This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Serial No.

60/639,894 titled "Display Device for Retail Goods" filed December 29, 2004 and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 60/662,478 titled "Display Device for Retail

Goods" filed March 15, 2005, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND Retail product sales are driven by many factors. Product demand, quality, and pricing are some factors that contribute to retail product sales. Other factors may include product advertising and product location in the retail environment. As such, many product display devices are designed to take advantage of valuable retail space location. At the same time, display devices may also be designed to creatively utilize advertising space in order to include product graphics, indicia, and trademarks.

Conventional product display devices may take many different forms. Some retail establishments require that displays meet particular specifications in order to be used by that establishment. In some instances, retail establishments are concerned with storage space required for display devices when not in use. Retail establishments often desire that display devices be easy to set up, requiring minimal time and effort from its employees. Another issue with these devices relates to the disposal of displays after use. Retail establishments may prefer environmentally friendly displays in order to minimize issues with respect to disposal. Some of the popular display products being used have dispensing chutes that compartmentalize product and allow a consumer to remove one product while another product will slide down into its place. Some of the currently available displays are difficult to assemble because they require two or more body pieces to form the outer shell, as well as serpentine-style inserts. This means that rather than being shipped in an easy to assemble position, the person preparing the display actually has to fold the paperboard insert back and forth to form the chutes. As example of such a system is shown in FIG. 12. This system also has two separate

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body parts to form the housing, which adds to assembly time and manufacturing costs.

It is thus desirable to provide a display unit that is easy to ship, easy to set up, and provides efficient delivery of product to the end-consumer. It is further desirable to provide display units that feature graphics, while also providing the additional display space on the unit, if needed. It is further desirable to provide a display unit that features chutes or other avenues by which products can be dispensed.

SUMMARY In one embodiment, there is provided a display device with an insert and an outer body. The insert preferably has a series of panels that are adapted to be folded and glued upon one another to form one or more chutes. The outer body preferably has a front panel, a rear panel, and a series of additional panels comprising a bottom panel, a foot panel, and a platform panel that are adapted to be folded upon themselves to collectively form a display base. The outer body may also have angled support legs or an angled bottom of the base that allow the display to lean back and support itself. In use, the insert can be inserted into the outer body and shipped in a flattened position.

In a further embodiment, there is provided a display base having a support grid, a face panel attached to the support grid, the face panel having one or more openings, one or more peg display hooks attached to the support grid through the one or more openings in the face pane, and support legs. The display body may also have product pouches attached thereto. This embodiment allows product to be displayed on peg display hooks and/or displayed in product display pouches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display device according to certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a blank of a body unit according to certain embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 3A-3C are perspective views showing how the body of FIG. 2 may be folded.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a blank of an insert according to certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows one way that the insert of FIG. 4 may be folded.

FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of an alternate blank of an insert according to certain embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 7 A and 7B show an elastic member for use in connection with sides of the body of FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 7A shows the side in a closed/storage position and FIG. 7B shows side in an open position.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a grid according to certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a blank of a face panel according to certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 10 shows one way that the face panel of FIG. 9 may have peg display hooks and product pouches attached thereto. FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a blank of support legs according to certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one design that the present invention is intended to improve upon.

DESCRIPTION

According to certain embodiments, the invention provides a retail product display for use with consumer goods products in a retail establishment. One embodiment of the display is a gravity feed type display, preferably formed from paperboard or other suitable lightweight material. Another embodiment is a pegged display that provides a platform for materials to be displayed and/or hung from pegs or hooks. It should be understood that the display body or other parts may be made from corrugated, fiberboard, chip board, or any other material as desired.

FIG. 1 shows a gravity feed display device 10 according to one embodiment of the invention. It preferably comprises an outer body 100 and one or more inserts 12. Outer body 100 is folded in such a way that it provides a base 54 on which product may rest as it is inserted through chutes 56. The top of device 10 may feature an opening 44 that may be secured or open at the top. It should be understood that a separate lid may be provided, if desired. In some embodiments,

opening 44 provides an area for product to be inserted into device 10. According to particular embodiments, the device 10 may comprises three separate pieces, one outer body and two inserts 12, depending upon the length of the device 10 and the uses for which it is intended. It should be understood, however, that the device 10 may comprise a single insert 12, or more than two inserts, if desired. In a preferred embodiment, the body unit 100 is made from a single blank 14, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As will be described in more detail below, a particular embodiment of the outer body 100 has a front panel 34, a rear panel 16, and a series of additional panels that are adapted to be folded upon themselves to form a square or rectangle- shaped display base 54. The additional panels may be a bottom panel 24, a foot panel 26, and a platform panel 28 that collectively form the display base 54.

