GB2311286A - Merchandising display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Merchandising display apparatus 2 comprises an enclosure 4,6 which can be translated relative to supports 46 towards and away from a wall 44 between an in use position, in which only a small gap is exposed at a front end 25 of the enclosure by its lid 8 through which one product 54, 56 at a time can be removed from the enclosure, and an extended position in which this gap can be enlarged to load the apparatus by sliding the lid 8 relative to walls 4, 6 of the enclosure lock toward the wall 44.

Description

Merchandising Display Apparatus This invention relates to a merchandising display apparatus.

Merchandising display apparatus having an element which pushes product serially to the front of the apparatus for dispensing and sale offers the advantage that product is automatically maintained at the front of the display apparatus. Thus, after product at the front of the apparatus has been removed and sold, there is no requirement for staff to restock the front of the apparatus.

Whilst existing apparatus is intended to dispense product serially, the apparatus is open to abuse in that it is relatively easy for a shoplifter to remove a large proportion of product on display by sweeping product into a bag for example. A similar problem also affects display systems in which product is suspended from a single Eurohook. In this instance, a shoplifter may detach the hook from a fitting and remove all of the product suspended from the hook.

Shoplifting of products in this manner is particularly costly if the product is packets of razor blades, batteries or some other expensive commodity.

An object of the invention is to provide a merchandising display apparatus which as far as possible allows only one product to be removed at a time.

According to the broadest aspect of the present invention merchandising display apparatus of the kind concerned is substantially enclosed save for an aperture through which product can be removed, the size of the aperture being such that only one product at a time can be removed.

Also according to the present invention there is provided merchandising display apparatus of the kind concerned which is mounted within an enclosure having an aperture through which product can be passed, the apparatus being mounted for movement between a use position in which one product at a time can be removed through the aperture and a loading position in which the aperture is of increased size permitting the loading of one or more articles of product into the apparatus.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the enclosure is slidably mounted for movement between the use and loading positions.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention also, the enclosure is shelf mounted, the enclosure being slidable between the use position in which the rear of the enclosure lies adjacent a wall surface to which the shelf is mounted, and the loading position in which the enclosure lies forward the wall surface.

The top or lid of the enclosure may be of a length slightly less than the overall length of the enclosure so that a gap occurs at the upper front edge of the enclosure lid. This gap together with a further fixed gap in the front of the enclosure comprises said aperture.

The top or lid of the enclosure may be moveable relative to the sides so that when the enclosure as a whole is moved to its loading position, the lid can remain, or be returned to, its use position thus enlarging said aperture to enable the loading of one or more articles of product through the aperture into the apparatus.

Preferably, a locking mechanism is provided to secure the apparatus in the first configuration.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of two side panels and a lid of an enclosure for use with a merchandising apparatus in accordance with the invention, Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view of an extrusion for slidably mounting the lid to the two side panels illustrated in figure 1, Figure 2B is a cross-sectional view of an alternative extrusion to that illustrated in figure 2A, Figure 3 is a view from one side of the merchandising apparatus when in a use position, Figure 4 is a view from the same side of the merchandising apparatus as that shown in figure 3 but in a loading position, Figure 5 illustrates a modified apparatus having an adjustable locking device for the lid, Figure SA illustrates the lid lock of figure 5 in side elevation, and Figure 6 illustrates a further modified apparatus in accordance with the invention.

Referring first to Figure 1, a merchandising apparatus 2 comprises two vertical side panels 4, 6 and a lid 8. The side panels 4, 6 are substantially rectangular with rounded corners.

Horizontal strips 18, 20 extend along the lower edge of each side panel 4, 6. Vertical strips 22, 24 at the front end 25 of the merchandising apparatus 2 extend part way up each side panel 4, 6 and are oriented perpendicularly to said panels 4, 6.

The lid 8 is generally rectangular with flanges 10, 12 provided along each of its longer sides.

The lid is reversible, central portions of each of the shorter sides of the lid 8 being provided with thumb indentations 14, 16. It will be noted that the indentation 14 is deeper than indentation 16 since the size of the indentation needed will vary from product to product dependent upon the dimensions of the product.

Extrusions 26 extend substantially along the length of the upper edges of the side panels 4, 6 to a point a short distance from the front 25 of the panels 4, 6.

The cross-section of the extrusions 26 may be either of the forms depicted in Figures 2A and 2B. Figure 2A shows an extrusion 26A with a vertical channel 28A in its lower surface, and channels 30A in each of its sides. The vertical channel 28A has flat sides and is designed to locate onto a vertical panel 4A with flat sides. The channels 30A in the sides of the extrusion 26A include both horizontal 32A and vertical 34A sections. The flange 12 of the lid 8 may be located in either of these channels 30A by sliding it in from one end.

The extrusion 26B depicted in Figure 2B has a channel 28B in its lower surface with an upper portion 38B which extends horizontally either side of a vertical portion 40B. An appropriately proportioned panel 4B may be located within the channel 28B by sliding it in from one end. The proportions of the channels 30B in the sides of the extrusion 26B are identical to those depicted in extrusion 26A of Figure 2A The lid 8 of the shelving apparatus 2 is located in the inwardly extending channels 30 of the extrusions 26. The lid 8 is freely slidable within the channels 30 of the extrusions 26.

