US3567036A

US3567036A - Reseal product display rack

Info

Publication number: US3567036A
Application number: US805053A
Authority: US
Inventors: John A Tonjum; Frank M Brown; Jean A Burton; Richard L Knowlton
Original assignee: Geo A Hormel and Co
Current assignee: Hormel Foods Corp
Priority date: 1969-03-06
Filing date: 1969-03-06
Publication date: 1971-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-02

Abstract

A display device for supporting a plurality of packaged food products includes an elongate mounting member having a pair of flanges, each flange having a plurality of openings therein. The openings in one of the flanges is of keyhole configuration, and one opening in one flange is aligned with an opening in the other flange. A plurality of elongate similar support members each engages in a pair of openings in said mounting member. Each support member has a recess therein seated in the smaller portion of a keyhole opening and coacting therewith to prevent rotation of the support member about its longitudinal axis.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors John A-Tonium; 2,060,760 11/1936 Keil 248/225X Frank M. Brown; Jean A. Burton; Richard 2,246,457 6/1941 Schultz.. 248/224X L. Knowlton, Austin, Minn. 2,246,692 6/19'41 Ohme.... 211/59 [21] Appl. No. 805,053 2,626,711 l/1953 Saul 211/13 [22] Filed Mar. 6, 1969 2,842,264 7/1958 Larson 248/225X [45] Patented Mar. 2, 1971 3,442,396 5/1969 Cass 211/59 [73 1 Assignee Han-me. & Company Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers, Jr.

Austin Attorney-Wi11iamson, Palmatier and Bains [54] RESEAL PRODUCT-DISPLAY RACK ABSTRACT: A display device for supporting a plurality of 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figs.

packaged food products includes an elongate mounting UeS- CI. member having a pair of flanges each flange having a plurality 248/224 of openings therein. The openings in one of the flanges is of Cl keyhole configuration and one opening in one flange i (Search 59, aligned an opening in the other flange A of 225 elongate similar support members each engages in a pair of openings in said mounting member. Each support member has [56] References cued a recess therein seated in the smaller portion of a keyhole UNITED STATES PATENTS opening and coacting therewith to prevent rotation of the sup- 1,046,l81 12/1912 Hale 40/120 port member about its longitudinal axis.

RESEALPRODUCT DISPLAY RACK SUMMARY OF INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide a display device for supporting a plurality of food packages, such as packages of meat, in suspended relation in a refrigerated zone.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a display device comprised of an elongate mounting member which supports a plurality of elongate similar support .members, each adapted to support a plurality of packages therefron Each support member is readily removable from the mounting member but is releasably interlockedagainst rotation about is longitudinal axis. This arrangement provides aplurality of support members for suspending packaged food products, such as packaged meat, and permitsreadyremoval of the meatpackages therefrom, andalso permits loading of each support member from its rear end. i

These and other objectsand advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the novel display device; and i FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a modified form of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIG. 1, it will *be seen that one embodiment of the novel display device, designated generally by the reference numeral is thereshown. This display device 10 is of the type used .in supporting packaged food products, preferably packaged meat products, which are suspended in a refrigerated zone but which may be readily removed by a customer. The packages P as shown in FIG. 1, have an aperture therein to permit the packages to be suspended from the display device. This display device 10 is comprised of a pair of similar mounting brackets 11 each being of substantially flat metallic construction and each including a'hook 12 adaptedto'be hooked into engagement with a structural member of the cooler or refrigerated structure R. Eachbracket 11 also has an outturned tab -13 and an aperture '14 in the tab of each bracket accommodates a suitable securing membersuch as a bolt, screw or the like, for securing the brackets to thestructural member.

Each bracket 11 has a generally rectangular shaped elongate hollow supporting member 15 rigidly affixed thereto as by welding and projecting in right angular relationtherefrom.

