US3099354A - Display device - Google Patents

Description

July 30, 1963 G. R. ODAY 3,099,354

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 22, 1961 i i 3 Z INVENTOR.

Mm GEORGE R. 0' DAY l9 3. BY F163 ATTORNEY 3,099,354 DISPLAY DEVICE George R. ODay, Decatur, Ga, assignor to The Mead Corporation, a corporation of (thin Filed Mar. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 97,580 9 Claims. (Cl. 211--49) This invention relates to display devices and more p articularly to a unitary collapsible structure adapted for assembly with one or more similar units to form a composite device of a desired size and capacity.

It is customary as a retail marketing practice to form a display of consumer items by means of a display stand upon which items to be sold are stacked in layers. The general magnitude of a particular promotion together with the size of the item to be sold and the floor space available are some of the considerations by which the size of the stand is ordinarily determined.

Display devices thus are used in connection with a particular product and then may be stored for later use perhaps as a means of promoting the sale of a different product and most, if not all, presently known display devices are of a fixed size and their use is thus limited to a limited number of items to be sold and many such devices are cumbersome to handle and to transport. Therefore a single user must presently use a variety of sizes and shapes of displays to satisfy various retail market locations.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved basic display unit which is adaptable for easy and quick assembly with other like units to form a composite display device of a desired size thereby to accommodate displayed items of different sizes and to satisfy the requirements of a variety of space conditions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a basic display device which is specially adapted for easy storage and transport and which does not require special procedures peculiar to a particular installation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a standardized collapsible display device which is specially adapted to form a particularly stable stack of items to be displayed.

The invention in one form as applied to a display device comprises a base which is tilted backwards somewhat to aid in securely holding the displayed items against accidental dislodgement, a back hingedly mounted to the back top edge of the base so that the weight of the items displayed on the base tends to rotate the back forward toward the base about the hinged connection therebetween thereby to oppose the force against the back due to the weight of the displayed items and thus to render the display unit and its displayed items inherently stable. According to a facet of the invention, the units are provided along each side with complementary disjointable locking slots and tabs of different lengths whereby two or more units may be quickly assembled into a readily collapsible composite structure. According to another feature of the invention the back is provided with a plurality of slots to which separating means may be adjustably secured, the separating means being disposed between layers of dis played items, thereby to adapt the device for use with items to be displayed which are of different heights. If desired, fastening means may be used to hold the back and base in their normal service positions relative to each other.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display device constructed according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a composite device formed by securing into a unitary structure a pair of devices such as are depicted in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a side view of a unit such as is depicted in FIG. 1, but showing the parts in their collapse-d positions; FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view in cross-section depicting the back of the base and the bottom of the back; FIG. 4A is a view taken on on FIG. 4; FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 and showing the parts comprising the hinge between the back and base; FIG. 6 is a view of a locking tab and locking slot constructed according to the invention taken on line 66 of FIG. 2. and by which the units of FIG. 2 are held together; and in which FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view of a portion of the back of the display device together with one separating means by which a layer of displayed items is separated from a layer above stacked thereon.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the display device generally depicted by the numeral 1 is shown in FIG. 2 as forming a part of a composite structure in which the unit 1 is secured to a complementary similar unit generally designated by the numeral 2. Thus from FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be apparent that the basic unit of the invention is depicted in FIG. 1 and that a display stand of any desired size may be formed by securing two or more units in position as depicted in FIG. 2.

The display unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 comprises a base element 3 having its bottom in the form of a tilting projection by which it is tilted back-ward. Stated otherwise, the vertical dimension X of the base 3 in the front part 4 of the base is greater than the vertical dimension Y of the base 3 near the back 6. Hingedly secured as designated by the numeral 5 to base 3 is a back structure 6. Both the base 3 and the back 6 are in the form of box-like structures of substantial thickness as is evident from the drawings. Preferably, but not necessarily, the base 3 and back 6 are constructed of sheet metal and are thus relatively light in weight and sturdy in mechanical strength.

While any suitable hinged connection could be utilized, it is preferable to form in the back upper edge of base 3 the slots 7A and 713 to form a cut-away portion such as is depicted in FIG. 5 by the numeral 7 and to form in the back structure a loop configuration such as is designated by the numeral 8. The cut-away portion 7 is in practice forced inwardly to form a hinge defined by cut lines 7A and 7B and by fold lines 7C and 7D. Thus with the back in close proximity to the base the looped structure 8 may be inserted into the cut-away portion 7 and a hinge pin 9 inserted as depicted in FIG. 5 to form the hinge. The hinged connection between the base and back is thus formed by parts which are integral to the base and back rather than separate hinge elements. Thus a degree of simplicity with a minimum of separate parts is achieved. From the description thus far it is apparent that the hinged connection between the base 3 and the back 6 is formed along the back top edge of the base 3 and that the lower extremity of the back 6 rests on the floor at the point designated by the letter Z in FIG. 3. Thus the weight of items resting on base 3 due to the tilt of the base tends to rotate the back 6 toward the base 3 about the hinged connection 5 as a fulcrum. This facet of the invention is significant because the backward tilting of the base 3 tends to prevent items displayed on the displayed device from falling forwardly off the stand and onto the floor due to inadvertent jostling by customers and the like. The fact that the weight of displayed items stacked on base 3 tends to rotate the back 6 forwardly toward the base 3 imparts an element of stability to the display device and to the items stacked thereon.

