EP1404198B1 - Shelf box-type modular element and display - Google Patents

Abstract

A shelf box-type modular elements for stacking and presenting two-dimensional piece goods in a substantially vertical orientation, which elements can be introduced into a rack or frame. The modular elements are trays that are parallel-piped in at least their ends zones, with an angle (alpha, beta, gamma) smaller 90°, that remain open towards the top and that have a low-cut portion on the front wall. The front wall can also be transparent. A display consisting of a rack or frame includes at least one vertical compartment, open towards the front, and having trays introduced individually one on top of the other. The lateral walls and the intermediate walls of the vertical compartment(s) are provided with elements fro introducing and fixing the trays at an angle. The elements are arranged in such a manner that the front wall and the lateral walls of the trays extend in a substantially vertical orientation.

Description

The invention relates to a shelf-box-like modular elements according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a display of a stand or frame with at least one open-front, vertical chamber, a lid, and a base, which chamber filled with individually stacked trays is.

More recently, efforts have been made increasingly for areal cargo to not only transport, store and offer them in a sales rack, but also to place them in the customer's field of vision through representative and rational displays. These displays should be suitable at the same time by simple additional measures to transport the flat-shaped cargo.

Chocolate tablets as an example of flat-shaped piece goods are usually offered in a range carton, the panels are arranged in subjects horizontally or vertically. In one case, as in the other case, the customer takes the desired product from him according to his needs. Thus, the individual stacks offer a very different height or depth. The store staff must, if the overall impression of the customer is positive, constantly provide for refilling and an orderly presentation, which is associated with significant additional costs. Particularly in the case of a large distributor, satisfactory displays are still missing today, which solve all requirements in an optimal way.

In the US, A 5322172 is a foldable display with also foldable trays for receiving flat cargo disclosed. The trays are formed in x, y and z direction at right angles and have a front Décolleté. Taken out piece goods require a manual Nachschieben in the direction of the Front side.

The German utility model G 8706580.0 shows a floor display or the like. With individual superimposed and each inclined arranged at the top substantially open goods carriers. These are placed on a floor in a rack. The goods carriers are formed substantially cuboid. The inserted tabular product rests on the obliquely protruding front. When removing a panel, the remaining panels slip.

The inventor has set itself the task to improve transport, presentation, removal and replenishment of flat-shaped cargo with at least constant cost-effectiveness. These flat-shaped piece goods should be stacked and presented vertically in a shelf-box-like modular elements, for which purpose the individual elements should be able to be introduced into a stand or into a frame.

With regard to the modular elements, the object is achieved according to the invention by the characterizing part of patent claim 1. Special and further developing embodiments of the trays are the subject of dependent claims.

Regarded as trays shelf-box-like modular elements, which are pushed, hung or placed in a stand or in a frame, have long been known. However, these known trays are always cuboid or cube-shaped. A pleasing or even striking presentation option is lost as a rule.

A parallelepiped, a basic geometrical concept, is a three-dimensional body bounded on all sides by parallelograms, where at least one parallelogram is not a rectangle or a square. In the case of the present invention, at least the base area is a non-rectangular parallelogram educated. Preferably, however, the side surfaces, the front and rear walls are not rectangular or square designed.

The bottom surface of the parallelepiped-shaped tray is generally planar, according to the stacked flat-shaped piece goods. However, if these piece goods have a non-planar support surface or a non-straight support edge, the bottom surface of the tray may be formed in a corresponding shape. For example, in standing stacked flat boxes, the bottom surface of the tray may be formed in the middle region according to cylinder jacket. Obviously, this is advantageous over a flat bottom because the tray does not need to have any special guide rails or the like. Next, a depressed guide groove in the tray bottom is advantageous in not over the entire width of the tray extending piece goods.

The flat piece goods placed in the tray must automatically slide forward even at a relatively small angle of inclination of the tray. In other words, the bottom surface of the tray must be as smooth as possible and have a low coefficient of friction. If this is not given by the material of the tray, the bottom surface is coated accordingly. Of course, with product-specific designed bottom surfaces of the tray, an automatic slipping must also be geometrically possible.

• aus Wellpappe ausgestanzt und gefaltet werden,
• aus Metallblech ausgestanzt und abgekantet werden, oder
• aus Kunststoffspritzteil ausgebildet sein.

Basically, the trays must be made of a sufficiently rigid material, the expert takes into account the weight, dimensions, shape and lubricity of the piece goods to be stacked. For example, the trays can

• be punched out of corrugated cardboard and folded,
• punched and folded from sheet metal, or
• be formed of plastic injection molded part.

Of course, the production also takes into account economic and ecological criteria. In the case of non-flat bottom of the tray, the spraying of plastics is particularly or exclusively suitable, whereby attention is also paid to disposal.

