IES960693A2

IES960693A2 - A riser and divider construction for a display apparatus

Info

Publication number: IES960693A2
Authority: IE
Inventors: Francis Alfred Carroll; Oliver Mcelvanny
Original assignee: Carroll Prod & Designs Ltd
Priority date: 1996-09-30
Filing date: 1996-09-30
Publication date: 1998-03-11
Also published as: EP0954234A1; IES78913B2; WO1998014099A1; AU4636097A

Abstract

A riser or divider construction for fitting to a merchandising shelf comprises a longitudinal separating member (P) and a number of connnectors (10) for engaging the member (P) to the shelf. Each connector has a carrier (15) located on the bottom edge of the member (P). A locating pin (16) depends from the carrier (15) for engagement with the merchandising shelf. The carrier (15) is movable along the lower edge of the member (P) so as to align the locating pin (16) with an appropriate orifice in the shelf. <Fig. 2a>

Description

A RISER AND DIVIDER CONSTRUCTION FOR A DISPLAY APPARATUS The present invention relates to shelving and to risers and dividers for fitting thereto and more particularly to a riser for positioning adjacent the front edge of a merchandising shelf.

Our Irish Patent Specification No. 62407 discloses a riser and divider system for a display apparatus which includes shelves having pin receiving perforations. The apparatus also includes a plug member having a pin and a shouldered portion engageable with a corresponding formation in a riser. The plug is bonded to the riser for permanent fixture. Each formation in the riser must correspond to a pin receiving perforation in the merchandising shelf.

Another known riser construction for use with merchandising shelves having pin receiving perforations comprises a riser, a plurality of pins each having a shaft and a head and a substantially H-shaped extrusion which receives the riser in a top portion and engages the head of the pin in a bottom portion. The H-shaped extrusion has a pair of inwardly facing opposing lips on the walls of the bottom portion to engage the heads of the pins therein.

The H-shaped extrusion is an elongate extrusion running the required length of the riser. Consequently, for each length of the riser, a corresponding length of extrusion is required. This construction is not widely used as the aluminium extrusion is an expensive element. Also, to engage the riser securely, the extrusion needs to be of a particular height which may obstruct a customer's view of labelling details on small articles such as condiments.

OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION UNDER SECTION 28 AND RULE 23 JNL. NO....I.5S3..... - 2 5·6069 3 Additionally, the known riser construction does not facilitate the angled presentation of a riser or the upright presentation of a riser from an inclined merchandising shelf such as those used for gravity feed merchandising displays.

In general, merchandising displays include shelves having perforations disposed at a given interval or frequency which is set by the display manufacturer. Consequently, a number of unique display systems have evolved which cannot be interchanged between different shelving systems due to different perforation intervals.

It is an object of the present invention to seek to alleviate the above disadvantages and to provide a riser construction which is flexible in its application, may be universally applied, has improved resilience and is easy to use. It is a further object of the invention to provide a construction utilising minimal amounts of material and standard construction techniques.

It is to be understood that a reference to a component for use with a riser also refers to a component that can be also used with a divider which does not have to have the strength of a riser.

Accordingly, the present invention comprises a riser construction suitable for fitting to a merchandising shelf, the construction comprising a riser and at least one connector means, the connector means comprising a base and a pair of walls extending from the base to define a channel for receiving the riser, a pin receiver disposed within or laterally adjacent the channel and a locating pin with one end of the locating pin secured in the pin - 3 5160693 receiver.

The locating pin is releasably engageable in a receiving hole formed in a merchandising shelf.

Preferably, the pin is disposed within the receiver which extends into the channel and the riser has at least one notch cut therefrom along one edge to accommodate the pin receiver with the connector being moveable longitudinally within the notch.

The length of the notches and the interval between them is chosen to accommodate a range of distances between hole centres and to ensure maximum flexibility in the application of the riser construction, particularly in respect of its use with display systems of other manufacturers.

In one arrangement the pin receiver is disposed on the outer face of one of the side walls.

Advantageously, a riser securing pin may be provided to prevent the riser being withdrawn from the connector means.

An elongate aperture is provided in each of the channel walls for receiving the riser securing pin. The riser is also provided with a number of slots or elongate apertures along its length to receive the securing pin.

