Modular Merchandise Display Tower

In point of purchase merchandising, it is common for stores to set up special temporary displays of items of merchandise, in a location and manner of display to encourage impulse purchase. To this end, my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 3,850,290, is directed to a form of clear plastic tower, provided with an access opening at a convenient level and which is adapted to retain for display and dispensing a relatively large number of individual articles, such as bars of soap or the like. The display tower of the present invention is of the same general type and for the same general purpose as the display tower of my earlier patent. However, the tower structure of the present invention is of a modular construction and possesses somewhat greater strength and rigidity in its assembled form. The merchandiser is thus provided with somewhat greater flexibility in his use and application of the display tower.

In accordance with one of the specific aspects of the present invention, the tower is comprised of one or more cylindrical modular sections of a relatively thin, die cut clear vinyl. The vinyl, normally referred to as "rigid" vinyl, in fact has a reasonable degree of flexibility. It is die cut in flat form and then adhesively bonded at opposite ends to form a closed cylinder. The material has sufficient flexiblity to be capable of being pressed relatively flat for boxing and shipping. For assembly and setup, the cylinder modules are shaped into a circular cross section, preferably, by means of circular, ring-like end elements, molded of a rigid plastic material, such as high impact styrene. A multi-story tower can be assembled by stacking cylinder modules one above the other, joined end to end by means of a connecting ring element.

In accordance with one of the more specific aspects of the invention, the individual end rings and the intermediate connecting rings ar formed of the same molded elements. The connecting rings, however, are comprised of a pair of the end rings joined back to back. In this respect, the invention provides for a unique and advantageous molded form of the end rings, so that a pair of such rings can be conveniently and expeditiously joined in back to back relationship to form a connecting ring unit.

For a better understanding of the above and other features and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment and to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a elevational view in perspective of a multi-story modular display tower constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a exploded perspective view of the tower structure of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are bottom plan, top plan and elevational views respectively of a molded connecting ring element constructed in accordance with the invention for capping the ends of the cylinder modules as well as joining modules one above the other.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are enlarged, fragmentary, cross sectional views as taken generally on lines 6--6, 7--7 and 8--8 respectively of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are enlarged, fragmentary, cross sectional views taken generally on lines 9--9, 10--10 and 11--11 respectively of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown a two-story modular display tower, comprising upper and lower cylindrical tower modules 20, 21, arranged in aligned and abutted relation and joined together by means of a connecting ring unit 22. At the top and bottom, the tower modules 20, 21 are provided with circular end caps 23, 24 which, as will be hereinafter explained are of identical construction but reversely oriented. At an appropriate level in the lower module 21 there is provided a cylindrical bottom plate 25, which is supported by the walls of the lower tower module 21 and in turn provides a support for articles of merchandise contained within the multi-story tower. In the illustrated structure, the bottom plate 25 is supported by means of a plurality (three or more) of removable brackets 26, mounting lugs 27 of which are insertable through appropriately located apertures in the tower wall, much in the nature of so-called pegboard or panel board hooks.

With reference to FIG. 2, the respective tower modules 20, 21 are formed of die cut rectangular sheets of so-called rigid vinyl plastic, overlapped slightly at the ends and bonded at 28, as reflected particularly in the detail of FIG. 9. In a typical unit according to the invention, the tower module is formed of a clear rigid vinyl of a thickness on the order of 0.040 inch. Adjacent the upper and lower end edges 29, 30, the tower modules are provided with circumferentially spaced rectangular cutouts 31 arranged for interlocking engagement with elements of the end rings 23, 24 and the central connecting ring structure 22, as will be described in further detail.

In a typical installation the upper tower module 20 may have a more or less continuous sidewall for the retention of the articles to be merchandised. The lower tower module 21, on the other hand, is provided with an access cutout 32 of an appropriate size and shape to accommodate removal of the articles of merchandise to be displayed. A scoop 33 is mounted in the cutout opening 32 and, in normal use, projects outward from the tower wall providing free access through its exposed open area 34 (see FIG. 2). This permits free access to the articles for one at a time removal, while preventing uncontrolled gravity outflow. To advantage, the scoop 33 may be die cut or molded from a rigid or soft material and is provided with side flanges 35 and a bottom flange 36 arranged to be adhesively bonded to the inside walls of the lower module 21. The sidewalls 37 of the scoop are provided with upwardly and outwardly radiating crease lines 38, providing a bellows-like structure to the sidewalls. This enables the scoop to be folded to a closed position, more or less flush with the outer wall of the tower module for shipping and storage, while enabling the scoop to be easily folded to an extended position, more or less as indicated in FIG. 2. With the display product bearing its weight upon the scoop during use, the scoop is of course held in its extended position as desired.