These supporting members ,15 are normally horizontally oriented and the front rear walls thereof have elongate lon- .gitudinal slots 16 therein for accommodating nut and bolt assemblies (not shown). An elongate generally inverted channel shaped mounting member 17 has opposite endsthereof positioned upon and .detachably secured to the supporting members 15. The mounting member "17 is also horizontally oriented and includes a web portion 18 and depending flanges 19, the latter having aligned apertures in opposite ends A thereof andtheseapertures are disposed in registering relation 19 has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart notches 23 of arcuate configuration formed in the lower edge thereof, and

each notch 23 is disposed in alignment with one of the keyhole openings 21. It is pointed out that the upperarcuate edge defining each notch 23 is located at a. lower level than the upper edge of each keyhole opening. The opening 14 and asseciated screw or bolt allows adjustment of the brackets for deflection of mounting member 12.

A plurality, of elongate similar article support members 24 is provided and each is formed of a suitable metallic material and is cylindrical rod shaped configuration. Each of these support members is substantially straight .but has an upturned outer end portion 25. Each support member has opposed slots 26 inthe surface thereof adjacentbut spaced from the rear end of each support member and each of these slots presents a substantially flat surface, 27 which is i normally vertically oriented. 1 i

Each support member 24 is adapted to be inserted through a keyhole opening 2l'and-through the associated notch 23 which is aligned with the keyhole opening. The rear end portion of each support member will engage one of the notches 23 and the recess portion of the support member will be positioned in the reduced portion 22 of thekeyholed opening. The flatsurface 27of each support member coacts with the edges defined by the reduced portion of the associated keyhole opening to confine each support member against rotation ,about its longitudinal axis.

It is pointed out that the diameter or cross-sectional size of each .support member is smaller than the larger portion of each keyhole openingand notch 23 but is larger than the reduced portion .22 of each keyhole opening. Thus only the reduced recess portion of each support member will fit into the reduced portion 22'of each keyhole opening. With this arrangement, not only are the support members prevented from rotating about their longitudinal axes but these support members are also releasably locked against longitudinal displacement with respect to'the mounting member 17.

The packages are positioned upon the support members, so that each support member projects through the opening in the package and the packages are suspended over a refrigerated zone or cooler R. Consumers or customers remove each package from the forward endof each support member and the upturned portion 25 thereof prevents accidental discharge of the packages therefrom. When it is desirable to provide more packages on the support members, it is merely necessary to remove each support member from the mounting member and the support member maythen be loaded from the rear.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that a different em bodiment of the display device, designated generally by the reference numeral 10a is thereshown. This display device 10a is adapted to be positioned upon a supporting surface and preferably within a cooler rather than be mounted from a structural member as the embodiment of FIG. 1. Thus the display device 10a includes a pair of stands 11a which are positioned at opposite ends of the display device. Each stand a includes a horizontal element 12a and an inclined element 13a. The stand is formed from suitable rod stock and is welded to a generally U-shaped bracket 14a.

Each bracket 14a includes a web portion 15a having op- ,posed parallel flanges 16a integrally formed therewith and projecting therefrom. The flanges 16a are suitably apertured as at 17a for detachable connection to an elongate generally channel-shaped mounting member 18a.

Mounting member 18a is comprised of a web portion having opposed substantially parallel. flanges 20a integrally formed therewith and depending therefrom. The flanges 19a have apertures 21a therein, each aperture in one flange being aligned with an aperture in the other flange. The apertures 210 are adapted to be disposed in registering relation with the apertures 17a in the brackets 14a. Suitable bolts 22a extend through the registering apertures and the bolts are secured in place by suitable nut and washer assemblies 23a.

One of the flanges 20a of the mounting member 18a has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart similar keyhole openings 24a therein each having a reduced lower portion 25a. Theother flange a of the mounting member 18a has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart arcuate notches 26a in the lower edge thereof, each notch 26a being disposed in alignment with one of the keyhole openings 24a. It It is also pointed out that the upper arcuate edge defining each notch 26a is disposed at a lower level than the upper edge defining a keyhole opening 24a.

