Panel Mounting Apparatus

Abstract

A panel mounting apparatus in which the upper and lower edges of a panel are removably slip fitted in channels which are attached to a backing structure. The channels comprise elongated U-shaped members having a pair of legs and a bottom portion, wherein the leg of each elongated member which contacts the backing structure is longer than the other leg so that fasteners may be readily applied to the longer leg to secure the elongated members to the backing structure. The distance between the upper and lower edges of the panel is less than the distance between the outer edge of the shorter leg of one of the elongated members and the bottom portion of the other elongated member and is greater than the distance between the outer edge of the shorter leg of said other elongated member and the bottom portion of said one elongated member.

Description

SPECIFICATION

This invention relates to a structure which may be rapidly assembled to provide storage and display area for various canned and bottled goods.

Broadly, the apparatus of this invention includes two channel members mounted on a supporting structure in spaced-apart relationship so that a panel may be slipped into the channel members and supported thereby. This invention provides an apparatus which may be assembled or disassembled with a minimum of skill and equipment in a short period of time. This apparatus may be adjusted to convenient widths adapted to suit whatever space is available.

For purposes of illustrating the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation view of the apparatus of this invention; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the apparatus during installation.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a supporting structure 10 to which is affixed a first elongated U-shaped channel member 12. Channel member 12 is provided with one leg 14 of which rests against supporting structure 10 and opposite leg 16 which is shown somewhat shorter than one leg 14. Opposite leg 16 extends from bottom portion 18 to outer edge 20.

Second elongated U-shaped channel member 22 is affixed to supporting structure 10 in a spaced-apart parallel relationship to first channel member 12. Second channel member 22 is provided with one leg 24 which is affixed to supporting structure 10. Opposite leg 26 is shorter than one leg 24 and is also shorter than the opposite leg 16 of first channel member 12. Opposite leg 26 extends from bottom portion 28 to outer edge 30.

First and second channel members 12 and 22 are affixed to supporting structure 10 in spaced-apart parallel relationship with their open channels facing towards one another. In this configuration first channel member 12 is adapted to slidably receive first side 34 of panel 32 and second channel member 22 is adapted to slidably receive second side 36 of panel 32. First and second sides 34 and 36 respectively extend parallel to one another and are spaced apart for a distance which is less than the distance between outer edge 30 and bottom portion 18, but is greater than the distance between outer edge 20 and bottom portion 28.

Panel 32 is provided with tracks 38 in which are located slots 40. Slots 40 are adapted to receive the attachment brackets for shelves 42. Longitudinally extending slots 40 permit the adjustment of shelves 42 upwardly and downwardly to the limits of the slots 40.

A platform 44 extends outwardly from beneath bottom 28 in a direction which is generally perpendicular to panel 32. Shelves 42 are adapted to extend parallel with the upper surface of platform 44.

In use the bottles, cans or other containers which are to be stored or displayed on apparatus of this invention are placed on the upper surface of platform 44 beneath the lower shelf 42. When this area is full then objects are placed on top of the lower shelf 42 which moves down in slots 40 until it rests on top of the objects supported by platform 44. As soon as lower shelf 42 is full the next shelf is filled with objects which bring it to rest on top of the objects placed on the lower shelf. This procedure is continued until all of the shelves associated with a given panel are filled. This apparatus is particularly adapted for use in storing empty soft drink bottles which are being held by a store until they can be returned to the soft drink supplier.

