EP0786220A2

EP0786220A2 - Shelving/display merchandising system for stores

Info

Publication number: EP0786220A2
Application number: EP96303355A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Clive Jeremy Blass
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-01-25
Filing date: 1996-05-13
Publication date: 1997-07-30
Also published as: EP0786220A3; GB9601441D0

Abstract

A shelving/display and merchandising system for stores includes, (as shown in Figure 1) a pair of elongate channel-section runner elements (10) intended to be mounted in a vertically spaced horizontal arrangement. Vertical post members (12) are fitted to the runner elements (10) and provide support for brackets. Each runner-element (10) has its upper and lower side flanges formed with a row of slots (10a) and the post members have tongues (12b, 12c) to co-act with these slots. The tongue (12c) is shorter than the other to enable mounting and dismounting of the post members on the runner elements with the latter fixed in place.

Description

This invention relates to a shelving/display and merchandising system for stores and for other uses.
A system in accordance with the invention comprises at least a pair of elongate runner elements which are arranged, in use, to extend generally horizontally one above the other, each runner element having at regular intervals along its length slots or other formations, at least one post member having a tongue or other formation at each end for releasable engagement with a slot or other formation in one of the runner elements, the post members extending, in use, between the two runner elements and being releasably engaged therewith, and at least one bracket element for releasable attachment to the post element.
The system defined above makes it possible to arrange display units on a wall or other support in many different configurations and is more flexible than known systems which employ a top rail and posts hung on the top rail and either engaging the floor or provided with a foot for engaging the wall or other support. Furthermore, the post members are attached to the runner elements top and bottom, thereby preventing swinging on other disturbance of the posts or loads carried thereby.
In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a runner/post assembly of an example system in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is an end view of the same assembly;
Figure 3 is an elevation of a complex display arrangement made up using the system;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the same system used to create an office workstation arrangement;
Figure 5 is a detail section of the upper runner element used in Figure 4;
Figures 6 to 10 are perspective views of various different brackets which can be used in the example of the system thus far described;
Figure 11 is a section showing a runner element for a second embodiment of the invention; and
Figure 12 is a section showing the post member used with the runner element shown in Figure 11.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, the system shown utilises horizontally extending runner elements 10, which are of channel shaped configuration. The two side flanges of each runner element has a row of slots therein spaced at regular intervals along the length of the runner element. At its mouth, the channel 10 may have one or more in-turned fins 10b to hold a cover plate (Figure 2).
The system also includes posts 12, which are also of channel-shaped material. In this case the base web of the channel is formed with two rows of slots arranged at regularly spaced intervals along the posts. At each end, each post is provided with a tongue element 12b, 12c one of these being longer than the other. The tongues are shaped and dimensioned to be received by the slots 10a.
As will be seen from Figures 1 and 2 the posts can be assembled with the runners after the latter have been fixed to the wall or other support 13 at the appropriate vertical spacing, by inserting the longer tongue 12b on each post into a slot in the lower flange of the upper runner element, swinging the post in above the lower runner element and lowering the post so that a slot in the upper flange of the lower runner element receives the shorter tongue 12c. The post is now captive and can be removed only by following the reverse sequence of operations.
The lengths of the body of the post 12, and its two tongues are such that the sum of the lengths of the body and the shorter tongue is less than the spacing between the runner elements, whilst the sum of the lengths of the body and the longer tongue exceeds such spacing.
Whilst slotted flanged channels have been employed as runner elements and posts with projecting tongues have been employed in the above described embodiment, it will be understood that other formations could be used. For example the slots could be replaced by round holes and each post could have two projecting dowels on each end.
Various brackets which can be used with the system are shown in Figures 6 to 10 and, in each these have hooked tongues to fit the slots 12a in the posts.
Figure 3 shows a complex array of different shelves and brackets in a display including a three runner section A and a four runner section B. Such a configuration can easily be specified by a display designer who can note which slots are to be used.
Figure 4 shows a simple application of the system, namely a simple wall-hung computer workstation. Here, the upper and lower runner elements conceal wiring and appropriate sockets 20 for connection to this wiring a located in the front plate of the runner elements.
Figures 11 and 12 are cross-sections showing the runner element 110 and the post member 112 of another embodiment of the invention. In this case the runner element is again basically of channel shaped configuration having a base web 110a and spaced side flanges 110b. Each side flange 110b is formed with an external groove 110c and there are slots 110d cut through from the base of each groove 110c to the interior of the channel at regularly spaced positions along the length of the runner element. A pair of front fins 110e extend from the two side flanges 110b across the mouth of the channel and each side flange has an undercut 110f adjacent the fin to receive a front trim plate.
The post member 112 is of substantially semi-elliptical cross-section with a deep groove 112a running along its length. There is an internal chamber 112b within the post which is shaped to receive at its ends push-fit elements to provide fitting tongues similar to those included in the example shown in Figures 1 and 2. There is a row of uniformly spaced slots 112c in a web which separates the deep groove in the post member from the internal chamber. The brackets (not shown) which are used with the post 112 have a flat tongue to be received in the groove 112a and hooks on this tongue to engage in the slots 112c.
The sections shown in Figures 11 and 12 are used in exactly the same way as those shown in Figures 1 and 2. The location of the slots 110d in grooves in the runner elements 110 tends to make it more difficult for the casual observer to notice that the runner elements are, in fact, slotted, since the grooves create shadows which conceal the slots. Similarly the slot 112c in the post members are well concealed by being located at the base of a deep groove. Hence, the system gives the impression of one which has continuous un-slotted components.

Claims

A shelving/display and merchandising system for stores and other uses, including elongate runners (10, 110) intended to extend generally horizontally, post members (12, 112) which can be releasably attached to the runner elements (10, 110) and bracket elements for releasable attachment to the post members (12, 112), characterised in that the runner elements (10, 110) are arranged in a pair one above the other and are formed at positions spaced along their lengths with slots (10a, 110d) or other formations and in that the post members (12, 112) are each provided at each end with a tongue (12a, 12b) or other formation for releasable engagement with one of the slots (10a, 110d) (or other formations) in one of the runner elements, each post member (12, 112) extending in use between the two runner elements (10) and being releasably engaged therewith.
A system as claimed in Claim 1, in which the runner elements (10) are in the form of elongate channels, the slots being formed in opposite side flanges thereof.
A system as claimed in Claim 2, in which each post member is provided with a tongue at each end projecting longitudinally of the post element.
A system as claimed in Claim 3, in which said tongues are of different lengths.
A system as claimed in Claim 4, in which the lengths of a body portion the post member and its two tongues are such that the sum of the lengths of the body portion and the shorter tongue (12c) is less than the spacing between the runner elements and the sum of the lengths of the body portion and the longer tongue (12b) is greater than the spacing between the runner elements.
A system as claimed in Claim 2, in which each side flange (110b) of each runner element (110) is formed with an external groove (110c), the slots (110d) being formed in the base of such groove.
A system as claimed in Claim 2, in which said channel-shaped runner elements (110 have a pair of front fins (110e) extending towards one another across the mouth of the channel.
A system as claimed in Claim 7, in which each side flange has an undercut (110f) adjacent the fin to receive and retain a co-acting front trim plate.
A system as claimed in Claim 1, in which each post member (112) is of substantially semi-elliptical cross-section and is formed with a groove (112a) running along its length, slots (112c) for receiving tongues on the bracket elements being formed in the base of the groove.