AU2005100503A4

AU2005100503A4 - Multi-functional System

Info

Publication number: AU2005100503A4
Application number: AU2005100503A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Rod Macqueen; Frank Minnici
Original assignee: Adline Group Pty Ltd
Current assignee: ADLINE GROUP Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-02-01
Filing date: 2005-06-17
Publication date: 2005-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-17
Also published as: EP1848306A1; US20080314297A1; WO2006081604A1

Description

I

P:\WPDOCS\AJS\Cmurrt Wor k dvntage Ih\l12510461.doc-16/06/05

;Z

-1- MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SYSTEM Background of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi functional system for use with products provided on a pallet.

Description of the Prior Art The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

In some shopping environments, such as hardware stores and discount supermarkets, it is common to present products for sale on the pallets that are used for transporting the products.

This is performed as it obviates the need to remove the product from the pallet and stack the product on appropriate shelving, or the like.

However, this arrangement suffers from a number of disadvantages. For example, when products are provided on shelving, the shelving can be used to display information relating to the product, such as pricing and the like. Additionally, use of pallets in store can lead to health and safety issues, such as the risk of customers injuring themselves on the pallet corners, or the like.

Summary of the Present Invention In a first broad form the present invention provides a multi-functional system for use with products provided on a pallet, the system including: a) two side members, each side member having two first connectors positioned at opposing ends of the side member; b) two guard members, each guard member having two second connectors positioned at opposing ends of the guard member, the first and second connectors cooperating to connect the guard and side members such that the guard and side members P:\WPDOCSJS\Ommt Work\dv-utage finc\12510461.do-6/O61O -2substantially encircle the pallet in use, and wherein the functions include at least one of: i) presenting information relating to the products; ii) presenting information relating to a retailer; iii) defining a position in which the pallet is to be located; iv) dividing the pallet into two or more portions, each portion being used to present different products; v) preventing individuals from being able to contact the pallet; and, vi) improving the appearance of the pallet.

Typically the system includes at least two display points for receiving media including information relating to the products.

Typically the display points include at least a side member display point coupled to at least one side member and a guard member display point coupled to at least one guard member.

Typically each side member includes a body having: a) a central portion; and, b) two outer portions, each outer portion extending from the central portion to the first connectors.

Typically the two outer portions include a sloped face.

Typically the display points include at least one of: a) a mounting recess provided in a face of the side member; b) a shaped portion of a surface of the side member, the shaped portion being adapted to receive a container for holding media; c) one or more mounting holes for receiving corresponding one or more shafts coupled to a display panel; and, d) a mounting recess provided in a face of the guard member.

Typically the display panel includes at least one of: a) a header panel; and,

I

P:\WPDOCS\PdS\Qmtl Work\advmrtge line\12510461.dc-16/06/05 -3b) a hangsell panel.

Typically each side member includes a number of grooves provided on at least one face, the grooves being adapted to mount a divider extending between the two side members.

Typically the first and second connectors are formed from recesses and correspondingly shaped tongues.

Typically the first connectors are adapted to allow two guard members to be coupled to each first connector such that the guard members extend away from the side member in opposing directions perpendicular to a face of the side member.

Typically the multi-functional system is adapted to be used with a number of pallets n by interconnecting a number of guard members 2n and a number of side members n+l.

Typically the multi-functional system is formed from roto-molded plastic Typically the side members are adapted to be coupled to a floor to thereby define the location of the pallet.

In a second broad form the present invention provides a display system for displaying information relating to products provided on a pallet, the display system including: a) two side members, each side member having: i) two first connectors positioned at opposing ends of the side member; ii) a side member display point for receiving media including information relating to the products; and, b) two guard members, each guard member having: i) two second connectors positioned at opposing ends of the guard member, the first and second connectors cooperating to connect the guard and side members such that the guard and side members substantially encircle the pallet in use; and, ii) a guard member display point for receiving media including information relating to the products.

