US1954601A

US1954601A - Display rack

Info

Publication number: US1954601A
Application number: US638276A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles W Sowerwine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-10-18
Filing date: 1932-10-18
Publication date: 1934-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 1951-04-10

Description

A ril 10, 1934- c. w. sowERwmE DISPLAY RACK Filed Oct. 18, 1932 ial I N V EN TOR. 63 /4; 55 M50Wf/flV/NE 4 A TT%NEY.

Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to display racks of what might be termed the step-up contour, permitting the visible display of a relatively large quantity of material or merchandise on a relatively small 5 table, counter or floor space and at the same time, rendering the goods placed on display accessible at all times; and the object of the invention is to provide a rack of the class described consisting of two angularly disposed frame sections composed of angle iron strips coupled together and braced to form a substantially pyramid or triangular rack frame, with means at the contracted upper end of the frame for detachably supporting a sales card or advertisement in connection therewith; a further object being to provide the inclined or angularly disposed rails of the frame with spaced apertures with which U-shaped shelf members are detachably coupled to provide a series of shelves on each frame member arranged in step relation with respect to each other to facilitate the arrangement and display of merchandise thereon, and particularly in displaying merchandise sold in bolts; a further object being to provide shelf members of the class described which are U-shaped in form and fashioned from angle iron strips, the free ends of the side arms of which terminate in hook-shaped lugs adapted to be passed through the apertures in the rails of the frame and with beveled walls engaging the outer surfaces of said rails in supporting the shelves in proper position with respect to the frame members; a further object being to provide supplemental shelf parts detachable with respect to said shelf members to provide a table therefor upon which small articles are adapted to be placed; a further object being to provide a rack of the class described in which the several parts may be readily dissected to permit the shipment thereof in a compact package and quickly set up the invention consists in a rack of the class and for the purpose specified which is simple in construction, efficient in use and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rack made according to my invention and illustrating one method of its use.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the rack shown in Fig. 1, with the articles removed.

for use; and with these and other objects in View,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, sectional detail view showing the manner of coupling the shelf members in connection with the frame.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing only a part of the construction on an enlarged. scale and showing a modification.

Fig. '5 is a plan view of a part of the structure shown in Fig. 4; and,

Fig. 6 is a detail View of one rail of the frame members showing a modification.

My improved rack is designed for use upon a counter of special or conventional construction or on a table, or may be used directly upon a floor, and has for its principal objects the displaying of merchandise placed in the rack in a clearly visible manner as well as rendering the articles accessible for removal from the rack and in displaying the largest possible volume of material within a minimum amount of fioor or counter space, and still further in the provision of a rack which by virtue of the simplicity of its construction and manner of assemblage, can be shipped in a relatively small package and quickly assembled, and when so assembled will be strong and durable to support heavy loads of merchandise arranged thereon without danger of collapsing, shifting or movement; and especially in the provision of a rack of this class which will be efficient and practical in the display of bolt goods as is illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

In the construction shown, the rack consists of two frame members 10, 10c, each frame member consisting of two rails 11 which are of similar construction joined and. spaced apart by

transverse strips

12 and 13. The strip 12 is common to both frame members and disposed at the top of the frame and includes an upwardly projecting channel strip 12a in which a price card or advertising card 14 may be placed. Whereas, the strips 13 are arranged approximately centrally of the separate frames as clearly seen in- Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The frame members 10 and 10a are braced in their angular arrangement with respect to each other by rods 15 extending between the angularly arranged rails of each frame about in alinement with the strips 13. The rods 15 are also of angle iron cross sectional form, and these rods form shelf members upon which articles for display are adapted to be placed as is indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. At this time, it will also be understood that a table forming plate or member such as that included in connection with the shelf members of the frames as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing may be applied to the rods 14 in supporting small articles of merchandise.

