Retail Media Display Layout With Tethered Samples and Locked Inventory

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current retail display methods for media products, such as video games, require significant labor for security measures, lead to misplaced or stolen items, and limit consumer interaction with products due to the need for individual security boxes and handling of empty containers.

Innovation Solution

A security display apparatus with sample media content containers anchored by security cables, allowing consumers to browse and handle samples while keeping inventory in secure, lockable bins, reducing the need for individual security boxes and enabling faster stocking and theft prevention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If every video game container is placed in a transparent security box with a security alarm tag, then theft prevention is improved, but labor time for workers to insert and retrieve games increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetheft preventionVSAvoidlabor time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The display system is divided into two distinct zones: a secure locked display case containing the actual media products, and an unlocked sample display area in front of it. This segmentation allows different security levels for different functions, reducing the need to secure every single item while maintaining overall security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Sample video game containers act as intermediaries between the secure locked case and the consumer. These samples allow consumers to browse and handle products without requiring the main inventory to be individually secured, reducing worker labor time while maintaining theft prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If video game discs are removed from containers for display, then security packaging requirements are reduced, but labor time for removing and reinserting discs increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity packagingVSAvoidlabor time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Video game containers are pre-filled with their corresponding media discs in the locked display case before being placed on the shelf. This preliminary action eliminates the need for workers to remove and reinsert discs during normal operation, reducing labor time while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If all video games are displayed inside a secure display shelf with a locked front, then theft prevention is improved, but consumer ability to handle and view products is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetheft preventionVSAvoidconsumer product handling
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display system is divided into two distinct zones: a secure locked display case containing the actual media products, and an unlocked sample display area in front of it. This segmentation allows different security levels for different functions, reducing the need to secure every single item while maintaining overall security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Sample video game containers act as intermediaries between the secure locked case and the consumer. These samples allow consumers to browse and handle products without requiring the main inventory to be individually secured, reducing worker labor time while maintaining theft prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If individual security boxes are used for every video game, then theft prevention is improved, but stocking speed and inventory management efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetheft preventionVSAvoidstocking speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The display system is divided into two distinct zones: a secure locked display case containing the actual media products, and an unlocked sample display area in front of it. This segmentation allows different security levels for different functions, reducing the need to secure every single item while maintaining overall security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple video game containers are grouped together in a single locked display case rather than being individually secured. This merging approach maintains security for the entire group while significantly improving stocking speed and inventory management efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9030322B2Method and apparatus for securely displaying media products
Publication Date: 2015.05.12 TARGET BRANDS INC
  • US9030322B2 patent drawing
  • US9030322B2 patent drawing
  • US9030322B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method of using a security display apparatus for media content products in a retail store is disclosed. The method includes arranging sample media content containers in a side-by-side configuration on a front lip of a security display fixture, wherein each of the sample media content containers is anchored to the security display fixture with a security cable. The method further includes unlocking an access door of the security display fixture, in response to a consumer request, to provide access to an internal space defined by the security display fixture rearward of the sample media content containers, and retrieving one or more non-tethered media content containers from the internal space that are of a same title as one of the sample media content containers positioned immediately in front of the one or more non-tethered media content containers.