The combined length of the connector apertures and the riser apertures provide maximum flexibility in the fitting of the riser construction to any mechanising shelf having the requisite perforations. 59606» 3 Advantageously, the connector means comprises an injection molded element of a plastics material such as polycarbonate.

The locating pin may be manufactured from metal such as stainless steel or a plastics material.

Preferably, the locating pin is integrally molded with the pin receiver.

The present invention further provides a riser construction suitable for fitting to a merchandising shelf, the construction comprising a riser and at least one connector means, the connector means comprising a base and a pair of walls extending from the base to define a channel for receiving the riser and a locating pin with one end of the locating pin integrally formed with the channel base. This arrangement obviates the requirement for a separate pin receiver.

The connector means may include a reinforcing flange between the pin and the channel, with the flange being adapted to abut the shelf surface.

The channel comprises a pair of walls resiliently biased towards one another and adapted to grippingly receive the riser.

At least one of the channel walls includes an inwardly facing tab. The riser generally comprises an elongate riser rectangular panel but may include a slot adjacent one edge and parallel thereto along at least one side of the panel to accommodate the or each tab of the connector means. - 5 5·6 0 69 3 This arrangement allows a number of connector means to be attached to the riser and slidingly moved to facilitate easy installation of the riser to a shelf having pin receiver holes positioned along it.

In one arrangement, the integrally formed pin accommodates a reinforcing element.

In another arrangement, a reinforcing sleeve is provided over the pin.

Conveniently, the connector means is moulded from a plastics material and most preferably is formed from a transparent plastic such as polycarbonate.

In a further alternative embodiment, the connector means is formed in two parts, the first part comprising a channel for receiving the riser and an integrally formed flange at the base thereof and the second part comprising a pin portion having a flange engaging member.

Preferably, the pin portion comprises a metal such as stainless steel integrally formed with the flange engaging member which in use is pressed into gripping engagement with the flange along the length of the connecting means.

The present invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, six embodiments of riser construction according to the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a prior art riser construction; - 6 5960693 Figures 2a to 2c are a perspective view and a first and a second end elevation of the first embodiment of riser construction, respectively; Figures 3a and 3b are perspective views of the first embodiment of riser construction in use; Figures 4a and 4b are a front elevation and an end elevation of the second embodiment of riser construction, for use with a sloping shelf; Figure 5a and 5b are a front elevation and an end elevation of the second embodiment of riser construction in use on a sloping shelf; Figure 6 shows a number of elevations and perspective views of the third embodiment of riser construction; Figures 7a and 7b are an end elevation and front view of the fourth embodiment of riser construction; Figures 8a and 8b are an end elevation and front view of the fifth embodiment of riser construction; Figure 9 is a sectional end elevation of a connector means having hollow pin and a reinforcing rod; Figure 10 is a sectional end elevation of a connector means having a reinforcing sleeve provided about the pin; and Figures 11a and 11b are an end elevation and a front view of a sixth embodiment of riser construction in which the connector means comprises two components, respectively. - 7 5860693 Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1, a prior art riser construction comprises a riser P, a number of pins each having shaft SH and a head H and a substantially H-shaped retaining means R. The retaining means R has a top portion for receiving the riser and a bottom portion for engaging the head H of the pins to secure the riser P to a merchandising shelf (not shown). The H-shaped retaining means R is usually extruded aluminium.

The shafts SH of the pins are adapted to engage holes provided along the front edge of the merchandising shelf and the head H of the pins must slidingly engage the bottom portion of the H-shaped retaining means R. A pair of inwardly facing opposing lips L are provided on the walls of the bottom portion to engage the head H of a pin. For this arrangement of riser construction to work efficiently, the extruded retaining means R and the steel pins must be made to highly exacting standards so that tolerance variations do not result in a loosely fitting pin or cause restrictions of the movement of the retaining means R with respect to the pins. Additionally, if the pins are loosely fitting, the pins can be incorrectly spaced along the shelf edge.

