GB2186728A

GB2186728A - Marketing device

Info

Publication number: GB2186728A
Application number: GB08603514A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David John Evans
Original assignee: Laughton and Sons Ltd
Current assignee: Laughton and Sons Ltd
Priority date: 1986-02-13
Filing date: 1986-02-13
Publication date: 1987-08-19
Also published as: GB8603514D0

Abstract

A display panel 10 with brackets 11 removably engaging holes in the panel is pre-loaded in the factory or distribution warehouse with goods mounted on cards 13 hung on the brackets. Assembly of the brackets and goods on the panel is made before despatch. On arrival at the customer's premises and at the point of sale the panel and other similar panels are each mounted by means of keyhole slots 14 engaging screws (22) Fig. 4 (not shown) on individual frame sections (16) erected one above the other on a floor-standing base unit (15) of a display stand. The frame sections (16) are modular and such that when separated and assembled side-by-side with the base unit they form a pack, the two larger dimensions of which are not significantly greater than the length and height of one frame section. The pack can be contained in a carton not much larger than the individual dimensions of the frame sections and base unit. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Marketing device This invention relates to a marketing device for displaying goods at the point of sale and to a display stand for supporting such a marketing device.

Display stands are known on which goods are displayed for sale suspended from brackets having cranked ends which engage holes in peg board forming a vertical surface of the stand. The positions of the brackets on the stand can be varied to suit the size of the item of merchandise or its packaging suspended from an individual bracket. The brackets usually extend horizontally and pass through apertures in packaging of several items of merchandise from which individual items are removed in turn as they are sold.

Display stands of this kind are usually erected, fitted with brackets and loaded with merchandise in the shop or other point of sale. This is laborious and time-consuming.

The introduction of new lines in the display is difficult and can involve substantial rearrangement of the merchandise on display.

According to a first aspect the present invention consists in a marketing device comprising a display panel, brackets removably engaging holes in the panel and goods preloaded on the brackets, the panel being adapted to be removably mounted on a display stand and supported in an upright position.

The marketing device is assembled and loaded with goods in the factory or distribution warehouse and sent out ready for immediate mounting on the display stand on arrival at the customer 5 premises. Assembly of the brackets and goods on the panel can be in a predetermined arrangement well suited to the particular collection of goods.

Introduction of a new line or lines is simplified by inclusion in a re-arrangement of the goods (and brackets, if necessary) on the panel at the factory or distribution warehouse.

In a preferred form of display stand two or more marketing devices are mountable one above the other, the panel of each marketing device being individually, removably mounted on the stand. The panels can then be re-arranged or removed and replaced by others for stock replenishment or the introduction of new lines. The stand may comprise a base unit capable of supporting the stand on the floor or other horizontal surface so that the panels are upright and frame sections removably supported on the base unit or another frame section, each section preferably being capable of supporting an individual panel. The stand itself when disassembled preferably being capable of being arranged to form a pack having major dimensions similar to those of one of the frame sections.When the dimensions of the frame sections are suitably chosen such a pack can be of a size which is convenient to handle and economical to transport.

According to this second aspect, the present invention consists in a display stand comprising a base unit for supporting the stand upright on a horizontal surface and two or more similar, generally flat, modular, frame sections; each frame section being provided with connecting means engageable with complementary means on the base unit or on another frame section to form a rigid display stand structure and the frame sections when separated and assembled side-by-side being capable of forming with the base unit a threedimensional pack the two larger dimensions of which are not significantly greater than the length and height of the frame section.

The frame sections are preferably provided with carrier means for display panels, for example, display panels of marketing devices according to the first aspect of the invention.

Each frame section is preferably similar in size to one display panel and has carrier means for supporting such a display panel.

The frame section may conveniently comprise tubular frame members of round, square or other cross-section. The connecting means and complementary means may then be formed by pegs, which may be solid or tubular, secured in, and extending axially from, the bore of frame members of one frame section for engagement with the open ended bore of a frame member of another frame section.

Each frame section may comprise a pair of parallel frame members which will be upright in the position of use and joined by one or more transverse members. When the upright frame members are of tube, pegs may be secured in their upper or lower ends, the opposite ends being left open to receive similar pegs of another frame section. The base unit may be provided with pegs or peg-receiving sockets appropriately to the arrangement of pegs on the upper or lower ends of the frame members of the frame sections.

At least the intermediate frame sections are preferably identical to one another. Each may be of H-shape but with the transverse frame member towards the upper end of the upright frame members. The uppermost frame member may be identical to the intermediate frame sections or of inverted U-shape, that is to say without any projection of the upright frame members above the transverse frame member.

Indeed all the frame sections may be of such an inverted U-section especially if the pegs are fitted to the lower ends of the upright frame members. The open upper ends of the upright members close to the junction with the transverse member will receive the pegs of the frame above. These open upper ends in the section chosen to be the uppermost frame section would not be obtrusive but, if desired, may be closed, for example, by a plastics plug. The base member needs to have a foot occupying, or feet spread over, an area large enough to ensure the stability of the erected display stand. When loaded panels are mounted on the display stand, because the goods extend forwards from the front face of the panels the centre of gravity of the loaded display stand is in front of the frame sections.

