GB2385629A

GB2385629A - Device for supporting a retail display accessory

Info

Publication number: GB2385629A
Application number: GB0204042A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Charles Woolnough; Sydney James Harris
Original assignee: EML Ltd
Current assignee: EML Ltd
Priority date: 2002-02-21
Filing date: 2002-02-21
Publication date: 2003-08-27
Also published as: GB0204042D0

Abstract

In the field of retail displays there is a need to provide a device that is capable of attaching to a large range of retail shelf designs and a large range retail display accessories. A device (10) for supporting a retail display accessory includes opposed first and second engagement surfaces (12, 13). The two engagement surfaces (12, 13) are mutually spaced by an interstice (14) and are connected by a rigid member (16) on one side of the device. The rigid member (16) connects the two engagement surfaces (12, 13) in such a way as to permit free access to the interstice (14) via at least one further side of the device (10). The first engagement surface (12) is moveable towards and away from the second surface (13) eg. by a screw-threaded arrangement. The first surface (12) is securable at a plurality of spacings from the second surface (13). At least one of the engagement surfaces (12, 13) is moveable transversely on the device (10) relative to the other surface. As shown a member (21) supporting the first surface (12) is slidable in a slot (27).

Description

A DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A RETAIL DISPLAY ACCESSORY This invention relates to a device for supporting a retail display accessory.

In the field of retail displays one recurring problem derives from the great diversity of retail shelf types in use.

The thicknesses, widths (ie. the front to back dimensions), surface finishes and materials of manufacture of such shelves differ greatly from installation to installation.

Also there is a great variety of stiffening ribs, embossments, protrusions, recesses, attachment brackets, wiring conduits and stock dividers that typically are formed in or secured to the undersides or (occasionally) the upper surfaces of such shelves.

The existence of such variations in shelf designs means that it has hitherto been impossible to devise a"universal"device that is capable of attaching any of a large range of retail display accessories to an equally large range of retail shelf designs.

The invention solves this problem by the provision of a device for supporting a retail display accessory, the device comprising opposed first and second engagement surfaces that are mutually spaced by an interstice and are interconnected by a rigid member on one side of the device so as to permit free access to the interstice via at least one further side of the device, at least the first said engagement surface being moveable towards and away from the second said surface and being securable at a plurality of spacings from the second surface; and at least one of the said engagement surfaces being moveable transversely on the device relative to the other said surface.

Since in the arrangement of the invention it is possible to adjust the position of at least one of the engagement surfaces in two different directions (ie. towards and away from the other side surface; and transversely on the device), the device of the invention is capable of attaching to virtually any design of retail shelf.

Preferably the device of the invention includes secured thereto a connector for securing to the device a retail display accessory.

In one embodiment of the invention the connector is a socket having a hollow interior for fixedly receiving a projection protruding from a retail display accessory.

The socket may advantageously be of a"standard"size and shape, whereby any of a large range of retail accessories is securable to the device by virtue of having protruding therefrom a projection of complementary size and shape to the socket.

In an alternative embodiment the connector includes a connecting surface to which a further surface, that is fixed to a retail display accessory, is securable by means of an adhesive material.

In particularly preferred embodiments of the invention the connector surface is generally flat, as is the further surface of the retail display accessory.

Conveniently the first said engagement surface is moveable transversely on the device relative to the second engagement surface.

This allows the second engagement surface to be fixed to, and preferably formed integrally with, the rigid member that interconnects the surfaces.

Preferably the rigid member includes a transversely extending slot having moveably captively received therein a body having secured thereto the first engagement surface.

This arrangement is advantageously simple yet provides a reliable means of permitting the transverse movement of the first engagement surface.

Preferably the body includes formed therein a threaded bore and the first engagement surface is defined on a screw that is theadedly received in the said bore so that the spacing between the first and second engagement surfaces is adjustable by rotation of the screw in the bore relative to the body.

This arrangement is advantageously simple to manufacture and operate.

Nonetheless alternative arrangements, such as but not limited to a locking cam acting on a slidable rod, are possible within the scope of the invention.

