GB2265078A

GB2265078A - A display system

Info

Publication number: GB2265078A
Application number: GB9205514A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert James Weeden
Original assignee: Versatile Fittings WHS Ltd
Current assignee: Versatile Fittings WHS Ltd
Priority date: 1992-03-13
Filing date: 1992-03-13
Publication date: 1993-09-22
Also published as: GB9205514D0

Abstract

A display system comprises a pair of spaced columns 12 each of which has a series of spaced slots 11 along its length. Each slot extends from the front face 12 of the column, rearwardly and downwardly. A carrier 15 for goods may be mounted at a desired position between the two columns. The carrier has three laterally projecting pegs 21 at the same spacing as the pitch of the slots 11, so that the pegs of the carrier may be engaged with respective slots 11 of the two columns. Adding weight to the carrier urges the pegs deeper into the slots, to hold the carrier in position. <IMAGE>

Description

A DISPLAY SYSTEM This invention relates to a display system particularly - but not exclusively - for use in shops and stores for the display of goods for sale.

There have been innumerable designs of point-ofsale equipment for the display of goods in shops and stores. There is a demand for such equipment to be adaptable to suit changing needs, whereby various goods may be displayed to the optimum advantage, at different times. It is advantageous for such equipment to be easily adjustable or otherwise adaptable to suit different merchandise, site requirements, and so on, by the shop staff and without the need to use special tools.

It is a principal aim of the present invention to provide display apparatus suitable for use in various circumstances and which may easily be adjusted or altered to suit differing requirements regarding both the nature of goods to be displayed and the display site.

According to the present invention, there is provided a display system comprising: a pair of columns arranged for mounting in a spaced-apart parallel disposition, each of which columns has formed therein a plurality of slots spaced along the length of the column and each slot extending rearwardly and downwardly from the front of the column; and at least one display means adapted to support goods to be displayed and having a rear section configured for mounting the display means on the pair of columns, each end of the rear section having at least two pegs projecting laterally of said section which pegs are receivable into two spaced slots of the two columns thereby to mount the display means on those columns.

In the display system of this invention, the position of the display means on the columns may readily be adjusted in a very simple manner, merely by lifting the display means upwardly and forwardly so as to free the pegs of the rear section of the display means from the respective slots of the pair of columns, and then re-engaging the pegs with different slots, as required. Moreover, the display means may equally easily be removed and replaced by a different design of display means.

In addition to the rear section, the display means advantageously includes a forwardly-projecting base section on which may be carried goods for display, the base and rear sections being connected together substantially rigidly. Conveniently, the display means is fabricated from metal rods and/or wires suitably interconnected, for example by welding; in such a case, the rear section may be defined by a plurality of laterally-extending rods, interconnected with a multiplicity of spaced vertical rods, which rods are turned through some angle, and typically about 90 , at their lower ends so as to then extend forwardly and thus at least in part to define the base section of the display means.The laterally-extending rods of the rear section may project beyond the two end-most vertically-extending rods, whereby the projecting end portions of the laterally-extending rods define said pegs engageable in the slots of the columns. Thus, the spacing of said laterally-extending rods should be equal to, or a multiple of, the spacing of the slots in the columns. Intermediate lateral rods or wires may be provided, if required for strength, or small items, are to be carried.

In a typical display means, the rear section has, at each end thereof, three projecting pegs engageable in respective slots in the associated column, which pegs are defined - in the preferred construction - by the end portions of three laterally-extending rods.

In order to ensure that the display means is securely carried by the columns, it is preferred for each slot to extend downwardly and rearwardly from the front of the column at an angle in the range of from O O 300 to 600 to the horizontal and advantageously at substantially 45 . The length of the slot may typically be at least twice the width of the slot. If then each peg (rod) received in a slot is a close sliding fit in that slot, the display means will securely be held notwithstanding the placement of loads - such as goods for display - on the display means.

By way of example only, one specific embodiment of display means of this invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a detailed perspective view of part of a column and of the end portion of a display means, when separated; Figure 2 is an end view on a part of a column and display means, when assembled together; and Figure 3 is a perspective view on a display system incorporating a number of different designs of display means all mounted on a single pair of columns.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a part of a column 10 comprising a strip of sheet metal folded to have a U-shape, the column having a plurality of slots 11 formed therein, spaced uniformly along the length of the column. Each slot opens through the front wall 12 of the column and extends rearwardly and downwardly in the side wall 13 of the o column at substantially 45 to the horizontal. The column has slots arranged in two series, disposed symmetrically to each side of the central plane of the column, there thus being slots extending rearwardly and downwardly in both side walls of the column. The column 10 is arranged for mounting on a wall and to this end may be provided with holes at spaced intervals, for receiving fixing screws or bolts.

