CA2515874A1

CA2515874A1 - Merchandiser assembly

Info

Publication number: CA2515874A1
Application number: CA002515874A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Henry R. Kin
Original assignee: Kin Products Inc.; Henry R. Kin
Current assignee: Kin Products Inc
Priority date: 2004-08-12
Filing date: 2005-08-12
Publication date: 2006-02-12
Also published as: US20060108307A1

Abstract

A merchandiser assembly includes a base and a plurality of support hoops having lower ends, wherein the lower ends may be secured adjacent to the base.
The hoops may define a gap formed between the hoops for containing rolled articles from movement in a transverse direction. The assembly further comprises a rest rail attached across the gap so as to contain rolled articles from movement in a forward direction perpendicular to said transverse direction. The rest rail may include a rest surface and be adjustable between a tall and short orientation, wherein when the rest rail is in the tall orientation, the rest surface is at a greater distance from the base than when the rest rail is in the short orientation, so as to allow the rail to be adjusted to support rolled articles of multiple lengths.

Description

1V1ERCHANbISEat ASS.EMSLY
TrIenxy A. Kin ' Christopher A. Kin FIEY.D OF I 'VEhTTYON
This invention relates to an assembly for transporting and displaying rugs.
BACKGR,O~J1~TD OF T~~NT10N
Tn the rug industry, xnariufaCturcrs design and produce rugs for shipment to ! distributors and/or vExldois. Orice produced, it is desired that the rugs be packaged in a manner to allow easy loadinglunloading of the rugs onto/off of a truck. rn the past, manufacturers would roll the rugs and place them leng~hwisc on pallets. The problem with this approach ~ was that pallet loaders or forklifts had difficulty accessing the a pallet and loading the pallet full of nlgs on the truck. To solve this problem, manufacturers began using open top merchandiser assemblies so that bugs could be stood an end (e.g. vertically) within the cage of the assembly. However, these merchandiser assemblies proved to be weak and often failed due to the vc~eight of the heavy stacked. rugs. In addition, as vendors desired to display rugs in the same assemblies in which the rugs were shipped, stronger, mo~'e functional assemblies were i needed_ As such, there is a need for durable rnerchaxadiscr assemblies configured to '.' secure a number of rugs during transport and display.
! SUMMARY OF THE 1<N''VENTLON
Aecordingiy, the present invention 15 intended to address and obviate 'CIO problems and shortcomings and otherwise improve previous merchandiser assemblies.
A merchandiser aSSembiy comprising a base, a plurality of support hoops having lovnex ends, wherein the lower ends are secured at~jaccnt to the bast wherein the hoops detlrle a gap formed therebetween for containing rolled axticles from ~ 25 movement in a transverse direction, axed a rest rail attached across the gap so as to Contain rolled articles fxoxn movement in a forward direction perpendicular to the transverse direction comprising a rest surface and being adjustable between a tall and f short orientation, wheTCin when the zest rail is itt. the tall orientation, the rest surface is at a greater distance from the base than when the lest rail is in the short orientation, so as to allow the rail to be adjusted to support rolled articles o~multiple lengths.
To achicwc the foregoing, a merchandiser assembly may comprise a base, a l plurality of support hoops having lower ends, wherein said lower ends may be secured to the bast. The assembly may further comprise a rest rail having a rest 5urfacc and a tall and short ozientation, wheTelr! when in said tall orientation, said rest surface is at a i greater distance from said base than when said rest rail is in: said short orientation.
To still further achieve the foregoing, a merchandiser assembly may coxrrprise 10. a base, a plurality of support hoops having lower ends, a bast arm mount secured to the base, the base axm. mount comprising a plurality of apeztures conftguxed to removeably receive the lower ends of the support hoops, and a rest rail comprising a plurality of orientations, wherein the rest rail is configured to be removeably secured to at least one of the support hoops.
To etih further achieve the foregoizzg, a merchandiser assembly may comprise a base, a plurality of support hoops having lower ends, a plurality vFbase arm mounts secured to the base, the bast arm mounts comprising a plurality of apertures configured to removeably receive the lower ends of the support hoops, and a rest rail I
comprising a rest surface arid a tall and short orientation, and wherein when the test rail is in the tall orientation, the rest surface is at a greater distance from the base than a when the rest rail ie in the short orientation.
Still other embodiments, combinations and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art $om the following descriptions wherein there arc shown and described alternative illustrative embodiments of this invention for illusuation ~5 purposes. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different aspects, objects and embodiments all v~ritlnout depat'ting from the scope of the invention.
Accordingly, ihc drawings and description should be regarded as illustrative and illustrative in nature only and not as restrictive.
l~> ~ DESCRIPTION OF T'A» DR~WING6 i ~ 30 It is believed that the pxesent invention will be bettor understood Exam the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
i Z

