Shelf display unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shelf display units for confectionery products with surprises, such as Easter eggs, face challenges in convenient display, protection during transport, and cost-effective production, often resulting in ineffective advertising and complex management of surprises.

Innovation Solution

A column-type shelf display unit made of paper or plastic, featuring vertically spaced platforms and a top hood with semi-rigid or flexible strips that can be folded for transport, allowing for easy visibility and protection of surprises, while maintaining compact dimensions and low production costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If surprises are displayed in separate show cases near or inside the display unit, then the surprises are visible to customers, but the management and movement of surprises becomes complicated and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of surprisesVSAvoidmanagement and movement of surprises

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the surprise display function directly into the display unit structure itself, merging the product display and surprise presentation into a single integrated system. The surprise compartments are built into the display unit framework, eliminating the need for separate show cases and reducing management complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The display unit serves multiple functions: it displays confectionery products, houses surprises within integrated compartments, and provides advertising messaging through the structure itself. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate surprise display devices and simplifies overall management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If a traditional display unit structure is used, then the display unit is simple to manufacture, but the surprises are not protected during transport of the display unit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidprotection of surprises during transport

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The surprise compartments are nested within the display unit structure itself, with surprises housed in integrated compartments that are part of the overall unit. This nesting provides protection during transport while maintaining the simplicity of a single-manufactured structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The display unit is segmented into multiple functional zones including product display areas and integrated surprise compartments. This segmentation allows the unit to provide both product display and surprise protection functions while maintaining a simple overall manufactured structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of information

If the display unit includes integrated surprise display features, then the advertising impact is enhanced, but the production costs and overall dimensions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadvertising impactVSAvoidproduction costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The advertising and surprise display functions are merged into the existing display unit structure without adding separate components. The surprise compartments utilize the same manufacturing processes and materials as the main unit, avoiding additional production costs while enhancing advertising impact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Loss of information

If the display unit includes integrated surprise display features, then the advertising impact is enhanced, but the overall dimensions of the display unit increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadvertising impactVSAvoidoverall dimensions

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The surprise compartments are nested within the existing display unit volume, utilizing otherwise wasted or underutilized spaces within the structure. This nesting approach provides enhanced advertising impact through integrated surprise display without significantly increasing the overall external dimensions of the display unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP2777440B1Shelf display unit

Publication Date: 2017.01.04 SOREMARTEC SA(BE)

AI summary

A display unit (1) for confectionery products (2) with surprise inside (3) has at least one pair of platforms (5) for supporting the confectionery products (2) set on top of one another, a top terminal hood (7) overlying the platforms (5) and delimiting a cavity (11) that is open upwards, and at least one foldable strip (13) supporting at least one of the surprises (3) and selectively available in a condition of display of the surprise (3), in which it extends downwards from the hood (7) leaving the surprise (3) in view, and a condition of transport or packaging, in which at least the surprise is set inside the aforesaid cavity (11) that is open upwards.