US20050000924A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20050000924A1
Application number: US10/922,632
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul Webb
Original assignee: RTC Industries Inc
Current assignee: RTC Industries Inc
Priority date: 2001-07-02
Filing date: 2004-08-19
Publication date: 2005-01-06
Also published as: US6607083B1; US6405880B1; US20030196972A1; US6783012B2

Abstract

A rack merchandising system comprising a movable pallet base having openings to receive lifting forks, and a central support structure, the central support structure perpendicularly attached to the moveable pallet base and having two vertically extending sides. The central support structure may also comprise at least one transverse support member extending between the two vertically extending sides. The system further has at least two vertical upright supports that are spaced apart from each other and are located at or near a peripheral edge of a top surface of the movable pallet base, each vertically extending side being aligned with one of the vertical upright supports. The system further has at least one inclined shelf having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, the first side and the fourth sides being parallel to each other and perpendicular to the second and third sides. The system further comprises a first attachment means for attaching the shelf to the central support structure, wherein the central support structure supports the shelf at a first side of the shelf, and a second attachment means for attaching the shelf to the vertical upright supports at the second and third sides of the shelf respectively, wherein the vertical upright supports support the shelf at the second and third sides of the shelf, and wherein the first attachment means is vertically higher than the second attachment means.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 10/437,534 filed on May 14, 2003, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 10/173,894, filed Jun. 18, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,083 B1, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/897,622, filed Jul. 2, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,880 B1, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to rack merchandising systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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 bottled or canned beverages, to consumers. It is preferable that shelving be easy to install and capable of organizing and displaying a large number of items that collectively comprise heavy merchandise loads. To satisfy these requirements, many retail store locations use gondola-shelving systems. Gondola shelving systems typically employ shelves that are supported by brackets, and hook formations of the brackets are inserted into a support, such as conventional slotted uprights. These systems are typically assembled, installed, and stocked with retail items at fixed locations within a store, such as along a store aisle.

To maximize retail store sales, retail stores typically run seasonal and/or other promotions involving certain retail items, and it is desirable during these promotions to provide shelving systems to display those items at high traffic store locations, e.g., near cash registers and/or near the end of a store aisle. Conventional shelving systems that have been assembled, installed and stocked with product at one store location are not thereafter typically moved to a higher traffic store location to display the items during certain seasonal and/or other promotions. The reason conventional systems stocked with items are not typically moved to another store location is that they bear a heavy merchandise load and do not provide suitable structure to permit easy movement of the stocked shelving systems using conventional pallet jacks or fork lifts.

It would be desirable to provide a rack merchandising system that is readily, conveniently, and easily assembled and that, after being stocked with product, can be readily, conveniently, and easily moved to different store locations, e.g., as may be desired for various promotions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a rack merchandising system having suitable structure to permit movement of the stocked rack merchandising system using a conventional pallet jack or forklift. The present invention is a rack merchandising system comprising a movable pallet base, a central support structure, at least two vertical upright supports, and at least one inclined shelf. The movable pallet base has openings to receive the forks of a forklift (not shown) or otherwise be lifted by a pallet jack (not shown). The vertical upright supports are preferably spaced apart from each other and are located at or near the outer peripheral edge of the top surface of the movable pallet base. The central support structure comprises two vertically extending sides, each extending side being spaced apart from and aligned with one of the vertical upright supports. The central support structure is perpendicularly attached to the base. The central support structure may also comprise at least one transverse support member that extends between the two vertically extending sides. Each central support structure in combination with the shelf has a first attachment means for attaching the shelf to the central support structure wherein the central support structure supports the shelf. Each vertical upright support in combination with the shelf has a second attachment means for attaching the shelf to the vertical upright support wherein the vertical upright support supports the shelf.

