WO2015161875A1

WO2015161875A1 - Modular display system

Info

Publication number: WO2015161875A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/058254
Authority: WO
Inventors: Duygu Alkis BAYSAL; Salih UNLU; Okhan ÇOKER; Aziz Emre GUNEL; Oguz GEBEN; Yusuf PALA; Mehmet Ferit KUBBA; Ahmet KÖSEM
Original assignee: Kent Gida Maddeleri Sanayii Ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi
Priority date: 2014-04-23
Filing date: 2014-04-23
Publication date: 2015-10-29
Also published as: AR097107A1

Abstract

A modular display system for displaying and dispensing articles includes a plurality of display modules (12) releasably attachable to one another either vertically by means of corresponding upper and lower locking arrangements or horizontally side by side to form a display unit (15c). The system also includes cover members (14) which can be mounted to the display modules that are uppermost in the display unit to encase their upper locking arrangement. The covers (14) may have an arrangement that allows a graphic to be mounted to the cover. Each module (12) may also have a further arrangement that allows a further graphic to be mounted to a front end of the module.

Description

Modular Display System

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a modular display system for displaying and dispensing articles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a modular display system which can be configured in a range of different ways to form a display unit for displaying and dispensing retail articles, which may comprise packages containing confectionery products such as gum, candy, chocolate and the like. The invention also relates to a modular display unit.

Background to the Invention A large variety of display arrangements have been used to hold, display and dispense retail articles. In particular, it is known to provide display devices for displaying and dispensing confectionery products, such as chocolate, gum and candy, at or close to a point of purchase in a retail outlet. Known display devices include display stands which can be placed on or near the counter. Such stands are often used to display gum products for example. In a typical known arrangement, the stand has a product supporting surface on which one or more carton trays holding a plurality of gum packs can be placed. Other stands are known which define tray like containers in which individually packaged products, such as chocolate and candy bars, can be placed directly without the need for a carton. The existing stands are often not suitable for displaying a range of products due the difference in size between them. For example, gum packs tend to be smaller than most chocolate bars and so the two cannot easily be combined in a single display stand. This often results in the need for separate display stands to be used for the different product ranges. This can take up additional room in an already crowded environment and is not aesthetically pleasing. A further problem is that existing stands are often provided in standard sizes which can be difficult to accommodate in some retail environments, particularly small retail outlets where other products may be competing for space in and around the point of sale.

Other known display arrangements include trays or other product holding devices which are adapted to be suspended from a support such as a rack. In a typical arrangement, the rack has horizontal cross members or hooks from which trays to display products are suspended. The racks may be mounted to a wall or may be part of a stand which can be located on the floor. Such display arrangements are useful in taking advantage of space which might not otherwise be available for displaying products. However, the known arrangements tend to be specifically designed for rack mounting and so have a limited degree of flexibility.

In an effort to overcome the above and other disadvantages, it is known to provide display stands which are adjustable in size to accommodate different products or to allow different configurations to be used depending on the area available. It is also known to provide modular display devices in which a number of product display modules are interconnected to form a display stand. US2007/0257053 Al to Cadbury Adams USA LLC discloses such a modular display device which is made up from a number of display modules that are connected together vertically one above the other and/or side-by-side to form a display stand. Whilst this arrangement provides for high degree of versatility as a display stand, it has drawbacks in that the arrangements for interconnecting adjacent modules may not be sufficiently robust so as to enable an assembled device to be easily picked up and moved without the modules coming apart. This makes it difficult for the device to be constructed and/or re-positioned. The modular units also are not suitable for being suspended vertically but can only be used as part of a display stand.

There is need therefore for an alternative modular display system which overcomes, or at least mitigates, some or all of the drawbacks of the known systems.

There is a need for an alternative modular display system which is more versatile that the known systems.

There is a need for an alternative modular display system which can be used to form a display unit for displaying and dispensing a range of different products. There is a need for an alternative modular display system in which the display modules are more robustly held together to form a display unit for displaying and dispensing products.

There is a need for an alternative modular display system which enables a display unit to be constructed that can be used as a self supporting display stand or which can be suspended from a vertical rack or other support.

There is a need for an alternative modular display system in which modules of differing width can be incorporated into a single display unit.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular display system for displaying and dispensing articles comprising: a) a plurality of display modules releasably attachable to one another to form a display stand, each display module having corresponding upper and lower locking arrangements in which the upper locking arrangement of one module can be engaged with lower locking arrangement of another of the modules so as to releasably attach the modules one above the other, the display module having first and second side walls having corresponding locking features, in which the locking features on a first side wall of one module can be engaged with the corresponding locking features on the second side wall of another of the modules to releasably attach the modules side-by-side; and b) at least one cover member, each cover member being releasably engageable with a respective one of the display modules so as to at least partially encase the upper locking arrangement of said module.

A first graphical display support surface may be defined in a lower forward region of a main body of the module, and each module may further comprise a transparent shield releasably mountable to the main body over the first graphical display support surface. In an embodiment each cover member comprises a housing portion releasably engageable with a respective one of the display modules so as to encase the upper locking arrangement of said module body, the housing portion having a second graphical display support surface, and a transparent shield releasably attachable to the housing portion over the second graphical display support surface. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular display system for displaying and dispensing articles comprising a plurality of display modules releasably attachable to one another to form a display stand; each display module having a main body comprising a pair of spaced side walls, the side walls being interconnected at a rearward end by a rear wall and at a forward end by a front wall assembly, the main body being configured so that it can be stood on a flat surface with the side walls and rear wall extending upwardly, generally perpendicular to the surface; the main body having a product support surface extending between the rear wall and the front wall assembly, the product support surface being angled downwardly and forwardly from the rear wall toward the front wall assembly; at least a portion of each of the rear wall, the side walls, and the front wall assembly extending above the product support surface to define an interior volume in which product may be located; rearward upper and lower end regions of the main body comprising corresponding inter-engagable upper and lower locking arrangements, in which the upper locking arrangement of one module can be engaged with the lower locking arrangement of another module so as to releasably attach the modules one above the other; a first of the side walls having at least two first detent members, at least one of said first detent members being located toward a forward end of the first side wall and at least one of said first detent members being located toward a rearward end of the first side wall, the second of the side walls having corresponding second detent members, in which the first detent members on a first side wall of any one module are engageable with the corresponding second detent members on the second side wall of any other module in the system to releasably attach the modules side-by- side.

