Display Systems Or Devices For Substantially Flat Articles

Abstract

The invention contemplates a novel display device or rack with supports and tray construction, which is adapted to be engaged by pegs, studs, rods and like support means forming parts of the rack. Such tray has a top face for retaining a swatch or sample of flat material, article and the like and has further an underface or bottom on which locking means in the form of fingers for retaining and pivotally coupling the tray in the rack are accommodated. The tray is first "pushed" into the rack for location and then "pulled" into locking or snap position, in which each finger attached to the rear or end wall of the tray comes to embrace a correspondingly shaped rearward support for firm location thereon and for pivotal movement thereabout. The forward support may determine the tray inclination or angle assumed between rearward supports and forward supports in the rack.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention overcomes primarily undesirable disadvantages generally inherent in display structures and tends to aim at a reduction of the manufacturing cost and at a space saving simplification of the conformation and installation of display setups or trays, in particular for the use in connection with carpet and like flat samples, or swatches of textile, cellulosic, as well as plastic materials.

It is therefore one of the objects of the invention to provide means facilitating firm anchorage and convenient removal of display trays with respect to a display rack in a highly efficacious manner accompanied by click or snap action of tray parts so that the display trays may not be inadvertently or neglectfully dislocated or shifted from their effective lodgement on the rack.

It is another object of the invention to provide means resulting in a substantially concealed arrangement of locking means in the tray body, so that the trays may be readily stacked and stored away when not in use, protruding and accessory parts being effectively avoided in this tray construction.

Still a further object of the invention resides in the provision of means contributing to a very sturdy and impact-resistant display carrier or like structure which has reinforcing ribs or like stays, between which snap-action powered hook-shaped finger means are arranged without presenting any protrusion or hindrance during operation (insertion and removal) of the display carriers or trays relative to the display rack.

The invention aims also at a special construction of the locking finger means offering the possibility of being incorporated in cabinet drawers, or other furniture pieces and generally in locking devices where a certain resistance may be required to be introduced or released before a final locking or unlocking operation can be effectuated.

The invention contemplates also the provision of means conducive to a very efficacious and space saving display equipment, which is completely devoid of any metallic parts for the assembly thereof, does not require any tools or accessories for its operation or maneuverability to various (horizontal, angular or intermediate) positions, and may be manipulated by unskilled labor without endangering breakage of the display trays.

Yet a further object of the invention is the provision of means contributing to a greatly improved and lightweight tray or carrier structure of the type herein referred to, which allows unobstructed exposure and examination of sample materials, especially of carpet samples, as to their colors, patterns, quality of backing layers, etc., and furthermore removal of samples from the carrier structure, if desired.

Another important object of the invention is to provide means envisioning easy enlargement and convenient mounting of the trays or carriers on the display rack or like equipment.

These and other aims and objects of the invention ensue from the following detailed description, which has reference to the attached drawing, the latter being exemplary and explanatory of the principles of the invention and being in no way restrictive thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a piece of display equipment with a plurality of display carriers or trays made according to the invention, one of the trays being in the process of being operated to assume final operative position, which is different from that of another tray already in its display location.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the trays pursuant to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the tray of FIG. 2, as seen somewhat toward the underface and rear wall of the tray shown in perspective.

FIG. 4 is a partial bottom plan view of a tray in its locked position and made pursuant to the invention, parts being broken off for a better understanding of the operation of the tray.

FIG. 5 is a partial bottom plan view similar to that of FIG. 4, but showing only one of the locking means in released or partly unlocked position relative to a peg support.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, the section being enlarged and taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of a locking means somewhat modified and in the process of being inserted and attached to a rib or like boxwall of a tray for replacement purposes.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view, as seen from above, showing U-shaped sidewall extension means adjoined to a rack rear wall for enlarging the depth of the rack and employing differently placed rear pegs or supports.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now more specifically to the attached drawing, there has been disclosed in FIG. 1 a display equipment or rack 10, which comprises a plurality of side panels or walls 11, 12, 13, and a plurality of trays 15 later referred to in greater detail. Sidewalls 11, 12, etc. have forward and rearward rows of support means, such as pegs or rods 11a, 11b; 12a, 12b; 13a, 13b, etc. These rows of pegs or tray supports may be differently arranged, if desired, and the distance between the rows may be enlarged or reduced depending primarily upon the respective size or dimensions of the display trays employed. The rack 10 may have also a rear wall 16, which in some instances, may be completely omitted or may be so connected to the normal rack equipment 10, that it also provides a greater depth. In this latter case, U-shaped extension or projection parts may be removably attached to the rearward ends of side panels 11, 12, 13, etc., and rear wall 16 will then be connected to such rear extension or distance parts 17 which may be e.g., telescopically added to the aforesaid sidewalls or panels for achieving depth regulation for the rack equipment (FIG. 8).

