US3149729A

US3149729A - Display rack

Info

Publication number: US3149729A
Application number: US248492A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cecil F Smith
Original assignee: Banner Metals Inc
Current assignee: Banner Metals Inc
Priority date: 1962-12-31
Filing date: 1962-12-31
Publication date: 1964-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 1981-09-22

Description

C. F. SMITH DISPLAY RACK Sept. 22, 1964 Filed Dec. 31, 1962 Affar eyA United States Patent 3,149,729 DISPLAY RACK Cecil F. mith, Dewney, Califi, assignor to Banner Metals, Inc, Compton, Califi, a corporation of California Filed Dec. 31, 1952, Ser. No. 243,492 '7 Claims. (6!. 211-i84) The present invention relates to display racks, and it relates more particularly to an improved, self-supporting modular rack which is especially adapted for the display of articles of merchandise in retail outlets; the rack displaying the articles in a random bulk manner, for example, for convenient self-service by the consumer.

The improved display rack of the invention serves to reduce to a large extent the operations necessary for displaying goods for sale in a market. Thi is because, instead of stacking the articles to be sold in a painstaking manner, they may be placed haphazardly in the various sections of the display rack to be described.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved storage and display rack which is especially adapted for use in markets, and the like, and in which the merchandise to be displayed for sale can be randomly dumped into different sections of the rack, with a resultant saving in time and effort, as compared with the prior art practice of carefully stacking the merchandise on shelves.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improved storage and display rack which is constructed to be self-supporting.

A feature of the invention is the provision of an improved storage and display rack of the multi-section type; which is constructed to receive a plurality of movable dividers, and of anchoring the dividers firmly in place, so as to provide a degree of flexability in the number and size of each of the individual sections.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such an improved storage and display rack which is composed of one or more self-supporting elongated multisection wire-formed baskets; and which is constructed and conceived so that the individual baskets may be mounted in a stacked relationship, on a supporting bracket, for example, so as to achieve a maximum of space conservation and to obviate the need for counters, shelves, display cases, or the like, to support the individual baskets of the invention.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such an improved storage and display rack in which the individual wire-formed baskets are demountable and may be nested within one another for convenience in packing and shipping.

The improved storage and display rack of the present invention, in the embodiment .to be described, consists of an elongated wire-formed basket. The elongated basket of the rack to be described is separated into individual sections by removable wire-formed dividers, or partitions. These dividers may be locked rigidly at predetermined locations along the basket, and they also serve as a structural support for further like baskets stacked on top of one another, the resulting stack of baskets being supported, for example, in the above-mentioned bracket, as will be described.

The wire-formed baskets in the storage and display rack of the invention may be stacked to any desired height, and the baskets are so conceived and constructed as to enable the stack to be rigid in nature, and capable of being afllxed to appropriate supporting brackets. The display rack may include a Wood, or metal base, and the brackets are mounted on the base in an upright manner for supporting the stacked baskets securely and rigidly. If desired, however, the self-supporting wire-formed ice baskets of the invention may be positioned in the existing shelves or cabinets in the market. a

It will also be appreciated as the description proceeds that the individual self-supporting baskets of the display rack of the invention may be stacked against walls or partitions in the market, or they may be set out in the middle of the floor, with the baskets held in a rigid stack on the above-mentioned base and upright brackets.

It will also become apparent a the description proceeds that the self-supporting wire-formed baskets of flae improved display rack of the invention may be stacked on the aforementioned upright brackets for a single-ended display, or for a back-toback double-ended display.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, when the description is considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective fragmentary view of a plurality of elongated wire-formed baskets stacked on one another to constitute a display rack constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view, substantially on the line 22 of FIGURE 1, and illustrating the manner in which the baskets in the display rack of FIGURE 1 are stacked on one another and supported on an appropriate upright bracket; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary exploded view illustrating various components of the individual baskets which make up the improved display rack of the invention.

Each section of the display rack of the invention comprises an elongated wire-formed basket member 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the basic basket is formed of a plurality of parallel wires 12 which extend the length of the basket, and which constitute the back, bottom and front of the basket.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, for example, the back of the basket extend essentially perpendicularly up from the bottom, Whereas the front of the basket extends at an angle. This particular construction enables similar baskets to be nested within one another for shipping purposes, with a resulting saving in shippage space.