The upper and lower locking arrangements may comprise at least separate two inter-engaging locking mechanisms.

The rear wall of each module main body may be substantially planar. The upper and lower locking arrangements may be configured to be engaged as a result of movement of one module relative to the other exclusively in a direction parallel to the plane of the rear wall.

In an embodiment the upper and lower locking arrangements comprise a tab portion projecting from one of the upper and lower end regions of the rear wall and a corresponding slot defined at least partly by the other of the upper and lower end regions of the rear wall. One of the tab and a surface of the rear wall defining the slot may define an aperture and the other of the tab and a surface of the rear wall defining the slot may comprise a corresponding locking member, in which the locking member is automatically engagable in the aperture when the tab of one module is inserted in the slot of the other. The tab may project from an upper region of the rear wall, the tab being aligned substantially co-planar with the rear wall but offset to one of the forward and rearward sides of the rear wall, and the slot may be defined at least in part by a lower region of the rear wall. In an embodiment the aperture is defined in the tab and the resilient locking member is defined in a surface of the rear wall.

In an embodiment, an upper, rearward end portion of each side wall comprises an upper locking detent structure forming part of the upper locking arrangement and a lower rearward end portion of each side wall comprises a lower locking detent structure forming part of the lower locking arrangement, in which the upper locking detent structures on the side walls of each module main body are engageable with the corresponding lower locking detent structures of another module main body to the releasably lock said module main bodies one above the other. Each upper locking detent structure may comprise a resilient locking detent tab projecting upwardly from the upper edge of the side wall and a support panel extending upwardly beyond the upper edge of the side wall parallel to but spaced inwardly from the detent tab. Each lower locking detent structure may comprise a lower edge region of the side wall which is receivable between the detent tab and the support panel of the upper detent structure of another module main body, the lower edge region having a recess in its outer surface in which the detent tab is received. The locking detent tab may have a recess defined therein and a corresponding detent projection may be located within the recess, the detent projection of one module main body being receivable in the recess in the detent tab of another module main body to lock the two together.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises at least one cover member, each cover member being releasably engageable with a respective module so as to at least partially encase the upper locking arrangement of said main body. Each module may further comprise a transparent shield releasably mountable to the front wall assembly of the main body to define first graphical display support. Each cover member may comprise a housing portion releasably engageable with a respective module so as to encase the upper locking arrangement of said module and a second transparent shield releasably attachable to the first portion to define a second graphical display support. The housing portion of each cover may comprise a rear wall and a pair of side walls, each side wall being receivable between the resilient locking detent tab and the support panel on a respective side wall of a module so as to releasably attach the cover to the module. The arrangement may such that when a cover is mounted to a module, the outer surface of each side wall of the cover is co- planar with the outer surface of the respective side wall of the module main body, each side wall of the cover having a recess in a lower edge region in which the respective locking detent is received and the tab may be located inside the cover, forward of the rear wall of the cover. The housing portion of each cover may further comprise a front wall extending between the side walls at a forward edge thereof and an upper wall extending between upper edges of the front and rear walls between the side walls. The front and upper walls of the housing portion may collectively define a graphical display support surface which is covered by the second transparent shield.

In an embodiment the front wall assembly comprises an inner planar wall extending upwardly from a front edge of the product support surface substantially perpendicular to the product support surface and a concave outer front wall. Where provided, the transparent shield may be concave, an inner volume being defined between the shield and the concave outer front wall in which material bearing a graphical display can be located.

All the modules have substantially the same length but they may be provided in a range of widths. In which case, the upper and lower locking arrangements of modules having the same width are inter-engageable but all the modules can be interconnected side-by-side regardless of width. For each width of module, the system may include at least one cover of corresponding width.

At least one module may be configured to support a carton containing product on the product support surface.

In at least some of the modules, the interior volume defined by the product support surface and the upwardly extending portions of the side walls, the rear walls and the front wall arrangement may form a tray within which a plurality of individually wrapped product items can be directly received and retained. The system may further comprise a plurality of suspension clips, each suspension clip being releasably mountable to respective module to enable the module to be selectively suspended from a support.

The rear wall of each module main body may define an aperture for releasably receiving a suspension clip for suspending the module from a support.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular display system for displaying and dispensing articles comprising: a plurality of display modules, each module having a product display surface for receiving product to be displayed, the modules being releasably attachable to one another either vertically one top of another or side-by-side such that a number of the modules can be assembled to form display unit of interlocked modules of varying height and width, wherein each of the modules is configured such that it can be stood stably on a flat surface, the system further comprising a plurality of suspension clips releasably securable to the modules and adapted for suspending the modules from a support, wherein a display unit formed using the modules can either be stood on a flat surface for use as a self-supporting display stand or suspended from a support using the suspension clips.

Each module may have a generally vertical rear wall defining an aperture for receiving a respective one of the suspension clips. In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular display system for displaying articles including a plurality of modules wherein each module has a tray surface surrounded by walls which extend beyond the tray surface and which surface is at a downward angle to the horizontal when in display orientation, each module releasably connectable to other modules in the system both vertically and horizontally to from a display unit, the vertical connections between modules being configured such that a display unit comprising a vertical stack of five modules can be lifted by the top module in each stack only without the vertically stacked modules separating.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular display system for displaying articles including a plurality of modules wherein each module has a tray surface surrounded by walls which extend beyond the tray surface and which surface is at a downward angle to the horizontal when in display orientation, each module releasably connectable to other modules in the system both vertically and horizontally to from a display unit, wherein the horizontal connections between modules comprise spaced corresponding connectors on opposed side walls of each module, at least one said connector located towards a front end of each module and at least one said connector located towards a rear end of each module, the distance from the front and rear ends of each module to its respective front and rear connectors being less than 10% of the depth of the module.

