IP Library Granted Patent US 7,987,999
Granted Patent B2
US 7,987,999 · App. 12/355,119 · Granted Aug 2, 2011

Product display highlighter

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,987,999
App. No.
12/355,119
Granted
Aug 2, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A product display highlighter has a product carrier body for containing and displaying product, and which is configured to fit with a relatively larger display in a manner in which the product carrier body of the display highlighter and products therein are physically set apart from the products of the larger display. The product display highlighter can be placed at any of multiple locations on a larger display, and multiple product display highlighters can be used in connection with a single larger display.

Claims (35)

1. A product display highlighter for holding and displaying products in combination with and connection to a larger display, the larger display having a plurality of product display shelves, each product display shelf having a shelf bottom, a rear shelf wall which extends from the shelf bottom, and a shelf front which extends from the shelf bottom and which is spaced form the rear shelf wall,

the product display highlighter and larger display combination comprising:

a product carrier having a front wall, a bottom, and a rear wall; opposing pairs of horizontally disposed brackets on the rear wall, each pair of horizontally disposed brackets forming a channel;

a mounting bracket for mounting the display highlighter to the larger display, the mounting bracket having a flange and an arm which extends from the flange, the flange configured to fit in a channel formed by a pair of horizontally disposed brackets on the rear wall of the product carrier of the display highlighter, and the arm of the mounting bracket oriented perpendicular to the flange and configured to fit with a shelf of the larger display and between and perpendicular to the shelf front and the rear shelf wall of the shelf of the larger display, and parallel ribs on each side of the arm;

a clip positioned vertically above the shelf, the clip having a planar segment which is generally parallel to the shelf front and to the rear shelf wall of the larger display, and an angled section which is secured to an adjacent shelf of the larger display, the planar segment of the clip bisected by a gap dimensioned to receive the arm of the mounting bracket, the arm of the mounting bracket positioned and engaged with the clip in the gap of the clip with the parallel ribs of the arm overlapping the clip proximate to the gap.

2. The product display highlighter and larger display combination of claim 1 wherein the flange of the mounting bracket is non-parallel with the arm of the mounting bracket, whereby the product carrier of the display highlighter is held by the mounting bracket at a non-parallel angle relative to the arm of the mounting bracket and at a non-parallel angle relative to the shelf with which the mounting bracket is engaged.

3. The product display highlighter and larger display combination of claim 1 wherein the arm of the mounting bracket has an arcuate profile with a projection which contacts the shelf front, and an elbow which contacts a top edge of the shelf front.

4. The product display highlighter and larger display combination of claim 3 wherein the clip has a projection which contacts the rear shelf wall and which applies pressure to the channels of the arm of the mounting bracket and to the projection of the arm of the mounting bracket for secure engagement of the clip and the arm with the shelf.

5. The product display highlighter and larger display combination of claim 1 wherein the product carrier has eight opposing pairs of horizontally disposed brackets on the rear wall and two mounting brackets each engaged with one of the eight opposing pairs of horizontally disposed brackets.

6. The product display highlighter and larger display combination of claim 1 wherein the product carrier has a generally curvilinear front wall and a generally curvilinear rear wall.

7. The product display highlighter and larger display combination of claim 6 wherein the flange of the mounting bracket is curvilinear and parallel to the rear wall of the product carrier when engaged with the product carrier.

8. The product display highlighter and larger display combination of claim 1 further comprising flared ends of the parallel fibs of the mounting arm.

9. The product display highlighter and larger display combination of claim 1 wherein the front wall of the product carrier is approximately one half in height dimension of a height dimension of the rear wall.

10. The product display highlighter and larger display combination of claim 1 wherein the flange of the mounting bracket further comprises a tab which projects from the flange and which contacts a front surface of the shelf front.

11. The product display highlighter and larger display combination of claim 1 wherein the mounting bracket has only three points of contact with the shelf front, including the tab of the flange on the front surface of the shelf front, an elbow which contacts a point on the top edge of the shelf front, and a projection at a lower distal end of the mounting arm which contacts an interior surface of the shelf front.

12. A product display highlighter for holding and displaying products by connection to a larger display, the larger display having a plurality of product display shelves, each product display shelf having a shelf bottom, a rear shelf wall which extends from the shelf bottom, and a shelf front which extends from the shelf bottom and which is spaced form the rear shelf wall,

the product display highlighter comprising:

a product carrier having a front wall, a bottom, and a rear wall; opposing pairs of horizontally disposed brackets on the rear wall, each pair of horizontally disposed brackets forming a channel;

a mounting bracket for mounting the display highlighter to the larger display, the mounting bracket having a flange and an arm which extends from the flange, the flange configured to fit in a channel formed by a pair of horizontally disposed brackets on the rear wall of the product carrier of the display highlighter, and the arm of the mounting bracket oriented perpendicular to the flange and configured to fit with a shelf of the larger display and between and perpendicular to the shelf front and the rear shelf wall of the shelf of the larger display, and parallel ribs on each side of the arm;

a clip positioned vertically above the shelf, the clip having a planar segment which is generally parallel to the shelf front and to the rear shelf wall, and an angled section which is secured to an adjacent shelf of the larger display, the planar segment of the clip bisected by a gap dimensioned to receive the arm of the mounting bracket, the arm of the mounting bracket positioned and engaged with the clip in the gap of the clip with the parallel ribs of the arm overlapping the clip proximate to the gap.

