Self-contained merchandise display and service system

Abstract

A merchandise display and service system is provided for a retail environment. The system includes a base and an upright support structure coupled to the base that are selectively arranged to define a variety of merchandise display and service areas. The upright support structure may include vertically oriented tubular posts, horizontal cross-bars and panel members, a pair of the cross-bars are coupled to a pair of posts and at least one panel member extends between the pair of posts and cross-bars to separate each merchandise display and service area. The merchandise display and service areas may include a first area having merchandise support hardware coupled to a tubular post or a panel member for supplying an inventory of merchandise offered for sale to prospective purchasers and a second area containing components operable by prospective purchasers of services provided by the components.

1 . A self-contained modular merchandise display and service system for a retail environment, comprising: 
 a base having at least a display and work surface; and    an upright support structure coupled to the base, the base and upright support structure selectively arranged to define a plurality of merchandise display and service areas;    wherein the upright support structure includes a plurality of vertically oriented tubular posts, a plurality of horizontal cross-bars and a plurality of panel members, wherein a pair of the horizontal cross-bars are coupled to a pair of the tubular posts and at least one of the panel members extends between the pair of posts and the pair of cross-bars to separate each of the plurality of merchandise display and service areas;    wherein the plurality of merchandise display and service areas include: 
 a first area having merchandise support hardware coupled to at least one of the tubular posts and the panel member for supplying an inventory of merchandise offered for sale to prospective purchasers of the merchandise; and  
 a second area containing components operable by prospective purchasers of services provided by the components.  
   
   
   
       2 . The self-contained modular merchandise display and service system of  claim 1 , wherein the components of the second area include a device for inputting electronic image data provided by a prospective purchaser, a processing unit and a monitor coupled to the input device such that the prospective purchaser may preview and edit the inputted electronic image data, and an output device coupled to the processing unit such that the prospective purchaser may purchase the edited image data.  
   
   
       3 . The self-contained modular merchandise display and service system of  claim 2 , wherein the input device includes at least one of a scanner for scanning a previously processed print photograph, a reader for reading image data from a memory card of digital photographic equipment and a communication link for retrieving image data from a portable computing device.  
   
   
       4 . The self-contained modular merchandise display and service system of  claim 2 , wherein the input device includes a communication device for enabling the processing unit to communicate with a network and wherein the inputted electronic image data is accessed and retrieved from a remote computing device coupled to the network.  
   
   
       5 . The self-contained modular merchandise display and service system of  claim 2 , wherein the output device includes at least one of a high quality photo printer, a high-speed printer, and an optical or digital storage device.  
   
   
       6 . The self-contained modular merchandise display and service system of  claim 2 , wherein the base of the second area includes a modular component rack having a plurality of shelves, the plurality of shelves for storing the components providing services to the prospective purchasers.  
   
   
       7 . The self-contained modular merchandise display and service system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of shelves extends horizontally forward of the display and service system such that the components stored on the shelves may be at least one of serviced, updated and replaced with a new component.  
   
   
       8 . The self-contained modular merchandise display and service system of  claim 7 , wherein the modular component rack further includes a slide assembly coupling each of the plurality of shelves to the modular component rack.  
   
   
       9 . The self-contained modular merchandise display and service system of  claim 6 , wherein the modular component rack includes a plurality of roller assemblies such that the modular component rack may be selectively installed as a unitary element within the base of the merchandise display and service system.  
   
   
       10 . The self-contained modular merchandise display and service system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vertically oriented tubular posts are each comprised of an inner tubular part having an octagonal cross-section and an outer tubular part having a plurality of radially-extending hammer-shaped members, the inner tubular part and the hammer-shaped members cooperating to provide a plurality of channels, the channels configured to receive and retain merchandise display hardware and accessories.  
   
   
       11 . The self-contained modular merchandise display and service system of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of each of the vertically-oriented tubular posts defines a plurality of first channels and a plurality of second channels, the first channels having a concave relation to an outside diameter of the tubular post and the second channels having a convex relation to the outside diameter, and wherein the first and the second channels receive and retain merchandise display hardware and accessories.  
   
   
       12 . The self-contained modular merchandise display and service system of  claim 11 , wherein the removable inserts include adapters, product support hardware and inserts having decorative, informational, or advertising indicia thereon.  
   
   
       13 . The self-contained modular merchandise display and service system of  claim 12 , wherein the adapters include a supplemental channel adapter disposable in one of the first channels for providing a third channel that is substantially similar to one of the second channels.  
   
   
       14 . A self-contained modular merchandise display and service system for a retail environment, comprising: 
 a base; and    an upright support structure coupled to the base, the base and upright support structure selectively arranged to define a plurality of merchandise display and service areas;    wherein the plurality of merchandise display and service areas include: 
 a first area having merchandise support hardware coupled to the upright support structure for supplying an inventory of merchandise offered for sale to prospective purchasers of the merchandise;  
 a second area containing a plurality of devices, operable by a prospective purchaser, for inputting electronic image data and for editing the electronic image data to the prospective purchaser's needs; and  
 a third area containing an output device, operable by the prospective purchaser, such that the prospective purchaser can purchase the edited electronic image.  
   
   
   
       15 . The self-contained modular merchandise display and service system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the bases of the second and third areas include a modular component rack for storing the devices operable by the prospective purchaser, the modular component rack having at least one shelf such that the devices may be at least one of serviced, updated and replaced with a new device without disassembly of the merchandise display and service system.  
   
   
       16 . A method for converting a merchandise display system to a merchandise display and service system, the method comprising steps of: 
 providing the merchandise display system having: 
 a base; and  
 an upright support structure coupled to the base, the upright support structure having a plurality of vertically oriented posts, a plurality of horizontal cross-bars and a plurality of panel members defining a plurality of areas for displaying an inventory of merchandise to prospective purchasers;  
   placing at least one additional post in proximity to the merchandise display system;    coupling the at least one additional post to the merchandise display system with an additional pair of the horizontal cross-bars;    placing a component rack system in a position between the merchandise display system and the at least one additional post; and    placing components on the component rack system, the components operable by prospective purchasers of services provided by the components.    
   
   
       17 . The method for converting of  claim 16 , further comprising a step of: 
 coupling an additional panel member between the at least one additional post, the merchandise display system and the additional pair of the horizontal cross-bars.    
   
   
       18 . The method of converting of  claim 16 , wherein the merchandise display system extends along a first angular position in a retail environment and the at least one additional post and the component rack system are placed in a second angular position that is different from the first angular position.