GB2123277A - Panels for supporting articles - Google Patents

Abstract

A panel for engaging article holders comprising a plurality of tranverse catch recesses extending parallel to one another over an entire transverse dimension of the panel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Article holder engaging panel The present invention relates to panels for engaging and supporting article holders in forms of box, basket, tray, shelf netting, rod, hanger, and various other designs, through hooks-these again have various fo rms -- attached behind or to the back of the article holders, to accommodate, carry, catch, or hang goods, tools, assembly parts, articles of clothing, household articles and various other materials as desired, for the purpose of storing or displaying them.

An object of the present invention is to provide panels having a sufficient solidity and a high degree of design elegance at the same time, as well as stability in supporting article holders and easiness of attaching and removing them.

A panel for engaging article holders according to the present invention comprises a plurality of transverse catch recesses arranged in vertically multiple steps and extending parallel to one another over an entire transverse dimension of the panel, each of the catch recesses having a substantially U-shaped or like section opening substantially upwardly, and including a front wall portion in continuation with a vertical front board portion extending towards a front wall portion immediately below, and a back wall portion in continuation with a vertical back board portion extending towards a back wall portion immediately above, an adjacent pair of the vertical front board portion and the vertical back board portion being in continuation with each other across a front to back dimension of the catch recess.

The present invention has the following advantages: A) At least a part of the hook on the article holder drops into one of the transverse catch recesses to support the load, and at least another part of the hook abuts thereto or in some cases engages with another transverse catch recess to resist momentum of revolution. Thus the article holder is maintained in position with good stability.

B) The hook can be placed into and out of engagement with the catch recess in one touch. Also positional adjustment for the article holder can easily be made by sliding it transversely while the hook is kept in the catch recess.

C) The vertical front board portion continuous with the front wall portion of the recess and the vertical back board portion continuous with the back wall portion of the recess are arranged alternately in the vertical direction and alternately far and near in the backward-forward direction. This construction produces cubic effect with a sense of depth and at the same time provides a sense of plane surface expansion which does not conflict with the cubic effect but is rather in rhythmical harmony therewith.

D) The above arrangement (C) also has a functional advantage of reinforced physical strength. The bending construction as viewed in section greatly helps towards improved solidity of the whole panel.

Other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The drawings show examples of panel for engaging article holders embodying the present invention, in which; Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views showing examples of article holder, Figure 3 is a broken away front view of a panel, Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Figure 3, Figures 5, 6and 7are side views each showing a modified example of the panel, Figure 8 is a perspective view of a panel showing a principle of marking arrangement, Figure 9 is a perspective view of a plurality of panels arranged side by side, Figures 10 and 11 are front views each schematically showing an example of marking, Figures 12 to 15 are plan views each showing a different example of the panel, Figure 16 is a perspective view of another example of the panel, Figure 17 is a sectional view of a further example of the panel, Figure 18 is a sectional view of a modification of the panel shown in Figure 17, Figures 19 to 22 are sectional views each showing a further modification, Figures 23 and 24 are perspective views each showing a principle of article holder construction, Figures 25to 27 show a specific example of article holder, Figure 25 being a partly broken away perspective view, Figure 26 being a side view, and Figure 27 being a partly broken away front view, Figure 28 is an enlarged front view in vertical section showing positions of shelves prior to coupling with each other, Figure 29 is a perspective view showing principal portion of a further example, Figure 30 is a front view showing four shelves as interconnected, and Figures 31 to 35 each show a further example, Figure 31 being a front view of a principal portion, Figure 32 being a partly broken away perspective view, Figure 33 being a front view of a principal portion, Figure 34 being a partly broken away perspective view, and Figure 35 being a sectional view of the principal portion.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 showing typical example of holder 11 for articles 10, as will be understood from the provision of a hook 12 in either example, the article holders to which panels according to the present invention are applicable generally include a hanger hook integrally in most cases, or detachably through some suitable means in some cases, provided behind or at a back position thereof.

Such hooks invariably include a part for entering an engaging portion of the panel for supporting a load and a part for entering the engaging portion or abutting to a flat surface portion of the panel for supporting momentum of revolution about the load support point.