The shelf has a first, second, third, and fourth sides. The first and fourth sides of the shelf are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the second and third sides of the shelf. The shelf can be attached to the central support structure at or near the first side. In addition, the shelf can be attached to the vertical upright supports at or near its second, and third, and or fourth sides. When the shelf is installed in the rack merchandising system, the first side of the shelf is attached to the central support structure at a point vertically higher than the point where the shelf is attached to the vertical upright supports. Thus, the shelf can have a forwardly inclined orientation so that when an item is taken off the shelf, the items behind the removed item slide towards the front of the shelf. Preferably, the shelf can be removed and replaced as may be desired to facilitate the merchandising of multiple bottled and/or canned beverages of various types and sizes. Preferably, the shelves are divided into channels, each channel allowing a column of beverage containers to be stocked. Preferably, the floor of the channel is lined with a slippery or friction resistant material to allow beverage bottles to slide to their forward-most position for increased presentation to and easier access by customers.

The present invention can further include a variety of advertising graphics. For example, advertising graphics can be placed on top of the central support structure and not be obstructed from view by merchandise on the top shelf. In addition, advertising graphics can be placed on the “C” shaped channel strips on the front of the inclined shelves. Advertising graphics can also be placed on vertically extending side panels located on the sides of the rack merchandising system and attached to the movable pallet base.

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the rack system of the present invention without removable shelves shown.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment ofFIG. 1, with advertising graphics.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment ofFIG. 2, with two installedshelves18.

FIG. 3B is an enlarged perspective view of a preferred first attachment means for attaching the shelf to thetransverse support member28.

FIG. 3C is an enlarged top view of a preferred second attachment means for attaching the shelf to the vertical upright supports.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment ofFIG. 3A, wherein eightshelves18 are installed.

FIG. 4B is an enlarged perspective view of another preferred first attachment means for attaching the shelf to thetransverse support member28.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top view of ashelf18 of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of ashelf18 of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention that is stocked with items.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention that is stocked with items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown inFIGS. 1-11, the present invention is arack merchandising system10 comprising amovable pallet base12, acentral support structure14, at least two vertical upright supports16, and at least oneinclined shelf18. Themovable pallet base12 hasopenings20 to receive the forks of a forklift (not shown) or otherwise be lifted by a pallet jack (not shown). The vertical upright supports16 are preferably spaced apart from each other and are located at or near the outerperipheral edge22 of thetop surface24 of themovable pallet base12. Thecentral support structure14 comprises two vertically extendingsides26, each extending side being spaced apart from and aligned with one of the vertical upright supports16. Thecentral support structure14 is perpendicularly attached to thepallet base12. In an example of a preferred assembly, abrace13, having holes that align with holes in the pallet base, can be placed on opposite ends of themovable pallet base12, and thecentral support structure14 can be attached to thepallet base12 by screws orbolts15 that are inserted into holes defined by thecentral support structure14, the holes defined by thebrace13, and the holes defined by the pallet base. Screws orbolts15 can be, for example, ½-20×1″ hex head machine screws, and washers can also be used. The vertical upright supports can be attached to thepallet base12 by screws orbolts17. The central support structure may further comprise at least onetransverse support member28 that extends between the two vertically extendingsides26 ofcentral support structure14.

Eachcentral support structure14 in combination with theshelf18 has a first attachment means40 for attaching theshelf18 to thecentral support structure14 wherein thecentral support structure14 supports theshelf18. An example of a first attachment means40 comprises ahook42 as shown inFIG. 3B. As further shown inFIG. 3B, whencentral support structure14 includes atransverse support member28,transverse support member28 in combination withshelf18 has a first attachment means40 for attaching theshelf18 to thetransverse support member28 wherein thetransverse support member28 supports theshelf18.

Eachvertical upright support16 in combination with theshelf18 has a second attachment means44 for attaching theshelf18 to thevertical upright support16 wherein thevertical upright support16 supports theshelf18. An example of a second attachment means44 is a combination of a nut46, alock washer48, asupport bar31, awasher50, and ascrew52 as shown inFIG. 3C.Screw52 is inserted throughwasher50,hole30 of verticalupright support16,support bar31,lock washer48, and nut46.