In accordance with a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular display unit assembled from a modular display system in accordance with any of the first to fourth aspects of the invention, the display unit comprising a plurality of modules interlocked together to define an array comprising at least one column and/or at least one row of module main bodies and wherein a cover is mounted to each module which is uppermost in the array. The modules may be arranged in an array comprising a single row of two or more units and in which a cover is mounted to each of the modules.

The modules may be arranged in an array comprising at least one column and a cover is mounted to the uppermost module in each column. The vertical locking arrangements may be such that a vertical array of modules can be suspended by the uppermost module only.

The display unit may be configured to be stood on a surface for use as a self- support display stand. Alternatively, at least one suspension clip may be attached to at least one of the modules to suspend the unit from a support. Detailed Description of the Invention

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a display module assembly forming part of a modular display system in accordance with the invention;

Figures 2 to 5 are perspective exploded views of the module assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating mounting of one display module forming part of the assembly of Figure 1 on top of another similar module; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a display unit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention comprising four display module assemblies according to Figure 1 connected side-by-side in a single row; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a display unit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention comprising a single column of three display modules;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a display unit in accordance with the invention; Figure 10 is a perspective view from the rear and to one side of a display module assembly forming part of a modular display system in accordance with the invention, illustrating mounting of a suspension member;

Figure 11 is a perspective view showing a display module of Figure 1 suspended from a vertically mounted horizontal support; Figure 12 is a side view of a display unit in accordance with this invention having three display modules arranged in a column, with a suspension member mounted to each module; and

Figure 13 is a perspective illustrating mounting of a Euro-hook display arm to a horizontal support using a support member as illustrated in Figure 10. The present invention provides a modular display system for displaying and dispensing retail articles. The system comprises a number of display modules which can be releasably locked together to form display unit for use as a display stand. In some embodiments, an assembled display unit can alternatively be suspended from a support such as a vertical rack. The modular display system is particularly, but not exclusively, suitable for producing a retail display unit for use in or around a point of sale in a retail establishment. In the following description and claims, relative terms such as "upper", "lower", "upwardly", "downwardly", "front", "rear", "forward", and "rearward" and the like as used in reference to a display module forming part of the system when the module is in an upright display orientation for use as part of a display unit as shown in the accompanying drawings and should be construed accordingly. It will be appreciated that a display module in accordance with the invention can be held in different orientations when not in use as a display unit or during assembly to form a display unit. Similar considerations apply when such relative terms are used in relation to parts of a module or to a display unit. Figures 1 to 6 illustrate a display module assembly 9 forming part of a display system 10 in accordance with the invention. The assembly 9 includes a display module 12 and a cover 14 detachably mountable to the module. The system 10 comprises a number of modules 12 of similar or identical design which can be assembled together in various ways to form display units 15 comprising an array of interlocked modules of varying height and width. One or more covers 14 are mounted to any of the modules 12 in an assembled display unit 15 which does not have a further module 12 mounted above it.

The module 12 has a main body 16 having a pair of spaced, generally upright, parallel side walls 18, 20. The side walls 18, 20 are interconnected towards their rear end by a rear wall 22. The rear wall 22 is substantially planar and extends generally vertically when the module 12 is stood upright on a flat, horizontal surface. The side walls 18, 20 extend in a rearward direction beyond the rear wall 22 by a small amount as can be seen in Figure 5. At least upper and lower regions 24, 26 of the rearward edge 28 of each of the side walls 18, 20 are located in the same plane which is parallel to the plane of the rear wall 22 and which defines the rearmost extent of the module. The upper and lower regions 24, 26 of the rear edges 28 of the side walls can be abutted against a vertical surface with the rear wall extending generally parallel to the vertical surface. As will be discussed later, this enables a module 12 to be suspended vertically from a support, such as a vertical rack, in an upright position. The rear most edges 28 of the side walls 18, 20 can contact a vertical surface so that the module is supported in an upright position. In the case of a rack comprising a number of parallel horizontal supports from which modules are suspended, the vertical surface may be defined by the horizontal supports. At their forward ends, the side walls 18, 20 are interconnected by a front wall assembly 30 which is not as high as the rear wall 22. A product support surface 32 extends between the side walls 18, 20, the rear wall 22 and the front wall assembly 30. The rearward end of the product support surface 32 is connected to the rear wall 22 at a position part way up the rear wall 22 above the top of the front wall assembly 30 and the product support surface 32 is angled downwardly and forwardly towards the front of the main body 16. At its forward end, the product support surface 32 is connected to the lower end of an inner planar front wall 34 which forms part of the front wall assembly 30. The inner planar front wall 34 extends upwardly from and perpendicular to the product support surface 32 to define a forward product support surface.

The product support surface 32, the inner planar front wall 34, and parts of the side walls 18, 20 and rear wall 22 which project upwardly beyond the product support surface 32 define a tray-like product display compartment 36 in which product can be received to be displayed. The product support surface 32 is in the form of a substantially planar wall such that a plurality of loose products, which may be individually wrapped, can be received and held in the product display compartment 36. The product support surface wall 32 may be continuous as shown or it may have one or more apertures or openings but which are sufficiently smaller than the intended products to be displayed that the products do not fall through. Alternatively, the main body may be dimensioned so as to receive a standard sized carton containing product in the product display compartment 36. For example, the compartment 36 may be dimensioned to hold a standard carton containing packs of gum or the like. In one embodiment, the system 10 includes modules of different widths to accommodate different products or types of products. For example, some modules may be dimensioned to receive a standard carton for holding one type of product, such as gum packs, and others dimensioned to receive different type of product such as chocolate and candy bars.

The product support surface 32 is inclined at an appropriate downward angle a relative to the rear wall for display of products located in the product display compartment 36. In the present embodiment, the product support surface 32 is inclined at an angle a to the rear wall in the range of 120 to 140 degrees and more particularly at an angle of 130 degrees. However, this is not essential and the angle can be varied depending on the type of product and the overall dimensions of the module.

