Package Display Rack

Abstract

Disclosed is a display rack for holding and displaying packaged items such as shirts, sweaters, etc. The rack includes a frame for holding the packaged items pivotally mounted on a support structure. The frame may be pivoted on the support structure from a rest position to a pivot position thereby presenting the packages for easy removal from the frame. A hook element is attached to the frame so that when the frame is pivoted toward the pivot position, the hook element engages a bar mounted on the support structure to prevent the frame from pivoting beyond the pivot position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to display racks and more particularly to display racks for holding and displaying packaged items such as shirts, sweaters and the like.

It is a common experience for a shopper, when looking for a shirt, sweater, pajamas, etc., to search through disordered stacks of items to locate the desired item. The result of such searching typically leaves the stacks of items in still greater disorder for the next shopper. Such disorder provides unattractive displays and makes it more difficult for a shopper to locate a desired item and for the storekeeper to take inventory and replace sold-out items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a package display rack for holding and displaying packaged items such as shirts, sweaters, etc. in an orderly and attractive fashion.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a rack which is inexpensive and yet rugged and sturdy in construction.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a rack from which the packaged items may be easily removed and which may be easily stocked with replacement items.

These and other objects of the present invention are realized in one illustrative embodiment which includes support structure and a frame pivotally mounted on the support structure for holding a plurality of packaged items. The frame may be pivoted between a rest position and a pivot position, the latter of which enables easy access to the contents of the frame. The frame is prevented from pivoting beyond the pivot position by catch apparatus mounted on the frame. As the frame is pivoted to the pivot position, the catch apparatus engages a stop to prevent further pivoting of the frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present invention and of the above and other objects and advantages thereof may be gained from a consideration of the following detailed description of a specific illustrative embodiment presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a package display rack made in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of such rack;

FIG. 3A shows a side elevational view of such rack in the rest position; and

FIG. 3B shows a side elevational view of such rack in the pivot position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an illustrative display rack unmounted on any support structure while FIGS. 3A and 3B show the rack mounted on the support structure. The rack is constructed of sturdy metal wire or other suitable structural material and includes a frame 2 for holding the packaged items 6 to be displayed. Such items may be shirts, sweaters, pajamas, or other similar packaged items. The frame 2 would advantageously be mounted to pivot on a support bar 10 secured to some appropriate wall or floor support.

The frame 2 includes a substantially rectangularly shaped wire framework 14 on which the packaged items 6 may rest when inserted in the frame 2. A first wire lattice 18 extends from the framework 14 upwardly at approximately right angle from the plane defined by the framework 14. The lattice 18 defines a front wall or section of the frame 2 for containing and maintaining the packaged items 6 within the frame 2. A second wire lattice 22 extends from the opposite edge of the framework 14 upwardly therefrom and away from the lattice 18 to define a back wall or section of the frame 2. As can be seen in the drawings, the angle between the plane defined by the framework 14 and the plane defined by the lattice 22 is greater than 90.degree. and enables the packaged items 6 placed in the frame 2 to recline against the lattice 22 when the frame 2 is in the position shown in FIG. 3A.

Vertically spaced wire members 26 and 30, formed into retangular frameworks, circumscribe the lattices 18 and 22 to define side walls for the frame 2 as shown in FIG. 1. The front, back and side walls of the frame 2 provide for maintaining the packaged items 6 within the frame 2.

Wire dividers 34, 38 and 42, each formed generally in the shape of rectangle but with one end defining a semi-circle, are positioned in the interior of the frame 2 to extend from the framework 14 upwardly to points above the topmost wire member 26. The widths of the dividers 34, 38 and 42 are just slightly greater than the width of the framework 14 and are less than the widths of the rectangular members 26 and 30. The plane defined by divider 42 is substantially parallel to the plane defined by the lattice 18. The dividers 34 and 38 are positioned so that the planes defined by these dividers are substantially parallel with each other but form a small angle with both the plane defined by the divider 42 and the plane defined by the lattice 22. In other words, the separation between the upper portion of the dividers 34 and 38 and of the divider 42 and the lattice 22 is greater than the separation between the lower parts thereof. This facilitates ease of stocking the frame 2 with packaged items and of removing same from the frame. The dividers 34, 38 and 42 assist in maintaining the packaged items 6 in a generally upright position as shown in FIG. 3A.

As best seen in FIG. 3A, wire members of the lattice 22 extend below the framework 14 to a point where they join wire members 46 extending from the bottom edge of lattice 18. Affixed to the wire members 46 is a pivot bar guide 50 which includes two parallel bars 50a, corresponding ends of which are connected by a laterally extending U-shaped portion 50b. The frame 2 is mounted on the pivot bar 10 by inserting the pivot bar into the guide 50 as shown in FIG. 3A so that the wire members 46 rest on the pivot bar 10.

A bar 54 is affixed to the frame 2 at the junction of the lattice 22 and the wire members 46 as shown, for example, in FIG. 1. A hook 58 is mounted on the bar 54 so as to swing freely beneath the frame 2. The curved portion of the hook 58 is directed away from the lattice 18. The hook 58, together with a stop rod 62 which is secured to the same support to which the pivot bar 10 is secured, provide for preventing the frame 2 from being pivoted beyond a certain so-called pivot position shown in FIG. 3B.

FIG. 3A shows the frame 2 in the so-called rest position in which the plane defined by the framework 14 is generally horizontal. In this position, the shank of the hook 58 extends generally toward the lattice 18 and slightly downwardly from the horizontal to rest on the stop rod 62. The frame 2 would be pivoted about the pivot bar 10 by urging the lattice 18 to the left and downward in FIG. 3A toward the pivot position shown in FIG. 3B. As the frame 2 were pivoted, the shank of the hook 58 would slide over the stop bar 62 until the curved portion of the hook 58 engaged or embraced the catch bar 62 as shown in FIG. 3B. When this occurred, the hook 58 and stop bar 62 would coact to prevent further pivoting of the frame 2. As the frame 2 were pivoted from the pivot position back toward the rest position, the hook 58 would again slide over the stop bar 62 and thereby be caused to pivot toward the lattice 18 (or leftwardly as shown in FIG. 3A).

The frame 2 when in the rest position provides for containing packaged items 6 in a convenient and orderly manner. Access to the frame 2 is most readily achieved by pivoting the frame to the pivot position to either remove or replace packaged items. A series of frames 2 could be mounted side by side on a pivot bar 10 to provide attractive and convenient hardware for displaying packaged items.

It is clear from the above description of one illustrative embodiment of the present invention that numerous alternative embodiments and modifications could be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The appended claims are intended to cover all such apparent and obvious modifications.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A package display rack comprising a support bar,

a frame for holding a plurality of packages, said frame being pivotally mounted on said support bar to pivot between a rest position and a pivot position,

a stop bar positioned beneath said frame, and

catch means comprising a hook having a shank and a curved portion, the end of the shank opposite the curved portion being secured to said frame so that when the frame is in the rest position the shank of the hook rests on said stop bar and so that as said frame is moved from the rest position to the pivot position, the shank of the hook is caused to slide over said stop bar and the hook is caused to pivot downwardly until the curved portion of the hook contacts said stop bar to prevent further pivoting of said frame.

2. A package display rack as in claim 1 wherein said frame includes a wire framework defining a substantially horizontal platform when said frame is in the rest position for supporting the packages, a first wire lattice extending upwardly from one edge of said framework to define a front wall of said frame, a second wire lattice extending upwardly from an edge of said framework opposite said one edge and away from said first wire lattice to define a back wall of said frame, and wire members extending between corresponding side edges of said first and second lattices to define side walls of said frame.

3. A package display rack as in claim 2 wherein said frame further includes divider means for maintaining separation between packages in the frame and for supporting the packages in a generally upright position.

4. A package display rack as in claim 3 wherein said divider means comprise a plurality of generally rectangular loops of wire spaced between said first and second wire lattices and extending upwardly from said framework, the separation between the upper portions of at least some of said wire loops and the upper portions of said first and second lattices being greater than the separation between the lower portion thereof.