Trays 15 together with all their parts may be injection molded and possess a substantially flat underface 29a, and a flat surface 18, which can be perforated as at 19 to further reduce the weight of such trays considerably (only indicated at 19 in upper tray 15). The forward edge 21 of tray 15 is clampingly received by U-shaped retainer pieces or holders 20, 22 which are made of a suitable plastic composition, which is transparent and can be force-fitted onto the front tray edge 21 by means of corresponding prongs and grooves, as indicated at 23, 24 (FIG. 6). These retainer pieces aid in fixing and holding in position carpet and other flat swatches or samples (not shown for the sake of clarity) on the surface 18 of tray 15, especially when the tray or trays assume inclined locations or placements on the pegs of the display rack 10, as seen in FIG. 1.

The underface 29a of each tray 15 (FIGS. 2 to 7) is flat and has offset walls, a rear wall 25 and opposite sidewalls 25b, depending from the top surface 18 and defining the boundaries of the underface of the tray. Between said walls extend lengthwise and crosswise thereto longitudinal ribs 27b and transverse ribs 28b each rib being partly indicated in FIG. 4 and serving to reinforce the tray, but to allow for sufficient flexibility thereof.

Sidewalls 25b are each provided with a first or forward recessed part 29 in which a pair of forward pegs 11a will be engaged when the tray is inserted in display rack 10 by manipulation of the tray from its front or forward edge 21.

At the rearward wall 25 of the tray near each lateral corner 25a thereof there is arranged a rectangular-shaped reinforcing wall box 26 defined by relatively heavy walls 27. From each front end wall 27a of box 26 there projects a locking finger 30 which is of predetermined width and has a relatively flat lower rear part 28a connected to said end wall 27a. Each finger 30 has a cam-shaped or angular front part 28 provided with a sharp ridge 31 (FIG. 3). The surface of each locking finger with cam piece 28 underlies at a predetermined distance the underface 29a with a cutout or slot 32 provided in and passing through the top surface 18 of each tray approximately to the extent of each finger piece 30. The surface of each locking finger piece 30 includes also a flat seat or niche 33 which is located rearwardly of angular or cam finger part 28 and serves as a stall or rest for respective pairs of rear pegs 11b, 12b, 13b, etc. (FIG. 5) which in cooperation with the respective slots 32 ensure a relatively smooth but tight fit in niches or seat portions 33.

Sidewalls 25b present at a predetermined distance from rear wall 25 special guide means or notched sidewall portions, as shown in FIG. 3, each with an inwardly inclined edge 26a. Edge 26a defines together with end wall 27a of open-ended box 26 and finger piece 30 a guideway or passageway 35 for the introduction or withdrawal of the aforesaid rear pegs.

It is to be noted that sidewalls 25b, ribs 27b, 28b, box 26 forming walls 27, 27a and fingers 30 are so disposed to each other that the underface of tray 15 is substantially flush, is spaced from niche or seat portion 33 a greater distance than from cam shaped portion and does not offer any protrusions or projections. The tray is also devoid of any metallic parts and as it is preferably made of plastic material is light in weight, is sturdy, flexible and resistant to impact even during rough handling by unskilled labor.

As fingers 30 have sufficient yield or give relative to the underface 29a of the tray, they are nevertheless strong and are not subject ordinarily to breakage during operation. However, in order to replace these fingers when inadvertently broken and in order to avoid discarding of the trays, it is further proposed to replace such finger 30 by a similar finger structure 40, (FIG. 7) which has two end claw-shaped prongs 37, 38 integral with rear portion 36 of finger 40. The finger with these prongs (similar to the prongs 23, 24 herein referred to) is so constructed that these prongs firmly snap in or may be otherwise affixed in position in suitable grooves or cavities 39 provided in front end wall 27a of box reinforcement 26. FIG. 7 illustrates finger 40 in the process of being attached to wall 27a by means of prongs 37, 38 in opposite cavities 39 thereof (only one cavity 39 being visible).

Danger of breakage can readily be obviated by the employment of fiberglass in reinforced plastic materials, nylon and like plastic compositions.

