U.S. patent number 3,855,943 [Application Number 05/385,033] was granted by the patent office on 1974-12-24 for display rack construction.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Chas. O. Larson, Co.. Invention is credited to Charles O. Larson.
United States Patent |
3,855,943 |
Larson |
December 24, 1974 |
DISPLAY RACK CONSTRUCTION
Abstract
The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is directed to
a display rack construction of the type to display a plurality of
different kinds of articles. The display rack construction includes
a support base upon which are secured one or more standards. A
plurality of horizontally disposed, vertically displaced shelf
members are secured to the standards and each shelf member includes
a plurality of apertures formed about at least a portion of the
periphery thereof. Article support bracket means are fashioned in
such a manner so as to have a downwardly depending portion inserted
into the aperture with a bight portion integral with the depending
portion and turned over the top and edge portions of the shelf
means. An extended portion is formed integral with the bight
portion and is used to support either articles directly on the
bracket or to support an apertured panel, or the like.
Inventors: |
Larson; Charles O. (Sterling,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Chas. O. Larson, Co. (Sterling,
IL)
|
Family
ID: |
23519759 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/385,033 |
Filed: |
August 2, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/28; 211/78;
108/94 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F
5/0043 (20130101); A47F 5/0018 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47F
5/00 (20060101); A47b 005/00 (); A47b
057/100 () |
Field of
Search: |
;211/53,57,58,131,144,70,78 ;108/28,94,95,139,142
;312/125,135,250,252 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gilliam; Paul R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Olson, Trexler, Wolters, Bushnell
& Fosse, Ltd.
Claims
The invention is claimed as follows:
1. A display rack construction of the type to display a plurality
of different kinds of articles, said display rack construction
comprising in combination: a support base to be positioned over a
floor area at which the display rack is to be located for
displaying a plurality of different kinds of articles, standard
means extending upwardly from said support base a predetermined
height, shelf means extending transversely of and connected to said
standard means, said shelf means including a plurality of apertures
formed near the peripheral portions thereof, said apertures having
the axes thereof extending vertically and being sized to receive
article support bracket means, and article support bracket means
having a depending portion insertable into said apertures formed in
the periphery of said shelf means, said article support bracket
means further including an extended portion extending outwardly of
said shelf means, said extended portion and said depending portion
being integrally connected by a bight portion which is carried at
the top marginal edge surface of said shelf means, said extended
portion extending from near the bottom edge of said shelf
means.
2. The display rack construction of the type to display a plurality
of different types of articles as set forth in claim 1, further
including a perforated vertical panel secured about the periphery
of said shelf means, said extended portion having means engaging
said perforated panel and said extended portion of said article
support bracket means being turned upwardly to form a support hook
for said perforated vertical panel.
3. The display rack construction of the type for displaying a
plurality of different kinds of articles as set forth in claim 2,
wherein said perforated vertical panels have a substantial open
area formed substantially centrally therein to allow persons
selecting articles from the display rack to view through the
display rack to articles located at the other side.
4. The display rack construction of the type to display a plurality
of different kinds of articles as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said support base is adapted to enable said standards and said
shelf means secured thereto to rotate about a vertical axis.
5. The display rack construction of the type to display a plurality
of different kinds of articles as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said shelf means is formed of a plurality of vertically spaced
horizontally oriented shelves substantially of the same length and
width and positioned upon said standard means to have the periphery
thereof substantially in alignment one with the other.
6. The display rack construction of the type to display a plurality
of differnt kinds of articles as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
article support bracket means is formed of a wire structure having
a pair of spaced apart arm members tied together by a bight portion
formed at the end most portion of said extended portion and
including a pair of parallel spaced apart depending portions and
bight portions to engage said apertures of said shelf means and to
extend over the upper surface and edge thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to article support stands and more
particularly to article support stands of the type which provide
means for displaying a particular kind of article and product, such
as hardware goods, in a manner so that a plurality of different
types of such articles can be displayed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Certain types of merchandise may be marketed to the best advantage
by placing the goods in a position so as to be clearly visible to
the potential purchaser. It is common practice, for example, to
package articles for sale in transparent plastic containers or
bags, or to package such articles by bubble sealing them to a
cardboard support. Sales appeal may be clearly enhanced by not only
displaying such packages attractively but also by mounting such
packages on a device of a type which will enable convenient
attachment or detachment with respect thereto when purchasers are
making selections.
It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to provide
a new and improved display rack construction in the form of a
simple yet sturdy device for accommodating goods to be displayed in
a convenient and attractive manner. More specifically, the present
invention contemplates a display rack construction in which goods
for sale may be conveniently displayed in horizontal and vertical
spaced relation to one another and to this end it is proposed to
provide a novel arrangement of horizontally and vertically spaced
apart arms or hook members upon which such articles or perforated
side panels can be secured.
A feature of the present invention is the utilization of article
support bracket members which has a depending portion adapted to be
inserted into an aperture formed along the periphery of a shelf
member. The article support bracket includes a bight portion
extending integrally from the depending portion and turned over the
top and edge portions of the shelf. An extended portion is
integrally formed with the bight portion and serves either as a
support arm for articles or as a hook to support perforated
panels.
Many other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will
be more fully realized and understood from the detailed description
when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein
like reference numerals throughout the various views of the
drawings are intended to designate similar elements or
components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a display rack
constructed in accordance with the principles of this
invention;
FIG. 2 is a section view taken through line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a section view taken through line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing one perforated panel having
large open areas substantially centrally thereof to allow visual
citing therethrough;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating the manner in
which the perforated panel of FIG. 4 is secured to the horizontal
shelf members of the display rack construction of this
invention;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view further illustrating the
manner of fastening the perforated panels to the display rack of
this invention;
FIG. 7 is an elevational view illustrating an alternate form of
construction of a display rack constructed in accordance with the
principles of this invention;
FIG. 8 is a front view of the display rack of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in
which articles are secured to article support bracket means
extending from the shelf members, as contemplated in accordance
with the principles of this invention;
FIG. 10 is a detail showing the manner in which the brackets are
secured to the shelf of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 illustrates one manner of construction of an article
support bracket of this invention;
FIG. 12 illustrates another form of construction of an article
support bracket of this invention;
FIG. 13 illustrates still another article support bracket
constructed in accordance with the principles of this
invention;
FIG. 14 illustrates still another article support bracket
constructed in accordance with the principles of this
invention;
FIG. 15 illustrates the positioning of an angularly disposed
article support shelf on the support stand in accordance with the
principles of this invention;
FIG. 16 illustrates the type of support bracket to engage the
support shelf of FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 illustrates still another alternate configuration of an
article display rack constructed in accordance with the principles
of this invention;
FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along line 18--18 of FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along line 19--19 of FIG. 17;
and
FIG. 20 illustrates a modification of the structure of FIG. 17.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIG. 1 there is seen a display rack construction
of the type to display a plurality of different kinds of articles,
which is constructed in accordance with the principles of this
invention and designated generally by reference numeral 10. The
display rack construction 10 includes a support base member 12 to
be positioned over a floor area at which the support rack is to be
located for displaying a plurality of different kinds of articles.
Extending upwardly from the support base 12 are standard means 14
arranged to be of a predetermined height above the support base.
Here the illustrated embodiment illustrates three standards 14a,
14b, and 14c, it being understood that a different number of
standards may be used if desired.
A plurality of horizontally disposed, vertically spaced apart shelf
means 16 are secured to the standards and provide means for
receiving article support brackets connected thereto. A plurality
of apertures are formed about the peripheral margin of the shelf
means 16 and article support brackets, here designated generally by
reference numeral 18, are arranged to have a portion thereof
depending into the peripheral apertures of the shelf means and
turned about the upper edge to come in close proximity to the side
edge of the shelf. In this instance the article support bracket is
a hook member to engage and support a perforated board or support
plate 20 on the front thereof and a pair of similarly fashioned
support plates 20 on the front thereof and a pair of similarly
fashioned support plates 21 and 22 at the sides thereof. While a
single funnel support plate 20 is illustrated it will be understood
that the entire front of the display rack is covered with
perforated plates of this type and thereby provide maximum area for
hanging articles to be displayed.
Most advantageously, the support plates 20, 21, and 22 of this
invention are provided with centrally located apertures 23, 24, and
25, respectively. These apertures are oriented in such a way as to
allow a potential purchaser of articles supported on the display
rack to view through the display rack to see the back sides of
articles on the opposite side of the display rack.
In the illustrated embodiment of the display rack construction of
FIG. 1 the top of the display rack includes an indicia bearing
panel member 26 having the general configuration of a house top
with several roof shingles 27 formed at the upper edges thereof. A
display rack of this kind therefore, indicates to the potential
customer that goods of household nature are displayed for
purchase.
Referring now to FIG. 2 the details of the support plate 12 are
more readily illustrated, and in this instance the support plate is
of the rotating type which allows the user to stand in one place in
front of the display rack and manually rotate the articles about
the central axis of the display rack, here being the central
standard 14b so that the articles about the periphery of the
display rack can pass directly in front of the potential purchaser
for his inspection and selection. Here a pair of L-brackets 28 and
29 are secured to the outboard standards 14a and 14c while the
central standard 14b includes a pipe support 29 having the upper
end thereof engaging the ball which, in turn, is held between a
fixed pipe portion 31 secured within the hollow standard 14b. The
ball 30 thereby provides a relatively small contact area between
its upper and lower spherical contact points and allow rotation of
the display rack with a minimum of external effort. The bottom most
plate 32 of the support base 12 is intended to remain stationary
while potential purchasers are rotating the display rack but is
allowed to be moved from one location to another location for best
advantage of merchandising. To achieve simple transport of the
display rack rollers 33 are provided for this purpose.