With reference to the embodiment shown in FiG. 2, the blank 14 preferably comprises a rear panel 16 and a front panel 34. A side panel 18 is foldably attached to each end of the rear panel 16 along a fold line 17. First tabs 20 and second tabs 22 are foldable attached to each side panel along fold lines 19, 21. The first tab 20 may preferably be larger than the second tab 22, as shown in Fig. 2, if desired.

The rear panel 16 is foldably attached to a bottom panel 24 along a fold line

23. Two slots 42 are preferably located on the rear panel 16 in the corners, adjacent the fold line 23 connecting the rear panel to the bottom panel. The bottom panel 24 is preferably foldably attached to a foot panel 26 along a fold line 25, opposite the side attached to the rear panel 16. The foot panel 26 is preferably attached to a platform panel 28 along a fold line 27, opposite the side attached to the bottom panel

24. A fold tab 30 is foldably attached to each side end of the platform panel 28 along a fold line 29. The platform panel 28 is foldably attached to a tuck panel 32 along a fold line 31 , opposite the side attached to the platform panel. Two tabs 40 are preferably located along the fold line 31 connecting the platform panel and the tuck panel, one at each end of the fold line. The tuck panel 32 has a free end opposite the side connected to the platform panel 28, which in the blank form is preferably adjacent to a front panel 34. The front panel 34 is foldably connected to a top panel 36 along a fold line 35.

The top panel 36 preferably comprises an opening 44 for product placement as will be described below. The top panel 36 is preferably foldably connected to a glue panel 38 along a fold line 37, opposite the side connected to the front panel 34. A

side panel 46 is connected to each side end of the front panel 34 and the foot panel 26 along a fold line 45. Each side panel 46 is preferably foldably connected to a support panel 48 along a fold line 47. Each support panel 48 is preferably foldably connected to a base panel 50 along an angled fold line 49. The base panels are also preferably connected to the side panels 46 and the angled fold line 49 preferably extends across the fold line 47 connecting the side panels 46 to the support panels 48.

Once prepared and die cut, blank 14 is glued and then folded as shown in FIGS. 3A-3C. In a specific embodiment, the body 12 is preferably erected by folding the rear panel 16 along the fold line 23 and the bottom panel 24 along the fold line 25 as shown in FIG 3A. The foot panel 26, platform panel 28, and tuck panel 32 are then folded upon themselves as shown in FIG. 3B. The tuck panel 32 is not shown in FIG. 3B because when it is folded away from platform panel 28, tabs 40 are exposed and allowed to cooperate with slots 42 of rear panel, and tuck panel 32 is tucked underneath platform panel 28 to form base 54. The exposed tabs 40 preferably engage the slots 42 located on the rear panel 16. The slots 42 are preferably positioned on the rear panel such that, when engaging the tabs 40, the bottom panel 24 is rearwardly sloped causing the body unit to be rearwardly sloped. This allows device 10 to be displayed on a countertop and support itself. Once base 54 has been formed, the top panel 36 is then folded along the fold line 35 and the glue panel 38 is folded along the fold line 37 so that the glue panel can be adhered to the rear panel 16 using an adhesive. The opening 44 allows product to be inserted into body, once inserts (described below) are in place.

One embodiment of insert 12 may also be formed from a blank, as shown in FIG. 4. The insert blank preferably comprises a glue panel 60 foldably connected to a divider panel 62 along a fold line 61. The divider panel 62 is preferably foldably connected to a secondary front panel 64 along a fold line 63. The secondary front panel 64 is foldably connected to another divider panel 66 along a fold line 65. This second divider panel 66 is foldably connected to a rear panel 68 along a fold line 67 located between the divider panel 66 and the rear panel 68. The rear panel 68 is foldably connected to a side panel 70 along a fold line 69, opposite the side of the rear panel 68 connected to the divider panel 66. Side panel 70 is foldably connected to the primary front panel 72 along a fold line 71 , opposite the side of the side panel

70 connected to the rear panel 68. The primary front panel 72 is foldably connecter to a second side panel 74 along a fold line 73, opposite the side of the front panel 72 connected to the first side panel 70. The second side panel 74 is foldably connected to an end panel 76 along a fold line 75, opposite the side of the second side panel 74 connected to the primary front panel 72. It should be understood that the front panels 64, 72 may preferably be smaller than the remaining panels (or have indented openings 78) in order to provider access to the product stored in the display device 10. The smaller size provides a chute-like opening in the assembled insert. As shown in FIG. 5, inserts 12 may preferably be erected by placing adhesive on the glue panel 60 and folding along the fold line 65 so that the glue panel is adhered to the rear panel 68. In a preferred embodiment, glue panel 60 may be secured to rear panel 68 substantially in its middle area. Adhesive may then be placed on the front panel 72, again, preferably approximately at its mid-point. The blank is then preferably folded along the fold line 69, and the secondary front panel 64 is adhered to the backside of the primary front panel 72. Adhesive is then preferably placed on the end portion of the end panel 76 and the blank is folded along the fold line 73. The end panel 76 wraps around the partially formed blank and is attached to the back of the rear panel 68.