13. The display highlighter of claim 12 wherein the flange of the mounting bracket is non-parallel with the arm of the mounting bracket, whereby the product carrier of the display highlighter is held by the mounting bracket at a non-parallel angle relative to the arm of the mounting bracket.

14. The display highlighter of claim 12 wherein the arm of the mounting bracket has an arcuate profile with a projection which contacts the shelf front and an elbow which contacts a top edge of the shelf front.

15. The display highlighter of claim 14 wherein the clip has a projection which contacts the rear shelf wall and which applies pressure to the channels of the arm of the mounting bracket and to the projection of the arm of the mounting bracket for secure engagement of the clip and the arm with the shelf.

16. The display highlighter of claim 15 wherein the mounting bracket has only three points of contact with the shelf front, including the tab of the flange on the front surface of the shelf front, an elbow which contacts a point on the top edge of the shelf front, and a projection at a lower distal end of the mounting arm which contacts an interior surface of the shelf front.

17. The display highlighter of claim 12 wherein the product carrier has eight opposing pairs of horizontally disposed brackets on the rear wall and two mounting brackets each engaged with one of the eight opposing pairs of horizontally disposed brackets.

18. The display highlighter of claim 12 wherein the product carrier has a generally curvilinear front wall and a generally curvilinear rear wall.

19. The display highlighter of claim 18 wherein the flange of the mounting bracket is curvilinear and parallel to the rear wall of the product carrier when engaged with the product carrier.

20. The display highlighter of claim 12 further comprising flared ends of the parallel ribs of the mounting arm.

21. The display highlighter of claim 12 wherein the front wall of the product carrier is approximately one half in height dimension of a height dimension of the rear wall.

22. The display highlighter of claim 12 wherein the flange of the mounting bracket further comprises a tab which projects from the flange and which contacts a front surface of the shelf front.

23. A display highlighter for holding and displaying products in combination with and connection to a larger display having a plurality of product display shelves with each product display shelf having a shelf bottom, a rear shelf wall which extends from the shelf bottom, and a shelf front which extends from the shelf bottom and which is spaced form the rear shelf wall, and wherein the front wall of the product carrier is approximately one half in height dimension of a height dimension of the rear wall;

the display highlighter comprising:

a product carrier having a curvilinear front wall, a bottom, and a curvilinear rear wall; opposing pairs of horizontally disposed brackets on the rear wall, each pair of horizontally disposed brackets forming a channel;

a mounting bracket for mounting the display highlighter to the larger display, the mounting bracket having a flange and an arm which extends from the flange, the flange configured to fit in a channel formed by a pair of horizontally disposed brackets on the rear wall of the product carrier of the display highlighter, wherein the flange of the mounting bracket is curvilinear and parallel to the rear wall of the product carrier when engaged with the product carrier, and the flange of the mounting bracket further comprises a tab which projects from the flange and which contacts a front surface of the shelf front, and the arm of the mounting bracket oriented perpendicular to the flange and configured to fit with a shelf of the larger display and between and perpendicular to the shelf front and the rear shelf wall of the shelf of the larger display, and parallel ribs on each side of the arm; wherein the arm of the mounting bracket has an arcuate profile with a projection which contacts the shelf front, and an elbow which contacts a top edge of the shelf front, and wherein the flange of the mounting bracket is non-parallel with the arm of the mounting bracket, whereby the product carrier of the display highlighter is held by the mounting bracket at a non-parallel angle relative to the arm of the mounting bracket and at a non-parallel angle relative to the shelf with which the mounting bracket is engaged;

a clip positioned vertically above the shelf, the clip having a planar segment which is generally parallel to the shelf front and to the rear shelf wall of the larger display, and an angled section which is secured to an adjacent shelf of the larger display, the planar segment of the clip bisected by a gap dimensioned to receive the arm of the mounting bracket, the arm of the mounting bracket positioned and engaged with the clip in the gap of the clip with the parallel ribs of the arm overlapping the clip proximate to the gap, and wherein the clip has a projection which contacts the rear shelf wall and which applies pressure to the channels of the arm of the mounting bracket and to the projection of the arm of the mounting bracket for secure engagement of the clip and the arm with the shelf; and whereby the mounting bracket has only three points of contact with the shelf front, including the tab of the flange on the front surface of the shelf front, an elbow which contacts a point on the top edge of the shelf front, and a projection at a lower distal end of the mounting arm which contacts an interior surface of the shelf front.

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 Jan 22, 2009
From: WEIGAND, CHRISTOPHER P.; HODGE, GARY A.
To: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022140/0087 →