GB2169791A

GB2169791A - Support apparatus for displaying articles

Info

Publication number: GB2169791A
Application number: GB08601162A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Wyatt
Original assignee: INTERIOR SYSTEMS
Current assignee: INTERIOR SYSTEMS
Priority date: 1985-01-18
Filing date: 1986-01-17
Publication date: 1986-07-23
Also published as: GB2169791B; GB8601162D0; GB8501344D0

Abstract

Support apparatus for displaying articles comprises an elongate support post 1 having a pair of spaced oppositely disposed first and second walls 3 and 4 respectively connected by an integrally formed third wall 5 having spaced slots 6 for receiving bracketry to support articles of merchandise. Wall 5 is recessed to separate the area bounded by first and second walls into rear 6a and front 6b channels. A pair of elongate profiles 10 are fitted to the post preferably whereby part 13 of each profile is a complementary fit with rib formation 7. A panel member 24 can be retained between profile and post or by an alternative profile alone. Each profile has a wall or flange which alters the width, depth or both of the front or rear channel but still permitting a bracket member to engage slots 6 whether the bracket extends in the rear 6a or front 6b channel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Support Apparatus for displaying articles This invention concerns a support apparatus for displaying articles of merchandise on suitable means, such as bracket members which can be affixed directly into the support post.

Principally the apparatus is intended for use in retail outlets to support brackets which are inserted within a series of vertically extending slots in one wall of the support post. Such bracketry may comprise hanging rails or shelves or other such display devices.

It is desirable to provide a support apparatus whose visual appearance or dimension can be quickly varied. It is from a consideration of the limitations of existing support apparatus which has led to the present invention.

According to this invention there is provided support apparatus for displaying articles comprising an elongate support post having a pair of spaced, oppositely disposed first and second walls connected by an integrally formed third wall which has a series of spaced slots and is recessed to separate the area bounded by the first and second walls into primary and secondary channels, and a pair of elongate profiles which can be fitted to the post and retain a panel member, the profiles having a flange or wall which alters width and/or length of primary or secondary channel when fitted whilst permitting a bracket member to engage one or more of the slots.

The support post may be formed, for example, of rolled steel or be a continuous aluminium extrusion. The support apparatus may include a plurality of pairs of spaced oppositely disposed walls.

In order that the invention with its preferred or optionai features may be illustrated, embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a view of a support post and elongate profile, Figure 2 shows a similar arrangement but with modified profiles, Figure 3 shows a support post in which one channel is dimensionally extended, Figure 4 shows several suitable and alternative profiles, Figure 5 shows an arrangement broadly similar to Fig. 2 but with additional support for the profiles, Figure 6 shows a plan view of Fig. 5, and Figure 7 shows a modification of the Fig. 2 arrangement.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2, a support post 1 in the form of an elongate channel sectioned member 2 has oppositely disposed first wall 3 and second wall 4. A third wall 5 mutually perpendicular to the first and second walls extends between them. The third wall is an integral formation of the support post and includes a series of vertically spaced slots 6 to receive bracketry (not shown) for displaying articles of merchandise. Extending between first and second walls is a primary channel 6a and secondary channel 6b partly or wholly bounded by them. An end 7 of the first and third (and second and third) walls is turned inwardly in the form of a "dutch bend" whereby the third wall 5 is recessed. Such an arrangement forms protruding ribs 8 on the post which extend as shown.

A pair of add on profiles 10 (only one of which is shown fitted) are located in and engage the post 1 by means of hooks 11 and corresponding slots 12 not in the third wall.

The add on profiles of this embodiment have a groove portion 13 which is complementary to the cross-section of the rib 8 and forms a close fit therewith. The profiles of all embodiments have a flange or wall 31 to alter the width, length or both of primary or secondary channel when fitted but still allow a bracket to engage the third wall whether the bracket extends in the primary or secondary channel.

Inserting the profiles shown causes a variation in the dimensions of the secondary channel 6b. Its width is reduced and length increased simultaneously whereby the modified channel so formed can then receive hook-in bracketry (not shown) in the series of slots 6.

This has a concealing and retaining effect on the inserted bracketry.

Panels 24 of wood or laminate or other suitable material may be provided to abut portions of, and be held in position by, each profile 10 so as to conceal the supporting post behind same. As shown in Fig. 2 the profile can include a projecting barb 32 to bite into the panel edge and assist location. The profile can include a part of right angle section for receiving the corner of a panel.

Such panel may be located adjacent the add on profile 10 to be retained either by part of the profile itself or by the profile and a further wall of the support post. Bracketry for displaying articles of merchandise will be inserted into the slots and within the dimensionally altered second channel 14. The profiles have the advantage of hiding the support post from view and provide an attractive and rapid method of altering the appearance of the support post. Although not shown, a spacer bar may be affixed to the post 1 in rear slots 12, for predetermined spacing between the posts and various lengths of spacer bars can be utilized. Such spacer bars provide useful means of connecting posts and by use of appropriately dimensioned slots and hooks it may not be necessary to displace any of the posts to change the spacer bars, unless a spacer bar of different length is to be inserted.