Stoppers 42 are provided at the front end of the extrusions 26 to prevent the lid 8 moving beyond the front end 25 of the fittings 26. No stoppers are provided at the other end of the extrusions 26.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the merchandising apparatus 2 is located adjacent a wall or shop fitting 44, horizontal extensions 46 extending from the wall or fitting 44 to support the strips 18, 20 at the lower edges of the side panels 6, 4. The strips 18, 20 are connected to the horizontal extensions 46 such that the apparatus 2 is capable of being translated along the length of the extensions 46. A block 48 is provided on the wall or fitting 44 to prevent the lid 8 and/or the apparatus 2 being pushed back beyond a desired point on the extensions 46.

A lower panel (not shown) is attached to the inner edges of the strips 18, 20 at the lower edges of the vertical panels 4, 6. The lower panel (not shown) combines with the strips 18, 20 to form a single lower surface of the merchandising apparatus 2. An upright member 50 is located on the lower panel (not shown) such that it is capable of being translated along the length of the panel (not shown). The upright member 50 is attached to the lower panel (not shown) via a spring loaded mechanism (not shown) which acts to urge the member 50 to the front of the apparatus 2.

The merchandising apparatus 2 is placed in a loading position by translating the apparatus 2 along extensions 46 away from the wall or fitting 44 and sliding the lid 8 back along the extrusions 26 until it comes into contact with the block 48. When the apparatus 2 is in the loading position, as shown in figure 2, product may be easily located therein. The product shown is razor blades, provided in a packet 52 with a respective card backing sheet 58.

A plurality of razor blade packets 52 are inserted into the apparatus when it is in the loading position, by passing the packets 52 through the opening provided at the front of the lid 8 as illustrated in figure 4. Once inserted, the packets 52 are located against the spring-loaded upright 50 and pushed to the back of the apparatus 2. Further packets 52 may be inserted into the apparatus 2 until it is full.

Once the apparatus 2 has been filled with razor blade packets 52, it is moved to a use position by pushing against the front 25 of the apparatus 2 which slides back along the extensions 46 until it locates against the block 48. When the apparatus 2 is in the use position, the lid 8 covers all but the front razor blade packet 54, as shown in figure 3 where only the card backing sheet 58 of the front packet 54 projects from the apparatus 2. The merchandising apparatus 2 is secured in the use position using a locking mechanism.

A customer wishing to purchase a packet of razor blades may remove the front packet 54 from the apparatus 2 by placing his thumb through the thumb indentation 16 so that his thumb locates behind the exposed card backing sheet 58 of the front packet 54. In this way the backing sheet can be drawn slightly forward to an extent sufficient for it to be gripped and lifted upwards and out of the opening provided at the front of the lid 8. As the packet 54 is removed, the remaining packets 52 are pushed forward by the member 50 until a new packet 56 is located at the front of the apparatus 2.

In the modified apparatus illustrated in Figure 5, which is otherwise similar to that of Figures 1-4 and like parts have like reference numerals, the lid 8A is not reversible and its leading end 60, formed with the single thumb-notch 16A, is down turned. Fixed to wall 44 is a ratchet-like projection 61 the upper surface of which is formed with ribs 62. Projection 61 passes through a sheath 63 secured to the trailing end of the lid 8A and extending inwardly of lid 8A from the sheath 63 is a flexible tongue 64 formed with a tooth 65 which is selectively engageable between an adjacent pair of the ribs 62 to hold lid 8A at a chosen position of extension away from wall 44. By this means the position of lid 8A along its walls 4, 6 when the apparatus is in the in use position is adjustable to accommodate products of different thicknesses.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 6 differs from previous embodiments only in that pusher plate 50A is slidably mounted in a slot 65 in lid 8B rather than in the base of the unit. Slot 65 provides a track along which plate 50A may move under the influence of spring 66 as product is removed.

In the embodiment of Figure 6 packaging for the goods, such as razor blades, has a slot which is fitted over a Eurohook 67 mounted on a base plate 68. The base plate 68 fits over a base mounting 69.

Claims (7)

1 Merchandising display apparatus having an aperture through which product can be passed, the apparatus being mounted for movement between a use position in which one product at a time can be removed through the aperture and a loading position in which the aperture is of increased size permitting the loading of one or more articles of product into the apparatus.

2 Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and comprising an enclosure which is slidably mounted for movement between the use and loading positions.

3 Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the enclosure is shelf mounted, the enclosure being slidable between the use position in which the rear of the enclosure lies adjacent a wall surface to which the shelf is mounted, and the loading position in which the enclosure lies forward the wall surface.

4 Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure has a lid of a length slightly less than the overall length of the enclosure so that a gap occurs at the upper front edge of the enclosure lid.

5 Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lid is moveable relative to the sides so that when the enclosure as a whole is moved to its loading position, the lid can remain, or be returned to, its use position thus enlarging said aperture to enable the loading of one or more articles of product through the aperture into the apparatus.

6 Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims and further comprising a locking mechanism to secure the apparatus in the in use position.

7 Merchandising display apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1-4, Figures 5 and SA or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.