Two-way merchandise fixture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10037659-B2
Application number	US-201615379099-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2016
Priority date	Dec 21, 2015
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to a fixture and method for a fixture (referred to as a Two Way Fixture) displaying and holding objects for sale at a retail store. The two way fixture includes a free-standing frame which is formed by a I-shaped base portion and a U-shaped upright portion. A pair of tempered hardboards are inserted in the middle of the U-shaped upright portion. The two way fixture has shelves and wire racks mounted to the sides of the U-Shaped upright portion. The shelves, I-shaped base portion, and wire racks create a volume allows for the two way fixture to hide or obscure a cash box, therefor storing components of a point-of-sale (POS) station while keeping the electronic components live and updated. The two way fixture can be configured to surround the pole and the cash box.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for holding and displaying merchandise by a fixture while concealing a portion of a point-of-sale (POS) station, the fixture including an base portion and a U-shaped upright frame portion, the U-shaped upright frame portion having a first wire rack disposed on a first outer edge of the U-shaped upright frame portion and a second wire rack disposed on a second outer edge of the U-shaped upright frame portion, the base, the first wire rack, and the second wire rack defining first and second volumes on opposite adjacent sides of the U-shaped upright frame portion, the method comprising:
disassembling a POS assembly, wherein a POS assembly comprises of a POS controller, one or more peripheral electronic components in communication with the POS controller, and a plurality of non-electronic components, the plurality of non-electronic components including a cashbox secured to a sales floor and having opposing side walls, a back wall, and a top wall defining an interior cavity accessible via an open front face of the cashbox;
removing, from the sales floor, at least some of the plurality of non-electronic components, the cash box remaining on and secured to the sales floor;
storing, in the interior cavity of the cash box, the POS controller and the one or more peripheral electronic components in communication with the POS controller;
sliding the fixture laterally with respect to the cash box and a network and electricity pole secured to the sales floor so that the first volume or the second volume receives the cash box and the network and electricity pole such that the cash box is completely disposed within the first or second volume.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped upright frame portion includes a first upright, and a second upright;
the first upright including a first pair of slots formed along the first upright between a first end of the first upright and the terminal end of the first upright, and
the second upright including a second pair of slots formed along the second upright between a second terminal end of the second upright and the terminal end of the second upright.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
displacing the first and second uprights outwardly away from each other;
inserting a first and second panel between the first and second uprights of the U-shaped upright frame portion; and
urging the first and second uprights towards each other so that the first and second panels are received in the first and second pairs of slots.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first panel is secured in a first slot of the first pair of slots disposed along the first upright and the second panel is secured in a first slot of the second pair of slots disposed along the second upright.

5. The method of claim 2 , securing the first and second panel to the first and second upright using an elongated cap member.

6. A method for assembling a fixture, the fixture including an I-shaped base portion and a U-shaped upright frame portion, wherein the U-shaped upright frame portion includes opposingly spaced first and second uprights, the method comprising:
displacing at least one of the first or the second upright outwardly away from each other;
inserting a first panel between the first and second uprights and in a first set of opposing spaced slots formed on the first and second uprights;
inserting a second panel between the first and second uprights and in a second set of opposing spaced slot slots formed on the first and second uprights;
urging the first and second uprights towards each other so that the first and second panels are received in the first and second pairs of slots; and
securing an elongated cap member to terminal free ends of the first and second uprights to secure the first and second panels to the U-shaped upright frame portion.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first and second panels are parallel to each other when they are secured to the U-shaped upright frame portion.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first and the second panels are spaced away from each other.

9. The method of claim 6 , the first upright includes a first plurality indexed apertures and the second upright includes a second plurality of apertures, and the method further comprises securing a shelf to the first upright and the second upright, a portion of the shelf being received by one of the first plurality of indexed apertures and one of the second plurality of indexed apertures.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein a first wire rack is mounted to the first upright and a second wire rack is mounted to the second upright.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second panels are configured to receive one or more hooks for displaying merchandise.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising positioning the fixture in proximity a cash box of a disassembled Point-of-Sale (POS) station so that the first panel is disposed adjacent to the cash box, wherein the first and second wire racks and the shelf obscure the cash box.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Wise Lori Lee
• Hicks Tricia Mcpherson

Classifications

• A47F9/04

  Check-out counters, e.g. for self-service stores · CPC title

• G07G1/0018 Primary

  Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means · CPC title

• A47F5/103

  Display shelving racks with the uprights aligned in only one plane · CPC title

• A47F5/137

  having wheels · CPC title

• G07G1/0027

  Details of drawer or money-box · CPC title