AU2012202403B1 - A shelf display system - Google Patents

Abstract

A shelf connector adapted to connect to a shelf, the shelf connector comprising: a first floor member; a first wall member extending from a first side of the first floor member, the first wall member adapted to engage with a first 5 lighting member; a second floor member offset from the first floor member; and a second wall member extending from a second side of the second floor member, the second wall member adapted to engage with a second lighting member, the second wall member further defining a connection formation.

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "A SHELF DISPLAY SYSTEM" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 1 TITLE "A SHELF DISPLAY SYSTEM" FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The invention relates to a shelf display system. In particular, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a shelf display system for a point of purchase display. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Point of purchase displays are used to display and merchandise products 10 and to engage shoppers. With an increasing number of products, differentiating products is becoming more important. At the same time shelf space for products comes at a premium. Typically manufactures pay retailers for premium shelf space. A problem with existing point of purchase display systems is that eye 15 catching displays usually come at the expense of shelf space. This can lead to manufacturers of products either stocking fewer products or paying for more shelf space. Another problem with existing point of purchase displays is that it can be difficult to enhance the appearance of the product to increase the likelihood of impulse purchases. 20 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to overcome or at least alleviate one or more of the above problems and/or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 25 In one form, although it need not be the only or indeed the broadest form, 2 the invention resides in a shelf connector adapted to connect to a shelf, the shelf connector comprising: a first floor member; a first wall member extending from a first side of the first floor member, 5 the first wall member adapted to engage with a first lighting member; a second floor member offset from the first floor member; and a second wall member extending from a second side of the second floor member, the second wall member adapted to engage with a second lighting member, the second wall member further defining a connection formation. 10 Preferably, a support member extends between the first floor member and the second floor member. Typically the support member extends perpendicularly from the first floor member. Preferably, the first wall member is opposed by a first opposing wall member adapted to engage with the first light member. 15 Preferably, the second wall member is opposed by a second opposing wall member adapted to engage with the second light member. Normally the first wall member, the first opposing wall member, the second wall member and the second opposing wall member comprise upper and lower protrusions adapted to retain the respective light members. 20 Preferably, the shelf connector comprises at least one clip which is adapted to connect the shelf connector to the shelf. Preferably the at least one clip is secured to the shelf connector by a first ledge extending from the first floor member and a second ledge extending from a first opposing wall member. Preferably, when in use, the second floor member at least partially abuts 25 a part of the shelf to retain the shelf connector in position relative to the shelf.

