GB2477108A - Shelves with screening panels for product non-display - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for product non-display comprises opaque screening panels 120 hinged to shelves 100 or to a framework supporting the shelves and which can move between a first position in which they screen the spacing between shelves thereby concealing merchandise for sale, e.g. cigarettes and other tobacco based products, and a second position in which they are swung up or down to allow access to the products to be dispensed. Preferably the non-transparent screening panels 120 are self-closing with spring biasing means 126 provided to return the panels to the screening position. Linking means, e.g. locking bar [130, Figure 9] may be provided to allow the panels to be held open simultaneously. The shelves 100 may be drawn forward to enable restocking [see Figure 13] . Also disclosed is a spring biased pusher apparatus for dispensing items, the pusher being provided with coloured indicating means on a spring to indicate when the pusher has reached a certain point of travel and thus providing inventory information [see Figures 4 to 6]. Also disclosed is a hinge mounted product non-display container which can be tipped from a position in which stored products are concealed to a position in which the products can be viewed and accessed [see Figures 1 and 2].

Description

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCT NONDSPLAY

This invention relates to apparatus for product non-display.

For many years, retail product sales have been promoted by the display of the products in question. Numerous varieties of display cabinets, display shelving, racking and so-called merchandisers are known which have as their object the display of a product or range of products in an eye-catching fashion which will induce purchase by the customer.

While for many products this is still the norm, public policy considerations are leading in an increased number of jurisdictions to requirements for sales for certain products, most notably tobacco-based products, to be under the counter", in other words the availability of such products for sale should not be evident to the visitor to the retail establishment.

lt is not suggested that the number and variety of different types of tobacco products will materially decrease as a result of legislative measures. Even a modest tobacconist requires to maintain stocks of a wide variety of different products and, if these are literally to be "under the counter", managing the stock, re-supplying as stock runs out and accessing the stock when someone arrives at the counter or checkout where they wish to purchase the non-displayed product is extremely inconvenient and may indeed entail health and safety objections which do not arise in the case of current standard displays of such products.

Apparatus is known which can be driven from a keyboard or touch screen by the retailer and which selects and dispenses a given product from a closed store of such products. Such apparatus is expensive and space consuming, and inappropriate for many retail outlets.

lt is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide simple, effective and economic solutions to the problems caused by legislative restraints on display and which can be easily instaUed, operated and maintained.

According to a first feature of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for product non-display consisting of a framework having set therein a number of spaced generally horizontal shelves adapted to receive items of merchandise and wherein the spaces between the shelves are screened by a plurality of opaque panels extending across the widths of the shelves and extending at east vertically across the majority of the shelf spacing, each panel being permanently affixed to the shelves or framework and hinged about a generally horizontal axis enabling it to be swung down or up about that axis to enable access to merchandise on the shelf. One highly convenient arrangement is to provide, for a set of shelves, hinged panels associated with the higher shelves which are hinged from the next upwards shelf (or the top of the framework in the case of the highest) while the lower panels covering the spaces between lower shelves are hinged at their lower edge to the front of the shelf itself. Means may be provided for panels hinged at their lower edge to counteract the force of gravity so that when such a lower panel is opened to allow access to the shelf, on release the panel returns to a position screening the shelf and its content from view.

lt is highly inconvenient, when restocking such shelves, to have the panels in the way, and restocking normally takes place when the retail establishment is closed for business. Accordingiy, it is preferred to provide means which can link the panels together so that they can all be held open simultaneously, preferably including latch means so that, for the purpose of stocktaking and re-stocking, the array of shelves and their merchandise is freely accessible to view and to maintain by the retailer.

Thepanelsmayeachextendacrosstheentirewidthoftheshelvesor,for example, a wide shelf may be associated with two or three panels, usually, though not necessarily, of the same size.

In an alternative construction, the panels are mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis spaced from thefrontof the shelf, sothatthey can be displaced upordown toenableaccess. Spring means may be provided to bias such panels to a position screening the contents of the shelf from view. In a particularly preferred arrangement, such panels are associated wW shelves which may be drawn forward from the framework to enable easier re-stocking, with means being provided to swivel the panel down and away from the front of the shelf as the shelf is drawn forward. This is particularly convenient in the case of shelves which, when drawn forward, are arranged to slope down towardstheirfront,astheslopeallowseasierre-stocldngontoaflatshetfas indMdual items fom stacks of adjacent items and fill the space on the shelf efficiently.

