U.S. patent number 3,862,735 [Application Number 05/353,199] was granted by the patent office on 1975-01-28 for rotatable display rack having vertical adjustment therefor.
Invention is credited to Maurice Cohen.
United States Patent |
3,862,735 |
Cohen |
January 28, 1975 |
ROTATABLE DISPLAY RACK HAVING VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT THEREFOR
Abstract
A rotatable display rack having a housing to which display
members are joined and that is mounted for rotation on a shaft, the
shaft being located in a tubular support member that is fixed to a
base. A clutch mounted within the housing is manually movable to
interconnect the shaft and the housing, the lower end of the shaft
being threadably received within a fixed portion of the tubular
support, wherein rotation of the housing with the clutch engaged
produces a correspondingly vertical movement of the shaft and
housing relative to the tubular support.
Inventors: |
Cohen; Maurice (Miami, FL) |
Family
ID: |
23388142 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/353,199 |
Filed: |
April 20, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/405;
211/166 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
9/04 (20130101); A47B 11/00 (20130101); A47F
5/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47F
5/02 (20060101); A47B 11/00 (20060101); A47B
9/00 (20060101); A47B 9/04 (20060101); A47b
081/00 (); A47b 049/00 (); A47f 005/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;248/405,406,415,161,404
;211/166 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Foss; J. Franklin
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Salter & Michaelson
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A display rack, comprising a base, a tubular support member
mounted on said base in vertical relation, a shaft located in said
support member and having an upper portion that projects
thereabove, said shaft being interengaged with said tubular support
member so as to be vertically adjustable with respect thereto, a
display assembly mounted on the upper portion of said shaft, means
for vertically adjusting the position of said shaft with respect to
said tubular support member wherein the vertical position of said
display assembly is adjusted, said adjusting means including a
clutch member that is located in coaxial relation in said shaft and
that is longitudinally movable relative thereto for interengagement
therewith, means fixed to said display assembly for receiving said
clutch member in engaging relation, wherein said clutch member
interlocks said display assembly to said shaft, and means for
moving said clutch member in a longitudinal and axial direction
relative to said shaft to the engaging position thereof, whereafter
rotation of said display assembly produces a corresponding rotation
and vertical movement of said shaft with respect to said tubular
member to adjust said display assembly in a required vertical
position.
2. A display rack, comprising a base, a tubular support member
mounted on said base in vertical relation, a shaft located in said
support member and having an upper portion that projects
thereabove, said shaft being interengaged with said tubular support
member so as to be vertically adjustable with respect thereto, a
display assembly mounted on the upper portion of said shaft, means
for vertically adjusting the position of said shaft with respect to
said tubular support member wherein the vertical position of said
display assembly is adjusted, said adjusting means including a
clutch member that is interengaged with said shaft, means fixed to
said display assembly for receiving said clutch member in engaging
relation, wherein said clutch member interlocks said display
assembly to said shaft, and means for moving said clutch member to
the engaging position thereof, whereafter rotation of said display
assembly produces a corresponding rotation and vertical movement of
said shaft with respect to said tubular member to adjust said
display assembly in a required vertical position, said clutch
member being defined by a body portion that is preformed in a
predetermined cross-sectional configuration, said means fixed to
said display assembly being defined by a plate having an opening
formed therein the configuration of which corresponds to the
cross-sectional configuration of said clutch member and into which
the clutch member is moved during a vertical adjustment of said
display assembly, wherein relative rotary movement between said
clutch member and said plate is prevented.
3. A display rack as claimed in claim 2, said tubular support
having a threaded stem fixed therein and extending upwardly
interiorly thereof, said shaft having a threaded element fixed to
the lowermost end thereof and threadably engaging said threaded
stem wherein rotation of said shaft produces a corresponding
vertical movement thereof with respect to said tubular support
member.
4. A display rack as claimed in claim 3, said display assembly
including a housing having supports mounted thereon for receiving
display members, bearing means mounted in said housing and
receiving said shaft therein for rotatably mounting said housing on
said shaft, said plate forming the upper end of said housing.
5. A display rack as claimed in claim 4, a portion of said clutch
member projecting upwardly through the opening in said plate, said
means for moving the clutch member including a knob that engages
the upwardly projecting portion of said clutch member and that is
vertically movable to locate the clutch member in said opening in
the plate member for interengaging said display assembly with said
shaft, wherein rotation of said display assembly and shaft produces
a corresponding vertical adjusting movement thereof.
