GB2450912A

GB2450912A - A display shelf

Info

Publication number: GB2450912A
Application number: GB0713528A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Souter; Philip Toovey
Original assignee: Maxim Design Group Ltd
Current assignee: Maxim Design Group Ltd
Priority date: 2007-07-12
Filing date: 2007-07-12
Publication date: 2009-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2027-07-12
Also published as: GB0713528D0; GB2450912B

Abstract

A shelf assembly 10 comprising a lower tray 11 having mounting means 17,19 whereby the tray 11 is cantilevered outwardly from a support 14 and an upper tray 12 is slidably mounted in the lower tray 11 for relative inward and outward movement, the outward movement being limited by mutually cooperating abutment means 33,21 on the upper and lower trays respectively. The abutment means 21 on the lower tray 11 at said limit being spaced from the upper tray 12 in a direction normal to the outward movement to allow for limited pivotal movement about an axis normal to the sliding movement as the upper tray 12 tilts relative to the lower tray.

Description

1 2450912 A Display Shelf

Field

This invention relates to shelves for sales display units, and in particular to point-of-sale display units in which the shelves are cantilevered from a S vertical support.

BackQround of the Invention Display units are often used in shops or other commercial premises to display and dispense a particular lines or lines of goods which may be produced by a Jo single or multiple manufacturers. In particular display units may be used in * *. retail outlets behind the pay counter. * . * * S. S...

In order to maximize the display area, the display unit may have shelves ., which are as closely stacked one on another as is possible. This may cause inconvenience to a shop keeper when counting stock on the shelves and re-stocking the shelves. * ..* * S S...

r': The object of the present invention is to provide shelves which may be stacked densely one on another and yet are convenient to use.

Statements of Invention.

According to the present invention there is provided a shelf assembly comprising a lower tray having mounting means whereby the tray is cantilevered outwardly from a support and an upper tray slidably mounted in the lower tray for outward movement, mutually co-operating abutment means on the upper tray and lower tray engaging to limit outward movement of the upper tray, the abutment means on the lower tray at said limit being spaced from the upper tray in a directioT normal t? the outward movement to allow for limited pivotal movement abbut an axis normal to the sliding movement as the upper tray tilts.

The combination of the two trays can allow the dispensing of both small and (argegu itilit,s ooods.

Theiwo-hays comprise bases and the pivotal movement of the upper tray is limited by abutment its base with the front edge of the base of the tower tray, the-abutment uiuas on the tower tray also engaging with the upper tray in said normal direction.

Preferably, the-tower tray comprises two sides interconnected by a horizontal base, the sides being shaped in the form of cantilever arms with respective ti edy tidying rnuuntingmeans thereon to secure the lower shelf to a support. The mounting means may comprise prongs which are arranged to engage the-apeitures in the a wall mounting. Conveniently, the lower prongs all extend downwardly in use to engage within the wall mounting after L5-ksei1ion and-do*,iward movement of the prongs and the top prong -extends upwardly and in use to aids retention of lower tray in position.

The-abutment means on-the lower tray may comprises inwardly extending lugs located at the front portion of each sidewall. 2Q

Preferabli, the-uppertray includes a pair of side walls which towards the rear thereof are provided with a notch, the rear edge of which forms the abutujient means orrthe-upper tray, such that when the two abutment means are in contact the abutment means on the lower tray are aligned with the notches o the upr tray.

The-abutment meanson the upper tray being raised to engage said tugs at the front portion of the lower tray. Preferably, the lower tray has inwardly extendiuty tu pruvidedat the rear portions of each sidewall and ji,e raised abutment means on the upper tray are also engagabie with the rear inwardly extending-tugs in the fully collapsed condition.

Each side wall of the upper tray may be is provided towards the front at its towdr edyd, with-aprong which is engagable with a respective slot in the base of the tower tray, when the upper tray is in the fully collapsed condition relatveioUie-lor tray.

Thebases of aitheror both of-the two trays may be provided with apertures for reducing the weight of the tray(s).

Thetowertrayrnay beconnected to external wall mounting via predetermined tugs that are specific to proprietary wall fixture 10-The-shelf as&bty rnaybeformedfrom steel pressings or plastic mouldings that are connected together tg create a display shelf and a plurality ofshel may be formed into a sleMng system.

The shelf may be presented in a number of standardised versions which all icilë irithe-samp way.

Pruprietaly pa thspenng orstackirtg components may be inserted into the upper tray as required.

20-De.tion of the Drewincis The ifl,ei1tiu, will be-described by way of Example and with reference to the accompanyin drawings in which: Fig-I is-an-isometric view of a shelf assembly according to the present, invention in the fully colLapsed condition, Fig-2-is the shelf of Fig. I with the upper tray shown in forward position, Fig-a is the-shelf of Fig. I with the upper tray shown in a tilted condition, Frg-4 is-an-isometric view of the upper tray, Fig 5 is an enlarged isometric view of the lower tray mounted on a support, and Fig. 6 -is an isometric view of the tower tray

Detailed Description of the invention.

Wlttr F ernce to Figures-1 to 3, the shelf assembly 10 comprises a lower tray 11 and an upper tray 12 which is supported on the lower tray II. The two-parts--11-&t2-may beformed-froni pressed metal or moulded pistic and may be formed of any desired dimensions, and may be provide in a number of standtdsed-depth-and-widttr versions.