Referring now to Figures 2a to 2c, the first embodiment of riser construction comprises a riser P, having a longitudinal slot S and a plurality of notches N cut therefrom at predetermined intervals along the bottom edge of the riser P, and a connector 10. The connector 10 comprises a base 12 and walls 13, 14 defining a channel 15 for accommodating the riser P and a pin 16 which penetrates the base and extends into the channel 15. One of the walls 14 is provided with a pair of inwardly facing tabs 18 operable to engage the longitudinal slot S of the - 8 S 86 0 6 9 3 riser. A single tab (not shown) running the length of the wall 14 can be used as an alternative to the pair of tabs 18 described above. Additionally, one or more tabs on the oppositely facing wall 13 can be formed to engage a second slot (not shown) on the riser. The pin 16 is bonded to the walls 13, 14 and the base 12 in the channel and presents an obstruction 19 to the passage of the connector 10 beyond the notch N in the riser P. The notches N in the riser are adapted to receive the obstruction 19 in the channel and to facilitate sufficient movement of the connector along the longitudinal slot S to facilitate the fitting of the riser construction to any merchandising shelf having the requisite perforations to receive the pins 16, as indicated by the arrows in Figures 3a and 3b.

Figure 4a and 4b illustrate the second embodiment of riser construction which comprises a riser P, having a slot S and a series of notches N cut therein, and a connector 20 for use with gravity-feed or sloped shelves. The connector 20 comprises a base 22 and walls 23, 24 defining a channel 25 for accommodating the riser P and a pin 26 disposed at a predetermined angle to the upright walls 23, 24. A flange 27 integrally formed with the base 22 provides a surface 27a perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pin 26 to present a flat face against a sloped merchandising shelf M. A pair of tabs 28 are provided on one of the walls 24 to engage the slots S. The pin 26 which penetrates the base 22 and extends into the channel 25 presents an obstruction 29 to the passage of the connector 20 beyond the notch N. As before, this obstruction 29 is accommodated within the notches N cut in the riser P. The positions and sizes of the notches N are selected specifically to incorporate the intervals between shelf perforations of other known merchandising shelf display systems. - 9 $960693 As illustrated in Figure 5a and 5b, the construction shown in Figures 4a and 4b is particularly suitable for use with gravity feed merchandising shelves M.

Figure 6 shows a number of elevations and perspective views of the third embodiment of riser construction comprising a riser P having a plurality of elongate apertures A cut therein and a connector 30. The connector comprises a base 32 and walls 33, 34 extending therefrom to define a channel 35 and a pin 36 retained in a pin receiver 37 bonded to or integrally molded to the outside surface of one of the walls 33. The longitudinal axis of the pin 36 is parallel but disposed laterally from the upright axis of the riser P. This arrangement spreads leverage forces away from the pin 36. Each wall 33, 34 of the connector 30 is provided with an elongate aperture 38 corresponding to the apertures A cut in the riser P to accommodate a retaining pin 39 to secure the riser P and connector 30 together. The lengths of the riser aperture A and the connector apertures 38 are selected to facilitate the fitting of the riser construction to other known merchandising displays which incorporate the requisite shelf perforations disposed at intervals along the shelf.

Referring now to Figures 7a and 7b, the fourth embodiment of riser construction comprises a riser P having a longitudinal slot S cut therein and a connector 40. The connector 40 comprises a base 42 and a pair of walls 43,44 extending from the base 42 to define a channel 45 for receiving the riser P and an integrally formed pin 46 which is profiled to engage a receiver hole in a merchandising shelf (not shown). A flange 47 is integrally formed with and extending from the channel base - 10 5960693 and provides reinforcement to the pin 46 by attenuating leverage forces applied to the pin in use. The walls 43, 44 are optionally biased towards one another to grip the riser P. One of the walls 44 is provided with an inwardly facing tab 48 extending along the length of the channel 45 to engage the longitudinal slot S cut in the riser P. An oppositely facing tab (not shown) can be formed on the other wall 43 to engage a second slot (also not shown) on the riser P. The riser P is then securely held by the connector but the connector is movable along the riser slot S to facilitate fitting of the riser P to any merchandising shelf having the appropriate pin receiver holes positioned at any interval or even randomly.

