MERCHANDISING SYSTEM WITH FLIPPABLE COLUMN AND/OR ITEM STOP

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[01] This disclosure relates to merchandising systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[02] Retail store locations, such as grocery stores, drug stores, discount stores, and convenience stores, typically use shelving both to store and display items, such as yogurt. It is preferable that shelving be capable of organizing and displaying a large number of items.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[03] Disclosed herein is a merchandising system and method that permits access from the front of a column of rows or shelves and along a side of the column of rows or shelves. The shelves in each column extend from the front of the merchandizing system to a back area of the merchandising system. Each shelf can be of any suitable design to support products or items. The merchandising system can have at least one flippable column comprising at least one shelf for supporting a single row of items extending from the front to the back area of the merchandising system.

[04] The flippable column can have a display position wherein a person positioned in front of the merchandising system can view products displayed in the front of each row of the flippable column and access such products, but cannot readily view the length of a side of the column and cannot readily access the back area of each row of the flippable column. The flippable column can be flipped to a stock position wherein a person positioned in front of the merchandising system can view products displayed in the front of each row of the flippable column, and can also view the length of a side of the column, and access the back area of each row of the flippable column. When the flippable column is in the stock position, a person positioned in front of the merchandising system can readily add products to the back area of

each row or shelf as desired. After the rows or shelves in the flippable column have been stocked as desired, the flippable column can be flipped or returned back to the display position.

[05] In one aspect, the merchandising system comprises multiple flippable columns.

[06] In one aspect, the merchandising system can have shelves that slope downwardly from the back of the shelves towards the front of the shelves, thereby providing gravity-feed items from the back area of the merchandising system towards the front of the merchandising system.

[07] In one aspect, an apparatus can comprise a shelf, the shelf comprising side rails and a bottom, the shelf configured support a single row of items between the side rails; and an item stop located at the front of the shelf, wherein the item stop flexes outwardly when an item is removed from the front of the shelf, and flexes back to its original position after said removal.

[08] Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following drawings and detailed description. The following drawings and detailed description afford a comprehensive understanding of the present invention. However, it should be understood that the described preferred embodiments are illustrative only, since various modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art who have benefited from this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[09] Non-limiting embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[10] Fig. 1 is a front left perspective view of an embodiment of a merchandising system of the present invention.

[11] Fig. 2 is a side view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

[12] Fig. 3 is a top view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

[13] Fig. 4 is a front right perspective view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, further illustrating various aspects of the invention.

[14] Fig. 5 is a front right perspective view illustrating aspects of a front stop, a cut away on the front of a shelf, and a cut away on the side wall.

[15] Figs. 6-28 illustrate various aspects of the invention.

[16] Figs. 29A-29D illustrate an embodiment of front item stop.

[17] Figs. 3OA-3OE illustrate another embodiment of a front item stop.

[18] Fig.s 31 A-3 IE illustrate another embodiment of a front item stop.

[19] Fig.s 32A-32E illustrate another embodiment of a front item stop.

[20] Fig.s 33A-33E illustrate another embodiment of a front item stop.

[21] Fig.s 34A-34D illustrate another embodiment of a front item stop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[22] As shown in Figs. 1-4, a one embodiment a merchandising system 10 comprises a front 12, a back wall 14, a lead flippable column 16, and flippable columns 18. Lead flippable column 16 is between a swing door 20 and the first flippable column 18 that is adjacent to lead flippable column 16. Lead flippable column 16 and flippable columns 18 can comprise rows or shelves 22 that extend from front 12 to back wall 14. Fig. 1 shows the merchandising system 10 wherein each flippable column 16 and 18 is in a display position. See also Figs. 6 and 8.

When lead flippable column 16 is in its display position and swing door 20 is closed, a person positioned in front of lead column 16 can view products displayed in the front of each row 22 of column 16 and access such products, but cannot readily view or access the length of rows 22 of lead flippable column 16. Similarly, when lead flippable column 16 is in its display position, a person positioned in front of a flippable column 18 can view products displayed in the front of each row 22 of that column 18 and access such products, but cannot readily view or access the length of rows 22 of that flippable column 18.

[23J As shown in Fig. 3, flippable columns 18 are each at an angle β with respect to back wall 14. In one embodiment, each flippable column 18 and back wall 14 can form an angle β of less than 90 degrees. In one embodiment, each flippable column 18 and back wall 14 can form an angle β in the range of 50 to 60 degrees. In one embodiment, each flippable column 18 and back wall 14 can form an angle β of about 55 degrees. See also Figs. 8-9.