Alternatively or additionally in accordance with a further feature of the present inventIon, there is provided merchandise non-display apparatus consisting of an opaque container which is swivellable by a hinge mounting, conveniently on one corner thereof, from a position in which its contents are screened to a position in which the contents are visible. The shape and size of the containers may be chosen convenient for the merchandise in question, and a particularly preferred way of arranging them Is to hinge them for rotation about a horizontal axis to the front of a non-display shelf. When the container rests on the shelf, its contents are screened from view, but if the container is swivelled about a horizontal axis towards someone standing in front of the shelf, the contents of the container may become vIsible and accessible.

In connection with the dispy of many packeted products, most notably packeted tobacco products, a standard way of managing the indMdual packages is to mount them on sdes wfth a pusher which is springoaded and which pushes the packets, in tradiUonal display merchandising, to the front of the shelf. This technique of storing packets of tobacco products is widespread and is easy managed. The individual units which normay run front to back of the shelves in an open display of tobacco products may be retained in the case of nondisplay apparatus according to the present invention, for example by being mounted in swivellable containers or being set on shelves with screening panels at the fronts of the shelves.

A particular disadvantage of the nondisplay as far as the retailer is concerned is that it is not immediately apparent at a glance when stocks are running low. In accordance with a particular feature of the invention, slide pusher apparatus is provided for the reception of a plurality of packets, the slide pusher apparatus induding means at the forward end of the slide pusher apparatus adapted to give a visual indication when the pusher approaches the end wa towards which it normally pushes the packets in the slide. This is particularly easily achieved in the case of pushers with a spiral spring adapted to urge the pusher towards the front of the slide, where a portion of the spring located behind a window in the front of the slide near its base can be of different colour, so providing an instant easy visual determination of when the slide is empty or almost empty. Such slides may be placed on shelves which are normally screened by panels which extend from the shelf above but not quite as far as the surface of the shelf below. The windows in the fronts of the slide pusher devices can be observed so that the retailer is aware when stocks are running low.

Various other aspects of the invention will become clear from the accompanying drawings and subsequent description of individual product nondisplay apparatus in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawings: Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a non-display dispensing device for mounting on a shelf, respectively in the rest and dispensing positions; Figure 3 is a perspective view, part cut away, of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2. to show the internal detail; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a non-display dispensing device for use on a shelf, for dispensing cigarette packets; Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of the device shown in Figure 4, opened for refifling and, in the case of Figure 6, part cut away; Figures 7 to 13 show perspective views of a multiple shelf system with hinged panels mounted on each shelf, with the shelf in its normal non-dispensing position in Figures 7 and 8, as located during a dispensing operaUon in Figures 9 and 10 respectively, and as located during re-stocking in Figures 11, 12 and 13.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the non-display dispensing device shown consists of a base I which is set on a shelf and which has a generally rectangular container swiveflably mounted thereon. The base has two upstanding side plates 2, each of which is pivoted to the main body of the device at 3, for example via a simple nut and bolt connection.

The main body of the device consists of a rectangular section sleeve 5 which is divided internally into four compartments by a central wall 18 in a vertical plane and two transverse walls 19 to either side of the central wall. Each compartment is sized to receive a standard pusher device on which a stack of, for example, packets of dgarettes may be assembled. Each pusher device has a track 7 along which a pusher plate assembly may sde under the action of a co spring 9 set in a housing behind a pusher plate 10. The coil spring 9 urges the pusher plate towards the front of the unit when it is in the position shown in Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a cutaway view essentiaHy from the rear of the unit.

At the front of each pusher unit is a raised lip 11 against which the foremost packet in the stack rests. If the foremost packet is removed, usually by hand, the pusher plate 10 pushes the rest of the stack towards lip 11 and this continues until the stack is exhausted.

The casing 5 is biased to return to the position shown in Figure 1 by means of an elastic cord 15 which has its ends anchored in two apertures 16 at the rear of base I and which passes through an aperture 17 in wall 18.