The operation of the display equipment herein disclosed will be easily understood. After a sample of suitable size is placed on the surface 18 of tray 15 on which it will be retained by spaced U-shaped holder pieces 20, 22 the tray may be pushed first from forward edge 21 in the direction A onto a pair of selected rear pegs, say, 11b which are then allowed to enter from a position preliminarily engaging the underfaces of cam parts 28, then respective inlets or passageways 35 whereby the inclined sidewall edges 26a of the tray are guided along the respective rear pegs. Upon subsequent pulling of the tray in the direction of arrow B fingers 30 with ridges 31 will recede somewhat with respect to the underface with slot 32 and will permit rear pegs 11b after having passed cam parts 28 to snap into niches or recesses 33 forming the seats of the respective fingers and to become firmly retained and locked therein, but being allowed to permit pivotal movement of the tray. Only after renewed pushing action of the tray in the direction A can a disengagement of pegs 11b be had from finger recesses 33 and of the fingers themselves, whereby the pegs slide along inclined edges 26a and away from the fingers 30 for release from the latter and from the aforesaid ridges 31 thereof. During these "push and pull" movements of tray 15 the latter performs a relative displacement whereby rear pegs or rearward support means assume respective lodgements at 11c, 11d (FIG. 2). Front pegs or forward supports 11a facilitate guidance and support of the tray 15 along first guideways or passageways 29, as it becomes quite apparent from FIG. 2.

A lifting or sliding of the tray 15 and removal from its uncoupled rack locations at 11a, 11b may then be had and, if desired, the tray may be again engaged by different pegs to change the initial horizontal to any desired inclined position, respectively.

In some instances, it may be found advantageous to manufacture the sidewalls of the rack or like display equipment integral with their pegs or studs 11a, 11b; 12a, 12b; 13a, 13b, etc. from plastic material. These sidewalls of the rack may have also perforations to receive tray support means, e.g. pegs, studs or even rods placed in opposite openings (not shown) of the side panels 11, 12. All these and other modifications of the invention are covered by the latter in its broader aspects and the invention is not considered to be limited to the specific embodiments herein shown and described. Departures of any sort may be had without deviating from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

Claims

I claim:

1. In a display equipment having spaced parallel upright panels carrying in face to face relation to each other rows of spaced-apart support means, forward and rearward support means, respectively, for engaging at least one tray for the display of substantially flat articles, such as carpet samples; the improvements of said tray characterized in that the underface of the tray is defined by two opposite sidewalls, a front edge and a rear wall between said sidewalls, to which rear wall is affixed at least one yieldable locking finger, which terminates in a free end and extends from adjacent said rear wall a predetermined distance in the direction toward said front edge of said tray, said sidewalls depending from said underface and being provided with notched portions near said rear wall, said notched sidewall portions and said locking finger defining passageways therebetween for guiding selected rearward support means therealong into and out of engagement with respect to said locking finger, said locking finger including a seat portion, and a cam-shaped portion between said seat portion and said free end, the distance between said seat portion from said underface being larger than the distance of said cam-shaped portion from said underface, so that upon insertion of the tray and pushing the same between said upright panels the tray abuts first by means of its cam-shaped finger portion said selected rearward support means, and, when the tray is pulled in the plane of its underface toward its front edge, the finger permits said selected rearward support means to enter said passageways under snap action via said cam-shaped finger portion for firm position onto said seat portion and enabling pivotal movement of the tray by means of the locking finger about said selected rearward support means.

2. In a display equipment according to claim 1, including guide means for engaging said forward support means and recessed in a portion of each tray sidewall.

3. In a display equipment according to claim 1, wherein said tray is provided with a cutout passing through the latter adjacent and above each of said locking means, said rearward support means bridging said cutouts therebelow, when said rearward support means are in engagement with said locking finger.

4. In a display equipment according to claim 1, said cam-shaped portion of said locking finger including a ridge situated at said free end of said locking finger to facilitate location of said rearward support means thereon prior to the engagement with said cam-shaped portion.

5. In a display equipment according to claim 1, said locking finger being anchored on said rear wall of said tray and terminating in said cam-shaped portion at said free end of said finger.

6. In a display equipment according to claim 1, including respective rectangular-shaped walls forming boxes disposed at opposite corners of the rear wall of each tray.

7. In a display equipment according to claim 6, one of the walls of each of said boxes being provided with anchoring means for fixing thereon the end of said locking finger located opposite said free end in position thereat.

8. In a display equipment according to claim 1, including transparent U-shaped holder means located to extend to the top surface of said tray and press-fitted to the front edge of the tray to facilitate retention of substantially flat articles when placed on said top surface.

9. In a display equipment according to claim 8, said U-shaped holder means terminating in claw-shaped prongs engageable with the front edge of said tray.

10. In a display equipment according to claim 1, said locking finger being in each provided with cam-shaped means at one end thereof and with claw-shaped anchoring prongs on the opposite end of said finger.