GB2028107A - Display structures - Google Patents

Abstract

A display structure comprises rigid elongate members (26), suitably of rectangular cross-section, joined by connecting members (20). A connecting member (20) comprises two panels (12) face-to- face but rigidly spaced apart by webs (14). The panels have openings (15,18) which slidably receive the elongate members. The webs (14) preferably take the form of short sleeves around the openings (15,18), the panels (12) lying at opposite ends of the sleeves. Studs may be inserted through holes (19) in the webs (14) aligned with holes (29) in the elongate members to secure the connecting members at the desired positions. The elongate members may be arranged vertically or horizontally. Goods to be displayed can be supported on the elongate members or the panels of the connecting members, or both. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Display structures This invention relates to structures for displaying articles such as merchandise or advertising materials.

According to the present invention there is provided a display structure comprising a plurality of rigid elongate members interconnected by one or more connecting members, the or each connecting member comprising a pair of panels face-to-face and rigidly spaced apart by webs, the panels having apertures to slidably receive two or more said elongate members. The elongate members can be of any desired cross-section such as circular, triangular or hexagonal, but they are preferably of rectangular cross-section. The panels of the connecting members preferably have straight edges. The webs of the connecting members conveniently take the form of sleeves which closely slidably surround the elongate members, the panels lying at opposite ends of the sleeves.When the elongate members have rectangular cross-sections, preferably at least one of the openings in the connecting members is L-shaped or +shaped so that it can receive an elongate member in either of two alternative positions at right angles to each other. In one arrangement, the elongate members are arranged vertically and are interconnected by horizontal connecting members. In another arrangement the elongate members extend horizontally and the connecting members are in vertical planes. In the latter arrangement, a lowermost elongate member may be provided with one or more spacer members, the or each spacer member comprising a pair of panels face-toface and rigidly spaced apart by webs, and having a single aperture to slidably receive a said elongate member.Such a spacer member is thus similar in construction to a connecting member, but has only a single aperture to receive an elongate member. it can be used to provide support for part of the lowermost elongate member by engagement of the edges of its panels with the surface on which the structure rests. The position of a connecting member on its respective elongate members, particularly in the arrangement where the elongate members are vertical, can be fixed by means of locating studs passing through aligned apertures in the surface of the elongate member and a said web of the connecting member.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, various embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one form of connecting member, Figure 2 shows a perspective view of another form of connecting member, Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a spacer member, and Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a display structure.

Referring to the drawings, and firstly to Fig.

1; the connecting member 10 comprises a pair of panels 1 2 identical in outline and arranged face-to-face but rigidly spaced aprt by webs 1 4. The panels have similar located openings 16, 1 7 and 18, and the webs 14 join the panels 1 2 around these openings.

The webs thus take the form of short sleeves, with the panels 1 2 at opposite ends of the sleeves. The openings 1 6 and 1 7 are identical in shape, being rectangular with the longer side twice the length of the shorter side. The opening 1 8 is of L-shape, with its two longer sides the same length as the longer sides of the openings 16, 17, and its two shorter ends the same length as the shorter sides of the openings 16, 1 7. Webs 1 4 nearest the edges of the panels 1 2 are provided with small holes 19, whose use will be described later.It will be seen that the peripheral portions of the panels 1 2 form in effect flanges projecting from the sleeves formed by the webs 14, and these flanges are arranged so as to have a uniform width, as represented by the dimension D.

Fig. 2 shows a connecting member 20, essentially similar in general structure to the connecting member 10, but only having two openings; and L-shaped opening 18, and a rectangular opening 1 5 which is similar to each of the openings 16, 1 7 in its overall dimension (although not necessarily in its spatial relationship with respect to the opening 18).

In the same way, other configurations of connecting member may be constructed, with or without one or more L-shaped or +shaped openings.

The spacer member 22 shown in Fig. 3 is again of similar general construction to the connecting members of Figs. 1 and 2, having a pair of panels 1 2 joined by webs 14 in the form of a sleeve around a rectangular opening 24 which is identical in dimensions to the openings 15, 1 6 and 1 7. The panels 1 2 form in effect a continuous peripheral flange extending from the top and bottom of the sleeve formed by the webs 14, the flanges being of uniform width D.

The connecting members and spacer members can be made of any suitable material, for example injection moulded from plastics or fabricated from card.

Referring to Fig. 4, a display structure is made up from a number of elongate tubular members 26 of rectangular cross-section identical to the dimensions of the openings 15, 16, 1 7 and 24 in the connecting and spacer members. The elongate members can be of any desired length, and can be of different lengths, for example as indicated. These elon gate members are interconnected using suitable connecting members. In this case four connecting members 20 are used. The connecting members are slid over the elongate members, the elongate members being received in appropriate openings. The L-shaped openings 1 8 can receive an elongate member in either of two alternative positions at right angles to each other, thus giving the connecting member a greater degree of versatility in the type of structure which can be constructed using it.Fig. 4 shows the elongate members in a vertical position, thus taking the form of columns joined by horizontal connecting members at different levels. The connecting members can be secured at their selected levels by inserting studs through holes 1 9 in the connecting members which are aligned with similar holes 29 in the walls of the elongate members.

With the structure thus formed, merchandise or other articles to be displayed can be secured to the surface of the pillars provided by the elongate members 26, or can be supported on the ledges provided by the panels 1 2 of the connecting members. The surfaces of the elongate members can be suitably printed or otherwise decorated with advertising or other material as desired. The surfaces of the elongate members can if desired be provided with an array of holes to receive hooks or the like by which articles are suspended from the columns. The elongate members can be made of any suitable material, for example plastics, card, wood or composite sheet material, or of solid foamed plastics material.

