Sales Display Rack For Boxed Articles And The Like

Abstract

A sales display rack comprises a rack leaf having a pair of hingedly connected frame sections arranged for normal closed face-to-face confronting relation and adapted to be swung apart to open relation. Pockets in the sections support a plurality of articles substantially exposed for sales inspection in the closed relation of the sections but retain the articles against removal from the leaf until the sections are swung open. A stand may be provided for mounting the rack leaf in a position to facilitate inspection of articles supported thereby as a wing together with other of the leaves upon a turntable or carrousel arrangement. For securing the sections against unauthorized opening a latch with a key operated lock may be provided.

Description

This invention relates to sales display racks and is more particularly concerned with such a rack which will support boxed articles and the like in a manner which will invite inspection but which will fully protect the articles against unauthorized removal from the rack.

In offering for sale articles of the kind which have diversity of content, such, for example, as packaged rolls of motion picture film, packets of slides, stereo tape cartridges, and the like, a problem of display to facilitate choice of subject by the customer is presented. Further, since such articles are generally of a convenient pocket size and of substantial value, temptation for theft is present in casual, open counter or rack display of the articles.

Pursuant to the principles of the present invention, the foregoing and other problems are advantageously overcome in a sales display rack structure in the form of a leaf which has a pair of hingedly connected complementary frame sections having inner and outer faces arranged for normal closed face-to-face confronting relation of said inner faces and adapted to be swung to open relation, with means on each of said sections for supporting a plurality of articles loaded thereon at said inner faces in said open relation and substantially exposed for sales inspection at said outer faces in the closed relation of the sections, and retaining the articles against removal from the leaf except when the sections are swung open to enable such removal. Means are provided for mounting the leaf in a position to facilitate inspection of the articles supported thereby. Means are provided for latching the sections in the closed relation.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved display rack for boxed articles and the like which will efficiently display the articles and enable inspection thereof by potential customers, but which will retain the articles against unauthorized removal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sales display rack of the character described which has a large capacity for displaying numerous articles having diverse contents to facilitate choice by prospective customers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sales display rack of the character described which is simple and sturdy in construction, is of large capacity, is easily and conveniently mounted for display purposes, is convenient for access thereinto, but positively protects the contents against theft.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved sales display rack for boxed articles and the like in which an articles may be removed from a plurality of articles in a vertical row while the remaining articles are held in their relative positions in the row.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a sales display rack assembly embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of one of the rack leaves and the rotary standard therefor.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional detail view taken substantially on the line III-III of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional detail view taken substantially on the line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmental side elevational view of the rotary standard and one of the rack leaves demonstrating means for mounting the lead on the standard.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line VI-VI of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line VII-VII of FIG. 1.

On reference to FIG. 1, a display rack assembly is depicted, by way of example, comprising a plurality of rack leaves 10 supported at a suitable convenient display height on a stand 11 which may comprise a supply cabinet and which has mounted thereon a vertical standard 12 (FIG. 2) on which the leaves are carried, preferably in the manner of a carrousel or turntable to enable consecutive inspection of the contents of each of the rack leaves by a prospective customer standing at one place adjacent the stand.

According to the present invention, each of the rack leaves 10 comprises a pair of complementary frame sections 13 and 14 of preferably rectangular form and in this instance of greater height than width connected along one vertical edge by hinge means such as a pair of vertically spaced double leaf hinges 15 (FIGS. 2 and 6). In a desirable construction, each of the sections 13 and 14 comprises a substantially identical outer frame of functionally integrally joined channel shaped bars, as shown, with the channels opening inwardly and providing at least part of means on the sections for supporting a plurality of articles in substantially exposed manner for sales inspection. In this instance the sections are equipped to support for sales display rectangular articles 17 (FIGS. 1 and 6) such as boxed packages of diverse contents identifiable by inspection of the container or box and more particularly at least one face of the box. Although it will be appreciated that numerous kinds of articles may be handled in a display rack of the kind here presented, an example of articles for which the rack is especially suitable are boxed stereo tape cartridges of the kind employed in stereo players such as may be installed in automobiles.

