portion is coupled to the bracket.

3. The retail display unit of claim 2, wherein the continuous loop member further comprises a pair of parallel portions that extend between the proximal portion and the distal portion.

4. The retail display unit of claim 3, wherein the pair of parallel portions extend from the proximal portion to the distal portion at an angle from horizontal.

5. The retail display unit of claim 3, wherein the holder is coupled to the pair of parallel portions of the frame member with the plurality of locking features located on the holder.

6. The retail display unit of claim 1, wherein the holder is transparent.

7. The retail display unit of claim 1, wherein plurality of locking features at least partially protrude from the exterior of the first and second curved surfaces of the holder.

8. The retail display unit of claim 7, wherein each locking feature comprises a throat and a seat and is configured to snap fit to the frame member.

9. The retail display unit of claim 1, wherein the holder further comprises an aperture located along the entirety of the bottom of the channel that extends from the front to the back of the holder, wherein the aperture is configured such that a portion of a product extends through the aperture when on display in the holder.

10. A retail display unit comprising: a continuous loop member having a fixed portion, a free portion and a pair of parallel portions that couple the fixed portion to the free portion and define a length of the loop member; a bracket coupled to the fixed portion of the loop member and configured to mount the loop member to a crossbar on a retail display fixture; and a holder coupled to the pair of parallel portions of the loop member, wherein the holder includes a front, a back, opposing sides, a bottom and configured to hold and display products of different shapes, wherein the bottom of the holder includes a channel having an aperture that extends continuously from the front to the back of the holder.

11. The retail display unit of claim 10, wherein the holder is transparent.

12. The retail display unit of claim 10, wherein the bottom of the holder further comprises a first curved surface and a second curved surface, wherein the channel is located between the first curved surface and the second curved surface and the aperture extends along a bottom of the channel.

13. The retail display unit of claim 10, wherein the holder comprises a plurality of locking features that engage with the pair of parallel portions of the loop member, wherein each locking feature at least partially protrudes from an outer side of the holder.

14. The retail display unit of claim 13, wherein each locking feature comprises a throat and a seat and is configured to snap fit to the loop member.

15. A retail display fixture comprising: at least one crossbar; at least one retail display unit configured to hold and display products of different shapes and comprising: a frame member; a bracket coupled to the frame member that is configured to mount the frame member to the at least one crossbar; and a holder coupled to the frame member that includes a front, a back, opposing sides, a bottom and is configured to hold and display products of different shapes, wherein the bottom includes a channel that extends from the front to the back of the holder and an aperture located along the entirety of a bottom of the channel, the aperture configured such that a product extends through the aperture when on display in the holder.

16. The retail display fixture of claim 15, wherein the holder is transparent.

17. The retail display fixture of claim 15, wherein the bracket further comprises a notch configured to allow each retail display unit to be mounted to a first crossbar and to a second crossbar that is adjacent to the first crossbar on the retail display fixture.

18. The retail display fixture of claim 15, wherein the bottom of the holder further comprises a first curved surface and a second curved surface, wherein the channel is located between the first curved surface and the second curved surface.

19. The retail display fixture of claim 15, wherein the holder comprises a plurality of locking features that engage with the frame member, wherein each locking feature at least partially protrudes from an outer side of the holder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retail display unit.

(2) FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a left side view of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 4 is a top view of FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a base of the retail display unit.

(6) FIG. 6 is a front view of FIG. 5.

(7) FIG. 7 is a right side view of FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 8 is a top view of FIG. 5.

(9) FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of the base of the retail display unit as indicated in FIG. 7.

(10) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a holder of the retail display unit.

(11) FIG. 11 is a front view of FIG. 10.

(12) FIG. 12 is a left side view of FIG. 10.

(13) FIG. 13 is a top view of FIG. 10.

(14) FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a portion of the holder of the retail display unit as indicated in FIG. 11.

(15) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a retail display fixture with a plurality of retail display units.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(16) Using a single type of retail display unit to display multiple shaped products especially products that are related to or are sold together in the same product group makes it easier and more efficient to display merchandise in a retail store. For example, paper napkins and paper plates are sold together in a product group and are coordinated together in pairings, however, a package of paper napkins may be rectangular or square in shape, while a package of papers plates may be round in shape. It is possible for a package of papers plates to also have a rectangular or square shape, but often they are of a different size than the size of the rectangular or square napkins.