Fig. 4 shows just one very simple arrangement of elongate members and connecting members, but an enormous variety of different arrangements is possible, particularly if differently shaped connecting members are used.

The elongate members can be lengthened by joining two or more of them, either in overlapping relationship by securing together two abutting faces, or in end-to-end relationship for example with an inner sleeve extending across the butt joint.

Fig. 4 shows the elongate members in a vertical arrangement, but structures can equally be made in which the elongate members extend horizontally and the connecting members extend in vertical planes. In this case the structure will normally be supported by edges of the connecting members (which are straight) resting on the supporting surface.

It is for this reason that the peripheral regions of the panels 1 2 of the connecting members have a constant width D. In this type of arrangement, spacer members 22 can be fitted on the lowermost elongate member or members; their function being to provide additional support by engagement of the edges of their panels 1 2 with the supporting surface. With the elongate members in the hori tonal position, merchandise or other goods oan be supported on their horizontal surfaces 7r secured to their vertical surfaces, or both.

LAIMS 1. A display structure comprising a pluralty of rigid elongate members interconnected ay one or more connecting members, the or Lach connecting member comprising a pair of panels face-to-face and rigidly spaced apart by webs, the panels having apertures to slidably eceive two or more said elongate members.

2. A display structure according to claim 1 wherein the webs of the connecting members :ake the form of sleeves which closely stidably surround the elongate members, the panels ying at opposite ends of the sleeves.

3. A display structure according to claim 1 ar claim 2 wherein the position of a connectng member on its respective elongate mem zer is fixed by means of locating studs passing through aligned apertures in the surface of the elongate member and a said web of the connecting member.

4. A display structure according to any 7ne of the preceding claims wherein the elongate members are of rectangular cross-section.

5. A display structure according to claim 4 wherein at least one of the openings in the connecting members is L-shaped or +shaped so that it can receive an elongate member in either of two alternative positions at right angles to each other.

6. A display structure according to claim 4 Dr claim 5 wherein the panels of the connecting members have straight edges.

7. A display structure constructed from elongate members and connecting members substantially of the kind described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. gate members are interconnected using suitable connecting members. In this case four connecting members 20 are used. The connecting members are slid over the elongate members, the elongate members being received in appropriate openings. The L-shaped openings 1 8 can receive an elongate member in either of two alternative positions at right angles to each other, thus giving the connecting member a greater degree of versatility in the type of structure which can be constructed using it. Fig. 4 shows the elongate members in a vertical position, thus taking the form of columns joined by horizontal connecting members at different levels.The connecting members can be secured at their selected levels by inserting studs through holes 1 9 in the connecting members which are aligned with similar holes 29 in the walls of the elongate members. With the structure thus formed, merchandise or other articles to be displayed can be secured to the surface of the pillars provided by the elongate members 26, or can be supported on the ledges provided by the panels 1 2 of the connecting members. The surfaces of the elongate members can be suitably printed or otherwise decorated with advertising or other material as desired. The surfaces of the elongate members can if desired be provided with an array of holes to receive hooks or the like by which articles are suspended from the columns. The elongate members can be made of any suitable material, for example plastics, card, wood or composite sheet material, or of solid foamed plastics material. Fig. 4 shows just one very simple arrangement of elongate members and connecting members, but an enormous variety of different arrangements is possible, particularly if differently shaped connecting members are used. The elongate members can be lengthened by joining two or more of them, either in overlapping relationship by securing together two abutting faces, or in end-to-end relationship for example with an inner sleeve extending across the butt joint. Fig. 4 shows the elongate members in a vertical arrangement, but structures can equally be made in which the elongate members extend horizontally and the connecting members extend in vertical planes. In this case the structure will normally be supported by edges of the connecting members (which are straight) resting on the supporting surface. It is for this reason that the peripheral regions of the panels 1 2 of the connecting members have a constant width D. In this type of arrangement, spacer members 22 can be fitted on the lowermost elongate member or members; their function being to provide additional support by engagement of the edges of their panels 1 2 with the supporting surface. With the elongate members in the hori tonal position, merchandise or other goods oan be supported on their horizontal surfaces 7r secured to their vertical surfaces, or both. LAIMS

1. A display structure comprising a pluralty of rigid elongate members interconnected ay one or more connecting members, the or Lach connecting member comprising a pair of panels face-to-face and rigidly spaced apart by webs, the panels having apertures to slidably eceive two or more said elongate members.

2. A display structure according to claim 1 wherein the webs of the connecting members :ake the form of sleeves which closely stidably surround the elongate members, the panels ying at opposite ends of the sleeves.

3. A display structure according to claim 1 ar claim 2 wherein the position of a connectng member on its respective elongate mem zer is fixed by means of locating studs passing through aligned apertures in the surface of the elongate member and a said web of the connecting member.

4. A display structure according to any 7ne of the preceding claims wherein the elongate members are of rectangular cross-section.

5. A display structure according to claim 4 wherein at least one of the openings in the connecting members is L-shaped or +shaped so that it can receive an elongate member in either of two alternative positions at right angles to each other.

6. A display structure according to claim 4 Dr claim 5 wherein the panels of the connecting members have straight edges.

7. A display structure constructed from elongate members and connecting members substantially of the kind described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.