US3171543A - Portable combined display fixture and room divider screen - Google Patents

Description

March 2, 1965v J. J. NELSON ETAL 3,171,543

PORTABLE COMBINED DISPLAY FIXTURE AND ROOM DIVIDER SCREEN Filed Nov. 12, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 52 4O 52 6 so 4 INVENTORS A TT6RNE Y March 2, 1965 J. J. NELSON ETAL 3,171,543

PORTABLE con/swan DISPLAY FIXTURE AND ROOM DIVIDER SCREEN Filed Nov. 12, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 2, 1965 J. J. NELSON ETAL 3,171,543

PORTABLE COMBINED DISPLAY FIXTURE AND ROOM DIVIDER SCREEN Filed Nov. 12, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I III INVENTORS BY 2 gem/J.

A ORNEY United States Patent ice 3,171,543 PORTABLE COMBINED DISPLAY FIXTURE AND ROOM DIVIDER SCREEN James J. Nelson, Washington Township, Lucas County, and James E. Jones, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Ohio Plate Glass (Iompany of Toledo, a corporation of Ohio Filed Nov. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 322,948 2 Claims. (Cl. 21145) Our invention essentially concerns fixtures for use by merchandisers to display goods or samples as a part of the selling process of such goods. The need for fixtures of this kind arises particularly in marketing centers where buyers come to inspect, select and order goods. Their use is more commonplace to retailing activities, but is not altogether unknown or useless in wholesaling.

In both fields of activity, the element of good taste and practical convenience are of major importance. Hence, it is the principal object of our invention to provide a fixture that is portable about the sales floor and serves, while effectively displaying goods to good advantage, to use the goods themselves as a decorative and efficient room divider screen. This allows a number of sales presentations to be made on the same sales floor and assures that interest will be centered and maintained on the goods in each presentation at intervals and tends to prevent confusion and inattention that results from allowing merchandise or activities elsewhere on the sales floor to distract the buyer and seller.

Another important object of our invention is to provide a portable combined display fixture and room divider screen which lends itself most aptly to the display of yard goods, particularly fabrics, like those used for carpeting and the like. In that connection, the invention has for one of its corollary objects to provide means by which yard goods or swatches thereof may be held in individual display relation at a level convenient to the reach and eye of the viewer and which, in such holding, provides the substance of the room dividing screen. Thus, when a plurality of yard good materials are being displayed at one time, the display presents an interesting range in color and contrast.

A particular object of our invention is to provide, in a portable combined display fixture and room divider screen, a plurality of adjacent, angularly related frames, each formed by having a pair of vertically spaced, parallel and horizontally extending cross bars joined at each of their ends to one of a pair of horizontally spaced, parallel and vertically extending riser bars, the riser bars of adjacent frames being common to both frames, the frames supporting a plurality of grill elements mounted for pivotal movement by a means on and in engagement with each grill element engaging one of the frame riser bars, whereby each grill element may, in one position of inclined relation to the frame, serve as a display holder desk and, in a position in a plane with the frame, serve as a display holder vertically extending grating.

A more particular object of our invention is to provide grill elements of the kind mentioned that comprise a pair of horizontally spaced, parallel and vertically extending end straps and a plurality of vertically spaced, parallel and horizontally extending tubular rungs, each rung being in engagement at each of the opposite ends thereof with one of the end straps and being of such length that, when the grill element is placed in a frame, the opposite end straps nest in substantially snug engaging relation with facing surfaces of the frame riser bars.

A still further particular object of the invention is to provide an operable means, in movable engagement with one of the grill element straps, adapted, when operated in one direction, to engage one of the frame riser bars to 3,171,543 Patented Mar. 2, 1965 lock the grill element against pivotal movement relative to the frame and, when operated in the opposite direc= tion, adapted to disengage the engaged frame riser bar to allow free pivotal movement of the grill element relative to the frame. v

A still further and more particular object of our in vention is to provide means on the grill element which, when the grill element is in a desk position, provides a shelf to prevent display materials disposed on the grill element from sliding off the grill element. Such means, embodied as in a batten strip removably affixed to one of the mentioned rungs of the grill element, facilitates the display and contributes otherwise to a pleasing appearance of the fixture.

There are other and more particular objects which the invention serves. These will appear from the following description and a consideration of the drawings that accompany the same. The description and drawings describe and illustrate a structure that now appears to us to be the best mode by which our invention may be embodied and its teaching carried out. However, it is not our intention, by such description or illustration, to imply that no other form other than that described and illustrated is within the contemplation of our invention, except as such may be specifically delineated hereinafter.