(17) Embodiments described herein include a retail display unit for mounting to a crossbar of a display fixture, such as a gondola display fixture, located in a retail store. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retail display unit 100. FIG. 2 is a front view, FIG. 3 is a left side view and FIG. 4 is a top view of retail display unit 100. Retail display unit 100 includes a base 102 and a holder 104. Holder 104 is coupled to base 102 and both base 102 and holder 104 will be discussed in detail below.

(18) FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of base 102 of retail display unit 100, FIG. 6 is a front view of base 102, FIG. 7 side view of base 102 and FIG. 8 is a top view of base 102. For purposes of illustration and clarity, FIGS. 5-8 show base 102 without holder 104. Base 102 includes a frame or loop member 106 and a bracket 108 coupled to frame or loop member 106. In one embodiment, frame or loop member 106 is a continuous loop made of metal wire stock. However, it should be realized that other types of materials can be used including various types of extruded polymers.

(19) Frame or loop member 106 includes a free or distal portion 110, a fixed or proximal portion 112 (illustrated in FIG. 7) and a pair of parallel portions 114 and 116 that define a length 118 of frame or loop member 106 and are integrally connected at free or distal portion 110 and at fixed or proximal portion 112. A majority of free or distal portion 110 is located a distance 120 above parallel portions 114 and 116 as well as a majority of fixed or proximal portion 112 being located a distance 122 above parallel portions 114 and 116. In addition, parallel portions 114 and 116 are oriented at an angle 124 from horizontal. For example, angle 124 is 15 degrees. However, other angles are possible as long as the angle allows a guest or customer to easily see the products being displayed in display unit 100.

(20) FIG. 9 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of base 102 as indicated in FIG. 7. Bracket 108 is coupled to fixed or proximal portion 112 of frame or loop member 102 and is configured to mount to a retail display fixture such as mounted to a crossbar on a retail display fixture. Bracket 108 includes a plurality of bent plates. An outer plate 126 includes a front section 128, a top section 130 and a back section 132. Front section 128 is connected to top section 130 by a first bend 129 and top section 130 is connected to back section 132 by a second bend 131. An inner plate 134 includes a lower section 136 and an upper section 138. Lower section 136 is connected to upper section 138 by a first bend 137.

(21) Outer plate 126 is coupled to inner plate 134. In particular, upper section 138 of inner plate 134 is directly coupled to a bottom of top section 130 of outer plate 126. The length of upper section 138 is smaller than top section 130 so a space 140 is created between lower section 136 of inner plate 134 and front section 128 of outer plate 126 and a space 142 is created between lower section 136 of inner plate 134 and back section 132 of outer plate 126. Proximal portion 112 of loop member 106 is welded to a bottom of outer plate 126 and inner plate 124 so that proximal portion 112 is located in space 140 between lower section 136 of inner plate 134 and front section 128 of outer plate 126. Space 142 is configured to receive a crossbar on a retail display fixture, for example a crossbar on a gondola display fixture.

(22) As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 8, bracket 108 also includes a notch 145. Notch 145 means that both outer plate 126 and inner plate 134 each have a notch that align with each other at notch 145. Notch 145 allows retail display unit 100 to span two crossbars that are in alignment with each other on a gondola display fixture. This means that retail display unit 100 may be simultaneously hung on or mounted to a first crossbar and a second crossbar located adjacent to the first crossbar in the case of two side-by-side gondola units being located adjacent to each other with crossbars in alignment with each other.

(23) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of holder 104 of retail display unit 100, FIG. 11 is a front view of holder 104, FIG. 12 is a left side view of holder 104 and FIG. 13 is a top view of holder 104. For purposes of illustration and clarity, FIGS. 10-14 show holder 104 without base 102. Holder 104 is configured to hold and display product of different shapes. Holder 104 includes a front 144, a back 146, a bottom 148, a first side 147 and a second side 149. Bottom 148 extends from front 144 to back 146, between first side 147 and second side 149 and includes a multi-surface profile. The multi-surface profile of bottom 148 includes a first curved surface 152 having a radius of curvature, a second curved surface 154 having a radius of curvature and a channel 156 located between first curved surface 152 to second curved surface 154 and extends from front 144 to back 146 of holder 104.

