CA2265097A1 - Product display rack - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is concerned with a product display rack having either a single shelf or a plurality of shelves. Each shelf is attached to an essentially U-shaped frame by sliding a downwardly projecting tongue into a slot in the rear wall. A counterstop device at the front edge of each shelf contacts the side walls of the frame. The shelves are usually of a length such that the point of contact of the front edge of the shelf with the frame is usually lower than the point of contact of the rear edge. In this manner, products are gravity fed to the front of the shelves.

Description

PRODUCT DISPLAY RACK
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to racks used to display discrete articles of merchandise, particularly racks with multiple shelves which are downwardly inclined to facilitate access to the displayed merchandise articles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In an effort to maximize the amount of available display space in food, drug, variety and virtually all types of retail stores, a number of product display devices have been developed. The present invention is concerned with a product display rack which has a series of shelves on which various products can be displayed. While generally it will be most useful as a countertop display rack for confectionery, the size and relative proportions of the components may be adapted for display of other types of products. The basic design of the present invention may also be adapted to be used in 'aisle' or 'end of aisle' type displays such as SidewindersT"~ . Promotional material relating to the displayed product may be mounted on the rack. While the need for retailers to better utilize store space has prompted the development of various types of multi-tier display cases, the present invention has many advantages over the prior art as discussed below.
United States Patent No. 4,531,646 discloses a display rack having a series of tiltable shelves. A major feature of this display rack is a header assembly which is automatically displaced upward for loading of inventory.
The trays are supported by pins or studs extending inwardly.
United States Patent No. 4,703,703 discloses a tiered display stand.
Each tier has a pair of rails which can be used to vary the width of the support shelf to provide flexibility to accommodate boxes of different sizes.
The trays slide into the frame.

