GB2259799A - Modular display system - Google Patents

Abstract

A modular display system is entirely timber based and free standing up to an optional 2440mm high with decorative or slatted panels 6 which clip on independently to bevelled cross members 7 between uprights. Display bays are joined by metal clips 10 locating in slots 2 to form a continuous display run. Display modules such as decorative or slatted panels 6 and drawer bases 4 can be changed and relocated without the need for nuts, bolts, screws or tools, a gap between panels allowing a bottom one to be lifted out. The panels 6 have rear bevelled cross members which fit on to the bevelled cross members 7. <IMAGE>

Description

MODULAR DISPLAY SYSTEM This invention relates to a modular display system.

There are numerous display systems on the market from numerous producers. These systems involve a background frame construction which is located firmly to internal walls using numerous bracket and bolt mechanisms. These systems usually comprise metal slotted uprights at lm or 1220mm intervals into which shelf brackets and display fittings are located. The slotted uprights are either fixed directly to the walls of the outlet or form part of the uprights of the frame system.

Panels are then located onto the frame system or directly to the wall between the uprights of the frame system. These panels provide either a decorative or cosmetic background to shelving systems which locate in front of them, or they take the form of timber or metal based slatted panels into which shelf brackets, hook, pegs and other hanging and display accessories can be located directly.

In front of these panels drawer sections are often positioned on top of a plinth. The plinth may or may not form part of the background frame construction. Other display modules such as tiered greeting card sections can be located onto the drawer bases.

Those systems that do not fix the panels directly to the wall using brackets and screws or bolts use metal bars or straps running between the upright of the background frame system upon which the decorative or slatted panels hang using metal brackets. Where panels are fitted one above another to provide display up to approximately 2135mm or 2440mm the lower panels cannot be removed without first removing the top panels. These systems are cumbersome when changing the bottom panel say from a slatted to a decorative panel.

The metal bars or straps either share the uprights of the frame system so only one upright is positioned between panels, or pairs of uprights are bolted together to form independent bays.

All these systems require numerous and substantial bolt and bracket arrangements to locate the background frame system to the walls, and require experienced shopfitters. This invention removes those requirements.

According to the present invention the whole modular display system is timber based comprising a background frame system with integral plinth so the background system is free standing. The cross members between uprights are timber with a bevelled top edge. Slatted or decorative panels locate directly onto and in front of the uprights.

The panels having timber cross members along the back which are bevelled along the bottom edge locate and lock into the bevelled cross members of the frame system so that the panels are held in position along their entire length thus preventing the panels from bowing which is important, and the uprights of the frame system are not seen between panels. Drawer bases and other display modules such as tiered greeting card sections can be located directly onto the plinth. No nuts, bolts, screws fixings or tools are required. Each bay is joined to form a continuous display run by clipping pairs of background frame members together using metal bridging clips which locate across pairs or corresponding slots in the background frame members. Gable end panels which finish a run of display bays simply clip on using metal brackets which locate into the same slots in the background frame members.

The modular system can be arranged to provide a double sided display where the display is to be positioned in the middle of a room rather than along a wall. The background frames all have bevelled timber cross members in pairs back to back so panels can be clipped on either side where required. In these circumstances a plinth frame is screwed to the back of the background frame at the bottom to form a double plinth arrangement so that drawer bases can be located on both sides of the background frame. Drawer bases have a protruding batten along the back bottom edge which tucks under the bottom cross members of the background frame preventing the drawer base from tipping forward.In the middle of the room extension frames are not used and the gap between cross members where the extensions would fit is covered by a T section timber capping which simply slots into the top and hides the top edges of the panels and background frame.

Optional extensions are provided to increase the display height from approximately 1450mm by simply locating an extension background frame where a cross member projects below the extension frame to locate into a corresponding gap between the cross members of the standard background frame. A single bracket and bolt or screw per bay is required to fit the extension to the wall in what is otherwise a free standing display up to approximately 2440mm high.

The panels for the extension hang on timber bevelled cross members as in the lower section. The design of the top of the lower panel and bottom of the extension panel is such that the lower panel can be lifted clear of the bevelled cross member of the background frame and removed without having to remove the extension panel. This is achieved by leaving a gap between the top of the hardboard back which is part of the panel itself and the bottom of the hardboard back of the extension panel and designing the bottom slat of the extension panel, where used, so that the lower panel can be lifted clear from it's background frame.

