GB2351073A

GB2351073A - Dispensing device for articles such as newspapers

Info

Publication number: GB2351073A
Application number: GB9913753A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Ian Parker
Original assignee: PPE Ltd
Current assignee: PPE Ltd
Priority date: 1999-06-15
Filing date: 1999-06-15
Publication date: 2000-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-15
Also published as: GB2351073B; GB9913753D0

Abstract

The dispensing and display device 10 comprises a housing (2, fig. 1) in the form of a box with one open face, a pusher plate and spring means 6 biasing the pusher plate towards the open face. The spring means 6 comprises two or more springs which provide support for the plate over substantially the whole of its area. One end of the spring means 6 is attached to the face 8 of the housing opposite the open face, and the other end is attached to the pusher plate. Stop means, such as 'L'-shaped bars 24, are provided on the open face of the housing. An inextensible tie means is attached to the housing and the pusher plate to retain the pusher plate within the housing, and the pusher plate has an aperture thereon to allow access to the housing during assembly. A cover plate 18 may be removably mounted on the pusher plate, and it may have a projecting rib 22. The device is particularly suited to dispensing Tabloid or Broadsheet newspapers, and may form an array (fig. 4) with other devices for installation in a sales location.

Description

2351073 Dispensing Device The present invention relates to a display

device, in particular a display device for use as a point of sale installation, for customer selection of items such as newspapers and periodicals.

It is known to provide display systems for these products, in which the products are stacked vertically, or at a slight angle to the vertical, on racks. The customer removes the top or outer copy of the periodical, thus exposing the next copy. These systems have the disadvantage that if certain periodicals or newspapers are removed more frequently than others from the display, then the appearance of the partially stocked display is uneven and untidy.

It is also known to provide a display unit which comprises a plurality of display and dispensing devices, each of which displays an outermost periodical or newspaper, substantially vertically, and which further includes a spring loaded plate biased towards the display position and slidable within guide tracks located int he dispensing device. The design of unit has the advantage that it always presents an even and tidy display, but has a number of disadvantages. These disadvantages include the fact that the unit has to be larger than would be necessary simply to display the required number of publications, since space is required between each display to accommodate the guide tracks for the plate.. It is also a further disadvantage of the device that it is difficult to achieve accurate and reliable guiding of the plate within the tracks, which can cause the plate or publications to jam against the tracking. It is a finther disadvantage of the known devices that, because of their complexity of construction, for cost considerations it has been necessary to manufacture the components from plastics materials, which can lead to problems in robustness and reliability.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device, in particular display device for the display and vending of newspapers or periodicals, in which the above disadvantages are reduced or substantially obviated.

The present invention provides a display device which comprises a housing in the form of 2 a box open at one face, a pusher plate moveable within the housing, spring means biassing the pusher plate towards the open face of the housing, a first end of the spring means being attached to the inner wall of the face of the housing opposite to the open face and a second end of the spring means being attached to the pusher plate, and stop means provided on the open face of the housing, characterised in that the spring means comprises two or more springs positioned so as to provide support for the pusher plate over its whole area and in that the device further comprises at least one flexible and substantially inextensible tie to retain the pusher plate within the housing and the pusher plate is provided with an aperture for access during assembly.

In a preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention a cover plate is removably mounted on the pusher plate, to prevent unauthorised or unintentional access through the aperture, and to improve the appearance of the unit. A projecting rib may be provided on the back of the cover plate so that it is easier for the customer to remove the outermost publication.

The device is preferably provided with two flexible and inextensible ties, a first end of each of which is attached to the inner wall of the face of the housing opposite to the open face and a second end of which is attached to the inner face of the pusher plate. The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in displaying and dispensing tabloid and broadsheet newspapers. Where the device is designed to be used for the display and dispensing of tabloid newspapers, which are relatively light in weight, these papers would normally be displayed in portrait orientation and two springs would be provided. Where the device is designed to be used for the display and dispensing of broadsheet newspapers, which are generally heavier, these papers would be displayed in landscape orientation and four springs would be provided.

A number of dispensing devices according to the invention are preferably linked together to form an array which is suitable for installation in a sales location. The array may comprise a mixture of tabloid and broadsheet display devices.