The front wall assembly 30 also includes a concave outer wall 38 which extends forwardly from an upper edge of the inner planar front wall 34 towards the lower edges of the side walls 18, 20. The side walls 18, 20 project forwardly beyond the concave outer wall 38 to define a volume in which graphics relating to the product to be displayed can be located. A convex transparent shield 40 is releasably connectable to the main body 16 over the concave outer wall 38 and may be adapted to hold a card 41 or the like to which graphics or other information relating to the product to be displayed can be applied. The shield 40 is profiled to match the profiling of the forward edges of the side walls. An upper edge 42 of the shield has a pair of first projections 44 which clip over corresponding second projections 46 at the upper edge of the concave outer wall 38. The lower edge of the shield 40 has a lip 48 which engages in a slot 50 defined at the lower forward edge of the concave outer wall 38. To assemble the shield 40, the lip 48 is inserted in the slot 50 and the first projections 44 are pressed over the second projections 46. The shield 40 is sufficiently flexible to allow a snap type fastening.

At least forward and rearward regions 51, 52 of the lower edges 54 of the side walls 18, 20 lie in a common plane which defines the lowermost extent of the main body 16. The module 12 can be stood upright in a stable condition on a flat surface on the lowermost regions 51, 52 of the side walls. The lowermost edge 56 of the rear wall 22 and the lowermost edge 58 of the front wall assembly 30 may also lie in the same plane to help in ensuring stability of the module 12 when stood upright on a flat surface. It will be appreciated that the side walls 18, 20 need not be profiled to define separate lowermost regions 51, 52 at the front and rear and that other arrangements for ensuring that the module 12 can be stood upright can be adopted.

The side walls 18, 20 are provided with corresponding, inter-engageable locking features that allow any two modules in the system to be releasably locked together side-by-side to form a horizontal array. A first side wall 18 has three first detent members 60. One of the first detent members 60a is located in a forward region of the side wall 18 between the inner planar wall 34 and the curved outer wall 38. The other two first detent members 60b, 60c are both located on the rear edge region of the side wall 18 which extends in a rearward direction beyond the rear wall 22, one above the other. Each of the first detent members 60 is in the form of a projection which extends outwardly form the side wall 18 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the side wall. The free ends of the projections 60 have a hook shaped head 62 located to one side. In the case of the first detent 60a at the forward end of the wall 18, the head 62 is located on the forward side of the projection 60 whereas in the first detents 60b, 60c at the rear, the head is located on the rearward side of the projection 60. Corresponding second detent members 64 are provided in the second side wall 20. The second detent members 64 are in the form of slots defined in the second side wall 20 in which the respective first detent members 60 of another module are inserted to lock the two modules together. The first and second detent members 60, 64 are configured so that when the first head portions 62 of the projections 62 are inserted into the slots 64, the projections 60 are flexed from their naturally biased positions until the heads 62 pass fully though the slots 64, at which point the projections 60 return to their naturally biased positions and laterally outwardly facing surfaces of the heads 62 locate against the inner surface of the second side wall 20 on one side of their respective slots 64. The projections 60 and heads 62 are dimensioned so that once engaged in the slots 64, they hold the two modules together firmly in close side- by-side relation. Having the head 62 on the forward projection 60a facing in the opposite direction to those on the rear projections 60b, 60c ensures that the modules are securely locked together. To outer surface of the heads 62 may be curved to make them easier to insert through the slots 64. In the present embodiment, there are two pairs of detent formations 60b, 60c, 64 at the rear which provides particularly secure locking of adjacent modules. However, only one pair of rear detents 62, 64 could be used.

It will be noted that the front detents 60a, 64a and the rear detents 60b, 64, 60c, 64 are spaced widely apart close to the front and rear ends of the module. This helps to securely lock adjacent modules together and makes it more difficult for the modules to be unintentionally separated if one is pulled or twisted apart from the other. Positioning one pair of corresponding horizontal locking detents 62a, 64 close to the front of the module and at least one 62b, 84; 62c, 64 close to the rear reduces the separating moment created by a separating force applied to either the front or back of horizontally interconnected modules by having the distance from the separating force to the horizontal connecting mechanism as small as possible and preferably less than 10% of the depth/length of the module. However, the horizontal detent arrangements are configured to allow separation of previously connected modules if desired. It will also be noted that the first and second detents 60, 64 are located outside of the volume occupied by the product display compartment 36. This is advantageous as it means the first detent members 60 do not enter the product display compartment 36 when two modules are connected side-by-side so that the whole of the product display compartment 36 is available for receiving product. In addition being inter-connectable side-by- side with other similar modules

12, the main body 16 has corresponding inter-engageable upper and lower locking arrangments70, 72 to enable the module 12 to be inter-connected with another similar module 12 in the system vertically, one above the other, to form a vertical array or stack. In the present embodiment, the upper and lower locking arrangements 70, 72 include three separate locking mechanisms, one associated with the rear wall 22 and one each associated with a rear portion of each of the side walls 18, 20. The use of multiple locking mechanisms ensures that vertically stacked modules are securely interlocked. As can be seen best in Figures 5 and 6, the rear surface of the rear wall 22 is reinforced by means of a grid reinforcing ribs, some of which 74 extend vertically and some 76 horizontally. The ribs 74, 76 do not extend by a distance greater than the rearward extent of the side walls 18, 20. The bottommost horizontal rib 76a is spaced upwardly from the lower edge of the rear wall 22 by a distance. On either side, a panel 78 projects downwardly from the lowermost rib 76 towards the lower surface of the rear wall 22. The panels 78 are spaced from but parallel to the rear wall and are also connected at their outer side edges with the inner surface of the respective side wall 18, 20. The panels 78 and the rear wall 22 collectively define a slot 80 in the space between them. A substantially planar tab 82 projects upwardly form the upper edge 85 of the rear wall. The tab 82 is parallel to the rear wall 22 but is offset in a rearward direction from the plane of the rear wall 22 for insertion in the slot 80 of further module 12. The vertical ribs 74 extend upwardly over the tab 82 to provide structural rigidity but are located inwardly of the panels 78. The tab 82 is slightly narrower than the rear wall and has rounded upper corners to so that it can be engaged smoothly in the slot 80 of a corresponding module.