In the mentioned drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a portable combined display fixture and room divider screen embodying our invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a view, in plan, of the portable combined display fixture and room divider shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged perspective view of an element of the screen shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a view of a longitudinal vertical section taken along the plane of the line 44 indicated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 illustrates a view of a transverse vertical section of the parts shown in FIG. 4 taken at right angles to the view shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a view of parts shown, some in section, in FIG. 5 and taken on the plane of the line 66 indicated in FIG. 5.

The portable combined display fixture and room divider screen shown in the accompanying drawings and indicated at 10 in FIG. 1 thereof has frame parts 20 and grill elements 30.

Each frame part 20 has a pair of horizontally spaced, parallel and vertically extending riser bars 21. Connected to the riser bars 21 of each frame and extending between them are a pair of vertically spaced, parallel and horizontally extending cross bars 22. Preferably, the cross bars 22 connect at their ends with the riser bars 21 at points thereon that are, in one instance, near the lower end of each riser bar and, in the other instance, closer to the upper end of each riser bar. Thus, the riser and cross bars together define an enframed open area or space 23 in which grill elements 30, hereinafter described, are supported in a manner and by means to be described.

Preferably, one of the riser bars 21 of each adjacent frame 20 is common to both frames, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Also preferably, the lower end of each riser bar 21 is footed, as by supporting a skid unit 24 on which the screen frames may be not only supported but also be easily slid over a floor. Still further, the outer end-most riser bars 21 of the screen 10 may have fins 26 of wood or simulations thereof on either side thereof as shown in FIG. 1, to not only give a decorative effect but also to provide handles by which the screen 10 may be moved.

Within the frame area 23 thus enclosed, a plurality vertically spaced, parallel and horizontally extending tubular rungs 32 that connect at their opposite ends topoints on the end straps 31 spaced along the length thereof. The rungs 32 of each grill element 30 are all of the same length. Such length is that which substantially equals the distance between riser :bars'21 of a frame 20, less the thickness of the two rung connected end straps 31 of the grill element. The length of the rungs, it will be thus seen, is such that when the grill element 30 is placed in the space 23 between the riser bars 21, the end straps 31 'will nest in a substantially snugengaging relation with facing surfaces of such riser bars. This relation is-shown best in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, Whenso located, the grill elements 30, in their distribution within the space 23, form a vertically extending grating. I

Various means may inter'engage the 'eiid StrapS 31 and riser bars '21 to retain the grill element 30 within the space '23. However, in an embodiment of our invention like that shown in the drawings, we contemplate that such means shall aflix the grill element 30 for "pivotal move ment, as from a'position in plane withthe frame 20, indicated at 300 to a position inclined to the frame 20, indicated at 3000. The position'of the grill element at 3000 compares, with favorable analogy, to that of the desk on a music stand and enables'the display of flat sheet or book size materials, distinguished from the facility of the grill element, when in grating forming position 300, to display yard or strip 'runnerfgoods and the like. The means by which this is made practical is by bolts 40, one of which passes'through'an opening 33 in each end strap 31 and threadably engages the adjacent riser bar 21. 'By tightening or 'lcmseriing, asby rotaing the bolts 40, in 'one or the other direction, the grill element ma'y be held against or freed for pivotal movement relative to the frame to and from the positions 300 and 3000. I I

Preferably, to supplement thegrill element "ability to hold a fiat sheet and the'like when in the desk inclined position 300, we provide a batten strip 34 removably, if desired, affixed by suitable means to one of the rungs 32, preferably the lowermost in the grill element 30. The strip 34, when so provided, extends in substantially continuous surface contact with the rung 32 iteng'ages and in a plane normal to the plane 'dfined by the plu- I rality of rungs 32 of thegrill element30. In such position, the batten strip 34 forms a material supporting ledge.

In order to positively lock the grill element 30in one I of the positions 300 or 3000 and to thus supplement the clutching action obtainedby tightening the bolts 40, we provide means, such as a lock bolt 41 and a link 42. The lock bolt 41 extends through and runs free in a second opening 35, preferably in each of the end straps 31. The opening 35 is spaced from the opening 33 that supports the bolt 40. Thelock bolt 41 is adapted also to extend into and threadably'engage the neighboring riser bar 21, such as in opening 25 therein, and thus to lock the grill element 30 against movement from the 300 grate forming position. v 1

To look the grill element 30 in theinclined 3000 desk forming position, we depend on means embodied in the'double ended goose-neck link 42'to supplement the clutch action "of the bolts 40 on the grill element 30. One end 421 of the link 42 is adapted to extend into and pivotally engage the opening 35 in the end straps 31 and the other end 432 of the link 42 extends into and pivotally engages opening 25 in the riser bars '21. When so positioned, the link 42 acts to brace the grill element 30 in its inclined desk forming position 3000.