The integration of these design features is such that the whole modular display system can be erected quickly and easily with practically no wall fixing and the modules can be changed easily and independently with no tools or fittings required to do so, and no support or structural mechanisms are visible once the panels are located.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which figure 1 shows in perspective an exploded illustration of the background frame a slatted extension panel a drawer base and tiered greeting card display section.

figure 2 shows in section how the various modules locate together to form a double sided display where no extensions are used and extension frame locating recesses are covered with a timber capping. It shows a plinth section fitted to back onto the standard plinth section of the background frame.

figure 3 shows a cross section of the background and extension frame uprights, their bevelled cross members with slatted panels located on them. It also shows the design which allows the lower slatted panel to be removed without first removing the extension panel.

figure 4 shows how the background frame uprights fit together using a metal bridging clip from the side.

figure 5 shows how the background frame uprights fit together and how gable end panels fit using metal clips from the front section.

Referring to the drawings; figure 1, background frames, 1, are positioned against a wall in a line. The frames are joined by metal bridging clips locating into holes 2. Extension frame 3 drops down onto the background frame 1. Drawer bases 4 locate onto the plinth section and optional display sections 5 onto the drawer base if required. Slat or display panels simply locate on the cross members of the background and extension frames so there is no gap between decorative or slatted panels once located.

Referring to figure 2, panels can be fitted to both sides of the background frame locating onto the bevelled cross member 7. Where extension are not used a T section timber capping 8 slots onto the top of the background frame.

Referring to figure 3 there is a gap between the top of the hardboard back of the slatted lower panel 9 and the bottom of the extension panel 6 so the lower panel can be lifted out and removed without first removing the extension panel 6.

Referring to figure 4, background frames 1 are joined together to form continuous display bays using metal bridging clips 10 which locate into slots 2 in background frames 1. Clip on gable and panels locate using the same slots 2 at the ends of a run or to divide bays for display effect.

Referring to figure 5 once the slatted or decorative panels 6 are located there is no gap where metal supports or slotted uprights show.

Claims (9)

Claims:

1) A modular display system which is timber based comprising a background frame system with integral plinth so the background system is free standing.

The cross members between uprights are timber with a bevelled top edge. Slatted or decorative panels locate directly onto and in front of the uprights.

The panels having timber cross members along the back which are bevelled along the bottom edge locate and lock into the bevelled cross members of the frame system so that the panels are held in position along their entire length thus preventing the panels from bowing which is important and the uprights of the frame system are not seen between panels. Drawer bases and other display modules such as tiered greeting card sections can be located directly onto the plinth. No nuts, bolts, screws or fixings are required.

2) A modular display system as claimed in Claim 1 where in each bay is joined to form a continuous display run by clipping pairs of background frame members together using metal bridging clips which locate across pairs of corresponding slots in the background frame.

3) A modular display system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 where in gable end panels which finish a run of display bays simply clip on using metal brackets which locate into existing slots in the background frame members.

4) A modular display system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the background frames all have bevelled timber cross members in pairs back to back so panels can be clipped on either side where required. In these circumstances a plinth frame is screwed to the back of the background frame at the bottom to form a double plinth arrangement so that drawer bases can be located on both sides of that background frame.

5) A modular display system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein optional extensions are provided to increase the display height from approximately 1450mm to 2440mm by simply locating an extension background frame where a cross member projects below the extension frame to locate in a corresponding gap between the cross members of the standard background frame.

6) A modular display system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 5 wherein a single bracket and bolt or screw is required to fix the extension to the wall in what is otherwise a free standing display up to approximately 2440mm high.

7) A modular display system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 4 or Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein the panels for the extension hang on timber bevelled cross members as in the lower section, with the design of the top of the lower panel and bottom of the extension panel such that the lower panel can be lifted clear of the bevelled cross member of the background frame and removed without having to remove the extension panel.

8) A modular display system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 4 or Claim 5 or Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein modules can be changed independently with no tools required to do so and no support or structural mechanisms are visible once the modules are all in place.

9) A modular display system substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1-5 of the accompanying drawings.