US3912086A

US3912086A - Storage and display of goods

Info

Publication number: US3912086A
Application number: US464608A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bruyn Henri Arnold De
Original assignee: SLIDE O SELL LIMIT Pty
Current assignee: SLIDE O SELL LIMIT Pty; SLIDE-O-SELL Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1973-04-30
Filing date: 1974-04-26
Publication date: 1975-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-14
Also published as: DE2420958A1; GB1460945A; ZA732925B; ES425724A1; AU6839974A; FR2226959A1

Abstract

A storage and display apparatus which comprises a plurality of carrier members arranged side by side in series. The carrier members include display means for mounting goods for display. Each carrier member is displaceable from a storage zone into a display zone adjacent the storage zone to display goods arranged thereon. Each carrier member is so displaceable by being mounted on a telescopic support member in the storage zone. Each support member comprises a lowermost portion and an uppermost portion which carries a carrier member and is slidable along the lowermost portion.

Description

United States Patent 1191 de Bruyn Oct. 14, 1975 [54] STORAGE AND DISPLAY OF GOODS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 1 lnvemorl Henri AmPld de Bruyn, Pretoria, 56,103 5/1911 Switzerland 312/342 South Afrlca 48,456 3 1934 Denmark 16/88 1,196,333 7 1965 Germany... 211 177 [73] Asslgnee' g fgg 'lsgg i s 312,767 10 1968 Sweden 211/177 [22] Filed: Apr. 26, 197 4 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Sk-Rk h' T '1 .,52215 2 pp No: 464,608 ta a C icago ramral Corp 9 3 pages.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier Apr. 30, 1973 South Africa 73/2925 A i n Ex minerThomas J. Holko Attorney, Agent, or FirmLadas, Parry, Von Gehr, [52] US. Cl. 211/162; 16/88; 211/182 Goldsmith & Deschamps [51] Int. Cl. A47F 5/00 [58] Field Of Search 211/94, 94.5 162, 177, 211/182; 16/87.8, 88, 93 R, 94 R, 95 R, 90;

312/342 345 A storage and display apparatus which comprises a plurality of carrier members arranged side by side in [56] References Cited series. The carrier members include display means for UNITED STATES PATENTS mounting goods for'display. Each carrier member is displaceable from a storage zone into a display zone 637,361 11/1899 Suters 312/345 adjacent the Storage. zone to display goods arranged 2 thereon. Each carrier member is so displaceable by 1,005,055 10/19 1 Mmerp 16/88 being mounted on a telescopic support member in the 1 670 880 5/1928 Davis i 6/94 R Storage Zone- Each Support member Comprises a 1,802,102 4/1931 Ziegler et al.. 312 342 x ermost Portion and an uppermost Portion which 1,841,620 1/1932 M C 312/342 carries a carrier member and is slidable along the low- 1,887,819 11/1932 Nelson 16/88 ermost portion. 2,076,848 4/1937 Keiver 211/162 X 2,851,167 9 1958 Rosenberg 211 162 x 13 Clalms, 6 Drawmg Flgures I If 12 21 f zz U.S. Patent Oct. 14,1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,912,086

F/Cd

STORAGE AND DISPLAY OF GOODS This invention relates to a storage or display apparatus; particularly an apparatus suitable for the retailing of goods in shops.

According to the invention a storage ordisplay apparatus comprises:

a storage zone;

a plurality of elongated, substantially horizontal telescopically extensible support members arranged side by side in series spaced substantially parallel from one another at a low level in the storage zone, each support member comprising a lowermost portion, an intermediate portion substantially the same length as the lowermost portion supported by a plurality of longitudinally spaced-roller members on the lowermost portion and slidable via the roller members longitudinally along the lowermost portion, and an uppermost portion substantially the same length as the lowermost portion supported by another plurality of longitudinally spaced roller members on the intermediate portion and slidable via the other plurality of roller members longitudinally along the intermediate portion;

a plurality of carrier members, one for each support member, each carrier member being fast with and supported by and'extending upwardly from'one of the support members, the carrier members including display means for mounting goods for display; and

fixedly located guide means engaging each carrier member via a connection comprising a track substantially parallel to the support members;

each carrier member being longitudinally displaceable by hand between a storage position in the storage zone in which its support member is retracted and a display position in a display zone adjacent the storage zone in which its support member is telescopically extended and supports the carrier member cantilever fashion clear of the floor of the display zone, the guide meansserving to hold the carrier'member up right during said displacement.