P:\WPDOCSAS\Curunm Wrk\van Mg linc12510461.do-16/06/05 -4- Typically the display system is a multi-functional system according to the first broad form of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1A is a schematic exploded perspective view of a first example of a multi-functional system for use with a pallet; Figure 1B is a schematic perspective view of the multi-functional system of Figure 1 A; Figure 1C is a schematic plan view of the connectors of Figure 1A; Figure 2A is a schematic perspective view of a second example of a multi-functional system for use with a pallet; Figure 2B is a schematic side view of the system of Figure 2A; Figure 2C is a schematic plan view of the system of Figure 2A; Figure 2D is a schematic end view of the system of Figure 2A; Figure 2E is a schematic perspective view of the system one of the side members of Figure 2A; Figure 2F is a schematic perspective view of the system one of the guard members of Figure 2A; Figure 3A is a schematic plan view of an example of a locking system for use with the system of Figure 2A; Figure 3B is a schematic side view of the locking system of Figure 3A; Figure 3C is a schematic plan view of the locking member of Figure 3A; Figure 4A is a schematic plan view of an example of a base member for use with the system of Figure 2A; Figure 4B is a schematic perspective view of the base member of Figure 4A; Figure 5A is a first schematic perspective view of a connecting element; Figure 5B is a second schematic perspective view of the connecting element of Figure Figure 5C is a schematic perspective view of two guard members; and, Figure 5D is a schematic perspective view of two guard members interconnected using the connecting element.

I

P:\WPDOCSWS\Quwmt Work'adv-,tage linc\12510461.doc-16/06/05 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments An example of a multi-functional system will now be described with reference to Figures 1A to 1C.

In particular, as shown in Figure 1A, the multi-functional system is formed from two side members, each having two connectors 2, which are adapted to couple to corresponding connectors 3, provided on respective guard members 4. In use, when interconnected, the side members 1 and the guard members 4 operate to define an enclosure that can be arranged so as to surround a pallet 5 or other article holding system.

Each side member 1 is formed from a central portion 6, and two outer portions 7, which extended between the central portion 6 and the connectors 2. The central portion 6 has outer and inner faces 6A, 6B, each of which are shaped so as to define respective mountings recesses 8, having a number of laterally spaced grooves 9 defined therein. Additionally a number of mounting holes 10 are provided on an upper face 6C of the central portion 6, as shown. Each outer portion 7 has a sloped face 7A, with at least one of the sloped faces 7A defining a shaped holder 11, adapted to receive a housing 11 A, as shown.

Each guard member 4 also includes a mounting recess 12, provided on an outer face 4A as shown.

The connectors are shown in more detail in Figure 1C. As shown, each connector 2 includes two shaped recesses 2A, 2B, which are adapted to receive a respective tongue 3A provided on each of the connectors 3. This allows a guard member 4 to be coupled to each side of the side members 4, in turn allowing a number of display members to be coupled together. It will be appreciated that in this arrangement adjacent pallets 5 share a common side member 1 as shown.

In use, when it is desired to remove or insert a pallet 5 into the multi-functional system, a selected one of the guard members 4 can be raised in the direction of the arrow A, thereby decoupling the guard member 4 from the side members 1. The pallet 5 can then be removed or inserted as shown by the arrow B, before the guard member 4 is replaced, thereby ensuring the pallets are encircled by the multi-functional system.

I

P:\WPDOCSAS\Cu mtW Work\adatage lin\12S10461.doc16/06/05 -6- In use, each of the mounting recesses 8, 12, are designed to receive laminar media 13, 14, such as cardboard inserts of the like, to allow advertising material to be inserted into the mounting recesses 8, 12 as shown in Figure lB. In addition to this, the mounting holes can be adapted to receive either a header mount 14 or a hangsell mount 16.