Figures 8a and 8b illustrate the fifth embodiment of riser construction for use with gravity-feed or sloped shelves. As before, the riser is provided with a longitudinal slot S. The connector 50 of the second embodiment comprises a base 52 and walls 53, 54 defining a channel 55 and an integrally formed pin 56. The pin 56 is disposed at a predetermined angle from the upright orientation of the walls. A flange 57 extends from the base as before and provides a sloped surface 57a to present a flat face to the sloped merchandising shelf. On one of the walls 54 a pair of inwardly facing tabs 58 are provided to engage the slot S cut in the riser P.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate modifications to the connector 40 shown in Figures 7a and 7b. In a first modification, the connector 60 comprises a base 62, walls 63, 64, a pin 66 and a flange 67 substantially as before. However, the pin is hollow to accommodate a reinforcing metal rod 69 which penetrates but does not protrude from the base 62 of the connector as shown in Figure 4. The rod 69 provides reinforcement against leverage forces applied *60693 - 11 laterally to the pin 66. In a second modification, the connector 70 includes a pin 76 having a slightly smaller outer diameter than normally specified so that a sleeve 79 can be provided over the pin 76 as shown in Figure 10. The sleeve 79 is adapted to engage receiving holes in merchandising shelves and reinforces the pin against leverage forces applied to the pin 76.

Finally, with reference to Figures 11a and 11b, the sixth embodiment of riser construction comprises a riser P having a slot S cut therein and a two-part connector 80. The first part comprises a base 82 and walls 83, 84 defining a channel 85, and a flange 86 integrally formed with the base substantially as described in the fourth and fifth embodiments. The second part comprises a metal pin 87 having a flange engaging member 88 integrally formed therewith. The pin 87 and flange engaging member 88 are formed from a resilient material such as stainless steel. In use, the engagement member 88 is bent to grip the flange, as illustrated.

In a number of the embodiments described hereinabove, one or more inwardly facing tabs are provided on one or both of the connector walls to engage a corresponding longitudinal slot S cut in the riser P. It will be seen that, in each of these embodiments, the number, shape and length of the tabs are interchangeable without affecting the fundamental concept of the invention.

The riser construction described herein above is also adaptable for use as dividers on shelving having the requisite perforations or receiving holes for the connector pins. 96069 3 - 12 It will of course be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A riser or divider construction for fitting to a merchandising shelf, the construction comprising a longitudinal separating member and at least one connector for engaging the separating member to the merchandising shelf, the connector comprising a carrier located on a lower edge of the separating member and being movable along the lower edge of the separating member with a locating pin depending from the carrier for engagement with the merchandising shelf, the range of linear movement of the or each connector is limited; and a formation is provided in the longitudinal separating member so as to limit the movement of the or each connector, whereby the connector may be moved along the lower edge of the separating member so as to align the locating pin with an appropriate orifice on the shelf

2. A riser or divider construction as claimed in Claim 1, in which each formation comprises a notch provided in the lower edge of the longitudinal separating member, whereby the length of the notches in the separating member and the interval between them is chosen to accommodate a range of distances between the hole centres on the shelf and to ensure maximum flexibility in the application of the riser or divider construction, particularly in respect of its use with display systems of various manufacturers.

3. A riser or divider construction as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a retaining groove is provided along one face of the separating member parallel to the lower edge of the separating member, with a complementary engageable element being provided in the carrier; optionally in which the formation provided in the longitudinal separating member comprises a slot formed in the member and a complementary pin is provided in the connector for engagement with the slot and optionally in which a slot is provided in a wall or walls of the carrier and a pin or other element engageable with the slot or slots is provided in the separating member.

4. A riser or divider construction as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the carrier comprises a base, a pair of walls extending from the base to define a 5«6 0 6 9 3 channel for receiving the longitudinal separating member, and a receiver for retaining the upper end of the locating pin, disposed within or laterally adjacent the channel; optionally in which the pin receiver is disposed on the outer side of one of the side walls; optionally in which the connector comprises an injection moulded or extruded element of a clear 5 plastics material such as polycarbonate; optionally in which the locating pin is manufactured from metal or plastics material; optionally in which one end of the locating pin is integrally formed with the connector; optionally in which the connector includes a reinforcing flange between the pin and the channel, with the flange being adapted to abut the shelf surface; optionally in which the channel comprises a pair of walls resiliently 10 biased towards one another and adapted to grippingly receive the longitudinal separating member; optionally in which at least one of the channel walls includes an inwardly facing tab for engaging the longitudinal separating member; optionally in which the longitudinal separating member includes a slot adjacent one edge and parallel thereto along at least one side of the panel to accommodate the or each tab of the channel walls; optionally in 15 which the integrally formed pin includes a reinforcing element and optionally in which a reinforcing sleeve is provided over the pin.

5. A riser or divider construction for fitting to a merchandising shelf substantially as herein described, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.