A circular aperture 84 is defined through the centre of the tab 82 and a corresponding locking member 86 is formed in a lower part of the rear wall 22 which at least partly defines the slot 80. The locking member 86 is in the form of a generally hemispherical section of the rear wall which is defined by a part circular slot 88. The upper edge of the generally hemispherical section has a flange 90 which projects in a rearward direction and is tapered, having a largest depth in its upper region. When the tab 82 of one module main body is inserted in the slot 80 of another, there is sufficient flexibility in the structure that the upper edge of the tab 82 can be deflected to ride over the tapered flange 90 until the tab is fully inserted. At this point, the flange 90 engages in the aperture 84 to securely lock the module main bodies together. The upper locking mechanisms on the side walls 18, 20 on either side are substantially identical. Upper locking detents 92 project upwardly from an upper edge of a rearward portion of each side wall 18, 20. The upper edge of the side walls 18, 20 in this region being substantially at the same height as the upper edge of the rear wall 22. Each upper locking detent 92 is in the form of a tab extending co-planar with their respective side wall. The tabs 92 have a generally rectangular outer profile when viewed from the side of the main body, although the side walls of the tabs 92 taper inwardly slightly towards their upper ends so that the tabs are shorter (measured in a direction from the front to the rear of the module main body) at their upper end than at their lower end. Defined in the inner surface of each of the detent tabs 92 is a generally rectangular detent recess 94. A support panel 96 also projects upwardly beyond the upper edge of each side wall 18, 20 parallel to but spaced inwardly from the respective upper locking detent tab 92. The support panels 96 are larger than the upper locking detent tabs 92 and each has an aperture 98 which is aligned with and of a corresponding shape to the adjacent locking detent tab 92. The lower locking mechanisms of the side walls comprise a recess 100 in rearward, lower edge region of each of the side walls 18, 20 which correspond in location, shape and depth with upper locking detent tabs 92. Within each of the recesses 100 is provided a detent projection 102 which is configured to be received within a detent recess 94 in the inner surface of the corresponding upper locking detent tab 92. The detent projections 102 are tapered, becoming thicker towards their upper edges.

As can be seen from Figure 6, when one module 12a is coupled on top of another 12b, in addition to the rear wall tab 82 of the lower module 12b engaging in the rear wall slot 80 of the upper module 12, the rearward lower edge regions 52 of the side walls 18, 20 of the upper module 12a locate between the respective upper locking detent tab 92 and the inner support panel 96 on either side of the lower module 12b. As the modules 12a, 12b are brought together, the upper locking detent tabs 92 are able to flex sufficient to ride up over the corresponding detent projections 102 until, when fully coupled, the detent projections 102 locate in the detent recess 94 in their respective locking detent tabs 92, which are resiliently biased back to their natural position. In this position, the detent projections 102 engage with the upper edges of the detent recess 94 in the detent tabs 92 to help prevent the modules from being pulled apart vertically. The outer surfaces of side walls 18, 20 of the two modules 12a, 12b are aligned substantially coplanar with one another and the detent tabs 92 locate in the recesses 100 in the lower regions of side walls so that their outer surfaces are also substantially co-planar with the outer surfaces of the side walls.

The upper and lower locking arrangements 70, 72 securely lock two module main bodies together vertically so that they cannot easily be separated unintentionally. However, there is sufficient flexibility of the construction that the locking mechanism can be disengaged to allow the modules 12a, 12b to be separated if desired.

It will be noted that only a purely vertical movement between the modules 12a, 12b is required to lock two modules together vertically using the upper and lower locking arrangements 70, 72. This is advantageous as it enable additional modules to be added easily to an existing array.

When one module 12a is mounted above another 12b, there is sufficient space between the product support tray 36 regions of the two modules that product in the lower module 12b can be seen and can be easily accessed. The cover 14 of the module assembly 9 is in two parts, a housing part 106 and a second transparent shield 108 releasably mountable to the housing 106. The housing 106 has a pair of side walls 110 interconnected along a rear edge by a generally vertical rear wall 112. The housing also has a vertical front wall portion 114 which is shorter than the rear wall 112 and an upper wall portion 116 which extends between the upper edge of the front wall portion 114 and the upper edge of the rear wall 112 The upper wall portion 116 is angled downwardly and forwardly and merges into the front wall portion 114 in a curve to define a graphic supporting surface to which a card or paper 115 or the like bearing graphics or other information can be mounted. The shield 108 is profiled to correspond to the shape of the front and upper wall portions of the housing 106 and is releasably engageable to the housing 106 to cover the graphic supporting surface so that a graphic bearing card or paper 115 is sandwiched between the shield and the graphic supporting surface. The housing 106 is configured to be secured to the upper rearward end of the module main body 16 using the upper locking mechanisms associated with the side walls 18, 20 of the main body. To this end, the side walls 110 of the cover housing each have a recesses 118 with an inner detent projection 120 similar to the recesses 100 and detent projections 102 provided on the rearward lower edge portions 52 of the side walls 18 20 of the main body as described above. When the cover 14 is mounted to the main body, the rear wall 112 of the cover housing locates behind the upper locking tab 82 of the main body and the side walls 110 of the cover housing locate between the respective upper locking detent tabs 92 and the support panels 96 on either side so that the detent tabs 92 are received in the recesses 118 and the detent projections 120 locate in the detent recesses 94 in the detent tabs.

Once the cover 14 is mounted to the main body, it encloses the majority of the upper locking arrangement 70, in particular the upper locking tab 82 and the support panels 96, to provide a neat and aesthetically pleasing finish. The cover 14 also allows additional graphics to be mounted to the display module. Where the modules 12 are provided in a range of widths, a range of covers 14 of corresponding widths is also provided.

