GB2396101A

GB2396101A - Modular display stand

Info

Publication number: GB2396101A
Application number: GB0229232A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Smeaton Ellis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-14
Filing date: 2002-12-14
Publication date: 2004-06-16
Also published as: GB0229232D0

Abstract

A display stand for bottles 8-13 is assembled from plastics (preferably translucent) modules 14, each having an upper platform 16 which positively locates the base of one bottle and an aperture 18 through which a further bottle can be passed to be supported at a level below that of the platform. The positive location of the bottles mechanically stabilises the assembly. A bottle (9) may pass through the apertures of more than one module.

Description

23961 01

Improvements in or relating to display stands.

This invention relates to display stands for articles. More especially but not exclusively it relates to modular display stands for small articles such as bottled products and to modules for use in such stands. It is desirable for advertising, marketing and promotional purposes to display products such as bottled drinks, for example, in an attractive and eye catching manner.

It is an object of this invention to provide a display stand for such purposes which facilitates the display of several articles at different levels and the provision of different display configurations.

According to one aspect of the present invention a display stand for displaying several articles on at least two different levels comprises at least three similar modules which are assembled to form in combination the display stand, each module comprising a housing having an upper surface on which is defined at least one platform arranged to receive and positively locate the base of one of the articles and at least one aperture through which another of the said articles can pass to be supported at a level below the platform.

The said another article may be supported on the platform of a module below, or on a surface beneath the display stand and it will therefore be appreciated that because at least some of the articles displayed engage two modules, being located on the platform of one and contained within the aperture of another, the display stand is thereby mechanically stabilised.

According to another aspect of the invention a module for use in a display stand as aforesaid, comprises a housing having an upper surface on which is defined at least one platform arranged to receive and positively locate the base of one article and at least one aperture through which another article can pass to be supported at a level below the platform.

The housing of each module is preferably made of a translucent material such as transparent, coloured or frosted plastics for example to facilitate display of the articles.

The housing of each module may be of hollow rectangular cross section with generally rectangular side walls, an open bottom, and a generally flat rectangular top in which the aperture and the platform are formed side by side in spaced apart relationship, so that a first article to be displayed can sit on the platform of one housing, and a second article to be displayed can sit either on a surface beneath the display stand, or sit on the platform of another housing positioned beneath the said one housing, whereby in either case the said second article projects through the aperture of the said one housing.

The housing may be adapted to receive a display panel.

If the housing of the modules is made of transparent material, a flat display panel may be secured within the housing of at least one module adjacent an inside wall thereof, to carry information and/or to enhance the appearance of the display.

The display panel may be coloured, gilded, or silvered on a side thereof which is adjacent the said inside wall.

Alternatively or additionally the side of the display panel adjacent the inside wall may be printed with advertising material and/or other matter.

Means may be provided within the housing for mechanically locating the display panel.

The means for mechanically locating the display panel may comprise channels formed in or adjacent an inside wall or walls of the housing, along which channels the display panel can be slid so as to be located in a required position.

The aperture and the platform may be shaped to receive articles such as small containers having a generally circular cross section, such as drinks bottles for example.

It will be readily appreciated that a display stand according to the said one aspect of this invention is flexible in that different display configurations may easily be produced and that several modules may be used to construct the display stand, so that products can be displayed to advantage on different levels. If the modules are translucent, the display stand is enhanced by back lighting and additionally, because the display stand effectively comprises modules which are mutually interlocked, the stand is inherently mechanically stable and thus lends itself for use as a bar top or bar back display, eminently suitable for the display of small bottled drinks in licensed premises. One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1, is a perspective view of a modular display stand for bottled drinks and, Figure 2, is a perspective view of a module similar to those used to construct the modular display stand of Figure 1.

Referring now to Figure 1, a modular display stand comprises six similar modules 2 to 7, which are stacked to form a stand for the promotional display of bottled drinks on four different levels, the drinks being contained in bottles 8 to 13. The modules are made of transparent plastics material by an injection moulding process. As shown in Figure 2, each module comprises an open bottomed hollow housing 14, of generally rectangular cross-section. In an upper surface 15, of the housing 14, there is formed a circular platform 16, which serves positively to locate the base of a bottle to be displayed, such as a base portion 17, of the bottle 13, as shown in Figure 1, for example.

