US1937132A - Display rack - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 28, 1933. c. SEAMAN DISPLAY RACK Filed July 6, 1932 INVENTOR eaman mm FEM:

TTORNEYS Cedric Patented Nov. 28, 1933 -DISPLAY RACK Cedric Seaman,Rye, N. Y., assignorito mafia... L

Service Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application July6,1932. SerialNo. 621,015

ZCIaimS. (o1.211 1s4) This invention relates to improvements in display racks particularly suited to counter-display of such things as wrapped loaves of bread, cake,

, and the like.

Among other objects, the invention is intended to supply a compact, inexpensive and simple construction of rack which will adequately hold the merchandise to be displayed, while at the same time leaving exposed, in large degree, to enhance the display effect, the merchandise and its wrappings, and such trade-mark and advertising material as may be exhibited on the wrappings.

Furthermore, the invention contemplates a sectional or extensible rack such that a plurality of rack-units may be readily coupled together to form a substantially integrated structure appropriate to whatever volume of merchandise is desired to be displayed.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a rack comprising two illustrative units, and V Fig. 2 is a detail section, on an enlarged scale, through the line 22 of Fig. 1. 1

One of the rack units comprises a preferably narrow metal strip 3 bent in U-shape, anda corresponding similarly bent narrow strip 4. These strips 3 and 4 are secured in spaced relationship by transverse bars 5, 6, which may be spot-welded,

go brazed or otherwise secured to, the strips'3 and 4; and also by transverse members 7, 8 similarly secured to the strips 3 and 4.

The dimensions and character of the metalstrips 3 and 4 are such that the vertically disposed or springy, in sufficient degree to avoid too great pressure upon soft bread or the like which may be forced between the rack legs. Loaves of bread or the like, from the same batch, vary considerably in size, although intended to be of uniform dimensions; and the flexibility of the rack legs permits loaves to be interposed between the rack legs in whatever tight fit may occur, without material danger of mutilating the loaves or their wrappers.

At the same time, when numerous loaves are closely packed between the rack legs, the flexibility of the latter tends to hold the loaves securely in position. At the same time, while the small cross-sections of the strips 3 and 4 contribute to their easy flexibility, the loaves and their wrappers are left exposed in very large degree so that the display material thereon is readily observable both at the ends and sides of the loaves.

*When more than one rack-unit is employed (as legs of the U-shaped frame are relatively flexible presently described) the sides of loaves in the second unit are exposed eventhough the loaves in the second unit may obscure thesides of the loaves in the first unit.

The above described U-shaped unit serves as a primary unit, in an extensible or sectional rack;

and 'a second and similar unit may be provided by strips 9 and 10 bent in an L-shape and secured together by transverse strips 11, 12 and 13.

The secondary unit comprising the strips 9 and 10 may be substantially integrated with the primary unit comprising the strips '3, and 4. A simple preferred means of doing this is shown in the drawing. The transverse strip 8 of the primary unit is formed with a horizontally extending flange 14 which may be exactly like the flange 15 of the strip 12 shown at the right-hand extremity of Fig. 1. struck up from its surface, and before the assembly of the' two units is completed the lugs 16 stand in the upright position indicated by the lugs 17, 17 on flange 1 5. To receive the lugs 16, 16 (which are'part of theprimary unit), the

' transverse strip 13 (of the secondary unit) is provided with two slots such as are indicated (at The flange 14 has two lugs '16 a detached, hypothetical third unit similar to the second unit comprising the strips 9 and 10. In assembling one unit with another, the slots are fitted upon the upstanding lugs, and then, merely by atap of the hammer, each'lug may be bent down to lock the two unitstogether.

Starting with a primary unit like that comprising the strips'3 and 4, additional units (like that comprising strips 9 and 10) may be added so far as desired.

The same character of relative flexibility above referred to inheres in the relationship between the vertical legs'ofthe strips19 and 10 and the adjacent vertical legs of strips 3 and 4.: Although the horizontal bases of the two, units may be secured rigidly together by the described lugand-slot arrangement, nevertheless the'upstand ing legs at the opposite ends of the unit will be I relatively flexible for the purposes already ex-, plained.

once two or more rack units have been secured together, they may be readily detached fromgeach other by simply prying up the lugs 16, 16 with a screw driver so that they resume the upstanding position of the 1ugs 17, 17. Thereupon the slotted strip previously secured 'by the lugs may be simply lifted off and the corresponding rack unit may be removed. I claim: I

horizontal base and to have upstanding legs flex ible in relation to the legs of the primary unit, and having also transverse strips to secure together the respective L-shaped strips; and detachable means for securing the primary unit sa i.-

rigidity V and the second unit together rigidity, while leaving the upstanding legs relatively flexible.

2. A display rack as, described in claim 1 in which the detachable means for securing the primary and second units together, are characwith substantial terized by having a horizontally disposed plate' secured to one unit, overlying a similarplate secured to the other unit,. one said plate having bendable lugs projecting through slots in the othersaid plate and constructed to be bent down toward the latter plate to hold the two plates and the respective units together with substantial CEDRIC. SEAMAN.

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