In use, when a number of modules 12 are inter-locked to form a display unit 15, a cover 14 can be mounted to any module 12 which does not have another module 12 mounted above it. The use of a removable cover 14 allows the upper locking arrangements 70 to be configured primarily in a functional manner to effectively lock modules 12 together together without having to compromise for aesthetic reasons. In the system 10 in accordance with the invention, a number of modules 12 can be inter-locked either vertically one on top of another and/or side-by-side to form a display unit 15 comparing any desired number of rows and or columns of the modules. For example, a number of the modules 12 can be connected together side- by-side to form a single row as illustrated in Figure 7 to form a display unit 15a. In this case, a cover 14 will be mounted to each module 12. Alternatively, a number of modules 12 can locked together one above the other to form a single column of modules to form a display unit 15b as illustrated in Figurer 8. In this case, only a single cover 14 will be mounted to the uppermost module 12 in the column. However, usually it is expected that a number of modules 12 will be inter-locked to form an array comprising a number of rows and columns of modules. In this case, a cover will be mounted to the uppermost module 12 in each column. For example, twelve modules 12 can be connected together in an array having four columns, each column having three modules. In this case four covers 14 will be required for mounting to the uppermost module in each column. A wide range of other combinations are possible including for example but without limitation 2 X 3, 3 X 2, 3 X 4, 4 X 3, 5 X 3, 5 X 4, 6 x 4, 6 X 5 arrays. The person skilled in the art though will understand that the possible combinations are virtually endless.

It will also be appreciated that a display unit 15 may not have the same number of modules in every column. For example, as illustrated in Figure 9, a display unit 15c can be constructed in which some of the columns are taller than others. In the embodiment shown, the columns at one end are taller than the columns at the other end. This might be advantageous for use as a display stand on a retail counter as it maximises space usage whilst still allowing visibility across the unit where the columns are shorter. A column of a display unit in accordance with the invention might comprise only a single module. It should also be noted that a module assembly 9 can be used individually as a display unit if desired.

In general, any number of modules 12 can be connected together in a row depending on the available space. In principle, any number of modules 12 can also be mounted in a vertical stack but in practice this depends on the stability of the assembled unit 15. This may in turn depend on whether the assembled unit 15 will have any external support or if it is entirely free standing. For a free standing display unit display 15, it is likely that a maximum of five to seven modules would be connected vertically in a column. However, this is not intended to limit the scope of the invention which it should be understood is intended to cover any number of modules in a column.

When assembling a display unit 15, it is expected that modules 12 will firstly be connected vertically to form the desired number of columns as sub-assemblies. The sub-assembled columns will then be interconnected side-by-side. It is a particular advantage of the display system in accordance with the invention that the vertical locking arrangements are sufficiently robust that a vertical stack comprising a reasonable number of modules 12, say in the region of five to eight modules, can be moved without the stack coming apart. The covers 14 can be mounted before the columns are attached together or afterwards. However, this method of assembly is not essential and the modules 12 can be connected in any desired order.

A further advantage of the display system 10 in accordance with the invention is that the graphics mounted to the front of module main bodies 16 and/or the covers 14 can be changed without having to dismantle a display unit 15 of assembled modules.

As already discussed, the system 10 may include modules 12 of the same general overall construction but of different widths. It will be appreciated that only modules 12 of the same width can be interconnected vertically one above the other in a stack. However, all the modules 12 in the system are of the same length and same general profile, particularly when viewed from the side, and all are provided with inter-engagable locking detents 60, 64 on the side walls so that modules of differing width can be connected side-by-side to form part a display unit. Accordingly, a display unit 15 can be assembled which includes some columns having modules of a first width and other columns having modules of a second width and so on. This arrangement can be used to construct a single display unit 15 which can accommodate different sizes of product.

In addition to forming display units 15 in the form of display stands for positioning on a counter, floor, or other generally horizontal surface, the system 10 includes suspension members 122 which can be attached to modules to enable the modules to be suspended or hung from a vertically mounted support, such as a rung on a vertical rack.

With reference to Figure 10, in the present embodiment, the suspension members 122 are in the form of resilient clips which are releasably engageable with a rectangular aperture 124 in the rear wall 22 of a module. Each clip 122 has a main body 126 having a forward surface 128 which in use abuts the rear (outer) surface of the rear wall 22. A first resilient arm 130 extends from a position about midway down the main body 126 upwardly and generally parallel to the forward surface 128 for a distance and the free, upper end 132 of the first arm 130 angles away from the main body for ease of engagement through the aperture 124.

A second resilient arm 136 extends from an upper end of the main body and extends downwardly substantially parallel to a rear surface 138 of the main body for a distance. The free, lower end of the second arm 136 is angled away from the main body for ease of engagement with a support. The second arm 136 includes two inwardly directed, spaced, part circular grooves 140. The grooves 140 are aligned generally horizontally in use, that is to say in a transverse direction of the module. To mount the clip 122 to a module, the first arm 130 is inserted from the outside through the aperture 124 in the rear wall so that it engages with the forward (inner) surface of the rear wall 22 above the aperture with the main body 126 in contact with the rear (outer) surface of the rear wall. As the first arm 130 is resilient, it tightly grips the rear wall of the module to secure the clip 122. The clip 122 is designed for use with a vertically mounted, horizontal support member 142 comprising a pair of spaced, parallel horizontally depending rods 144 as illustrated in Figure 11. The support member 142 may be mounted to a wall or other generally vertical surface by suitable mounting blocks 143 so that there is a space between the rods and the surface. Alternatively, the horizontal support member 142 may be part of a stand having spaced vertical supports to which the horizontal support member 142 is attached.