The lowermost portion of each support member may comprise a pedestal and an upwardly projecting 'rail member, the rail member and pedestal extending along the length of the lowermost portion'and the rail member having an upwardly facing track and a downwardly facing track along its length,

the intermediate portionhaving a pair of rail members extending alongits length, interconnected in vertically spaced relationship, each railmember having an upwardly facingtrack and a downwardly facing track along its length, and i the uppermost portion having an upper platform and a downwardly projecting rail member, the rail member and platform extending along the length of the uppermost portion and the rail member having an upwardly facing track and a downwardly facing track along its length,

the upwardly facing track of the lowermost portion facing the downwardly facing track of the lower rail member of'th'e intermediate portion, the downwardly facing track of the lowermost portion'facing' the upwardly facing track of the lower termediateportion', and

the upwardly facing track of the uppermost portion facing the downwardly facing track of the upper rail member of the intermediate portion, and the downwardly facing track of the uppermost portion'facingthe rail member of the inupwardly facing track of the upper rail member of the intermediate portion,

each opposed pair of tracks having a longitudinally spaced series of the roller members therebetween.

The support members may have their portions in the form of aluminium extrusions, the roller members being cylindrical synthetic plastics rollers, each track being channel shaped and having a floor which is, V- shaped in end elevation, having two surfaces sloping from the side walls of the channel towards each other to meet each other at the central corner of the V, the ends of each roller at its corners between its end faces and curved wall engaging respectively the-surfaces of the Vs of the tracks enclosing said roller, the pedestal comprising a downwardly facing channel and the ,plat form comprising an upwardly facing channel.

The guide means may comprise a high level beam extending, substantially normal to the support members, over the carrier members, the beam having a plurality of longitudinally spaced downward projections, the tracks of the connections between the guide means and the carrier members comprising upwardly facing channel members along the tops of the carriermembers, each projection being received in one of the channel members. The beam may be located at the boundary between the display zone and the storage zone, the beam being a box section aluminium extrusion having a slot along one of its sides and facing towards the stor-" age zone, each projection comprising" an inner'portion located in and movable along the interior of the beam and an outer portion engaging the corresponding channel member and releasably connected to the'inner portion via the slot, the inner and outer portions gripping" portions, the low level beams each comprisinga 'box section aluminium extrusion haviriga slot along one of its sides and facing towards the storage zone, each of said lowermost portions having itsends connected to' the low level beams by meansof connector pieces, each connector piece comprising aninner portion located in and movable along the interior of the adjacent low level beam and an outer portion connected to 'said lowermost portion of the support member and releasably connected via the slot to'the inner'portion, the inner and outer portions gripping part of the adjacent beam;

therebetween.

The apparatus may be in the form of a rectangular module, the carrier members being rectangular and lat erally flattened and the apparatus having at opposite ends of the series of carrier members a pair of rectangularframesh'av'ing the same outline? as the carrier members, each frame interconnecting the adjacent ends of the high level beam and the low'level beams, the module including a pair of elevated struts interconnecting the tops of the frames and extending'respectively along the diagonals in plan view of'the module, and a pair of inclined struts interconnecting the frames at the boundary 'of the storage zone remote from the display zone, the inclined structs extending along the diagonals of the module when viewed from the display zone.

Further according to the invention a storage or display apparatus comprises:

a storage zone;

a plurality of telescopically extensible support members arranged side by side in series spaced from one another in the storage zone, each support member comprising a lowermost portion and an uppermost portion supported on and slidable along the lowermost portion;

a plurality of carrier members, one for each support member, each carrier member being fast with and supported by and extending upwardly from one of the support members, the carrier members including display means for mounting goods for display; and

fixedly located guide means engaging each carrier member;

each carrier member being longitudinally displaceable by hand between a storage position in the storage zone in which its support member is retracted and a display position in a display zone adjacent the storage zone in which its support member is telescopically extended and supports the display member in the display zone, the guide means serving to hold the display member upright during said displacement.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a three dimensional view of a storage or display apparatus in the form of a module in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an end elevation of one of the support members of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded detail of a connection between one of the support members and a low level beam forming part of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a detail of an alternative construction for part of the connection of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a detail of the guide means of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic side elevation of a carrier member of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates a storage or display apparatus in accordance with the invention, in the form of a module. The periphery of the module 10 is defined by a pair of box section metal frames 12. The frames 12 are rectangular and each comprises a pair of uprights 12.1 having theirends connected by horizontal cross members 12.2. Each cross member 12.2 comprises a pair of end portions 12.21 fast with the uprights 12.1, and a central portion 12.22 having its ends received in the end portions 12.21 and connected thereto by grub screws as at 12.3.

A storage zone 14 is defined between the frames 12. A pair of adjacent uprights 12.1 of the frames 12 are interconnected at their upper ends by an elevated beam 16, and by a low level beam 18. The other pair of uprights 12.1 are interconnected by a low level beam 20. The

beams

16, 18 are at the front of the apparatus 10, the beam 20 being at its rear. The rear uprights 12.1 are interconnected by a pair of tubular metal struts 22 extending along the diagonals, in front elevation, of the apparatus; and the cross members 12.2 are similarly interconnected by a pair of tubular metal struts 24, extending along the diagonals, in plan view, of the apparatus. Each of the

beams

16, 18 and 20, which are identical, is in the form of a box section aluminium extrusion having a slot 26 along the length of its side facing towards the storage zone 14. The connections between the beams and frames 12 will be described hereunder.

