IP Library Granted Patent US 7,775,379
Granted Patent B2
US 7,775,379 · App. 11/542,582 · Granted Aug 17, 2010

Retail display for greeting cards

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,775,379
App. No.
11/542,582
Granted
Aug 17, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A greeting card display has frame-supported rails and card shelves with laterally adjustable dividers which form multiple adjustable card pockets for display and storage of greeting cards and envelopes. The number of card shelves and pockets can be easily set-up and altered by any desired arrangement of the card shelves and dividers. The card shelves can be use in combination with other types of product displays on the same supporting frame.

Claims (5)

1. A greeting card display configured for display of multiple greeting cards in multiple card pockets in a retail shopping environment, the display having at least one module which is configured to be used alone or in combination with multiple modules of the same or dissimilar configuration, each at least one module defined by a base upon which a frame is supported, the frame having two spaced apart upright members which generally define the width and height of the at least one module, wherein the upright members have periodically spaced slots arranged vertically along the length of the upright members;

one or more rails spanning between and engaged with the upright members with ends of the one or more rails having one or more brackets mechanically engaged with the slots in the upright members, the brackets formed at one side of a rail channel which projects from a plane of the rail, the rail channel projecting from the plane of the rail by a web which is generally perpendicular to the plane of the rail, the web projecting forward from the plane of the rail so that the plane of the rail is recessed with respect to a front surface of the upright members;

the rail further comprising an angled upper flange which extends from a top of the plane of the rail, the angled upper flange being angled slightly back from the front of the plane of the rail, and an angled lower flange at a bottom edge of the rail which extends away from the plane of the rail;

one or more card shelves engaged with one of the one or more rails, each of the one or more card shelves having a planar back, a top section, a card shelf channel having an upper web and a lower web, a card shelf bottom and a card shelf front, each of the one or more card shelves engaged with the one or more rails by a flange which extends over a top edge of the angled upper flange of the one or more rails, and by a rearward projection of the card shelf bottom which fits over a bottom edge and over the angled lower flange of the rail, the planar back of each of the one or more card shelves positioned substantially flush against the front surface of the plane of the rail, the shelf bottom projection forward to an extent which is adapted to accommodate at least several cards and envelopes in a stacked arrangement;

a plurality of dividers located in each of the one or more card shelves and engaged with each of the card shelf channels, each divider having an arcuate plane base configured to fit within the card shelf channel of the one or more card shelves, terminal ends extending from the arcuate base which contact an interior of card shelf channel, and an outer surface of the arcuate plane of the base contacting webs of the card shelf channel, and stop projections formed in the outer surface of the base for additional contact with the webs of the card shelf channel, whereby frictional contact of the terminal ends and the stop projections of the divider with card shelf channel maintains the dividers in position within the card shelf channel, each divider further comprising a flange which extends outwardly and generally perpendicular from the base, the flange being oriented vertically and perpendicular to the card shelf bottom, whereby the flange of each divider provides an orthogonal structure with respect to the one or more rails, the divider base and the card shelf bottom forming a pocket for one or more rails, the divider base and the card shelf bottom forming a pocket for one or more cards and envelopes, each of the dividers further comprising a front tab which extends perpendicularly and laterally from the flange and generally aligned with the one or more card shelves and spaced from and parallel to the back of the one or more card shelves, the tab forming a front wall to the card pocket which is formed by the engagement and cooperation of the divider with one of the one or more card shelves.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 12, 2018
From: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045915/0841 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2018
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION; AGC HOLDINGS, LLC; AGC, LLC; AGCM, INC.; A.G.C. INVESTMENTS, INC.; A.G. EUROPE, INC.; A.G. INDUSTRIES, INC.; AG INTERACTIVE, INC.; A.G. (UK), INC.; AGP KIDS, INC.; CARDSTORE, INC. FORMERLY KNOWN AS PHOTOWORKS, INC.; CARLTON CARDS RETAIL, INC.; CREATACARD, INC.; CREATACARD INTERNATIONAL LEASING INC.; CLOUDCO, INC.; CUSTOM HOLDINGS, INC.; GIBSON GREETINGS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED; JOHN SANDS (AUSTRALIA) LTD.; JOHN SANDS (N.Z.) LTD.; JOHN SANDS HOLDING CORP.; MEMPHIS PROPERTY CORPORATION; MIDIRINGTONES, LLC; PAPYRUS-RECYCLED GREETINGS, INC.; PLUS-MARK LLC, FORMERLY KNOWN AS PLUS MARK, INC.; THOSE CHARACTERS FROM CLEVELAND, INC.; PRGCO, LLC; RPG HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 045917/0006 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 12, 2018
From: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045307/0476 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT OF PATENTS Recorded Sep 10, 2013
From: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
To: PNC BANK, A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031200/0816 →
AMENDMENT TO COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT OF PATENTS/SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 13, 2010
From: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 024672/0159 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 30, 2006
From: HODGE, GARY A
To: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018450/0536 →