U.S. patent application number 10/391138 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-16 for display rack.
Invention is credited to Tse, Hing Fai Gary.
Application Number | 20040178157 10/391138 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32962365 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040178157 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tse, Hing Fai Gary |
September 16, 2004 |
Display rack
Abstract
The present invention relates to a display rack which can
automatically replenish the products in the front of the rack. The
display rack comprises: a rack, an auto-tracking system, a sliding
unit and a smooth surface. One end of the auto-tracking system is
connected to the front plate of the rack and the other end of which
is connected to the vertical plate of the sliding unit. The sliding
unit is placed inside the rack and is able to slide freely. The
smooth surface is on the inner bottom surface of the rack to reduce
the sliding unit's resistance while sliding.
Inventors: |
Tse, Hing Fai Gary; (Hong
Kong, HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mr. Eric Chan
42 Pin Oaks Drive
Phoenixville
PA
19460
US
|
Family ID: |
32962365 |
Appl. No.: |
10/391138 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/59.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 1/126 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/059.3 |
International
Class: |
A47F 005/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A display rack comprising: a rack; an auto-tracking system, one
end of which is connected to the front plate of the rack and the
other end of which is connected to the vertical plate of the
sliding unit; a sliding unit which is placed inside the rack and is
able to slide freely; a smooth surface which is on the inner bottom
surface of the rack to reduce the sliding unit's resistance while
sliding.
2. A display rack as in claim 1, wherein two or more auto-tracking
systems can be installed.
3. A display rack as in claim 1, wherein an additional smooth
surface can be added to the bottom of the sliding unit.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a display rack and more
particularly pertains to a new display rack which can automatically
replenish the products in the front of the rack.
[0002] Available display racks in the marketplace cannot
automatically replenish the products in display. When a product is
removed from the rack for sale, a blank space will be created and
the remaining products may slide down in uncontrollable directions.
The rack therefore looks messy and requires manual replenishment or
rearrangement to tidy it up.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In view of the aforesaid disadvantages now present in the
prior art, the present invention provides a new display rack carton
box and all kinds of package which can automatically replenish the
products in the front of the rack, thus making the display rack
always tidy and saving manpower for tidy it up frequently.
[0004] To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a
rack, an auto-tracking system, a sliding unit and a smooth surface.
One end of the auto-tracking system is connected to the rack and
the other end of which is connected to the sliding unit. The
sliding unit is placed inside the rack and is able to slide freely.
There is a smooth surface on the inner bottom surface of the rack
so as to reduce the sliding unit's resistance to the bottom surface
of the rack while sliding.
[0005] The rack can be made of any material such as cardboard or
pasteboard.
[0006] The auto-tracking system can be made of any elastic material
such as a rubber band or a metal or other devices.
[0007] One of auto-tracking system can be connected to the rack and
the sliding unit by any means such as by opening holes on the rack
and the sliding unit and piercing the auto-tracking system through
the holes, or by stapling the auto-tracking system to the rack and
the sliding unit, or by adding fasteners to the rack and the
sliding unit, or by sticking the auto-tracking system on the rack
and the sliding unit.
[0008] More than one auto-tracking system can be installed.
[0009] An additional smooth surface can be added to the bottom of
the sliding unit, which is above the smooth surface of the
rack.
[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a new
display rack which has a sliding unit for holding products and an
auto-tracking system to pull the sliding unit forward to the front
of the rack immediately after a product is removed from the rack,
thus leaving no blank space in the front of the rack and making the
display rack always tidy.
[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
new display rack which requires no manpower to tidy it up and saves
manpower to replenish the products frequently.
[0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
new display rack which is of simple and reliable construction.
[0013] An even further object of the present invention is to
provide a new display rack which can automatically replenish the
products in the front of the rack and is therefore always tidy and
can save manpower for tidy it up and for frequent replenishment of
the products, thus overcoming the disadvantages of the prior
art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 shows the perspective view of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows the cross-sectional view of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 shows the perspective view of the present invention
with the display products in it.
[0017] FIG. 4 shows the perspective view of the present invention
with the first product in the front is being taken out.
