DESCRIPTION VARIABLE SHAPE DISPLAYS

The invention refers to Variable Shape Displays for products (henceforth V.S.D.) for placement in retail stores (super markets) indoors or outdoors. To display products in a retail outlet, we use, among other methods, the so-called ^" 2 ^nd Point of Purchase ^' . ^" 1 ^st or primary point of purchase ^" is the main isle with shelves, where the shopper may browse the category for which they are shopping, such as ^" Coffee & Sugar ^" . Thus, every supplier of products in the category ^" Coffee & Sugar ^" occupies space in the shelves on which they display their products. ^" 2 ^nd Points of Purchase ^" , should they be gained after negotiating with the retailer, may be located at other areas of the outlet, with the intention of displaying the products to shoppers who will not walk through the category's aisle (or "primary POP). This technique yields greater benefit for products of ^" Impulse Buying ^" . The objective of such displays is to draw attention and impress the passing shopper, so as to stimulate a non-scheduled purchase. Today, product displays at 2 ^nd POPs are setup mainly using one of two methods: stands or palette displays. The various types of Stands impressive and strengthen the products' image. However, they can carry a small number of products, are expensive and relatively difficult to setup. Palette Displays, on the other hand, are setup by direct placement of products on the floor, either on the palette without it. Products are stacked on top of each other, while sometimes there may be layers of thick carton in between the various layers (floors) of products. Among the Pros of Palette Displays are large volume of hosted products, very good utilization of available space for the display and low cost. Among their cons are poor appearance, lack of originality, ware of hosted products under the weight of hosted products on layers (floor) above them and poor stability for large or complicated designs.

The Present invention aims to improve the image of present displays and, as a result, increase the sales volume achieved per display (especially for impulsive buying products, for which the primary objective is to attract the attention of the passing shopper). Secondary objectives of the invention are to reduce the time needed for the construction of large displays, to reduce the cost associated with the construction of impressive displays and to increase the stability of displays, so as to reduce ware of hosted products. V.S.D.s main attribute is that they are constructed from various adjoining product hosting pieces (henceforth A.P.H.P.s.), which have been fabricated in specific shapes, each of which showing sides of length "X", so that it is possible to join these A.P.H.P.s together and create ground plans of numerous designs, and thus create infinite design variations for a V.S.D. The length "X" of A.P.H.P.s is the object of study for each application and depends on the shape and size of products to be hosted, as well as the desired number of hosted products per A. P. H. P. The various shapes of A.P.H.P.s, are the following: a. square of sides equal to "X" (1a), b. quadrant of a circle, of radius equal to "X" (1b), c. Half Circle, of radius equal to X (1c), d. Regular triangle, where each of the sides is equal to "X" (1d), e. Triangle where, the side opposite of the 90 ^° angle, instead of being a straight line, is shaped like an inverted "s", while the other two sides are equal to "X" (1e), f. Variation of shape e where the "s" side is shaped like a "v" facing outwards (1f), g. Half Ellipse shape with side equal to "X" (1g), h. Regular Hexagon with sides equal to "X" (1h), i. Regular Octagon with sides equal to "X" (1i), j. The drop: Composite shape which is yielded by the merging of the following shapes: i) square of side "X", ii) circle of radius X/2 the circumference of which touches one edge of the square and iii) support filling arches at each side of the joint of the other two shapes (1j).