Regardless of the precise arrangement permitting securability of the first engagement surface at a plurality of spacings from the second surface, the body preferably includes one or more resiliently deformable detents that are each slidingly engaged with one or more formations of the slot.

Such an arrangement is conveniently cheap and simple to manufacture yet is robust in use.

It is also preferable that the body has major and minor length dimensions so that the body is receivable in the slot in a limited number of orientations.

Preferably the dimensions of the slot and the body are such as to permit securing of the body in the slot only one way round. This in turn assures that the detents correctly engage the formations of the slot.

Conveniently each of the engagement surfaces includes secured thereto one or more engagement accessories.

The invention is also considered to reside in an assembly comprising a device as defined herein and having secured thereto a retail display accessory.

Preferably the retail display accessory of such an assembly includes at least two juxtaposed panels that each have formed therein a respective slot, the said slots overlying one another and the panels being securable together by a releasably tightenable fastener having a first part received in the slots; and adjustably mutually spaced, second and third parts each respectively engaged with a said panel, whereby a dimension of the said retail display accessory is adjustable.

Such an arrangement conveniently allows the attachment to the device of the invention a retail display accessory whose dimensions are adjustable eg. in order to fit it within a predetermined volume in a retail display.

Preferably the first part of the fastener forming part of the assembly of the invention is a rod interconnecting respective plates that define the second and third parts, the second and third parts being moveable towards and away from one another and being securable at a plurality of spacings from one another.

The second and third parts are securable at a plurality of spacings from one another by any of a variety of means, including but not limited to a threaded connection with the aforesaid rod; and a friction fit of the rod in an aperture formed in each of the second and third parts.

There now follows a description of preferred embodiments of the invention, by way of non-limiting example, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a device according to the invention; Figure 2 shows in perspective view a sub-component of the Figure 1 device, in more detail; Figure 3 shows in perspective view an assembly according to the invention ; and Figure 4 shows in perspective view a fastener forming part of the Figure 3 assembly.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a device 10 for supporting a retail display accessory such as but not limited to the trough 11 described in more detail below, in relation to Figure 3.

Figure 1 shows the device 10 in an exploded, perspective view.

Device 10 includes opposed first and second engagement surfaces 12,13.

Surfaces 12,13 are intended, in use of the device 10, to engage respectively the lower and upper surfaces of a retail shelf so as to secure the device 10 thereto.

To this end the engagement surfaces 12,13 are mutually spaced by an interstice 14; and are interconnected by a rigid member 16.

Rigid member 16 is in the embodiment shown an"I"-section member that, as shown, is of"C"-or"G"-profile.

The rigid member 16 may take any of a range of alternative forms, it being essential only that the rigid member 16 interconnects the first and second

engagement surfaces 12,13 at one side of the device, so as to leave free access to the interstice 14 via at least one other side of the device that is in the drawings indicated by reference numeral 17.

First engagement surface 12 is moveable towards and away from the second engagement surface 13 and is securable at a plurality of spacings therefrom. This is achieved in the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1 by virtue of the first engagement surface 12 being defined at the free end of a cylindrical screw 18 having a threaded shank 19 that is received in a body 21 defined as a threaded nut. The threaded bore of body 21 is identified by reference numeral 21 a, as shown.

Body 21 is retained moveably captive relative to rigid member 16 in a manner described hereinbelow.

The internal thread 21 a of body 21 is complementary to the external thread of screw 18, whereby screw 18 may be screwed from below into body 21 so that first engagement surface 12 protrudes therefrom on the in-use upper side of body 21.

Rotation of screw 18 relative to nut 21 causes adjustment of the spacing between first engagement surface 12 and second engagement surface 13.

Friction between the threads of screw 18 and body 21 permits securing of first engagement surface 12 at a chosen spacing from second engagement surface 13.

Consequently the engagement surfaces 12,13 may be adjusted relative to one another so that the device 10 may clamp between the surfaces 12,13 a retail shelf (that is not visible in the drawings).

On such clamping the threaded portions of screw 18 and body 21 are strained so as to lock the threads into one another, thereby further preventing unintended loosening of the clamping effect created by the opposed surfaces 12,13.