(24) In one embodiment and as illustrated, the radius of curvature of second curved surface 154 is substantially the same as the radius of curvature of first curved surface 152. Channel 156 includes first angled side 158, second angled side 160 and an aperture 162 located along the entirety of a bottom of channel 156. The shape of the multi-surface profile of bottom 148 provides holder 104 with the ability to receive a variety of different shaped products including where a portion of a product extends through aperture 162 when on display in holder 104. Such differently shaped products will be discussed in detail below. In addition and in accordance with another embodiment, holder 104 may be made of a transparent molded plastic. In this way not only does multi-surface profile of bottom 14 provide holder 104 with the ability to receive different shaped products, but the products received by holder 104 can be easily viewed through holder 104.

(25) Holder 104 is coupled to the pair of parallel portions 114 and 116 with a plurality of locking features 150a, 150b, 150c and 150d located on holder 104. Locking features 150a and 150c form partially with first side 147 and partially protrude from an outer side of first curved surface 152. Locking features 150b and 150d form partially with second side 149 and partially protrude form an outer side of second curved surface 154. Each of locking features 150a, 150b, 150c and 150d includes a receiver 164a, 164b and 164c (the receiver of locking feature 150d is hidden from view in FIGS. 10-13).

(26) FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a portion of holder 104 of the display unit as indicated in FIG. 11. In particular, FIG. 14 illustrates an enlarged view of locking feature 150b, which is representative of all locking features of holder 104. Receiver 150b includes a throat 166b having a throat distance 168b and a seat 170b. Receiver 150b is configured to receive a section of frame or loop member 106 of base 102 by pushing the section of frame or loop member 106 through throat 166b to sit in seat 170b. Throat distance 168b is less than a diameter of seat 170b.

(27) With reference back to FIGS. 1-4, holder 104 is coupled to base 102 by snap fitting a section of frame or loop member 106 into each receiver 164a, 164b, 164c and 164d of each locking feature 150a, 150b, 150c and 150d. As illustrated, free or distal portion 110 of frame or loop member 106 is located upwardly from parallel portions 114 and 116 so that free or distal portion 110 runs along a top of front 144 of holder 104. In this way, front 144 is free of base 102 and includes sign sleeve 172 adhered, for example, to a front surface of front 144. Sign sleeve 172 is configured to receive a sign showing price or retail information of the products being displayed in holder 104. Fixed or proximal portion 112 of frame or loop member 106 is located upwardly from parallel portions 114 and 116 so that fixed or proximal portion 112 is welded to at least a bottom of outer plate 126.

(28) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a retail display fixture 200 with a plurality of retail display units 100 displaying a variety of differently shaped products. In one embodiment and as illustrated in FIG. 15, retail display fixture 200 is a gondola display fixture. Gondola display fixture 200 includes base decks 202, uprights 204, back walls 206 located between uprights and is configured to receive various types of retail display structures, such as shelves or crossbars for supporting and displaying merchandise. As illustrated in FIG. 15, a plurality of crossbars 208 are mounted to uprights 204 on retail display fixture 200. Another such retail display structure may be retail display unit 100 or a plurality of retail display units 100 that are hung on or mounted to the plurality of crossbars 208. As previously discussed, each retail display unit 100 would hang on or mount to a crossbar 208 such that the crossbar is located in space 142 of bracket 108. As also previously discussed, retail display units 100 are configured to display multiple shaped products.

(29) In FIG. 15, packages of round plates 302 may be displayed in retail display units 100. These plates may be of varying size including plates having a radii that coincides with the radius of curvature of first curved surface 152 and second curved surface 154 to plates having radii that are smaller than the radius of curvature of first curved surface 152 and second curved surface 154. In addition, retail display units 100 may display packages of square or rectangular napkins 304. Packages 304 are cradled in retail display units 100 with a corner 306 of the package 304 protruding through aperture 162 in channel 156 and two of the other corners in contact with other surfaces of holder 104, such as first side 147 and second side 149 or even first curved surface 152 and second curved surface 154.

(30) Also illustrated in FIG. 15 is retail display unit 100x spanning two adjacent crossbars 308. As illustrated, crossbars 308 are mounted to uprights 204 in retail display fixture 200. This means that crossbars 308 cannot span across an upright. However, each retail display unit 100 is capable of spanning two adjacent crossbars 308. This is made possible and as previously discussed above, by notch 145. Notch 145 in bracket 108 allows retail display unit 100x to pass over an upright 204 so that part of the bracket 108 engages with a first crossbar and another part of the bracket 108 engages with an adjacent second crossbar.

(31) Although elements have been shown or described as separate embodiments above, portions of each embodiment may be combined with all or part of other embodiments described above.

(32) 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.