US3055507A - Display stand for seed packets and the like - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 25, 1962 Filed June 28, 1961 R. D. KOBS DI SPLAY STAND FOR SEED PACKETS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ROGER .Do Kass @ijM AT TQRNEYS Sept. 25, 1962 o s 3,055,507

DISPLAY STAND FOR SEED PACKETS AND THE LIKE Filed June 28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ROGER .D. Kass ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,055,507 DISPLAY STAND FOR SEED PACKETS AND THE LIKE Roger D. Kobs, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Northrup, King & Co., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed June 28, 1961, Ser. No. 120,221 1 Claim. (Cl. 211-49) My invention relates generally to display racks and more specifically to display stands for seed packets and the like.

Still more specifically, my invention relates to display stands for seed packets and the like of the knockdown type.

*In seed display stands of the type above described, a number of horizontally disposed seed display trays are secured in generally vertical relationship between a pair of upstanding opposed side wall elements. Obviously, it is desirable to secure as many of these display trays to the side walls of the rack as possible; and the limiting factor resides chiefly in the fact that when the trays too closely overlie each other, it is diflicult to remove seed packets from the trays and/or insert new seed packets thereinto.

A primary object of my invention is the provision of a novel mounting means for the display trays whereby they are detachably, rockably secured to the side walls of the display stand. This novel arrangement makes it possible for the seed trays to be rocked forwardly with respect to the immediately overlying tray, whereby to facilitate removal and insertion of the individual seed packets with respect to the immediately underlying tray.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a seed packet display stand of the type immediately above described wherein the rocking movements of the individual trays is limited in opposite directions beyond a predetermined intermediate display position.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a structure of the class immediately above described wherein the individual seed display trays are gravitybiased toward their intermediate display positions.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described which is relatively inexpensive to produce, is light in weight, and may be knocked down to occupy a minimum of space for storage and shipment.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class generally above described which may be assembled and operated with a minimum of skill, and which is rugged and durable in construction.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claim and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts or elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a rack constructed in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of one of the tray elements of my invention, some parts being broken away;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in section as seen from the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a different position of the parts.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, my novel display stand comprises a pair of opposed upstanding parallel side wall elements 1, which are detachably secured together adjacent their rear edges by a back wall 2. Preferably and as shown, the side wall elements 1 taper generally towards their reduced upper ends 3, and their enlarged bottom ends 4 are formed to provide spaced leg elements 5. Although forming no part of the 3,055,507 Patented Sept. 25, 1962 as indicated at 6, to permit folding into a minimum of space for storage or shipment. At their lower end portions 4, the side wall elements 1 are connected by a relatively shallow front wall element or skirt 7.

Adapted to be detachably secured in general overlying relationship one to the other, between the side wall elements 1 are a plurality of basket-like display tray elements, identified in their entireties by the numeral 8. The tray elements 8 as shown, are formed from wire or other reticulate metal to afford maximum visibility of the seed packets contained within the several compartments 8a thereof. Each of the tray elements 8 is substantially identical in mechanical construction, although varying somewhat in overall depth, or size of the particular compartments 8a, as the situation requires.

At their opposite plate-like ends, the display tray elements 8 are provided with axially outwardly projecting horizontally disposed plate-like trunnions 9 which, as shown, may be stamped from suitable sheet steel or the like. Adapted to cooperate with the trunnions 9 on opposite ends of the display trays 8 are vertically spaced pairs of mounting brackets 10 fast on the opposed inner surfaces 11 of the side wall elements 1. While the mounting brackets 10* may be formed in a number of ways, they are, preferably and as shown, in the nature of vertically extended metal straps 12 having laterally inwardly offset central portions 13 which are generally parallel to the inner surfaces 11. At their upper and lower ends, the straps 12 are rigidly secured to the inner surfaces 11, by any suitable means such as spot welding as indicated at 14. The offset portions 13 of each of the bracket forming metal straps 12 are formed to provide a forwardly and upwardly opening hook portion 15, each specifically comprising rectangular transverse openings 16 and relatively restricted mouth portions 17. As shown particularly in FIG. 4, the trunnions 9' have a transverse width greater than the vertical thickness thereof. In fact, the transverse dimensions of the trunnions 9 are greater than the restricted openings defined by the mouth 17; whereas the vertical thickness thereof is less than the openings defined by the mouth 17. Therefore, it is necessary to pass the trunnions 9 through their cooperating mouths 17 when they are substantially horizontally disposed as there shown.

The under surfaces 18 of the trunnions 9 are flat, and when trays 8- are in their predetermined display positions, these flat under surfaces 18 rest upon flat horizontally disposed lower edges 19 defined by each of the openings 16. However, the relative dimensions of the trunnions 9 and their cooperating openings 16 are such as to permit limited rocking movements in opposite directions from said display position, as indicated by dotted lines in FIG.

This arrangement permits forward rocking movement of one tray element 8 with respect to a closely overlying tray element 8 to facilitate insertion and/or removal of seed packets into the several partitions 8a. On the other hand, because of the trunnions 9 being positioned above the center of weight distribution of each of the respective trays 8, the trays 8, under the action of gravity, tend to be maintained in. their normal display positions, as indicated in full lines of FIG. 2, the mating flat surfaces 18, 19 assuring perfect placement in this regard.

Preferably and as shown, the extreme outer ends of the trunnions 9 are downturned to provide stop flanges 20 which positively limit axial movement of the trays 8 with respect to the side wall elements 1 by engagement with the adjacent surfaces 21 of their cooperating mounting brackets 12.

This invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects; and while I have shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof, I wish it to be specifically understood that the same may be modified Without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A display stand for seed packets and the like comprising, a pair of opposed parallel side walls, a back Wall connecting said side walls, a plurality of seed packet display trays, pairs of cooperating brackets on said side walls, and cooperating trunnions on opposite ends of each of said trays, said trunnions each having a transverse width greater than the vertical thickness thereof, said brackets defining restricted mouth portions of less width than that of said trunnions but of greater width than the thickness of said trunnions and having flat seat portions disposed below the level of said mouth portions, said trunnions having flat bottom surfaces engaging the flat seat portions of said brackets to dispose said trays in predetermined display positions but permitting rocking movements of said trays on horizontal axes extending longitudinally of said trays, said brackets having portions opposed to said seat portions for engagement with said trunnions to limit said rocking movements of the trays.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 180,177 Crisafi Apr. 30, 1957 515,949 Bond Mar. 6, 1894 2,192,243 Rogers Mar. 5, 1940 2,785,036 Elsden-King Mar. 12, 1957 2,886,183 Crosby May 12, 1959

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