# US 12,112,658 B2 · Signage systems and merchandising display assemblies

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- Number: US 12,112,658 B2
- Document ID: US12112658B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/899,995
- Filed: 2022-08-31
- Published: 2023-10-19
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2022-04-15
- Assignees: T.M. Shea Products, Inc.
- Applicants: T.M. Shea Products, Inc.
- Inventors: Thomas M. Shea
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12112658B2

## CPC

- G09F 3/204: {specially adapted to be attached to a shelf or the like}
- A47F 5/0807: {Display panels, grids or rods used for suspending merchandise or cards supporting articles; Movable brackets therefor (with fixed brackets A47F5/0876; packages comprising articles attached to cards B65D73/00; labels G09F)}
- A47F 5/0823: {Article supports for peg-boards}
- A47F 5/0876: {Display stands with fixed brackets or hooks for suspending articles (A47F5/0807, A47F5/0884 take precedence)}
- A47F 5/103: {Display shelving racks with the uprights aligned in only one plane}
- G09F 7/18: Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure
- G09F 2007/1856: {characterised by the supporting structure}
- G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS

## Abstract

A merchandise assembly for the retail display of goods in combination with a gondola system displaying a plurality of greeting cards includes a generally planar member, a plurality of merchandising support members, and a mounting arm. The generally planar member is constructed to include a front side and a rear side. The merchandising support members extend from at least one of the front and rear sides of the panel. The mounting arm connects the generally planar member with the gondola system. The general planar member is positioned forward of the plurality of greeting cards displayed by the gondola system and the mounting arm extends rearwardly from the generally planar member to the gondola system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A merchandise assembly for the retail display of goods, the merchandising assembly comprising:
a generally planar member constructed to include a front side, and a rear side and defining a plurality of openings extending therethrough, each opening of the plurality of openings having a rectangular shape;
a merchandising support member suspended by the generally planar member, the merchandising support member monolithically constructed to include a mounting portion and first and second arms extending in opposite directions from the mounting portion, the mounting portion having an inverted U-shape opening in a downward direction, the mounting portion includes an upwardly extending nib at a centerline thereof, the merchandising support member passing through a first opening of the plurality of openings such that a first support member leg of the merchandising support member is adjacent the front side of the generally planar member and a second support member leg of the merchandising support member is adjacent the rear side of the generally planar member,
wherein the mounting portion includes first and second downwardly extending legs having a leg thickness that is less than a vertical height of the slots of the generally planar member and a width in a perpendicular direction that is less than a horizontal width of the slots and the mounting portion includes a thickness in a vertical direction at the nib that is nominally greater than a vertical height of the slots such that the mounting portion at the nib vertically fills a gap of the corresponding opening in the panel upon insertion of the merchandising support member, engages the opening in an interference fit, and thereby holds the merchandising support member in place relative to the panel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method of assembling the merchandise assembly of claim 1, the method comprising:
passing the first arm through one opening of the plurality of openings; and
engaging the mounting portion with the panel in an interference fit.

### Claim 3

A merchandise assembly for the retail display of goods, the merchandising assembly comprising:
a generally planar member constructed to include a front side, and a rear side and defining a plurality of openings extending therethrough, each opening of the plurality of openings having a rectangular shape;
a merchandising support member suspended by the generally planar member, the merchandising support member monolithically constructed to include a mounting portion and first and second arms extending in opposite directions from the mounting portion, the mounting portion having an inverted U-shape opening in a first direction, the mounting portion includes a nib at a centerline thereof extending in a second direction opposite the first direction, the merchandising support member passing through a first opening of the plurality of openings such that a first support member leg of the merchandising support member is adjacent the front side of the generally planar member and a second support member leg of the merchandising support member is adjacent the rear side of the generally planar member,
wherein the mounting portion includes first and second downwardly extending legs having a leg thickness that is less than a vertical height of the slots of the generally planar member and a width in a perpendicular direction that is less than a horizontal width of the slots and the mounting portion includes a thickness in a vertical direction at the nib that is nominally greater than a vertical height of the slots such that the mounting portion at the nib vertically fills a gap of the corresponding opening in the panel upon insertion of the merchandising support member, engages the opening in an interference fit, and thereby holds the merchandising support member in place relative to the panel.

### Claim 4

A merchandise assembly for the retail display of goods, the merchandising assembly comprising:
a generally planar member constructed to include a front side, and a rear side and defining a plurality of openings extending therethrough, each opening of the plurality of openings having a rectangular shape;
a merchandising support member suspended by the generally planar member, the merchandising support member monolithically constructed to include a mounting portion and first and second arms extending in opposite directions from the mounting portion, the mounting portion having an inverted U-shape opening in a first direction, the merchandising support member passing through a first opening of the plurality of openings such that a first support member leg of the merchandising support member is adjacent the front side of the generally planar member and a second support member leg of the merchandising support member is adjacent the rear side of the generally planar member,
wherein the mounting portion includes first and second downwardly extending legs having a leg thickness that is less than a vertical height of the slots of the generally planar member and a width in a perpendicular direction that is less than a horizontal width of the slots and the mounting portion includes a thickness in a vertical direction at a centerline thereof that is nominally greater than a vertical height of the slots such that the mounting portion at the centerline vertically fills a gap of the corresponding opening in the panel upon insertion of the merchandising support member, engages the opening in an interference fit, and thereby holds the merchandising support member in place relative to the panel.