GB2183392A - Display assembly, particularly for cut flowers - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a compact and attractive display of elongate items (usually cut flowers 50) framework 10 supports a tiered arrangement of receptacles 21 to 24. Moreover, grid means 27 are mounted on the framework at a spacing above each tier of receptacles so as to support the items projecting upwardly from the receptacle(s) immediately therebelow. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A display assembly, particularly for cut flowers This invention relates two a display assembly, particularly but not exclusively for cut flowers or foliage.

Usually cut flowers and foliage are displayed at points of sale with their stalks or cut ends accommodated in water-filled bucketsorsimilar vessels two keep therm fresh. This is rather haphazard and does not always result in a display which is appealing to potential customers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact and aesthetically pleasing display assemblywhich isparticularlysuitableforholding bunches ofcutflowers, but which could, of course, be used for other purposes.

With this object in view, the present invention provides a display assembly comprising a framework supporting a tiered arrangement of receptacles, and respective grid means mounted art a spacing above each tier of receptacles so asto support elongate items, such as bunches of cut flowers, extending upwardly from the receptacles at a spacing above the receptacles.

Bunches of flowers can be displayed in a very pleasing manneronthisassemblywiththecutends oftheir stalks inserted into the receptacles, which should, of course, be water-filled, and upper regions of their stalks, nearer the flower heads, supported by the grid means so that the bunches are held in either an upright or orderly, sloping disposition rather than tilting in a haphazard, unsightly manner. With this arrangement, in accordance with the invention, only relatively shallow receptacles are required since the rims of the receptacles are not necessaryforsupporting an upper region ofthe stalks. In the past, of course, quite deep receptacles had to be used since there was no supportthereabove and the bunches were only supported by the rims of the receptacles.

It will be appreciated that a display of tiers of uprightly supported flower bunches, as is achieved on the assembly ofthe invention is particularly attractiveto customers. Moreover, it is useful to retailers as all the receptacles are located together on one compact piece of apparatus, ratherthan being spread about separately, taking up a lot of floor space unnecessarily.

Preferablytheframework has upstanding rear members and front members, the rear members extending upwardly above the front members and having a signboard or panel fixed between their upper extremities. Advertising material or other indicia may conveniently be depicted on this signboard.

Also, wheels or castors are advantageously mounted on the base ofthe framework to facilitate movement ofthe frame when tilted in one direction. In this respect, two wheels are preferably mounted in parallel on or closely adjacent to the lower ends ofthe two rearframework members so that the assembly is movable when tilted slightly rearwards.

Afurther advantageous development is provision of only a single receptacle, in the form of an elongate trough, at each tier of the arrangement. This mini mizens the numberof receptacles which have to be dealt with, i.e. which have to be positioned, orfilled with water, or cleaned, or removed and stacked when not in use, and thus results in displayefficiency. Moreover, a single long receptacle is much easierto keep clean both inside and outside than a plurality of small receptacles, since there is less sur face area and easier accesstothe inside.

In a preferred practical embodimentofthe invention, the tiered arrangement of receptacles is supported by a series of brackets mounted on the framework, at least some of those brackets having front margins formed as the grid meansforsupportingel- ongate items extending upwardly from the receptacle orreceptacles in thetier immediately below. In other words, some ofthe brackets serve the dual purpose of receptacle support in their rear portion and support of flower bunches from the tier below in theirfront portion. This is obviously a particularly advantagedus arrangement which is economical both in terms of constructional material and in the number of component parts requiredforthe assembly.Moreover, it ensures a favourable display in which flower bunches extending upwardly from receptacle(s) in any particul ar tier overl ie or screen the receptacle(s) in the tier immediately above. Thus it is not necessary with this embodiment to provide furthertransverse panels to cover the fronts ofthe receptacles, so the assembly is kept simple in design and light in weight and production costs are mini mizen.

However, in other embodiments, the grid means do not necessarily have to be integral with or fixed to the receptacles and they may take any suitable form.

The provision of grid means above respective tiers of receptacles makes the display stand of the invention more efficient and effective than any other display stand hitherto.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a display assembly of the invention; Figure2 is a cross-section along the line 2-2 in Figure 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows; Figure3 is a cross-section along the line 3-3 in Figure 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows; and Figure4is a side elevation of the same embodi mentofdisplayassemblyindicating how bunches of flowers may be appealingly displayed thereon.