The connecting means or complementary means on the base is preferably situated towards the rear of the foot area of the base unit. The foot then projects further at the front of the stand than at the back. This projection may be used to support a container such as a tray or bin to hold other kinds of goods, more suitably held and displayed in this way. A display panel for a marketing device according to the first aspect of the invention would not normally be appropriate so close to the floor. Such a container makes good use of the space available at this level.

The base unit may conveniently be constructed from tube similar to that used for the frame sections. The foot of the base unit may be a rectanguiar frame of tube on opposite sides or ends of which are mounted connecting means or complementary means to engage the complementary means or connecting means respectively of a frame section. It is convenient then for the foot frame to have a width, that is the dimension parallel to the frame section mounted on it, equal to the corresponding dimension of the frame section.

The depth of the foot frame, that is the dimension from front to rear of the foot, must be sufficient to give stability but will generally be less than the width of the foot and the height of the frame sections.

These are the dimensions which affect the size of the three-dimensional pack which the separated components can form. In such a pack the frame sections are arranged side-byside. The base unit could be arranged with its foot alongside the frame sections and its connecting means or complementary means projecting through the frame sections to form a flat pack the thickness of which is little more than the combined diameters or equivalent cross-sectional dimensions of the members from which the frame sections and base unit are made. However, particularly when the display stand includes a base container, it may be more convenient to arrange the base unit in the pack with its foot at right angles to the frame sections. For example, the frame sections may stand side-by-side on the rear part of the base unit, that is to say behind the connecting or complementary means.The container can then be put on the front part of the base unit and any other components of the display stand on top of it. The whole pack so arranged can be accommodated in a carton of reasonable size the dimensions of which are little more than individual dimen signs of the frame sections and base unit, namely the width and height of the frame sections and the depth of the base unit.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a marketing device according to the invention, Figure 2 is a fragmentary end view of part of the marketing device of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a front view similar to Figure 1 but showing a different arrangement of goods, Figure 4 is an exploded, perspective view of a display stand on which marketing devices as shown in Figures 1 to 3 can be mounted, and Figure 5 shows an end view of components of the stand of Figure 4 disassembled and arranged to form a pack in a carton.

The marketing device shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a display panel 10, brackets 11 removably engaging holes 12 in the panel and goods, carried by cards 13 for example, and hung on the brackets 11. Near the top of each panel key-hole slots 14 are provided to enable the panel 10 to be mounted on a display stand.

A suitable display stand for supporting several panels 10 is shown in Figure 4 and comprises a base unit 15 and frame sections 16.

The base unit 15 and frame sections 16 are made mainly from metal tube which may be of circular cross-section as illustrated or of square or other cross-section. Each frame section 16 comprises upright tubular frame members 17 joined, at or near the upper end, by a transverse tubular frame member 18. Pegs 19 are fitted in, and protrude from, the bore of the lower end of each frame member 17 and form connecting means to engage complementary means, the bores 20 of the open upper ends of another frame member 17 below or of short upright, tubular spigots 21 on the base unit. Near the upper end of each frame member 17 are screw-threaded holes in which screws 22 are fitted to engage the key-hole slots 14 of an associated one of the panels 10.

The base unit 15 has a rectangular foot frame 23 the width of which is similar to the spacing apart of the upright frame members 17. The spigots 21 are mounted on end members 24 of the foot frame towards the rear of the foot frame which therefore projects more to the front than to the rear of the stand and sufficiently to counteract any tendency of the stand to tilt forward under the weight of the panels and goods hung on the front of the frame sections 16. A bin 25 is provided to fit over the forward part of the foot frame to hold goods bulky articles, for example, which are suitable for display and storage near the floor. A rear wall 26 of the bin 25 may have key-hole slots (not shown) similar to the key-hole slots 14 in the panels 10 to engage screws 22 of the lowermost frame section 16 and hold the bin in place.

The transverse frame member 18 of each frame section 16 has two pairs of aligned holes 27. Free ends 28 of bent-wire header supports 29, 30 engage the holes 27 and are provided with collars 31 to limit the extent to which the ends 28 project below the transverse frame members 18. The header supports 29 and 30 have leg portions 32 the upper ends of which meet forwardly extending portions 33 the forward ends of which are joined by medial portions 34, 35 respectively.

The leg portions 32 of the header support 29 are longer than those of the header supports 30 but the medial portion 34 is not extended as far forward as the medial portions 35. A large top header plate 36 is carried by the header support 29 and smaller sub-header plates 37 by the header supports 30. Titles, names or advertising matter are carried by the header plates 36, 37 which are mounted on the medial portions 34, 35 by plastics clips 38 which are fixed to the header plates and snap over the wire of the support. The clips can swivel about the medial portions 34, 35 aliowing the plates, particularly the sub-header plates 37 to yield if knocked and so avoid discomfort or injury to users.

