NZ593462A - Wheeled umbrella display rack - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a display unit for displaying umbrellas for sale. The display unit includes a base supported by wheels which are lockable for preventing movement of the unit. The unit has a central display tower and one or more removable shelves extending outwards from the display tower. The display unit defines a series of discrete locations each arranged to receive a single umbrella.

Description

1 NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 A. ROYALE & CO (AUST) PTY LTD COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title; Umbrella display unit The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- 2 Field of the invention This invention relates to a display unit or fixture for displaying umbrellas in store.

Background of the invention There are various known types of fixtures and store displays units for umbrellas currently in use in stores and shops.

Existing umbrella fixtures are often confusing for shoppers, with the umbrellas jumbled together. It is often difficult for prospective purchasers to establish from the 10 display exactly what type of umbrella they will be purchasing, and at what cost. This is a particular issue as it is not always immediately obvious from a folded/retracted umbrella what type of umbrella it is (e.g. manual or automatic) and its size when unfurled. The fixtures are often untidy. In wet weather, stock can become depleted very quickly. Also in many stores, particularly department stores, umbrella fixtures are 15 often tucked away in an obscure part of the store and can be difficult to find. This is an issue, particularly as demand for umbrellas tends to vary depending on the weather conditions.

The present invention aims to provide an improved umbrella fixture for the display and sale of umbrellas which addresses at least some of the problems of prior art 20 fixtures.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the 25 field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

Summary of the invention In a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a display unit/fixture 30 for the display and sale of umbrellas. The unit may include one or more of the following features.

A base supported by wheels for use in moving the fixture. The wheels are preferably heavy duty castors which are lockable. The ability to move the display, advantageously allows the fixture to be moved to a high traffic area, such as a check-35 out area, during wet weather and returned to another quieter location during dry 1200350 1.doc 3 periods. Once located in the correct position the wheels may be locked for safety reasons.

In a particularly preferred feature, the display unit may include a removable information bar showing customers information and prices for each style of umbrella 5 housed in the feature, including a colour coded image of an umbrella. The information may include whether the umbrella is a unisex ladies' or man's umbrella, and whether it is automatic or manual. Colour coded swing tickets on the umbrellas themselves to allow consumers to quickly understand the pricing architecture by referring to the colour coding on the information bar.

Preferably, the fixture is adjustable to accommodate different sizes and styles of umbrellas. A display tower may extend upwardly from the base of the fixture. The tower may define a plurality of cells for holding umbrellas. The sides of the tower may define means for attaching removable shelves. The means may include generally vertical poles defining a series of perforations for receiving hooks or similar. The 15 tower may be set back from two opposed edges of the base so that the adjustable side shelving attached to the towers overhanging the base. The shelves may define L shaped hooks for engaging in the perforations of the tower uprights.

The tower may define a series of shelves typically sloping, a series of vertically extending rods for dividing the shelves into the cells for receiving umbrellas. 20 The movable shelves may include a generally semi-circular base, a curved face, and a pair of spaced apart generally horizontally extending grids for ensuring that any product remains upright in the shelf.

Importantly, the use of cells in the tower and grids in the shelves ensures that each item (umbrella) on display in the fixture has it's own dedicated slot.

It is preferred that the unit includes one or more handles for assisting in moving the unit from one location on a sales floor to another.

The fixture is preferably made of steel for strength and durability.

Brief Description of the Drawings A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a side view of an umbrella fixture embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of an umbrella fixture embodying the present invention; Figure 3 is a pictorial front view of an embodiment of the invention having a 35 particular configuration of shelves; Figure 4 is a pictorial view of the top of the fixture; and 1200350 l.doc 4 Figure 5 is a pictorial view of an information bar of the fixture.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 to 4 show a fixture, generally indicated at 5 10, for displaying umbrellas, embodying the present invention.

The fixture 10 includes a steel base plate 12 which is supported from a floor 13 by four wheels in the form of lockable heavy duty castors 14.

As is best seen in Figure 3, the base defines a generally rectangular central section 18 and two generally semi-circular side portions 20. Around the perimeter of 10 the base there is a steel bumper bar/strip 22, to protect the fixture from damage due to impacts.

A fixed central display tower 24 extends upwardly from the base. The tower 24 includes four upright poles 26 at each corner of the tower. As is best seen in Figure 2, the side of the pole which faces the side of the fixture defines a series of spaced apart 15 slots 28. The tower has two closed side walls 30 which face the sides of the fixture and is open on the front and rear of the fixture. As is best seen in Figure 1, the front 32 of the tower defines a series of shelves 34. The shelves slope slightly downwards from the front of the tower to the centre of the tower. A series of vertically extending rods 36 (shown in Figure 3) effectively divide the shelves into a series of cells or pigeon 20 holes 38, each of which can receive an umbrella.