In constructing the apparatus of this invention second channel member 22 is placed in position and secured, for example, by screws 45 passed through one leg 24 at a position slightly above outer edge 30. The screws are embedded in supporting structure 10. Designing second channel member 22 so that one leg 24 is longer than opposite leg 26 permits ready access to the screws, nails or other fasteners which secure second channel member 22 to supporting structure 10. Likewise, the increased length of one leg 14 over opposite leg 16 also permits ready access to the fastening means such as screws 47 which secure first channel member 12 to supporting structure 10. After second channel member 22 is fastened in place spacer 46 is inserted in the open channel and second side 36 of panel 32 is positioned on top of spacer 46. First channel member 12 is then placed over first side 34 of panel 32 to provide the arrangement shown particularly in FIG. 4. The location of first channel member 12 is noted by appropriate marking means on structure 10 and panel 32 is withdrawn to permit the fastening of first channel member 12 to supporting structure 10. This procedure automatically positions first and second channel members 12 and 22, respectively, in the desired spaced-apart parallel relationship. Spacer 46 is provided with a desired predetermined thickness which is essentially equal to the distance from bottom 28 to outer edge 30. This provides for proper spacing so that panel 32 may be inserted to the full depth of the channel in first channel member 12 as indicated by phantom lines in FIG. 2, from a position outside second channel member 22. With first side 34 inserted to the full depth of the channel in first channel member 12, panel 32 may then be swung into position so that second side 36 is over the channel in second channel member 22. The direction of motion is indicated by the horizontal arrow in FIG. 2. Once second side 36 is positioned directly over the channel in second channel member 22, panel 32 is moved downward as indicated by the vertical arrow in FIG. 2 so that second side 36 is slidably received in the channel of second channel member 22. First slide 34 is retained slidably positioned in the channel of first channel member 12 because opposite leg 16 is longer than opposite leg 26. Panel 32 is secured in position by screws 48 which pass through opposite leg 16 and into panel 32.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art what has been described are preferred embodiments in which changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus mounted to a support structure comprising: a. a first elongated U-shaped member having two legs and a bottom portion where one leg is longer than the other leg, and having a plurality of apertures in said one leg in that portion of the leg extending beyond the shorter other leg; b. a second elongated U-shaped member spaced from and positioned parallel to said first elongated member having two legs and a bottom portion where one leg is longer than the other leg, and having a plurality of apertures in said one leg in that portion of the leg extending beyond the shorter other leg, said other leg of said first elongated member being longer than the shorter other leg of said second elongated member; c. fasteners attaching said first and said second elongated members to said support structure, said fasteners positioned through said apertures in the longer one leg of said first and said second elongated members with said longer legs being positioned in contact with said support structure; and d. a panel positioned upon said bottom portion of said second elongated member and entrapped by said legs of said first and said second elongated members, said panel having first and second spaced-apart sides being essentially parallel to each other and to the first and second elongated members the distance between said sides of said panel being less than the distance between the outer edge of the shorter other leg of said second elongated member and the bottom portion of the first elongated member, and greater than the distance between the outer edge of the shorter other leg of said first elongated member and the bottom portion of said second

2. A display apparatus mounted to a support structure comprising: a. a platform positioned adjacent said support structure; b. a first elongated U-shaped member having two legs and a bottom portion where one leg is longer than the other leg, and having a plurality of apertures in said one leg in that portion of the leg extending beyond the shorter other leg; c. a second elongated U-shaped member spaced from said first elongated member and positioned adjoining said platform, said second elongated member having two legs and a bottom portion where one leg is longer than the other leg, and having a plurality of apertures in said one leg in that portion of the leg extending beyond the shorter other leg; d. fasteners attaching said first and second elongated members to said support structure, said fasteners positioned through said apertures in said first and second elongated members with said longer legs being positioned in contact with said support structure; e. a panel positioned upon said bottom portion of said second elongated member and entrapped by said legs of said first and second elongated members, said panel having lateral edges and first and second spaced-apart sides being essentially parallel to each other and to the first and second elongated member, the distance between said sides of said panel being less than the distance between the outer edge of the shorter other leg of said second elongated member and the bottom portion of the first elongated member, and greater than the distance between the outer edge of the shorter other leg of said first elongated member and the bottom portion of said second elongated member; f. a pair of tracks, each having a plurality of elongated slots and each attached to one of the lateral edges of said panel; and g. a plurality of shelves mounted to said tracks and extending in a direction generally parallel to but spaced from said platform.