Slat wall death care merchandise display unit with category delineator

[0002] The present invention relates to an integrated display utilizing at least one category delineator on a slat wall display to aid in the display of death care merchandise such as cards, flowers, pictures, books, personal memorabilia, caskets, coffins, urns, burial vaults, and materials for decorating or adorning the same. The display system of the invention is particularly designed for use by prospective purchasers in a preview room. In addition, it may be useful for displaying death care merchandise in funeral product stores.

[0003] Display units are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,190,243 discloses a display that has used a plurality of spaced threaded holes to provide fastening locations for shelves. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,585,944, displays have also included shelving made for suspension from the eaves of a roof. These types of shelving structures can hang from a transversely projecting cleat and can be fastened to the wall by a plurality of claws biting into the roof.

[0004] Additionally, display panels using slat walls are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,897 discloses a slat wall display panel that uses fasteners with cleats that must be slid in from the side of the slat wall. Moreover, display furniture has included the use of support brackets that can be fixedly attached in slots between adjacent panels as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,249. Finally, even the use of tray shelves that can be engaged in lip troughs on slat walls is known to the art as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,010. While this configuration has offered more flexibility, even this arrangement still does not provide the separation of the merchandise envisioned in the present invention.

[0005] Furthermore, the prior art has not provided an effective system for using slat wall displays in a death care merchandise integrated display system. The present invention overcomes these shortcomings while offering an additional advantage of a category delineator to help organize the display of death care merchandise.

[0006] A slat wall death care merchandise display unit maximizes the types and styles of death care merchandise that can be displayed. The present invention comprises a back wall containing a plurality of parallel slats wherein the slats allow at least one category delineation fixture to be inserted into at least one of the plurality of slots formed by the spacing of the slats attached to the back wall. Additionally, the display unit may further comprise an overhead cornice attached to at least one slot to allow the hanging of at least one category header capable of displaying signs, placards, or similar notification.

[0007] This configuration offers the flexibility to provide consumers with a versatile array of death care merchandise and related articles.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the slat wall death care merchandise display unit with a plurality of category delineators attached and a plurality of cornice category headers attached.

[0009] FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the slat wall death care merchandise display unit.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the category delineator.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a side view of the slat wall death care merchandise display unit.

[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the attachment of shelving.

[0013] The present invention provides an integrated display system for death care related merchandise. The display system of the present invention is principally used in a preview room where selection of death care related merchandise by the decedent's loved one occurs. In addition, the display system of the invention may be used to display death care merchandise in funeral product stores.

[0014] The display system of the invention is defined by a back wall containing a plurality of parallel, spaced slats. These slats are evenly spaced to allow the insertion of at least one category delineator into at least one slot created by the uniform arrangement of the slats attached to the back wall. Additionally, the present invention may comprise a cornice inserted into at least one slot in the back wall. The cornice allows the attachment of at least one category header capable of displaying information for the purposes of indication and identification of the death care related merchandise being displayed. This information may be presented by attaching placards, signs, and the like to the category header.

[0015] As set forth in FIG. 1, a slat wall death care merchandise display unit 1 comprises a plurality of parallel spaced slats 5 wherein the attachment of the slats 5 are evenly spaced to create a plurality of uniform slots 4 along a back wall 2. For stability, the back wall 2 should be attached to any wall of a building where the display unit 1 will be displayed.