While the weight of the items stacked on the tilted base 3 together with the action of the hinge connection 5 between base 3 and back 6 tends to impart stability to the device and to a display of displayed items stacked thereon, it ordinarily is preferable to provide removable holding means for securing the stack in position relative to a the base. Such holding mean-s may take the form of a plunger '11 which is slida bly mounted on a pin 11A secured to back 6 and disposed to slide into cooperating U-shaped protrusion 12 which is disposed along the inner surface of the back wall of the base element 3. When in service position the protrusion extends into window 110 formed in back wall '6. Such structure is shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 4A. As an alternative or additional removable holding means, a strut 14 may and 16 to the back and base respectively. In like fashion a complementary strut 17 may be mounted on the opposite sides of the base and back as depicted in FIG. 1.

Additional stability may be achieved by forming complementary embossments in the adjacent surfaces forming the back of the base and the lower front part of the back.

Easy transport and economical storage of the device when not in use are readily achieved since it is simply necessary to remove the bolts 15 and 16 and thus to remove the strut 14 and in like fashion to remove the removable holding means 17. Thereafter the bolt 11 is elevated and the back is swung about the hinge pin 9 .to the position depicted in solid lines in FIG. 3.

For the purpose of rendering the display device of FIG. 1 adaptable to accommodate a larger number of items to be displayed it is only necessary to assemble the device as depicted in FIG. 1 except that the removable holding means 17 is not used. Thereafter elements such as are designated generally by the numerals 1 and 2 in FIG. 2 are secured together by the locking tabs 18 and the cooperating locking slots 19 shown enlarged in FIG. 6. In FIG. 1, three locking tabs 18 are shown disposed along the left-hand edge 6A of the back wall 6 and a single tab along the left-hand side wall 3A of the base 3. It will be understood that locking tabs 18 are simply formed when a U-rshaped cut is made in the side walls 6A and 3A respectively with the bight portion thereof preferably disposed downwardly. As is shown in FIG. 3 three complementary locking slots 19 are disposed along the opposite edge 6B of back 6 while a single complementary locking slot 19 is formed along the side wall 3B of the base 3. Thus in order to assemble a unit such as 1 in close proximity to a unit such as 2, the locking tabs 18 of one unit such as unit 2 are elevated slightly above and then lowered into the locking slots 19 formed along the side walls 613 and 3B of a unit such as unit 1. When unit 2 is lowered into contact with the floor a secure junction between units such as 1 and 2 is effected. As an aid in assembling the composite structure depicted in FIG. 2, it is desirable to form the prongs 18A of the upper locking tab 18 some-what longer than the prongs 18B of the intermediate locking tab and to make the prongs 18C of the lower prong 18 shorter than quickly and surely made on the first attempt, slots 19 are disposed to lie close to the bight portions of the associated locking tabs when the composite device is assembled. If desired the same result could be achieved by putting the long prongs at the bottom and the shorter prongs above. Thereafter holding means such as struts 14 and 17 may be mounted to the base and back as depicted in FIG. 2. Since the adjacent edge of units 1 and 2 do not have a strut 14- and 17, stability is enhanced by the above described action by which the back is urged forward due to the Weight of displayed items.

While a display device of this invention is not limited to any particular type of separating structure arranged for disposition between layers of items stacked on the base, the structure of this invention is particularly adapted for use with self-coiling retractable shelving such as is disclosed and claimed in United States Patent 2,852,143,

Taber, granted September 16, 1958. Such self-coiling retractable structure is depicted schematically in FIG. 7 and comprises a layer 21 secured by fastening means 22 to back 6. Thus with items such as soft drinks schematically depicted at 23 displayed on the display device, the separating means 21 is disposed between layers of stacked items and imparts additional stability to the composite structure comprising the display device and the items sacked thereon. As items from above are removed the separati-ng means 21 according to the arrangement depicted in FIG. 7 may coil into the position depicted in dotted lines and designated by the numeral 24- as in Patent 2,852,143.

Thus in order to render the display device adaptable for use with items to be displayed which are of different heights it is desirable to mount the separating means such as the self-coiling retractable separating means 21 onto the back 6 in such a way that it may be adjusted vertically thereon. To this end, a plurality of slots 25 are formed along the front wall 6C of the back 6. Thus fastening means 22 may be adjusted in a vertical direction by an amount substantially equal to the length of slots 25. This vertically adjustable feature is particularly desirable because it has become the practice to use containers such as bottles which are of different sizes and heights.