While specific dimensions are by no means critical to the invention, a typical practical embodiment of the invention may incorporate a pair of cylindrical tower modules 20, 21 approximately thirty-six inches in height, providing an assembled display tower of approximately six feet in overall height. The diameter of the cylinder modules and end rings may be on the order of eighteen inches, for example, in a representative unit, suitable for the display of relatively small articles of merchandise. Obviously, the principles of the invention apply equally well to towers of much larger, as well as smaller, dimensions.

With specific reference now to FIGS. 3-8, the cap rings 23, 24 desirably are injection molded of a suitably rigid plastic material, such as high impact polystyrene. The upper and lower caps, as well as the caps utilized for the connecting ring 22, are identical in form, and thus only the cap ring 23 will be described in detail. The ring 23 is of course of a diameter appropriate to the desired diameter of the cylinder modules 20, 21 and is provided with inner and outer cylindrical flange walls 40, 41 defining an annular channel 42 for the reception of an end margin of a cylindrical tower module. The two cylindrical flange walls 40, 41 are rigidly connected by a bottom wall 43.

Spaced about the inner wall 40 of the cap ring are a series of radially outwardly projecting vertical ribs 44, each provided with a rather sharply angled outer end surface 45 and a nearly vertical, but desirably slightly inclined surface 46 extending to the closed end of the annular channel 42. At the closed end extremity, the surface 46 is spaced slightly from the inner surface 47 of the outer cap wall, defining a relativley narrow slot for the reception of the sheet material forming the cylindrical tower modules.

Desirably, the diameter of the tower modules is approximately the same as the inside diameter of the outer cap wall 41 at the closed end of the channel 42. In this respect, the outer wall 41 advantageously angles outward at least slightly toward its open end, and is also advantageously tapered slightly at its outer extremity 48 to facilitate assembly of the cap ring onto the end of a tower module. As the tower module and ring are brought together, the end extremity of the cylinder is guided by the slightly angled and tapered outer ring wall 41 and by the angled rib surfaces 45, 46 so that the cylindeer is easily brought into properly seated relation within the capping ring.

For releasably securing the capping rings to the cylindrical tower modules, tapered locking lugs 49 are formed on the outer walls 41 of the cap rings, and these lugs are arranged to be aligned with the die cut openings 31 in the cylinder walls. Thus, as the cap rings and tower cylinders are brought into assembled relation, the tower wall material is temporarily deflected inward by the tapered locking lugs 29 until the die cut openings 31 are opposite the lugs, whereupon the cylinder wall material deflects radially outward, underneath the end surfaces 50 of the lugs, whereupon the capping rings and cylinder modules are mechanically interlocked.

Desirably and to advantage, a pair of deflecting ribs 44a is positioned in closely straddling relation to each of the inwardly projecting locking lugs 49 so as to tend to urge the cylinder wall material outwardly on each side of the locking lug for secure and reliable locking. As is evident in FIG. 4, for example, a straddling pair of deflecting ribs 44a is spaced far enough from the side edges of the locking lug 49 to enable the cylinder wall material to be deflected around the locking lug without binding. To this end, in a typical embodiment of the invention, and noting that specific dimensions are not critical to the invention, the locking lugs 49 may have a width of, for example, 0.60 inch, whereas the adjacent straddling pair of deflecting ribs 44a may be spaced approximately 1.12 inches apart.

In general, in a practical embodiment of the invention having the proportions previously mentioned, for example, approximately eighteen inches in diameter and approximately thirty-six inches in module height, there may be for example six locking lugs 49 spaced at about 60.degree. intervals around the circumference of the capping ring. The deflecting ribs 44 may be spaced at intervals of approximately 15.degree. except in the region of the locking lugs 49, where a straddling pair of such ribs 44a is provided.