A plurality of carrier members 28, which are rectan gular and may be laterally flattened panels, racks, frames or the like, are located in the storage zone 14. They are arranged in a series extending laterally and are spaced in face to face parallel upright relationship. Each member 28 has an upwardly facing channel member 30 extending along its top and engaging guide means comprising a downward projection (not shown in FIG. 1) from the beam 16. The carrier members 28 are mounted on support members 34 which are telescopically extensible away from the rear of the apparatus 10 into a display zone 36 in front of the apparatus. The

beams

16, 18 are at the boundary between the

zones

14, 36 and the beam 20 thus defines the opposite boundary of the zone 14. The guide means and support members will be described in more detail hereunder.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 34 generally designates one of the support members. Each support member 34 comprises a lowermost portion 34.1 which rests on the floor of the storage zone 14 and is connected at its ends to the

beams

18, 20; an intermediate portion 34.2 supported by the lowermost portion 34.1 via a plurality of longitudinally spaced cylindrical rollers 38; and an uppermost portion 34.3 supported by the portion 34.2 via another plurality of longitudinally spaced cylindrical rollers 40. The portions 34.1, 34.2 and 34.3 are aluminium extrusions.

The lowermost portion 34.1 comprises along its length a pedestal in the form of a downwardly facing channel 34.11 and an upwardly projecting rail member 34.12. The rail member 34.12 comprises an upwardly facing track 34.13 and a downwardly facing track 34.14. The tracks 34.13, 34.14 are channel shaped and have floors 34.15 which are V-shaped in end elevation, each having two surfaces 34.16 sloping from the bases of the side walls 34.17 of the channels to the central corner 34.18 of the V. The other tracks of the support member 34, described hereunder, are of similar profile in end elevation.

The intermediate portion 34.2 is substantially S- or Z-shaped in end elevation and comprises a lower rail member 34.21 and an upper rail member 34.22. The lower rail member 34.21 has along its length an upwardly facing track 34.23 facing the track 34.14, and a downwardly facing track 34.24 facing the track 34.13. The rollers 38, which are of nylon comprise two longitudinally spaced series, namely 38.1 between the tracks 34.14, 34.23 and 38.2 between the tracks 34.13, 34.24. The corners of said rollers between their end faces and curved walls respectively engage the surfaces 34.16 of each track.

The upper rail member 34.22 likewise has an upwardly facing track 34.25 and a downwardly facing track 34.26. The uppermost portion 34.3 is identical to the lowermost portion 34.1, comprising a platform 34.31 in the form of an upwardly facing channel and a rail member 34.32 projecting downwardly from said platform. The rail member 34.32 has along its length an upwardly facing track 34.33 facing the track 34.26; and a downwardly facing track 34.34 facing the track 34.25. The shape and arrangement of the rollers 40 are the same as those of the rollers 38. The rollers 40 comprise a series 40.1 between the trackd 34.25, 34.34 and a series 40.2 between the tracks 34.26, 34.33.

The location of the

rollers

38, 40 in their tracks is such as to permit the portion 38.3 to slide outwardly into the display zone 36, to be suspended there cantilever fashion with its rear end adjacent the front end of the portion 38.1, the portion 38.2 taking up an intermediate position. Stop means, e.g. a plate (not shown) projecting upwardly from the rear end of the portion 34.1 is provided to prevent the portions 34.2, 34.3 from sliding rearwardly. Likewise, the rear ends of the channel members 30 are closed to engage the downward projections from the beam 16, thereby to define the fully extended positions of the support members 34.

In FIG. 3, unless otherwise specified, like reference numerals refer to like parts. A detail is shown of the beam and the rear lower portion of the lowermost portion 34.1 of one of the support members 34. The portion 34.1 is connected to thebeam 20 by a connector piece comprising an inner portion in the form of a rectangular nut 42 and an outer portion in the form of an angle piece 44. The nut is located with a frictional fit in the interior of the beam 20, and can be moved along said interior by finger pressure. The angle piece 44 is bolted via one of its flanges 44.1, to one of the walls of the channel of the pedestal 34.11 of the lowermost portion 34.1, by a bolt 46; and is bolted via its other flange 44.2 to the nut 42 by a bolt 48. The bolt 48 extends through the slot 26 and the nut 42 and flange 44.2 grip the material of the beam 20 along the edges of the slot 26 firmly between them.

In FIG. 4, a channel piece 50 is shown having side walls 50.1 and a floor 50.2 provided with a bolt hole 50.3. Instead of the arrangement of FIG. 3, the channel piece 50 can be substituted for the angle piece44. The channel piece 50 is bolted to the nut 42 with its channel extending upwardly and facing towards the storage zone 14. The side walls of the pedestal 34.11 (FIGS. 2 and 3) fit downwardly over the side walls 50.1 of the channel piece 50.

It will be appreciated that the front end of the pedestal 34.11 may be connected in a similar fashion to the beam 18. In practice it has been found satisfactory to use the arrangement of FIG. 3 at the rear of each pedestal, and the arrangement of FIG. 4 at the front of each pedestal. The arrangement of FIG. 3 is also used to connect the frame members 12 to the

beams

18, 20. In this case the flange 44.1 of an angle piece 44 will be bolted to each lower corner of the frame, where the uprights 12.1 meet the cross members 12.2.

In FIG. 5, once again, unless otherwise specified, like reference numerals refer to like parts. FIG. 5 is a detail of the guide means of one of the carrier members 28 and part of the top of one of the members 28 is shown with part of its channel member 30. The beam 16 (not shown in FIG. 5) is the same as the beam 20 and is provided with a nut 42 as shown in FIG. 3. Each downward projection from the beam 16 comprises an inner portion formed by the nut 42, and an outer portion comprising an angle piece 52. The angle piece 52 has one flange 52.1 via which it is bolted to the nut 42 with its other flange 52.2 lowermost and horizontal. The other flange 52.2 has a pin 54 rivetted thereto and extending downwardly to terminate in a nylon bush 56 located in the channel member 30.

In FIG. 6 a carrier member 28 is shown by way of example. The carrier member is in the form of a frame provided with a handle 28.1 at its front, and various display means 58. In FIG. 6, 58.1 indicates a pegboard panel; 58.2 indicates a shelf; 58.3 indicates two zig-zag interconnected horizontal wires suitable for supporting shoes; and 58.4 indicates a rail or straight horizontal rod. It will be appreciated that any desired display means, other than the examples shown, may be provided on the member 28, depending on the goods to be displayed.

In use goods for display will be arranged on the members 28, on one or both sides thereof, in display arrangement. A user, e.g. a customer in a shop, will displace a desired display member 28 into the display zone 36to inspect the goods thereon, after which he will return the member 28 to the storage zone 14.

An advantage of the invention is the extremely light operation of the members 20, due to the virtually frictionless sliding of the members 34. The point or line contact made by the

rollers

38, 40 on the tracks touching them contributes to the light operation, as does the use of nylon rollers and the use of the nylon bushes 56 to guide the channel members 30. The number and spacing of the members 28 can easily be varied by loosening the bolts 48 and moving the nuts 42 along the

beams

18, 20, 16. Furthermore, an important advantage of the modular apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is its dismountability as it can be disassembled and made into a compact kit for transport and storage. The volume of the kit is determined substantially by the volume of the members 28 when packed face to face, as the other constituent parts can be packed alongside the members 28 to occupy little additional volume. When the members 28 are dismountable frames or are omitted from the kit, the kit can be made into a long narrow parcel having its dimensions determined in substance by the uprights 12.1 and the portions 12.21 of the cross members 12.2 fast therewith. Furthermore, the modular construction allows great flexibility in use, as installations of many shapes having many storage or display capacities, can be built up by suitable combinations and arrangements of the modules.

I claim:

1. A storage or display apparatus comprising:

a storage zone;

a plurality of elongated, substantially horizontal telescopically extensible support members arranged side by side in series spaced substantially parallel from one another at a low level in the storage zone, each support member comprising:

a lowermost portion comprising a pedestal and an upwardly projecting rail member, the rail member and pedestal extending along the length of the lowermost portion and the rail member having an upwardly facing track and a downwardly facing track along its length; an intermediate portion substantially the same length as the lowermost portion and comprising an upper rail member and a lower rail member interconnected in vertically spaced relationship, the upper rail member and the lower rail member of the intermediate portion each extending along the length of the intermediate portion and each having an upwardly facing track and a downwardly facing track along its length, the intermediate portion being supported by a plurality of longitudinally spaced roller members on the lowermost portion and slidable via the roller members longitudinally along the lowermost portion; and

an uppermost portion substantially the same length as the lowermost portion and comprising an upper platform and a downwardly projecting rail member, the rail member and platform extending along the length of the uppermost portion and the rail member of the uppermost portion having an upwardly facing track and a downwardly facing track along its length, the uppermost portion being supported by another plurality of longitudinally spaced roller members on the intermediate portion and slidable via the other plurality of roller members longitudinally along the intermediate portion,

the upwardly facing track of the lowermost portion facing the downwardly facing track of the lower rail member of the intermediate portion, and the downwardly facing track of the lowermost portion facing the upwardly facing track of the lower rail member of the intermediate portion, and

the upwardly facing track of the uppermost portion facing the downwardly facing track of the upper rail member of the intermediate portion, and the downwardly facing track of the uppermost portion facing the upwardly facing track of the upper rail member of the intermediate portion, and

each opposed pair of tracks having a longitudinally spaced series of the roller members therebetween;