Screw 18 has at its end remote from surface 12 a finger wheel 22 that facilitates its rotational adjustment in body 21.

Rigid member 16 bifurcates at location 23 near the in-use lower end of device 10, so as to define a pair of mutually parallel walls 24,26.

The walls 24,26 define a parallel-sided slot 27 that is open at its upper and lower ends.

At one lateral end slot 27 is closed, at bifurcation 23, by an end wall 28 that is secured to the remainder of rigid member 16. At the end of slot 27 remote from wall 28 there is a further end wall 29 that closes the otherwise open lateral end of the slot 27.

The dimensions of body 21 are such as to permit its slidable receipt within slot 27.

As shown in Figure 1, in the preferred embodiment slot 27 extends horizontally beneath second engagement surface 13, the length of which is substantially the same as, and overlies, slot 27.

At its in-use upper end body 21 includes protruding therefrom a flange 31 that on insertion of body 21 into slot 27 rests on the tops of the walls 24,26 thereof.

When screw 18 is threadedly received in body 21, therefore, the receipt of

body 21 in slot 27 constitutes an arrangement by which surface 12 is slideably moveable transversely on the device 10 relative to the surface 13.

Of course in other embodiments of the invention the slot 27 need not extend horizontally for the whole or any of its length. Moreover the slot need not adopt the straight-sided shape shown.

Furthermore the external surface of body 21 beneath flange 31 may be shaped as desired to assist is accommodation within slot 27.

On the back of the"C"-or"G"-shape of the rigid member 16 there is formed a connector indicated generally by reference number 32.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 connector 32 is constituted as a vertically extending slot formed in a protuberance 34 that extends from an edge of the rigid member 16, near the in-use upper extremity thereof.

Slot 33 and protuberance 34 between them define a socket having a hollow interior for fixedly receiving a projection protruding from a retail display accessory.

Although slot 33 is shown in Figure 1 as a parallel-sided, vertically extending slot of course it may take any of a range of forms. Slot 33 may include one or more formations facilitating engagement with complementary features formed on a projection protruding from a retail display accessory.

In other embodiments, such as that shown in Figure 1, slot 33 operates by virtue of frictional engagement with a projection whose external shape and size are complementary to that of slot 33.

Examples of articles that are securable to the device 10 by means of the connector 32 include but are not limited to: . "impulse" and promotional trays of various sizes, including dimensionally adjustable trays as described below.

. merchandising arms and "clip strips" ; leaflet dispensers; poster holders; sample units for tasting/testing products; aisle signage for vertical or horizontal displays; arms and banners; and polythene bag dispensers.

In an alternative arrangement of connector 32, not shown in the drawings, the slot 33 may be replaced by a surface eg. a flat surface to which a complementary surface fixed to the retail display accessory is securable by means of an adhesive material.

A further possibility is for the securing surfaces to be non-flat.

Figure 2 shows the body 21 in more detail.

Body 21 includes a rectangular block 34 having protruding downwardly therefrom on a pair of opposed sides respective retainer legs 36,37. Each

leg 36,37 is resiliently deformable and terminates in a respective harpoon detent 38,39 that as shown presents a downwardly directed chamfer 41,42 beneath an upwardly facing, horizontal shoulder 43,44.

The depth of each shoulder 43,44 beneath the underside of flange 31 is approximately the same as the depth of each side wall 24,26 of slot 27.

Consequently body 21 is insertable into slot 27 so that the harpoon detents 38, 39"snap"under the undersides of the respective walls 24,26.

Consequently the flange 31 and the shoulders 43,44 retain the body 21 in the slot 27, by virtue of sliding engagement with the upper and lower edges of the respective walls 24,26.

The body 21 is removable from the slot 27 only by springing the retainer legs 36,37 towards one another against the resilient deformability thereof, in order to cause the shoulders 43,44 inwardly to clear the edges of the walls 24,26 and allow removal of body 21 from the slot.

This arrangement is advantageously simple to assemble.

The side walls of block 34 that interconnect the legs 36,37 have protruding therefrom respective ribs 46,47 that underlie the flange 31. The purpose of the ribs 46,47 is to increase the cross-sectional dimension of body 21, in one direction, to greater than the width of slot 27. This in turn assures that body 21 is only ever inserted into slot 27 one way round, ie. so that the harpoon detents 38,39 are effective to retain body 21 in slot 27.

The engagement surfaces 12,13 may if desired each include one or more engagement accessories secured thereto.

For example the underside of surface 13 may have adhesively secured thereto a soft pad of eg. an elastomeric material, whereby surface 13

accommodates undulations in the upper surface of the shelf to which the device 10 is attached. The use of such a pad also renders the surface 13 essentially non-marking.

Surface 12 may, if desired, terminate in eg. a flat plate of larger diameter than the end of screw 18. The flat plate may be secured to the end of screw 18 for example by means of a ball and socket joint providing two degrees of freedom of movement.

The upper surface of the flat plate may if desired include a pad of resiliently deformable material that is similar to that which is securable to the underside of surface 13.

A further, optional feature of the device of the invention is represented by reference numerals 30a and 30b, that signify respective, laminar wings extending on either side of rigid member 16, near the top thereof.

The wings 30a, 30b extend parallel to the longitudinal dimension of rigid member 16, that is inclined to the vertical in the vicinity of the wings 30a, 30b.

The wings 30a, 30b are intended to engage a sloping shelf edge (that is inclined approximately parallel to the undersides of the wings). Such engagement serves one or both of the following functions: (i) It ensures that the rigid member 16 is neatly aligned at right angles to the shelf edge when viewed in plan; and (ii) It prevents the device 10 from rotating when locked.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown an example of the use of a pair of the devices 10 according to the invention, to secure a product sampler trough to the front of a shelf.

The devices 10 according to the invention are spaced at either end of a generally rectangular trough 11. Trough 11 has four upstanding walls and a base, and is open at its upper side to permit access to its hollow interior. At either end of the rear upstanding wall of the trough 11 there is provided a boss 48 having projecting therefrom a protuberance that is engageable in the slot 33 of the device 10 secured thereto. The trough 11 is thereby supported on the devices 10.

The front and rear upstanding walls 49, 51 of the trough 11, together with the base 52 thereof, are each formed as two separate components so that the trough 11 is constituted by two trough halves as shown in Figure 3.

The dimensions of the components of trough 11 are chosen such that one of the trough halves is receivable in the other with the ends of the respective walls 49, 51 and base 52 overlapping one another as shown.

The parts of the upstanding rear wall 51 of trough 11 are each formed with a respective, through going, elongate slot 53 that extends parallel to the base 52 of trough 11.

The respective slots 53 are mutually aligned when the trough 11 is assembled as shown in Figure 3.

A fastener 54 (shown in more detail in Figure 4) is received in the slots 53 and is tightenable to lock the halves of trough 11 in any of a range of positions corresponding to differing degrees of overlap of the wall 49, 51 and base 52.

Thus the length of trough 11 is adjustable.

Fastener 54 comprises a central rod 56 having secured at either end a respective, disc-like flange 57,58.

In one embodiment of the invention the flanges 57,58 are provided with threaded bores that mate with threads on the rod 56 to provide for tightenability of the fastener 54 to secure the trough 11 in a preferred configuration.

More preferably rod 56 is permanently secured (eg. by welding or adhesive) to one of the flanges 57. The other flange 58 is formed with a throughgoing bore in which the rod 56 is a friction fit.

Thus the fastener 54 is separable into two components that can readily be reassembled following insertion of rod 56 into the slots 53. The flange 58 can be twisted onto rod 56, with friction between the various components being adequate to retain them in position tightly securing the trough 11 and its preferred size. Such an arrangement has been found to be suitable for use in a retail environment.

Of course it is not essential that the components of the fastener 54 are cylindrical as shown. Other shapes are possible within the scope of the invention.

Furthermore the principle of dimensional adjustability illustrated herein by trough 11 is applicable to a range of other retail accessories.

Thus for example it is possible to permit height adjustability by the provision of two or more overlapping panels, respective pairs of which have vertically extending slots, that are similar to slots 54; and fasteners such as fastener 54.

Also of course it is not necessary for the dimensionally adjustable accessory to be a receptacle as shown. Flat panels, hanging devices and support arms, for example, may also be made dimensionally adjustable according to the principles disclosed herein.

Although the examples of use of the apparatus of the invention described herein concern attachment of the device 10 to a variety of different kinds of shelves, of course the device is useable in a number of other situations as well.

For example, it is possible to employ one or more of the devices 10 to secure retail accessories to the upstanding front wall of a supermarket chiller cabinet.

In such an application it may be desirable to relocate the connector 32 to a different location on the rigid member 16, although in practice there may be advantages to the provision of a"standard"form of the device 10 and adapting the designs of the projecting protuberances on the retail accessories in order to provide for orientation of the accessories at any preferred angle and/or location relative to the device 10.

It is possible to construct entire retail displays using for example a plurality of the assemblies as shown in Figure 3 supported one beneath another on a series of shelves.

Yet a further possibility is for the assembly shown in Figure 3 (or a similar arrangement of devices 10 and retail accessories) to have suspended beneath it eg. by means of straps, bands, clips or other fasteners, a downwardly cascading plurality of further retail accessories such as but not limited to the adjustable tray 11 visible in Figure 3.

The various components of the invention may be manufactured from any of a vast range of rigid materials. Polycarbonates and acrylics are preferred because of their ease of processing, acceptability in retail environments and cost. Such materials are suited to various manufacturing techniques including moulding (especially injection moulding), fabrication and extrusion. The components of the invention are manufacturable by such techniques, or combinations thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A device for supporting a retail display accessory, the device comprising opposed first and second engagement surfaces that are mutually spaced by an interstice and are interconnected by a rigid member on one

side of the device so as to permit free access to the interstice via at least one ide of the device so as to p it f I I I further side of the device, at least the first said engagement surface being moveable towards and away from the second said surface and being securable at a plurality of spacings from the second surface; and at least one of the said engagement surfaces being moveable transversely on the device relative to the other said surface.
2. A device according to Claim 1 including secured thereto a connector for securing to the device a retail display accessory.
3. A device according to Claim 2 wherein the connector is a socket having a hollow interior for fixedly receiving a projection protruding from a retail display accessory.
4. A device according to Claim 2 wherein the connector includes a connecting surface to which a further surface, that is fixed to a retail display accessory, is securable by means of an adhesive material.
5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the first said engagement surface is moveable transversely on the device relative to the second engagement surface.
6. A device according to Claim 5 wherein the rigid member includes a transversely extending slot having moveably captively received therein a body having secured thereto the first engagement surface.

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7. A device according to Claim 6 wherein the body includes formed therein a threaded bore; and the first engagement surface is defined on a screw that is theadedly received in the said bore so that the spacing between the first and second engagement surfaces in adjustable by rotation of the screw in the bore relative to the body.
8. A device according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein the body includes one or more resiliently deformable detents that are each slidingly engaged with one or more formations of the slot.
9. A device according to Claim 8, wherein the body has major and minor length dimensions so that the body is receivable in the slot in a limited number of orientations.
10. A device according to any preceding claim wherein each said engagement surface includes secured thereto one or more engagement accessories.
11. A device generally as herein described, with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
12. An assembly comprising a device according to any preceding claim having secured thereto a retail display accessory.
13. An assembly according to Claim 12 wherein the retail display accessory includes at least two juxtaposed panels, that each have formed therein a respective slot, the said slots overlying one another and the panels being securable together by a releasably tightenable fastener having a first part received in the slots; and adjustably mutually spaced, second and third parts each respectively engaged with a said panel, whereby a dimension of the said retail display accessory is adjustable.

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14. An assembly according to Claim 13 wherein the first part of the fastener is a rod interconnecting respective plates that define the second and third parts, the second and third parts being moveable towards and away from one another and being securable at a plurality of spacings from one another.
15. An assembly generally as herein described, with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.