The unit is loaded with merchandise. for example packets of cigarettes, in the position shown in Figure 2. It may easily be moved to that position by pulling on a lip 20 located at the front of the casing 5 as shown in Figure 2 and the top of it as shown in Figure 1. In this position, stacks of packets of cigarettes can easily be pushed in against the thrust of pusher plates 10 until the pusher plates reach the end of their travel. Once all four pusher devices have been loaded in this way, the unit is returned from the loading position shown in Figure 2 to the normal nondisplay position shown in Figure 1 As can be easily seen, the front of the casing, denoted 21, may be blank or it could, for example, carry an identification number which will remind counter staff which one it is, for example they will know that they always load a particular brand of cigarettes into casing number 7.

In the position shown in Figure 1, the cigarettes are not viewable, but a packet may easily be removed by simply pulng down tab 20, removing a packet and then releasing the tab which aows the unit to return to the position shown in Figure 1.

The curvature at the top of the casing as shown in Figure 1 is important since this aUows there to be very little gap between the shelf on which the unit rests and the next upper shelf or the top of a set of shelves in which such units are arranged, so ensuring that the fronts of the cigarette packets cannot be seen by someone looking down through a gap between the top of the casing on the lower shelf and the lower edge of the next upwards shelf.

Referring now to Figures 4 to 6, this shows a casing adapted for nondisplay containing a single pusher unit. As seen from the front in Figure 4, it takes the form of a generay oblong box shape with a front having a panel 25, for example for the receipt of an identification number and a window 26 in its base.

The front is pivoted, for example via a nut and bolt connection 27, to a channel 29 to enable the front lo be swung down in order lo allow access to the pusher unit. As can be seen most clearly in Figure 5, the pivotally mounted front end of the device has a portion 28 which extends in a rearwards direction as seen in Figure 4.

As can be seen best in Figures 5 and 6, as well as the front being pivotally mounted at 27 on the front end of channel member 29, pivotally mounted at the rear end of channel 29, via nut and bolt connections 30, is a U-shaped channel 31, the sides of which constitute the sides of the unit shown in Figure 4; the piece at the base of the "U" constitutes the top as shown in Figure 4.

When channel 31 is pivoted back, it allows easy access to the pusher unit located in the channel. This has a pusher plate 33 mounted on a carriage 32 wnslnatrack34andwhichisurgedtowardsthefrcntoftheunftby meansofa spiraispringlocated in ahousingsetoncarriage32.Alsomounted oncarriige32isanangledplate36wafingerholeenabllngthecafflage easilbemovedlotherightasshowninFigure6inordertoloadastackof cIgarette packets into the pusher unit.

ThespielsprlngwNchlsmountedonthefrontendofthetrack34isaconstant force flat coiled spring, one end of which is connected to carriage 32. Adjacent that end of the spring connected to carriage 32, the lower face of the spring (as it is uncoiled by pulling the carriage back) carries an area of, for example, red Thewindow26enablesthesideofthespringtobeviewed and,whenthe pusher is full of cigarette packets, the side of the spring viewed through window 26 is, for example, the unfinished metallic appearance of such a spring.

However, as the carriage approaches the left-hand end of the track as shown in Figure 6, the red painted portion becomes visible through the window, to show thatthestackonlyhasafewpacketsleftinit.

Ascanbeseen,whentheunitisonashelfasinFigure4,itiseasytoextracta packettom itbyswingingdownthefrontandextractingthepacketbyhand.A spring, not shown in the drawings, returns the front to the position shown in Figure 4.

Referring now to Figures 7 to 13, these show shelving arrangements where the shelves are adapted to conceal their contents unless activated.

Eachoftheshelvesisdenotedl0o,anditconsistsofaflatextrudedsectionto which isattached an upstandingfrontlip 102.Ateachendofeachshelfl0oare fixed end walls 102, each of which has an outwardflcing pair of upper studs 103 and a pairof lower studs 104, each pairof studs engaging in a track In a track plate l0swhichisslottedintotherearwall lO6ofa supporting frame in which the shelves are mounted. Each track plate 105 has an upper straight track 110 and a lower track 112, the front end of which curves downwards. What this means is that each sh&f may be pued out like a drawer with the studs 103, 104 traveUing along the tracks 110, 112 in the track plates 105 and, when so pulled out at the end of its travel, the front of the shelf drops down so that the shelf then slopes towards the person who has pulled it outwards from the frame 106 in which it is mounted via the track plate 105. This is a considerably easier orientation for loading the shelf e.g. with packets of cigarettes.