each carrier member being longitudinally displaceable by hand between a storage position in the storage zone in which its support member is retracted and a display position in a display zone adjacent the storage zone in which its support member is telescopically extended and supports the carrier member cantilever fashion clear of the floor of the display zone, the guide means serving to hold the carrier member upright during said displacement.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the support members have their portions in the form of aluminium extrusions and the roller members are cylindrical synthetic plastics rollers, each track being channel shaped and having a floor which is V-shaped in end elevation, having two surfaces sloping from the side walls of the channel towards each other to meet each other at the central corner of the V, the ends of each roller at its corners between its end faces and curved wall engaging respectively the surfaces of the Vs of the tracks enclosing said roller, the pedestal comprising a downwardly facing channel and the platform comprising an upwardly facing channel.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the guide means comprises a high level beam extending, substantially normal to the support members, over the carrier members, the beam having a plurality of longitudinally spaced downward projections, the tracks of the connections between the guide means and the carrier members comprising upwardly facing channel members along the tops of the carrier members, each projection being received in one of the channel members.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the beam is located at the boundary between the display zone and the storage zone and is a box section aluminium extrusion having a slot along one of its sides and facing towards the storage zone, each projection comprising an inner portion located in and movable along the interior of the beam and an outer portion engaging the corresponding channel member and releasably connected to the inner portion via the slot, the inner and outer portions gripping part of the beam therebetween.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which a low level beam extends along the boundary between the storage zone and the display zone adjacent and longitudinally outwardly of the adjacent ends of the lowermost portions of the support members, and a low level beam extends along and defines the opposite boundary of the storage zone, adjacent and longitudinally outwardly of the opposite ends of said lowermost portions, the low level beams each comprising a box section aluminium extrusion having a slot along one of its sides and facing towards the storage zone, each of said lowermost portions having its ends connected to the low level beams by means of connector pieces, each connector piece comprising an inner portion located in and movable along the interior of the adjacent low level beam and an outer portion connected to said lowermost portion of the support member and releasably connected via the slot to the inner portion, the inner and outer portions gripping part of the adjacent beam therebetween.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, which is in the form of a rectangular module, the carrier members being rectangular and laterally flattened and the apparatus having at opposite ends of the series of carrier members a pair of rectangular frames having the same outline as the carrier members, each frame interconnecting the adjacent ends of the high level beam and the low level beams, the module including a pair of elevated struts interconnecting the tops of the frames and extending respectively along the diagonals in plan view of the module, and a pair of inclined struts interconnecting the frames at the boundary of the storage zone remote from the display zone, the inclined struts extending along the diagonals of the module when viewed from the display zone.

7. A storage and display apparatus comprising a storage zone,

a plurality of elongated, substantially horizontal telescopically extensible support members arranged side by side in series spaced substantially parallel from one another at a low level in the storage zone, each support member comprising a lowermost portion, an intermediate portion substantially the same length as the lowermost portion supported by a plurality of longitudinally spaced roller members on the lowermost portion and slidable via the roller members longitudinally along the lowermost portion, and an uppermost portion substantially the same length as the lowermost portion supported by another plurality of longitudinally spaced roller members on the intermediate portion and slidable via the other plurality of roller members longitudinally along the intermediate portion,

a plurality of carrier members, one for each support member, each carrier member being fast with and supported by and extending upwardly from one of the support members, the carrier members including display means for mounting goods for display, and fixedly located guide means engaging each carrier member via a connection comprising a track substantially parallel to the support members, each carrier member being longitudinally displaceable by hand between a storage position in the storage zone in which its support member is retracted and a display position in a display zone adjacent the storage zone in which the support member is telescopically extended and supports the carrier member cantilever fashion clear of the floor of the display zone, the guide means serving to hold the carrier member upright during said displacement, the guide means comprising a high level beam extending, substantially normal to the support members, over the carrier members, the beam having a plurality of longitudinally spaced downward projections, the tracks of the connections between the guide means and the carrier members comprising upwardly facing channel members along the tops of the carrier members, each projection being received in one of the channel members, the beam being located at the boundary between the display zone and the storage zone and being a boxsection aluminium extrusion having a slot along one of its sides and facing towards the storage zone, each projection comprising an inner portion 10- I cated in and movable along the interior of the beam and an outer portion engaging the corresponding channel member and releasably connected to the inner portion via the slot, the inner and outer portions gripping part of the beam therebetween, a low level beam extending along the boundary between the storage zone and the display zone adjacent and longitudinally outwardly of the adjacent ends of the lowermost portions of the support members, and a low level beam extending along and defining opposite boundary of the storage zone, adjacent and longitudinally outwardly of the opposite ends of said lowermost portions, the

low level beams each comprising a box section alu-.

minium extrusion having a slot along one of its sides and facing towards the storage zone, each of said lowermost portions having its ends connected to the low level beams by means of connector pieces, each connector piece comprising an inner portion located in and movable along the interior of the adjacent low level beam and an outer portion connected to said lowermost portion of the support member and releasably connected via the slot to the inner portion, the inner and outer portions gripping part of the adjacent beam therebetween;

the apparatus being in the form of a rectangular module, the carrier members being rectangular and laterally flattened and the apparatus having at opposite ends of the series of carrier members a pair of rectangular frames having the same outline as the carrier members, each frame interconnecting the adjacent ends of the high level beam and the low level beams, the module including a pair of elevated struts interconnecting the tops of the frames and extending respectively along the diagonals in plan view of the module, and a pair of inclined struts interconnecting the frames at the boundary of the storage zone remote from the display zone, the inclined struts extending along the diagonals of the module when viewed from the display zone.