The rear face of the display is identical to the front face so as to define a further umbrella display area if the rear of the fixture is accessible to shoppers or, if the display is mounted with its rear against a wall, to provide a storage area for additional stock.

As best seen if Figure 4, the top of the display defines a recess 40 which, as 25 shown, may receive removable partitioning/dividers 42 for holding umbrellas 44. As shown the partitions are made of acrylic. Since the partitions are removable, the top of the display can be re-configured to accommodate different sizes and styles of umbrella, as requirements change.

At the top of the pillar as best seen in Figures 3 and 4, there is a removable sign 30 46 indicating that the fixture contains "umbrellas". This large sign is a clear and unequivocal point of sale notice to draw the attention of shoppers to the fixture.

With reference to Figures 1 to 3, the slots in the poles 26 allow for the attachment of shelves on either side of the central tower 24. The number, size and arrangement of shelves can be changed to suit the range of umbrellas carried and the 35 requirements of the store. Typically, one side of the display will define generally shallow shelves for displaying shorter telescopic umbrellas, whilst the opposite side of 1200350 1.doc the display will have a single much deeper shelf for the more traditional non-telescopic umbrellas and/or golf umbrellas, although other different arrangements are possible.

Figures 1 and 2 show an arrangement in which there is one deep shelf 50 and two shallower shelves 52. Figure 3 shows an arrangement in which there is one deep 5 shelf 50 and three shallower shelves 52.

The deep shelf 52 defines a generally C shaped wall whose free ends define inverted L shaped hooks for engaging in the slots 28 of the poles 26 for fixing the shelves to the tower. The deep shelf will typically not have a base instead relying on the base 18. Inside each shelf there are two spaced apart square grids 54 which serve to 10 retain any umbrellas held upright in the shelves in a vertical orientation.

The shallower shelves are similar to the deep shelves except that each shelf includes a base. In particular, inside each shallow shelf there are again two spaced apart square grids 54 which serve to retain any umbrellas held upright in the shelves in a vertical orientation.

At the top of the tower there are handles 60 for use when moving the fixture.

In a particularly, preferred feature the display may include a removable information bar 70 showing customers information and prices for each style of umbrella housed in the feature, including a colour coded image of an umbrella 72a for each umbrella style. The information may include whether the umbrella is a unisex 20 ladies' or man's umbrella, and whether it is automatic or manual. Matching colour coded swing tickets 72b on the umbrellas themselves to allow consumers to quickly understand the pricing architecture by referring to the colour coding on the information bar 70. For example a unisex automatic umbrella may be indicated with a grey image 74 of an umbrella associated with a price of $9.95, whereas a unisex manual umbrella 25 may be indicated by a red image and a price of $6.95.

It is preferred that the fixture be manufactured from steel.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as broadly described. 30 The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. 1200350 1.doc

Claims (11)

Received at IPONZ on 15 June 2012 6 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A display unit for the display of umbrellas for sale, including a base supported by wheels for use in moving the unit wherein the wheels are lockable for preventing movement of the unit, the unit including a central display tower and one or more removable shelves extending outwards from one or more sides of the tower and wherein the display unit defines a series of discrete locations each arranged to receive a single umbrella.

2. A display unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the unit further includes a removable, information bar displaying information and prices for each style of umbrella housed in the unit, including an associated colour coded image for each style of umbrella and wherein umbrellas carried by the stand may carry coded swing tickets corresponding to the colour coding on the information bar.

3. A display unit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the tower defines a plurality of cells, each cell being configured for holding a single umbrella, in use.

4. A display unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the sides of the tower define a series of slots for attaching the removable shelves by means of hooks defined by the shelves.

5. A display unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the tower extends up from the centre of the base and is set back from two opposed side edges of the base so that the adjustable side shelving attached to the tower overhangs and is located above, the base.

6. A display unit as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 5 wherein the side edges of the base are curved and wherein the shelves are generally semi-circular or rounded in plan view and define hooks for engaging in the slots of the tower and locate generally above the base.

7. A display unit as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein the cells are defined by a series of sloping shelves and a series of vertically extending rods dividing the shelves into the cells for receiving umbrellas. Received at IPONZ on 15 June 2012 7

8. A display unit as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the shelves define a curved face, a generally semi-circular base, and a pair of spaced apart grids which are generally horizontally oriented in use.

9. A display unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 including one or more handles for use moving the fixture.

10. A display unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 including a protective bar extending around the base of the unit.

11. A display unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.