When a display panel 10 is hung on the display stand by the engagement of the keyhole slots 14 with the screws 22, the transverse frame member 18 of the frame section on which the panel is mounted and the joints between that frame section and the frame section above are hidden by the upper portion of the panel 10. The open upper ends of the bores of the upright members 17 of the uppermost frame section 16 may be closed by plastics plugs 40.

The pegs 19, instead of being fitted in the lower ends of the bores of the upright members 17, may be fitted in the upper ends. As another modification the upper ends of the upright members 17, whether fitted with pegs 19 or not, may project above the transverse frame members 18 and extend across the gap between one display panel 10 and the one above. The joints between frame sections would then be hidden behind the lower portion of each display panel. With either of these modifications the pegs 19 or a portion of the upright frame members 1 7 of the uppermost frame section may not be hidden. It may then be preferred to provide a separate frame section to serve specifically as the uppermost frame section which does not have upward projections beyond the transverse frame member 18.

When the stand is disassembled it can be packed in a carton 39 which is convenient for handling and transport. Figure 5 illustrates one arrangement. The base unit 1 5 is put on the bottom of the carton 39. The frame sections 1 6 are stacked side-by-side at the back, behind the spigots 21. The bin 25 is put in front of the spigots 21 and the remaining components of the stand inside the bin. Packing material (not shown) is put between the components. The carton 39 has a length and height slightly more than the width and height of the frame sections 16 and a width slightly more than the depth from front to back of the foot frame 16.

The cards 13 to be hung on the display panels 10 are of modular dimensions to make good use of the available space on the panel while maintaining sufficient spacing for convenient access to individual cards. For example, in the collection illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 four sizes are used varying independently in length and width. The modules are based on the length and width of the smallest card. As illustrated cards have lengths and widths of one, one and a half and two modules modified slightly to allow for spacing. Figures 1 and 3 show two possible arrangements of cards but many more are possible.

The holes 12 in each display panel are arranged in horizontal rows spaced apart verti cally by a distance which is slightly more than half the length module of the cards. The brackets 11 on which the cards are hung are of known form with parallel limbs 11' cranked at the free ends to engage the holes 12 and hold the limbs at right angles to the panel 10.

The horizontal spacing of the holes 12 is one half the distance apart of the limbs 11'. The modular width of the cards is slightly less than a multiple of the unit spacing of the holes to allow for spacing of the cards.

The panels 10 are fitted with brackets 11 and loaded with cards carrying goods in a pre-arranged pattern.

The panels are so loaded in the factory or distribution warehouse and packed in a carton so that the goods are received by the shop or other outlet ready to be put on immediate display after merely unpacking. Panels with different collections of goods would normally be available.

To meet the situation of a newly received full panel displacing a panel which still has goods left for sale, notably when a new range of goods is introduced, a simple stand, for example of bent wire, may be supplied to support the displaced panel upright on a shop counter or other raised surface.

Claims

1. A marketing device consists in a marketing device comprising a display panel, brackets removably engaging holes in the panel and goods pre-loaded on the brackets, the panel being adapted to be removably mounted on a display stand and supported in an upright position.

2. Marketing means comprising two or more marketing devices according to claim 1 mounted one above the other on a display stand, the panel of each marketing device being individually, removably mounted on the stand.

3. Marketing means according to claim 2 which comprises a base unit capable of supporting the stand on the floor or other horizontal surface so that the panels are upright and frame sections removably supported on the base unit or another frame section.

4. Marketing means according to claim 3 wherein each section is capable of supporting an individual panel.

5. Marketing means according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the display stand, when disassembled, is capable of being arranged to form a pack having major dimensions similar to those of one of the frame sections.

6. A display stand comprising a base unit for supporting the stand upright on a horizontal surface and two or more similar, generally flat, modular, frame sections; each frame section being provided with connecting means engageable with complementary means on the base unit or on another frame section to form a rigid display stand structure and the frame sections when separated and assembled sideby-side being capable of forming with the base unit a three-dimensional pack the two larger dimensions of which are not significantly greater than the length and height of the frame section.

7. A display stand according to claim 6 wherein the frame sections are provided with carrier means for display panels.

8. A display stand according to claim 7 wherein each frame section is similar in size to an associated display panel and has carrier means for supporting such a display panel.

9. A display stand according to any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein at least the intermediate frame sections are identical to one another.

10. A display stand of marketing means according to claim 5 or a display stand according to any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein in the pack which the separated components form the frame sections are arranged sideby-side.

11. A display stand according to claim 10 wherein the base unit is arranged in the pack with its foot alongside the frame sections.

12. A display stand according to claim 10 wherein the base unit is arranged in the pack with its foot at right angles to the frame sections.

13. A display stand of marketing means according to claim 5 or a display stand according to any one of claims 6 to 12 wherein the pack is contained in a carton the dimensions of which are not significantly more than individual dimensions of the frame sections and base unit.