Thus, through combinations of the above shapes, one can derive infinite combinations for different ground plans of a V.S.D. For instance, one can use the square shaped A.P.H.P. (1a), placing it at the center of the ground plan, and six more Quadrant shaped A.P.H.P.s, (1b), placing them in such a manner around the square so that all the sides of length "X" meet and yield the ground plan of a V.S.D. (2). Another possible combination is to use 2 quadrant shaped A.P.H.P.s (1b), and 2 Drop shaped A.P.H.P.s (1j), placing alike shape opposite of each other and then crossing the two pairs, so that all sides of length equal to "X" meet and create the ground plan shown at (3). Additionally, one can use a square shaped A.P.H.P (1a), placing it at the center, and four Half Ellipse shapes (1g), joining each of the sides of the Half Ellipses of length "X" with one of the sides of the square (4). Yet another, even more impressive ground plan may be created by using four square shaped A.P.H.P.s (1a), placing them at the center, and eight more of the Drop shaped A.P.H.P.s (1j), placing them around the squares in such a manner that all sides of length "X" be joined against each other (5). On both sides of every A.P.H.P. there are anchor cuts for stabilizing and securing the hosted packages (6a). On the top side, the anchor cuts are of such shape that the bottom of hosted products above the A.P.H.P fit perfectly inside the anchor cuts (6b). On the bottom side of each A.P.H.P. there are anchor cuts of such shape that top of the hosted products below the A.P.H.P. fit perfectly inside the anchor cuts (6c). After the first layer of A.P.H.P.s is filled with the first layer of products above it we place a 2 ^nd layer of A.P.H.P.s on top of the 1 ^st layer of products, so that the anchor cuts on the bottom side of the of the A.P.H.P.s of the 2 ^nd layer fit perfectly on top side of the products of the 1 ^st layer. This process may be repeated for as many layers of products as we wish, until we have created a V.S.D. of the desired design and height (13). The A.P.H.P.s may be constructed using various materials in sheets of variable thickness. The choice of material per application may vary and

depends on the size and weight on of the products to be hosted. It is preferable to use materials of low cost, lightweight and which are recycled and recyclable. Some materials suitable for V.S.D.s are: Compressed 5 layered carton (odulle), K - Line foam sheets, X - board paper pulp sheets, PVC sheets, Plexiglas sheets, MDF or other light-weight wood- byproduct sheets.

There are numerous advantages associated with the use of V.S.D.s. They offer scalability and adaptability, as they may be placed in large as well as small spaces, such as corners or narrow aisles. They may be used to construct impressive and elaborate designs for displays. Through continuous re-design they may be used to refurbish the shape of a display in the same location. They introduce higher quality standards in appearance as they abolish the use of "cheap" looking cartons used today with Palette Displays, and may be branded through the use of coloring or digital print on each A.P.H.P., thus, enhancing brand image. They reduce both cost and setup time and offer overall stability to the display. Components are small and lightweight, thus, assisting transport, while at the same time maintaining acceptable durability. Finally, V.S.D.s are compatible with existing signage and other P.O.P. material such as wobblers, posters etc.

The invention's use can best be illustrated below with the use of an application example and reference to attached drawings. First we select the package that is to be displayed on a V.S.D., based on which we will select the A.P.H.P. shapes to be used. The package is a common 1It fruit juice carton (Tetra pack) with a screw type opening at the top (7).

The selected A.P.H.P.s, for this application are the Quadrant Circle shaped A.P.H.P.s (8). Following, taking into account the packaging size and shape, we set the length X equal to 47,6cm. Measurements, of the hosted packaging are

as follows: Screw diameter: 2cm (7a), Base: 8cm length (7b) and 7cm width (7c). Packaging dimensions are necessary because they determine the size, shape and position of the anchor cuts on the bottom and top sides of each A. P. H. P. Next, keeping in mind the above dimensions, we create the anchor cuts on each side of the A.P.H.P.s (9a). On the top side of the A.P.H.P.s we create the anchor cuts that will secure the base of the packages (8X7cm) (9b), and on the bottom side we create the anchor cuts which will secure the top of the packages, according to the packages' dimensions (screw diameter: 2cm) (9c). In order to create the ground plan of our V.S.D. we continue in the following steps:

1. We lay on the floor and unite four A.P.H.P.s of the quadrant circle shape so the sides of equal length "X" (47,9cm) be adjoining to each other, and thus we create the ground plan of the V.S.D. which has the shape of a perfect circle (10), 2. We fill the ground plan of A.P.H.P.s with the packages to be displayed (11), 3. We add another layer of A.P.H.P.s on top of the packages layer minding to secure the anchor cuts of the bottom side on the top screws of the packages below (12), 4. We fill a second layer of packages securing the base of each one in the respective anchor cuts of the A.P.H.P.s below and we build upwards repeating steps 2 - 4 for as many floors as we want, thus, completing our V.S.D. (13).