US1696342A

US1696342A - Sectional display device

Info

Publication number: US1696342A
Application number: US78050A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elvah O Bulman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1925-12-28
Filing date: 1925-12-28
Publication date: 1928-12-25
Anticipated expiration: 1945-12-25

Description

Dec. 25, 1928. 1,696,342

E. O. BULMAN SECTIONAL DI SPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 28, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l AWummg v Dec. 25, 1928. 1,696,342

E. o. BULMAN SEG'fIONAL DI SPLAY DEVI CE Filed Dec. 28, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'I 7 4 O t c, g If) T 4'.

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Patented Dec. 25, 1925?.

tTE STA ES FA'TENT OFFICE SECTIONAL DISPLAY DEVICE.

Application filed December 28, 1925. Serial No. 78,050.

This invention relates to a sectional display rack which is of particular utility in displaying merchandise of various kinds, and may be used in grocery stores for holding and displaying vegetables or the like or any other type of merchandise which may be conveniently held therein. It is a primary object and purpose of the present invention to provide a rack which may be made up of a series of superimposed sections each being of identical construction so that the rack may be made any desired or required height by use of a greater or less number of sections. A. further object of the invention is to make the sections in such manner that when a plurality of the same are assembled to make a display rack the articles held in each section, not only are shown and displayed to good advantage, but the same in each section are very easily accessible for removal when a sale is made. A still vfurther object of the invention is to construct the rack sections in a comparatively simple and economical manner, each section being made up of bars of metal all of the elements of a section being economical to produce and easily produced and connected together for the production of the rack sections. Many other objects and purposes and novel features of construction and arrangements of parts for attaining these desired ends, as well as others not at this time set forth, will be apparent as an understanding of the invention is had from the following descrip tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which, s

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rack section, a plurality of which are used in making a complete rack.

Fig. 2 shows in longitudinal section, two of the sections disassembledv and partially nested together, it being a yaluablefeature of the invention thatthe sections which make up a rack may be quickly and easily disassembled and partially nested so as to reduce the space required in shipment.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of an assembled rack.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section through the rack shown-in Fig. 3, and

the end portions of the bars 3.

spective, illustrating the manner in which sections may be superimposed upon each other and held in position.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawmgs.

In the construction of the rack a number of sections are made each being exactly duplicates of each other. In the construction of such section two horizontal bars 1 of flat metal are provided which, at each end, are bent upwardly at right angles, making the upright posts 2. The bars 1 and the posts 2 thereof are spaced apart a desired distance and near the upper ends of each pair of posts 2 a cross bar 3 of flat metal is located and secured, preferably by spot welding, to the posts, a short length of each post 2 extending above the upper edge of its connected cross bar 3. A pair of U-shape members each comprising. a horizontal rail 4 and upwardly and inwardly inclined legs 5 are attached, one at each side of the section the same inclining downwardly and outwardly from the posts, as shown, the ends of the legs 5 lying over and being secured to I These U shape members are formed preferably from angle iron. Ateach end of the section and near the lower-ends of posts 2, a cross bar 6 is located paralleling the upper bars 3 and likewise being spot welded to the posts 2. Each of the bars 6 at each. end is continued and bent upwardly and outwardly, as indicated at 7, until the leg 5 is reached, the ends of the parts 7 being spot weldedto a flange of legs 5, as best shown in Fig. 1.,

I The construction as described makes an open'rigid frame. The section is completed by spaced apart horizontal end bars 8 disposed bet-wcen the

bars

3 and 6 at each end, the same being suitably connected by spot welding to the post 6 and the

parts

3 and 7.

,A plurality of spacedapart parallel base cross bars 10 are disposed betweenand spot welded to the members 1 each ofthe bars 10 being continued-upwardly and outwardly at an incline, as indicated at 11, the ends of the parts 11 coming to the rails 4 and having a weldedconnection thereto.