[24] Lead flippable column 16 can have the same angle β with respect to back wall 14 as do flippable columns 18 as described above. As shown in Fig. 3, lead flippable column 16 has been flipped so that the angle formed between lead flippable column 16 and back wall 14 has increased from angle β to angle θ. In one embodiment, angle θ formed by flippable column 16 and back wall 14 is in the range of 85 to 90 degrees. In one embodiment, angle θ formed by flippable column 16 and back wall 14 is about 90 degrees. As shown in Fig. 3, swing door 20 has been swung about axis 24 so that stop 26 acts as a stop for lead flippable column 16 when it is flipped to form angle θ with back wall 14.

[25] As shown in Fig. 3, when swing door 20 is swung about axis 24 from a closed position to an open position, space 28 becomes accessible to a person positioned in front of where swing door 20 was in the closed position. That person, who can be a stock person or stocker, would then have access to a first side 30 of lead flippable column 16. With such access, the person could view each row 22 along first side 30 of lead flippable column 16 from the front of the row to back wall 14. With such access, a stock person can take inventory of items on each row of lead flippable column 16, take an item(s) off of each row of lead flippable column 16, and/or add an item(s) to each row of lead flippable column 16. See also Figs. 7, 9 and 22. With such access,

a person can add items having a later expiration date behind items having an earlier expiration date for each row 22 of lead flippable column 16. Swing door 20 can have a lock (not shown) so that only authorized individuals can unlock the lock and swing open swing door 20 to access space 28.

[26] As shown in Fig. 3, when space 28 is made accessible to a person positioned in front of space 28, lead flippable column 16 can be moved from angle β to angle θ. When lead flippable column 16 is moved from angle β to angle θ, then a person positioned in front of space 28 can access each row 22 along second side 32 of lead flippable column 16 from the front of the row to back wall 14. With such access, a stock person can take inventory of items on each row of lead flippable column 16, take an item(s) off of each row of lead flippable column 16, and/or add an item(s) to each row of lead flippable column 16. With such access, a person can add items having a later expiration date behind items having an earlier expiration date for each row 22 of lead flippable column 16. Column 16 can have any suitable structure, including but not limited to a wire grid, which permits access to items along each row 22 from either first side 30 or second side 32, or both sides 30 and 32.

[27] When lead flippable column 16 is moved from angle β to angle θ, then a person positioned in front of space 28 can view each row 22 along first side 30 of the flippable column 18 that is immediately adjacent to lead flippable column 16, from the front of the row to back wall 14. With such access, a stock person can take inventory of items on each row of the flippable column 18 that is immediately adjacent to lead flippable column 16, take an item(s), such as item 31 off of each row of that flippable column 18, and/or add an item(s), such as item 31, to each row of that flippable column 18. With such access, a person can add items having a later expiration date behind items having an earlier expiration date for each row 22 of that flippable column 18.

[28] The process of flipping consecutive flippable columns 18 can be repeated as desired in order to obtain access to side of each flippable column 18. Column 34, which is the furthest column from lead flippable column 16, may be flippable or non-flippable. There is no need for column

34 to be flippable because first side 30 of column 34 becomes accessible when flippable column 18 immediately adjacent to column 34 is flipped from angle β to angle θ.

[29] The process of flipping the lead flippable column 16 and consecutive flippable columns can be performed by flipping the columns one at a time, in pairs, or groups of 3 or more columns at a time. Flipping columns in pairs is the most efficient way of accessing a second side 32 of a flippable column 18 and accessing at the same time the first side 30 of the next adjacent flippable column 18, in seriatim. First side 30 and second side 32 of flippable column 18 can be just like first side 30 and 32 of column 16, i.e., each side opposite the other. Flippable colurnn(s) 18 can have any suitable structure, including but not limited to a wire grid, which peπnits access to items along each row 22 from either first side 30 or second side 32, or both sides 30 and 32.

[30] As shown in Fig. 4, various shapes and sizes of products or items, including but not limited to Type X items, Type Y items, and/or items 31 and 38, and/or item 66 (depicted in Fig. 5), can be displayed by merchandising system 10. See also Figs. 16-19. At the front of each row can be a front item stop 40. Front item stop 40 can be transparent or non-transparent, and can be made of any suitable material. Front item stop 40 can be flexible so that it flexes outwardly during removal of an item from the front of row 22, and, after said item removal, then flexes back to its original position to act as a stop for the next item in the row. Information selected from the group consisting of price, unit amount, price per weight, and SKU, and any combination thereof can be placed on front 41 of front item stop 40. See also Figs. 23-25.

[31] Each row or tray 22 can have a slide tray 42 devoted to a particular product, brand of product and/or flavor for easy swapping of rows. The trays can be made of any suitable material, including but not limited to wire, metal brackets, and/or plastic, including injection molded plastic. The rows or trays can be universal to support various products of different shapes and sizes.

[32] Rows 22 and columns 16, 18 and 34 can be made of any suitable material, including but not limited to wire, metal brackets, and/or plastic, including injection molded plastic. See also Figs.