[0018] FIG. 5 shows the perspective view of the present invention
with the first product in the front being replenished
automatically.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the display rack 10
generally comprises a rack 1, an auto-tracking system 2, a sliding
unit 3 and a smooth surface 4.
[0020] The rack 1 can be in any shape or size which fits the
products to be displayed. For example, it can be in rectangular
shape and in size compatible with products of standard size such as
compact discs, tissues boxes and box files. Alternatively, it can
also be in a fixed shape and size for holding smaller various items
in different shapes. As a further alternative, it can be tailor
made to fit the shape and size of a kind of products in a
designated packaging as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.
[0021] The rack 1 can be made of any material such as cardboard or
pasteboard. To reduce the resistance of the sliding unit 3 to the
bottom surface of the rack 1 while the sliding unit 3 is sliding, a
smooth surface 4 is added onto the inner bottom surface of the rack
1. The smooth surface 4 can be made of any smooth or
resistance-reducible material such as waxed paper. The smooth
surface 4 can be stuck on the inner bottom surface of the rack 1 by
glue or any other sticking substance.
[0022] The sliding unit 3 is placed at the bottom of the rack 1. It
can be made of any material such as cardboard or pasteboard. The
sliding unit 3 is in L shape comprising a vertical plate 31 and a
horizontal plate 32. Its opening is in the same direction as that
of the rack 1. The vertical plate 31 is for supporting the products
to be displayed and the horizontal plate 32 is for sliding along
the smooth surface 4. There are no particular restrictions on the
length or width of the vertical plate 31 and the horizontal plate
32 so long as they can be fitted into the rack 1. The adjacent
angle between the horizontal plate 32 and the vertical plate 31 can
be 90.degree. or any larger than 90.degree.. To reduce the
resistance of the sliding unit 3 to the bottom surface of the rack
1 while sliding, it is preferable to use smooth material for making
the horizontal plate 32 or, alternatively, to add a smooth surface
to the bottom of the horizontal plate 32.
[0023] The auto-tracking system 2 can be made of any rubber product
such as a rubber band or any metal or plastic elastic product such
as a spring. The required strength of the elasticity depends on the
weight of the products to be displayed in the display rack 10.
[0024] One end of the auto-tracking system 2 is connected to the
vertical plate 31 and the other end of the auto-tracking system 2
is connected to the front plate 11 of the rack 1 by means of
opening holes on the front plate 11 of the rack 1 and on the
vertical plate 31 of the sliding unit 3 and piercing the
auto-tracking system 2 through the holes, or by stapling the
auto-tracking system 2 to the front plate 11 and the vertical plate
31, or by adding fasteners to the front plate 11 and the vertical
plate 31, or by sticking the auto-tracking system 2 on the front
plate 11 and the vertical plate 31, or by any other method which
can connect them securely.
[0025] More than one auto-tracking system 2 can be installed. Two
auto-tracking systems 2 can be installed parallel to each other.
Four auto-tracking systems 2 can be installed parallel to one
another at the four corners of the vertical plate 31. Depending on
the shape and size of the display rack 10 and on the weight of the
products to be displayed, two or more auto-tracking systems 2 can
be installed to pull the sliding Unit 3 forward in a more powerful
way.
[0026] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, when the display rack 10 is
filled in full with the products, the auto-tracking system 2 will
be stretched to its greatest tension. The sliding unit 3 is close
to the back of the rack 1. When one of the products is taken out,
the auto-tracking system 2 will shrink as the exerted tension
decreases, thus pulling the sliding unit 3 to move forward along
the smooth surface 4. The products are thereby pushed forward and
the space is then eliminated. As a result, without calling for
manpower, the display rack 10 will always be tidy and convenient to
use.
[0027] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and
operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent
from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion
relating to the manner of usage and operation is provided.
[0028] With respect to the above description, it is to be realized
that the optimum relationships for the parts of the invention in
regard to size, shape, form, materials, function and manner of
operation, assembly and use are deemed readily apparent and obvious
to those skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to
those illustrated in the drawings and described in the
specification are intended to be encompassed by the present
invention.
[0029] The present invention is capable of other embodiments and of
being practiced and carried out in various ways. It is to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are
for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as
limiting.
[0030] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to
falling within the scope of the invention.
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