In order to provide for release of the interlocking connection between the capping ring and the cylinder module, the outer wall 41 of the capping ring is provided with an opening 51 immediately below each tapered locking lug 49. The opening 51 is of sufficient size to permit entry of a thumb or finger, or a small tool if necessary, to deflect the cylinder wall material inwardly to clear the locking lug and accommodate axial withdrawal of the assembled parts. The arrangement provides for a rigid, secure coupling of the capping rings to the cylinder modules with a minimum of fuss and effort, yet permits easy and expeditious diassembly of the parts as well.

In accordance with one of the important practical aspects of the invention, provision is made for interlockingly engaging in back to back relation a pair of identical capping rings 23, to provide a coupling ring 22 for rigidly securing together a pair of cylinder modules 20, 21 in end to end, axially aligned relation to provide a multi-story tower structure as shown in FIG. 1. In general, all that is required is to bond together, in back to back, properly aligned relationship a pair of like capping ring elements. However, a simple yet advantageous arrangement is provided in the illustrated structure for compelling precise and proper axial alignment of an identical back to back pair of such connecting ring element. To this end, and as shown in detail in FIGS. 3, 6, 8 and 10, the structure of the capping ring 23 at its bottom or closed end is such as to form a tapered channel 52 over half of the circumference of the ring and a correspondingly tapered and dimensioned rib 53 extending over approximately the other half of the circumference of the ring. Whatever the proportioning and arranging of the respective channel and rib section 52, 53, they should be more or less equal and symmetrical such that an identical pair of rings may be assembled with the rib portion or portions of one of the rings being received in the channel portion or portions 52 of the ring, as is shown in the enlarged cross sectional view of FIG. 10. The tapered, interlocking relationship of the channel portions 52 and rib portions 53 assures that a back to back pair of cap rings is accurately aligned in axial relationship when thus assembled. Accordingly, in order to provide a connecting ring structure, all that is required is to assemble a pair of like rings in the indicated, interfitting relationship and provide a bonding adhesive or solvent. With this arrangement, a single injection mold unit is all that is required to provide upper and lower end caps, as well as the intermediate connecting ring assemblies.

As will be understood and appreciated, the height of the channel forming walls 54 is the same as the height of the rib portions 53, such that the lower end capping ring element (e.g., item 24 in FIG. 1), rests in a level, square relationship with a supporting surface on which the structure is placed.

As reflected in the detail of FIG. 11, the circular bottom plate 25 is removably received within the erected lower tower module 21 by means of the support brackets 26. For convenience and economy, these may be in the form of commercially available component elements for pegboard hook assemblies, including pairs of L-shaped lugs 27 arranged to be received in appropriately located pairs of openings 60 provided at spaced intervals around the wall of the cylindrical module 21. If desired, sets of the lug-receiving openings 60 may be provided at a plurality of levels in the cylindrical unit 21, to accommodate adjustable positioning of the bottom panel 25.

The display tower structure of the invention provides an efficient system for point of purchase merchandise display and dispensing. The tower assembly packs into relatively small container for shipping and storage, yet can be quickly and expeditiously assembled into a rigid, rugged attractive portable display facility. The design of the capping rings is such that a single, injection molded ring structure serves to provide both upper and lower end caps for the structure, as well as coupling means to join tower units in end to end relation.

It should be understood, of course, that the specific forms of the invention herein illustrated and described are intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. By way of example but not of limitation, it may be desirable to provide a plurality of access openings in the tower modules, so that merchandise may be dispensed from more than one location on the structure. Likewise, it may be desirable to provide means for supporting more than one bottom plate on more than one level in the tower, with one or more access openings being provided in conjunction with each bottom plate; with such an arrangement, different types of merchandise may be segregated and dispensed from a single tower structure. The specific construction materials mentioned herein, while known to be desirable, are not to be considered as limiting. For example, the cylindrical tower modules may be formed of polyester or other sheet materials having dimensional stability and reasonable flexibility; likewise, the cap rings may be formed of other moldable materials, such as for example ABS. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.