As above stated, each rail 11 of the frame members is of identical construction and the brief description of one will apply to all. These rails are of angle iron cross sectional form and one wing of the rail is cut away and beveled at each end thereof as seen at 11a and 11b to form the intersections at the upper end of the frame members and to provide the feet for the lower end of the frame members. The other legs of the rails at the lower ends thereof project angularly to form the feet proper 11c upon which rubber or other cushion rings 16 are mounted so as to prevent the marring of the surface of a counter or table as well as to prevent slipping or sliding of the frame thereon.

The upper or outer sides of the angle iron rails 11 are provided at spaced intervals with apertures 17, four of which are employed on each rail in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but in some uses, a greater number of these apertures may be employed as is indicated at 17a in Fig. 6 of the drawing so as to provide a greater adjustment of shelf members 18 with respect to each other on the separate frame members. The shelf members 18 are formed from strips of angle iron material bent into U-shaped form, in other words, to provide an outer crosshead 18a and side arms 18b, the upper sides or flanges of said arms terminating at their ends in projecting substantially hook-shaped lugs 19 which are adapted to pass through the apertures 17, 17a of the rails of the frame members in coupling the shelf members therewith. The side flanges of the arms 18b of the shelf members 18 terminate at their ends in beveled walls 20 which are adapted to rest upon the outer surfaces of the rails 11 when articles of merchandise are placed on the shelf members for display, whereas, normally, the shelf member would be inclined upwardly to a slight extent. This places the shelf members under slight tension when under the load. At this time, it will also be understood that it is preferred that the side arms 18b of the shelf members be either sprung inwardly or outwardly to a slight extent from a parallel relation so that in coupling the same with the spaced rails 11 the arms will be sprung into engagement therewith. In this way a rigid and non-rattling assemblage of the entire rack is provided.

It will also be understood at this time that the coupling of the shelf members with the rails 11 of the separate frames is such as to support the shelf members when under the load in a substantially horizontal position to prevent displacement of articles placed on display from said shelf members.

By providing a display rack of the structure defined, the same will be found to be very suitable for displaying such merchandise as bolt goods in the manner illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1 of the drawing, a number of bolts being arranged on each shelf. By proper adjustment or arrangement of the shelves, a substantially continuous line of bolts will be formed in stepped arrangement on each of the frame mem-' bers, and at the same time, other bolts of merchandise may be arranged upon the bars 15 and also upon the counter or table beneath the bars, all as indicated in Fig. 1. In displaying merchandise of the character described in this manner, a customer may readily see the patterns or designs on the respective bolts and make a selection, facilitating the sale of the merchandise and saving time for the store keeper as will be apparent.

It will be understood that other types of merchandise may also be conveniently displayed on a rack made according to my invention and utilizing the shelf members of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or of the same general contour, and in some cases, in the displaying of relatively small articles it will be necessary and desirable to use supplemental table shelf members 21 such as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing.

These members consist simply in a sheet of material, preferably thin sheet metal, having depending walls 22 overlying the crosshead 18a and side arms 18b of the shelf members 18 and upwardly extending flanges or walls 23 at the inner ends thereof adjacent and outwardly of the rails 11 of the frames. The table shelf members 21 are retained against shifting or displacement by angular plates 24 preferably disposed in the corner portions thereof, but other means of coupling the supplemental shelf members 21 with the members 18 may be provided.

In packing my improved display rack for shipment, all that is necessary is to provide a box or container of a length equal to the length of the rails 11 of the frame and of a width equal to the greatest width of the

shelf members

18, 21. It will therefore be readily seen that the entire unit may be compactly packed for shipment and readily assembled by couplng the

plates

12 and 13 with the rails in forming the frame members 10 and 10a and then coupling the brace bars 15 therewith, after which the shelf members are quickly and easily coupled with the resulting frame.