' FIG. 1 is an exploded pexspcctive vie~uv of a merchandiser assembly in accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. Z is a perspective view o'f an assembled merchandiser assembly of FIG. 1 with a rug secured therein.
: DET~fr En DESCRIPTION OF YLL'USTR.~T» EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawing figuz'es in detail, wherein like numerals indicate the ' same clcxnents throughout the drawil~g figures, FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of the merchandiser assembly 10 according to one illustrative embodiment of the present ~ invention. As illustrated, the merchandiser assembly 10 may comprise a base 12, a IO pair of base artri mounts 20, a plurality of support hoops 30, a rest rail 40 and a rear ' rail S0. As discussed later herein, and illustrated in FIG. 2, these and other components can be fitted together to farm a merchandiser assennbly for transporCing ~ and displaying rugs 17 and other articles of v~urivus sixes in a eo~nve~nient aid space efficient manner. Moreover, while the present invention is described as being used with transporting and displaying tugs, other products rrxay be used in association with the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, base 12 of merchandiser assembly 10 is ihuetrated as connprising a pallet typo design. More particularly, pallet 12 may eomprisE
a plurality of spaced slats 1~4 secured to a frame 16. The design allows vertically

2,0 displayed lugs to rest in between the spaced slats 14. For example, as illustrated in ~ FIG. 2, corner 18 of rolled rug 17 may rest between slats 14a and 14b. This design may assist in keeping the rolled rugs 17 in a vertical orientation. Pallet design is also useful as it provides channels 19 for acceptixlg forks of a forklift and/or a pallet loader for transporting the merchandiser assembly about a display surface or from/to a transport truck. Of course any base may be used such as, for example, a base comprising a solid sheaf in place of the slats with a plurality of holes out therein so as i to accept and secure a rolled rug.
In order to secure support hoops 30 to base 12, a pair of base arm mounts 20 may be used. As illustrated, each base arm mount ZO may comprise a generally U
;30 shaped configuration with 3 number of support hoop apertures 22 therein.
In addition, base arm mount ZO may comprise a mount lip 24 and upper and lower prop lips 26a

3 and 26b. Although a pair of base arm mounts 20 are illustrated, any numbor of base arm mounts 20 may be uscd_ Base ann mount 20 xnay be secured to the bast 12 and be conf gored to ' teleseopingly rcceiva the support hoops 30. More particularly, mount lip 24 of bast S ~ arm mount 20 may be positioned located on slat 14 of base 12 and then be secured thereto by drilling fasteners 2~ through holes 28 located in the mount lip 24 and into slat 14 of base 12. As ihustrated in FrG. 2, base arm mounts 20 may be secured to base 12 at the outer edge thereof. However, it is contemplSted that base aim mounts 20 may be secured at any location on the base. In addition, it should be understood 10. that base arm mounts 20 may comprise any apparatus or assembly configured to receive and maintaia support hoops 30 in a desired position.
As illustrated, merchandiser assembly may also comprise a plurality of Support hoops 30. BetweEn these Support hoop9 30, a gap may be is formed so that rugs xnay ba inserted and maintained during transport andlor display. More 1 S particularly, rugs or other rolled articles positioned within the gaps arc contained from movement in a transverse direction. While rugs may be able to move side to side to the adjacent hoop, such rugs era contained sufficiently to prevent the rugs from falling to the ground side tv side.
Each support hoop 30 may comprise two support arms 32 and a divider atm 34 f0 to form a generally U-shaped Configuration or hoop. Support and divider arm 32 and 34 may comprise indi~ridual components tclaseopingly fitted together, or in another cmbodimant, may comprise a single piece, such as a single post bent into a U-shaped configuration. Of course, in another embodiment "support hoops" nnay actually ' comprise a wall or ocher such divider for rugs or articles tapablc of eontainung the 25 ea~me. Accordingly, the use of the term "hoop" is not intended to connote a stnlCtural limitation. ~ Upper and lower ends 32a and 32b of support arms 32 or hoop 30 may comprise openings 36 and 38 for accepting one or more fasteners discussed below.
As shown, merchandiser assembly ZO comprises four support hoops 30.
~owcver, any number of Support hoops 30 nxay be secured to any desired sire base, 30 As previously discussed., support hoops may be telescopingly received in base arra mounts 20 at support hoop apertures 20. More particularly, lower end 32b and support hoop 30 may be received in upper and lower aperiurcs 22a and 22b of base arms mounts 20 and be secured thereto with, for example, a fastener, or other locking arrangement. Tn one embodiment, lower end 32a of support hoop 30 may rest vn base

