Display Rack

Abstract

A collapsible knock-down wire display rack including a base supporting member and a removable T-shaped member, the base member being formed of three U-shaped members pivoted together to be positioned in horizontal supporting position and collapsed position, the T-shaped member being removably slidable on a portion of the base member; the upper horizontal legs of the base member and the base portion of the T-shaped member being adapted to support packages of merchandise.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

So far as is known, this application is not related to any co-pending patent application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Collapsible wire display racks are well known in the art but they have either been rather complicated in construction or difficult to set up in display position. The present invention, when the parts are properly assembled, includes only two basic parts, a base portion and a T-shaped member, wherein the T-shaped member may be easily assembled and removed to and from the base portion, and the base portion may be folded in a flat collapsed position so that the display rack may be shipped in an inexpensive flat envelope.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, the display rack is formed of a pair of similar U-shaped members having the base portions pivotally secured to the legs of a third U-shaped member so that the base portion may be pivoted to its supporting position from a flat collapsed position and a T-shaped member may be slidably positioned on the upper horizontal legs of the base member in display position and packages of merchandise may be supported on the upper horizontal legs of the base member and the base of the T-shaped member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wire rack in assembled position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base portion of the rack in collapsed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base portion in supporting position and the T-shaped member in position to be assembled to the base portion;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the base portion in supporting position;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the rack in assembled position; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the rack in assembled position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, the assembled rack includes a base portion consisting of a pair of U-shaped members generally indicated at 10 of similar shape, each of the U-shaped members consisting of a base portion 12 and a pair of lower legs 14 and upper legs 16. A third U-shaped member, generally indicated at 11, consists of a base portion 18 and a pair of legs 20, the legs 20 of the third U-shaped portion being pivotally secured to each of the base portions 12 of the pair of U-shaped members by plastic tubing 22 which holds the bases 12 of the pair of U-shaped members in firm engagement with the legs 20 of the third U-shaped member 11.

The T-shaped member, generally indicated at 13, consists of a cross member 24 and a base member 26, the top of the base member 26 being welded to and midway of the cross member 24. The cross member 24 has a pair of rearwardly extending extensions 28. Sheet metal couplings, generally indicated at 29, have an arcuate portion which frictionally engages the extensions 28 and the couplings 29 have a bore 30 (see FIG. 3).

When it is desired to assemble the knock-down wire display rack, the legs 14 and 16 of the base portion 10 are swung outwardly from the position as shown in FIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 3 and the T-shaped member 13 takes a position as shown in FIG. 3 and the upper legs 16 are positioned in the bores 30 of the coupling members 29 and the T-shaped member 13 is urged to the right, as shown in FIG. 3, to assume the position shown in FIG. 1. If desired, plastic tips 32 may be slipped over the ends of the extending wires, such as 14, 16 and 26. As shown in FIG. 1, the rack is supported on any suitable surface, such as a store display counter by the legs 14 and the various parts of the rack are rigidly secured together. Packages of merchandise, such as bags, cards having blister packages thereon and the like, have apertures adjacent their top portions so that the packages and the like may be threaded onto the horizontally extending members 16 and 26 (all of which lie in substantially the same horizontal plane) for display purposes.

The rack, when in its collapsed unassembled condition, may have the T-shaped member 13 positioned adjacent the base member 11 and shipped in a flat condition in a suitable envelope.

Claims

I claim:

1. A display rack comprising a collapsible base member in combination with a T-shaped member in horizontal position; said base member comprising a pair of similar U-shaped members each having a pair of legs and a base portion and a third U-shaped member also having a pair of legs and a base portion, means pivotally securing the legs of said third member to the base portion of each of said pair of members to permit the legs of said pair of members to extend outwardly in a horizontal position from the legs of said third member in supporting position and to swing inwardly adjacent the legs of said third member to a collapsed position; said T-shaped member having a cross portion and rearwardly extending extensions on the cross portion and a base portion, and coupling means on each extension including a bore permitting the upper legs of said pair of members, when in extended horizontal position, to slide through the bore of said coupling means to a position adjacent the base portions of said pair of members, thus positioning the cross portion of the T-shaped member adjacent the legs of said third U-shaped member and the base of the T in a horizontal position in substantially the same horizontal plane as the upper legs of said pair of members.

2. A display rack as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pivot means comprises plastic tubing.

3. A display rack as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said U-shaped members and said T-shaped member are formed of stiff wire.

4. A display rack as set forth in claim 3 wherein said pivot means comprises plastic tubing.