In order to enable each of the leaves 10 as a wing of the display to support a plurality of rows of the articles 17, the space within each of the sectional frames is divided into a plurality of multiarticle compartments or pockets which may extend horizontally or vertically, and in this instance are shown as extending vertically. Each of the pockets is constructed to receive the articles edge-to-edge in a common plane to expose as great an area of at least one face of the articles as practicable for easy inspection and selection of the particular recorded titles or other identification of contents on the articles. To this end, flanged vertical divider bars 18 are secured in vertical relation and fixedly connected to the upper and lower horizontal frame bars of the respective sections 13 and 14, with the bars 18 equally spaced from one another and from the adjacent vertical or side bars of the section frames. Such spacing is predetermined with respect to the width of the articles 17 so that when the articles are mounted in the respective pockets, the articles will confront at their vertical edges the vertical bars of the frame or the divider bars 18.

In order to retain the articles 17 against removal from the pockets when the frame sections 13 and 14 are closed, all of the divider bars 18 have oppositely extending retaining flanges 19 along the outer face of the respective section, coplanar with one another and with the corresponding flanges of the frame. Along the inner, confronting faces of the sections, the bars 18 have respective coplanar retaining flanges 20 only as needed to provide for each pocket one complete side retaining channel while at the opposite side of the pocket the divider bar lacks such a flange so that instead of a channel-shaped groove, a rabbet is provided opening inwardly. For example, as will be observed in FIG. 6, on the section 13, the left-hand divider bar 18 has a rabbet at the side which confronts the channel groove of the left-hand vertical side bar of the frame. On its opposite side the left-hand divider provides a channel groove while the right-hand divider bar has respective opposite rabbets which confront the channel grooves provided by respectively the left-hand divider bar 18 and the right vertical side bar of the frame 13 (FIG. 7). Similarly, on the section 14 the left-hand divider bar 18 as viewed in FIG. 6 has no flanges at the inner side of the section while the right-hand divider bar has one of the flanges 20 extending generally toward the left-hand bar, and providing a rabbet confronting the channel groove of the right side bar of the frame 14. For manufacturing convenience and standardization, each of the sections 13 and 14 is desirably constructed substantially identically insofar as the frame and divider bar arrangement is concerned. Accordingly, it will be observed that if the sections 13 and 14 are opened out to lie in a common plane, the flange arrangement of the divider bars 18 will appear the same when viewed from the normally inside faces of the sections.

In order to retain the articles 17 reasonably firmly against unintentional displacement from the pockets when the rack sections are open and also to retain the articles reasonably firmly against vertical slippage out of loaded position within any of the pockets, resiliently yieldable pressure pad means are provided along one vertical edge of each of the pockets, desirably comprising in each instance a vertical strip 21 within the channel groove of each pocket. An efficient material for the pressure pads 21 comprises a high friction polyurethane foam strip material of a thickness suitable to provide substantial back pressure when the articles 17 are loaded into the pockets in the manner shown in dash outline in FIG. 6, namely, by sidewardly inserting the respective article into the channel groove and then swinging the article fully into position within the pocket with the opposite edge of the article engaging within the associated rabbet. Thereupon the back pressure developed by compression of the pressure pad 21 thrusts the article reasonably firmly against the divider bar providing the rabbet and frictionally cradles the pad-engaged edge of the article to retain the article against unintentional displacement from the pocket in the opened condition of the rack leaf and also against slipping vertically out of the mounted position in the pocket, even though an article therebelow may be removed from the pocket. Through this arrangement, loading of articles into the pockets and individual removal thereof is relatively simply and easily effected in the open condition of the leaf. Where a preferred order of display of the articles in the pockets is decided upon, replacements of identical articles may be readily effected when it is desired to refill the rack. It is also a desirable arrangement for inventory control.

When the section of the rack leaf are closed, no article can be removed therefrom, even though there may be empty spaces in any of the pockets or even if any of the pockets is empty on any one of the sections. Such unintentional removal is assured by having the thickness of the sections 13 and 14 only sufficient to comfortably accommodate the articles 17, and by having the width of the outer flanges 19 sufficient to block escape of any article even if canted across both of the sections in the closed condition thereof.