A panel P according to this invention as shown in Figures 3 and 4 has the following features. A plurality of transverse catch recesses 1 are arranged in vertically multiple steps and extending parallel to one another over an entire transverse dimension of the panel P, each of the catch recesses 1 having a substantially U-shaped or like section opening substantially upwardly. A front wall portion 1a defining each of the catch recesses 1 is in continuation with a vertical front board portion 2 extending towards a front wall portion 1a immediately below, and a back wall portion 1b also defining each of the catch recesses 1 is in continuation with a vertical back board portion 3 extending towards a back wall portion 1 b immediately above.An adjacent pair of the vertical front board portion 2 and the vertical back board portion 3 are in continuation with each other across a front to back dimension of the catch recess 1. Thus, the panel P is formed of a thin plate-like material to be one continuous entity.

As seen from Figure 4, the vertical front board portion 2 and the vertical back board portion 3 are interconnected by an inclined board portion 4 gradually receding backwardly as it extends downwardly.

In a modified panel shown in Figure 5, the vertical front board portion 2 and the vertical back board portion 3 are interconnected to define a further transverse catch recess 5 substantially symmetrically opposed in vertical direction to one of the transverse catch recesses 1 immediately below.

Figures 6 and 7 each show a further modification of the panel P of Figure 4. In the panel of Figure 6, the vertical front board portion 2 and the vertical back board portion 3 are interconnected by a right angled board portion 6. In the panel of Figure 7, the joint portion 7 and the catch recess 1 recede backwardly to a further depth.

The panels P shown in Figures 4 and 5 are each provided with coupling portions 8 and 9 extending over the entire transverse dimension at the top and bottom thereof. These top and bottom coupling portions 8 and 9 are adapted to closely fit into each other by sliding in longitudinal or horizontal directions, and not to come off in up and down directions or in backward and forward directions. The two coupling portions 8 and 9 are devised to assume a shape, when interconnected, corresponding substantially to the shape of those board portions of each one-piece panel indicated by reference 4 or 5.

The panels P so far shown are invariably made by bending a single piece rectangular thin sheet metal.

Apart from this, the panels P may be formed by welding metal materials or by extruding molten synthetic resin materials. Each of the panels P shown has a vertical dimension in the order of 15-20 cms., and a front to back dimension 4-9 cms. (the transverse dimension being optional), and a plurality of such unit panels are connected in order at the coupling portions 8 and 9 to provide a panel complex having a large area as desired. It is in accordance with the present invention to provide unit panels P having a greater vertical dimension than that mentioned above, or to provide a whole complete panel comprising a single piece.

Reference number 13 in Figure 2 indicates marks provided vertically on the vertical front board portions 2 of the panel P and in a plurality of lines at a suitable interval transversely of the panel P. These marks 13 are provided to facilitate minutely classified display of articles such as goods for sale in order to cope with changing needs of the consumer and without spoiling the densely displayed function of the panel P.

Additional explanation of the above feature is now given by reference to Figures 8 to 16.

Figure 8 is, so to speak, a view of the arrangement principle for the marks 13. As already described, the panel P has the transverse catch recess 1 densely provided to extend parallel to one another. What looks like vertical stitches made on a sewing machine are the divider marks 13. The marks 13 forming broken lines are in continual succession uniformly over the whole vertical range of the panel surface. Such marks 13 are provided at a plurality of transverse positions to indicate a plurality of clearly defined display surfaces 14. While the divisions are shown having an equal pitch L, the invention is not limited to such. The panel P should desirably have a vertical dimension suited to the average height of people, and so in the range of 150-230 cms., for example.The pitch L should desirably correspond to 1/4-1/6 of one fathom (i.e. average length from hand to hand as stretched out sideways). The optimal pitch L is 300 mms. having regard to the actual goods display mode, sizes pf goods, display methods, constructions.ofarti6le holders, and convenience of handling-. However, the present invention is by no means concerned with the dimensions.

The panel P of Figure 9 comprises a plurality of standard panels P1 arranged side by side to provide one continuous panel surface, the abutting lines being indicated by number 15. Each of the standard panels P1 includes a plurality of display surfaces 14 partitioned by marks 13. The pitch of one display surface 14, again, should preferably be 300 mms.

When the pitch AL is set at 300 mms., it will be as well to provide three types of standard panels, a first one having a transverse width twice the pitch L, namely 600 mms., a second one having a transverse width three times the pitch L, namely 900 mms., and the third one having a transverse width four times the pitch L, namely 1,200 mms. This is convenient to manufacture, storage, transport, installation and other handling aspects.