As shown inFIG. 4A, plurality ofshelves18 can be stacked in parallel on either or both sides of thecentral support structure14. As shown inFIG. 4B, thetop shelf18 does not have hooks, and can be attached to thecentral support structure14 with abracket45 and screw47 combination.Screws47 can be, for example, ¼-20×1½″ hex head machine screws. Nuts and washers (not shown) can also be used in combination with thescrews47 andbracket45.

The shelf has a first, second, third, and fourth sides, which are respectively identified inFIGS. 3A and 3B as32,34,36, and38. Thefirst side32 and thefourth side38 of theshelf18 are parallel to each other and perpendicular to thesecond side34 and thethird side36 of theshelf18. Theshelf18 can be attached to thetransverse support member28 at or near thefirst side32. In addition, theshelf18 can be attached to the vertical upright supports16 at or near thesecond side34, thethird side36, and/or thefourth side38. When theshelf18 is installed in therack merchandising system10, thefirst side32 of theshelf18 is attached to thetransverse support member28 at a point vertically higher than the point where theshelf18 is attached to the vertical upright supports16. Preferably, the shelf can be removed and replaced as may be desired to facilitate the merchandising of a plurality of items of various types and sizes, e.g., bottled beverages of various types and sizes. Preferably, theshelves18 are divided intochannels54, eachchannel54 allowing acolumn72 ofupright items70 to be stocked. See e.g.,FIG. 10.Shelves18 can be comprised ofwire56 and/or slides57.Slides57 can be snapped intochannels54. For example, at the back of eachslide57 clips (not shown) can be positioned that snap around the two center wires defining eachchannel54. In a preferred embodiment, thewire56 and/or slide57 is coated with a slippery or friction resistant material to allow the stored items to move to their forward-most position for increased presentation to and easier access by customers.

As shown in the drawings, therack merchandising system10 of the present invention can have a plurality ofshelves18. Further,shelves18 can be positioned at various vertical locations on either side of thecentral support structure14. Those of skill in the art will recognize that eachshelf18 can be moved to a desired angular orientation by pivoting theshelf18 about the first attachment means40 to move thefourth side38 ofshelf18 to a desired vertical point and the second attachment means44 is then used to fix theshelf18 to the vertical upright supports16. Those skilled in the art will also recognize thatshelves18 can be stacked in parallel at desired locations and angular orientations.

As shown inFIGS. 7 and 10, a plurality ofinclined shelves18 can be positioned on eitheroppositely facing front82 of thecentral support structure14. This arrangement is particularly desirable for storage and display ofindividual packages items70, e.g., two-liter beverage bottles. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 11, a plurality ofinclined shelves18 can be positioned on only one side of the central support structure andhorizontal shelves19 can positioned on the other side of thecentral support structure14.Horizontal shelves19 can be used when it is desirable to store and display relatively heavy packages of items, e.g., packages90 of six, twelve or twenty-four beverage cans or bottles.

The present invention can further include a variety of advertising graphics. For example,advertising graphics60 and/orflip charts62 can be placed on aheader58 that is attached to thecentral support structure14, and not be obstructed from view by merchandise on thetop shelf18.Advertising graphics60 can be inserted intochannel76 defined byextrusion78. SeeFIG. 2.Extrusion78 can then be slid intochannel80 defined byheader58. The attachment ofheader58 to thecentral support structure14 can be made using screws orbolts74. SeeFIG. 1. An example of screws orbolts74 are ¼-20×2″ hex head machine screws. Washers and nuts (not shown) can also be used to attach the header to thecentral support structure14.

In addition, advertising graphics can be placed onstrips64 on thefourth side38 or front of theinclined shelves18.Strips64 can be slid into channels defined by thefourth side38 or front ofinclined shelves18. Advertising graphics can also be placed on vertically extendingside panels66 located on the sides of therack merchandising system10. As shown inFIG. 6,side panels66 can slide between channels68 (shown inFIG. 3B) defined by vertically extendingsides26 and vertical upright supports16.