In addition, means are provided for securing the sections 13 and 14 against unauthorized opening. In a simple and convenient arrangement, a latch 22 (FIG. 1 and 7) is provided comprising a generally U-shaped member comprising a web and two generally coextensive legs comprising an intermediately hinged leg 23 having a hinge plate portion thereof permanently secured to the outer face of one of the frame sections 13 and 14, and herein the section 13, at the side thereof opposite the hinges 15 and preferably about midway vertically thereon. At its opposite side, the latch member 22 has a latching leg 24 which when the latching member is swung from an opened position as shown in dot-dash outline in FIG. 7 to the full line position, holds the closed rack sections in that condition. Unintentional unlatching is prevented by means of a lock 25 which may be of the tumbler variety mounted on the web of the latch member 22 and having a swingable bolt arm 27 operable by manipulation of a removable key 28 to swing into and out of locking relation to a keeper 29 fixedly mounted in proper position on the adjacent edge of the section 14. Through this arrangement, an authorized person, such as a salesperson, supplier, and the like may readily open the rack leaf for removal of articles or replacement of articles, but persons without a key cannot gain access to the articles except to inspect the same, which may be freely done by reason of the minimal obscuring of the outer faces of the articles within the substantial windows provided between the frame bars of the rack leaf sections.

Mounting of each of the rack leaves 10 on the standard 12 may be permanent, but in a convenient construction enabling ready setting up of the display from a knock-down condition and disassembly for each transportation to a new location or for storage. To enable easy supply service replacement of individual leaves, a separable attachment is provided wherein the hinged edge portion of each of the leaves 10 has on its lower end a generally L-shaped bracket 30 and an upper end similar, complementary generally L-shaped bracket 31. Each of these attachment brackets 30 and 31 has a horizontal body bar which is secured to the adjacent end frame bars of one of the sections 13 and 14 and freely slidably engages the end frame bars of the other of the sections whereby to provide a stable support for both of the sections but permitting free hinged opening and closing of the sections. If preferred, of course, the brackets may be secured to only one of the sections and be of a width equal to about the thickness of such section. For removable attachment to the standard 12, the brackets 30 and 31 extend a limited distance beyond the adjacent vertical edge of the leaf 10 and each has a downwardly extending tang aligned with the other tang and adapted for engagement within vertically aligned respective receiving socket apertures 32 and 33, respectively in a lower end horizontal foot flange 34 on the standard and an upper end horizontal head flange 35 on the standard (FIGS. 1--3 and 5). For quick and easy finding of the aligned relationship of the bracket tangs and the socket apertures, the upper bracket tang is desirably longer than the lower bracket tang so that in mounting the rack leaf attention need only be given to registration of the upper bracket tang with the aperture 33 and downward movement of the leaf, whereupon finding of the socket aperture 32 by the lower bracket tang is a simple sequential maneuver, as readily indicated in FIG. 5. As many of the rack leaves 10 as may conveniently and efficiently be mounted on the standard 12 in a radial vertical plane relation thereto are accommodated by having the flanges 34 and 35 of substantial diameter about the axis of the standard 12 and having as many as desired of the aligned socket apertures 32 and 33 therein. In the example illustrated, provision is made for four of the leaves 10, but six or eight or any other number of leaves may be provided for, depending on the size and other factors involved in the display.

For quick and easy assembly, the standard 12 is desirably tubular and adapted to be mounted about a complementary post 37 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) having a lower end portion adapted to be received slidably in a ferrule 38 mounted in a socket 29 and extending upwardly in a top 40 of the cabinet stand 11. Through this arrangement, the sequence of assembly is simply to mount the post 37 vertically in the ferrule 38 and then slide the tubular standard 12 down onto the post, or to insert the post 37 into the hollow standard and then mount the post in the ferrule 38, whereafter the rack leaves 10 may be readily hung on the flanges of the standard.

