GB2375648A

GB2375648A - Display panel with merchandising receptacles for use with a personnel barrier system

Info

Publication number: GB2375648A
Application number: GB0126698A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Ronald Green
Original assignee: QM Group Ltd
Current assignee: QM Group Ltd
Priority date: 2001-05-05
Filing date: 2001-11-06
Publication date: 2002-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 2021-11-06
Also published as: GB2375648B; GB0126698D0; GB0111160D0

Abstract

A display panel 8 for use in combination with the posts 4 and bases 6 of a personnel barrier system comprises a panel having edges 18 which engage with support slots 12 provided on the posts, and means provided on at least one face for supporting one or more receptacles 10, e.g. bins, baskets, shelves, for merchandising goods. The upper 14 and lower 16 edges of the panel may have reinforcing formations (not shown), and the receptacle supporting means may comprise one or more slots 24 which extend through the panel. The slot engaging means may comprise V-shaped formations (32, fig. 6), and may include locking means which may be in the form of cam elements (34, fig. 6). The panel 8 may be formed wholly or mainly of metal, and support members (36, fig. 8) may be provided which engage in the support slots 12 in order to support a panel. A grooved sleeve (40, fig. 10) is also provided in order that posts without grooves may be adapted to support the display panels.

Description

DISPLAY PANEL AND SYSTEM The present invention relates to a display panel and in particular, but not exclusively, to a display panel for use in combination with the posts and bases of a personnel barrier system.

The invention further relates to a display system including such a panel.

Personnel barrier systems are used in many situations to control the movement of people, for example for pedestrian guidance, to control queues, and to restrict movement and/or access. Such barrier systems typically include a set of barrier posts interconnected by ropes, tapes or rails. Each barrier post includes an upright column supported by a heavy support base to prevent the column from tipping over.

Personnel barrier systems are sometimes used in shops, for example to control queues at tills. Such a situation provides an ideal opportunity for point-of-sale marketing of goods that are suitable for impulse buying. These may include, for example, electric cells, photographic films, confectionary and magazines.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a display system for such goods, which may be used with the posts and bases of an existing personnel barrier system.

According to the present invention there is provided a display panel for use in combination with the posts and bases of a personnel barrier system, the panel including a substantially planar panel surface having two side edges that are substantially vertical in use, slot engaging means attached to each side edge for engaging a support slot provided on said posts, and support means arranged on at least one face of said panel for supporting one or more receptacles for merchandise goods.

The display panel may be used with the existing posts and bases of a conventional personnel barrier system and provide a barrier function, while also displaying goods for sale. The user is therefore provided with an additional opportunity for sales at minimal additional cost.

The support slots provided on the posts may be formed directly in the posts, or alternatively they may be formed in a sleeve or similar component that fits over the post.

The upper and lower edges of the panel preferably include reinforcing formations : for example, the edges may be curved or bent.

Advantageously, the slot engaging means include V-shaped formations. The slot engaging means may include locking means. The locking means may include a cam element.

Advantageously, the support means comprises one or more slots that extend through the panel. The panel is preferably made wholly or mainly of metal.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a display system including at least one display panel according to the preceding paragraphs and a plurality of posts and bases, wherein each said post includes at least one support slot for engagement with said slot engaging means.

The system may include a plurality of support members that are engageable in said support slots for supporting a display panel.

The system may include one or more receptacles for merchandise goods, said receptacles being engageable in said support means.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a barrier system that includes a display panel supported on posts and bases ; Figure 2 is a front view of a second embodiment of a display panel; Figure 3 is a rear view of the panel shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a top view of the panel; Figure 5 is an end section of the panel; Figure 6 is an isometric view of that panel; Figure 7 is a scrap side view showing parts of a post and a panel at an enlarged scale; Figure 8 is a section on line VIII-VIII ;

Figure 9 is an isometric view of a post and base, and Figure 10 is an isometric view of a sleeve for a cylindrical post.

A first embodiment of the display system 2 is shown in Figure 1. The system includes a set of barrier posts 4 and bases 6, which support a set of display panels 8. The panels 8 support shelves 10 or other items for holding goods that are for sale (for example bins or baskets).