Also seen in FIG. 2 is the structural arrangement for supporting
the plurality of shelf means 16. Here a washer 34 is placed
immediately beneath an aperture formed in the shelf and about the
outboard standards 14a and 14c. A clip device 46, such as a cotter
pin, is provided to engage an aperture or recess formed in the
standards and support the shelf.
Referring now to FIG. 3 there is seen a side elevational sectional
view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1 and further illustrates the
manner in which the plurality of different articles are supported.
Here it will be seen that a plurality of support panels 20 are
secured to the front and back sides of the support rack structure
and held in position upon the shelves 16 by the somewhat S-shaped
article support brackets 18. A plurality of article support arms 40
are secured to the exterior surface portions of the support panels
20 at locations so that there is sufficient space between different
levels of articles to allow the potential purchaser thereof to view
through the openings 23, 24, and 25. Here a plurality of different
kinds of articles are designated generally by reference numerals 41
and are secured to the articles support arms 40 by any one of the
plurality of different well known arrangements. For example, the
support arms 40 can be rods extending outwardly from the support
panel and apertures are formed in a cardboard top edge portion of
the package containing the articles to be supported. Another type
of arrangement is where the article support arm 40 is formed of a
thin, flat metal arm, or a pair of rods bent upon themselves, and
wherein the cardboard top edge portion of the package has an
elongated slot formed therein. These and other forms of arm and
article engagement may be incorporated without departing from the
novel aspects of this invention.
Referring now specifically to FIG. 4, a single one of the plurality
of article support panels 20 is here illustrated for purpose of
clarity. The openings 23 are configurated so as to provide
substantial strength for the articles supported thereon while still
allowing potential purchasers to view through the panel to the
other side of the display rack construction. A plurality of
apertures 42 are formed within the planar surface portion of the
support plate 20, these apertures being sized and positioned so as
to allow engagement therein of hook devices in a well known
manner.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 the specific details of construction
of supporting the shelves 16 as well as the side panels 20, 21, and
22 thereto are illustrated. Here the shelves 16 have a plurality of
peripherally located apertures 46 through which a depending portion
47 of the article support bracket 18 is positioned. A bight portion
48 passes over the top portion of the shelf and is formed integral
with a second depending portion 49. The depending portion 49 is
integrally formed with an upturned U-shaped portion 50 which, in
turn, engages the underside of one of the openings 23, of for
example, the panel 20. This configuration then allows the panels
20, 21, and 22 to be removed if desired. The advantage of this type
of display rack construction is that the display rack can be
dismantled and shipped from place to place easily and without the
need of extensive assembly time. Furthermore, the assembly of the
display rack construction can be accomplished with little or no use
of special tools.
Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8 there is seen an alternate
embodiment of the display rack construction which utilizes the
general aspects of this invention and is designated generally by
reference numeral 60. Here the display rack construction 60
includes a single standard 61 secured to a support base 62. In this
instance the support base 62 includes a first plate member 63 and a
second plate member 64. The plate member 64 includes collapsible
support legs 65 secured thereto by suitable hinges 66. These legs
can be folded out of the way and a pair of rollers 67 utilized to
facilitate the transport of the display rack construction from one
location to another location.
A plurality of horizontally disposed vertically spaced apart shelf
means 68 are located at various points along the standard 61. In
accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the article
support brackets 70 also form the article support arms integrally
therewith. That is, the article support bracket 70 has the
downwardly directed portion which fits into the aperture of the
shelf 68 and passes over the top of the shelf downwardly over the
outer edge thereof and then outwardly providing an article support
arm 71. In this instance the articles support arm 71 is seen as
having an upturned end portion 72 associated therewith. This
upturned end portion prevents articles from inadvertently falling
off of the display rack.
In the alternative, some of the article support brackets may be
configurated similar to that shown by reference numeral 74 which,
in turn, includes an angularly disposed support shelf 75 associated
therewith. This type of article support shelf can be used to
support a plurality of articles 76 of the type which do not include
an upper cardboard tab having an aperture formed therein to be
placed on the support arms. To evenly distribute the weight of the
support shelf 75 a plurality of support brackets 74 are placed
along the front peripheral edge of the horizontal shelf 78
associated therewith.
For a better understanding of the alternate embodiment of this
invention reference is now made to FIG. 9 which illustrates a
fragmentary perspective view of the top shelf of the display rack
construction 60 of FIGS. 7 and 8. Here it can be seen that the
plurality of article support brackets 70 are formed of a wire
member having the article support arms 71 provided by a pair of
parallel spaced apart portions of the wire member and wherein the
end portion 72 is formed by a bight at the ends of the parallel rod
members.
FIG. 10 illustrates in more detail the manner in which the article
support bracket engages with the shelf members. Here the depending
portion 73 passes through an aperture 74 formed near the periphery
of the shelf 68. A bight portion 76 passes over the top of the
shelf and is formed integral with a second depending portion 77.
The article support arm 41 therefore, extends directly from the
article support bracket 70 without the need of the vertical panels
20, 21, and 22, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 10 illustrates the wire construction of the article support
arms 71, here they being designated by a reference numeral 71a and
71b. FIG. 12 illustrates an alternate form of article support
structure which can be used in accordance with the principles of
this invention. Here the article support arm 81 is formed of a
sheet metal stamping and has a stiffening deformation 82 formed
along the longitudinal extent thereof. The upturned end portion 83
is provided to maintain articles on the arm. The top portion 84 of
the article support bracket includes a plurality of apertures 86
through which may be inserted fasteners such as bolts or rivets to
secure the arm to the shelf 68.
FIG. 13 illustrates a single wire article support bracket and
support arm 87 and 88 which includes a turned outer most end 89.
This type of article support can be used with any of the display
rack constructions illustrated herein. FIG. 14 is somewhat similar
to a combination of the structures shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. That
is, the end portion 90 of the article support arm 91 has a pair of
apertures 92 formed therein. The apertures 92 can be arranged to
receive bolts or rivets to secure the article support arm to the
shelf 68. Also in this instance the end 93 is turned to provide a
stop member for articles being supported thereon.
FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate the article support bracket 74 which is
used to support the shelf 75, as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. The wire
bracket 74 includes a downwardly depending portion 74a which fits
into any one of the plurality of peripherally located apertures on
the shelves 68. The support arm 74 has a right angle bend 74b
located near the bottom portion thereof and is directed upwardly to
a turned end portion 74c. The L-shaped shelf member 75 may include
stiffening brackets 95 located at the edge portions thereof as best
seen in FIGS. 7 and 15.
Referring now to FIGS. 17, 18, 19, and 20 there is seen still an
alternate configuration of a display rack construction in
accordance with the principles of this invention and designated
generally by reference numeral 100. The display rack construction
100, FIG. 17, includes a support base member 101 upon which is
secured a standard 102. A plurality of shelf members 103 extend
horizontally and are vertically spaced apart substantially in the
same manner as that with regard to the display rack construction of
FIGS. 7 and 8. However, in this instance a plurality of apertured
vertical panels 104 are positioned on the shelf members 103 and
secured thereto by article support bracket means 106, as best seen
in FIG. 18.
In accordance with the present invention the panels 104 are
provided with openings 107 formed therein so that a potential
purchaser of articles secured to the panel can view through the
display rack to articles secured to panels at the opposite side. In
this instance the base member 101 is provided with foldable support
legs 110, as best seen in FIG. 19, which are secured to the
underside of the base 101 by hinge means 111.
The standard 102 is formed of a central hollow tube 114 through
which passes a solid shaft 115. However, it will be understood that
the shaft 115 may also be of tubular construction if desired. The
top portion of the hollow tube 114 is threaded to receive a cap
member 117. A ball 118, preferably of steel or the like, is
positioned between the solid shaft 115 and the cap 117. A plurality
of short lengths of cylindrical sleeve members 119 are placed
between each of the shelf structures and provide for spacing of the
shelves along the vertical extent of the standard. This structure
allows the plurality of shelves 103 to be rotated, either
individually when not together by the panels 104, or as a unit when
tied together by such panels.
FIG. 20 illustrates still another alternate configuration of a
display rack construction in accordance with the principles of this
invention and is designated generally by reference numeral 130.
Here the support base 131 has the standard 132 extending upwardly
therefrom, in the same manner as set forth hereinabove with regard
to the other alternate embodiments. However, in this instance the
shelf members are triangular in configuration, as indicated by
reference numeral 133. This type of structure will also accommodate
the U-shaped article support brackets 106 and a plurality of
apertured panels 104 in like manner, as that with regard to the
structure of FIGS. 17 and 19.
While several specific embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated herein, it will be understood that still further
variations and modifications may be effected without departing from
the spirit and scope of the novel concepts disclosed and claimed
herein.
* * * * *