As illustrated in Figure 1, a preferred embodiment ofthe display assembly ofthe invention comprises a support framework 10 to which five brackets 11 to 15 are attached. The brackets 11 to 15 are arranged in tiers, one above the other, andthefirstfour 11 to 14 from the bottom upwards support a tiered arrangement of receptacles 21 to 24, each in theform of an elongate trough.

Theframework 10 comprisesfour upstanding members 31 to 34 having their lower ends, atthe base of the framework 10, arranged at the corners of a rectangle. Ofthe four members, two adjacent members 31, 32 constitute rear members and these are substantially vertical and equal in height. The other two members 33, 34 constitute front members and each ofthese has a short vertical lower portion and a long upperportioninclinedtowardstheadja- cent rear member31 or32.The upper extremity of each front member 33,34 is bent over almost horizontally and connected to the respective rear member 31,32.The vertical lower portions ofthe front members 33, are connected by a front panel 35.The rearframework members 31,32 extend upwardly beyond the points of connection ofthe front members 33, 34 and a panel 36 in the nature ofa signboard is mounted between the upperextremities ofthese rear members 31,32. Advertising material or other indicia, such as the business name or Trade mark of the retailer is depicted on this panel 36.

Respective cross-pieces 37,38,39 extend between thelowermarginsofthefrontand rearmembers33, 31; 34,32, and ofthetwo rear members 31 32. The frontand rearframework members 31 to 34 and these cross-pieces 37 to 39 consist oftubular steel or tubular aluminium of rectangular cross-section. The cross-pieces 37 to 39 and the panels 35,36 impart rigidityto the framework. Roughlytriangularside panels40,41 are fitted between the respectivefront and rearmembers33,31; 34, 32 and enhance this rigidity. The various panels 35,36,40,41 may, of course be of metal, wood, or plastics, but preferably the latter so that the overall assembly is relatively light in weight.

A pairofwheels 28,29 are mounted in parallel on the lower ends ofthetwo rear members 31,32 so the assembly can easily be wheeled forwards or backwards when tilted to the rear to liftthe lower ends of the front members 33, off the ground. it is forthis reason, i.e. to facilitate mobility, that the overall weight of the assembly is kept to a minimum. In this respect it is envisaged that, as well as for indoor displays, the assembly will be used to display flowers at outdoor locations, e.g. outside shops and garages, and bewheeled inside overnight and/orwhen the shop or garage is closed.

The brackets 11 to 15 consists of generally rectangular metal frames which extend between the inclined upper portions ofthe front members 33,34 at equally spaced intervals of about 25 to 35 cm. In this particularembodimentthebrackets 11 to 15 are simply welded to the frame members 33,34. However, in alternative embodiments they could be fixed in other way and could even been detachably mounted by having hook-like projections engaging, for example, intotubularorannularelements on the frame members 33,34. In any eventthe brackets 11 to 15 are arranged in tiers andthefourlowestones 11 to 14 each support one ofthe elongate plastics troughts 21 to 24.

The lowest bracket 11 simply comprises an open rectangularframewith a pair of U-shaped members 26 extending downwardly between the opposing longer sides of the frame. The trough 21 is then quite securely supported within the frame with its base resting on the U-shaped members 26, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 4. The base ofthetrough 21 when located in the bracket 11, is, in the illustrated embodi ment, ataboutthe level ofthetop edge ofthefront panel 35. It may, however, be more advantageous for the front panel 35 to conceal the front ofthe lowest trough 21.

The next three brackets 12,13, 14arranged in sequence above the lowest bracket 11 are all identical and are well illustrated in Figure 2. In effect,they each consist of a rear portion ofthe sameform as the bracket 11 (i.e. a rectangular frame with downwardly extending U-shaped members 26) and a front portion in the form of a grid 27. More specifically, they each consist of a rectang u lar frame of about twice the width of the lower bracket, with a central crosspiece 25 dividing this into rear and front portions.

The U-shaped members26,whichsupportthere spectivetroughs22to24,extend betweenthecross- piece 25 and the rear longitudinal side of the frame, whilst the grid 27 is formed between the cross-piece 25 and the front longitudinal side of the frame by a further longitudinal cross-piece 20 and fourtransverse cross-pieces 16 to 19 defining two rows of five apertures.

The highest bracket 15 is different again and is illustrated in Figure 3. This is simply equivalentto the grid part 27 ofthe lower brackets 12to 14 and the same reference numbers have been used in Figure 3 as in Figure 2 to indicate the longitudinal cross-piece 20andthefourtransversecross-pieces 16to 19 which definetheten apertures insidetheframe. The rectangularframe is, of course, only aboutthesame size as the lowest bracket 11 and about half the width of the other brackets 12 to 14.

