GB2257898A

GB2257898A - Merchandise display rack

Info

Publication number: GB2257898A
Application number: GB9215807A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Mccrory
Original assignee: Fords Ltd
Current assignee: Fords Ltd
Priority date: 1991-07-24
Filing date: 1992-07-24
Publication date: 1993-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 2012-07-24
Also published as: GB9115942D0; GB9215807D0; GB2257898B

Abstract

A floor (10) slopes forwardly to a low front wall (36). Guide slots (12) extend down the floor (10). Transversely extending guide walls (54) each have a base portion (58) for overlying the floor (10), a downward projection (6) extending beneath the base, and a support wall (56) extending vertically above the base. A respective guide wall (54) may be mounted to the floor (10) at each slot (12), with the projection extending through the slot. Gravity urges the guide wall forwardly down the floor. Thus a row of articles can be engaged between the guide wall (54) and the front wall (36). As articles are removed successively from the front of the display, the guide wall 54 moves forwardly to maintain a neat row. <IMAGE>

Description

MERCHANDISE DISPLAY RACK The present invention relates to a merchandise display rack and to components of a rack system. It particularly relates to a rack suitable for displaying small card-mounted articles (e.g. razors) at point of sale.

Broadly, the invention concerns a display rack system having a floor, means defining a slot extending forwardly in the floor; and at least one upright mobile wall member having a mounting portion for engaging in the slot for guiding forward movement of the wall member across the floor; the mobile wall member being urged to move forwardly. The floor may slope forwardly so that the wall member is urged by gravity and/or it may be urged by spring means.

Preferably the floor has a plurality of slots for a corresponding plurality of mobile wall members. It may have means for engaging partition walls which extend parallel to and between slots.

The floor may be provided by a tray member which may be adapted to be mounted to a rear panel and/or to side panel(s). The mounting may be such that the floor slopes forwardly. The rear/side panel(s) may accept a plurality of trays, side by side and/or one above the other.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail showing engagement of a tray to a side panel; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a tray and an alternative form of rear panel.

Fig. 1 shows a forwardly sloping rectangular tray 10 with five forwardly extending guide slots 12, each having an enlarged rear portion 14. Between adjacent slots there are pairs of mounting apertures 156 for partitions 18 having L-shaped projections 20 for engagement therein.

At the lateral edges there are projecting stalks 22 bearing small discs 24. Side panels 26 have vertically extending slots 28 with branches 30 such that a shelf can have its stalks 22 at one side engaged in the slots 28, and be displaceable between different fixing positions where it hangs at branch ends. The tops of the slots have enlargements 32 so that discs can be passed through. As shown in Fig. 2, the slots 28 may have narrow inner portions 34 and wider outer portions 35, dimensioned so that the stalks and discs are within the thickness of the side panels. At the front of the tray there is a front wall 36, preferably transparent (e.g.

glass or acrylic). A ticket carrier 37 may be mounted there, generally beneath the tray. At the back there maybe an upstanding wall 38 with a rearward and downward flange 40 for hooking over a support. Alternatively or additionally there may be stalk and disc formations like those at the sides, for engaging a rear panel 42 slotted (44) like the side panels. Fig. 3 shows a further arrangement, in which a rear panel 46 has series of slots 48 in vertical rows, and trays having corresponding rear projections 50 of stepped or corrugated form. A rear panel of any type may have rearward hooked brackets 52 for engaging in slots of a standard slotted steel upright 53.

By whatever means it is mounted, the or each tray preferably slopes forwardly. Each guide slot 12 guides a movable wall member 54 which has an upright wall portion 56, a rearward floor portion 58 for extending parallel to the tray 10, and a mounting portion 60 projecting beneath the floor portion from front to rear. The mounting portion may be a flange 63 having a vertical stalk for extending through the guide slot 12, and an enlarged head 64 preventing engagement or disengagement except via the enlarged rear portion 14. Thus a wall member 54 can 'sit' on the tray and move forward. It may be in sliding contact with the tray surface and/or it may carry bearings to assist displacement. It may be urged forwardly solely by gravity (possibly assisted by being weighted) or there may be urging means. For example, a known form of coiled spring may be carried at the rear of the wall member 54 with one end fastened beneath the tray, so that the tendency of the spring to coil up urges the wall member 54 forwardly.

In use, a row of generally flat articles, disposed one behind the other, is placed on the tray between two partitions 18, with a movable wall member 54 engaging the rearmost article. Articles are progressively removed from the front. The row slides forwardly, assisted and kept neat by the urging of the movable wall member 54.

Claims

1. A display rack system having a floor, means defining a slot extending forwardly in the floor; and at least one upright mobile wall member having a mounting portion for engaging in the slot for guiding forward movement of the wall member across the floor; the mobile wall member being urged to move forwardly.

2. A rack system according to claim 1 wherein the floor is arranged to slope forwardly in use so that the wall member is urged by gravity.

3. A rack system according to claim 1 or 2 having spring means for urging forward movement of the wall member.

4. A rack system according to any preceding claim wherein the floor has a plurality of slots for a corresponding plurality of mobile wall members.

5. A rack system according to claim 4 having partition walls which extend parallel to and between slots, and are engaged in formations in the floor.

6. A rack system according to any preceding claim which includes a rear panel and/or one or two side panels and wherein the floor is adapted to be mounted to said rear panel and/or side panel(s); and wherein the rear/side panel(s) are adapted to accept a plurality of floors, side by side and/or one above the other.

7. A rack system according to claim 6 including at least one side panel having at lest one vertically extending slot with a plurality of side branches, and wherein a floor has a lateral protrusion for extending into the slot, the arrangement being such that the floor is adjustable between different vertical locations by sliding the protrusion along the slot between side branches, which provide stable support locations.

8. A rack system substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.