4 f 12 (e.g. FIGS. 1-Z). In azto'ther embodiment, lower end 32a of support hoop 30 may rest on support at7m mount 20. In addition, aside from resting on base x 2, lower ends 32b of support hoops 30 arc similarly stabili2ed against upper and lower prop lips 26a and 26b of base arm mounts 20. Because of this design, the support hoops 30 of the ~ present invention can support heavy loads, such as rolled nxgB between respective . support hoops 30.
' Merchandiser assembly 10 may also comprise a rest rail 40 configured to be removably secured to one or mvrc support arms 30. More particularly, rust rail may comprise upper and lower rail apertures 42 and 44 each configured to be secured ~ to support atm openings 36, depending on the desired orientaxion of the rest rail d0.
The rest rail 40 may be configured to provide a surface for one or more vertically . rolled rugs 17 to or other articles rest against (see FIG. 2). In addition, rest rail 40 may be re1'novablc so as to load anti unload merchandiser assembly, Of course, a number of components or combinations of components can be used to provide a surface to 15, prevent or inhibit movement of the rugs in a forward direction.
Accordingly, use of the term, "rail" should net be limited in structure as other such components (e.g,, divider, barrier, etC.) can be used.
In use, rest rail 40 may be attached across one or more gap so ae to contain.
! rolled artlcleS from raovement in a forward direction perpcindicular to the transverse 2b direction discussed above. Such eontairament of forward movement can mean ' prevention of the rugs from falling forward or backward. (depending on the location of the rest rail) to the ground. Limited movement perpendicular to the txansve~c side-to-side direction discussed above may be appropriate when the merchandiser is not full.
25 It is a Feature of the present invention that rolled rugs 17 of various sizes znay be acconrimodated by switching the rest rail from tall and short orientations.
By way of example, if the rolled rug 1? of FIC. 2 was a 8x11 rug (e.g. $ foot wide, arid therefore, 8 foot tall in the merchandiser assembly 10), rest rail 40 may be conffgured in its tall orientation as shown (e.g. rail apertures 44 aligned and seCtt~Ced to Support 30 arm openings 36) so that a taller mllcd nag dons not fall out of merclaandlser assembly r because rest Surface 46 is higher. However, if a Gx9 rug were inserted into the merchandiser assembly 10 of FIG. 2 (e.g., an assembly with the rest rail in the tall orientation), the rug may fall under test rail 40 and onto a display surface.
Accordingly, rest rail 40 rosy be switched tv its lower orientation (e.g_ rail apertures i 42 aligned end secured to support arm openings 36) to provide a suppoxt suzface 46 for smaller siaed rugs. It is contemplated that if larger rigs ate to be transported or ' displayed, the rest rail 40 will be secured in its tall orientation (e.g., FIG. 2).
It should be understood that although rest rail 40 is illustrated ae being fixedly ~ secured to two support hoops 30 (e.g. rail apertures 42 or 44 aligned and secured to support arm openings 36), a number of alternative embodiments are conterraplated.
For example, rest rail 40 may be configured to be tclescopingly received by support hoops 30 such as at the outermost support hoops, botween adjacent support hoops or ' intermittent support hoops. Such may bs accomplished by providing apertures ~ovithin ~ support hoops and securing rest raid therein thorough snap locks or other convention locking devices. Jn addition, although rest rail 40 is lllusttated ax being located toward the outer end of support hoops 30, any type of test rail may be located at any position along support hoops andlor base.
Rear rail 50 is illustrated and Configured to prevent one or rxiore rolled rugs 17 15i from falling out of the rear of the merchandiser assembly 10. As illustrated, rear rail 50 ntay be eonftgured to be fixedly secured to one or more support hoops 30 such se at opemings 36. This embodimcuit may be desired when rugs are being transported and increased stability of the merchandiser assembly 10 is preferred. However, in another embodiment, rear rail may be selectively removable fKOm one or all support hoops 30. Such cxnbodiment may be desired when the mcxehandiser assembly 10 is used to display rugs. More particularly, if a customer desires to purchase a rug displayed in the meschandiser asseIribly 10, a vendor can simply remove rear rail 50 at~d remove the rolled rugs from the adjacent support hoops (assuming the desired rug is not first in linc)_ Once removed, vendor can reattach rear rail 50- Ix~
such err~bodiment, the rear rail 30 may bo secured to one or more support hoops through a snap and lock assembly, or other looking arrangenctent. The rear rail SO may be configured to be removable from the all of tile Support hoops 30 or simply betvrreen adjacent support hoops, such as 30a and 30b (see FI(1. Z). Such may be accomplished by, for example, providing hinges between adjacent rear rail pieces and cortesponding f30 to the support hoops 30, Of course, as discussed, it is contemplated that rest rail 40 may eixnilarly be removed to load and unload rugs in the merchandise assembly.
Otae of the aspects of the present invention, as previously discussed, ie that the merchandiser assembly can be used to transport and display rolled rugs. It is contemplated that the merchandiser assembly 10 can be modular so that each can be i i i individually broken down and shipped to a vendor and/or manufacturer. For example, if a manufacturer has rugs to be shipped, the broken down merchandiser assembly can be delivered to the manufacturer in a packaged container. The nri.anufacturer may then use its own bast (e.g., a pallet where applicable or desired) and construct the ; merchandiser assembly as discussed above. The manufacturer may then load the merchandiser assembly full of rugs for transport to a vendor. Because the nncrchandiser asserably is designed tv adapt to a conventional pallet, the constructed assembly with pallet base may be loaded onto a truck and shipped to a vendor.
Once received by the vendor, the vendor may unload fine merchandiser assembly from the 10: truck and place the assembly directly in a display room, thus eliminating the step of ' unloading each individual rug and transferring the same to a display rack.
In addition.
if a vendor has rugs from a manufacturer that dace not utilize the merchandiser a assembly, the same broken down packaged mcrchandieer assembly can be Sliippcd to the vendor, aseEmbled and use Solely to display any number of rugs. As such, the present invention provides a stable assembly for transporting and displaying rugs.
The foregoing description of the various embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be ' exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many alternatives.
modifications and variations will be apparetlt i0 those skilled in the art of the above 2~U teaching. Poi exrunple, the merchandiser asscimblies in accordance with the prescztt lxwentivn may display rugs of Varying sizes and shapes in a variety of different arrangements and can include bases, um base mouixts and support hoops organized in a variety of arrangements. Accordingly, while some of the altemativc embodiments of the merchandiser 2,ssernbly have been discussed specifically, other embodiments ~5 will be appatent of relatively easily developed by those o~ ordinary skill in the art.
Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications and v variations that have been discussed herein.
.
I