In addition to the lip 102, each shelf has associated with it a slat 120 which extends across the entire width of the shelf and which is itself mounted between two end plates 122. Each end plate 122 carries the slat 120 at its forward end and is pivoted at its rear end on an upstanding bracket 124 which is fixed to the end of shelf 100. Plates 122 are biased by means of a tension spring 126 to urge slat 120 towards a position in which t lies above lip 102, i.e. slat 120 covers the front of the shelf, ideally from a position in front of the top of lip 102 to a position just below the next upper shelf 100.

When it is desired to remove something from the shelf, the front slat 120 may simply be pulled down to enable access to the shelf 100, removal of something from it, and then, on its being let go, the tension springs 126 pull the slat 120 back up, thus rendering the array of shelves in nondisplay mode.

Mounted each side of the frame 106 in which the shelves 100 are set and adjacent the forward ends of the track plates 105 is a vertically slidable locking bar 130 which has set on it a number of slots 132 which are positioned so that outwardly4acing posts 134 mounted on the end plates 122 of the slat 120 may be positioned in the slot 132. This may occur when the shelves 100 are all in their fully inserted position and, because each of the slats is so engaged, if one of the slats 120 is then moved down, the entire assembly of slats is moved down, so opening up all of the shelves to enable shelf refilling by the store 0.

If desired, a suitable locldng mechanism may be provided to latch the shelves in the downward position, for example a mechanism designed to latch locking bars in a downwards position. Locking bars 120 are mounted on mountings 136 attached to the side members of frame 106; these side members are omitted from thedrawingsforthe sakeof clarity. Figures 9 and 10 showtheshelves 100 and slats 120 in that locked down position. If the shelves 100 are pulled fully forward, then, as noted above, the front of the shelves drops and the various parts adopt the position shown in Figures 11 to 13.

Claims (10)

1. CLAMSI Apparatus for product non-display consisting of a framework having set therein a number of spaced generay horizontal shelves adapted to receive ftems of merchandise and wherein the spaces between the shelves are screened by a pluraUty of opaque panels extending across the widths of the shelves and extending at least verticay across the majority of the shelf spacing, each panel beftig permanently affixed to the shelves or framework and hinged about a generally horizontal axis enabling it to be swung down or up about that axis to enable access to merchandise on the shelf.
2. 2. Apparatus according to Claim I wherein hinged panels associated with higher shelves are hinged from the next upwards shelf, or the top of the framework in the case of the highest, while the lower panels covering the spaces between lower shelves are hinged at their lower edge to the front of the shelf itself.
3. 3. Apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein means are provided for panels hinged at their lower edge to counteract the force of gravity, arranged so that when such a lower panel which has been swung down to allow access to the shelf is released, the panel returns to a position screening the shelf and its content from view.
4. 4. Apparatus according to any one of Claims I to 3 and including means inking some or all of the panels together so that they can all be held open simultaneously.
5. 5. Apparatus according to Claim I wherein the panels are mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis spaced from the front of the shelf, so that they can be displaced up or down to enable access, and spring means are associated with each panel to bias it to a posftion screening the contents of the shelf from view.
6. 6. Apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein one or more of the shelves may be drawn forward from the framework to enable easier re-stocking, and induding means to swiv& the panel down and away from the front of the shelf as the shelf is drawn forward.
7. 7. Merchandise nondisplay apparatus consists of an opaque container which is swivellable by a hinge mounting from a position in which its contents are screened to a position in which the contents are visible.
8. 8. Apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein the container is hinged for rotation about a horizontal axis to the front of a non-display shelf, the arrangement being such that when the container rests on the shelf, its contents are screened from view, but when swivelled about a horizontal axis adjacent the front of the shelf, the contents of the container become visible and accessible.
9. 9. Slide pusher apparatus adapted for the reception of a plurality of packets of merchandise, the slide pusher apparatus including at the forward end of the slide pusher apparatus adapted to give a visual indication when the pusher approaches the end wall towards which it normally pushes the packets in the slide.
10. 10. Slide pusher apparatus according to Claim 9 and including a spiral spring adapted to urge the pusher towards the front of the slide and wherein portions of the spring are visible from the front of the pusher apparatus through a window in the front of the slide near its base, and such portions are of at least two different colours.