To mount the module to the horizontal support member 142, the second resilient arm 136 is engaged over the rods 144 in downward direction until each rod locates in a respective one of the grooves 142 and is held between the arm 136 and the main body 126. Since the first arm 130 extends upwardly and the second arm 136 downwardly, the weight of the module is support through the clip 122 by the horizontal support member 142. As discussed previously, at least upper and lower regions 24, 26 of the rearward edge 28 of each of the side walls 18, 20 are located in the same plane which is parallel to the plane of the rear wall 22 of the module and which defines the rearmost extent of the module. These regions 24, 26 may be arranged to engage a vertical surface to prevent the module from pivoting about the horizontal support member 142. In some arrangements, a number of horizontal support members 142 will be mounted one above the other in a common plane and the upper and lower regions 24, 26 of the rearward edge 28 of the side walls 18, 20 may engage with other horizontal support members 142 above and/or below the one to which the module is mounted. Each module 12 can be suspend individually in this manner but in addition, where a number of modules are interlocked to form a display unit 15, the whole unit may be suspended using clips 122 mounted to at least some of modules in the unit. Figure 12 for example shows a display unit 15 having a vertical column of three modules each having a suspension clip 122 mounted to its rear wall 22. This unit 15 can be suspended using the clips 122 by means of three suitably positioned horizontal support members 142. In some cases, it may not be necessary to use a suspension clip 122 on each module in the unit. For example, in some cases it may be sufficient to use a clip 122 only on the uppermost module in the, or each, column, or perhaps one on the uppermost and one on the lowermost. As illustrated in Figure 13 the clips 122 in the present embodiment additionally have a pair of spaced, vertically aligned forward opening grooves 146 in the main body. These grooves 146 can be used to mount a Euro-hook type display arm 148 to a horizontal support member 142 so that a display unit 15 in accordance with the invention can be combined with Euro-hook arms in a single display arrangement for a wider range of products.

The modular display system in accordance with the invention may also comprise a number of horizontal support members 142 and support brackets 143 for mounting the horizontal support members 142 to a wall or other generally vertical surface. The system may also comprise self supporting stands having upright members to which the horizontal support members 142 can be mounted to form a display rack for mounting a modular display unit formed using the display modules 12 and covers 14.

It will be appreciated that whilst in the present embodiment the clips 122 are designed to be used with one particulate type of vertically mounted support having spaced rods, the clips 122 or alternative suspension members could be adapted for use with other types of support for suspending the modules.

The module main body 16 and the cover 14 can be made from any suitable materials but are preferably manufactured from a polymeric material by injection moulding. The material of the main body 16 may be transparent or translucent.

The present invention provides a modular display system for displaying and dispensing retail articles which is highly versatile allowing a range of different display units to be configured from same basic components. The display units can be adapted to accommodate different products or types or sizes of products and configured in a range of sizes and shapes to suit the available space. The modular display units can be used as display stands or suspended. Several different display units 15 assembled using the modular display system in accordance with the invention may be used in the same retail outlet. For example, one modular display unit 15 may be used as a display stand on a counter and another suspended from a wall or stand. This provides enhanced versatility in terms of optimising the display of products whilst also providing a continuity in appearance which enhances the overall retail experience.

The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A modular display system for displaying and dispensing articles comprising: a. a plurality of display modules releasably attachable to one another to form a display stand, each display module having corresponding upper and lower locking arrangements in which the upper locking arrangement of one module can be engaged with lower locking arrangement of another of the modules so as to releasably attach the modules one above the other, the display module having first and second side walls having corresponding locking features, in which the locking features on a first side wall of one module can be engaged with the corresponding locking features on the second side wall of another of the modules to releasably attach the modules side-by-side; and b. at least one cover member, each cover member being releasably engageable with a respective one of the display modules so as to at least partially encase the upper locking arrangement of said module.

2. A modular display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first graphical display support surface is defined in a lower forward region of a main body of the module, each module further comprising a transparent shield releasably mountable to the main body over the first graphical display support surface.

3. A modular display system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each cover member comprises a housing portion releasably engageable with a respective one of the display modules so as to encase the upper locking arrangement of said module body, the housing portion having a second graphical display support surface, and a transparent shield releasably attachable to the housing portion over the second graphical display support surface.

4. A modular display system for displaying and dispensing articles comprising a plurality of display modules releasably attachable to one another to form a display stand; each display module having a main body comprising a pair of spaced side walls, the side walls being interconnected at a rearward end by a rear wall and at a forward end by a front wall assembly, the main body being configured so that it can be stood on a flat surface with the side walls and rear wall extending upwardly, generally perpendicular to the surface; the main body having a product support surface extending between the rear wall and the front wall assembly, the product support surface being angled downwardly and forwardly from the rear wall toward the front wall assembly; at least a portion of each of the rear wall, the side walls, and the front wall assembly extending above the product support surface to define an interior volume in which product may be located; rearward upper and lower end regions of the main body comprising corresponding inter-engagable upper and lower locking arrangements, in which the upper locking arrangement of one module can be engaged with the lower locking arrangement of another module so as to releasably attach the modules one above the other; a first of the side walls having at least two first detent members, at least one of said first detent members being located toward a forward end of the first side wall and at least one of said first detent members being located toward a rearward end of the first side wall, the second of the side walls having corresponding second detent members, in which the first detent members on a first side wall of any one module are engageable with the corresponding second detent members on the second side wall of any other module in the system to releasably attach the modules side-by-side.

5. A modular display system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the upper and lower locking arrangements comprise at least separate two inter-engaging locking mechanisms.

6. A modular display system as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the rear wall of each module main body is substantially planar.

7. A modular display system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the upper and lower locking arrangements are configured to be engaged as a result of movement of one module relative to the other exclusively in a direction parallel to the plane of the rear wall.

8. A modular display system as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein in each display module, the upper and lower locking arrangements comprise a tab portion projecting from one of the upper and lower end regions of the rear wall and a corresponding slot defined at least partly by the other of the upper and lower end regions of the rear wall.

9. A modular display system as claimed in claim 8, wherein one of the tab and a surface of the rear wall defining the slot defines an aperture and the other of the tab and a surface of the rear wall defining the slot comprises a corresponding locking member, in which the locking member is automatically engagable in the aperture when the tab of one module is inserted in the slot of the other.

10. A modular display system as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the tab projects from an upper region of the rear wall, the tab being aligned substantially co-planar with the rear wall but offset to one of the forward and rearward sides of the rear wall, the slot is defined at least in part by a lower region of the rear wall.

11. A modular display system as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the aperture is defined in the tab and the resilient locking member is defined in a surface of the rear wall.

12. A modular display system as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 11, wherein an upper, rearward end portion of each side wall comprises an upper locking detent structure forming part of the upper locking arrangement and a lower rearward end portion of each side wall comprises a lower locking detent structure forming part of the lower locking arrangement, in which the upper locking detent structures on the side walls of each module main body are engageable with the corresponding lower locking detent structures of another module main body to the releasably lock said module main bodies one above the other.