Referring to Fig. 3, profiles 10 of modified cross-section can abut parts 15, 15a of the support post remote from first, second and third walls being connected by hooks 11 inserted into slots 12. Such an arrangement can be employed with the support post 1 in reversed or "antipodal" position as illustrated.

With the pair of profiles 10 fitted to the support post, primary channel 6a is extended in length by virtue of the area 14 bounded by the opposed faces of profiles 10. The extra depth of the channel renders this aspect of the invention more suitable for heavy duty brackets to be inserted in slots 6 since a concealing effect is provided. Such bracketry can extend beyond the modified channel 6a, 14.

This apparatus furthermore includes panels 24 (only one shown) of wood, laminate or other suitable material, held in position by the profiles 10 alone and serving to conceal the support post 1 behind them.

Fig. 4 shows several suitable and alternative profiles 22, 24-28, in cross-section with profiles 22, 24-27 intended for use in the normal post position of Fig. 1. These latter profiles have grooves 23 to serve as a complementary fit with the suitabiy modified rib 8 of Fig. 1.

The cross-section of said rib 8 can be varied to form a close fit with the groove 23 of any of the profiles 22, 24-27. Profiles 22 and 24 have a plane of symmetry.

Profile 28 has an alternative cross-section and is not provided with any groove for fitting on the post ribs as it is for use in the "antipodal" position shown in Fig. 3. All profiles 22, 24-28 share the common feature of being able to engage the support post and include a part against which a panel can bear. It may be necessary to support the panels in position by additional support means in certain applications of the invention.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a further embodiment.

Profile 27 is used to provide an even greater depth alteration in secondary channel 6b. The original channel width is altered by an amount equivalent to the width alteration 14 achieved in Fig. 1. Groove 23 is of similar dimension to groove 13 in profile 10 and the same objective of forming a close fit with rib 8 is achieved. The profile 27 has a flat surface 29 against which a panel can abut and be held in position by means of spring clip 30. Retention of the spring clip is by hooks 31 inserted into slots 6 in the third wall 5. Hooks 11 in the profiles allow engagement with and retention by the support post 1 as in the other illustrated embodiments.

Dimensional variation in the support post channels are quickly obtained and may be varied by use of different 'matched pairs' of profiles. As such the post may be supplied with a plurality of pairs of add on profiles and the panels can be selected to obtain the final appearance desired.

Referring to Fig. 7, a further profile 33 is employed together with larger, single slots 6 in the third wall 5. This reduces still further the width of secondary channel compared to the Fig. 1 and 2 embodiments and a single narrowed slot is available for bracketry. A barb 32 is provided for positive engagement of panel 24 and hooks are employed as previously for connecting the profiles to the post and disconnection. The wall 31 alters both length and width of the channel. A supplementary flange 34 bears against third wall 5 and the projecting rib 8.

In a further non-illustrated embodiment of the invention the support post is provided with two parallel spaced 'third walls' each having a series of spaced slots. Such post may be formed by welding together a pair of support posts, each of which corresponds to the post 1 shown in Figs. 1, 2 or 3, by welding the four respective flanges 15, 1 5a (Fig. 3) whereby one post represents a mirrorimage of the other post.

Alternatively, a length of material comprising only first, second and third walls (3, 4, 5, e.g.

Fig. 3) could be welded to the ends of the flanges (15, 15a) wehreby the pair of 'third walls' are still spaced and parallel, although this may be less attractive.

Claims

1. Support apparatus for displaying articles comprising an elongate support post having a pair of spaced, oppositely disposed first and second walls connected by an integrally formed third wall which has a series of spaced slots and is recessed to separate the area bounded by the first and second walls into primary and secondary channels, and a pair of elongate profiles which can be fitted to the post and retain a panel member, the profiles having a flange or wall which alters width and/or length of primary or secondary channel when fitted whilst permitting a bracket member to engage one or more of the slots.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an end of the third and first and an end of the third and second walls form a protruding rib and a part of each profile is adapted to engage the rib.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the profile has a part of configuration complementary to the cross-section of the rib.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each profile has a hook to engage in a corresponding slot in a part of the support post other than the third wall.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further including a spring clip having parts to engage the slots in the third wall and one or more arms to abut a flange or wall of each profile and assist retention thereof in the support post.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one profile includes a projecting barb for insertion into the edge of a panel member.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the profiles have a plane of symmetry.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the profiles are adapted to receive a panel member whereby the panel member is not in contact with the support post when the profiles are fitted to the post and a panel member fitted in the profiles.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 8, wherein the support post is constructed to have two parallel and spaced third walls each having a series of slots.

10. Support apparatus for displaying arti cles-substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of Figs.

1 or 3 to 6.

11. Support apparatus for displaying articles substantially as herein described with reference to and illustrated in Fig. 2 or 7.