Module, modular transport and display unit for transporting and displaying products, and related methods

Abstract

There is disclosed a module for a modular transport & display unit for transporting products to a store and for then displaying said products in said store. The module comprises a shelf adapted to receive said products thereon and at least one reconfigurable support structure. Said at least one reconfigurable support structure is adapted to be deployed to support one or more additional modules that will collectively form, when so supported, together with the initial module, the modular transport & display unit. Said at least one reconfigurable support structure is also adapted to be stowed away within said shelf, so that each module, and, therefore, the modular unit, can be straightforwardly disassembled by a store operator for return to a logistics centre, without damaging any components.

1 . A module for a modular transport & display unit for transporting products to a store and for then displaying said products in said store, said module comprising:
 a tray adapted to receive said products thereon, the tray comprising a border at least partially surrounding the tray and adapted to retain said products thereon; and, 
 at least one reconfigurable and removable support structure rotatably arranged relative to the shelf and pivotably connected to said border, 
 
       wherein said at least one reconfigurable support structure is adapted:
 to be deployed in a first, erected configuration, wherein the support structure is adapted to support one or more additional such modules, so that all modules collectively form said transport & display unit, and 
 either:
 to be stowed away in a second, collapsed configuration, or 
 to be removed from the tray altogether. 
 
 
     
     
         2 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein said border completely surrounds said shelf;
 preferably, wherein said border is integrally formed with said shelf;   more preferably, wherein said border is provided as a skirt that extends perpendicularly with respect to said shelf;   more preferably, wherein said skirt extends from an edge of said shelf.   
     
     
         3 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the reconfigurable support structure is disposed adjacent the shelf border, and said pivotable connection comprises at least one pin and at least one guide for receiving said pin and guiding its movement such that the at least one reconfigurable support structure is adapted to rotate and translate with respect to the shelf, such that a pivotable end of the at least one reconfigurable support structure is able to clear the shelf border during reconfiguration;
 preferably, wherein said at least one pin is provided on said pivotable end of the reconfigurable support structure;   more preferably, wherein said guide is provided in the shape of a slot;   more preferably, wherein said guide is provided as a cut-out through the shelf border.   
     
     
         4 . The module of  claim 3 , wherein said pivotable connection is arranged such that, throughout a reconfiguration of the reconfigurable support structure, a minimum distance between the pivotable end of the reconfigurable support structure and the border is less than a predetermined value. 
     
     
         5 . The module of  claim 3 , wherein said pivotable connection comprises upper and lower pins provided on said pivotable end of the reconfigurable support structure, and two respective upper and lower slots for guiding the movement of said two respective pins, wherein the lower slot extends linearly alongside the shelf border, and the upper slot is arcuate with a downward concavity; 
     
     
         6 . The module of  claim 5 , wherein said upper slot forms a retaining cusp at an end thereof for retaining the at least one support structure in the first or second configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The module of  claim 5 , wherein said border comprises a resiliently flexible retainer for retaining the at least one support structure in the first or second configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The module of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the pins is removable; preferably wherein both pins are removable 
     
     
         9 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein each reconfigurable support structure comprises a pair of opposed pivotable stems and a bridge that connects respective distal ends of said pivotable stems;
 preferably, wherein said stems are cross-sectionally L-shaped and are arranged such that the respective angles formed by said L-shapes face the shelf;   more preferably, wherein said bridge comprises a pair of opposed brackets arranged to engage with said distal ends of the pivotable stems.   
     
     
         10 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein said module comprises two such reconfigurable support structures disposed at opposed ends of said shelf, and wherein said module is arranged such that their respective second, collapsed positions are reached by equal and opposite stowing-away operations, such that said two reconfigurable support structures fold inwardly towards the shelf from their respective first, erected positions. 
     
     
         11 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one reconfigurable support structure is, in addition, extendable;
 preferably, wherein said bridge is adapted to be positioned in at least a first, fully retracted position and in a second, fully extended position with respect to said two stems;   more preferably, wherein said bridge is telescopically extendable;   more preferably, wherein said stem-engaging brackets are each slidably arranged on a respective stem.   
     