According to certain embodiments of the invention, when assembled and erected, the insert comprises three divided chutes for product placement, as shown in the completed insert shown in FIG. 5. It should be understood that the blank may be configured to provide fewer or more chutes 56 as desired, by providing fewer or more panels. The insert 12 can be collapsed to a flat condition as desired for shipping and storage. An alternate embodiment of an insert 112 according to other embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 6. This insert 112 forms chutes by providing dividers 114. In a particular embodiment, each divider 114 is connected to the blank 110 via a fold line 108 and a perforated portion 106. Optional thumb grips 104 may be provided as a cut out portion on blank 110 to provide a space for a user to grasp the divider 114 to remove it from blank 110 along perforated portion 106. When the perforated portion 106 is separated from blank 110 and folded back along fold line 108, divider 114 is folded out from blank 110 to form a series of chutes 56. Although shown as curved and somewhat trapezoidal, dividers 114 may be any shape and

size that is useful to provide the desired purposes. Typically, insert blank 110 is placed inside body 100 before dividers 114 are activated for ease of shipping. Dividers 114 are then extended to provide chutes prior to assembly and loading.

The inserts 12, 112 may preferably be placed inside the body unit 100 by passing them through one of the side ends of the erected body unit. Once placed inside the body 100, the sides of the body 100 may be closed by folding the side panels 18 along the fold lines 17 and inserting the tabs 20, 21 into the body, shown in FIG. 2. A piece of adhesive tape may be placed on the exposed surface of the side panels 18. The support panels 48 and side panels 46 may be folded against and adhered to the side panels 18. It should be understood that other methods of adhering can be used, such as an adhesive or a fastener. The base panels 50 are preferably folded along the angled fold lines 49. Because of the angled fold line connecting the support panels and the base panel, the erected display unit will preferably tilt slightly backward. The display unit can therefore be assembled and placed on a surface, supported by the support panels and base panels. According to certain embodiments, the display provides four bearing surfaces which increases stability of the display.

Graphical display indicia may be printed on the external surfaces of the display unit as desired. For example, graphical display indicia, such as advertisements for the displayed product may be printed on the front panel 34, the foot panel 26, and the support panels 48 and the side panels 46 of body 100.

The display unit according to certain embodiments of the invention may be shipped in a flat, unassembled configuration and meets virtually all current retail establishment specifications. It may be desirable to pre-glue the body unit and the inserts, thus requiring minimal effort to set up the display at the retail establishment. By shipping the display in a flat, unassembled configuration, approximately 50% more display units may be shipped per shipping truck as compared to other conventional display units. This also reduces the amount of storage space occupied at the retail establishment. By providing fewer parts, the display according to certain embodiments of the invention is easier to assemble. In addition, the preferable choice of environmentally friendly materials allows for easier disposal of the display.

Once the display is assembled, product can be placed in each chute 56 through the opening 44 located in the top panel 36 of body 100. Multiple units of a

product may be placed in each chute 56, stacked one on top of another. The product preferably rests on the platform panel 28 and against the rear panel 16 (or against the back of chutes, if so designed). The bottom-most product is visible and may be removed from the platform panel or base 54 of the display 10 by a consumer. This allows the remaining product to be moved downward due to gravitational forces and the removed product to be automatically replaced by a new product until there is no more product located in the chute.

An additional optional feature of the invention is an anti-swiping device 192, shown in FIG. 1. This device 192 may be provided in the form of a shield 192 of plastic tape that is adhered to the inside of the blank used to form body 100 prior to its assembly. It is also possible to adhere anti-sweeping device 192 to body 100 once it has been formed.

An additional optional feature is to provide elastic members 93 to cause side panels to open automatically for the body 100. According to certain embodiments, the display unit may further comprise elastic members 93 as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, allowing the side panels to open automatically when erecting the display unit. The support panels 48 may preferably comprise a fold line 94 extending vertically along the support panels and creating a hinge panel 96. The hinge panel may preferably be adhered to the rear panel 16 using an adhesive tape or any other type of adhesive. The support panels are preferably opened when folded outward, away from the rear panel 16, along the fold line 94. The support panels are thus approximately perpendicular to the rear panel and support the display device when open, creating a stand or support for the display device.

One end of each elastic member, such as a bando device, rubber band, or other similar elastic device, is preferably attached to the bottom outer portion of each support panel 48. The opposite end of each elastic member is preferably attached to the bottom portion of each respective hinge panel 96.

According to certain embodiments, the elastic member may be a bando device. The bando device may be attached to the support panels and the hinge panels by passing through small holes in the appropriate location of each panel.

