GB2391684A

GB2391684A - Movable display system.

Info

Publication number: GB2391684A
Application number: GB0218050A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Parker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-02
Filing date: 2002-08-02
Publication date: 2004-02-11
Also published as: GB0218050D0

Abstract

A display system comprises a plurality of display members 9, 10 movable round at least part of a circuit in a substantially vertical plane. Each display member comprises an arm depending vertically downwards, and is preferably L shaped for receiving an item to be displayed, e.g. a clothes hanger. The circuit is preferably formed by a belt or chain 6 mounted upon a plurality of sprockets 2, 3, 4, 5. The display system may be mounted to a wall or on a free-standing island. Cladding may be provided to hide the circuit with the display members projecting through an aperture in the cladding.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN DISPLAY SYSTEMS

The present invention relates to improvements in display systems, and in particular to systems for displaying goods in retail outlets.

5 In modern retail outlets, there is a need to maximise the use of space for the storage and display of goods for sale to consumers. In particular, wall-mounted storage and display systems are designed to use the available space in the most efficient manner. As many modern retail outlets 10 have a high ceiling, this has led to the display of goods high on the walls and thus beyond the reach of consumers.

The consumer must then ask for help from staff in order to retrieve desired goods from such display positions.

Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved storage and 15 display system.

According to the present invention there is provided a display system comprising a plurality of display members movable around at least a part of a circuit in a substantially vertical plane, each display member comprising 20 an arm depending substantially vertically downwards for receiving an item to be displayed.

Preferably, at least a part of each display member projects substantially perpendicularly from the substantially vertical plane of the circuit.

25 Conveniently, each arm comprises an L-shaped member.

Advantageously, each display member is located on a chain defining the circuit.

Preferably, the chain comprises two chains spaced apart in substantially parallel planes.

Conveniently, the display members are located on a belt defining the circuit.

Advantageously, the chain or belt is mounted upon a plurality of sprockets.

5 Preferably, the display system further comprises a motor for moving the display members around at least a part of the circuit. Conveniently, the display system further comprises a load sensor operable to prevent movement of the display 10 members around at least a part of the circuit if the load on the system exceeds a pre-determined limit.

Advantageously, the display system is mounted on a wall.

Preferably, the display system is mounted on a free standing island.

15 Conveniently, the display system is mounted behind cladding and the display members project through an aperture in the cladding.

Advantageously, the display system is for receiving clothes hangers.

20 According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit of parts for assembling a display system of the invention.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures in which 25 Figure l is a schematic perpective view of the display system of the invention; and, Figure 2 is a schematic perpective view of the display system of the present invention mounted in a wall.

Turning to Figure 1, a storage/display system of the

present invention is shown generally at 1. The storage/display system 1 comprises four rotatable sprockets 2, 3, 4 and 5 defining the corners of a substantially rectangular area. Around the sprockets is mounted a chain 6, 5 defining a circuit in a substantially vertical plane. The sprocket 2 mounted at the top right-hand corner of the circuit is powered by a motor and is capable of driving the chain 6 around the circuit defined by the sprockets 2, 3, 4 and S. The sprocket 5 positioned at the top left-hand corner 10 of the circuit is mounted on a sprung arm 7 to maintain the chain at a pre-determined tension. Also, the arm 7 has a load sensor for detecting when the load on the sprocket 5 by the chain 6 exceeds a predetermined safety limit. If the safety limit is exceeded the load sensor shuts off the power 15 to the driven sprocket 2. In addition to the sprung arm 7, there are provided freely rotatable sprockets 8 positioned on the opposite side of the chain to the sprockets 2, 3, 4 and S at approximately the mid-points of the rectangle defined by the chain 6. The freely rotatable sprockets 8 prevent 20 drooping or slack in the chain 6 as well as keeping the spigots 9 orthogonal to the plane of the circuit by preventing twisting etc. of the chains. It is to be appreciated that any number of freely rotatable sprockets 8 may be used. For example, they may be spaced at lm intervals 25 around the circuit.

The chain 6 is provided with a number of hollow links into which are inserted a number of spigots 9 which extend substantially perpendicularly to the vertical plane defiled by the circuit of the chain 6. In the storage/display system

1 illustrated in Figure 1, there are provided seven spigots 9 spaced substantially equally around the belt 6. The chain 6, sprockets 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8 and the spigots 9 are arranged so that the chain may be driven around the circuit with the 5 spigots in place.