United States Patent No. 4,953,719 describes a display case having shelves disposed in either a level or gravity feed position. The shelves have sockets which fit onto tubular posts.
United States Patent 4,961,506 discloses a multi-tier tower for displaying goods. The tiers are connected to support members for stacking.
They demonstrate different embodiments in which the number of support members per tray vary. The trays are mounted essentially level and perpendicular to the height of the tower.
U.S. Patent No. 5,085,155 discloses a double sided display shelf assembly which has two upright sides and and several tiers of shelves. Each shelf is composed of two planes which project outward in opposite directions.
The shelves are disposed so as to provide for a gravity feed of the product.
The shelves are essentially metal and are attached to the sides with fastener elements.
U.S. Patent No. 5,392,902 discloses a display case having three sides and having shelves which are inclined to promote gravity feed of product.
The shelves are attached by inserted support members into slots spaced on the side walls.
Thus, while display cases providing for gravity feed or angular display of products have been disclosed, most are either a) complex to manufacture and assemble due to a large number of components or b) do not provide the desired stability or durability required for long-term use. The display rack of the present invention addresses many of these problems. The simplicity of the design has many advantages over the prior art. The display rack is easy to manufacture and easy to assemble. It is stable and durable and provides a cost-effective way to display merchandise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a product display rack that can be used in retail stores to maximize the space available for exhibiting products.
The display rack comprises a vertically disposed rear wall having at least one essentially horizontal slot; a pair of opposing vertically disposed side walls connected to the rear wall and at least one shelf comprising a rear downwardly projecting tongue which is adapted to project through said at least one slot in the rear wall and engage the rear wall rear surface. Each shelf has a counterstop which contacts the front edges of the side walls and thereby defines the angle at which the shelf is inclined for display purposes.
In a preferred embodiment, notches on the front edges of the side walls, in combination with the counterstop, provide a detent. The counterstop slides along the front edge of the side wall and then slips into the notch to hold the shelf in position. While the invention is generally described as comprising a plurality of shelves, it is clearly apparent that the same design can be used to support a single shelf.
In one aspect of the invention, the shelves are of a sufficient length such that the point of contact of the counterstop with the side walls is at a lower elevation than the point of attachment of the shelves to the rear wall.
This imparts a downwardly inclined slope to the shelves to promote gravity feed and/or facilitate access to the individual products to be displayed.
However, the design of the present invention also allows for the shelves to sit level or slant rearwardly depending on the length of the shelf and the point of contact of the counterstop with the side walls. The angle of the shelf is rigidly fixed when the counterstop snaps into a notch on the front of the side walls in a detent-like manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various aspects of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a partially broken away, magnified view demonstrating assembly of the first embodiment of the display rack, Figure 3 is a partially cross-sectioned side elevational view of the first embodiment in use, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the display support, Figure 5 is an enlarged partial top plan view of a section of the support of Figure 4, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment, Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the third embodiment, and Figure 8 is a side elevational partially sectioned view of the third embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Merchandise display racks having a number of vertically spaced trays increase the amount of space available for storing and displaying a variety of products. The present invention is concerned with a novel type of display rack that provides for enhanced ease of manufacture and assembly.
Referring now to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 1. In this embodiment the components of the rack are manufactured from rigid transparent plastic material. The rack comprises a frame, generally indicated at 10 and a plurality of shelves generally indicated at 12. The frame 10 consists of a rear wall 14 and side walls 16. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the rear wall 14 and the side walls 16 are integrally formed. The shelves 12 are fitted into slots 18 located in the rear wall 14.
Figure 2 illustrates how the shelves 12 are fitted into the frame 10.
Each of the shelves 12 has a downwardly projecting tongue 20 located at the rear shelf edge 22. This tongue 20 projects through a slot 18 in the rear wall 14. The horizontal position of the shelf 12 is effected by means of a counterstop 24. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 the counterstop is provided by a downwardly projecting face 26 which extends along the front edge 28 of the shelf 12. It is clearly apparent that other means may be used to limit the downward pivot of the shelf. For example, an upwardly projecting face could be used or a simple protrusion at the shelf corner is also feasible.
Various means may be included to enhance the stability of the assembled rack and ensure structural integrity. For example, the front face of the shelf may comprise flanges which wrap around the side walls thus urging them towards each other and against the shelf sides. This type of arrangement is particularly useful when the frame members (i.e. the rear wall and the side walls) are flexibly connected to each other or are formed integrally but have an outward bias. Other types of stabilizing means such as a detent fit of the shelves into the rack are also contemplated. In cases where the frame construction is sufficiently rigid, the fixed angle between the side walls and the rear wall provides an adequate stabilizing means. The purpose of the stabilizing means is to maintain contact of the counterstop with the side walls and thereby define a shelf angle.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the downwardly projecting face 26 has at either end 30 a rearwardly extending flange 32 which wraps around the outer surface 34 of the side wall 16. The side walls 16 are urged inwardly when the flanges 32 are engaged.
We have found the surprising result that these rearwardly extending flanges 32 contribute to the stability of the rack 8. Thus, when the tongue 20 is engaged in the groove 18 and the shelf 12 is allowed to pivot downwards until the counterstop 24 on the face 26 encounters the side wall 16 and the rearwardly extending flanges 32 hold the side walls 16 in position, a surprisingly stable and easy to assemble display rack is achieved.
Figure 3 illustrates another advantage of the present invention. The shelves 12 can be manufactured in various lengths such that the shelf angle 36 can be defined. In a preferred embodiment the angle 36 is acute. This provides the benefit that the front edge 28 of the shelf contacts the frame at a lower level of elevation, generally indicated by arrow 38, than the level of elevation, generally indicated by arrow 44, of the rear edge 22 of the shelf 12. This provides for angled display of the merchandise 40 and may induce a gravity feed depending on how the merchandise 40 is placed on the shelf.
Each shelf is further provided with retaining means 42 to prevent the merchandise 40 from sliding off the shelves when they are inclined downwardly. While the shelves are usually downwardly inclined for display purposes, they can be manually pivoted upwards and held in an essentially horizontal position for loading of product, which may or may not be in a box, onto the shelf. Although not illustrated it is clearly apparent that promotional material relating to the product on display may be displayed on the rack or on the front face 26.
Another preferred embodiment is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. In this embodiment, the side walls 16 are connected to the rear wall 14 through the use of a living hinge 46. It is clearly apparent, however, that folding could be accomplished through a variety of hinge-like means. As shown further in Figure 5, the side walls may be rotated, as generally indicated by arrow 48, such that the frame can be adapted from an angular shape to an essentially flat shape. A living hinge is illustrated in Figure 5 where the plastic material is notched at the joints thereby forming a narrow section and enabling the rear and side walls to rotate relative to each other many times. Alternatively the joints may be composed of a material that is more flexible than the rest of the walls to allow for bending of the frame. Thus, the frame 10 can assume a flat shape which facilitates shipping and storage of the rack components.
Yet another embodiment is illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8. The display rack 50 has a rear wall 52 and two side walls 54 as well as at least one shelf 56 which comprises a rear downwardly projecting tongue 58 which projects through a slot 60 in the rear wall 52. In this embodiment, the side walls 54 comprise at least one notch 62 which is disposed along the front edge 64 of each of the side walls 54. The notch 62, in conjunction with a counterstop 65, act as a detent and secure the shelf in position. Optional flanges 66 may project rearwardly from a front shelf face 68 to enhance the stability of the unit although this may not be necessary since the snap fit of the counterstop 65 into the notch 62 contributes to the structural integrity of the assembled display rack. It is, however, clearly apparent, that the side walls must maintain a fixed distance from each other so as to provide a point of contact for each counterstop. The front shelf face 68 assumes a variety of shapes or sizes depending on the merchandise to be displayed. This face 68 may also project upwardly or downwardly. Figure 7 illustrates how the counterstop 65 fits snugly into the notch 62 to lock the shelf 56 in position.
The disposition of the counterstop 65 in the notch 62 provides for a surprisingly stable display rack 50. The angle, indicated by arrows 70, of the shelf 56 is determined by the position of the notch 62 utilized relative to the position of the slot 60 utilized in the rear wall 52. Thus, the present invention provides for display racks in which the shelves can be adjusted to a level position, a rearwardly inclined position or a forwardly inclined position. The angle of the shelf may be determined by several factors such as a) the length of the shelf and b) the vertical location of the notch, which retains the counterstop, relative to the slot in which the tongue of the shelf is engaged.
Figure 8 illustrates a side view in which the shelves 56 are fitted into a forwardly declined position. While the angle of the shelf can be adjusted in any of the illustrated embodiments, the combination of the counterstop and the notch acting as a detent provides for particularly secure positioning of the shelf in any position and enhances the overall stability of the unit. Thus, the display rack may comprise a single shelf or a plurality of shelves.
While the preferred embodiments are illustrated as being fabricated from transparent plastic material, it is clearly apparent that the components of the rack could equally be constructed of other materials such as glass, metal sheet, heavy duty cardboard and the like. Depending on the material used, the side walls may be connected to the rear wall through a variety of means.