The elastic members may preferably allow the support panels 48 of the display device to open automatically to the erected position, as shown in FIG. 7B. The elastic member is preferably in a neutral (minimal tensile) position when the

support panels are opened or approximately perpendicular to the rear panel 16. The display unit is preferably shipped in a flat configuration as described above. This is done by folding the support panels down so that they are adjacent to the rear panel 16, causing the elastic members to stretch, as shown in FIG. 7A. When the display unit is removed from the shipping container, the elastic members will preferably cause the support panels to open automatically (or "pop" open) along the fold line 94. The support panels preferably open to a position approximately perpendicular to the rear panel because the elastic members are preferably in a minimal tensile position. This allows the user to erect the display with minimal effort. According to other embodiments of the invention, the display device need not be a gravity feed display, but may be a pegged display, one example of which is shown in FIG. 10. In this embodiment, body 100 does not necessarily have to have a series panels that are folded upon one another to form a base 54 for product to rest on as it is inserted into chutes, although that is type of body could be used. A pegged display may comprise display hooks for displaying product. Hooks may be included on the body 100 or there may be a separate panel provided with such hooks, as example of which is shown in FIG. 8. A front panel comprising holes may be adhered to the front surface of the display using an adhesive tape, an adhesive or other adhesive means. Peg hooks may be inserted into the holes. Each display device may support multiple peg hooks as desired. Product may be hung from the peg hooks for display, allowing complete product visibility. A product pouch may be clipped to the front panel if desired to further hold the product if desired. It should be understood that the product pouch may be attached to the display in many ways including adhesive tape, adhesives, clips, hook and loop fasteners and others. Additionally, certain embodiments of the display unit 10 comprise an angled flat front surface. This may be provided by the bottom of the base 54 being angled so that the device 10 leans back and supports itself.

Certain embodiments of the invention provide a display device comprising a support panel or grid 115, as shown in FIG. 8. The support grid 115 may preferably be a rectangular plastic (talc filled copolymer) grid, but can be made from different materials and in different shapes if desired. For example, a paper or paperboard grid may be used,. In certain embodiments, a face panel 120, such as that shown in FIG. 9, may be attached to the grid when assembling the display. The face panel

may preferably be of the same height and width as the grid. According to certain embodiments, the face panel may have several openings 122 located across the face panel. The openings 122 may preferably be larger than the openings of the support grid 115. The face panel may also preferably comprise several holes 126, one located in approximately each corner of the face panel.

Peg hooks may be attached to the grid 115 thorough the openings 122. The peg hooks preferably snap into the support grid 115. Multiple peg hooks may be attached to the face panel and spaced apart as desired. A product pouch may be attached to the face panel and grid, preferably below each peg hook, if desired. The product pouch may have be clipped to the grid and face panel using Christmas tree clips, other types of clips, adhesive tape, adhesives, or other fastening means.

The display 10 may be assembled by placing the face panel 120 shown in FIG. 9 on the support grid 115 of FIG. 8. The support grid could be attached to a body or it could be a stand-alone unit. The face panel may be affixed to the grid using clips or by other manners such as an adhesive tape or an adhesive. According to certain embodiments, Christmas tree clips may be placed through the holes 126 located in the corners of the face panel. The Christmas tree clips preferably pass through the holes and through the grid, attaching the face panel to the grid. An example of such a completed assembly is shown in FIG. 10. If desired, support legs may be attached to the grid, allowing the display to stand according to certain embodiments of the invention. This could be in addition to or instead of the option of providing an angled base 54, as described above. In one embodiment, the support legs may preferably comprise a blank 130 as shown in FIG. 11. According to certain embodiments, two support legs may be made from a single blank, although only one or more than two legs may also be provided from a single blank. The blank 130 may preferably have a scored line forming two symmetrical halves of the blank. The scored line can be folded and the two halves separated, forming two support legs.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 , the blank 130 comprises a first body panel 136 and a second body panel 138 separated by a fold line 137. The blank 130 preferably comprises attachment holes 134 located in approximately the outer comers of the first body panel 136 and the second body panel 138. The blank may preferably be folded along the fold line 137 and the first body panel attached to the

second body panel, such as by an adhesive. This may provide additional strength to the support legs for supporting the display. The attachment holes 134 will preferably be aligned when the first body panel is attached to the second body panel.

Each support leg may be attached to the grid by placing the attachment holes over the exposed ends of the Christmas tree clips, on the back side of the grid, opposite the face panel. It should be understood that the support legs may be attached to the grid in any suitable manner using clips, adhesives, adhesive tapes, or other fastening devices if desired. The support legs may be folded along a fold line 140, causing the support legs to extend away from the grid. Base panels 144 may be folded along diagonal fold line 143, forming a base for the support legs. The base panels 144 preferably provide four bearing surfaces for supporting the assembled display device.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, other features may be included without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.