3 The display devices according to the invention are preferably constructed from metal, in particular steel.

An embodiment of a display device will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view of a dispensing device in its assembled form, ready to receive a stack of periodicals; Figure 2 is a view of the dispensing device of Figure 1 with the cover plate and pusher plate removed; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 1 and, Figure 4 is a schematic drawing of an array of display devices for installation in a sales location.

A display device shown generally at 10 comprises a housing 2, one face 4 of which is open. Two springs 6, 6' are mounted on the inner wall of the face 8 of the housing 2 opposite to the open face 4. A pusher plate 12 is mounted on the free ends of the springs 6, 6' and comprises an access aperture 14. The springs are wire springs of the open helix type and so that their characteristics are specified such that the pusher plate 12 is biassed away from the back face 8 with a force which can be overcome manually without excess effort.

Flexible cord ties 16, 16' are mounted with a first end attached to the inner wall of the face 8 of the housing 2 and a second end attached to the inner face of the pusher plate 12. A cover plate 18 is removably mounted on the outer face of the pusher plate 12 by means of screws 20. A vertical rib 22 projects outwardly from the outer face of the cover plate 18.

L-shaped retaining bars 24, 24' are provided on each vertical edge of the open face 4 of the housing 2.

4 In operation, the empty dispensing device 10 is in the condition ready for loading as shown in Figure 1. A stack of newspapers or periodicals is loaded into the housing 2 by pressing on the cover plate 18 against the force of the springs 6,6'. As the newspapers or periodicals are loaded into the housing 2, and the operator releases the pressure on the springs 6,6', the cover plate 18 is biassed by these springs towards the open face of the housing 2 until the outermost paper or periodical of the stack contacts the restraining bars 24,24'.

As a customer removes the outermost articles, the next article is automatically brought forward so that it contacts the bars 24,24'until it is removed in its tam.

An array of dispensing devices 10 according to the invention, which would be suitable for installation in a retail outlet is shown in Figure 4. Where the device is intended to be used in the display and dispensing of products which are folded along a vertical edge, as is usual with tabloid newspapers or magazines, then the L-shaped retaining bars 24, 24' provided on each vertical edge of the open face 4 of the housing 2 are attached to the housing at the lower surface thereof. The individual dispensing device is here in portrait orientation. In the case where the device is intended to be used in the display and dispensing of products which are folded along a horizontal edge, as is usual with broadsheet newspapers, the L-shaped retaining bars 24, 24'provided on each vertical edge of the open face 4 of the housing 2 are attached to the housing at the upper surface thereof. The individual dispensing device is here in landscape orientation.

Claims

1 1. A display device which comprises a housing in the form of a box open at one face, a pusher plate moveable within the housing, spring means biassing the pusher plate towards the open face of the housing, a first end of the spring means being attached to the inner wall of the face of the housing opposite to the open face and a second end of the spring means being attached to the pusher plate, and stop means provided on the open face of the housing, characterised in that the spring means comprises two or more springs positioned so as to provide support for the pusher plate over its whole area and in that the device further comprises at least one flexible and substantially inextensible tie to retain the pusher plate within the housing and the pusher plate is provided with an aperture for access during assembly.

2. A display device according to claim 1 characterised in that a cover plate is removably mounted on the pusher plate.

3. A display device according to claim 2 characterised in that a projecting rib is provided on the back of the cover plate.

4. A display device according to any of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that it is provided with two flexible and inextensible ties, a first end of each of which is attached to the inner wall of the face of the housing opposite to the open face and a second end of which is attached to the inner face of the pusher plate.

5. A display device according to any of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that it is used in displaying and dispensing tabloid and broadsheet newspapers.

6. A display device according to claim 5 characterised in that it is designed to be used for the display and dispensing of tabloid newspapers and comprises two springs.

7. A display device according to claim 5 characterised in that it is designed to be used 6 for the display and dispensing of broadsheet newspapers and comprises four springs.

1

8. A display device according to any of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that it is constructed of metal.

9. A display device according to claim 8 characterised in that it is constructed of steel. 5

10. A display device substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. An array which is suitable for installation in a sales location characterised in that the array comprises a number of dispensing devices according to any of claims 1 to 10 which are linked together.