A plurality of support members 270 is provided, and these support members are also formed of metallic rod stock and are of substantially straight cylindrical configuration but each having an upturned outer end as at 28a. Each support member also has a pair of vertically oriented slots 29a therein which define vertically oriented fiat surfaces 30a. Each of these support members is adapted to be positioned in one of the notches 26a and one of the keyhole openings 24a so that the reduced recessed portion of each support member engages in the reduced portion a of each keyhole opening. In this regard, it is pointed out that the diameter of each support member is greater than the diameter of the reduced portion of each keyhole opening. Thus the support members are supported in generally horizontal relation but are prevented from turning about their longitudinal axes and are releasably locked against longitudinal displacement. Since the support members are loaded at the unsupported end, the forward end of the support members is pulled in a downward direction to urge the rear end of each support member upwardly into its associated notch. Again it is pointed out that each support member may be readily removed from an interlocked relation with its mounting member and may be reloaded from the rear and again replaced in a substantially horizontal position on the mounting member.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a novel display device which is adapted to be mounted in a cooler or in a refrigerated zone and is especially adapted for supporting a plurality of packaged food products, such as packaged meat products. Each support member of the display device may be readily removed from supported relation on a mounting member, then reloaded with food packages and thereafter replaced in releasably interlocked relation on the mounting member. Each support member when mounted on the mounting member is not only releasably interlocked against longitudinal displacement but is also prevented from turning about its longitudinal axis.

Thus it will be seen that a novel display device has been provided which is not only of simple and inexpensive construction, but one which functions in a more efficient manner than any heretofore comparable device.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

We claim:

1. A display device for supporting packaged products comprising;

a pair of spaced apart substantially flat mounting brackets adapted to be mounted in a refrigeration zone, each bracket having an elongate generally rectangular shaped supporting member rigidly affixed thereto and projecting laterally therefrom, each supporting member having a pair of aligned elongate openings in opposed walls thereof,

an elongate substantially straight horizontally oriented channel shaped mounting member including a web portion and a pair of flanges integral with said web portion and depending therefrom, one of said flanges having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart notches in the lower edge thereof, the other flange having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart keyhole shaped apertures in said one flange being aligned with a notch in the other of said flanges, said flange also having aligned openings in o posite end portions thereof; sai supporting members being telescoped into end portions of said mounting member to dispose the openings in each supporting member into registering relation with the elongate openings in one of said brackets, securing means extending through the openings in the mounting member and said supporting members to interconnect said members together;

a plurality of similar elongate cylindrical support members each having a diameter slightly larger than the smaller portion of a keyhole opening, each support member a pair of opposed recesses in the surface thereof whereby the cross-sectional size through the recess is slightly smaller than the smaller portion of a keyhole opening, each support member having an end portion thereof engaging in a pair of aligned openings in said mounting member, with the recess portion of each support member being seated in the smaller portion of a keyhole opening and coacting therewith to prevent accidental rotation and longitudinal movement of each support member, the outer end portion of each of said support members being bent upwardly.

Claims

1. A display device for supporting packaged products comprising; a pair of spaced apart substantially flat mounting brackets adapted to be mounted in a refrigeration zone, each bracket having an elongate generally rectangular shaped supporting member rigidly affixed thereto and projecting laterally therefrom, each supporting member having a pair of aligned elongate openings in opposed walls thereof, an elongate substantially straight horizontally oriented channel shaped mounting member including a web portion and a pair of flanges integral with said web portion and depending therefrom, one of said flanges having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart notches in the lower edge thereof, the other flange having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart keyhole shaped apertures in said one flange being aligned with a notch in the other of said flanges, said flange also having aligned openings in opposite end portions thereof; said supporting members being telescoped into end portions of said mounting member to dispose the openings in each supporting member into registering relation with the elongate openings in one of said brackets, securing means extending through the openings in the mounting member and said supporting members to interconnect said members together; a plurality of similar elongate cylindrical support members each having a diameter slightly larger than the smaller portion of a keyhole opening, each support member a pair of opposed recesses in the surface thereof whereby the cross-sectional size through the recess is slightly smaller than the smaller portion of a keyhole opening, each support member having an end portion thereof engaging in a pair of aligned openings in said mounting member, with the recess portion of each support member being seated in the smaller portion of a keyhole opening and coacting therewith to prevent accidental rotation and longitudinal movement of each support member, the outer end portion of each of said support members being bent upwardly.