The use of the sloped face 7A allows the central portion 6 to be of an increased height compared to the guard members 4, thereby maximising the size of the mounting recess 8 to maximise the size of the media 13 which can be displayed therein, whilst still allowing easy access to products provided on the pallet.

As shown, the header mount 14 is formed from a shaft 15 attached to a header panel 17, which, in use, can receiver laminar printed media 18, such as advertising cards, pricing cards or the like.

Similarly, the hangsell mount 16 includes two mounting shafts 19 coupled to a hangsell panel and a header panel 21. Again, the hangsell panel 20 allows laminar media 18, such as posters or the like to be supported. In particular, this allows advertising material that is normally suspended from the ceiling of stores to be attached to the display apparatus.

The container 11A acts as a holder to allow material such as brochures to be presented.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the display apparatus allows a number of different media to be mounted on the display apparatus, to thereby display information regarding products or like provided on the pallet.

In particular, in the example above, the multi-functional system includes at least five different types of display point including: the mounting recess 8; the mounting recess 12; the header mount 14 the hangsell mount 16; and, Sthe container 11 A.

P:\WPDOCS\A]S\Cwuatt Work\dvantage line\12510461.doc.16/6/05 -7- It will be appreciated that additional display points may also be incorporated and that it is not essential to include all of the above described display points in the display apparatus, and that these are included in a single example for ease of description only. Thus, a combination of any one or more of the display points may be used depending on the preferred implementation.

In any event, it will be appreciated that this allows a wide range of product information to be presented, including pricing or the like. Whilst any information may be displayed at any one of the display points, in general the header mount 14 and the hangsell mount 16 are used to display pricing and/or product identification information to allow these to be viewed by a potential customer from a distance.

In the case of the hangsell mount 16, this can advantageously be used to replace posters that would otherwise normally be hung from the ceiling. This avoids the problems associated with updating, replacing or moving hanging posters which typically requires an individual to climb a ladder or scaffolding to make appropriate adjustments, which in turn can involve significant time and expense by the retailer.

In addition to this, the guard or side members may also include embossed information such as the logo, name or information regarding the retailer using the display apparatus. This in turn provides a mechanism for corporate branding of the multi-fiunctional system to provide additional exposure for the retailer, whilst allowing advertising for the associated products to be provided. It will be appreciated that retailer specific information may also be provided at any one of the display points.

A divider 22 may be positioned between the inner faces 6B and supported by the grooves 9, to divide the pallet 5 into two portions. This allows different products to be provided on each portion of the pallet. Thus, different and/or competing products may be displayed on the same pallet, whilst being clearly separated. In this instance, then the presented information can relate to each product through the use of appropriate media, such that, for example, different inserts 14 may be provided on each of the guard members 4.

I

P:\WPDOCS\AJS\Cmw1t WorkadMnuge line\1251046.do-16/O 6 -8- In addition to presenting information, the system also operates to obscure the pallet 5. This has two main effects, namely to hide the pallet from view, thereby making the appearance of the overall display more presentable, without having to remove the products from the pallets.

Additionally, the multi-functional system avoids customers coming into contact with the pallet 5, thereby helping improve the safety of the product display.

The system can also be used to define locations at which the pallets 5 can be placed in a store.

This can be achieved for example by defining a desired layout for the pallets 5, and then positioning the multi-functional system at appropriate positions within the store. In this case, the multi-functional system can be semi-permanently positioned, for example, by attaching the side members 1 to the floor, so that the multi-functional system remains static when the pallets 5 are removed and inserted. This can be achieved for example through the use of suitable mounting brackets to couple the side members to the floor, or any other suitable technique.

It will be appreciated that this is achievable as the multi-functional system can form a freestanding structure and does not rely on coupling to the pallet to hold the multi-functional system in place. As a result, this allows retailers to design a store layout by arranging the multi-functional systems to provide definitive locations for each pallet to be used, which in turn assists in ensuring products are correctly displayed. In particular, this avoids the haphazard layout of pallets that can occur if pallets are simply placed in an available space upon the retail floor.

To assist with this, as described above, a number of multi-functional systems can be connected in sequence, so that the pallets 5 can be arranged in a line, or the like.

The side and guard members are typically formed by rotational molding (roto-molding), thereby providing a cheap, durable but lightweight product, although it will be appreciated that other construction techniques may be used.

A second example of a multi-functional system will now be described with reference to Figures 2A to 2F.

P:\WPDOCS\AJS\Cunml Wor\advantage fin\12510461.dwc-I6/06/05 -9- In particular, in this example the multi-functional system utilises similar elements to those shown in Figures 1A to 1C and these are designated by reference numerals increased by 100.

Thus, in this example, the multi-functional system includes two side members 101 connected to guard members 104, via respective connectors 102, 103 as shown.

In this example each side member 101 includes a number of laterally spaced grooves 109 provided within a mounting recess 108, which in use is adapted to receive advertising media 113 as shown in Figure 2B.

Each of the guard members 104 also includes a mounting recess 112 for receiving media (not shown). In addition to this, the system includes a locking member, generally shown at 130, which allows the guard members 104 to be locked to the side members 101, as well as base members 140, which will be described in more detail below.

The side members 101 also include a number of mounting holes 110 which are adapted to receive secondary mounting structures similar to the header mount 14 or hangsell mount 16 shown in Figure 1A. Accordingly, the mounting holes 110 are adapted to support secondary mounting structures to allow additional advertising to be associated with the system, and the pallet provided therewith. In this example, five mounting holes are shown, but will be appreciated that any number may be provided in order to allow a desired configuration of secondary supports to be used.

To provide suitable support to the secondary support structure, it is desirable for the mounting holes and the support structure to have complimentary shapes. Thus, for example, if the holes have a square cross section, then typically the mounting shafts 15, 19 will also utilise a square cross section.

It is also preferable that the side member has sufficient thickness around the mounting holes, and that the mounting holes have a suitable depth to ensure that the secondary support structure is held in place even if a lateral force is applied thereto. Accordingly, in this example, the side members 101 have a greater height and width than the guard members 104, which are not required to support secondary support structures.

M W P:\WPDOCSJS\CufftWork\dvmtgc Eiuc\125if46.d-6/6/05 In one example, the height of the side members 101 is in the region of 500mm, whilst the width is approximately 90mm. This configuration, especially when formed from a robust material, such as a roto moulded plastic, provides sufficient depth and width to allow a range of different secondary support structures to be used, without unduly adding to the floor area required as compared to a pallet on its own.

It will be appreciated from this that the functionality and operation of the pallet guard will substantially as described above with respect to Figures 1A to 1C.

A number of additional features will now be described.

Figures 3A to 3C show an example of the locking mechanism 130 in more detail. As shown, the locking mechanism 130 is formed from a recess 131, provided in the side member 101, which cooperates with a corresponding locking member 132, slidably mounted in a member recess 133 on the guard member 104. The locking member 132 includes an aperture 135 that receives a screw 135, which is in turn mounted to the guard member 104, as shown at 136.

In use, this allows the locking member 132 to be moved between an unlocked position shown in Figure 3B and a locked position shown in Figure 3A. in the locked position, an end portion 132A of the locking member 132 extends into the recess 131, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3B.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that when the guard member 104 has been coupled to a side member 101, the locking member 132 can be slid into the recess 131, thereby locking the guard member 104 to the corresponding side member 101.

This is not per se intended to prevent the side member 101 and the guard member 104 from being disconnected, but is intended to reduce the chance of this happening inadvertently, for example, when the side or guard members 101, 104 are handled, or when media is being added or removed.

However, in the event that additional security is desirable, for example to prevent individuals removing intentionally removing the guard members 104, then once the locking member 132 P;\WPDOCS'jS\Cufft Wwk'~v~adnge lio\12510461.do.16/0605 -11is positioned within the recess 131, the screw can be tightened, to thereby prevent the locking member 132 being removed from the recess without appropriate tools, or the like.

Figures 4A and 4B show the base member 140 in additional detail. As shown the base member includes a substantially laminar portion 141 and a ridge 142. In use, the ridge 142 is attached to an underside of one of the side members 101, as shown in Figure 2B. The flat laminar portion 141 then projects into the perimeter defined by the guard and side members 101, 104 as shown in Figure 2A. As a result, when a pallet is placed within the perimeter, the pallet will rest on the laminar portion 140, thereby preventing the side members 101 from being moved.

It will be appreciated that in the event that the locking mechanism 130 is used, this prevents the guard members 104 from being decoupled from the side members 101, with the base member 140 preventing the side members 101 being moved relative to the pallet. As a result, the system forms a sturdy and substantially immovable structure around the pallet. This in turn provides a sturdy base from which the secondary support members can be supported, thereby allowing advertising or the like to be provided.

It will be appreciated that in this instance, if an individual attempts to move any one of the side or guard members 101, 104, as the members are interconnected, the individual effectively has to move the entire structure. Furthermore, as the pallet rests on the base members 140, the individual effectively also has to move the pallet and its contents.

As a result this provides a substantially immovable structure which is capable of supporting advertising or the like, through the use of secondary support structures. In this instance, if an individual inadvertently leans against the secondary support structure, the combination of the structure, the pallet and the products, will be sufficient to prevent movement of the structure or pallet, which in turn can help reduce accidents, and the like.

Figures 5A to 5D show an example of a connecting element for allowing guard members to be interconnected, which in turn allows a number of pallets to be provided within the perimeter of the system.

P:\WPDOCS\AJS\CmumL Work\advtange linc\1251046I.dw-16/6/OS -12- In this example, the connector element 150 includes a shaped body having side and upper body portions 151, 152. Tongues 153 project downwardly from the upper body portion as shown. In use, when two guard members 104 are positioned in an end to end arrangement, as shown in Figure 5C, the connector element can be attached to the connectors 103, as shown, thereby interconnecting the guard members. It will be appreciated that this allows a number of guard members to be interconnected thereby extending the perimeter defined by the guard and side members 104, 101, which in turn allows multiple pallets to be provided within the perimeter.

As an alternative to this however, guard members 104 can be connected to either side of the side members 101 allowing a sequence of units to be provided. In this instance a respective side member 101 will be provided between each of the pallets.

It will be appreciated that in the above examples, the guard and side members 4, 1; 104, 101 may be identical in construction and/or appearance. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the mounting holes 10; 110 may be provided in any one of the guard and side members 4, 1; 104, 101 members. Furthermore, each of the guard and side members 4, 1; 104, 101 may be formed from one or more members which are coupled together to form guard and side members 4, 1; 104, 101 similar to those shown in the above examples.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the system is capable of providing a number of functions, including: presenting information relating to the products via one or more of the display points discussed above; presenting information relating to a retailer, such as a logo, name or the like; defining a position in which pallets are to be located within a store or the like; allowing a number of pallets to be positioned in sequence, thereby allowing the pallets to define supermarket aisles, or the like; dividing the pallet into two or more portions allowing combinations of different products to be presented on a common pallet; providing a free standing arrangement with an easily removable guard member to thereby ease pallet replacement;

I

P:\WPDOCSWS\Cuiwl Work'avange e\125IO46I.doeI7fO6/O5 -13preventing individuals from being able to contact the pallet, thereby helping ensure health and safety requirements are satisfied; and, improving the appearance of the pallets.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous variations and modifications will become apparent. All such variations and modifications which become apparent to persons skilled in the art, should be considered to fall within the spirit and scope that the invention broadly appearing before described.

Dated this seventeenth day of June, 2005 ADVANTAGE LINE PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE