WO2003003881A1 - Shelf box-type modular element and display - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to shelf box-type modular elements for stacking and presenting two-dimensional piece goods (34) in a substantially vertical orientation, which elements can be introduced into a rack or frame (36). The modular elements are trays (10) that are parallel-piped in at least their edge zones, with an angle ( alpha , beta , gamma ) smaller 90 DEG , that remain open towards the top and that have a low-cut portion on the front wall (26). Said front wall can also be transparent. A display (30) consisting of a rack or frame (36) includes at least one vertical compartment (32), open towards the front, and having trays (10) introduced individually one on top of the other. The lateral walls (38) and the intermediate walls (42, 44) of the vertical compartment(s) (32) are provided with means for introducing and fixing the trays (10) at an angle. Said means are arranged in such a manner that the front wall (26) and the lateral walls (22) of the trays extend in a substantially vertical orientation. The inventive display (30) is preferably used for transporting, stacking, presenting and withdrawing bars of chocolate, compact discs, books and bags.

Description

Shelf box-like module elements and display

The invention relates to shelf box-like module elements for, for example, vertical stacking and presentation of flat piece goods, which elements can be introduced into a stand or into a frame. The invention further relates to a display comprising a stand or frame with at least one vertical chamber open to the front, a lid, and a base, which chamber is filled with trays which are individually placed one above the other.

In recent times, efforts have been increasingly made for large-scale piece goods, not only to transport, store and offer them in a sales rack, but also to bring them into the customer's field of vision through representative and rational displays. At the same time, these displays should be suitable for the transport of the flat-shaped piece goods by simple additional measures.

Chocolate bars as an example of flat piece goods are usually offered in an assortment box, the bars being arranged horizontally or vertically in compartments. In one case as in the other, the customer removes the desired product according to his needs. The individual stacks are therefore available in very different heights and depths. If the overall impression of the customer is positive, the shop staff must constantly refill and ensure an orderly presentation, which is associated with considerable additional costs. In the case of a large distributor in particular, there are still no satisfactory displays that optimally solve all requirements.

In US, A 5322172, a foldable display with also foldable trays for receiving flat piece goods is disclosed. The trays are rectangular in the x, y and z direction and have a front decollete. Unloaded piece goods require manual feeding in the direction of the front.

The inventor has set himself the task of improving transport, presentation, removal and replenishment of flat piece goods with at least the same level of economy. These flat-shaped piece goods are to be stacked and presented approximately vertically in shelf box-like module elements, for which purpose the individual elements should be able to be inserted into a stand or into a frame.

With regard to the module elements, the object is achieved according to the invention in that these are at least in the edge region formed in parallelepiped form with at least a smaller than 90 ° angle, which remain open at the top, have a decollete on the end face and / or at least this end face is transparent. Special and further developing embodiments of the trays are the subject of dependent patent claims.

Shelf-box-like module elements referred to as trays, which are pushed, hung or placed in a stand or in a frame, have long been known. However, these known trays are always cuboid or cube-shaped. A pleasant or even striking presentation option is usually lost.

A parallelepiped, a basic geometric term, is a three-dimensional body that is bounded on all sides by parallelograms, whereby at least one parallelogram is not a rectangle or square. In the case of the present invention, at least the base area is designed as a non-rectangular parallelogram. However, the side surfaces, the front wall and the rear wall are preferably also not designed to be rectangular or square.

The bottom surface of the parallelepiped-shaped tray is generally flat. forms, according to the stacked flat piece goods. However, if these piece goods have a non-flat contact surface or a non-straight contact edge, the bottom surface of the tray can be designed in a corresponding form. For example, in the case of flat cans stacked upright, the base area of the tray in the central region can be correspondingly cylindrical in shape. Obviously, this is advantageous compared to a flat bottom, because the tray does not have to have special guide rails or the like. Furthermore, in the case of piece goods that do not extend over the entire width of the tray, a deepened guide groove in the tray bottom is advantageous.

The flat piece goods placed in the tray must automatically slide forward even at a relatively small angle of inclination of the tray. In other words, the bottom surface of the tray must be as smooth as possible and have a low coefficient of friction. If this is not given by the material of the tray, the bottom surface is coated accordingly. Of course, in the case of product-specific floor surfaces of the tray, it must also be possible for it to slide automatically geometrically.