3 Preferably, the shelf connector comprises a display assembly connected to the connection formation. Preferably, the display assembly comprises an electronic display. Typically the electronic display is at least partially housed in a display housing. Normally, the electronic display is adapted to display dynamic 5 content such as moving text and images. Alternatively the display assembly comprises a backing member and a cover member, the cover member adapted to secure a sign to the backing member. Preferably the cover member is at least partially translucent or transparent such that the sign being covered by the cover member can be seen through the cover member. 10 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To assist in understanding the invention and to enable a person skilled in the art to put the invention into practical effect, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 15 FIG 1 shows a cross sectional view of a shelf display system according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG 2 shows an exploded view of part of a shelf display system according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG 3 shows a side view of a shelf lip according to an embodiment of the 20 invention; FIG 4 shows a perspective view of a shelf lip according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG 5 shows a partially exploded view of a display assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; 4 FIG 6 shows a side view of a display housing according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG 7 shows a front perspective view of a display housing according to an embodiment of the invention; 5 FIG 8 shows a rear perspective view of a display housing according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG 9 shows a side view of a display assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG 10 shows a perspective view of a display assembly according to an 10 embodiment of the invention; and FIG 11 shows a cross sectional view of a shelf connector connected to a display assembly and a shelf. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 15 With reference to Figure 1, there is shown a cross sectional view of a shelf display system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The shelf display system 100 comprises a shelf connector in the form of a shelf lip 200 secured to a shelf 500 and a display assembly 400 attached to the shelf lip 200. With reference to Figure 2, there is shown an exploded view of part of the 20 shelf display system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The shelf lip 200 is adapted to retain a first lighting member 304 and a second lighting member 310. The first lighting member 304 comprises LED lights 306 arranged on a PCB board 308. Similarly to the first lighting member 304, the second lighting member 310 comprises LED lights 312 arranged on a PCB board 314. A 25 cable 318 connects the first lighting member 304 to a cable connector 320. A 5 further cable 316 connects the first lighting member 304 to the second lighting member 310. End caps 322 are adapted to secure the first lighting member 304 and the second lighting member 310 to the shelf lip 200. Clips 302 are adapted to secure the shelf lip 200 to a shelf 500 (as shown in figure 1). 5 Figures 3 and 4 show detailed views of the shelf lip 200 according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 shows a detailed side view of the shelf lip 200 and Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the shelf lip 200. The shelf lip 200 is elongate and can be made from any suitable material, normally the shelf lip 200 is formed from extruded aluminium. The shelf lip 200 has a first floor 10 member 202 extending laterally. A fist wall member 204 and a first opposing wall member 210 extend vertically from the first floor member 202. The first wall member 204 has an upper protrusion 206 and a lower protrusion 208 extending laterally towards the first opposing wall member 210. The first opposing wall member 210 has a corresponding upper protrusion 212 and a corresponding 15 lower protrusion 214. The upper protrusions 206,212 and lower protrusions 208,214 are adapted to receive the PCB board 308 (as shown in Figure 2) of the first lighting member 304 (as shown in Figure 2). A ledge 216 extending from the first opposing wall member 210, a ledge 218 extending from the first floor member 202 and groove 220 in the first floor member 202 are adapted to receive 20 clips 302 (as shown in Figure 2) to secure the shelf lip 200 to a shelf 500 (as shown in Figure 1). A support member 222 extends vertically from the first floor member 202. A second floor member 224 extends laterally from a distal end of the support member 222 to offset the second floor member 224 from the first floor member 202. A second wall member 226 and a second opposing wall 25 member 234 extend vertically from the second floor member 224. The second 6 wall member 226 has an upper protrusion 228 and a lower protrusion 230. The second opposing wall member 234 has a corresponding upper protrusion 236 and a corresponding lower protrusion 238. The upper protrusions 228,236 and lower protrusions 230,238 are adapted to receive the PCB board 314 (as shown 5 in Figure 2) of the second lighting member 310 (as shown in figure 2). The second wall member 226 further includes a female connection formation 232, which is adapted to connect to a display assembly 400 (as shown in Figure 1). A detent 240 extends downwardly from the second floor member 224 and is adapted to secure the shelf lip 200 to a shelf 500 (as shown in Figure 1). 10 Figure 5 shows a partially exploded view of a display assembly 400 according to an embodiment of the invention. The display assembly comprises a display housing 402, which houses an electronic display 432 comprising an array of LEDs 434 on a PCB board 436. A cover 438 is retained by the display housing 402 to protect the electronic display 432. The electronic sign 432 and the cover 15 438 are secured to the display housing 402 by end caps 440, which are fastened to the display housing 402 by screws 442 (only visible for left end cap). A cable 444 is connected to the electronic sign 432, passes through the right end cap 440 and connects to a cable connector 446. Typically the display assembly 400 will display dynamic messages or content to create an eye catching display. The 20 electronic sign 432 is typically controlled by a display driver (not shown), which may also be used to control the first lighting member 304 (as shown in Figure 2), the second lighting member 310 (as shown in Figure 2) and/or further lighting members or electronic displays (not shown). Figures 6, 7 and 8 show detailed views of the display housing 402 25 according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 6 shows a side view of a 7 display housing 402, Figure 7 shows a front perspective view of the display housing 402 and Figure 8 shows a rear perspective view of the display housing 402. The display housing 402 is elongate and can be made from any suitable material, normally the display housing 402 is formed from extruded aluminium. 5 The display housing 402 has a back wall 404 extending between a top wall 406 and a bottom wall 416. A first ledge 408 and a second ledge 410 extend from the top wall 406, and a first ledge 418 and a second ledge 420 extend from the bottom wall 416, these ledges 408, 410, 418, 420 are adapted to retain the PCB board 436 (as shown in Figure 5) of the electronic sign 432 (as shown in Figure 10 5) there between. The top wall 406 further comprises a lip 412 and a shoulder 414 and the bottom wall 416 further comprises a corresponding lip 422 and a corresponding shoulder 424, the lips 412, 422 and shoulders 414, 424 are adapted to retain the cover 438 (as shown in Figure 5) there between. A T shaped connection member 426 extends from the back wall 404 and is adapted 15 to connect the display housing 402 to the female connection formation 232 of the shelf lip 200 (as shown in Figure 3). A top support 428 and a bottom support 430 extend from the back wall 404 on either side of the T-shaped connection member 426 and are adapted to abut the female connection formation 232 of the shelf lip 200 (as shown in Figure 3). 20 Figures 9, 10 and 11 show detailed views of a display assembly 600 according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 9 shows a side view of the display assembly 600, figure 10 shows a perspective view of the display assembly 600 and Figure 11 shows a cross sectional view of the display assembly 600 connected to the shelf lip 200. The display assembly 600 is 25 elongate and can be made from any suitable material. The display assembly 600 8 has a backing member 602 and a cover member 604 partially covering the backing member 602. The backing member 602 and cover member 604 are adapted to hold signage (not shown) there between. Typically the backing member 602 and cover member 604 are co extruded, with cover member 604 5 being extruded using a translucent or transparent material. A T-shaped connection member 606 extends from the backing member 602 and is adapted to connect the display assembly 600 to the female connection formation 232 of the shelf lip 200. A top support 608 and a bottom support 610 extend from the backing member 602 on either side of the T-shaped connection member 606 10 and are adapted to abut the female connection formation 232 of the shelf lip 200. In use, the first lighting member 304 (as shown in figure 2) illuminates products, typically bottles (not shown) which are arranged on the shelf 500 (as shown in figure 1) above the first lighting member 304 (as shown in figure 2), the effect of this is that transparent or translucent bottles (not shown) transmit the 15 light emitted from the first lighting member 304 (as shown in figure 2), thus highlighting the bottles (not shown). The second lighting member 310 (as shown in figure 2) illuminates the front of the bottles (not shown) to further highlight them. The display assembly 400 (as shown in figure 5) is used to display messages to enhance the appearance of the products (not shown) which are 20 arranged on the shelf 500 (as shown in figure 1). The foregoing embodiments are illustrative only of the principles of the invention, and various modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways and in other embodiments. It is also to be understood that the 25 terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be 9 regarded as limiting. It will be clearly understood that any reference herein to background material or information, or to a prior publication, does not constitute an admission that any material, information or publication forms part of the common general 5 knowledge in the art, or is otherwise admissible prior art, whether in Australia or in any other country. In the present specification and claims (if any), the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers 10 unless the context of use indicates otherwise.