There is also provided in the upper surface 15, alongside and in spaced apart relationship with the platform 16, a circular aperture 18, through which another bottle can pass with a snug clearance fit so as to be retained therein and supported at a level below the platform 16.

Thus as shown in Figure 1, a bottle which has passed through an aperture in one of the modules, may either be supported on a surface below the display stand 1, such as either of the bottles 9 and 8 for example, or it may be supported on the platform of a module beneath, such as any one of the modules 10, to 13, for example. Additionally, it can be seen from Figure 1, that a bottle thus displayed may pass though an aperture in more than one module, and for example the bottle 13, passes through an aperture in the module 3, and an aperture in the module 2.

Thus it will be appreciated that the modules which comprise a display stand are locked together by the bottles displayed so that the display stand is thereby mechanically stabilised. It will also be apparent that the display stand can easily be constructed so as to

display bottles on several different levels thereby to provide display height and depth as required.

Although in this example the modules are made of transparent plastics material whereby bottles within the display can advantageously be seen, and whereby the display lends itself to backlighting, they may alternatively be fabricated of a translucent or an opaque material.

Although not shown in the drawings it is envisaged that one or more of the modules which comprise a display stand, may be arranged to carry promotional, advertising or decorative matter. This may comprise the trade mark or logo of the product or company concerned, which may be imprinted in/on the module or it may comprise a display panel (not shown) which is arranged to be carried by the module. The display panel may simply comprise a self adhesive label, or it may comprise a panel secured to the module. In the case of a transparent module, means may be provided within a module housing for receiving and retaining a display panel in position. This may simply comprise channels or guides (not shown) formed in or adjacent a housing wall, into which a display panel may be slid, thereby to be retained in position within the housing. This arrangement has the advantage that a display panel may easily be removed to be replaced or updated as appropriate, as and when required.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A display stand for displaying several articles on at least two different levels comprising at least three similar modules which are assembled to form in combination the display stand, each module comprising a housing having an upper surface on which is defined at least one platform arranged to receive and positively locate the base of one of the articles and at least one aperture through which another of the said articles can pass to be supported at a level below the platform.

2. A display stand as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said another

article is supported either on the platform of a module below, or on a surface beneath the display stand.

3. A display stand as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the housing of each module is of hollow rectangular cross section with generally rectangular side walls, an open bottom, and a generally flat rectangular top in which the aperture and the platform are formed side by side in spaced apart relationship, so that a first article to be displayed can sit on the platform of one housing, and a second article to be displayed can sit either on a surface beneath the display stand, or sit in the platform of another housing positioned beneath the said one housing, whereby in either case the said second article projects through the aperture of the said one housing.

4. A display stand as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the housing of each module is made of a translucent material.

5. A display stand as claimed in Claim 4, made of transparent plastics material.

6. A display stand as claimed in any preceding claim adapted to receive a display panel.

7. A display stand as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the display panel is flat and secured within the housing adjacent an inside wall.

8. A display stand as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the display panel is coloured, gilded, or silvered on a side thereof which is adjacent the said inside wall.

9. A display stand as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein that side of the display panel adjacent the inside wall is printed with advertising material and/or other matter.

10. A display stand as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 9, wherein means are provided within the housing for mechanically locating the display panel.

11. A display stand as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the means for mechanically locating the display panel comprises channels formed in or adjacent an inside wall or walls of the housing, along which channels the display panel is slid so as to be located in a required position.

12. A display stand as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the aperture and the platform are formed so as to receive articles having a generally circular cross section.

13. A display stand substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. For use in a display stand as claimed in any preceding claim, a module comprising a housing having an upper surface in which is defined at least one platform arranged to receive and positively locate the base of an article and at least one aperture through which another article can pass to be supported at a level below the platform.