Figures 10 to 12 show typical examples of marking which is optional. Figure 10 shows that vertical divisions are possible, Figure 11 shows that the divisions may be defined by rather coarsely broken lines of marking, and Figure 12 shows that the marking may comprise numerals, signs or other small marks provided only along the panel top to show rough divisions. This style of marking is made conspicuous so as to compensate for the concentrated disposition.

The provision of the marks may be said to follow the following principles: (a) vertical lines, transverse lines, diagonal lines, arc lines, or their combinations, (b) continuous lines, broken lines, continual dots, decorated lines such as laced lines, or their combinations, (c) sorting display surfaces by colour, though it is more properly called how to divide the display surface than how to provide the marks, (d) (As application of the example of Figure 12) marks provided along the panel bottom (as shown by phantom lines), marks provided along both the top and bottom, or along both lateral sides of the panel, or at suitable central positions of the panel, or their combinations.

Reference is now made to Figures 13 and 14 showing further examples. Figure 13 shows that the panel P may be the single face type which may be installed against a wall 16 by means of support columns 17 or may be self-supporting instead of being installed against the wall, or the gondola type.

Figure 14 shows panel P1 of the double face type.

The support columns 17 are concealed from the back and front faces to provide a continuous outward appearance. In opposition to this, Figure 15 shows an example in which the support columns 17 are exposed to view, which is applicable to both the single face and double face types.

Referring to Figure 16, the panel P or the standard panels P1 constituting the panel P may be curved in plan view or in side view, or both in plan view and side view. Moreover, the panel P or the standard panels P1 may be deflected by an angle or flat faced standard panels may be interconnected at an angle with one another.

The above-mentioned provision of the marks 13 has the following functions. Each of the display surfaces 14 divided by the marks 13 forms one unit (although all the unit surfaces are not necessarily equal in shape and size), and the marks 13 serve as index for determining actual display divisions when attaching article holders to the panel or panels, whether one display division should correspond to one unit surface or to a plurality of adjacent unit surfaces. In other words, such selection is made according to the unit size or occupying space and the number of articles or goods to be displayed, and is not to be made only in respect of one kind of goods without regard to the display mode of other kinds of goods. It is critically important for the promotion of sales to take a total view of the display mode of all kinds of goods.The all comprehensive judgement is made along the following lines: (1) To cope with changing needs of the consumer (flexibility of display), (2) To provide for minute classification of articles such as goods for sale (small module display), (3) To facilitate a heavily concentrated display (dense display), (4) To facilitate display face management and supplementing of goods (display management), and (5) To create an atmosphere unique to the shop and give individuality to it (stage effect).

Thus, the provision of the marks 13 has the advantage of greatly facilitating selection of article supporter engaging divisions based on all comprehensive judgement as mentioned above.

Figures 17 to 22 shown modified examples of the panel P of Figures 3 and 4, the difference being provision of the transverse catch recesses on the back face of the panel P as well. More particularly, first type transverse catch recesses 1' and second type transverse catch recesses 2', both extending over an entire transverse dimension of the panel and having a substantially U-shaped or like section., opening upwardly, the first type being adapted to engage article holders on the front face of the panel and the second type being adapted to engage the article holders on the back face of the panel, are, arranged parallel to one another and alternately in vertically multiple steps.An adjacent pair of front wall portions 1 a' and 2a' respectively defining the two types of catch recesses 1' and 2' are continuous with each other through a vertical front board portion 3', and an adjacent pair of back wall portions 1 b' and 2b' respectively defining the two types of catch recesses 1' and 2' are continuous with each other through a vertical back board portion 4'. Thus the panel is formed of a thin plate-like material to be one continuous entity.

In the construction shown in these figures, the vertical spacing between two adjacent first and second types of transverse catch recesses 1' and 2' is substantially the same throughout the vertical range of the panel, but the spacing may be differentiated between the front face and the back face of the panel.

The front wall portion la' of the first type catch recess 1' and the back wall portion 2b' of the second type catch recess 2' may bulge out to define auxiliary catch recesses 1A' and 2A', respectively, as shown in Figure 18.

The vertical board portions 3' and 4' according to the present invention may be in varied forms to a certain extent such as shown in Figures 19 and 21 in which both the upper and lower ends thereof are inclined so as to form trapezoids, and in Figures, 20 and 22 in which the upper and lower ends thereof bulge outwardly.