The posts 4 and bases 6 are known. The posts 4 are typically cylindrical and are supported on heavy bases 6. The posts 4 shown in figure 1, and more clearly in figure 9, have a set of V-shaped slots 12 that extend from the top to the bottom of each post. These slots normally receive the ends of tapes or rails to form a personnel barrier.

The panels 8 are substantially rectangular and are made of sheet metal, for example steel or aluminium. Each panel 8 includes a top edge 14, a bottom edge 16 and two side edges 18. Locking means 20, which will be described in more detail in relation to the second embodiment shown in Figures 2 to 5, are provided on the side edges 18, for engaging the slots 12 in the posts 4. Each panel 8 includes a plurality of horizontal slots 24, that serve in use to support in a conventional manner receptacles for goods, for example shelves 10.

A curved pricing bar 26, which serves to support price labels, is provided along the upper edge 14 of the panel. A reinforcing groove 28 extends horizontally along the panel 8, for increased rigidity.

A second version of the display panel 8 is shown in Figures 2 to 8. As in the first embodiment, the panel is made from a sheet of metal, the top and bottom edges of which are turned over (radiused) to reinforce the panel and prevent horizontal flexing. A reinforcing strip 30 is attached to the rear face of the panel to prevent vertical flexing.

Each side edge 18 of the panel is bent rearwards approximately at a right angle to the front face and includes locking means for attaching the panel to a post 4. The locking means includes a set of locking plates 32 that is located adjacent the top edge 14 of the panel. The plates 32 are set in a V formation, to engage the sides of the V-shaped slot 12 provided in the post 4.

The locking means also includes two locking cams 34, that also engage the slot 12 lower down the post. These cams 34 have a snail-shell shape and are rotatable to lock securely in the slot 12 when rotated in one direction, and to release when rotated in the opposite direction.

In order to support the panel 8 above the bases 6 of the posts 4, support members 36 may be provided, each comprising a rod with a truncated V-shaped section. Each support member is engaged in a slot 12 in the post and abuts the lower edge of the panel side edge 18 to limit downwards movement of the panel. The side edge may be provided with a depending tooth 38 that is located within the support member 36 to prevent sideways movement of the panel 8 relative to the post 4.

As in the first embodiment, the panel 8 includes a plurality of horizontal slots 24, for supporting shelves, baskets and bins etc of conventional kind for retaining and displaying merchandise.

In use, the posts are set up adjacent a till at an appropriate separation from one another and the panels 8 are located in the slots of those posts. The baskets, shelves 10 etc are supported on the panels and filled with the merchandise.

As customers queue between adjacent rows of panels, they may take merchandise from the i receptacles for purchase at the point of sale.

Users with existing personnel barrier systems having posts that are cylindrical and without a series of -shaped slots extending from the top to the bottom of the posts can incorporate the display panels into their existing systems, simply by placing a sleeve 40 over each of the posts. As shown in figure 10, the sleeve 10 includes a set of -shaped slots extending from the top to the bottom of the sleeve. Once the sleeve has been placed over the post, the display panels can easily be attached to the post. The sleeve is preferably made of aluminium.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A display panel for use in combination with the posts and bases of a personnel barrier system, the panel including a substantially planar panel surface having two side edges that are substantially vertical in use, slot engaging means attached to each side edge for engaging support slots provided on said posts, and support means arranged on at least one face of said panel for supporting one or more receptacles for merchandise goods.
2. A display panel according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower edges of the panel include reinforcing formations.
3. A display panel according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the slot engaging means include V-shaped formations.
4. A display panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slot engaging means include locking means.
5. A display panel according to claim 4, wherein the locking means includes a cam element.
6. A display panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support means comprises one or more slots that extend through the panel.
7. A display panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panel is made wholly or mainly of metal.
8. A display system including at least one display panel according to any of the preceding claims and a plurality of posts and bases, wherein each said post includes at least one support slot for engagement with said slot engaging means.
9. A display system according to claim 8, including a plurality of support members engageable in said support slots for supporting a display panel.

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10. A display system according to claim 8 or claim 9, including one or more receptacles for merchandise goods, said receptacles being engageable in said support means.
11. A display panel substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
12. A display system substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.