6. A display rack as claimed in claim 1, said tubular support
having a threaded stem fixed therein and extending upwardly
interiorly thereof, said shaft having a threaded element fixed to
the lower end thereof and threadably engaging said threaded stem,
wherein rotation of said shaft produces a corresponding vertical
movement thereof with respect to said tubular support member.
7. A device for adjusting the vertical position of a rotatable
housing, a base, a support mounted on said base, a shaft mounted on
said support for vertical adjustment with respect thereto and
receiving said housing for rotation thereon, a clutch member
mounted on said shaft in coaxial relation and being movable in
longitudinal sliding relation thereon for interengagement
therewith, means fixed to the housing for receiving said clutch in
engaging relation, and means for moving said clutch member into
engaging relation with said means fixed to said housing, wherein
said housing is interconnected to said shaft, so that upon rotation
of said housing, said shaft is caused to rotate and move vertically
with respect to said support, thereby adjusting the vertical
position of said housing therewith.
8. A display rack, comprising a base, a tubular support member
mounted on said base in vertical relation, a shaft located in said
support member and having an upper portion that projects
thereabove, said shaft being interengaged with said tubular support
member so as to be vertically adjustable with respect thereto, a
display assembly mounted on the upper portion of said shaft, means
for vertically adjusting the position of said shaft with respect to
said tubular support member wherein the vertical position of said
display assembly is adjusted, said adjusting means including a
clutch member that is interengaged with said shaft, means fixed to
said display assembly for receiving said clutch member in engaging
relation, wherein said clutch member interlocks said display
assembly to said shaft, and means for moving said clutch member to
the engaging position thereof, whereafter rotation of said display
assembly produces a corresponding rotation and vertical movement of
said shaft with respect to said tubular member to adjust said
display assembly in a required vertical position, a bushing fixed
to said shaft adjacent to the upper end thereof and having an
opening formed therein, said clutch member having a body portion
the configuration of which corresponds to the configuration of the
opening in the bushing, a portion of said body portion of the
clutch member being received in the opening in the bushing wherein
relative rotary movement between said clutch member and bushing is
prevented, and said means fixed to said display assembly including
a plate that forms the top of said display assembly, said plate
having an opening formed therein the configuration of which
corresponds to that of the opening in said bushing wherein said
clutch member is movable upwardly for simultaneous location of the
body portion thereof in the bushing and the opening in the plate,
wherein said shaft and display assembly are interlocked for
rotation together.
9. A display rack, comprising a base, a tubular support member
mounted on said base in vertical relation, a shaft located in said
support member and having an upper portion that projects
thereabove, said shaft being interengaged with said tubular support
member so as to be vertically adjustable with respect thereto, a
display assembly mounted on the upper portion of said shaft, means
for vertically adjusting the position of said shaft with respect to
said tubular support member wherein the vertical position of said
display assembly is adjusted, said adjusting means including a
clutch member that is interengaged with said shaft, means fixed to
said display assembly for receiving said clutch member in engaging
relation, wherein said clutch member interlocks said display
assembly to said shaft, and means for moving said clutch member to
the engaging position thereof, whereafter rotation of said display
assembly produces a corresponding rotation and vertical movement of
said shaft with respect to said tubular member to adjust said
display assembly in a required vertical position, said means fixed
to said display assembly including a plate having a non-circular
opening formed therein, said display assembly including a housing
to the upper end of which said plate is secured, said clutch member
having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration that
corresponds to the configuration of the opening in said plate, said
means for moving said clutch member including a knob fixed to the
upper end thereof for vertically lifting said clutch member into
the opening in said plate for interconnecting said shaft and
display assembly.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a display rack and has particular
application in the display of garments or other merchandise that
are displayed for sale in a retail establishment.
Various kinds of garment display racks and particularly rotatable
racks are used in retail establishments for the display and sale of
merchandise such as clothing and the like. Many of these display
racks are of the fixed vertical position type, wherein the display
unit of the rack is located in a fixed vertical position according
to the manufacturing specifications. Heretofore, some of these
prior known display racks have included some form of vertical
adjustment, wherein the display unit was elevated vertically to
locate the merchandise on the rack in various desired positions of
display. However, the means for adjusting the vertical position of
these prior known display units was cumbersome and inefficient and
oftentimes very difficult to operate. One of the more common types
of adjustable racks included a spring plunger that was secured
within a tubular member and that was designed to be received in one
of a plurality of openings as formed in a vertical leg. Although
such a device did perform the function of providing for adjusted
vertical positions of the display unit, it was sometimes difficult
to use; and oftentimes the spring elements therein were broken or
became disengaged from the position of use and therefore rendered
the adjustment device inoperative.
