GB2103082A

GB2103082A - Display rack

Info

Publication number: GB2103082A
Application number: GB08217966A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martine Brugeassou
Original assignee: CHMAKOFF JEAN PIERRE; GABRIELE SYLVIE; GARCIN GERNARD; TESTUT BRIGITTE
Current assignee: CHMAKOFF JEAN PIERRE; GABRIELE SYLVIE; GARCIN GERNARD; TESTUT BRIGITTE
Priority date: 1981-06-22
Filing date: 1982-06-21
Publication date: 1983-02-16
Also published as: BE893583A; DE3223103A1; FR2507879A1

Abstract

A rack for the display of groups of differently priced articles in a store comprises an upright stand (1) with several cantilevered support bars (2) projecting generally horizontally therefrom, each bar passing through apertures (8) in tabs (7) of packages (6) of a particular group of articles suspended therefrom, the bars having free ends (3) with exposed faces (4) bearing indicia which identify the articles or give their prices, these faces being of distinctive configuration substantially complementary to the respective tab apertures (8) so as to prevent misplacement of an article to be repositioned on the rack after removal therefrom. The distinctive faces (4) may be part of enlargements at the ends of the bars (2). Alternatively, the bars (2) may be of constant cross-section corresponding to this configuration and be formed with a front portion somewhat bent up to hold packages thereon. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Display rack This invention relates to a display rack for the suspension of groups of different articles placed on sale.

In retail as well as department stores, especially in the self-service trade, small-sized articles are often sold in containers such as blister packages having apertured support tabs by which they are suspended on parallel, generally horizontal nails or hooks, referred to hereinafter as cantilevered support bars, secured to a common upright stand.

Each bar can usually support a considerable number of these packages which are to be taken off by a customer or by the vendor from a free end of the bar.

In many instances the customary price tags are being replaced on such packages by line codes which are scanned at the cash registers by a photoelectric reader for automatic recordal of the price of the article. Though the display rack will normally carry a price indication next to each bar or set of bars supporting a given group of articles, a customer wishing to restore a removed article to the rack may become confused and may redeposit the packing on the wrong bar; this, in turn, will mislead subsequent would-be purchasers as to the actual price. Moreover, the space needed for price information on the rack could be used more profitably for the display of additional merchandise.

The object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a display rack for the purpose described with simple means for facilitating the proper grouping of different types of packages on the bars assigned to them.

According to the present invention, the cantilevered support bars of a display rack have free ends with profiles of distinctive configurations individual to the respective groups of articles suspended therefrom, the apertures having outlines conforming to the configurations of the respective profiles to an extent sufficient for preventing the passing of any of the bars through the tab aperture of a package for an article pertaining to any other than the respective group.

Exposed faces of these free ends are advantageously provided with indicia identifying the respective groups of articles, preferably by giving their price so as to eliminate the need for a separate listing on the rack.

Since no package having a tab aperture of such distinctive shape can be placed on an unrelated support bar, only articles of a specific type will be stacked on any bar. The support bar can have a constant cross-section throughout its entire length, corresponding to the profile of its free end, provided that a front portion of the bar is somewhat bent up to hold the packages in position thereon. Alternatively, the support bar can be provided on its.free end with an enlargement of the requisite profile. An enlargement of this type may be a transverse plate or a flared boss tapering toward the upright stand and could be designed as a removable head temporarily fastened to an extremity of an existing support bar, such as a nail, rod or loop on an existing rack.These enlargements also have a protective function by preventing possible injuries to say, the eyes of a child at the level of the display.

A number of embodiments of tiie invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings In which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bar supporting a group of suspended packages in a display rack according to the invention; Figures 2 and 3 are fragmentary perspective views of support bars with differently shaped flared bosses at their free ends; Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary perspective views of support bars having constant crosssections throughout their length; Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views of further forms of support bars according to the invention; Figures 8 and 9 are fragmentary perspective views of double rod support bars with transverse end plates at their free ends;; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of another form of support bar with a package suspended therefrom; and Figure 11 is a perspective view of a representative portion of a display rack according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a cantilevered support bar 2, e.g. a length of metal wire, having one end secured to an upright or stand 1 and another, free end provided with a flared head or boss 3 whose peripheral surface 5 is tapered toward upright 1 and whose exposed face 4 carries the price or other information relevant to blister packages 6 containing articles (not shown) of relatively small size. Each package is suspended from the bar 2 by a tab 7 with an aperture 8 of a configuration substantially complementary to the profile of the face 4 of the boss 3; thus, the packages 6 can be easily deposited on and taken off the support bar 2.

Bars 2a, 2b, with modified bosses 3a, 3b, having end faces 4a, 4b of different profiles, are shown in Figures 2 and 3, respectively.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate bars 2c and 2d of constant cross-section corresponding to the profiles of their end faces 4c and 4d, and with a front portion somewhat bent up to hold packages (not shown) thereon.

Figures 6 and 7 show further bars 9 and 10 each having a bifurcated end or ends and (in Figure 7) a looped shape, known per se, terminating in respective bosses 12 and 13; the wedge-shaped boss 1 3 of Figure 7 has a slot (not shown) by which it can be fitted onto the looped bar 10. The bosses of Figures 1 to 3 and 6 can also be detachable from the elongate elements forming the bodies of the bars.

Figures 8 and 9 show support bars 14 and 1 5 each comprising two parallel rods that are vertically or horizontally juxtaposed and carry a keyhole-shaped end plate 1 6 (Figure 8) or a butterfly-shaped end plate 1 7 (Figure 9).

Figure 10 shows the engagement of a tab 20 with a support bar 1 8 of constant cross-section. In this case, an elliptical aperture 1 9 of the tab 20 is only in part complementary to the stepped outline of the bar 18. Confusion is again prevented as long as the largest cross-section of the bars assigned to other groups of packages of the same rack have dimensions incompatible with aperture 19.

Figure 11 shows part of a display rack according to the invention with three support bars terminating in respective enlargements or heads of distinctive configurations, namely butterflyshaped end plate 17, diamond-shaped end plate 17' and chevron-shaped end plate 17" supporting respective groups of packages 6A, 6B and 6C with tab apertures (not shown) of corresponding configurations.

Claims

1. A display rack comprising an upright stand provided with several generally horizontal cantilevered support bars for the suspension of respective groups of dissimilar articles in packages having tabs with apertures fitting the bars, which have free ends with profiles of distinctive configurations individual to the respective groups of articles suspended therefrom, the apertures having outlines conforming to the configurations of the respective profiles to an extent sufficient for preventing the passing of any of the bars through the tab aperture of a package for an article pertaining to any other than the respective group.

2. A display rack as defined in Claim 1, wherein the free ends of the support bars have exposed faces bearing indicia identifying the respective groups of articles.

3. A display rack as defined in Claim 2, wherein the indicia are sales prices.

4. A display rack as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the free ends are enlarged formations or extremities of elongate elements constituting the remainder of the support bars.

5. A display rack as defined in Claim 4, wherein the formations are heads removably fastened to the extremities of the support bars.

6. A display rack as defined in Claim 4, wherein the enlarged formations are flared bosses tapering toward the upright stand.

7. A display rack as defined in Claim 4, wherein the enlarged formations are transverse plates.

8. A display rack as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the bars is of constant cross-section conforming to the respective profile and has an upwardly bent front portion terminating at the free end thereof.

9. A display rack with cantilevered support bars substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.