Basically, the trays must be made of a sufficiently rigid material, the expert takes into account the weight, dimensions, shape and slidability of the piece goods to be stacked. The trays can, for example, be punched out and folded from corrugated cardboard, punched out and folded from sheet metal, or formed from a plastic injection-molded part.

Of course, the production also takes economic and ecological criteria into account. If the bottom of the tray is not flat, it is particularly or only possible to spray plastics, with care also being given to disposal. After an essential further development of the invention, the pairwise mirror-image or plane-symmetrical formation of the trays is particularly suitable. After the trays have been inserted into a display, the end faces of the trays form a “zigzag surface” which can be seen better from all inclined positions than a flat end surface.

Obviously, the essentially parallelepiped-shaped trays according to the present invention are not suitable for being placed in a stand or frame of a conventional type.

With regard to the display, the object is achieved according to the invention in that the side and intermediate walls of the vertical chambers have means for inclined insertion and fixing of the trays, which means are arranged such that the front wall and the side surfaces of the trays run approximately vertically, the The floor surface has an inclination angle (ß ') corresponding to the angle (90 ° - ß) and a sideways inclination angle (γ) corresponding to the angle (90 ° - γ). Special and further developments are the subject of dependent claims.

The position of the means for inclined insertion and fixing of the trays depends on the geometry of the trays. Except in the special case of the rectangular or square end face of the trays, they have to be inclined not only because of the slipping forward, but also to the side so that all side walls of the trays are aligned approximately vertically. By approximately vertical is meant a deviation from the vertical of at most 5 °, preferably at most 2 °. The vertical alignment of all side surfaces of the essentially parallelepiped-shaped trays in the display has a practical background, otherwise the stands or racks would have to be designed in a more complicated, user-friendly and customer-unfriendly manner.

The number and arrangement of the vertical chambers in the displays is zip arbitrary, it is determined by practical and visual factors. In the most common case, the chambers are arranged next to one another in such a way that trays of alternately plane-symmetrical design form a “zigzag surface” with their end wall. For manufacturing reasons, one or at most a few standard dimensions are sought for the trays and the displays are adapted accordingly. The displays themselves should preferably be so be dimensioned such that, in terms of their base area, they have the size of standard pallets, half or a quarter of them in smaller embodiments. The stand or the frame can also be designed in such a way that a “zigzag” shape on the front and back "Front of the display can be formed, which is easy to see.

For the transport of the displays, all that is required, as is known per se, is a cover, i.e. H. an adapted hood, applied down to or beyond the base and fixed with strapping.

The displays according to the invention with trays according to the invention are suitable for transporting, stacking, presenting and for removing flat-shaped piece goods of all kinds, for example chocolate bars, compact discs (CD), books and at least semi-rigid bags.

In addition to the always desired very good presentation of the goods with optical effects of the entire display, the invention has the following advantages:

- The inclined position of the front of the trays in the display means that more space is gained so that, given the space available, more flat-shaped piece goods can be presented side by side. An optimal front view is obtained with an alternating arrangement of trays with a “zigzag surface, in which there is an optimal viewing angle from every point of view. The geometry according to the invention allows automatic sliding after removal of the foremost product thanks to gravity. The slipping always takes place in a stable position, thanks to the geometry of the trays, the piece goods cannot tip over to the rear.

An unchanged presentation of the products, in particular the brand or the brand, is possible during the withdrawal period in the retail store.

The display itself can be designed in a variety of ways, for example in the form of a row with a front, with a front and back, semi-cylindrical or fully cylindrical. An extraordinarily high stability can be achieved in all embodiments.

With a half-sold display, partial or full trays can be exchanged on a modular basis.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing, which are also the subject of dependent claims. They show schematically:

Fig. 1. a perspective view of a tray

2 shows a basic shape punched out of corrugated cardboard with respect to FIG.

1 a mirror-image formed tray for folding, FIG. 3 a perspective view of a display with trays, FIG. 4 a view of a central support of a display,

5 shows a view of an unfolded side support wall of a display, FIG. 6 shows a view of an unfolded long intermediate wall, FIG. 7 shows a view of an unfolded short intermediate wall, FIG. 8 shows a plan view of a plug connection, and

Fig. 9 shows a double plug connection of the side wall of the display. A tray 10 shown in Fig. 1 consists of rigid corrugated cardboard shown in Fig. 2. The parallelogram-shaped structure of the parallelepiped-shaped tray 10 is given its stable shape by four adhesive tabs 12, 14.

The floor or the floor surface 16 is formed in the form of a parallelogram, in the present case with an angle of 60 to 85 °, preferably 65 to 75 °, most suitably about 70 °. The information refers to the old division with 360 ° for the full extent. An arcuate recess 18 and four locking lugs 20 are punched out of the bottom surface 16, the latter running in the plane of two parallel side walls 22, which are also formed in the form of a parallelogram. The side walls have an angle β. A closed rear wall 24 and an end wall 26, which are also parallelogram-shaped and inclined at an angle γ, also run in parallel. In the present case, two décolletes remain from the end wall 26 in the region of the side walls 22.

It can be clearly seen that the tray 10 has the basic shape of a parallelepiped with parallelogram-shaped surfaces on all sides. In contrast to the angle ß, which is in the same angular range as the angle α, where the two angles can be the same or different, the angle γ is in the range from 70 to 90 °, preferably 75 to 85 °, expediently about 80 °, always in relation to the horizontal.

3 shows a display 30 with trays 10 placed in five chambers 32. Although only shown in one tray, all trays 10 are filled with approximately vertically arranged, flat goods 34.

The trays 10 are introduced into the stand or frame 36 of the display 30 in such a way that the base 16 at an angle β ', ie 90 ° - β, towards the front and in the direction of a lateral support wall 38 at an angle γ', ie 90 ° - γ, is inclined (cf. each Fig. 1). In this way, the side walls 22, the rear wall 24 and the end wall 26 of the trays 10 are introduced into the display 30 approximately vertically. assigns.

The following details can be seen from FIG. 3, which is drawn without a cover and without a base:

- The display 30 is open on both sides, so trays 10 can also be introduced from behind.

The chambers 32a and 32b, likewise the chambers 32c and 32d, alternately have a long intermediate wall 42 and a short intermediate wall 44. The length of these intermediate walls 42, 44 is adapted to the trays 10. The end face of the display thus forms a “zigzag surface”, which is indicated by line 46. It has already been mentioned that, thanks to this measure, the end wall of the display 30 or the available end wall 26 and thus piece goods 34 from all Viewing angles are easier to see.

Punching slots 40 are provided in the side walls 38 and all intermediate walls 42, 44, which determine the aforementioned position of the trays 10. In the case of the side walls 38, double plug connections 48 (FIG. 9) are passed through these punching slots in the intermediate walls 42, 44 plug connections 50 (FIG. 8) and locked with the locking lugs 20 (FIG. 1) of the trays 10. The trays 10 thus act in the manner of cross struts and give the whole display 10 a very solid stability.

FIG. 4 shows a central support 52 which cannot be seen in FIG. 3, like the side walls 38 and intermediate walls 42, 44, this consists of a solid, stiff corrugated cardboard plate. The punching slots 58 of the central support 52 shown in FIG. 4 are aligned vertically and serve to receive latching lugs 54 of the intermediate walls 42, 44 (FIGS. 6, 7). The latching lugs 56 of the center support 52 are in turn suspended in vertical punched slots 58 in the side walls 38 (FIG. 5) of the display. Finally, from the central support 52, upper and lower grooves 60, 62 for receiving locking elements of the interpreted cover 64 and base 66 formed.

FIG. 5 shows an unfolded side wall 38 of the display 30 (FIG. 3). The two side flaps are folded over and glued together along the two fold lines 68 drawn twice. The punching slots 40, 58 each lie exactly one above the other. As mentioned, the punching slots 40 receive the double plug-in connection 48 (FIG. 3), the punching slots 58 the latching lugs 56 of the central support 52 (FIG. 4). All punching slots 40 are also arranged at an angle β ', both on the front and on the back. The angle β '(90 ° - β) defines the forward inclination of the bottom 16 of all trays 10.

The long intermediate wall 42 according to FIG. 6, which can also be folded and glued along a fold line 68, has the punching grooves 40 at the angle of inclination β 'of the bottom 16 of the trays 10. After folding, the punching slots 40 lie exactly one above the other. As mentioned, the latching lugs 54 are inserted into the vertical slots 58 of the central support 52. The distance a1 from the upper edge 70 determines the level of all punch slots 40, which are always the same distance from each other.

The short intermediate wall 44 according to FIG. 7 differs from FIG. 6, in accordance with the name, in its width. Furthermore, the distance a2 of the uppermost punching slot 40 from the upper edge 72 is slightly smaller than the distance a1 of the long intermediate wall 42. This creates the inclination γ '(90 ° - γ) of the bottom 16 of the trays 10 in the direction of a side wall 22. As above mentioned, the inclinations β 'and γ' of the bottom surface 16, the side walls 22, the rear wall 24 and the end wall 26 are arranged approximately vertically in the display 30 (FIG. 3).