In order to support the spaced longitudinal wires 12 in position, and to serve other functions, pairs of closely spaced Wire-like members 14 extend across the basket at spaced intervals along the basket. The spaced wirelike members 14' extend down the back of the basket, across the bottom, and up the front. The wires 12 are Welded, or otherwise secured to the wire-like transverse members 14.

Each of the wire-like transverse members 14 has a pair of loops 16 formed in the portion thereof at the back of the basket, a second pair of axially aligned loops 18 formed therein in the portion thereof transversing the bottom of the basket, and a pair of loops 19 formed therein at the end adjacent the front of the basket.

As shown in FIGURE 3, for example, the individual wires 12 pass over the wire-like members 14. A plurality of wire-formed partitions, such as the partition 20 are provided. Each of these partitions includes an enclosing wire frame 21, and a plurality of spaced parallel wires 22 are fixed to the frame 21. A central wire 24 on the partition has a pair of loops 26 at its opposite ends.

Each partition 20 is adapted to fit down between the loops i6, 318, and 20, as shown, for example, in FIGURE 2. The partitions 20 are rigidly supported between the loops, as mentioned above, and when so supported, the loops 26 are in respective axial alignment with the pairs of loops l6 and 1?. Locking pins 30 are provided which extend through the axially aligned loops so as to lock the partitions securely in place.

As best shown in FIGURE 2, it will be appreciated that the lower portion of each transverse pair 14 provides a channel for support on the partition of the next lower like basket in a rigid stacked condition.

When the partitions 2% have been inserted and locked in place, in the manner described above, the individual self-supporting baskets may be stacked one on top of the other, as shown in FIGURE 1. Each of the vertical partition members is locked rigidly in predetermined locations along the corresponding baskets, as described above, and each serves as a structural support for the next uppermost basket. The baskets may be stacked to any desired height to form a solid fixture.

if so desired, a metallic or wood base 40 may be provided, and a plurality of upright brackets 42 may be mounted on the base. The individual baskets may be secured to the brackets 42 by clips 44 (FIGURE 3) which extend across the wire-like pairs 14, and which are held against the brackets 42 by appropriate bolts 46 and nuts and lock washers 48.

It is evident, therefore, that sections of the improved display and st rage rack of the invention may be built up on special metal or wire bases, as illustrated in FIG- URE l. Alternately, the baskets of the invention may be supported on shelves or in wooden gondolas; or, the self-supporting baskets of the invention may be stacked on the floor of the market itself to any desired height.

Moreover, the baskets may be built up against Walls, partitions, gondola baskets or ends. In addition, the improved basket sections of the display rack of the invention may be mounted as a single-sided display; or they may be mounted back-to-back, for example in the manner shown in FIGURE 1, as a double-ended display.

Furthermore, the improved baskets of the invention may be used individually, or in small groupings, to create a special department effect.

The invention provides, therefore, an improved storage and display rack which is extremely flexible, and which can be used in a variety of sizes, shapes and locations, to display goods in a retail market, or in any other environment.

The display racks of the invention are particularly advantageous in that they are relatively simple in their construction, and can be relatively easily assembled into a desired configuration.

An important feature of the display rack of the invention is the fact that the individual baskets are selfsupporting, and may be conveniently stacked on top of one another. When the baskets are so stacked, the inclined front section permits easy access to the goods contained in the individual baskets.

Moreover, the use of the partitions at the predetermined intervals along the stacks can provide any desired modular length to the individual baskets.

Also, the configuration of the illustrated baskets of the invention is such that they may conveniently be nested within one another for shipping purposes.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, modifications may be made, and it is intended in the claims to cover such modifications which fall within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A display rack for the random bulk display of articles to be merchandised, said rack including: at least one elongated receptacle having a front, a back and a bottom; means for defining loops at predetermined positions in said receptacle; at least one partition member adapted to fit into said receptacle and having loops formed therein in respective axial alignment with corresponding ones of said first-mentioned loops; and at least one locking pin adapted to pass through the axially ali ned loops so as to anchor said partition member in place.

2. A display rack for the random bulk display of articles to be merchandised, said rack including: at least one elongated basket having a front, a back and a bottom; means for defining loops at predetermined positions on the front, back and bottom of said basket; a plurality of partition members adapted to fit into said basket to sep arate said basket into sections, each of said partition members having loops formed therein in respective axial alignment with corresponding ones of said first-mentioned loops; and a plurality of locking pins adapted to pass through the axially aligned loops so as to anchor said partition members in place.