[0016] These slots 4 provide a fastening location for at least one category delineator 3. Additionally, the display unit 1 may comprise a cornice 6 attached to at least one slot in the back wall 2. The cornice 6 provides a location for at least one category header 7 to hang by a fastener, preferably at least one J-hook fastener. The category header 7 hangs on the cornice assembly 6 and provides information of interest to those in need of death care related merchandise. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of the display unit 1 from a perspective view and an elevation view, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the category delineator 3, the category delineator 3 comprises at least one fastening location 31 capable of interfacing with at least one slot 4 between the slats 5 attached to the back wall 2 of the display unit 1. To attach the category delineator 3, the category delineator 3 is aligned such that the fastening location 31 can approach and enter a slot 4. When the fastening location 31 is positioned in the slot 4, a rearmost edge 32 of the category delineator 3 may make contact with the slats 5 attached to the back wall 2 of the display unit 1. At this time, the category delineator 3 may be released, allowing gravity to force the fastening location 31 to come into contact with at least one slot 4. This arrangement effectively fastens the category delineator 3 to the display unit 1.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 4, a side view of the display unit 1, the category delineator 3, when affixed, may rest such that the rearmost surface 32 of the category delineator 3 comes into contact with the slats 5. Additionally, a fastener can be used for fixation of a category header 7 onto a cornice 6 wherein the cornice is inserted into at least one slot 4. In this arrangement, the display unit 1 can provide both information via the category headers 7 and organization through proper utilization of the category delineators 3.

[0018] As used herein, the term “decedent confinement chamber” shall refer to a casket, coffin, or burial vault, and, when appropriate, urns. The term shall include ready for use caskets, coffins, and burial vaults, the facade of caskets, coffins, and burial vaults, and sectionals and miniatures thereof. Where the displays are to be used in a preview room and designed not to be open, it is specially preferred to use facades 24 of such caskets, coffins, and burial vaults. The facade typically includes those outer sides and surfaces of the chamber visible to the observer. Where the chamber is being used to exhibit only the facade, the inner chamber is hollow.

[0019] The display unit 1 may further contain one or more display boards for displaying accessories typically used with decedent confinement chambers on display. Such accessories include fabrics for the cap panel—that portion of the interior of the chamber lining the upper part of the lid—and the overlay—the fabric which lies across the outside of the decedent confinement chamber when the lid of the chamber is open. Additionally, samples of ornamental trims for the exterior of the chamber can be displayed. Moreover, the front surface of the category header 7 may contain additional information about the death care merchandise being displayed.

[0020] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5, at least one shelf 50 could be used. Shelves 50 may comprise horizontally flat sections onto which death care related merchandise could be displayed. These shelves 50 can be inserted into at least one slot 4 or can be affixed using at least one conventional attachment fastener to the slats 5.

[0021] Merchandise such as urns 23 and miniature decedent confinement chambers may be displayed on the shelf 50. Additionally, the shelf 50 can provide a good location to display at least one full, sectional, or miniaturized decedent confinement chamber, adornment materials, or any other death care related merchandise.

[0022] The display 1 may further contain a cornice 6. Any conventional cornice or soffit disclosed in the art may suffice. Typically, the use of a cornice will increase the display height of the display unit 1 to above seven feet. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the cornice 6 is inserted into at least one slot 4. Alternatively, the cornice 6 could be attached to the back wall 2.

[0023] An illuminating source 20 may be concealed to the observer within the interior or the bottom surface of the cornice 6. Exemplary of the illumination sources are one or more track or pendant lights which may easily be manipulated such that the light is directed onto selected merchandise within the display unit 1. The illuminating source can be attached to the bottom surface of the cornice by conventional screws or nuts and bolts. Any necessary electrical cable wiring leads 21, 22 out of the cornice 6 through an aperture in the back wall 2. The electrical wiring is not evident to the observer of the display unit 1.

[0024] These category headers 7 provide information about the displayed merchandise when the unit is employed for point of sale merchandise. For example, in point of sale merchandise, the information center can display information about the materials used in the manufacture of the decedent confinement chamber, as well as information about the merchandise on display.

[0025] A finish on any or all of the surfaces of the merchandise display unit may be placed to more closely coordinate with the merchandise being displayed. For instance, where the merchandise display is of caskets or coffins, the back wall 2 of the display unit 1 may be pigmented to enhance the colors of the merchandise.

[0026] Various modification may be made in the nature, composition, operation, and the arrangement of the various elements, steps, and procedures described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.