The panels shown in Figures 17 and 18 are each provided with coupling portions 5' and 6' extending over the entire transverse dimension at the top and bottom thereof. These top and bottom coupling portions 5' and 6' are adapted to closely fit into each other by sliding in longitudinal or horizontal directions, and not to come off in up and directions or in backward and forward directions.

The panels shown in these figures are invariably made by bending a single piece rectangular thin sheet metal. Apart from this, the panel may be formed by welding metal materials or by extruding molten synthetic resin materials. Each of the panels shown has a vertical dimension in the order of 15-20 cms., and a front to back dimension 5-15 cm. (the transverse dimension being optional), and a plurality of such unit panels are connected in order at the coupling portions 5' and 6' to provide a panel complex having a large area as desired. It is iri accordance with the present invention to provide unit panels having a greater vertical dimension than that mentioned above, orto provide a whole complete panel comprising a single piece. Therefore: a) At least a part of the hook on the article holder drops into one of the transverse catch recesses 1', 2' to support the load, and at least another part of the hook abuts thereto or in some cases engages with another transverse catch recess 1' or 2' to resist momentum of revolution. Thus the article holder is maintained in position with good stability.

b) The hook can be placed into and out of engagement with the catch recess 1' or 2' in one touch. Also positional adjustmentforthe article holder can easily be made by sliding it transversely while the hook is kept in the catch recess.

c) Particularly since the hook engaging portions are provided on both front and back faces, the effective accommodating area for storage or display is about twice or more of that of the single face type.

In addition, this double face system contemplates simplicity of construction and at the same time highiy improved solidity achieved by the two times folding at the first and second types catch recesses land 2'.

d) On the other hand, the described panel has an attractive design as a whole with a rich sense of thickness or depth and a rhythmical appearance of the parallel lines as seen from the front and the back.

Figures 23 to 35 show modified examples of article holder 11 of the shelf type such as shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 23 showing the constructional principle, an article holder 11 comprises a deck 18 and hooks 19 adjacent right and left ends, respectively, on the back of the deck 18. The deck 18 carries a depending front plate 20 at the front end thereof. A retainer 22 for a lock pin 21 is mounted at a right hand end and a plate piece 24 defining a socket 23 is mounted at a lefthand end of the back face of the depending front plate 20. The retainer 22 and the socket 23 are in alignment on a line X which is parallel to the deck 18 and the depending front plate 20. The deck 18 also carries a depending back plate 25. The lock pin 21 represents an example of coupling means, and the retainer 22 and socket 23 together represent an example of means to receive the coupling means.

Referring to Figure 24 showing a further constructional principle similar two the one shown in Figure 23, a deck 18 has at the back end thereof a depending back plate 25 carrying a transversely elongate hook 19. A retainer 22 for a lock pin 21 is provided at a righthand end and a socket is provided at a lefthand end of the back face of a depending front plate 20.

Specific examples of article holder are now described.

(Example 1 - See figures 25-28) Sheet metal is bent to form a deck 26 which is the principal part, a depending front plate 27, a front under-plate 28, and a depending back plate 29. A further sheet metal is bent to form an L-shaped vertical plate 30 which is the principal part, an upper carrier plate 31, a lower reinforcing plate 32, and a back plate 33, which all together constitute a support arm 34. The back plate 33 includes a tongue 35 protruding therefrom at a vertically intermediate position. A pair of the support arms 34 are rigidly attached by welding to the deck 26, as shown. The depending back plate 29 and the tongues 35 are in directvertical relationship with each other and constitute what is comparable to hooks 19 of Figures 23 and 24.Special devising is made on the features that the depending back plate extends over an entire transverse dimension of the deck 26 and that the back plates 33 are in form of wedges. A reinforcing plate comprising sheet metal bent into an L-shape is arranged along the back edge and welded to the deck 26 and the back plates 33. The reinforcing plate 36 is cut away at both upper lateral ends 37 to avoid interference with the carrier plate 31. Each of the support arms 34 is perforated at a front end of the vertical plate 30 to receive a tubular member 38 which stops flush with an outer surface of the vertical plate 30 and is welded to the latter. The two tubular members 38 are identical in shape and size and, as in Figures 23 and 24, are aligned to each other on a line parallel to the deck 26 and the depending front plate 27.Either one of the tubular members 38 acts as retainer 22 and the other 38 acts as socket 23. The lock pin 21 may be removably attached to or provided as an integral part ofthe retainer 22. Figure 22 shows the positions of two adjacent shelf type holders prior to coupling with each other.