8. A storage and display apparatus comprising:

a storage zone;

a plurality of elongated, substantially horizontal telescopically extensible support members arranged side by side in series spaced substantially parallel from one another in the storage zone, each support member comprising:

a lowermost portion comprising a pedestal and an upwardly projecting rail member, the rail member and pedestal extending along the length of the lowermost portion and the rail member having an upwardly facing track and a downwardly facing track along its length;

an intermediate portion substantially the same length as the lowermost portion and comprising an upper rail member and a lower rail member interconnected in vertically spaced relationship, the upper rail member and the lower rail member of the intermediate portion each extending along the length of the intermediate portion and each having an upwardly facing track and a downwardly facing track along its length, the intermediate portion being supported by a plurality of longitudinally spaced roller members on the lowermost portion and slidable via the roller members longitudinally along the lowermost portion; and

an uppermost portion substantially the same length as the lowermost portion and comprising an upper platform and a downwardly projecting rail member, the rail member and platform extending along y the length of the uppermost portion and the rail,

member of the uppermost portion having an upwardly facing track and a downwardly facing track along its length, the uppermost portion being supported via another plurality of longitudinally spaced roller members on the intermediate portion and slidable via the other plurality of roller members longitudinally along the intermediate portion; the upwardly facing track of the lowermost portion facing the downwardly facing track of the lower rail member of the intermediate portion, and the downwardly facing track of the lowermost portion facing the upwardly facing track of the lower rail member of the intermediate portion;

the upwardly facing track of the uppermost portion facing the downwardly facing track of the upper rail member of the intermediate portion, and the downwardly facing track of the uppermost portion facing the upwardly facing track of the upper rail member of the intermediate portion; and

a plurality of carrier members, one for each support member, each carrier member being fast with and supported by one of the support members, and being adapted for mounting goods for display;

each carrier member being longitudinally displaceable by hand between a storage position in the storage zone in which its support member is retracted and a display position in a display zone adjacent the storage zone in which its support member is telescopically extended and supports the carrier member cantilever fashion clear of the floor of the display zone.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which each carrier member extends upwardly from the support member whereby it is supported, the support members being arranged at a low level in the storage zone.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, which includes fixedly located guide means engaging each carrier member, the guide means serving to hold the carrier member upright during said displacement.

11. A storage or display apparatus comprising:

a storage zone;

a plurality of elongated, substantially horizontal telescopically extensible support members arranged side by side in series spaced substantially parallel from one another in the storage zone, each support member comprising a lowermost portion, an intermediate portion substantially the same length as the lowermost portion supported by a plurality of longitudinally spaced roller members on the lowermost portion and slidable via the roller members longitudinally along the lowermost portion, and an uppermost portion substantially the same length as the lowermost portion supported by another plurality of longitudinally spaced roller members on the intermediate portion and slidable via the other plurality of roller members longitudinally along the intermediate portion;

a plurality of carrier members, one for each support member, each carrier member being fast with and supported by one of the support members, the carrier members being adapted for mounting goods for display;

each carrier member being longitudinally displaceable by hand between a storage position in the storage zone in which its support member is retracted and a display position in a display zone adjacent the storage zone in which its support member is telescopically extended and supports the carrier member cantilever fashion clear of the floor of the display zone,

the apparatus comprising a high level beam extending, substantially normal to the support members, over the carrier members,

a low level beam extending along the boundary between the storage zone and the display zone and a low level beam extending along and defining the opposite boundary of the storage zone,

the apparatus being in the form of a rectangular module, the carrier members being rectangular and laterally flattened and the apparatus having at opposite ends of the series carrier members a pair of rectangular frames having the same outline as the carrier members, each frame interconnecting the adjacent ends of the high level beam and the low level beams, the module including a pair of elevated struts interconnecting the tops of the frames and extending respectively along the diagonals in plan view of the module, and a pair of inclined struts interconnecting the frames at the boundary of the storage zone remote from the display zone, the inclined struts extending along the diagonals of the module when viewed from the display zone.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which the support members are arranged at a low level in the storage zone and each carrier member extends upwardly from the support member whereby it is supported, the apparatus including fixedly located guide means engaging each carrier member via a connecting comprising a track substantially parallel to the support members, the guide means serving to hold the carrier members upright during displacement thereof, the guide means comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced downward projections from the high level beam, the tracks of the connection between the guide means and the carrier members comprising upwardly facing channel members along the tops of the carrier members, each projection being received in one of the channel members.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which each projection is movable along the length of the high level beam and lockable in position on the high level beam, each of the lowermost portions of the support members having its ends connected to the low level beams by means of connector pieces, each connector piece being movable along and lockable in position on the adjacent low level beam.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENTNO.: 3,912,086

DATED October 14, 1975 INVENTOR(S) DE BRUYN, Henri Arnold It is certified that error ppears in the above-identified ptent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In column 12, line 7, of should be inserted after "series".