After a significant development of the invention, in particular, the pairwise mirror-symmetrical or plane-symmetrical design of the trays offers. After placing the trays in a display, the front sides of the trays form a "zig-zag surface", which is better visible from all oblique positions than a flat end face.

Obviously, the essentially parallelepiped-shaped trays according to the present invention are not suitable for being inserted into a stand or a rack of conventional design.

With respect to the display, the object is achieved in that the side and the intermediate walls of the vertical chambers have means for obliquely introducing and fixing the trays, which means are arranged such that the end wall and the side surfaces of the trays are approximately perpendicular, wherein the Floor surface relative to the horizontal forward an angle (90 ° - β) corresponding inclination angle (β ') and laterally the angle (90 ° - y) corresponding inclination angle (γ') have. Specific and further developing embodiments are the subject of dependent claims.

The means for obliquely introducing and fixing the trays are therefore dependent on the geometry of the trays with respect to their location. Except in the special case of the rectangular or square front of the trays, they must be inclined not only because of slipping forward, but also laterally so that all side walls of the trays are aligned approximately vertically. By about vertical is here understood a deviation from the vertical of at most 5 °, preferably at most 2 °. The vertical orientation as possible of all side surfaces of the substantially parallelepiped-shaped trays in the display has a practical background, otherwise the stand or racks would have to be made more complicated, user-friendly and unfriendly.

The number and arrangement of the vertical chambers in the displays is in principle arbitrary, it is determined by practical and visual factors. In most cases, the chambers are arranged side by side so that in pairs alternately planymmetric trained trays form a "zig-zag surface" with its end wall. For manufacturing reasons, one or at most a few standard masses are desired for the trays and the displays are adapted accordingly. The displays, in turn, should preferably be dimensioned so that they have the mass of standard pallets with respect to their base area, in the case of smaller embodiments, half or a quarter thereof. The stand or the frame can also be designed so that on the front and back of a "zigzag" front side of the display can be formed, which is easy to see.

For the transport of the displays only, as is known, a stülper, d. H. an adapted hood, down to the base or applied beyond this and fixed with a strapping.

The displays according to the invention with trays according to the invention are suitable for transport, stacking, presentation and removal of area-wide piece goods of all kinds, for example chocolate bars, compact discs (CD), books and at least semi-rigid bags.

• Durch die Schrägstellung der Stirnseite der Trays im Display wird mehr Raum gewonnen, sodass bei gegebenen Platzverhältnissen mehr flächig ausgebildete Stückgüter nebeneinander präsentiert werden können. Eine optimale Frontansicht ergibt sich bei alternierender Anordnung von Trays mit "Zick-Zackfläche, bei welcher von jedem Standpunkt aus betrachtet ein optimaler Blickwinkel besteht.
• Die erfindungsgemässe Geometrie erlaubt bei Entnahme des vordersten Produktes ein automatisches Nachrutschen dank der Schwerkraft. Das Nachrutschen erfolgt stets in stabiler Lage, ein Umkippen der Stückgüter nach hinten ist dank der Geometrie der Trays ausgeschlossen.
• Es ist eine unveränderte Präsentation der Produkte, insbesondere des Brandes bzw. der Marke, während der Entnahmezeit im Detailgeschäft möglich.
• Das Display an sich kann vielfältig ausgebildet sein, beispielsweise reihenförmig mit Vorderseite, mit Vorder- und Rückseite, halbzylinderförmig oder vollzylinderförmig. In allen Ausführungsformen kann eine ausserordentlich hohe Stabilität erreicht werden.
• Bei einem halb abverkauften Display können teilweise oder volle Trays modular ausgewechselt werden.

In addition to an always desired very good presentation of the product with optical effects of the entire display, the invention has the following advantages:

• Due to the inclination of the front side of the trays in the display more space is gained, so that given space, more flat-shaped cargo can be presented side by side. An optimal front view is obtained with alternating arrangement of trays with "zig-zag surface, in which there is an optimal viewing angle from every point of view.
• The inventive geometry allows for removal of the foremost product automatic slipping thanks to gravity. The slipping always takes place in a stable position, tipping the piece goods backwards is excluded thanks to the geometry of the trays.
• It is an unchanged presentation of the products, especially the brand or the brand, during the removal time in the detail business possible.
• The display itself can be designed in many ways, for example in rows with front side, front and back, semi-cylindrical or fully cylindrical. In all embodiments, an extraordinarily high stability can be achieved.
• In a half-sold-out display, partial or full trays can be replaced modularly.