Due to the ease of manufacture and the ease of assembly of the display rack of the present invention, a surprisingly stable, simple, cost-efficient and effective means for displaying products is provided.
Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (16)

1. A display rack comprising:
i) a vertically disposed rear wall having at least one essentially horizontal elongate slot;
ii) a pair of opposing vertically disposed side walls connected to said rear wall;
iii) stabilizing means to maintain said side walls at a desired spacing iv) at least one vertically spaced shelf comprising a rear downwardly projecting tongue, said tongue adapted to project through said at least one slot in said rear wall and engage said rear wall rear surface, said shelf having a counterstop in contact with said side walls thereby defining shelf angle for display purposes.

2. The display rack of claim 1 further comprising at least one notch along each front edge of said side walls, wherein a detent is provided when said counterstop slides into said notch.

3. The display rack of claim 1 or 2 wherein said stabilizing means comprises rearwardly extending flanges adapted to slide over the outer surface of each of said side walls.

4. The display rack of claim 1 or 2 wherein said stabilizing means comprsies said counterstop within said notch.

5. The display rack of claim 1 or 2 wherein the connection between said side walls and said rear wall is sufficiently rigid to thereby constitute said stabilizing means.

6. The display rack of claim 1 or 2 wherein the angle formed between said shelf and said rear wall may be varied continuously from obtuse to acute to impart a slope to said shelf.

7. The display rack of claim 3 wherein the shelves are of a sufficient length such that the point of contact of said counterstop with said side walls is at a lower elevation than the point of attachment of said shelf to said rear wall thereby providing an acute angle between said shelf and said rear wall and imparting a slope to the shelf sufficient to promote gravity feed of products to be displayed.

8. The display rack of claim 3 wherein said angle is essentially a right angle thereby providing a slope to the shelf which is substantially level.

9. The display rack of claim 3 wherein said angle is obtuse thereby providing a slope to the shelf such that the front of the shelf is higher than the rear of the shelf.

10. The display rack of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said rear wall and said side walls are formed integrally.

11. The display rack of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said counterstop is a downwardly projecting face and said shelf includes means for retaining displayed products.

12. The display rack of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said counterstop is an upwardly projecting face.

13. The display rack of claim 7 comprising rigid transparent plastic material.

14. The display rack of claim 1 wherein said tongue acts as a pivot point such that said shelf may be manually maintained in a first position which is essentially horizontal for loading of product onto said shelves and then lowered to a second downwardly inclined position for product display.

15 . The display rack of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said shelves may be releasably secured in place by inserting said tongue into said opening and allowing said shelf to pivot until the counterstop contacts said side walls.

16. The display rack of claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising a hinge whereby said side walls may be folded flat relative to said rear wall when said shelves are removed and when said unit is not in use.