For the purpose of facilitating assembly of the separating means 21 via fastening means 22, it is desirable to form the slots 25 with an enlarged transverse portion 25A for receiving the enlarged head of fastening means 22 as depicted in FIG. 9.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto and intend in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A display stand comprising a base having an article supporting surface tilted slightly backwardly, and a back hingedly secured to the back upper edge of said base, the lower extremity of said back being substantially flush with the lower back edge of said base so that the weight of articles stacked on said base exerts a moment tending to rotate said back toward said base about the hinged connection therebetween as a fulcrum thereby to impart stable characteristics to the stand and to the articles displayed thereon.

2. A display stand comprising a base having an article supporting surface tilted slightly backward ly, a back hingedly secured to the back upper edge of said base, the lower extremity of said back being substantially flush with the lower back edge of said base so that the weight of articles stacked on said base exerts a moment tending to rotate said back toward said base about the hinged connection therebetween as a fulcrum thereby to impart stable characteristics to the stand and to the articles displayed thereon, at least one locking tab along one side of said back and the corresponding side of said and at least one locking slot along the other side of 3. A display stand comprising a base having an article supporting surface tilted slightly :backwardly, a back hingedly secured to the back upper edge of said base, the lower extremity of said back being substantially flush with the lower back edge of said base so that the weight of articles stacked on said base exerts a moment tending to rotate said back toward said base about the hinged colunecti-on tlhere'between as a fulcrum thereby to impart stable characteristics to the stand and to the articles displayed thereon, a plurality of locking tabs disposed in vertically spaced relation along one side of said back, at least one locking tab along the corresponding side of said base, said locking tabs being generally 'U-shaped with the prongs of the U being progressively longer in one vertical direction, a plurality of locking slots along the other side of said back, and at least one locking slot along the other side of said base, said locking tabs and slots forming disjointable fastening means for adjoining said stand to an adj-acent complementary stand to form l3, wider composite display device.

4. A display stand comprising a base of substantial thickness, a back hingedly secured to the back upper edge of said base, a plurality of locking tabs disposed in vertically spaced relation along one side of said back, at least one locking tab along the corresponding side of said base, said locking tabs being generally U-shaped with the prongs of the U being progressively longer in one vertical direction, a plurality of locking slots along the other side of said back, and at least one locking slot along the other side of said base, said locking tabs and slots forming disjointable fastening means for adjoining said stand to an adjacent complementary stand to form a wider composite display device.

5. A collapsible display stand comprising a box-like base of substantial thickness, a tilting projection formed along the bottom :of said base, said projection being effective to tilt the article supporting surface of said base backwardly somewhat, and a box-like back hingedly secured to the back upper edge of said base, said back being of substantial thickness and the lower extremity thereof being substantially flush with the rear lower edge or said base, the weight of articles stacked on said base tending to rotate said back forwardly toward said base about the hinged connection t-herebetween thereby to compensate at least in part for the force exerted on said back tending to rotate said back away from said base due to engagement of said back by the articles on said base caused by the tilt of said base.

6. A collapsible display stand comprising a box-like base of substantial thickness, a tilting projection formed along the bottom of said base adjacent the front thereof, said projection being effective to tilt the article supporting surface of said base backwardly somewhat, a b ox like back hingedly secured to the back upper edge of said base, said back being of substantial thickness and the lower extremity thereof being substantially flush with the rear lower edge of said base, the weight of articles stacked on said base tending to rotate said back forwardly toward said base about the hinged connection therebetween thereby to compensate at least in part 'for any force exerted on said back due to engagement of said back by the articles on said base caused by the tilt of said base, and removable holding means for maintaining said base and said back in their normal service positions relative to each other.

7. A display stand comprising a base having an article supporting surface tilted slightly backwardly, a back hingedly secured to the back upper edge of said base, the lower extremity of said back being substantially flush with the lower back edge of said base so that the weight of articles stacked on said base exerts a moment tending to rotate said back toward said base about the hinged connection therebetween as a fulcrum thereby to impart stable characteristics to the stand and to the articles displayed thereon, and a plurality of slots formed in the front surface of said back for adjustably positioning a plurality of separators arranged for disposition between layers of articles stacked on said base thereby to accommodate layers of articles of different heights.

8. A display stand according to claim 7 wherein said slots are formed with an enlarged upper portion to (facilitate mounting said separators on said back.

9. A display stand comprising a base, a back hingedly mounted adjacent the rear of said base, said back being maintained normally in a substantially vertical attitude, and a plurality of slots formed in said back for adjustably positioning a plurality of separators arranged for disposition between layers of articles stacked on said base thereby to accommodate layers of articles of different heights.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims (1)

1. A DISPLAY STAND COMPRISING A BASE HAVING AN ARTICLE SUPPORTING SURFACE TILTED SLIGHTLY BACKWARDLY, AND A BACK HINGEDLY SECURED TO THE BACK UPPER EDGE OF SAID BASE, THE LOWER EXTREMITY OF SAID BACK BEING SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE LOWER BACK EDGE OF SAID BASE SO THAT THE WEIGHT OF ARTICLES STACKED ON SAID BASE EXERTS A MOMENT TENDING TO ROTATE SAID BACK TOWARD SAID BASE ABOUT THE HINGED CONNECTION THEREBETWEEN AS A FULCRUM THEREBY TO

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