By employing rails such as shown in Fig. 6

of the drawing with the multiplicity of apertures 17a, the shelf arrangement may be changed from time to time to suit the different articles of merchandise to be placed on display thereon. It will also be apparent that the display rack may be made in different sizes to suit different uses, and various other changes in and modifications of the construction herein shown and described may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, what I I rangement thereof on each of said frame members, each of said shelf members being formed from a strip of angle iron folded to form side arms, and an outer crosshead, the free ends of the side arms of said shelf members terminating in hook-shaped members, inwardly of which are beveled walls by means of which the shelf members are supported in substantially hori-- zontal position on said frame and supplemental sheet metal table shelf members detachably coupled with the first named shelf members and including peripheral flanges overlying the side arms and crosshead of said shelf members.

2. A knock-down display rack of the class described consisting of a plurality of angle iron strips, a number of said strips being fashioned to form U-shaped shelf members, and two pairs of strips being coupled together to form two shelf supporting frame members, means for coupling said frame members together in angular relation with respect to each other to form a substantially triangular frame with which said shelf members are coupled, one side wall of each pair of strips forming said frame members having transversely arranged elongated apertures spaced longitudinally thereof, the free ends of the side arms of said shelf frames having projecting, substantially hook-shaped lugs adapted to be passed through the apertures in said frame members in coupling the shelf members therewith, said lugs being formed on the upper walls of the angle iron strips from which they are formed, and the side walls of said strips terminating at their ends in beveled walls engaging the outer surface of the frame members to support said frame members in substantially horizontal position.

3. A knock-down display rack of the class described, consisting of a plurality of angle iron strips, a number of said strips being fashioned to form U-shaped shelf members and two pairs of strips being coupled together to form two shelf supporting frame members, means for coupling said frame members together in angular rela tion with respect to each other to form a substantially triangular frame with which said shelf members are coupled, one side wall of each pair of strips forming said frame members having transversely arranged elongated apertures spaced longitudinally thereof, the free ends of the side arms of said shelf frames having projecting, substantially hook-shaped lugs adapted to be passed through the apertures in said frame members in coupling the shelf members therewith, and supplemental table shelf members formed from sheet metal and detachably coupled with said first named shelf members.

4. In a display rack of the class described, a frame having side rails composed of angle iron, said rails having transversely extending, elongated apertures spaced longitudinally of the rails, the apertures of one rail being in horizontal alinement with those of the opposed rail, article supporting members cletachably coupled with said frame, the sides of said members being disposed in alinement with the rails of said frame, and the free ends of said sides terminating in projecting, hook-shaped lugs adapted to be passed through the apertures in the rails of said frame in coupling said members therewith, and the sides of said article supporting members having beveled walls adjacent said lugs adapted to engage the outer surfaces of the rails of said frame to retain said members in predetermined position with respect to the rails of the frame.

5. In a rack of the class described, an article supporting shelf member formed from a strip of angle iron and fashioned to form a U-shaped body consisting of side arms and a crosshead joining said arms, one side of the angle iron strip forming a depending wall extending around the peripheral edge of the U-shaped body and the other side of said strip forming the top supporting wall of said body, said last named side protruding at the free ends of said side arms and being fashioned to form hook-shaped supporting lugs for mounting the shelf member in connection with a support, and the outer depending walls of said strips terminating at the ends of said side arms in beveled walls engaging the support to maintain the shelf member in predetermined position with respect to the support.

6. In a rack of the class described, an article supporting shelf member formed from a strip of angle iron and fashioned to form a U-shaped body consisting of side arms and a crosshead joining said arms, one side of the angle iron strip forming a depending wall extending around the peripheral edge of the U-shaped body and the other side of said strip forming the top supporting wall of said body, said last named side protruding at the free ends of said side arms and being fashioned to form hook-shaped supporting lugs for mounting the shelf member in connection with a support, the outer depending walls of said strips terminating at the ends of said side arms in beveled walls engaging the support to maintain the shelf member in predetermined position with respect to the support, and a supplemental shelf member consisting of a sheet metal plate bridging the arms of said first named shelf member and including depending flange portions engaging the angle iron strip of said first named shelf member for preventing accidental displacement of said supplemental shelf member.

CHARLES W. SOWERWINE.