     
         12 . The module of  claim 11 , wherein said bridge incorporates an actuation mechanism arranged such that on actuation of the actuation mechanism the bridge may be extended or retracted;
 preferably, wherein said actuation mechanism comprises one or more bolts and a biasing means for biasing said bolts to a projected configuration;   preferably, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured such that the actuation of the actuation mechanism retracts said bolts against said biasing means.   
     
     
         13 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein said shelf is generally rectangular;
 preferably, wherein said shelf is the size of a pallet or a dolly, or of a fractional pallet or a dolly;   more preferably, wherein said shelf is the size of a quarter pallet or a dolly.   
     
     
         14 . The module of  claim 13 , wherein each reconfigurable support structure is provided at a short side of the rectangular shelf;
 preferably, wherein each pivotable stem is provided at a respective corner of said rectangular shelf;   more preferably, wherein each bridge extends parallel to and has the same length as a corresponding short side of said rectangular shelf.   
     
     
         15 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one reconfigurable support structure is dimensioned and arranged such that, in its second, collapsed configuration, it lies flat, completely inside of said border. 
     
     
         16 . The module of  claim 15 , wherein:
 said module comprises two such reconfigurable support structures disposed at opposed ends of said shelf, and wherein said module is arranged such that their respective second, collapsed positions are reached by equal and opposite stowing-away operations, such that said two reconfigurable support structures fold inwardly towards the shelf from their respective first, erected positions; and   both reconfigurable support structures are dimensioned and arranged such that, when both support structures are configured in the second, collapsed configuration, they lie flat, completely inside of said border;   preferably, wherein the above condition is also met when at least one or both of said reconfigurable support structures are extended.   
     
     
         17 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one reconfigurable support structure is dimensioned and arranged such that, in the second, collapsed configuration, it lies flat, with a footprint that is completely contained inside said shelf. 
     
     
         18 . The module of  claim 17 , wherein:
 said module comprises two such reconfigurable support structures disposed at opposed ends of said shelf, and wherein said module is arranged such that their respective second, collapsed positions are reached by equal and opposite stowing-away operations, such that said two reconfigurable support structures fold inwardly towards the shelf from their respective first, erected positions; and   both reconfigurable support structures are dimensioned and arranged such that, when both support structures are configured in the second, collapsed configuration, they lie flat, with respective footprints being completely contained inside said shelf;   preferably, wherein the above condition is also met when at least one or both of said reconfigurable support structures are extended.   
     
     
         19 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein an underside of the shelf is configured to snugly fit over a further module and/or over a loading surface of a pallet or a dolly. 
     
     
         20 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein in the first, erected configuration the at least one support structure is configured to be snugly received by an underside of said one or more additional such modules. 
     
     
         21 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reconfigurable support structure comprises one or more features constructed and disposed to hold in place a packaging element such as a cardboard sheet, when the at least one reconfigurable support structure is in the first, erected configuration;
 optionally, wherein said features comprise one or more tongues configured to hold in place said packaging element, preferably in cooperation with at least a portion of said border; and/or   wherein said features comprise one or more slits configured to hold in place said packaging element, preferably in cooperation with another reconfigurable support structure.   
     
     
         22 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A modular transport & display unit for transporting products to a store and for then displaying said products in said store, wherein the unit comprises at least a first module according to the module of  claim 1 ;
 optionally, wherein said first module comprises at least one erected reconfigurable support structure; 
 optionally, wherein said first module comprises at least one collapsed reconfigurable support structure. 
 
     
     
         25 . A combination of the module according to  claim 1 , with a corresponding pallet or dolly;
 preferably, wherein the module, modular unit and the pallet or dolly are sized to correspond to a quarter pallet.   
     
     
         26 . A method of erecting and/or collapsing the module according to  claim 1 , the method comprising deploying a collapsed at least one reconfigurable support structure in the first, erected configuration and/or stowing away an erected at least one reconfigurable support structure in the second, collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         27 - 32 . (canceled)