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Trays
• Fig. 2 eine aus Wellpappe ausgestanzte Grundform eines bezüglich Fig. 1 spiegelbildlich ausgebildeten Trays zum Falten,
• Fig. 3 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Displays mit Trays,
• Fig. 4 eine Ansicht einer Mittelstütze eines Displays,
• Fig. 5 eine Ansicht einer ungefalteten seitlichen Stützwand eines Displays,
• Fig. 6 eine Ansicht einer ungefalteten langen Zwischenwand,
• Fig. 7 eine Ansicht einer ungefalteten kurzen Zwischenwand,
• Fig. 8 eine Draufsicht auf eine Steckverbindung, und
• Fig. 9 eine doppelte Steckverbindung der Seitenwand des Displays.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawing, which are also the subject of dependent claims. They show schematically:

• Fig. 1 a perspective view of a tray
• Fig. 2 a blank out of corrugated cardboard basic form of a respect Fig. 1 mirror-inverted trays for folding,
• Fig. 3 a perspective view of a display with trays,
• Fig. 4 a view of a center support of a display,
• Fig. 5 a view of an unfolded lateral support wall of a display,
• Fig. 6 a view of an unfolded long partition,
• Fig. 7 a view of an unfolded short partition,
• Fig. 8 a plan view of a connector, and
• Fig. 9 a double connector of the side wall of the display.

An in Fig. 1 illustrated Tray 10 consists of in Fig. 2 Plan illustrated rigid corrugated cardboard. The parallelogram-shaped structure of the parallelepiped-shaped tray 10 is given its stable shape by four adhesive tabs 12, 14.

The bottom or the bottom surface 16 is parallelogram-shaped, with in this case an angle α of 60 to 85 °, preferably 65 to 75 °, most conveniently about 70 °. The data refer to the old division with 360 ° for the full extent. From the bottom surface 16 are punched out an arcuate recess 18 and four locking lugs 20, the latter extending in the plane of two parallel side walls 22, which are also formed parallelogram-shaped. The side walls have an angle β. Run parallel also a closed rear wall formed 24 and an end wall 26, which are also parallelogram-shaped and inclined at an angle γ. From the front wall 26 in the present case two décolletés remain in the region of the side walls 22.

It is easy to see that the tray 10 has the basic shape of a parallelepiped with parallelogram-shaped surfaces on all sides. In contrast to the angle β, which is in the same angular range as the angle α, wherein the two angles can be equal or unequal, the angle γ is in the range of 70 to 90 °, preferably 75 to 85 °, expediently at about 80 °, always relative to the horizontal.

In Fig. 3 a display 30 is shown with trays 10 introduced into five chambers 32. Although shown only in one tray, all the trays 10 are filled with approximately vertically arranged, flat-shaped packaged goods 34.

The trays 10 are inserted into the stand or the frame 36 of the display 30 in such a way that the bottom 16 is at an angle β 'ie 90 ° -β, forwards and in the direction of a lateral support wall 38 at an angle y', ie 90 °. γ, is inclined (see in each case Fig. 1 ). In this way, the side walls 22, the rear wall 24 and the end wall 26 of the trays 10 are arranged approximately vertically in the display 30.

• Das Display 30 ist beidseits offen, es können also auch von hinten Trays 10 eingebracht werden.
• Die Kammern 32a und 32b, ebenfalls die Kammern 32c und 32d haben alternierend eine lange Zwischenwand 42 und eine kurze Zwischenwand 44. Die Länge dieser Zwischenwände 42, 44 ist an die Trays 10 angepasst. So bildet die Stirnfläche des Displays eine "Zick-zackfläche", was durch die Linie 46 angedeutet ist. Es ist bereits erwähnt worden, dass dank dieser Massnahme die Stirnwand des Displays 30 bzw. die zur Verfügung stehende Stirnwand 26 und damit Stückgüter 34 aus allen Blickwinkeln besser erkennbar sind.

Out Fig. 3 , which is drawn without lid and without base, the following details can be seen:

• The display 30 is open on both sides, so it can also be introduced from behind trays 10.
• The chambers 32a and 32b, also the chambers 32c and 32d have alternately a long partition wall 42 and a short partition wall 44. The length of these partition walls 42, 44 is adapted to the trays 10. Thus, the end face of the display forms a "zig-zag surface", which is indicated by the line 46. It has already been mentioned that, thanks to this measure, the front wall of the display 30 or the available end wall 26 and thus piece goods 34 can be better recognized from all points of view.

In the side walls 38 and all partitions 42, 44 punching slots 40 are mounted, which determine the mentioned position of the trays 10. At the side walls 38 double plug connections 48 ( Fig. 9 ) at the intermediate walls 42, 44 connectors 50 ( Fig. 8 ) passed through these punching slots and with the locking lugs 20 ( Fig. 1 ) of the trays 10 locked. The trays 10 thus act in the manner of cross struts and give the whole display 10 a very solid stability.