Alternatively, the column may be arranged for mounting on a stand, so as to form a part of a free-standing display unit.

Also shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a part of a display means in the form of a shelf 15 together with a back section 16, fabricated from rods 17 and 18 and wires 19, welded together at the intersections therebetween. The rear section comprises three laterally-extending rods 17, the spacing of which corresponds to the spacing of the slots 11 of a column 10, the laterally-extending rods 17 being welded to vertically-extending end rods 18 (only one of which is visible in Figures 1 and 2). The end rods 18 are disposed near to the ends of the rods 17, and between those end rods 18, there is a spaced plurality of parallel wires 19 welded to the horizontally-extending rods 17. The vertically-extending end rods 18 and the vertically extending wires 19 are turned through substantially 90 below the lower horizontal rod 17A, so as to project forwardly therefrom.Adjacent their ends remote from the back section 16, these rods 18 and wires 19 are again turned through substantially 90 so as to project upwardly and form a lip for the shelf 15, at the front edge thereof. Transverse wires 20 are welded to the rods 18 and wires 19 over the main area of the shelf, to form a grid-like surface for carrying articles to be displayed. Though not shown in Figures 1 and 2, end triangulating reinforcing members may extend from the front of the shelf to the upper horizontal rod 17B.

The portions 21 of the horizontally-extending rods 17 projecting beyond the end rods 18 serve as pegs engageable in the slots 11 of a column 10, as shown in Figure 2. Those projecting portions 21 are a close sliding fit in the slots 11, and the slots have an effective length of more than twice the rod diameter, as shown in Figure 2, so that a shelf is securely held by the inter-engagement of the rods and slots.

To complete a display device of this invention, two columns are arranged, for example by affixing to a wall, in a parallel spaced-apart disposition, so that the spacing between the columns is slightly greater than the spacing between the end rods 18 of the shelf.

That shelf may then be mounted on the columns by engaging the projecting end portions 21 of the horizontally-extending rods 17 in the slots 11.

Lateral movement of the shelf is restrained by the end rods 18 engaging the adjacent respective side faces of the columns.

Figure 3 shows two columns 25 mounted on a wall and carrying a variety of different display means 2631, each having a rear section 32 with at least three horizontal rods 33 the projecting end portions of which are engaged in corresponding slots 34 in the columns 25. The illustrated display means include a deep basket 26, a shallow basket 27, a shelf 28 with its back section therebelow, a shelf 29 with a down-turned front lip, a rack 30, and a simple grid 31 having six horizontally-extending rods 33 the end portions of which engage the slots 34 in the columns. All of these display means are fabricated in the manner described above, from intersecting rods and wires.

The positions of all of these display means may readily be adjusted on the columns, simply by lifting the means forwardly and upwardly to clear the projecting end portions of the horizontally-extending rods 33 from the slots in the columns, and then reengaging those portions in the appropriate slots.

It will be appreciated that the display system of this invention may serve as point-of-sale equipment in retail premises, or may be used other than for the sale of goods. For example, the system could be used in libraries, schools, workshops and so on, for holding various articles so that those articles may easily be seen.

Claims

1. A display system comprising: a pair of columns arranged for mounting in a spaced-apart parallel disposition, each of which columns has formed therein a plurality of slots spaced along the length of the column and each slot extending rearwardly and downwardly from the front of the column; and at least one display means adapted to support goods to be displayed and having a rear section configured for mounting the display means on the pair of columns, each end of the rear section having at least two pegs projecting laterally of said section which pegs are receivable into two spaced slots of the two columns thereby to mount the display means on those columns.

2. A display system according to Claim 1, wherein the display means includes a forwardly-projecting base section on which may be carried goods for display, the base and rear sections being connected together substantially rigidly.

3. A display system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the display means comprises a grid-like structure fabricated from metal rods and/or wires.

4. A display system according to Claim 3, wherein the rear section includes a plurality of laterally extending rods the end portions of which project to define said pegs engageable with the slots in the columns.

5. A display system according to Claim 4, wherein the rear section further includes a multiplicity of spaced vertical rods which are turned through substantially o 900, at their lower ends so as to then extend forwardly from the rear section.

6. A display system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rear section has, at each end thereof, three projecting pages engageable in respective slots in the associated columns.

7. A display system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each slot in the column extends downwardly and rearwardly from the front face of the 0 0 column at an angle in the range of from 30 to 60 to the horizontal.

8. A display system according to Claim 7, wherein each slot in the column extends downwardly and rearwardly at an angle of substantially 45 .

9. A display system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the length of each slot is at least twice the width of the slot.

10. A display system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each peg received in a slot is a close sliding fit in that slot.

11. A display system according to Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.