If desired, in place of disposing a plurality of grill elements 30 in the space 23 of the centrally formed frame 20 of the screen 10, a decorative piece, such as the wood on simulation panel 50 maybe supported in that space and thereby supplytcontrast to swatches and samples displayed on the grill element 30 in the adjacent frames. Thus, it will be appreciated that our invention lends itself to use in many kinds of display and merchandising situations. Goods of like, of complementary and even of contrasting kind, color and texture may be assembled for various 'eifects and comparisons. The merchandisermay easily, quickly and without more than ordinary mechanical skills and knowledge, adapt a display of our invention to form the screening display grating mentioned to one advantage; the plurality of shelvings mentioned, on which swatches are shown, handled and temporarily stored, to another advantage; or a combination of grating and shelving to a third advantage. The screen may be ported-from place to place, as in the sales room, to partition such area into a number of more restricted and; intimate booth-like compartments, to thus produce a concentrated display or one in an association with other related artifacts without interference with theme 'of other of the sales room areas. Such assembly and reassembly canbe effected almost instantly, as the occasion requires, .withoutthe need of mechanics or erection personnel or unusual know how. Thus our invention serves many of the practical and aesthetic needs of merchandisers at low cost and With appreciable simplicity and .efliciency.

We claim: I l. A section for a portable combined display fixture and room divider screen having a frame comprising a pair of vertically spaced, parallel and horizontally extending cros's bars and a pair of horizontally spaced, parallel and vertically extending ri'ser bars connected to the'ends of the cross bars; a grill element adapted to be'i'n engagement with said frame having 1 a pair of horizontally spaced, parallel extending straps of a length mat'erially less than the vertical'distance between the frame c'ross bars and a plurality'of vertically spaced, parallel extending tubular rungs, I I each of a length substantially equalto 'the horizontal distance between 'the frame riser bars and connected at each of the opposite ends thereof with an end strap to thus. dispose the end'straps in a spaced relation allowing nesting and substantially snug 'engaging relation thereof with facing surfacesofthe frame riser bars when the grill element is placed inthe frarne; means cache of th'eend straps in engagement with one of the riser 'bars adapted to support the grill element'for pivotal movemen't'relative thereto; asecond means on the one of the end straps and being manually operated "to engage one of the riser bars I and adapted when's'o engaging tohold't'he grill"element against movement relative to the frame and when inclined thereto infa position to provide a display holder desk and when in plane therewith in a position to provide a display holder grating. 2. In a portable combined display fixture and room divider screen comprising three adjacent, angularly related frames; "each frarne having I I I I a pair of vertically spaced,parallel and horizontally extending metal tubular'cross bars and a pair of horizontally spaced, parallel and vertically extending metal tubular riser bars connected-to the ends of the cross bars to define therewith an enframed space, the riser bars of adjacent frames being "common to both frames; the combination therewith of two sets of three grill elements each adapted to be in engagement with and disposed on each of the two end most frames; each grill element having a pair of horizontally spaced, parallel and vertically extending metal end straps and five vertically spaced, parallel and horizontally extending metal tubular rungs, each rung being of a length substantially equal to the horizontal distance between riser bars of the outer most end frames and being connected at each of opposite ends thereof with an end strap that, when a grill element is placed in the enframed space of one of the outer most end frames, the end straps Will nest in substantially snug engaging relation with facing surfaces of the riser bars of the outer most end frames; a pair of bolts in engagement with each pair of end straps and in axial alignment with each other adapted to threadably engage riser bars nesting with the mentioned end straps and thereby support a grill element 2 for pivotal movement relative to the mentioned riser bars; and

bars.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A SECTION FOR A PORTABLE COMBINED DISPLAY FIXTURE AND ROOM DIVIDER SCREEN HAVING A FRAME COMPRISING A PAIR OF VERTICALLY SPACED, PARALLEL AND HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING CROSS BARS AND A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY SPACED, PARALLEL AND VERTICALLY EXTENDING RISER BARS CONNECTED TO THE ENDS OF THE CROSS BARS; A GRILL ELEMENT ADAPTED TO BE IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FRAME HAVING A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY SPACED, PARALLEL EXTENDING STRAPS OF A LENGTH MATERIALLY LESS THAN THE VERTICAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FRAME CROSS BARS AND A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACED, PARALLEL EXTENDING TUBULAR RUNGS, EACH OF A LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE HORIZONTAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FRAME RISER BARS AND

Images