Fig. 4 shows an in Fig. 3 unrecognizable central support 52, this consists as the side walls 38 and partitions 42, 44 of a solid, rigid corrugated board. In the Fig. 4 shown punching slots 58 of the central support 52 are vertically aligned and are used to receive Verrastnasen 54 of the intermediate walls 42, 44 (FIG. Fig. 6 . 7 ). The locking lugs 56 of the central support 52 in turn are in vertical punching slots 58 of the side walls 38 (FIG. Figure 5 ) of the display. Finally, from the central support 52 upper and lower grooves 60, 62 for receiving Verrastelementen of only indicated by dashed lines Cover 64 and socket 66 is formed.

In Fig. 5 is an unfolded sidewall 38 of the display 30 (FIG. Fig. 3 ). The two side flaps are folded along the two double drawn fold lines 68 and glued together. In this case, the punched slots 40, 58 are each exactly above the other. As mentioned, the punch slots 40 take the double connector 48 (FIG. Fig. 3 ) the punching slots 58 the Verrastnasen 56 of the central support 52 ( Fig. 4 ) on. All the punching slots 40 are also arranged at an angle β ', both on the front and on the back. The angle β '(90 ° -β) defines the slope forward of the bottom 16 of all the trays 10.

The likewise along a double drawn fold line 68 foldable and glued long intermediate wall 42 according to Fig. 6 has with its punching grooves 40 on the inclination angle β 'of the bottom 16 of the trays 10. After folding, the punched slots 40 lie exactly above one another. The locking lugs 54 are, as mentioned, introduced into the vertical slots 58 of the central support 52. The distance a1 from the top edge 70 determines the level of all punch slots 40, which are always the same distance apart.

The short partition 44 according to Fig. 7 differs from Fig. 6 , according to the name, in their width. Further, the distance a2 of the uppermost punching slot 40 from the upper edge 72 is slightly smaller than the distance a1 of the long intermediate wall 42. This results in the inclination γ '(90 ° - γ) of the bottom 16 of the trays 10 toward a side wall 22. As above mentioned, by the inclinations β 'and γ' of the bottom surface 16, the side walls 22, the rear wall 24 and the end wall 26 are approximately vertically in the display 30 (FIGS. Fig. 3 ) arranged.

In Fig. 8 is a connector 50 according to Fig. 3 shown in detail. Two spaced apart borders 74 each have an opening 76 and a connecting web 78. The flush-formed plug-in connections 50 are pushed with the borders 74 by a respective punching slot 40 of an intermediate wall 42, 44 until the web 78 abuts. When introducing the trays 10 into a vertical chamber 32, the locking lugs 20 (FIG. Fig. 1 ) in the space indicated by a dashed lines intermediate wall 42, 44 and a border 74 of the opening 76 encountered until the bottom 16 of a tray 10 rests on the flat connector 50. The locking lugs 20 ensure an automatic, solid locking, which also the stability of the whole display 30 (FIG. Fig. 3 ) elevated.

Finally, in Fig. 9 a double connector 48, which in Fig. 3 is recognizable, shown in detail. The four borders 74 with the openings 76 are bent at right angles to the same side. The two border pairs 74 arranged at a distance b are pushed into the corresponding punched slots 40 of the side wall 38, wherein the distance b corresponds to a module height.

The visible from the outside double connectors 48 in the side walls 38 may be coated with a decorative cover sheet, not shown, which further improves the stability, protects against damage and / or has appropriate advertising information.

The side wall 38 of the display 30 is indicated only by dashed lines, when inserting trays 10 locking tabs 20 are pressed into the space between side wall 38 and border 74, resulting in a further stabilizing locking.

Claims (5)

1. Rack-box-like module elements for the approximately vertical stacking and display of planar piece goods (34), which elements remain open at the top, have a low-cut portion (28) on the end wall (26), and/or at least this end wall is transparent, and can be introduced into a stand or into a framework (36),
   characterized in that
   the module elements are trays (10) which are of parallelepipedal form at least in the edge region and in the case of which the angle (α) of the edges of the base (16) of the tray (10) and the angle of inclination (β) of the rear and end walls (24, 26) thereof are in the region of in each case 60° - 85°, and the angle of inclination (γ) of the side walls (22) thereof is in the region of 70° - 90°.
2. Trays (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the angle (α) and the angle of inclination (β) are 65° - 75°, and the angle of inclination (γ) is 75° - 85°.
3. Trays (10) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the formation of at least two, preferably four, arresting noses (20) which project downwards in the region of the side walls (22).
4. Trays (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base (16) thereof is formed in a product-specific manner at a distance from the side walls (22), preferably in the form of cylinder casings or grooves in the direction of the end wall (26).
5. Trays (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the inner surface of the base (16) is coated or is designed to be smooth and with a low coefficient of friction.

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