Well Merchandiser

Abstract

A merchandising system and methods for merchandising products within a well display case are disclosed. The merchandising system includes a platform movably coupled to a base member and may include an advancement mechanism for automatically advancing multiple rows and / or stacks of products within well display unit.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to the field of merchandising systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to well merchandising systems for the presentation of items in a well area of a display case.[0002]Merchandising systems for displaying products on shelves, in cabinets or in display cases are frequently found in consumer retail settings such as grocery stores, retail outlets and department stores. In particular, merchandising systems are not only used to conveniently store products, but are also used to provide an effective and aesthetically pleasing display for presenting the product to the consumer.[0003]Display systems such as refrigerators or freezers, which have large “wells” as their base and overhead shelving units above, provide a unique merchandising difficulty. In particular, shelving units typically overhang the well area, and therefore, obstruct and / or interfere with access to portions of the well storage area. ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The present invention provides, in part, a merchandising system for displaying, storing and advancing products in display unit, such as a well display unit of the type typically used to display and retain refrigerated and / or frozen products. The merchandising system can include a stationary base member disposed within the well display unit and a platform movably coupled to and selectively positionable on the base member, wherein removal of products from the front end of the merchandising system causes the platform to advance from the rear portion to the front portion of the merchandising system. As such, the platform urges products within the display areas of the base member and the platform towards the front of the merchandising system, so that the products within the merchandising system can be easily accessed by the consumer.

[0013]The present invention can also include, in part, a method for merchandising products within a well display unit, wherein at least one merchandising system is provided, each merchandising system having stationary base including a first product storage area and a movable platform including a second product storage area, wherein the platform is movably coupled to the stationary base, such that at least one product in the merchandising system is advanced from the rear portion of the well display unit to the front portion of the well display unit, thereby rendering the products accessible to the consumer.

Problems solved by technology

Display systems such as refrigerators or freezers, which have large “wells” as their base and overhead shelving units above, provide a unique merchandising difficulty.

In particular, shelving units typically overhang the well area, and therefore, obstruct and / or interfere with access to portions of the well storage area.

Accordingly, the customer may be unable to see or access products that are stored beneath the overhead shelving units and / or near the rear of the well area.

Moreover, it can be difficult to stock and organize products in the well display unit, and particularly difficult to stock and organize products beneath the overhead shelving.

As such, well display systems may include areas that are not effectively utilized for storing products, and in turn, do not provide for an organized display of items, which decreases the aesthetic appeal to customers.

Further, it is also difficult to move products from the back of the well to the front of the well when customers remove the products from the front or display face of the well.

For example, due to the obstruction of the overhead shelves, products that are fragile in nature may become damaged during this difficult stocking and removal process.

There exist merchandising systems that allow for the presentation of products on display shelves, but are not designed for applications in deep well areas having shelving overhead.

However, conventional automatic feed displays are designed for shelf applications and not well-type display areas.

Further, conventional automatic feeding displays can be awkward or difficult to load due to the configuration of the bias that is maintained on the products to keep them at the front of the shelf.

In addition, other existing merchandising systems allow for only a single “layer” of product or a single product to be displayed and advanced, rendering them inefficient for storing and displaying more popular items, or items stocked in a stacked configuration.

Further, existing merchandising systems do not allow a wide variety of products (e.g. a variety of product shapes, sizes and / or fragility) to be displayed without disorganization or damage to oddly-shaped or fragile products.

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