3. A display rack for the random bulk display of articles to be merchandised, said rack including: at least one elongated basket having a front, a back and a bottom; a plurality of pairs of closely spaced wire-like anchor members positioned at spaced locations along said basket and having aligned loops therein at predetermined positions along the length thereof, each of said pairs of wirelike members extending down said back, across said bottom and up said front of said basket and spaced and parallel to one another; a plurality of partition members respectively adapted to fit between the wire-like members of each of said pairs to separate the basket into sections, each of said partition members having loops formed therein in respective axial alignment with said loops in said Wire-like members; and a plurality of locking pins adapted to pass through the axially aligned loops of said wire-like members and partition members so as to anchor said partition members in said basket 4. A display rack for the random bulk display of articles to be merchandised, said rack including: at least one elongated wire-formed basket having a plurality of spaced wires extending parallel to one another along the length of the basket to form a front, a back and a bottom for the basket; a plurality of pairs of closely spaced parallel wire-like members positioned at spaced locations along said basket and having aligned loops therein at predetermined positions along the length thereof, each of said pairs of Wire-like members extending parallel to one another down said back, across said bottom and up said front of said basket; a plurality of Wire-formed partition members having corresponding edges that fit between the wire-like members of each of said pairs to provide ends for the basket and to separate the basket into sections, each of said partition members having loops formed therein in respective axial alignment with said loops in said wire-like members; and a plurality of locking pins adapted to pass through the axially aligned loops in said wire-like members and partition members so as to anchor said partition members in said basket.

5. The display rack defined in claim 4 in which said back of said basket extends substantially perpendicularly to said bottom and said front is inclined outwardly with respect to said bottom, so as to permit like baskets to nest therein.

6. The display rack defined in claim 4 in which said spaced wires forming said bottom of said basket are disposed over said pairs of closely-spaced parallel wire-like members, so as to permit said basket to be stacked over a like basket with said pairs of parallel wire-like mem bers receiving the top edges of respective ones of the divider members of the like basket so as to prevent axial movement between the basket and said like basket.

7. The display rack defined in claim 4 and which includes a supporting bracket, and a plurality of baskets duplicating said basket mounted in stacked relationship on said support bracket.

References Sited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,868,391 Sides Jan. 13, 1959 2,910,188 Skolfield Oct. 27, 1959 3,015,399 Radek Jan. 2, 1962

Claims

1. A DISPLAY RACK FOR THE RANDOM BULK DISPLAY OF ARTICLES TO BE MERCHANDISED, SAID RACK INCLUDING: AT LEAST ONE ELONGATED RECEPTACLE HAVING A FRONT, A BACK AND A BOTTOM; MEANS FOR DEFINING LOOPS AT PREDETERMINED POSITIONS IN SAID RECEPTACLE; AT LEAST ONE PARTITION MEMBER ADAPTED TO FIT INTO SAID RECEPTACLE AND HAVING LOOPS FORMED THEREIN IN RESPECTIVE AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH CORRESPONDING ONES OF SAID FIRST-MENTIONED LOOPS; AND AT LEAST ONE LOCKING PIN ADAPTED TO PASS THROUGH THE AXIALLY ALIGNED LOOPS SO AS TO ANCHOR SAID PARTITION MEMBER IN PLACE.

2. A DISPLAY RACK FOR THE RANDOM BULK DISPLAY OF ARTICLES TO BE MERCHANDISED, SAID RACK INCLUDING: AT LEAST ONE ELONGATED BASKET HAVING A FRONT, A BACK AND A BOTTOM; MEANS FOR DEFINING LOOPS AT PREDETERMINED POSITIONS ON THE FRONT, BACK AND BOTTOM OF SAID BASKET; A PLURALITY OF PARTITION MEMBERS ADAPTED TO FIT INTO SAID BASKET TO SEPARATE SAID BASKET INTO SECTIONS, EACH OF SAID PARTITION MEMBERS HAVING LOOPS FORMED THEREIN IN RESPECTIVE AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH CORRESPONDING ONES OF SAID FIRST-MENTIONED LOOPS; AND A PLURALITY OF LOCKING PINS ADAPTED TO PASS THROUGH THE AXIALLY ALIGNED LOOPS SO AS TO ANCHOR SAID PARTITION MEMBERS IN PLACE.