The lower tray Ills shown in Fig. 5 and Fig.6 and is connected to a wall mounting 14-, typicaltyverticat hollow metal posts having spaced apart apertures A therein. The lower tray 11 comprises two sides 15 in,jted by honuutai base 16 with a front edge-20. The sides 15 are shaped in the form of cantilever arms and the vertical rear edges 13 of the two-sides are provided witfr mounting means in the form of a plurality of vertically spaced apart prongs 17 & 19 which are arranged to engage the 15-apertures k in the waif-mounting 14. The lower prongs 17 all extend dpwnwardly to engage within the post 14 after insertion and downward movement of the prongs. The top prong 19 extends upwardly to aid retention of lower tray 12 in position if the tray 12 was accidently knocked upwardly during use: The lower tray 11 forms a fixed position platform to house the Upper Tray (Fig 4).

The two-sidewIIs f 5 of the lower tray 11 are each provided with abutment means in the form of inwardly extending tugs 21 22 at the front and rear portions of th sdewatl respectively. Slots 23 are provided in the base 6 of the lower tray 11 adjacent each of the sidewalls 15 and set backwardly from the-ls 21.

The-upper tray-12 is shown also in Fig. 4 and comprises a base 26 surrounded by a pair of side walls 25 with a front wall 27 and a rear wail 28.

30-The base 2&may-be provided with apertures 29 for lightening the tray 12.

ath side wall 25 is provided towards the front at its lower edge, with a proflg 31w1ikh aligns-with a respective slot 23 when the upper tray 11 is in the fully collapsed condition shown in Fig 1. When the two trays are oected the piongs-31 engage in the slots 23.

The two side. wail 25 towards the rear thereof are provided with a notch 32 the rear edge thereof extends into a raised abutment 33. The notch 32 extends vertically allowing for limited movement in direction normal to the sliding movement of the upper tray. The abutments 33 limit the relalive S movement of the upper tray to the Lower tray by engagement with the tugs 21,22. In the fully cx)llapsed condition the abutments 33 abut the tugs 22 and in the fully extended condition the abutments 33 engage the lugs 21.

The rear wall may be provided with a elongate ridge 34 WhiCh in use may act rn a&a retainer to hoLd standardised containers on the tray.The frontwall 27 may may be formed with integral tabs 35 which in the pressed metal tray are folded downwards from.the underside of the tray.me tabs 35 in use hold a camer strip 36 which in use slides over the front wall. The carrier strip may be for decoration or may carry pricing information.

The height of the sidewall 25, depth of the prong 31 on the upper tray 12 and the heightof the lugs. 21 22 above the base 16. on. the lower tray 11 are interrelated such that the front of the tray 12 may be lifted to disengage the prongs 31 from their respective slots 23.

The upper tray 12 is pulled forward by lifting theprongs 31 out their respective slats.23. and pullingaway from the wall supports 14 until the abutments 33 contact the tugs 21. This is the condition shown in Fig. 2.

The upper tray 12.. may then be tilted downwards. until the underside qf the upper tray 12 abuts with the front edge 20 of the lower tray 11. ThistIlting moMement is accommodated. by the movement of the tugs 21 in the notches 32. The tray 12 is held in the tilted condition by the abutments 33 held fast against the tugs 21. 30.

The upper tray 12 is returned to its original compact condition by lifting the front of the tray and sliding backward until the prongs 31 are engaged in the slots 23.

Claims

Claims 1. A shelf assembly comprising a lower tray having mounting

means whereby the tray is cantilevered outwardly from a support and an upper tray slidably mounted in the lower tray for outward movement, mutually co-operating abutment means on the upper tray and lower tray engaging to limit outward movement of the upper tray, the abutment means on the lower tray at said limit being spaced from the upper tray in a direction normal to the outward movement to allow for limited pivotal movement about an axis normal to the sliding movement as the upper tray tilts.
2. A shelf assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the two trays comprise bases and the pivotal movement of the upper tray is limited by abutment of its base with the front edge of the base of the lower tray, and by the abutment * .* ** S * means on the lower tray also engaging with the upper tray in said normal * *** **fS direction. ** S.

* .
3. A shelf assembly as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2, wherein the mounting means comprise prongs which are arranged to engage apertures in said *.SS support.
4. A shelf assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the lower tray comprises two sides interconnected by a horizontal base, the sides being shaped in the form of cantilever arms with respective rear edges having vertically spaced apart mounting means thereon to secure the lower shelf to a support.
5. A shelf assembly as claimed in Claim 4 when dependant on Claim 3, wherein the lower prongs all extend downwardly in use to engage within said support after insertion and downward movement of the prongs and the top prong extends upwardly and in use aids retention of lower tray in position.
&A-shelf assembly as claimed in any oneof Claims I to 5-, wherein the abutment means-on the lower tray may comprises inwardly extending Jugs located at the front portion of each sidewall.
7. A shelf assembly as daimed in any one of Claims I to 6, wherein the upper tray indudos a pair of side walls which towards the rear thereof are provided with a-notch, the rear edge of which forms the abutment means on the upper tray suchthatwhen the two abutment,means are in contact the abutment-means-on the lower tray are aligned with the notches on the upper tray.
8. A shelf assembly as claimed in Claim 7 when dependant on Claim 6, wherein the abutment means on the upper tray are raised to engage said Jugs at the front portion of the lower tray.
9. A shelf assembly as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the lower tray has inwardly extending lugs provided at the rear portionsof each sidewall and the raised abutment means on the upper tray are also enagagable with the rear inwardly extending lugs in the fully collapsed condition.

10, A shelf assembly as claimed in Claim 4, or any Claim depending from daini3,wbezein each respectiveside wan of the upper-tray is provjded towards the front at its lower edge, with a prong which is engagable with a respective, slot in the base of the lower tray, when the upper tray is in the 25-fuIly-cxIIapsed condition relative to the lower tray.

Ii. A shelf assembly: as claimed in any oneof Claims I to 10, wherein the two trays comprise have bases, either or both of the two bases may be provided with apertures for reducing the weight of the tray(s).