Combined standing bent sheet display

Abstract

A display for a group of semi-rigid to semi-flaccid sheet goods has a base, and a pair of parallel sidewalls that extend upward from the base a spaced distance from each other that is smaller than the width of the sheet goods. A plurality of channels is fixed to each sidewall so that each channel is perpendicular to the base and points toward the other sidewall at a uniform inclined angle. The angle of the channels is such that one of the sheet goods can be received between opposing pairs of the channels when curved in an arc. This arcuate presentation of the semi-rigid to semi-flaccid sheet goods ensures that the sheet goods will remain erect for an extended period of time while situated in the display.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is related to and claims all available benefit from U.S. Provisional Applications Ser. No. 61 / 024,322 filed Jan. 29, 2008, and Ser. No. 61 / 055,336 filed May 22, 2008.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to retail displays and particularly to displays for semi-rigid to semi-flaccid sheet goods such as chair mats and floor mats.[0003]Semi-rigid to semi-flaccid sheet goods such as chair mats and floor mats present special challenges when it comes to presenting the goods in an attractive display that will also facilitate selection of the goods from the display by a purchaser. Desk chair mats for office and home use are well known. Such chair mats can simply be rectangular or can have a main portion on which the desk chair rolls, and a forward lip portion which is adapted to extend partially under the desk well, and on which the feet of the person sitting in the chair may rest. Desk chair mats ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]These several needs may be satisfied by a display for a group of semi-rigid to semi-flaccid sheet goods of uniform width. The display has a base that can be supported directly on a sales floor of a retail establishment. The base can be designed for easy handling by a conventional fork lift. A pair of parallel sidewalls is fixed to extend upward from the base a spaced distance from each other that is smaller than the width of the sheet goods. A plurality of channels is fixed to each sidewall so that each channel is perpendicular to the base and points toward the other sidewall at a uniform inclined horizontal angle. The horizontal angle of the channels is such that one of the sheet goods can be received between opposing pairs of the channels when curved in an arc, the ends of the arc being defined by the angle of the channels. This arcuate presentation of the semi-rigid to semi-flaccid sheet goods ensures that the sheet goods will remain erect for an extended period of time while situated in the display.

[0008]The display can have an arcuate first wall coupling the pair of sidewalls to each other. The arcuate first wall can be coupled to the base and to parallel edges of the sidewalls to form an outwardly protruding surface. The outwardly protruding surface of the arcuate first wall is particularly suitable for receiving advertising and brand name indicia. The arcuate first wall can also act to protect any adjacent sheet goods from abrasion or other damage.

[0010]At least one of the first and second walls can have a vertical dimension that is smaller than the vertical dimension of the sheet goods when the sheet goods are received between opposing pairs of the channels fixed to the parallel sidewalls. This lower vertical dimension of at least one of the first and second walls provides a customer with visual contact with the goods being displayed, and may facilitate the removal of the goods from the display. The vertical dimension of the parallel sidewalls can be, but is not required to be as great as the vertical dimension of the sheet goods situated in the display. The channels attached to the parallel sidewalls can be, but are not required to be, continuous from an upper margin of the sidewall to the base.

[0011]The base can include features that can assist in ensuring the arcuate positioning of the sheet goods within the display. In particular, at least one row of upwardly opening U-shaped supports can be positioned on the base, each upwardly opening U-shaped support being adapted to receive a lower edge of one of the sheet goods. The upwardly opening U-shaped supports can be fixed to the base. Alternatively, a pad can be included on the base that is deformable by the lower edges of the sheet goods situated in the display to inhibit movement of the goods within the display.

[0013]A display for semi-rigid to semi-flaccid sheet goods can take the form of a base with a pair of parallel sidewalls fixed to the base and extending vertically upward from the base. A plurality of members can be fixed to each sidewall defining slots perpendicular to the base, with each slot being dimensioned to receive one of the sheet goods when the goods are curved in an arc, the curvature of the arc being defined by the angle between the plurality of members and the sidewall. The plurality of members can be arranged in two sets defining oppositely directed arcs bowing outward from a center portion of the display located midway between the parallel sidewalls. The display base can include a plurality of casters to permit the display to be easily moved into a desired position for retail marketing.

Problems solved by technology

Semi-rigid to semi-flaccid sheet goods such as chair mats and floor mats present special challenges when it comes to presenting the goods in an attractive display that will also facilitate selection of the goods from the display by a purchaser.

Consequently, displays of desk chair mats, and other semi-rigid to semi-flaccid sheet goods present some special challenges.

While such displays operate quite satisfactorily in some locations, the display may become unstable due to the weight of the goods if the load on the display is not maintained in an essentially balanced presentation of the goods, which may prove to be difficult in some retail situations.

In particular, there remains a need for a display of such goods that provides for a floor-supported presentation rather than a suspended presentation so as to avoid any lack of stability arising from an unbalanced presentation of the goods, particularly due to the intrinsic weight of the goods, but the semi-rigid to semi-flaccid character of the goods limits how the goods can be displayed.

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