26-28. Rows 22 can slope downwardly from back to front so that product or items in each row are gravity-fed towards the front of each row. The downward slope of rows 22 can be any suitable angle, including but not limited to around 10 degrees downward from horizontal. See e.g., Fig. 20.

[33] A pricing display panel for items in each row can be placed on the front of the bottom portion of each row or placed on the front of the bottom portion or every other row, etc. as may be desired.

[34] Fig. 4 illustrates how a single item 31 can be placed at the back of a row 22 of a flippable column 18.

[35] In one embodiment, merchandising system 10 can have a storage area for items separate from columns 16, 18, and 34. As shown in Figs. 1-3, storage area 44 is located at end 46 of merchandising system 10. End 46 is opposite end 21 of merchandising system 10. Storage area 44 can have a wall 45 that acts as a stop for column 34. Storage area 44 can be used for additional display and/or storage of items. Storage area 44 can have multiple shelves 47.

[36] Merchandising system 10 can comprise a top 48, and a bottom portion 50. Top 48 can have an extra branding and sellable advertising panel 52. Bottom portion 50 can have an extra branding and sellable advertising panels 54 and 55.

[37] Fig. 5 is a front right perspective view illustrating aspects of a front item stop, a cut away on the front of a shelf, and a cut away on the side wall. As shown in Fig. 5, front item stop 56 of each row 22 can be reduced in size from front item stop 40 shown in Fig. 4 to expose more labeling of products, and to permit easier removal of item(s), including but not limited to items 66, 31 and/or 38, from the row. Front item stop 56 can be flexible so that it flexes outwardly during removal of an item from the front of row 22, and, after said item removal, then flexes back to its original position to act as a stop for the next item in the row. A cut away portion 58 in floor 60 of row 22 can permit easier removal of items from the front of the row. A cut away

portion 62 in the front of side wall 64 of row 22 can permit easier removal of items from the front of the row. See also Figs. 10-12.

[38] An item can be removed from a row by grasping the item at its side wall, at the item's top, at the item's bottom, or combination thereof. See e.g., Figs. 13-15 and 21.

[39] Rows or shelves 22 can be designed to support any size items, including but not limited to six (6) ounce items, eight (8) once items, and items packaged in containers having vertical side walls and tapered side walls, etc.

[40] Storage area 68 located at end 21 of merchandising system 10 can be used for put backs of items taken from rows 22, and/or additional display and/or storage of items.

[41] Merchandising system 10 can provide for display of various shaped and sized items. Rows and columns of system 10 can be universal to support various shaped and sized items.

[42] The rows of system can be any suitable length or depth, including but not limited to about twenty-four (24) inches.

[43] When merchandising system 10 is used to display yogurt products in a retail store, the highest facing yogurt can be about seventy-two (72) inches from the ground. The yogurt section can be about eight (8) feet long, and have about nineteen (19) to twenty (20) columns or doors in the section. Each column can have about eleven (11) rows or shelves. Each row or shelf can support eight (8) to ten (10) yogurt items, depending on the size of the yogurt packages or containers.

[44] Merchandising system 10 can include a refrigeration unit (not shown), and transparent refrigerator swing doors (not shown) in front of columns 16, 18, and 34.

[45] Figs. 6-28 illustrate various aspects of the invention.

[46] Figs. 29A-29D illustrate an embodiment of front item stop 290. Front item stop 290 comprises a front face 291, which may or may not be transparent. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 29A-29D, front face 291 is transparent. Front face 291 can have a designated portion 292. A label (not shown) comprising information selected from the group consisting of price, unit amount, price per weight, and SKU, and any combination thereof that corresponds to the items placed on or to be placed on row or shelf 293 can be placed on designated portion 292. Such label can be removed from designated portion 292 and/or covered over with another label at later time if desired. Items can be removed from row 293 via opening 294. Front item stop 290 can be flexible so that it flexes outwardly during removal of an item from the front of row 293, and, after said item removal, then flexes back to its original position to act as a stop for the next item in the row. Row or shelf 293 can comprise side rails and a bottom (shown in the figures but not numbered), and can be configured support a single row of items between the side rails.

[47] Figs. 30A-30E illustrate another embodiment of a front item stop. Front item stop 300 comprises a front face 301, which may or may not be transparent. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 30A-30E, front face 301 is not transparent. Front face 301 can have a designated portion

302 as shown in Fig. 30E. A label (not shown) comprising information selected from the group consisting of price, unit amount, price per weight, and SKU, and any combination thereof that corresponds to the items placed on or to be placed on row or shelf 303 can be placed on designated portion 302. Such label can be removed from designated portion 302 and/or covered over with another label at later time if desired. Items can be removed from row 303 via opening 304. Curved portion 305 can flex or pivot outwardly from hinge 306 during removal of an item from the front of row 303, and, after said item removal, then flexes or pivots back to its original position to act as a stop for the next item in the row. Row or shelf

303 can comprise side rails and a bottom (shown in the figures but not numbered), and can be configured support a single row of items between the side rails.