FIG. 8 shows a plug connection 50 according to FIG. 3 in detail. Each have two spaced borders 74 an opening 76 and a connecting web 78. The flat plug connections 50 are pushed with the borders 74 through a punching slot 40 of an intermediate wall 42, 44 until the web 78 stops. When the trays 10 are introduced into a vertical chamber 32, the locking lugs 20 (FIG. 1) are pushed into the space of the opening 76, which is indicated by a dashed intermediate wall 42, 44 and a border 74, until the bottom 16 of a tray 10 on the flat one Plug connection 50 rests. The locking lugs 20 ensure an automatic, solid locking, which also increases the stability of the entire display 30 (FIG. 3).

Finally, a double plug connection 48, which can be seen in FIG. 3, is shown in detail in FIG. 9. The four borders 74 with the openings 76 are bent at right angles to the same side. The two border pairs 74 arranged at a distance b are pushed into the corresponding punching slots 40 of the side wall 38, the distance b corresponding to a module height.

The double plug connections 48 in the side walls 38, which can be seen from the outside, can be covered with a decorative cover sheet, not shown, which further improves the stability, protects against damage and / or has appropriate advertising information.

The side wall 38 of the display 30 is only indicated by dashed lines; when trays 10 are inserted, locking lugs 20 are pressed into the space between the side wall 38 and the border 74, which leads to a further stabilizing latching.

Claims

claims 1. shelf box-like module elements for approximately vertical stacking and presentation of flat piece goods (34), which elements can be placed in a stand or in a frame (36), characterized in that the module elements at least in the edge region are parallelepiped-shaped trays (10) with at least an angle (.beta., .gamma.) of less than 90 °, which remain open at the top, on the end wall (26) Have decollete (28) and / or at least this end wall is transparent. 2. Trays (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle (α) of the edges of the bottom (16) of the trays (10) and the angle of inclination (ß) from the front and rear wall 60 to 85 °, preferably 65 - 75 °, and the angle of inclination (γ) from the side walls (22) of each 70 - 90 °, preferably 75 - 85 °, both inclination angles based on the horizontal. 3. Trays (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least two, preferably four in the region of the side walls (22) downwardly projecting locking lugs (20) are formed. 4. trays (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the bottom (16) at a distance from the side walls (22) is product-specific, preferably cylindrical or groove-shaped in the direction of the end wall (26). 5. trays (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the inner surface of the bottom (16) is smooth or formed or coated with a low coefficient of friction. 6. trays (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the decollete (28) is designed and / or coated in a product-specific manner. 7. trays (10), according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that they are punched out of corrugated cardboard and folded, punched out of sheet metal and folded or formed as a plastic injection molded part. 8. trays (10), according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that they are formed in pairs in two mirror-image variants. 9. Display (30) consisting of a stand or frame (36) with at least one vertical chamber (32) open to the front, a cover (64) and a base (66), which chamber (32) is introduced individually one above the other Trays (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8 is filled, characterized in that the side walls (38) and the partition walls (42, 44) of the vertical chamber (s) (32) have means for inclined insertion and fixing of the trays (10), which means are arranged such that the end wall (26) and the side surfaces ( 22) of the tray run approximately vertically, the base surface having an inclination angle (β ') corresponding to the angle (90 ° - ß) and laterally an inclination angle (γ ¹ ) corresponding to the angle (90 ° - γ). 10. Display (30) according to claim 9, characterized in that adjacent vertical chambers (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d, 32e) contain alternating plan-symmetrical different trays (10), which lie in mirror images on top of each other and a zig-zag front front (46 ) form. 11. Display (30) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the stand (36) consists of folded corrugated cardboard and the side walls (38), intermediate walls (42, 44) and center supports (52) via plug connections (48, 50) are connected to each other and to the lid or the base. 12. Display (30) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the plug connections (48, 50) are simultaneously means for obliquely inserting and fixing the trays (10). 13. Display (30) according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the side walls (38) are designed strikingly. 14. Display (30) according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that it is protected for transport with a pulled down to the base and stabilized with straps. 15. Use of a display (30) according to one of claims 9 to 14 with trays (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, for transporting, stacking, presenting and removing chocolate bars, compact discs, books and bags.