U.S. patent application number 11/435219 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-23 for pegboard bracket assembly.
Invention is credited to Edward Magid.
Application Number | 20060261016 11/435219 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37447364 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060261016 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Magid; Edward |
November 23, 2006 |
Pegboard bracket assembly
Abstract
An improved bracket assembly is specially fabricated and adapted
for mounted installation upon a conventional pegboard panel or like
support surface to hold products and promotional materials in
merchandising displays. The present bracket assembly comprises
upper and lower clip arm members rearwardly directed in a
bifurcated manner with each clip arm member having respective
pronged clips for separate aligned engagement with the pegboard
panel, an extendable channel strip arm member forwardly disposed
having a channel strip segment attached thereto, and a junction box
assembly intermediately positioned and adapted to engage the
respective arm members and lock them in their respective position
on the pegboard panel. The junction box assembly includes an upper
box cover and lower box base formed to fit in a substantially
closed configuration and adapted to be clamped together by a
locking screw vertically disposed therethrough. The box cover is
formed having lateral surfaces with aligned holes for sliding
engagement of the channel strip arm and the base formed having
transverse ribs embossed along its bottom surface to urge upon the
channel strip arm when the junction box is clamped. The locking
screw further engages a loop section formed in the upper clip arm
member at the top of the junction box to retain the upper clip
member and lock it in mounted position upon the pegboard panel.
Inventors: |
Magid; Edward; (Ivyland,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Armand M. Vozzo, Jr., Esquire
19 Short Road
Doylestown
PA
18901
US
|
Family ID: |
37447364 |
Appl. No.: |
11/435219 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60681849 |
May 17, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/57.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 5/0823
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/057.1 |
International
Class: |
A47F 5/08 20060101
A47F005/08 |
Claims
1. A bracket device for supporting merchandising material upon a
conventional pegboard panel, comprising: bifurcated arm means for
separate aligned engagement of the pegboard panel; junction means
releasably assembled and operatively connected to said bifurcated
arm means for locking said bifurcated arm means in separate aligned
engagement upon the pegboard panel; and a support arm operatively
connected to said junction means and extendable therefrom for
holding the merchandising material at varied lengths from the
pegboard panel.
2. A bracket device according to claim 1, wherein said bifurcated
arm means comprises: a lower arm member attached at one end thereof
to said junction means; an upper arm member releasably attached at
one end thereof to said junction means and disposed in a bifurcated
manner relative to said lower arm member upon fixed attachment to
said junction means; and a pair of pronged connectors attached to
the respective opposite ends of said lower and upper arm members
and adapted to separately engage the pegboard panel.
3. A bracket device according to claim 2, wherein said junction
means comprises: a cover member having a substantially C-shaped
profile with a pair of lateral surfaces on opposite sides, each of
the lateral surfaces being formed having aligned holes therein; a
base member having a substantially C-shaped profile and further
formed to fit together with said cover member to provide a closed
configuration therebetween, the surface on the inside of the base
member being formed having a set of ribs raised along the base
member and transversely positioned adjacent to the holes in the
lateral surfaces of said cover member when in the closed
configuration; and locking means operatively connected between said
cover and base members and further engaging said upper arm member
for clamping said cover and base members in the closed
configuration with the upper arm member in fixed attachment thereto
and the ribs along said base member projecting into the hole
profile between aligned holes in the lateral surfaces of said cover
member.
4. A bracket device according to claim 3, wherein said locking
means comprises: a locking screw having a threaded length and an
unthreaded shank portion formed to engage said cover and base
members; a washer clip formed to fit upon the shank portion of said
locking screw and be retained thereon within the closed
configuration of said cover and base members; and a locking nut
fixed to the bottom of said base member to grip the threaded length
of said locking screw.
5. A bracket device according to claim 3, wherein said support arm
is disposed through the aligned holes in the lateral surfaces of
said cover member and locked in position within the closed
configuration upon clamping.
6. A bracket device according to claim 5, further comprising: a
channel strip member attached to the extended end of said support
arm to hold the merchandising material.
7. A bracket assembly for supporting an object upon a conventional
pegboard panel, comprising: mounting means including separate
longitudinal members disposed in a bifurcated manner for aligned
engagement of the pegboard panel; junction means releasably
assembled and operatively connected to said mounting means for
locking said mounting means in separate aligned engagement upon the
pegboard panel; and a support arm operatively connected to said
junction means and extendable therefrom for holding the object at
varied lengths from the pegboard panel.
8. A bracket assembly according to claim 7, wherein said mounting
means comprises: a lower arm member attached at one end thereof to
said junction means; an upper arm member releasably attached at one
end thereof to said junction means and disposed in a bifurcated
manner relative to said lower arm member upon fixed attachment to
said junction means; and a pair of pronged connectors attached to
the respective opposite ends of said lower and upper arm members
and adapted to separately engage the pegboard panel.
9. A bracket assembly according to claim 7, wherein said junction
means comprises: a cover member having a substantially C-shaped
profile with a pair of lateral surfaces on opposite sides, each of
the lateral surfaces being formed having aligned holes therein; a
base member having a substantially C-shaped profile and further
formed to fit together with said cover member to provide a closed
configuration therebetween, the surface on the inside of the base
member being formed having a set of ribs raised along the base
member and transversely positioned adjacent to the holes in the
lateral surfaces of said cover member when in the closed
configuration; and locking means operatively coupling said cover
and base members and further engaging said mounting means for
clamping said cover and base members in the closed configuration
with said mounting means in fixed attachment thereto and the ribs
along said base member projecting into the hole profile between
aligned holes in the lateral surfaces of said cover member.
10. A bracket assembly according to claim 9, wherein said support
arm is disposed through the aligned holes in the lateral surfaces
of said cover member and locked in position within the closed
configuration upon clamping.
11. A bracket assembly according to claim 9, wherein said locking
means comprises: a locking screw having a threaded length and an
unthreaded shank portion formed to engage said cover and base
members; a washer clip formed to fit upon the shank portion of said
locking screw and be retained thereon within the closed
configuration of said cover and base members; and a locking nut
fixed to the bottom of said base member to grip the threaded length
of said locking screw.
12. A bracket assembly according to claim 11, further comprising: a
channel strip member attached to the extended end of said support
arm to hold the merchandising material.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/681,849 filed May 17, 2005 for Pegboard
Bracket Assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to support brackets used to
hold retail merchandise and their promotions in connection with
pegboard support panels, and more particularly to an improved
pegboard bracket assembly that is adjustable in its extended length
and adapted to lock in place to prevent removal and theft.
[0003] In retail merchandising, store displays are often
constructed using an upright pegboard panel that provides a
vertically oriented support surface upon which support brackets are
mounted to hold products and point-of-purchase promotions.
Typically, the pegboard panel has a matrix of uniformly spaced
holes that are arranged in horizontal rows and vertical columns.
The pegboard holes are formed through the panel thickness to
support stationary mounting of the brackets, each bracket typically
having a mounting base with a pair of extended prongs thereon that
are space apart and formed to engage adjacent horizontal holes in
the pegboard. In this typical mounted arrangement, the mounting
base of the bracket is secured upon the front surface of the
pegboard by the prongs interengaged through the pegboard holes and
the bracket made to extend lengthwise in a substantially horizontal
attitude outwardly from the pegboard to provide hanging support for
product units as well as their promotions.
[0004] The pegboard brackets used for product support are often
made in standardized lengths along which a plurality of product
units are hung for display and easy removal by the consumer
purchaser. Customarily, a number of these pegboard brackets, each
mounted on the same pegboard panel, are used to provide a dense but
organized display of a variety of products. Often times in
conjunction with product display brackets, one or more additional
informational display brackets have been found to be useful and
valuable for presenting marketing information and/or promotional
materials, such as product descriptions, pricing and coupon
promotions, pertinent to a particular product on the display. These
informational display brackets are generally mounted on the
pegboard panel in immediate proximity to associated product display
brackets and typically have a channel strip segment at its forward
end that simulates the front facing of store shelving commonly used
to hold and display pricing and other product information helpful
to the consumer purchaser. Since it is important that the channel
strip segment be clearly visible for consumers to view the
information carried thereon and easily reached for the mounted
placement of point-of-purchase promotions, these informational
display brackets are best suited to be adjustable in their extended
length to allow the channel strip to remain in sight and
accessible. Due to the size and weight of some of the promotional
items, such as a coupon dispenser, that are often mounted to the
channel strip, these display brackets must be strong and sturdy in
their extended lengths and further capable of being locked in their
mounted position to prevent unwanted removal and theft.
[0005] Existing pegboard display holders have been devised and made
effectively variable in length, one such pegboard sign holder being
shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,794 to Kump. Other
different pegboard display holders have been devised and with
locking features that releasably secure the holder, particularly at
its base, to the pegboard panel thereby preventing unwanted
removal. Despite these known prior art devices, however, no
existing pegboard display holder for product or promotional
information is available having both a variable length adjustment
feature and the capability of being locked in position, not only in
its adjusted length but also in its mounted placement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, it is a general purpose and object of the
present invention to provide an improved mounting device adapted to
connect to a pegboard or like support panel for carrying product
information and promotional materials at point-of-purchase
displays.
[0007] A more particular object of the present invention is to
provide an improved pegboard adapter device for displaying product
items at their point-of purchase together with promotional
materials that is adjustable in the length of its extension and
capable of being secured in a locked position both as to its length
and mounted placement.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
pegboard display holder that is easy to manipulate and install onto
existing pegboard display panels without need to remove product and
promotional items already on display.
[0009] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a pegboard display holder that is easy to adjust in its extended
length and readily secured in its mounted position on the pegboard
panel.
[0010] A still further object of the present invention is to
provide an adjustable and lockable pegboard display holder that is
relatively inexpensive to fabricate and assemble, strong and sturdy
in its assembled state, and reliable in its performance.
[0011] Briefly, these and other objects of the present invention
are accomplished by an improved bracket assembly that is specially
fabricated and adapted for mounted installation upon a conventional
pegboard panel or like support surface to hold products and
promotional materials in merchandising displays. The present
bracket assembly comprises upper and lower clip arm members
disposed rearwardly in a bifurcated manner with each clip arm
member having respective pronged clips for separate aligned
engagement with the pegboard panel, an extendable channel strip arm
member forwardly disposed having a channel strip segment attached
thereto, and a junction box assembly intermediately positioned and
adapted to engage the respective arm members and lock them in their
respective position on the pegboard panel. The junction box
assembly includes an upper box cover and lower box base formed to
fit in a substantially closed configuration and adapted to be
clamped together by a locking screw vertically disposed
therethrough. The box cover is formed having lateral surfaces with
aligned holes for sliding engagement of the channel strip arm and
the base formed having transverse ribs embossed along its bottom
surface to urge upon the channel strip arm when the junction box is
clamped. The locking screw further engages a loop section formed in
the upper clip arm member at the top of the junction box to retain
the upper clip member and lock it in mounted position upon the
pegboard panel.
[0012] For a better understanding of these and other aspects of the
present invention, reference should be made to the following
detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in which like reference numerals and character designate
like parts throughout the figures thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the
present invention, references in the detailed description set forth
below shall be made to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment
of the bracket assembly made according to the present invention and
shown in mounted installation on an upright pegboard support
panel;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a side view in elevation of the present bracket
assembly shown in FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the bracket assembly
taken substantially along the plane indicated by line 3-3 in FIG.
2;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the bracket assembly
taken substantially along the plane indicated by line 4-4 in FIG.
2; and
[0018] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the central portion of the
bracket assembly of FIG. 2 taken immediately beneath the junction
box assembly of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The following is a detailed description of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention and the best presently
contemplated mode of its production and practice. This description
is further made for the purpose of illustrating the general
principles of the invention but should not be taken in a limiting
sense, the scope of the invention being best determined by
reference to appended claims.
[0020] Referring now to the drawing figures and particularly to
FIGS. 1 and 2, a bracket assembly made in accordance with the
present invention and generally designated 10 is shown in mounted
installation upon a conventional pegboard panel 12 (shown in
phantom section) commonly used in retail merchandising displays. In
its mounted installation, the present bracket assembly 10 is
intended to engage selected holes 12a generally found in a matrix
arrangement of horizontal rows and vertical columns on the pegboard
panel 12 by means of a pair of pronged clips 20 and 24 that are
attached at respective outer ends of an upper and lower clip arm
member 14 and 16, each rearwardly disposed on the bracket assembly
and described in greater detail below. The installed bracket
assembly 10 extends longitudinally from the pegboard panel 12 in a
direction substantially perpendicular thereto, with its
longitudinal extension made adjustable and lockable as described
below. In accordance with the present invention, the bracket
assembly 10 is generally intended to hold and support merchandise
on display and is particularly intended to hold merchandising
promotions, such as product information, advertising materials and
devices, including coupon dispensers, that normally attach to the
channel strip found on the front edge of standard store shelving.
In the case of the present bracket assembly 10, such merchandising
promotions are mounted and secured upon a channel strip segment 42
made to be simulative in part of the front edge of conventional
store shelving and disposed at the forwardmost end of the bracket
assembly opposite from the pronged clips 20 and 24. As described in
greater detail below, the channel strip segment 42 is rigidly
secured in an upright attitude upon a channel strip arm 40 that is
adjustable in its extension through a junction box assembly 26
intermediately positioned along the length of the present bracket
assembly 10.
[0021] The bracket assembly 10 is a substantially rigid structure
along its entire length and therefore is preferably constructed in
its assembled parts from a strong but lightweight metallic
material, such as a finished steel, which can be fabricated and
formed using conventional tools and techniques and further joined
in fixed attachments, where necessary, by conventional welding
methods.
[0022] The upper clip arm member 14 with the pronged clip 20
attached thereto is further constructed from a longitudinal rod
member 18 that is bent and formed having a 180.degree. loop section
18a made therein midway along its length so that the rod member
extends in substantially parallel segments 18b between the loop
section and the respective ends of the rod member. End segments 18c
of the rod member 18 are further extended in parallel relationship
and formed similarly at substantially right angles to the
intermediate segments 18b, the end segments of the rod member 18
being bent in an upright direction to provide extended contacts for
welded attachment along the surface of the pronged clip 20. The
pronged clip 20 is formed and fabricated having a pair of upturned
prongs 20a sized and spaced apart to engage adjacent horizontal
holes 12a in the pegboard panel 12, with the prongs being further
formed in an L-shaped configuration at the top of the clip to allow
the surface of the clip to rest substantially flush against the
pegboard panel when the prongs are fully engaged in the adjacent
pegboard holes.
[0023] The upper clip arm 14 is assembled and connected to the
junction box assembly 26 via the loop section 18a formed in rod
member 18 and is particularly retained in place upon the junction
box assembly by the engagement of the loop section with a locking
screw 36 centrally disposed and fitted for axial rotation within
the junction box assembly. The loop section 18a is sufficiently
sized in its diameter to allow the shank of the locking screw to
fit therethrough but restrict passage of the head of the screw and
a fitted washer 38 interposed beneath the head. Thus, when the
locking screw 36 is axially engaged within the junction box
assembly 26, the upper clip arm member 14 is retained atop the
junction box and although slidable along the intermediate parallel
section 18b, the upper clip arm member and junction box assembly
will remain coupled together.
[0024] The lower clip arm member 16 with its associated pronged
clip 24 is also rearwardly disposed on the present bracket assembly
10, the lower clip arm being rigidly secured to the junction box
assembly 26. The lower clip arm member 16 further includes a
longitudinal rod member 22 that is attached by welding to the
bottom of the junction box assembly 26, particularly to the lower
box base 32, and linearly extended to the pronged clip 24. The rod
member 22 is attached to the lower pronged clip 24 along a bent
section 22a of the rod member that is formed perpendicularly to the
linear length thereof and welded along the clip surface. The lower
pronged clip 24, similarly to the upper pronged clip 20, is formed
and fabricated having a pair of upturned prongs 24a sized and
spaced apart to engage adjacent horizontal holes 12a in the
pegboard panel 12, with the prongs being formed in an L-shaped
configuration at the top of the clip to allow the surface of the
clip to rest substantially flush against the pegboard panel when
the prongs are fully engaged in the adjacent horizontal holes. In
the mounted installation of the present bracket assembly 10, it
should be noted that the lower pronged clip 24 with its associated
prong members 24a is engaged upon the pegboard panel 12 in vertical
alignment with the upper pronged clip 20 engaged above and with a
horizontal row of pegboard holes 12a spaced therebetween. With the
respective upper and lower clip arm members 20 and 24 being
disposed in this bifurcated arrangement and separately engaged in
vertical alignment upon the pegboard panel 12 and the upper clip
arm member is subsequently secured to the junction box assembly 26
by the locking screw 36 tightened within the loop section 18a, the
resulting mounted installation of the bracket assembly 10 is locked
firmly in place and no removal from the pegboard panel will be
effected without release of the locking screw.
[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 in conjunction with FIGS.
1 and 2, the junction box assembly 26 further comprises a
substantially closed box member 28 made up of an upper box cover 30
and a lower box base 32 each formed to fit together to provide a
closed configuration. The upper box cover 30 is formed having a
substantially C-shaped profile with a pair of lateral surfaces 30a
and 30b extending from the top surface of the cover on front and
rear sides thereof. Each of the lateral surfaces 30a, 30b of the
box cover 30 is formed having a pair of separate holes 30c made
therein, each of the holes being aligned with those on the opposite
lateral surface. These aligned holes 30c are sized and positioned
to fit a pair of rod members 44 on the channel strip arm 40 and
allow their sliding engagement through the junction box assembly
26. The lateral surface 30a on the front side of the upper box
cover 30 is additionally provided with a lower ledge surface 30d
which partially wraps beneath the lower box base 32 and helps to
contain the base within the box cover. The lower box base 32 is
formed having a C-shaped profile, its lateral surfaces being solid
and sized to fit snugly within the open spacing between the lateral
surface 30a and 30b of the upper box cover 30. The top surface of
the upper box cover 30 and the bottom surface of the lower box base
32 have respective central holes similarly formed therein that are
aligned with each other to allow engagement by the locking screw 36
in a substantially vertical attitude. Positioned beneath the lower
box base 32 and also aligned with its central hole, a weld nut 34
is attached to the bottom of the base box to secure threaded
engagement of the locking screw in the junction box assembly 26. On
the inside of the lower box base 32 and upon the bottom surface
thereof, a set of transverse ribs 32a are formed, typically by
embossing. Each of the transverse ribs 32a is located so as to be
adjacent to a respective one of the separate holes 30c in the
lateral surfaces 30a and 30b of the upper box cover 30 when fitted
together with the box base 32 and each rib is raised in height
sufficiently to project into the hole profile when the lower box
base is clamped together with the box cover. In the clamped
junction box assembly 26 where the rod members 44 of the channel
strip arm 40 are engaged through the lateral surface holes 30c, as
seen in both FIGS. 3 and 4, the transverse ribs 32a serve to urge
upon the bottom of the respective rod members on both sides of the
junction box 28, clamping each within the respective hole and
locking the position of the channel strip arm member 40 in its
extended position.