This makes a complete section of the rack. A plurality of these sections may belocated one above the other and to provide a support for one section above the lower section, and to hold it in proper relation to said lower section, bars 12 of angular form are disposed between the posts 2, the horizontal flanges ot' the bars 12 having openings 13 near each end to pass over the upper projecting ends of the posts 2, as shown. The opening 13 in the bars 12 are spaced to incline the posts 2 outwardly substantially the thickness of the posts so that the lower ends of the posts of one section will lie between the upper ends 'of the posts of the next low or section, Two of the bars 12 are used one at each side of each section. The next upper section is then placed upon and supported by bars 12, the upturned flanges of the bars 12 preventing any movement of the upper section with respect to the lower section in one direction, while the projecting upper ends of the posts 2 between which. the lower ends of the posts 2 of the neiit upper section are located, hold the upper section from any movementin the other direction with respect to the lower section. hen a number of these sections have been placed one above the other to any desired or required height, a top 1% in the form of a flat board or any other desired form, may be located over the uppermost section and carried and supported by the upper bars 12 at the upper side of the uppermostsection. If desired, the lowermost section may be equipped with suitable castors 15 for the purposes of easy movement of the rack over the floor though the addition of these castors is not in any way essential to the invention.

This construction of rack is very practical and economical from a manufacturing standpoint and, when the sections are assembled, a rack is produced in each section of which, articles to be held and displayed may be readily placed while such articles are easily accessible for removal Whenever a sale thereof is made. The disassembly of the rack sections is easy, requiring no tools of any character. When the rack-is to be shipped from the factory to the customer it is sent in disassembled form, the bars 12 being placed in the bottom of a section and the sections being partially nested in each other, as shown in Fig. 2. That is, with the bars 12- rei'n'ovedeach section is open at its upper side and it is possible to force the lower part of onese'ction into a lower section, the ends of the lower section springing outwardly somewhat so as to permit this partial nesting. This greatly reduces the space required for crating and shipment and is a valuable, practical feature of the invention.

The parts of this rack being niade of fiat bar metal alleasily fabricated and welded together, the cost of manufacture is low and a particularly strong and durab'ie rack is produced. The rack has proved exceptionally efficient and practical in actual practice. The appended claims define the invention which is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. A display rack comprising a series of superimposed sections, each of said sections having a bottom, ends, and upwardly and outwardly inclined sides, each of the ends be ing provided with two spaced apart upwardly extending projections at its upper edges, and bars of angular shape located between said projections and having openings through which said projections pass, on which the next higher sect-ion may be supported and held.

2. A rack section including two spaced apart parallel bottom bars having each end bent upwardly at right angles to makevertical posts, two U-shape members, the free ends of the legs of which are connected to the posts at each side of the section a short distance below the upper ends of said posts, said U-shape members extending d0wnwardly and outwardly at an angle to the horizontal, a plurality of bars disposed transversely of the bottom bars in spaced apart relation to each other and connected to said bottom bars, the end portions thereof being bent upwardly and outwardly at an angle and connected at their ends to said U-shape members, and cross bars located horizontally in spaced apart relation to each other across the posts at the ends of said section, being secured thereto and to said legs of the U-shape members. i

3. A rack, comprising a series of superimposed sections each having a bottom, vertical ends, and upwardly and outwardly extending sides, the upper and outer edges of which are located in a plane substantially midway between the upper and lower edges of the ends, each of said ends having two spaced apart projections extending above the upper edges of said ends, and two angle bars disposed between each lower section and its next upper section, each having a horizontal flange and an outer vertical flange located between and connected to said projections, the horizontal flanges of said bars having openings for the passage of said project-ions, said horizontal bars lying lengthwise of a lower section and serving as a support and a means to hold the next upper section against disconnection from said lower section over which it is located.

4. A rack section having a bottom, sides and ends, two spaced apart projections extending upwardly from each respective end, two reinforcing bars each having an opening at each end and each adapted to extend across the top of the rack with a projection at each of the rack extending through an opening at each end of the bar whereby said bars are detachably connected in place to prevent spreading of the ends and to support a like section above it.

5. A rack section having a bottom, out- 5 wardly diverging sides, and ends extending upwardly above the frame of the tops of said sides, said ends being flexible to permit outward bending, and a detachable reinforcing bar extending over the top of the section and detachably secured at its respective ends 10 tothe said ends of the rack.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ELVAH o. BULMAN.