For turntable or carrousel rotation of the standard and the rack leaves carried thereby, antifriction bearing means such as a ball bearing assembly 41 are interposed between the foot flange 34 of the standard and the upper end of the ferrule 38 which is desirably located about flush with or only very slightly above the upper surface of the top 40. While the ball bearing assembly 40 may comprise suitable bearings and circular races in a ring assembly loosely mounted about the post 37, the bearing assembly may be carried by the post, as shown, and provide an antifriction shoulder on which the foot flange 34 rests. Thereby, a person inspecting the articles carried by the several rack leaves 10 may rotate the standard and rack assembly by pushing on the respective leaves toward the left or right as desired.

For advertising display, an attention getter may be provided such as a display sign holder 42 (FIG. 1) which may be mounted on a bracket 43 carried by the head flange 35. If preferred, of course, the display sign bracket 43 may be mounted on the upper end of the post 37. If desired, also, means may be provided for effecting rotary movement of the display sign holder 42 or the entire rotary rack assembly as, for example, by means of a suitable driving connection with the post 37 or the ferrule 38 and a person desiring to stop any of the leaves 10 for closer inspection of the articles carried thereby need then only take hold of the desired leaf 10 and thereby stop the same, with the bearings 41 acting as a slip clutch.

It will be understood that variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A sales display rack structure of the character described, comprising: a rack leaf having a pair of hingedly connected complementary frame sections having inner and outer faces arranged for normal closed face-to-face confronting relation of said inner faces and adapted to be swung apart to open relation; means on each of said sections for supporting a plurality of articles loaded thereon at said inner faces in said open relation and substantially exposed for sales inspection at said outer faces in said closed relation and retaining the articles against removal from the leaf except when the sections are swung open to enable such removal; means for mounting said leaf in a position to facilitate inspection of the articles supported thereby; and means for latching said sections in the closed relation.

2. A display rack structure according to claim 1, each of said frame sections comprising spaced parallel bars providing article-receiving pockets, each of said pockets having an article edge receiving channel groove along one side and an article edge receiving rabbet at the opposite side with the rabbets opening toward said inner faces in said closed relation.

3. A sales display rack structure according to claim 2, comprising resiliently yieldable pressure pad means in said channel grooves acting on the articles to thrust them frictionally into the respective rabbets.

4. A sales display rack structure according to claim 3, said pressure pad means comprising frictional foam strip material cradling the engaged edge portions of the articles and retaining the articles substantially against longitudinal displacement in the pockets.

5. A sales display rack structure according to claim 1, said means for mounting said leaf comprising a vertical standard, means on said standard for supporting a plurality of similar leaves in vertical planes generally radial to said standard and in circumferentially spaced relation, and antifriction means supporting said standard for rotation about its axis.

6. A sales display rack structure according to claim 5, said standard being tubular, a stand, and a post mounted on said stand to extend vertically and on and about which said standard is engaged rotatably.

7. A sales display rack structure according to claim 1, said means for mounting said leaf comprising a vertical standard on which the leaf is carried in a vertical plane, head means at the upper end of said standard including an upwardly extending central bracket, and a display sign device carried by said bracket centered above said standard.

8. A sales display rack structure according to claim 1, including means hinging said sections at rear edges thereof, said mounting means being located at said rear edges, and said latching means being located at front edges of said sections and including means for locking the sections against unauthorized opening.

9. A display rack structure according to claim 1, said latching means comprising a U-shaped member engaging edges of said sections therein, and means for locking the member in latching relation to said section edges.

10. A sales display rack structure of the character described, comprising: a rack leaf having a pair of hingedly connected complementary frame sections arranged for normal closed face-to-face confronting relation and adapted to be swung apart to open relation; means on said section for supporting a plurality of articles substantially exposed for sales inspection in said closed relation but retaining the articles against removal from the leaf until the sections are swung open to enable such removal; means for mounting said leaf in a position to facilitate inspection of the articles supported thereby; a latch member hingedly mounted on one of said sections and swinging into open and latching relation to the other of said sections; a key operated lock mounted on said latch member and having a bolt; and a keeper on the other of said sections engageable lockingly by said bolt in the latching position of said latch member.