Claims (15)

1. A shelf connector adapted to connect to a shelf, the shelf connector comprising: a first floor member; 5 a first wall member extending from a first side of the first floor member, the first wall member adapted to engage with a first lighting member; a second floor member offset from the first floor member; and a second wall member extending from a second side of the second floor member, the second wall member adapted to engage with a second lighting 10 member, the second wall member further defining a connection formation.

2. A shelf connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a support member extending between the first floor member and the second floor member. 15

3. A shelf connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shelf connector further comprises: a first opposing wall member opposing the first wall member and adapted to engage with the first light member. 20

4. A shelf connector according to claim 3, wherein the first opposing wall member comprises an upper protrusion and a lower protrusion adapted to retain the first light member. 25 5. A shelf connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein 11 the shelf connector further comprises: a second opposing wall member opposing the second wall member and adapted to engage with the second light member.

5

6. A shelf connector according to claim 5, wherein the second opposing wall member comprises an upper protrusion and a lower protrusion adapted to retain the second light member.

7. A shelf connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein 10 the first wall member comprises an upper protrusion and a lower protrusion adapted to retain the first light member.

8. A shelf connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second wall member comprises an upper protrusion and a lower protrusion 15 adapted to retain the second light member.

9. A shelf connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shelf connector further comprises: a clip adapted to connect to the shelf. 20

10 A shelf connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second floor member is adapted to at least partially abut the shelf.

11. A shelf connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further 25 comprising a display assembly connected to the connection formation. 12

12. A shelf connector according to claim 11 wherein the display assembly comprises: a display housing; and 5 an electronic display adapted to be at least partially housed in the display housing.

13. A shelf connector according to claim 12, wherein the electronic display comprises an array of LEDs. 10

14. A shelf connector according to claim 11, wherein the display assembly comprises: a backing member a cover member adapted to at least partially overlay the backing 15 member and adapted to secure a sign to the backing member.

15. A shelf connector substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. 20