In all of these prior known vertical adjustment devices for display
racks, it was necessary to physically lift a component of the rack
to accomplish the adjustment; and this was difficult to accomplish,
particularly if the rack was loaded with merchandise or if the rack
were a fairly large one, wherein it was not only heavy but it was
also cumbersome, thereby rendering it difficult to effect the
required adjustment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a display rack having a base to
which a tubular support member is secured in vertical relation. A
shaft is located in the support member and projects thereabove. The
shaft is interengaged with the tubular support member so as to be
vertically adjustable with respect thereto and has a display
assembly mounted on the upper portion thereof. The display assembly
normally rotates on the shaft in the desired position of use and
carries garment support members thereon. In order to provide for
the adjustment of the hanger assembly with respect to the shaft, a
clutch member is provided and is located interiorly of the display
assembly and within the shaft. The clutch member is movable
manually for engagement with a plate having a noncircular opening
formed therein, the opening having a configuration that corresponds
to the cross-sectional configuration of the clutch member, the
plate also being secured to the display assembly so that when the
clutch member is moved into the engaging position thereof with the
plate, the display assembly is mounted for rotation with the shaft.
Since the shaft is supported within the support member such that
rotation relative therebetween produces a vertical movement of the
shaft, the interengagement of the clutch which fixes the display
assembly to the shaft will result in a vertical movement of the
display member with the shaft as these members are rotated relative
to the support member.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
device for adjusting the vertical position of a rotatable housing
and that includes a clutch member that is slidably mounted on a
shaft, wherein the shaft is mounted on a support for vertical
adjustment with respect thereto, the clutch member being movable to
interengage the housing and shaft so that rotatable movement
thereof produces a corresponding vertical adjustment therefor.
Another object of the invention is to provide a vertical adjustment
for a fully loaded display rack wherein the display portion of the
rack having merchandise located thereon is adjusted vertically by
the simple rotation thereof following manual engagement of a clutch
assembly.
Still another object is to provide a garment display rack that is
normally rotatable and that includes a housing on which garment
support members are mounted, the housing being vertically
adjustable without removal of the garments from the support
members.
Still another object is to provide a vertical adjustable garment
display assembly that is supported on a shaft that is, in turn,
mounted on a tubular support, a clutch being operable to produce
vertical adjustment of the garment display assembly upon rotation
thereof.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall
become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered
in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently
contemplated for carrying out the present invention:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the display rack as embodied in the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the display rack
illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the elements for effecting the
vertical adjustment of the display assembly are illustrated in the
inoperative position thereof;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the clutch member
that provides for vertical adjustment of the display assembly in
the operative position thereof, wherein vertical adjustment of the
display assembly is accomplished; and
FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper portion of the
display rack showing the clutch member in the operative position
thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, a garment
display rack as embodied in the present invention is illustrated
and is generally indicated at 10. As shown the display rack 10
includes a base generally indicated at 11 defined by leg members
12, to which vertical feet 14 are secured at the outer ends
thereof. It is understood that the base as shown is for
illustrative purposes only and may be of any suitable design as
determined by the ornamental requirements of the rack. Fixed to the
leg members 12 of the base 11 and extending upwardly therefrom is a
tubular support member 16, and received within the tubular support
member 16 is a shaft 18, which as will be described is vertically
movable relative to the tubular support 16 when a vertical
adjustment of the display rack is required. Mounted on the shaft 18
for rotation with respect thereto is a display assembly generally
indicated at 20 that includes a housing 22 from which arms 24
radiate. A display ring 26 is conveniently mounted on the outermost
ends of the arms 24 and receives garment hangers thereon for
display of garments. Although the display assembly as shown
includes the display ring 26, it is understood that various display
devices and constructions may be employed with the display assembly
20 for the display of merchandise as required.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the tubular support 16 as shown is secured
to the base 11 between the leg members 12; and secured within the
tubular support 16 adjacent to the lowermost end thereof is a jack
28 that includes an upwardly extending threaded stem 30. Joined to
the lowermost end of the shaft 18 is a bushing 32 that is threaded
interiorly, and that receives the threaded stem 30 of the jack 28
therein. Since the jack 28 is fixed to the tubular support 16, it
is seen that rotation of the shaft 18 relative to the tubular
support 16 will produce a corresponding vertical movement of the
shaft 18.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the housing 22 of the display
assembly 20 is shown as being tubular in construction and having a
ball bearing assembly 34 located at the bottommost end thereof that
is received on the shaft 18. A similar ball bearing assembly 36 is
located within the housing 22 adjacent to the upper end thereof and
is also received on the shaft 18, the ball bearing assemblies 34
and 36 providing for rotation of the housing 22 with respect to the
shaft 18 in the normal use of the display rack. In this connection,
the display ring 26 that is secured to the housing 22 through the
arms 24 rotates with respect to the shaft 18, and garments mounted
on hangers that are suspended from the display ring 26 may be
inspected by customers by rotation of the display assembly 20. A
set collar 38 that includes a set screw 40 is mounted on the shaft
18 below the bearing assembly 34 and positively locates the display
assembly 20 in vertical position relative to the shaft 18.
