GB2444639A

GB2444639A - Display unit with transparent base

Info

Publication number: GB2444639A
Application number: GB0723824A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Franco Canuto; Paolo Chieu
Original assignee: Soremartec SA
Current assignee: Soremartec SA
Priority date: 2006-12-06
Filing date: 2007-12-05
Publication date: 2008-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2027-12-05
Also published as: ITTO20060175U1; DE202007016732U1; FR2909536B3; FR2909536A1; GB2444639B; GB0723824D0

Abstract

A display unit, particularly suitable for confectionery products consists of a base 2 with a box-like structure, and a display structure 4 which is placed on top of the base 2. The display structure 4 consists of a plurality of shelves 6, 8, 10 suitable for supporting the products in positions in which they are directly accessible to be picked up by a purchaser. Additionally the box-like structure 2 consists of a lower support wall 12 and transparent side walls 22a, 22b defining a substantially closed compartment suitable for housing one or more articles on display in a manner such that they are visible to the purchaser but are not directly accessible. Additionally the display structure 4 may be modular and consist of two or more cardboard display modules formed from blanks.

Description

* . 2444639

DISPLAY UNIT

The present invention relates to a display unit particularly suitable for displaying confectionary products at retail sales points.

In particular, the invention relates to a display unit of the type which, in technical jargon, is conimonly known as a "1/4 pallet display unit", that is, a display unit having a rectangular lower surface the area of which corresponds to one quarter of the supporting area of a pallet which, as is known, represents standardized dimensions.

However, the present invention is not intended to be limited to display units having the above-mentioned dimensional characteristics.

Display units of the type mentioned above are generally low-cost cardboard-type display units and comprise a base with a closed, box-like structure on top of which an open display structure with several shelves is arranged for supporting the products on display in a manner such that they are directly accessible to be picked up by purchasers.

The base generally has the function of raising the display structure to render the products housed on the shelves more visible and to make them easier to pick up. The box-like structure of the base generally has side walls or side panels of cardboard or card on which is printed decorative and/or advertizing information relating to the products housed in the display structure arranged on the base.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel display structure of the type mentioned above which affords greater utility, enabling best use to be made of the space in the base.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a display unit comprising a base with a box-like structure and an open display structure which is placed on top of the base and comprises a plurality of shelves suitable for supporting the products on display in a manner such that they are directly accessible to be picked up by purchasers, characterized in that the base with a box-like structure compnses a lower support wall and transparent side walls defining a substantially closed compartment suitable for housing one more articles on display in a maimer such that they are visible but not directly accessible to be picked up by the purchaser.

By virtue of these characteristics, the base of the display unit takes on the function of a closed showcase inside which promotional or advertizing articles associated with the sale of the products displayed can be positioned, preventing the purchaser from picking up those articles directly.

Further advantages and characteristics of the invention will become clear from the following detailed description which is given with reference to the appended drawings and is provided by way of non-limiting example; in the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a display unit according to the invention, Figure 2 is an exploded, perspective view of a base structure of the display unit, Figure 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the base, Figure 4 is a partially exploded, perspective view of the base of Figure 3, Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of constructional details in the base of Figure 4 in the exploded and assembled configurations, respectively, Figures 7 and 8 are a partial, exploded, perspective view and a perspective view in the assembled configuration, respectively, of a constructional variant of the base, Figure 9 is an exploded, perspective view of a modular component of the display structure, and Figure 10 is a view of a cardboard blank from which one of the details of Figure 7 is produced With reference to the drawings, the display unit according to the invention, which is generally indicated 1, comprises a base 2 with a box-like structure and a display structure 4 which is placed on top of the base and, in the embodiment shown, comprises three shelves 6, 8 and 10 for supporting displayed confectionary articles, indicated A. In one embodiment, the base 2 with a box-like structure comprises a lower support wall 12 having a peripheral rim 14 and four angular uprights 18, a lid 20, and four transparent panels 22a, 22b associated with the uprights 18; the box-like structure thus defines a compartment in which further articles, for example promotional or advertizing articles, can be housed in a visible and protected manner. The base structure thus takes on the function of a display case.

The base structure may advantageously be made of plastics material such as, for example, polymethyl methacrylate (Plexiglas ). 1'he use of transparent material may, however, be limited to the side panels 22a, 22b, whereas non-transparent plastics material may be used for the lower support wall 12, for the uprights 18, and for the lid 20.

Supporting feet 16 are preferably associated with the lower support wall.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the transparent side panels 22a, 22b is removable to afford access to the internal compartment without the need to remove the display structure 4 disposed on top of the base andlor the lid 20.

For this purpose, as shown in Figures 3 to 6, the panels 22a, 22b, or at least a front panel 22a, have their lateral ends inserted and fitted slidingly in grooves 24 formed in the angular uprights 18; at least one panel 22a has holes 26 at least adjacent its upper end; the holes 26 allow the panel to be gripped and removed from the grooves by lifling.

In another embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8, the base comprises a lower support wall and a channel-shaped transparent lid 200 with an upper wall 202 and side walls 220a which are perpendicular to the wall 202 and have engagement means 222 and 224 that can be inserted in complementary engagement means 226 and 228 formed in the lower support wall; the structure of the base further comprises a pair of transparent side panels 220b which in turn have engagement means 230 that can be inserted in complementary engagement means 232 formed in the lower support wall. The engagement means 222 and 224 of the lid element 200 can be inserted in the complementary engagement means 226 and 228 vertically.

The engagement means 230 associated with the side panels 220b can be inserted in the corresponding complementary engagement means 232 horizontally in a manner such that the side panels 220b are removable to afford access to the internal housing compartment of the base structure without the need to remove the lid element 200.

The display structure 4 which is placed on top of the base may be, by way of example, a cardboard-type structure but may also be a structure made of plastics material, metal or matenal of another type; the display structure is preferably formed by several modules which are placed one on top of another and each of which defines an open display space in which the products displayed can be positioned so as to be directly accessible to the purchaser Figures 9 and 10 are provided by way of an example of an embodiment of a module of the display structure but it is intended that the display structure may vary widely with respect to that which is shown by way of example.

In particular, in the embodiment shown, each module comprises a tray-like shelf 6, 8 or 10 which has a peripheral rim 30 and a support structure 32 and which is preferably a one-piece cardboard structure.

The support structure 32 comprises a quadrangular, flat upper wall 40 and four angular legs 42 arranged at the corners of the wall 40.

Figure 10 shows a card blank from which the support structure 32 can be produced, the blank comprises a quadrangular central region 40 which is connected, by means of crease lines 44, to respective U-shaped regions 48 and 50 each of which defines a pair of legs 42; crease lines formed in the U-shaped regions are indicated 54, 56, 58 and 60.

In order to assemble the support structure 32, the shaped card of Figure 10 is bent along the lines 44 and 46 as well as along the lines 54, 56, 58 and 60 to produce the above-described legs 42 of angular structure which arc arranged in positions perpendicular to the upper wall 40. Naturally, it is intended that other display structures may be provided for within the scope of the invention, for example, it is possible to provide for cardboard-type display structures with several superimposed shelves in which each shelf is supported by a cross-shaped pedestal-like element also made of cardboard-type material.

The invention thus provides a low-cost display unit which is easy to construct and which enables best use to be made of the space it occupies with easy access to the products displayed combined with utilization of the space in the base for display and advertizing purposes.

Naturally, the scope of the model extends to models which afford equal utility by virtue of the same inrovative principle.

Claims

1. A display unit, particularly suitable for confectionery products, of the type comprising: -a base (2) with a box-like structure, and -an open display structure (4) which is placed on top of the base (2) and comprises a plurality of shelves (6, 8, 10) suitable for supporting the products (A) in positions in which they are directly accessible to be picked up by a purchaser, characterized in that the box-like structure (2) comprises a lower support wall (12) and transparent side walls (22a, 22b) defining a substantially closed compartment suitable for housing one or more articles on display in a manner such that they are visible to the purchaser but are not directly accessible.

2. A display unit according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the side walls (22a, 22b) is associated releasably with the lower support wall (12) in order to afford access to the compartment housing the articles on display without the need to remove the display structure (4).

3. A display unit according to Claim I or Claim 2, characterized in that the base (2) comprises a quadrangular lower support wall (12) supporting four angular uprights (18) that support the transparent side walls which are fomied as panels (22a, 22b), the base (2) also including a lid (20) which engages the angular uprights (18).

4. A display unit according to Claim 3, characterized in that the side walls (22a, 22b) are constituted by transparent panels the lateral ends of which are fitted by being inserted slidingly in grooves (24) formed in the angular uprights (18).

5. A display unit according to Claim I or Claim 2, characterized in that the base comprises a transparent lid element (200) with a flat upper wall (202) and a pair of side walls (220a) which are perpendicular to the upper waIl (202) and have engagement means (222, 224) that can engage complementary engagement means (226, 288) in the lower support wall (12) with a form fit, and a pair of transparent panels (220b) that are connected releasably to the lower support wall (12).

6. A display unit according to Claim 5, characterized in that the side panels (220b) have engagement means (230) that can engage complementary engagement means (232) in the lower support wall (12) by insertion in a horizontal direction.

7. A display unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the open display structure (4) is a modular structure comprising two or more cardboard-type display modules (6, 32).

8. A display unit according to Claim 7, characterized in that each module compnses a tray-like shelf element (6, 8, 10) made of cardboard-type material and the cardboard supporting structure (32) in a single piece, comprising a supporting wall (40) connected to angular legs (42) by crease lines (44, 46).

9. A display unit according to any one of the preceding claims having overall base dimensions corresponding to one quarter of the standardized size of a pallet.