Four way island merchandiser

Abstract

A merchandiser comprising at least three display modules. At least two of the display modules have a substantially similar horizontal periphery. The display modules each have a front and a rear. At least two of the display modules have shelves, with at least a portion of the rear of the at least two display modules having shelves being open to allow stocking of the shelves from the rear of the at least two display modules having shelves. The display modules are releasably connected together to allow the display modules to be connected and disconnected. The display modules, when disconnected, can be separated to allow the at least two display modules having shelves and having the at least a portion of the rear that is open to be stocked from the rear. Furthermore, the display modules, when connected, can be moved as a unit.

1 . A merchandiser comprising: 
 at least three display modules, at least two of the display modules having a substantially similar horizontal periphery;    the display modules each having a front and a rear;    at least two of the display modules having shelves, with at least a portion of the rear of the at least two display modules having shelves being open to allow stocking of the shelves from the rear of the at least two display modules having shelves;    wherein the display modules are releasably connected together to allow the display modules to be connected and disconnected, whereby the display modules, when disconnected, can be separated to allow the at least two display modules having shelves and having the at least a portion of the rear that is open to be stocked from the rear and whereby the display modules, when connected, can be moved as a unit.    
   
   
       2 . The merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein said merchandiser comprises at least four display modules.  
   
   
       3 . The merchandiser of  claim 2 , wherein said four display modules have a substantially rectangular periphery.  
   
   
       4 . The merchandiser of  claim 3 , wherein the rear of each display module is adjacent one side of an adjacent display module.  
   
   
       5 . The merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the shelves have a rear area and a front area, the shelves including an angled portion, whereby stock placed on the rear area of the shelves will be moved to the front area over the angled portion by gravity.  
   
   
       6 . The merchandiser of  claim 5 , wherein the front area of the shelves comprises a horizontal section.  
   
   
       7 . The merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein each display module includes a first connection mechanism and a second connection mechanism; and each first connection mechanism is configured to be releasably connected to the second connection mechanism of an adjacent module to releasably connect the modules together.  
   
   
       8 . The merchandiser of  claim 7 , wherein the first connection mechanism is a pin; the second connection mechanism is a rotatable latch with a slot; and the first connection mechanism is connected to the second connection mechanism by inserting the pin into the slot of the latch during rotation of the latch.  
   
   
       9 . The merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein each display module includes wheels at a bottom thereof for easily moving each individual display module and for moving the display modules as the unit.  
   
   
       10 . The merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein all of the display modules have the substantially similar horizontal periphery.  
   
   
       11 . The merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein each display module has the shelves and the at least a portion of the rear that is open such that each of the display modules can be stocked from the rear.  
   
   
       12 . A four-way island merchandiser comprising: 
 four display modules, each display module having a substantially rectangular horizontal periphery;    the display modules each having a front, a rear, a pair of sides;    the rear of each display module being adjacent one side of an adjacent display module;    at least two display module having shelves, with at least a portion of the rear of the at least two display modules being open to allow stocking of the shelves from the rear of the at least two display modules;    wherein the display modules are releasably connected together to allow the display modules to be connected and disconnected, whereby the display modules, when disconnected, can be separated to allow the at least two display modules having the at least a portion of the rear that is open to be stocked from the rear and whereby the display modules, when connected, can be moved as a unit.    
   
   
       13 . The merchandiser of  claim 12 , wherein the shelves have a rear area and a front area, the shelves including an angled portion, whereby stock placed on the rear area of the shelves will be moved to the front area over the angled portion by gravity.  
   
   
       14 . The merchandiser of  claim 13 , wherein the front area of the shelves comprises a horizontal section.  
   
   
       15 . The merchandiser of  claim 12 , wherein each display module includes a first connection mechanism and a second connection mechanism; and each first connection mechanism is configured to be releasably connected to the second connection mechanism of an adjacent module to releasably connect the modules together.  
   
   
       16 . The merchandiser of  claim 15 , wherein the first connection mechanism is a pin; the second connection mechanism is a rotatable latch with a slot; and the first connection mechanism is connected to the second connection mechanism by inserting the pin into the slot of the latch during rotation of the latch.  
   
   
       17 . The merchandiser of  claim 12 , wherein each display module includes wheels at a bottom thereof for easily moving each individual display module and for moving the modules as the unit.  
   
   
       18 . The merchandiser of  claim 12 , wherein each display modules has the shelves and the at least a portion of the rear that is open such that each of the display modules can be stocked from the rear.  
   
   
       19 . A method of displaying merchandise comprising 
 providing at least three display modules, with at least two of the display modules having a substantially similar horizontal periphery, the display modules each having a front and a rear, the rear of each display module being covered when the display modules are connected together;    providing at least two of the display modules with shelves, with at least a portion of the rear of the at least two display modules having shelves being open;    disconnecting at least two of the display modules;    inserting stock into at least one of the display modules having shelves through the rear of the display module;    abutting the display modules against each other; and    connecting the display modules to form a unit.    
   
   
       20 . The method of displaying merchandise of  claim 19 , wherein said merchandiser comprises at least four display modules.  
   
   
       21 . The method of displaying merchandise of  claim 20 , wherein the four display modules have a substantially rectangular periphery.  
   
   
       22 . The method of displaying merchandise of  claim 21 , wherein the rear of each display module is adjacent one side of an adjacent display module.  
   
   
       23 . The method of displaying merchandise of  claim 19 , further including providing the shelves with a rear area and a front area, the shelves including an angled portion; placing the stock on the rear area of the shelves; and moving the stock to the front area over the angled portion by gravity.  
   
   
       24 . The method of displaying merchandise of  claim 23 , wherein the front area of the shelves comprises a horizontal section.  
   
   
       25 . The method of displaying merchandise of  claim 19 , further including providing each display module with a first connection mechanism and a second connection mechanism; wherein disconnecting at least two of the display modules comprises disconnecting the first connection mechanism of a first one of the display modules from the second connection mechanism of a second one of the display modules; and wherein disconnecting at least two of the display modules comprises connecting the first connection mechanism of the first one of the display modules to the second connection mechanism of the second one of the display modules.  
   
   
       26 . The method of displaying merchandise of  claim 25 , wherein the first connection mechanism is a pin; and the second connection mechanism is a rotatable latch with a slot, wherein disconnecting at least two of the display modules comprises rotating the rotatable latch until the pin is in the slot; and wherein disconnecting at least two of the display modules comprises rotating the rotatable latch until the pin is no longer in the slot.  
   
   
       27 . The method of displaying merchandise of  claim 19 , further including providing each display module with wheels at a bottom thereof for easily moving each individual display module and for moving the display modules as the unit.  
   
   
       28 . The method of displaying merchandise of  claim 19 , wherein all of the display modules have the substantially similar horizontal periphery.  
   
   
       29 . The method of displaying merchandise of  claim 19 , wherein each display module has the shelves and the at least a portion of the rear that is open such that each of the display modules can be stocked from the rear.