Upon each of the spigots 9 there is rotatably mounted a depending Lshaped arm 10. As mentioned above, the spigots 9 project substantially horizontally away from the wall, i.e. substantially perpendicularly to the vertical plane defined lo by the belt 6 and the spigots 2, 3, 4 and 5. The angle between each spigot 9 and the vertical portion of each attached arm 10 is substantially 90 , and the angle between the vertical portion and the terminal horizontal portion of each arm 10 is substantially 90 . As the arms 10 are 15 rotatably mounted on the spigots 9, when the chain 6 is driven around the circuit by the driven sprocket 2, the arms 10 remain hanging substantially vertically downwards from the spigots 9.; The mode of operation of the storage/display system 1 20 will now be described with reference to Figure 2. The storage/display system 1 in Figure 2 has been mounted on a wall of a retail outlet, with the sprockets and chain being hidden behind a false wall of slatted cladding 11. The spigots 9 and arms 10 protrude through an aperture or slot 12 25 in the cladding 11 which follows the circuit around which the chain 6 may rotate. The lowest point of the slot 12 is shown generally at 13 and is preferably located at a distance above the floor such that it is out of the reach of children, and even more preferably, beyond the reach of adults. Thus the

combination of locating the moving machinery behind the cladding 11 and the positioning of the slot 12, 13 at a relatively high position on the wall prevents accidents involving children trapping themselves in moving machinery.

5 Also, in order to allow easy access to the goods that are being stored and/or displayed on the system 1, the depending L-shaped arms 10 have a sufficiently long length such that the goods being displayed are within easy reach of the consumer. For example, Figure 2 shows an item of clothing on 10 a clothes hanger 13 hanging from an arm 10. Because of the relatively high position of the slot 12, 13 and the relatively long length of the arm 10, the item of clothing 13 is held at a convenient location to be accessed by consumers whilst preventing children or adults from reaching moving 15 machinery. However, if the consumer wished to inspect an item of clothing 14 held at a high point of the circuit defined by the chain 6, the consumer may press a button 15 to activate the driven sprocket 2 for rotation of the chain 6 around the circuit. The item of clothing 14, initially held 20 at a high point of the circuit, would be moved around and down into convenient reach of the consumer. If someone, for example a child, is tempted to hang onto one of the arms 10 the load sensor in the sprung arms 7 attached to sprocket 5 would detect a change in the load on the chain 6 above a pre 25 determined safety limit, and would cut off power to the driven sprocket 2, ensuring that rotation of the chain 6 would not occur. A member of staff of the retail outlet may then be called to attend the system 1, and to reset the system so that the chain 6 may be rotated.

The system 1 ensures that more efficient use of the high wall space of non-retail outlets may be realised, whilst preventing possible accidents. It is to be appreciated that the system 1 is applicable to a number of storage/display 5 uses, and is not limited to the display of clothing on hangers. For example, the spigots 9 may support depending shelf units or baskets displaying a range of goods, such as shoes. The system 1 of the invention may also be used to 10 restock a retail outfit without blocking the shop floor. For example, an elevated walkway or other access system would allow staff to load new stock onto the upper portion of the display system without having to be on the shopfloor. Thus the system may be maintained at any time without 15 inconveniencing consumers.

Also, the system may be used in conjunction with a store-retrieval system so that specific items or goods may be moved from a storeroom onto the storage system 1 and then be accessed by consumers. For example, a consumer may scan a 20 barcode of a single shoe of a pair, causing the other shoe of the pair to be retrieved from storage and placed on the display system 1 for access by the consumer.

It is to be appreciated that, in addition to being wall-

mounted, the system 1 of the present invention may be used on 25 freestanding islands or gondolas.

In order to increase the stiffness of the chain 6 in supporting the spigots 9 and the load thereon, the chain 6 may comprise two chains held apart by spacers which rotate in substantially parallel vertical planes. The double chains

may be mounted on double sprockets with the spigots 9 being connected through both chains. Alternatively, the chain 6 may be replaced by a belt.

Also, the shape of the L-shaped arm may vary depending 5 upon the type of goods to be displayed. For example, the horizontally projecting lower portion of the arms 10 may be relatively short for supporting heavy goods, such as leather jackets, and may be relatively long for supporting light bulky items such as ski jackets.

Claims

l CLAIMS:

1. A display system comprising a plurality of display members movable around at least a part of a circuit in a substantially vertical plane, each display member comprising 5 an arm depending substantially vertically downwards for receiving an item to be displayed.

2. A display system according to claim 1 wherein at least a part of each display member projects substantially perpendicularly from the substantially vertical plane of the 10 circuit.

3. A display system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each arm comprises an L-shaped member.

4. A display system according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein each display member is located on a chain defining 15 the circuit.

5. A display system according to claim 4 wherein the chain comprises two chains spaced apart in substantially parallel planes.

6. A display system according to claim l, 2 or 3 20 wherein the display members are located on a belt defining the circuit.

7. A display system according to claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein the chain or belt is mounted upon a plurality of sprockets. 25

8. A display system according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a motor for moving the display members around at least a part of the circuit.

9. A display system according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a load sensor operable to

prevent movement of the display members around at least a part of the circuit if the load on the system exceeds a pre-

determined limit.

10. A display system according to any one of the 5 preceding claims which is mounted on a wall.

11. A display system according to any one of claims 1 to which is mounted on a free-standing island.

12. A display system according to any one of the preceding claims which is mounted behind cladding and wherein 10 the display members project through an aperture in the cladding.

13. A display system according to any one of the preceding claims for receiving clothes hangers.

14. A kit of parts for assembling a display system 15 according to any one of the preceding claims.

15. A display system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.