Signed and Scaled this twenty-third D ay Of December I 9 75 [SEAL] A ttest:

RUTH C. MASON Commissioner nj'Patents and Trademarks

Claims

1. A storage or display apparatus comprising: a storage zone; a plurality of elongated, substantially horizontal telescopically extensible support members arranged side by side in series spaced substantially parallel from one another at a low level in the storage zone, each support member comprising: a lowermost portion comprising a pedestal and an upwardly projecting rail member, the rail member and pedestal extending along the length of the lowermost portion and the rail member having an upwardly facing track and a downwardly facing track along its length; an intermediate portion substantially the same length as the lowermost portion and comprising an upper rail member and a lower rail member interconnected in vertically spaced relationship, the upper rail member and the lower rail member of the intermediate portion each extending along the length of the intermediate portion and each having an upwardly facing track and a downwardly facing track along its length, the intermediate portion being supported by a plurality of longitudinally spaced roller members on the lowermost portion and slidable via the roller members longitudinally along the lowermost portion; and an uppermost portion substantially the same length as the lowermost portion and comprising an upper platform and a downwardly projecting rail member, the rail member and platform extending along the length of the uppermost portion and the rail member of the uppermost portion having an upwardly facing track and a downwardly facing track along its length, the uppermost portion being supported by another plurality of longitudinally spaced roller members on the intermediate portion and slidable via the other plurality of roller members longitudinally along the intermediate portion, the upwardly facing track of the lowermost portion facing the downwardly facing track of the lower rail member of the intermediate portion, and the downwardly facing track of the lowermost portion facing the upwardly facing track of the lower rail member of the intermediate portion, and the upwardly facing track of the uppermost portion facing the downwardly facing track of the upper rail member of the intermediate portion, and the downwardly facing track of the uppermost portion facing the upwardly facing track of the upper rail member of the intermediate portion, and each opposed pair of tracks having a longitudinally spaced series of the roller members therebetween; a plurality of carrier members, one for each support member, each carrier member being fast with and supported by and extending upwardly from one of the support members, the carrier members including display means for mounting goods for display; and fixedly located guide means engaging each carrier member via a connection comprising a track substantially parallel to the support members; each carrier member being longitudinally displaceable by hand between a storage position in the storage zone in which its support member is retracted and a display position in a display zone adjacent the storage zone in which its support member is telescopically extended and supports the carrier member cantilever fashion clear of the floor of the display zone, the guide means serving to hold the carrier member upright during said displacement.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the support members have their portions in the form of aluminium extrusions and tHe roller members are cylindrical synthetic plastics rollers, each track being channel shaped and having a floor which is V-shaped in end elevation, having two surfaces sloping from the side walls of the channel towards each other to meet each other at the central corner of the V, the ends of each roller at its corners between its end faces and curved wall engaging respectively the surfaces of the V''s of the tracks enclosing said roller, the pedestal comprising a downwardly facing channel and the platform comprising an upwardly facing channel.

7. A storage and display apparatus comprising a storage zone, a plurality of elongated, substantially horizontal telescopically extensible support members arranged side by side in series spaced substantially parallel from one another at a low level in the storage zone, each support member comprising a lowermost portion, an intermediate portion substantially the same length as the lowermost portion supported by a plurality of longitudinally spaced roller members on the lowermost portion and slidable via the roller members longitudinally along the lowermost portion, and an uppermost portion substantially the same length as the lowermost portion supported by anoTher plurality of longitudinally spaced roller members on the intermediate portion and slidable via the other plurality of roller members longitudinally along the intermediate portion, a plurality of carrier members, one for each support member, each carrier member being fast with and supported by and extending upwardly from one of the support members, the carrier members including display means for mounting goods for display, and fixedly located guide means engaging each carrier member via a connection comprising a track substantially parallel to the support members, each carrier member being longitudinally displaceable by hand between a storage position in the storage zone in which its support member is retracted and a display position in a display zone adjacent the storage zone in which the support member is telescopically extended and supports the carrier member cantilever fashion clear of the floor of the display zone, the guide means serving to hold the carrier member upright during said displacement, the guide means comprising a high level beam extending, substantially normal to the support members, over the carrier members, the beam having a plurality of longitudinally spaced downward projections, the tracks of the connections between the guide means and the carrier members comprising upwardly facing channel members along the tops of the carrier members, each projection being received in one of the channel members, the beam being located at the boundary between the display zone and the storage zone and being a box-section aluminium extrusion having a slot along one of its sides and facing towards the storage zone, each projection comprising an inner portion located in and movable along the interior of the beam and an outer portion engaging the corresponding channel member and releasably connected to the inner portion via the slot, the inner and outer portions gripping part of the beam therebetween, a low level beam extending along the boundary between the storage zone and the display zone adjacent and longitudinally outwardly of the adjacent ends of the lowermost portions of the support members, and a low level beam extending along and defining opposite boundary of the storage zone, adjacent and longitudinally outwardly of the opposite ends of said lowermost portions, the low level beams each comprising a box section aluminium extrusion having a slot along one of its sides and facing towards the storage zone, each of said lowermost portions having its ends connected to the low level beams by means of connector pieces, each connector piece comprising an inner portion located in and movable along the interior of the adjacent low level beam and an outer portion connected to said lowermost portion of the support member and releasably connected via the slot to the inner portion, the inner and outer portions gripping part of the adjacent beam therebetween; the apparatus being in the form of a rectangular module, the carrier members being rectangular and laterally flattened and the apparatus having at opposite ends of the series of carrier members a pair of rectangular frames having the same outline as the carrier members, each frame interconnecting the adjacent ends of the high level beam and the low level beams, the module including a pair of elevated struts interconnecting the tops of the frames and extending respectively along the diagonals in plan view of the module, and a pair of inclined struts interconnecting the frames at the boundary of the storage zone remote from the display zone, the inclined struts extending along the diagonals of the module when viewed from the display zone.