It will be noted that in each case, whenthetroughs 21 to 24 are in position, supported by the U-shaped members ofthe brackets 11 to 14, a respective grid 27 is disposed directly above each trough 21 to 24. It will also be noted thatthe troughs 21 to 24 are each formed with one long sidewall higherthan the other, the higher side wall being disposed towards the rear ofthe assembly in each case.

The manner of use ofthe assembly for displaying bunches 50 of cut flowers will be readily appreciated by reference to Figure 4. Thetroughs 21 to 24 are filled with water and the cut ends of the stalks ofthe flower bunches 50 are inserted therein through the apertures of the grids 27 immediately thereabove so that the upper parts ofthe bunches 50 adjacentthe flower heads, remain projecting through the grids 27 and are thus supported at a spacing above each trough 21 to 24. Thus, an attractive tiered arrange mentof uprightly supported flower bunches 50 is achieved, with the bunches 50 in one layer (i.e. one trough) overlying the trough ofthe layerabove so thatwhen the assembly is filled, onlytheflower bunches 50 and the lowest trough 21 are visible from the front. As previously mentioned, the lowest trough 21 may be concealed by the front panel 35.

The intermediate brackets 12,13, 14 are part icularly cleverly designed to serve the dual purpose of supporting a trough in their rear portion, whilst in their front portion providing a grid 27 for support of flower bunches projecting up from the tier below.

As previously mentioned, the assembly may be readily tilted and moved by vi rtue of the wheels 29 at the rear. The extra height of the trough side walls at the rear accommodates the change in water level in the troughs (when these are waterfilled) and pre- vents spillage.

The invention is not limited to the exact details of the above-described embodiment and many variations are possible. For example, the material and the configuration ofthesupportframeworkmaydif- ferfrom that described above and it may have castors instead of wheels, or no wheels at all. Moreover, the manner in which the receptacles are supported on the framework may differ from the specifically described embodiment, e.g. by having the brackets 11 to 15 detachable, as previously mentioned, and selectively fixable at different levels up and down the supporting framework (perhaps to accommodate flowers of different lengths). Also, the receptacles need not be elongate troughs, and there could, for example, be a series of small receptacles arranged on a shelf at each tier. Finally of course, it will be understood that the assembly could be used to display other goods than flowers.

Claims (1)

1. Adisplayassembly, particularlyforcut flowers, comprising a framework supporting a tiered arrangement of receptacles and respective grid means mounted at a spacing above each tier of receptacles so as to support elongate items, such as bunches of cut flowers, extending upwardly from the receptacles at a spacing above the receptacles.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frameworkcomprisesfourupstanding members having their lower ends, atthe base oftheframework, arranged at the corners of a rectangle, and of the four members, two adjacent members constitute rear members which are substantiallyverticallydisposed, while the other two members constitute front members having upper portions inclined towards the respective rear members and connected thereto adjacent the top of the framework.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein respective side panels, of approximatelytriangular shape, are fitted between each rearframework member and the corresponding front framework member.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the rearframework members extend upwardly beyond thefront members and a signboard or panel is mounted between the upper extremities of the rear framework members.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 2,3 or 4, whereinwheelsorcastorsare mounted on the base ofthe framework.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim wherein two wheels are mounted in parallel on or closely adjacent to the lower ends ofthe two rearframework members so that the assembly is movable when tilted slightly rearwards.

7. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6 wherein a front panel extends between lower portions of the respective front framework members, which portions are substantially vertically disposed.

8. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a single receptacle, in the form of an elongate trough, is provided at each tier of the arran- gement.

9. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tiered arrangement of receptacles is supported by a series of brackets mounted on the framework, at least some ofthose brackets having front margins formed as the grid meansforsupport- ing elongate items extending upwardlyfrom the receptacle or receptacles in the tier immediately below.

10. Adisplay assembly, particularlyforcut flowers, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: (a) Claims 1 above have been deleted ortextually amended.

(b) Newortextually amended claims have been filed asfollows:

1. A display asssembly, particularly for cut flowers, comprising a framework supporting a tiered arrangement of receptacles, wherein each tier is offset rearwardly relativeto the one below and the receptacles are capable of holding water, and rspective grid means mounted at a spacing above each tier of receptacles so as to support elongate items, such as bunches of cut flowers, extending upwardlyfrom the receptacles art a spacing above the receptacles.