Claims

WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A merchandiser assembly comprising:
a base;
a plurality of support hoops having lower ends, wherein said lower ends are secured adjacent to said base and wherein said hoops define a gap formed therebetween for containing rolled articles from movement in a transverse direction;
and a rest rail attached across said gap so as to contain rolled articles from movement in a forward direction perpendicular to said transverse direction, said rest rail comprising a rest surface and being adjustable between a tall and short orientation, wherein when said rest rail is in said tall orientation, said rest surface is at a greater distance from said base than when said rest rail is in said short orientation, so as to allow the rail to be adjusted to support rolled articles of multiple lengths.

2. The merchandiser assembly of claim 1, wherein said rest rail is removeably secured to at least one of said support hoops.

3. The merchandiser assembly of claim 1, wherein said lower ends of said support hoops are removeably secured to said base.

4. The merchandiser assembly of claim 1, wherein said merchandiser assembly further comprises a base arm mount having a plurality of apertures configured to removeably receive said lower ends of said support hoops.

5. The merchandiser assembly of claim 4, wherein said lower ends of said plurality of said support hoops are removeably secured to said base arm mount.

6. The merchandiser assembly of claim 4, wherein said base arm mount further comprises a mount lip configured to secure said base arm mount to said base.

7. The merchandiser assembly of claim 1, wherein said base is a pallet.

8. The merchandiser assembly of claim 1 further comprising a rear rail.

9. The merchandiser assembly of claim 1, wherein said base comprises channels configured to receive forks of a forklift.

10. The merchandiser assembly of claim 1, wherein said articles are rugs.

11. A merchandiser assembly comprising:
a base;
a plurality of support hoops having lower ends;
a base arm mount secured adjacent to said base, said base arm mount comprising a plurality of apertures configured to removeably receive said lower ends of said support hoops; and a rest rail having a plurality of orientations, wherein said rest rail is configured to be removeably secured to at least one of said support hoops.

12. The merchandiser assembly of claim 11, wherein said rest rail further comprises a rest surface, and wherein when said rest rail is in said tall orientation, said rest surface is at a greater distance from said base than when said rest rail is in said short orientation.

13. The merchandiser assembly of claim 11, wherein said lower ends of said plurality of said support hoops are removeably secured to said base arm mount.

14. The merchandiser assembly of claim 11, wherein said base arm mount is further comprised of mount lips configured to secure said base arm mount to said base.

15. A merchandiser assembly comprising:
a base;
a plurality of support hoops having lower ends;
a plurality of base arm mounts secured adjacent to said base, said base arm mounts comprising a plurality of apertures configured to removeably receive said lower ends of said support hoops; and a rest rail comprising a rest surface and a tall and short orientation, and wherein when said rest rail is in said tall orientation, said rest surface is at a greater distance from said base than when said rest rail is an said short orientation.

16. The merchandiser assembly of claim 15, wherein said rest rail is removeably secured to at least one of said support hoops.