8. A storage and display apparatus comprising: a storage zone; a plurality of elongated, substantially horizontal telescopically extensible support members arranged side by side in series spaced substantially parallel from one another in the storage zone, each support member comprising: a lowermost portion comprising a pedestal and an upwardly prOjecting rail member, the rail member and pedestal extending along the length of the lowermost portion and the rail member having an upwardly facing track and a downwardly facing track along its length; an intermediate portion substantially the same length as the lowermost portion and comprising an upper rail member and a lower rail member interconnected in vertically spaced relationship, the upper rail member and the lower rail member of the intermediate portion each extending along the length of the intermediate portion and each having an upwardly facing track and a downwardly facing track along its length, the intermediate portion being supported by a plurality of longitudinally spaced roller members on the lowermost portion and slidable via the roller members longitudinally along the lowermost portion; and an uppermost portion substantially the same length as the lowermost portion and comprising an upper platform and a downwardly projecting rail member, the rail member and platform extending along the length of the uppermost portion and the rail member of the uppermost portion having an upwardly facing track and a downwardly facing track along its length, the uppermost portion being supported via another plurality of longitudinally spaced roller members on the intermediate portion and slidable via the other plurality of roller members longitudinally along the intermediate portion; the upwardly facing track of the lowermost portion facing the downwardly facing track of the lower rail member of the intermediate portion, and the downwardly facing track of the lowermost portion facing the upwardly facing track of the lower rail member of the intermediate portion; the upwardly facing track of the uppermost portion facing the downwardly facing track of the upper rail member of the intermediate portion, and the downwardly facing track of the uppermost portion facing the upwardly facing track of the upper rail member of the intermediate portion; and each opposed pair of tracks having a longitudinally spaced series of the roller members therebetween; a plurality of carrier members, one for each support member, each carrier member being fast with and supported by one of the support members, and being adapted for mounting goods for display; each carrier member being longitudinally displaceable by hand between a storage position in the storage zone in which its support member is retracted and a display position in a display zone adjacent the storage zone in which its support member is telescopically extended and supports the carrier member cantilever fashion clear of the floor of the display zone.

11. A storage or display apparatus comprising: a storage zone; a plurality of elongated, substantially horizontal telescopically extensible support members arranged side by side in series spaced substantially parallel from one another in the storage zone, each support member comprising a lowermost portion, an intermediate portion substantially the same length as the lowermost portion supported by a plurality of longitudinally spaced roller members on the lowermost portion and slidable via the roller members longitudinally along the lowermost portion, and an uppermost portion substantially the same length as the lowermost portion supported by another plurality of longitudinally spaced roller members on the intermediate portion and slidable via the other plurality of roller members longitudinally along the intermediate portion; a plurality of carrier members, one for each support member, each carrier member being fast with and supported by one oF the support members, the carrier members being adapted for mounting goods for display; each carrier member being longitudinally displaceable by hand between a storage position in the storage zone in which its support member is retracted and a display position in a display zone adjacent the storage zone in which its support member is telescopically extended and supports the carrier member cantilever fashion clear of the floor of the display zone, the apparatus comprising a high level beam extending, substantially normal to the support members, over the carrier members, a low level beam extending along the boundary between the storage zone and the display zone and a low level beam extending along and defining the opposite boundary of the storage zone, the apparatus being in the form of a rectangular module, the carrier members being rectangular and laterally flattened and the apparatus having at opposite ends of the series carrier members a pair of rectangular frames having the same outline as the carrier members, each frame interconnecting the adjacent ends of the high level beam and the low level beams, the module including a pair of elevated struts interconnecting the tops of the frames and extending respectively along the diagonals in plan view of the module, and a pair of inclined struts interconnecting the frames at the boundary of the storage zone remote from the display zone, the inclined struts extending along the diagonals of the module when viewed from the display zone.