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 as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A rack merchandising system comprising

a movable pallet base having openings to receive lifting forks,

a central support structure, the central support perpendicularly attached to the movable pallet base and having two vertically extending sides,

at least two vertical supports that are spaced apart from each other and are located at or near a peripheral edge of a top surface of the movable pallet base, each vertically extending side being aligned with one of the at least two vertical upright supports,

at least one shelf having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, the first side and the fourth sides being parallel to each other and perpendicular to the second and third sides,

whereby the shelf is supported by the central support structure and the at least two vertical supports.

2. The rack merchandising system ofclaim 1, wherein the shelf is divided into channels, each channel having dimensions to receive a series of retail items.

3. The rack merchandising system ofclaim 1, further comprising a plurality of shelves stacked in parallel.

4. The rack merchandising system ofclaim 1, wherein the shelf can be positioned at various vertical locations.

5. The rack merchandising system ofclaim 1, wherein the central support structure has two oppositely facing fronts, and the shelf can be positioned at various vertical locations on either front of the central support structure.

6. The rack merchandising system ofclaim 1, wherein the attachment between the first side of the shelf and the central support structure pivots to move the fourth side of the shelf to a desired vertical point to achieve a desired angular orientation of the shelf.

7. The rack merchandising system ofclaim 1, wherein a vertically extending side is adaptable to contain promotional materials.

8. The rack merchandising system ofclaim 1, comprising a second, third and fourth shelf, each of the first, second, third and fourth shelves being substantially parallel to the other shelves.

9. The rack merchandising system ofclaim 1, wherein the central support structure further comprises at least one transverse member extending between the two vertically extending sides.

10. The rack merchandising system ofclaim 9, wherein the first side of the shelf is attached to the transverse support member of the central support structure.

11. A rack merchandising system comprising

a movable pallet base having openings to receive lifting forks,

at least two vertical supports that are spaced apart from each other and are located at or near a peripheral edge of a top surface of the movable pallet base, each vertically extending side being aligned with one of the vertical upright supports,

at least one attachment between the first side of the shelf and the central support structure, wherein the central support structure supports the shelf at the first side of the shelf,

at least one attachment on the second side of the shelf, and at least one attachment on the third side of the shelf, whereby the shelf is supported by at least in part by the at least two vertical upright supports.

12. The rack merchandising system ofclaim 11, wherein the shelf is divided into channels, each channel having dimensions to receive a series of retail items.

13. The rack merchandising system ofclaim 11, further comprising a plurality of shelves stacked in parallel that can be positioned at various vertical locations.

14. The rack merchandising system ofclaim 11, wherein the central support structure has two oppositely facing fronts, and the shelf can be positioned at various vertical locations on either front of the central support structure.

15. The rack merchandising system ofclaim 11, wherein the attachment between the first side of the shelf and the central support structure pivots to move the fourth side of the shelf to a desired vertical point to achieve a desired angular orientation of the shelf.

16. The rack merchandising system ofclaim 11, wherein a vertically extending side is adaptable to contain promotional materials.

17. The rack merchandising system ofclaim 11 further having a plurality of non-inclined shelves at one front of the central support structure.

18. The rack merchandising system ofclaim 11, wherein the central support structure further comprises at least one transverse member extending between the two vertically extending sides.

19. The rack merchandising system ofclaim 18, wherein the first side of the shelf is attached to the transverse support member of the central support structure.

20. A rack merchandising system comprising

a movable pallet base having openings to receive lifting forks,

a central support structure, the central support perpendicularly attached to the movable pallet base and having two vertically extending sides, wherein the central support structure has two oppositely facing fronts,

at least one inclined shelf having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, the first side and the fourth sides being parallel to each other and perpendicular to the second and third sides, whereby the inclined shelf is supported by the central support structure and the at least two vertical supports, and the inclined shelf can be positioned at various vertical locations on the first front of the central support structure,

at least one non-inclined shelf having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, the first side and the fourth sides being parallel to each other and perpendicular to the second and third sides, whereby the non-inclined shelf is supported by the central support structure and the at least two vertical supports, and the non-inclined shelf can be positioned at various vertical locations on the second front of the central support structure.