On occasion it may be desirable or necessary to elevate or lower
the display assembly 20, and for this purpose a clutch member
generally indicated at 42 is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the
clutch member 42 includes a main body portion 43 that is hexagonal
in cross-sectional configuration and that is received in a bushing
44 having a bore formed therein, the configuration of which
corresponds to that of the body portion 43 of the clutch member 42.
The bushing 44 is welded to the upper end of the shaft 18
interiorly thereof and is formed as an integral part thereof.
Joined to the body portion 43 of the clutch member 42 is an
upwardly extending reduced portion 46 which is externally threaded
and receives a knob 48 thereon. The threaded reduced portion 46 of
the clutch member 42 projects through a plate 50 having an opening
52 formed therein, the configuration of which corresponds to that
of the bore in the bushing 44 and to the cross-sectional
configuration of the clutch member 42. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4,
the knob 48 that is secured to the upper threaded end 46 of the
clutch member 42 is located above the plate 50 and is easily
available for manipulation when a vertical adjustment of the
display assembly 20 is required. In order to maintain the clutch
member 42 in a positive vertical position, a lower disc 54 is
secured to the body portion 43 and has an annular groove formed
therein in which a rubber O-ring 56 is received. The O-ring 56
engages the interior wall of the shaft 18 and acts to positively
locate the clutch member 42 in the required position of use.
When an adjustment of the display assembly 20 is necessary, the
knob 48 is grasped and pulled upwardly as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5,
thereby moving the upper portion of the body portion 43 of the
clutch member 42 into the opening 52 of the plate 50. The lower
portion of the body portion 43 of the clutch member 42 remains in
the bushing 44; and since the bushing 44 is secured to the shaft 18
and the upper plate 50 is secured to the housing 22, the clutch
member 42 interconnects the shaft 18 to the housing 22. It is seen,
therefore, that rotation of the housing 22 produces a corresponding
rotation of the shaft 18. As the shaft 18 rotates, the bushing 32
joined to the bottommost end thereof is caused to vertically move
with respect to the threaded stem 30 of the jack 23 that is secured
to the base 11 of the display rack. The shaft 18 and the display
assembly 20 interconnected thereto through the clutch member 42
then move correspondingly in a vertical direction in accordance
with the direction of rotation of the display assembly 20. When the
display assembly 20 has reached the required vertical position, the
knob 48 is released and the clutch member 42 is moved downwardly to
clear the opening 52 in the plate 50 and the clutch member is
returned to the inoperative position thereof as illustrated in FIG.
2. The set collar 38 which had been previously loosened is then
adjusted vertically after the display assembly has reached the
required vertical position and is thereafter tightened at the
appropriate location so as to positively retain the display
assembly in its adjusted position.
It is seen that the display assembly 20 is conveniently and quickly
moved to a required vertical position by simply elevating the knob
48 which moves the clutch member 42 into the opening 52 for
engagement with the plate 50. Rotation of the display assembly 20
then produces the corresponding vertical movement thereof for
location in the desired vertical position. It is also seen that the
vertical adjustment of the display assembly 20 can be accomplished
with the display assembly fully loaded with garments, and thus it
is not necessary to remove the garments from the display assembly
if a vertical adjustment thereof is necessary. Adjustment of the
display assembly 20 to an upper or lower position is conveniently
accomplished by rotation of the housing 22 in a counter or
counterclockwise movement, depending upon the required position of
use of the display ring 26.
Although the clutch member 42 is illustrated as being hexagonal in
configuration, and the bore of the bushing 44 and the hole 52
formed in the plate 50 have a configuration corresponding to that
of the clutch member 42, it is understood that any non-circular
shape can be utilized therefor. It is also understood that a keyway
or spline construction could also be utilized with the clutch
member 42 for interengaging the clutch member with the bushing 44
and plate 50.
While there is shown and described herein certain specific
structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those
skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of
the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope
of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not
limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except
insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *