AU720918B2 - Display device for small containers and containers thus displayed - Google Patents

Description

DISPLAY DEVICE FOR SMALL CONTAINERS AND CONTAINERS THUS

DISPLAYED

TECHNICAL FIELD This patent application relates to a field of mechanics and more precisely to that of articles for marketing commercial objects.

This invention more particularly relates to a device for displaying small containers intended to direct a consumer's attention to a particular attraction which will allow him to guide his choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Specifically the invention is related to a display device for dispensing containers, such that the containers are maintained in a row and moved forward by a pusher member as they progress, the device including a first assembly means including a first planar strip in perpendicular relation with a first upright strip, a second assembly means including a second planar strip in perpendicular relation with a second upright strip, the pusher member located in a groove separating the first and second planar strips, and wherein the first Sand second assembly means are adapted to move laterally relative to each S. 2 other in order to allow a space between the upright strips to be adjusted to the 20 dimensions of the containers.

SIn a first embodiment, the upright strips are a set of two parallel strips which display two vertical faces. They are movable and may move laterally.

They come to inwardly abut a front panel borne by an ensemble including the planar strips, the planar strips being a set of two strips, with horizontal faces 25 fastened to a surface of the front panel. A lower face of the planar strips bear i quadratic projections.

In this embodiment, the device is also characterized by the fact that the *two movable strips being the upright strips may come to laterally slide to the *°•*.inside or to the outside of the front panel, by means of two fastening flaps which come to insert themselves in the projections borne by the lower faces of the planar strips. These horizontal or planar strips are not connected as between them is a groove, in which the guide of a pusher moves in order to J7- press containers located between the two pairs of assembled strips.

The projections borne by the horizontal strips may be of a prismatic structure. They are preferably permanently fastened beneath both strips.

They are also preferably symmetrically arranged on these strips.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, each of the planar strips bear on an internal wall, one or two small tongues orthogonally secured to the wall. Preferably, the disposal of said small tongues is such that for an assembly including two srall tongues on one side, it corresponds that the other strip bears only one small tongue and vice versa. The spacing provided between the two small tongues is such that the other small tongue borne by the other strip, may be inserted between the two small tongues.

In this embodiment of the invention, it is the ensemble of slideable small tongues, which achieves the mobility of the whole ensemble and allows the lateral moving of either one or both of the two planar or horizontal strips, inwardly or outwardly. In this way, the space provided between the two strips is adapted to the dimensions of containers displayed and dispensed by the device, so that the containers are positioned without looseness or excessive tightening.

The aim is that, once the containers have been positioned, using an appropriate displacement of the strips, the pusher to which a reel of metallic 20 band is attached may slide backward until a sufficient number of containers are correctly positioned, the front surface of said pusher resting against the containers. The pusher may then be released to run forwards and rest against the last container located between the strips.

The pusher is preferably of parallelepiped shape including at its base a vertical tab bearing at its lower end, a horizontal planar surface of larger dimension which ensure the pusher slides in the central groove located between the strips. Inside the pusher, there is a permanently mounted axle on which the metallic band can roll, held in position at its other end with a housing located at the end of the two horizontal strips forming the groove.

Thus the two horizontal strips are held together at one end by a housing which receives the metallic band and to which it is secured by a holding means. In this manner the metallic band may be loosely unwound without any risk of N breakage whilst maintaining a high force on the pusher.

The device of this invention may still be further characterized by the presence on the front surface of the front panel of a rectangular stop having a protruding lip at its lower edge. This stop acts as a support for a second display device which is vertically disposed at the lower part of the front panel and which may be slidably inserted into a fitted housing located at the upper part of the second display device. This fitted housing, which is elongated, has on its interior face a quadrangular indentation which abuts the protruding lip of the stop. In this manner the second device can be removably fitted on the lip.

This second display device may be removed by sliding it upwards, and another container may be disposed therein as required.

The two display device embodiments thus defined have as an object to show to the consumers one or two kinds of bottles /containers disposed in the display device. Further, the second display device preferably has at the end of a rigid curved arm of the same material, a platform having a hollow rounded surface in which a display bottle may be placed. Conversely, between the strips of this display device, this bottle to be sold or different article is placed.

These articles may be displayed under their own packaging or under their own labelling and sealing so that the public's attention may also be attracted by the quality of the display.

20 Moreover this double device is intended to be placed on shelves or plates of windows in such a manner that the second display device will be immediately visible and that the first display device positioned slightly above the set back, constitutes an ensemble of bottles in stock, in which the salesman or the consumer will pick the one or more bottles which are 25 necessary for him.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In a mode of performance depicted at figure 1, small tongues are shown on a first strip Between them, is another small tongue (4) which comes from an opposite strip and which has in its center an oblong slot Small tongue is adapted to be inserted between small tongues (1) ooo e a.

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On the opposite strip and in a symmetrical position, are two small tongues Between them the single small tongue borne by the strip may be inserted.

The small tongues as well as the pair of strips are made of rigid material such as shock-resistant plastic material, but having a slight tensility to be able to move between the small tongues or to flex with sliding without any risk of breakage. This material may be coloured or tinted to reproduce the colours of the bottles which may be disposed therebetween.

The small tongues are rigid tabs of rectangular section horizontally arranged relative to the strips The width of the tabs is fitted to the measurement of the horizontal slot between the pairs of tabs and borne by the two strips This space is calculated so that the tabs may easily and effortlessly be inserted. Preferably their positioning is exactly fitted to the measurements of the slots with minimal free movement.

Figure 2 is a practical side view of the strip 3 in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1. In the mode of performance pictured at figure 2, the central strips have been more extensively positioned and the small tongues have been lengthened in order to achieve a space of larger size in order to receive CC bigger bottles. Whereas in the previously described device the maximal spacing of the small tongues was about 20 mm in the presently herein defined mode of performance, this space reaches 40 mm. In order to do this, the separation of the two strips and/or the length of the small tongues may be adjusted. The two further strips forming the central groove, each include a

C.

O vertical longitudinal edge intended to hold in place and tighten the containers.

Figure 3 depicts the display device seen from above, as a whole. The model A is the small-sized device, the model B is the large-sized device.

The two vertical strips and are seen therein, placed side by side to the two further strips separated by the groove (10) in which the pusher (11) runs. The latter arises before the housing (12) in which the metallic band (not shown), acting as a spring, is wound. The two strips are assembled together on the frontal edge of the device The opening (14) is used to receive a holding means for maintaining the metallic band in the housing.

Figure 4 shows a side view of the housings (16) and in openings (15) into which the small tongues and may be inserted. These housings are borne by each of the strips Also pictured is the frontal edge The cracking line located n the strip (17) is shown (also see Figure It removes the symmetrical arrangement of the housings (16).

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Claims (6)

1. A display device for dispensing containers, such that the containers are maintained in a row and moved forward by a pusher member as they progress, the device including: a first assembly means including a first planar strip in perpendicular relation with a first upright strip: and a second assembly means including a second planar strip in perpendicular relation with a second upright strip; the pusher member located in a groove separating the first and second planar strips, and wherein the first and second assembly means are adapted to move laterally relative to each other in order to allow a space between the upright strips to be adjusted to the dimensions of the containers; wherein the lateral movement between the first and second assembly means is effected by: 00* the planar strips including at least two recesses; and the upright strips have fastening flaps which are adapted to be inserted into the recesses in order to allow the upright strips to be moved laterally.

2. The display device of claim 1 wherein the lateral movement between the first and second assembly means is effected by: the planar strips alternately bearing one or two small tongues secured perpendicularly to a internal wall of the planar strips, such that one tongue on one planar strip corresponds with two tongues on the other planar strip in order to form a tongue assembly, such that the tongues in each Stongue assembly are in moveable relation.

3. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the pusher member is a spring pusher member which has at its base a vertical tab which bears against a horizontal plane surface of bigger section at its lower end.

4. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the first and second planar strips are secured to a surface of a front panel, and the first and second upright strips inwardly about the front panel.

The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the planar and upright strips are made of rigid plastic material.

6. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the upright strips are maintained in a vertical position by means of tongues that are housed in the base thereof. DATED this 13 th day of April, 2000 SOCIETE MBCG WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN VICTORIA 3122 AUSTRALIA P12826AU00 IAS/SMM/SXH PAT 69922/96 *99 *999