[0026] The locking screw 36 is a conventional machine screw having
a standard button-type head and an unthreaded shank portion
immediately beneath the head of the screw. Washer 38 is sized to
fit over the shank portion of the locking screw 36 and is adapted
for retention immediately beneath the head. The head of the locking
screw 36 is preferably a socket-head type with the socket
configuration being conventional in size and shape. In its engaged
assembly within the junction box assembly 26, the locking screw 36
is further provided with a washer clip 39 that is fitted to the
shank and adapted to be held thereon at the top of the threaded
portion so that the screw when disengaged from the weld nut 34 will
be retained with the junction box assembly and not separated
therefrom. To ensure the retention of the locking screw 36, the end
of the screw may be cold-formed after assembly to prevent its full
removal from the weld nut 34.
[0027] In association with the channel strip segment 42, the
channel strip arm member 40 is further constructed with a pair of
rod members 44 that are spaced apart and set substantially in
parallel to each other. A forward segment 44b of each rod member 44
is formed perpendicularly to the main length and bent uprightly to
secure attachment to the rear surface of the channel strip segment
42, preferably by welding. The rearward tips 44a of the respective
rod members 44 are preferably cold-formed and compressed in their
diameters after engagement through the junction box assembly 26,
the resulting deformation of the tips preventing removal of the
rods members 44 and the associated channel strip arm 40 from the
assembly. It should be noted that upper and lower lips 42a along
the top and bottom of the channel strip segment 42 are made to
replicate those on the front edge of a standard store shelving and
these lips may be further closed at the respective corners of the
segment to prevent sliding removal of certain advertising devices
that may be installed into the channel strip segment. In its
assembled state as described above, the present bracket assembly 10
is a completely integrated device with all of its component parts
joined into a fully adjustable mounting bracket wherein none of the
individual components may be removed and perhaps lost in the
installation process. All of the component members are joined at
the central junction box assembly 26 wherein by way of the single
adjustment of locking screw 36, the entire bracket assembly may be
adjusted in both its mounted placement and the length of its
extension and then locked in place to prevent unwanted removal or
tampering. The bracket assembly 10 in its locked and mounted
position is rigidly secured through the junction box assembly 26
and provides a sturdy support structure along its entire length for
strength and support in holding larger and heavier advertising
devices, such as coupon dispensers, upon the extended channel strip
segment 42.
[0028] Therefore, it is apparent that the described invention
provides an improved mounting device that connects to a pegboard or
like support panel for carrying product information and promotional
advertising materials at point-of-purchase displays. More
particularly, the present bracket assembly provides an improved
pegboard adapter for displaying product items and associated
promotional materials that is adjustable in the length of its
extension and capable of being secured in a locked position both as
to its length and mounted installation. The present bracket
assembly further provides a pegboard holder that is easy to
manipulate and install onto existing merchandising display panels
without need to remove mounted product and promotional items
already on display. In addition, the described bracket assembly
provides a pegboard display holder that is easy to adjust in its
extension and readily secured in its mounted position on the
pegboard panel. Furthermore, the present bracket assembly is
relatively inexpensive to fabricate and assemble, strong and sturdy
in its assembled state, and reliable in its performance.
[0029] Obviously, other embodiments and modifications of the
present invention will readily come to those or ordinary skill in
the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the
foregoing description and drawings. Alternate embodiments of
different shapes and sizes, as well as substitution of known
materials or those materials that may be developed at a future time
to perform the same function as the present described embodiment
are therefore considered to be part of the present invention.
Accordingly, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the particular embodiment described, but rather is intended to
cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present
invention as expressed in the appended claims.
* * * * *