(Example 2 - See Figures 29 and 30) Figure 29 shows a typical example of the type in which the retainer 22 includes the lock pin as an integral part thereof. Figure 30 shows a group of adjacent shelf type holders 39 closely interconnected by the lock pins 21 and as a result all the shelf surfaces are maintained level.

(Example 3 - See Figure 31) Number 40 indicates one coupling element receiver, number41 indicates the other coupling element receiver, and number 42 indicates a coupling element. Two decks 43 are flush with each other as shown. The coupling element 42 is slid from front to back into position. The positions at 43 may comprise support arms as in Example 1.

(Example 4 - See Figure 32) Number 44 indicates a U-shaped coupling element, and numbers 45 and 46 indicate receivers therefor. Number 47 indicates like coupling element, and numbers 48 and 49 indicate receivers therefor.

Nipper pieces 50 and 51 may be mounted inside the receivers to advantage in order to provide frictional resistance.

(Example 5 - See Figure 33) This example is similar to Example 3, the difference lying in that coupling element receivers 52, 53 do not include upstanding ends. A coupling element is shaped to suit this construction of the receivers.

(Example 6 - See Figure 34) Vertical plates 55 define elongate bores 56 into which a coupling element 57 is inserted and is then turned 90 degrees to effect the locking. Therefore, the elongate bores 56 are the coupling element receivers.

(Example 7 - See Figure 35) In this example, the coupling element comprises a pin 59 to penetrate bores 58 defined in vertical plates 58 and a retainer 60 to engage the pin 59. Therefore the coupling element receivers in this example are bores in the vertical plates 58. The pin 59 may comprise a male screw and the retainer 60 a female screw.

The described article holders of the shelf type have the following advantages: (1) Adjacent article holders are directly and physically coupled to each other to maintain the front edges and shelf surfaces thereof to be substantially level or flush, and (2) The whole group of holders connected in series has a greatly increased load bearing strength.

In other words, since a plurality of holders are rigidly interconnected by the coupling elements, when a considerably heavy article is placed on one of the holders the load is distributed to and shared by the other holders.

Thus, the constructions according to the invention are effectively utilized in providing display shelves of desired lengths according to the shape and quantity of goods to be displayed, and in changing their display mode.

Claims (9)

1. A panel for engaging article holders, formed of a thin plate-like material to be one continuous entity, said panel comprising a plurality of transverse catch recesses (1) arranged in vertically multiple steps and extending parallel to one another over an entire transverse dimension of said panel, each of said catch recesses (1) having a substantially U-shaped or like section opening substantially upwardly, and including a front wall portion (1a) in continuation with a vertical front board portion (2) extending towards a front wall portion (1 a) immediately below, and a back wall portion (1b) in continuartion with a vertical back board portion (3) extending towards a back wall portion (1b) immediately above, an adjacent pair of said vertical front board portion (2) and said vertical back board portion (3) being in continuation with each other across a front to back dimension of said catch recess (1).

2. A panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vertical front board portion and said vertical back board portion (3) are interconnected by an inclined board portion (4) gradually receding backwardly as it extends downwardly.

3. A panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vertical front board portion (2) and said vertical back board portion (3) are interconnected to define a further transverse catch recess (5) substantially symmetrically opposed in vertical direction to one of said transverse catch recesses (1) immediately below.

4. A panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transverse catch recesses (1) are arranged densely in vertical direction and substantially parallel to one another and marks are provided to divide the panel surface into a plurality of display surfaces at least in the transverse direction.

5. A panel as claimed in claim 4wherein said panel is transversely divided into a plurality of standard panels (6) and said marks are provided to divide the panel surface of each of said standard panels (6) into a plurality of display surfaces.

6. A panel as claimed in claim 5 wherein said marks transversely divide the surface of each of said standard panels (6) into substantially equal portions.

7. A panel as claimed in claim 6 wherein said marks are in substantially continuous form extending substantially uniformly over an entire vertical dimension of the surface of each of said standard panels (6).

8. A panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transverse catch recess (1) are provided on both faces of said panel.

9. A panel for engaging article holders substan tially as hereinbefore descrived with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.