Retail Shelf Card Holder Channels for Space-Saving Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current card holders for retail shelving are suboptimal as they do not easily attach to shelves, waste horizontal space, and it is difficult to place representative cards in the back of the holders.

Innovation Solution

A retail display apparatus with a holder design that includes two channels on the back for card insertion, allowing easy attachment to shelves via fasteners and efficient use of space, enabling multiple holders to be mounted side-by-side without wasting space, and allowing cards to be viewed through a single layer of material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional card holders are used, then cards can be displayed, but the holders do not easily attach to shelves and waste horizontal space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment easeVSAvoidhorizontal space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The holder design transitions from horizontal space occupation to vertical attachment by incorporating fastener holes in the bottom panel that align with shelf openings, allowing the holder to attach vertically to the shelf rather than occupying horizontal space alongside other items

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The holder is divided into functional segments including a bottom panel with fastener holes for attachment, a back panel with channels for card insertion, and a front opening for item display, allowing each segment to serve its specific function efficiently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If traditional card holders are used, then cards can be displayed, but it is difficult to place representative cards in the back of the holders

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecard insertion easeVSAvoidcard placement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The card insertion mechanism is extracted and simplified by providing open-top channels that extend from the front to the back of the holder, allowing cards to be easily slid into place without complex mechanisms or difficult access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The channels are pre-formed during manufacturing with open tops and proper positioning, so that card insertion requires only simple placement rather than complex assembly steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If multiple holders are mounted side-by-side, then shelf space utilization improves, but space waste occurs between holders

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshelf space utilizationVSAvoidspace between holders

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Adjacent holders can be positioned so close together that their bottom panels and back panels effectively merge, eliminating wasted space between them and maximizing shelf space utilization while maintaining individual holder functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8561816B2Loose item holder

Publication Date: 2013.10.22 TARGET BRANDS INC

AI summary

A retail display apparatus includes a front panel, a right side panel extending from the front panel and a left side panel extending from the front panel. A bottom panel extends from the front panel and has at least one opening. A back panel extends from the bottom panel. A first channel has an open top and an open bottom and extends along the back panel. A second channel has an open top and an open bottom and extends along the back panel.