13. A modular display system as claimed in claim 12 wherein each upper locking detent structure comprises a resilient locking detent tab projecting upwardly from the upper edge of the side wall and a support panel extending upwardly beyond the upper edge of the side wall parallel to but spaced inwardly from the detent tab.

14. A modular display system as claimed in claim 13, wherein each lower locking detent structure comprises a lower edge region of the side wall which is receivable between the detent tab and the support panel of the upper detent structure of another module main body, the lower edge region having a recess in its outer surface in which the detent tab is received.

15. A modular display system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the locking detent tab has a recess defined therein and a corresponding detent projection is located within the recess, the detent projection of one module main body being receivable in the recess in the detent tab of another module main body to lock the two together.

16. A modular display system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the system further comprises at least one cover member, each cover member being releasably engageable with a respective module so as to at least partially encase the upper locking arrangement of said main body.

17. A modular display system as claimed in claim 16, wherein each module further comprises a transparent shield releasably mountable to the front wall assembly of the main body to define first graphical display support.

18. A modular display system as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, wherein each cover member comprises a housing portion releasably engageable with a respective module so as to encase the upper locking arrangement of said module and a second transparent shield releasably attachable to the first portion to define a second graphical display support.

19. A modular display system as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18 when dependent on claim 13, wherein the housing portion of each cover comprises a rear wall and a pair of side walls, each side wall being receivable between the resilient locking detent tab and the support panel on a respective side wall of a module so as to releasably attach the cover to the module.

20. A modular display system as claimed in claim 19, wherein when a cover is mounted to a module, the outer surface of each side wall of the cover is co- planar with the outer surface of the respective side wall of the module main body, each side wall of the cover having a recess in a lower edge region in which the respective locking detent is received.

21. A modular display system as claimed in claim 20 when dependent on claim 8, wherein when a cover is mounted to a module, the tab is located inside the cover, forward of the rear wall of the cover.

22. A modular display system as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the housing portion of each cover further comprises a front wall extending between the side walls at a forward edge thereof and an upper wall extending between upper edges of the front and rear walls between the side walls.

23. A modular system as claimed in claim 22 when dependent on claim 18, wherein the front and upper walls of the housing portion collectively define a graphical display support surface which is covered by the second transparent shield.

24. A modular display system as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 23, wherein the front wall assembly comprises an inner planar wall extending upwardly from a front edge of the product support surface substantially perpendicular to the product support surface and a concave outer front wall.

25. A modular display system as claimed in claim 24 when dependent on claim 17, wherein the transparent shield is concave, an inner volume being defined between the shield and the concave outer front wall in which material bearing a graphical display can be located.

26. A modular display system as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 25, wherein all the modules have substantially the same length but are provided in a range of widths, the upper and lower locking arrangements of modules having the same width are inter-engageable.

27. A modular display system as claimed in claim 26, wherein all the modules can be interconnected side-by-side regardless of width.

28. A modular display system as claimed in claim 26 or claim 27, wherein for each width of module, the system includes at least one cover of corresponding width.

29. A modular display system as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein at least one module is configured to support a carton containing product on the product support surface_^

30. A modular display system as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein interior volume defined by the product support surface and the upwardly extending portions of the side walls, the rear walls and the front wall arrangement forms a tray within which a plurality of individually wrapped product items can be directly received and retained.

31. A modular display system as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 30, wherein the system further comprises a plurality of suspension clips, each suspension clip being releasably mountable to respective module to enable the module to be selectively suspended from a support.

32. A modular display system as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 31, wherein the rear wall of each module main body defines an aperture for releasably receiving a suspension clip for suspending the module from a support.

33. A modular display system for displaying and dispensing retail articles comprising: a plurality of display modules, each module having a product display surface for receiving product to be displayed, the modules being releasably attachable to one another either vertically one top of another or side-by- side such that a number of the modules can be assembled to form display unit of interlocked modules of varying height and width, wherein each of the modules is configured such that it can be stood stably on a flat surface, the system further comprising a plurality of suspension clips releasably securable to the modules and adapted for suspending the modules from a support, wherein a display unit formed using the modules can either be stood on a flat surface for use as a self-supporting display stand or suspended from a support using the suspension clips.

34. A modular display system as claimed in claim 33, wherein each module has a generally vertical rear wall defining an aperture for receiving a respective one of the suspension clips.

35. A modular display system for displaying articles including a plurality of modules wherein each module has a tray surface surrounded by walls which extend beyond the tray surface and which surface is at a downward angle to the horizontal when in display orientation, each module releasably connectable to other modules in the system both vertically and horizontally to from a display unit, the vertical connections between modules being configured such that a display unit comprising a vertical stack of five modules can be lifted by the top module in each stack only without the vertically stacked modules separating.

36. A modular display system for displaying articles including a plurality of modules wherein each module has a tray surface surrounded by walls which extend beyond the tray surface and which surface is at a downward angle to the horizontal when in display orientation, each module releasably connectable to other modules in the system both vertically and horizontally to from a display unit, wherein the horizontal connections between modules comprise spaced corresponding connectors on opposed side walls of each module, at least one said connector located towards a front end of each module and at least one said connector located towards a rear end of each module, the distance from the front and rear ends of each module to its respective front and rear connectors being less than 10% of the depth of the module.

37. A modular display unit assembled from a modular display system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, the display unit comprising a number of display modules interlocked together to define an array comprising at least one column and/or at least one row of module main bodies and wherein a cover is mounted to each module which is uppermost in the array.

38. A modular display unit as claimed in claim 37, wherein the modules are arranged in an array comprising a single row of two or more units and in which a cover is mounted to each of the modules.

39. A modular display unit as claimed in claim 37, wherein the modules are arranged in an array comprising at least one column and a cover is mounted to the uppermost module in each column.

40. A modular display unit as claimed in any one of claims 37 to 39, wherein the unit is configured to be stood on a surface for use as a self-support display stand.

41. A modular display unit as claimed in any one of claims 37 to 39 when dependent on claim 31, wherein at least one suspension clip is attached to at least one of the modules to suspend the unit from a support.