[48] Figs. 31A-31E illustrate another embodiment of a front item stop. Front item stop 310 comprises a front face 311, which may or may not be transparent. Front face 311 can have a designated portion 312. A label (not shown) comprising information selected from the group

consisting of price, unit amount, price per weight, and SKU, and any combination thereof that corresponds to the items placed on or to be placed on row or shelf 313 can be placed on designated portion 312. Such label can be removed from designated portion 312 and/or covered over with another label at later time if desired. Items can be removed from row 313 via opening 314. Front face 311 can flex or pivot outwardly from hinge 315 during removal of an item from the front of row 313, and, after said item removal, then flexes or pivots back to its original position to act as a stop for the next item in the row. As front face 311 flexes or pivots outwardly, second item stop 316 pivots inwardly to act as a stop for the item immediately behind the item being removed. As front face 311 flexes or pivots back to its original position after removal of an item, second item stop 316 pivots back to its original position to allow the next item in row 313 to advance past the second item stop 316, and be stopped by front face 311. Row or shelf 313 can comprise side rails and a bottom (shown in the figures but not numbered), and can be configured support a single row of items between the side rails.

[49] Figs. 32A-32E illustrate another embodiment of a front item stop. Front item stop 320 comprises a front face 321, which may or may not be transparent. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 32A-32E, front face 321 is transparent. Front face 321 can have a designated portion 322. A label 322a comprising information (not shown) selected from the group consisting of price, unit amount, price per weight, and SKU, and any combination thereof that corresponds to the items placed on or to be placed on row or shelf 323 can be placed on designated portion 322. Such label 322a can be removed from designated portion 322 and/or covered over with another label at later time if desired. Items can be removed from row 323 via opening 324. Curved portion 325 can flex or pivot outwardly via hinge 326 during removal of an item from the front of row 323, and, after said item removal, then flexes or pivots back to its original position to act as a stop for the next item in the row. Curved portion 325 can be attached to a connecting portion 327, which in turn is directly attached to hinge 326. Row or shelf 323 can comprise side rails and a bottom (shown in the figures but not numbered), and can be configured support a single row of items between the side rails.

[50] Figs. 33A-33E illustrate another embodiment of a front item stop. Front item stop 330 comprises a front face 331, which may or may not be transparent. Front face 331 can have a

designated portion 332. A label (not shown) comprising information selected from the group consisting of price, unit amount, price per weight, and SKU, and any combination thereof that corresponds to the items placed on or to be placed on row or shelf 333 can be placed on designated portion 332. Such label can be removed from designated portion 332 and/or covered over with another label at later time if desired. Items can be removed from row 333 via opening 334. Front face 331 can flex or pivot outwardly (in this embodiment, the outward movement is downwardly) from hinge 335 during removal of an item from the front of row 333, and, after said item removal, then flexes or pivots back to its original position to act as a stop for the next item in the row. Row or shelf 333 can comprise side rails and a bottom (shown in the figures but not numbered), and can be configured support a single row of items between the side rails.

[51] Figs. 34A-34D illustrate an embodiment of front item stop 340. Front item stop 340 comprises a front face 341, which may or may not be transparent. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 34A-34D, front face 341 is not transparent. In this embodiment, front item stop 340 is basically a strap. Front item stop or strap 340 can made sufficiently sized to have designated portion (not shown) upon which a label (not shown) comprising information selected from the group consisting of price, unit amount, price per weight, and SKU, and any combination thereof can be placed and which corresponds to the items placed on or to be placed on row or shelf 343. Such label can be removed from designated portion and/or covered over with another price label and/or SKU identification label at later time if desired, or alternatively, strap 340 can be simply replaced with another strap 340 if desired. Items can be removed from row 343 by simply lifting each item as desired as shown in Fig. 34A. Front item stop or strap 340 can pivot slightly downward during removal of an item from the front of row 343, but not so much that it will not stop the next item in the row after an initial item is removed. Row or shelf 343, like other rows or shelves disclosed herein, can have a downward slope to gravity feed items from the back of each row to the front of each row. As shown in Figs. 34A-34D, a row can have two portions 348 and 349, each of which has a different downward slope. As illustrated in Figs. 34A-34D, front sloped portion 348 has a greater downward slope than rear sloped portion 349. Row or shelf 343 can comprise side rails and a bottom (shown in the

figures but not numbered), and can be configured support a single row of items between the side rails.

[52] The present invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and those of skill in the art will appreciate that variations and modifications are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[53] While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.