US3662980A

US3662980A - Display base

Info

Publication number: US3662980A
Application number: US25894A
Authority: US
Inventors: Seymour Milton Kantor; Bertram Lincoln Kantor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-04-06
Filing date: 1970-04-06
Publication date: 1972-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 1989-05-16

Abstract

A knocked-down pedestal display base capable of being set up with one securing means including a central member, two pairs of similar legs, each leg including a vertically disposed section and an outwardly extending foot section, the vertically disposed section of one pair of legs being adapted to be secured to the central member and aligned in the same plane, the second pair of legs including lugs adapted for securing one end of the vertically disposed sections of the second pair of legs to the central member and securing means for securing the other end of the vertically disposed sections of the second pair of legs to the central member.

Description

United States Patent Kantor et al.

[451 May16,1972

[541 DISPLAY BASE [22] Filed: Apr. 6, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 25,894

[52] U.S.Cl.. ...248/161,2l l/l82,248/l88.7

2,673,590 3/1954 Hamilton ..248/l88.7 X 3,323,833 6/1967 Kasparian ..248/l88.7 X 3,032,307 5/1962 Nelson et al..... ..248/l88.7 2,508,694 5/1950 Steed ..248/188.7 X 3,358,95l 12/1967 Carter ..242 /188.7 X

Primary E.\'aminerJ. Franklin Foss Att0rneyPaul .l. J uettner [57] ABSTRACT A knocked-down pedestal display base capable of being set up with one securing means including a central member, two pairs of similar legs, each leg including a vertically disposed section and an outwardly extending foot section, the vertically disposed section of one pair of legs being adapted to be secured to the central member and aligned in the same plane, the second pair of legs including lugs adapted for securing one end of the vertically disposed sections of the second pair of legs to the central member and securing means for securing the other end of the vertically disposed sections ofthe second pair of legs to the central member.

8 Claims, 3' Drawing Figures DISPLAY BASE The present invention relates to knock-down pedestal bases as frequently used to support tables, barbecue grills, hat stands and particularly display racks. The present invention is particularly directed to knock-down bases for display racks which can be set up with only one securing means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The merchandising of many items today involves the use of display racks upon which the goods of the vendor are displayed. These racks are generally given to the store owner or sold at cost in order to induce the store owner to provide floor space for the rack in the store. Therefore, display racks must be as inexpensive as possible while still being functional.

Display racks must also be adapted to be set up as quickly as possible. In one merchandising situation involving display racks, a jobber or salesman induces a storeowner to allow him to set up his display rack in the store. The jobber or salesman must then set up the display rack and stock it with merchandise. The amount of time required to set up a display affects the number of calls a salesman can make in a day. The more quickly a display rack can be placed in a store, the sooner the salesman can make another call. For salesmen on commission, it is extremely desirable to have display racks which can be quickly and easily set up.

In another merchandising situation, the salesman provides the rack for the storeowner to set up as a merchandising assist. These racks are usually delivered by parcel delivery services and not the salesman himself. If the setting up of the merchandising rack is complicated, the storeowner will not use the rack. Storeowners tend to avoid the use of any merchandising gadget which is complicated, difficult and time consuming to set up.

As a further item, the cost of any display rack also includes the cost of packaging. In todays packaging market, the cost of packaging large bulky items is rising due to the rising cost of packaging material. Packing costs can be kept at a minimum by keeping the size of the item shipped at a minimum. Shipping costs are also an important consideration in relationship to the cost of the rack. Shipping costs are based on weight and volume. It is therefore also desirable to provide display racks which can be shipped at a minimum of cost by maintaining the size of the package at a minimum.

INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a knock-down edestal base for display racks particularly adapted to be set up with only one securing means comprising a central member, and two pairs of similar leg members, each leg including a vertically disposed section and an outwardly or substantially horizontal extending foot section, the vertically disposed sections of one pair of legs being secured to the central member and aligned in the same plane; the second pair of legs including lug means adapted for securing one end of the vertically disposed sections of the second pair of legs to the central member in a plane other than that of the first pair of legs and a single securing means for securing the other end of the vertically disposed sections of the second pair of legs to the central member. For strength and stability, the horizontally extending foot sections preferably terminate with a downwardly extending vertical portion. The base can be quickly set up by attaching the second pair of legs to the central member by means of the lug means and then secured in place by the single securing means. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in connection with the drawings and the description thereof:

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled base and rack of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the legs in knocked-down position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines of 3-3 of FIG. 1.

In the drawing, reference numerals will be used to denote like parts or structural features in the different views. Referring particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention as applied to a pedestal type display rack 10.

The display rack comprises a rack portion 11, a central supporting shaft 12 and a display base 13. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the display base 13 is composed of two sets of legs denoted as 14 and l4, l5 and 15'. The legs themselves are further comprised of an upstanding portion 16 and a floor rest horizontally disposed section 17. Preferably, the horizontally disposed section 17 is terminated with a downwardly extending vertical section 17'. The pair of

legs

15 and 15 are attached to a central upright preferably tubular member 18 by means of nuts and

bolts

19 and 19 though any securing means can be used.

The legs 15 and 15' are aligned in the same plane. The central member 18 is provided with two aperture 20 and 20'. The second pair of legs 14 and 14' are provided with

lug means

21 and 21 which are adapted to fit into the apertures 20 and 20'. A single securing means such as a bolt 22 and wing nut 23 can then be used to secure the second set of legs in a plane to the first set of legs to provide the pedestal display base.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the lug means 21 and 21 prevent the upper part of the leg from moving in a lateral direction. The bolt and

wing nut

22 and 23 respectively is then all that is required to secure the second pair of legs to the central member 18.

As shown in the drawings, the lug means 21 and 21' are dowel pins secured to the vertical portion of the leg. While the use of dowel pins as a type of lug means is preferred, other means such as stamped out hooks from the side of the tube member and/or a centrally positioned dowel pin extending through the central member and the like can also be used. It is to be understood that the term lug means is intended to include any lug type securing means which are adapted to perfonn the same functions as that of the dowel pins illustrated. The securing means for the second pair of legs while preferably being a bolt and nut can also include a ring encompassing all four legs which when pushed down forms a frictional type of attachment. The term bolt and nut is intended to include double heat studs and capnuts, dowel and compression caps, as well as a bolt or screw which can be threadedly secured to the base itself.

It is also preferable that the lug means be positioned at the top of the vertically disposed leg member with the securing beneath the same for strength. The positioning can be reversed but downward forces on the legs will tend to bend the legs outwardly with the possibility that the pin or lug means will become disengaged from the aperture in the central member. The lug means acts only as an aligning means. The securing means (nut and bolt) takes all the downward pressure, thus a relatively weak lug positioned at the upper part of the leg is all that is necessary to keep the legs in their proper places. The expense of providing more than one strong securing means is thereby avoided.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is a four membered pedestal base having one pair of legs 15 and 15' attached at the factory to a central tubular support member 18. This factory prepared assembly has as its dimensions the length of the two legs plus the central member, the height of the central member and the downward extending portion of the leg member and the width or depth equal to the diameter of the metal tubing to form the legs. The second pair of

legs

14 and 14 containing the

lugs

21 and 21 can be nestled up against the assembly so that any shipping package must only be as thick as the width of the tubing and as long as the legs. This greatly reduces the size of the package for the display base and the amount of packaging material required for shipping.

It is preferred that a unit of the type shown in FIG. 2 be preassembled at the factory. It is also in the scope of the present invention to provide two pairs of leg members each having lug means and securing means as has been discussed in connection with leg members 14 and 14'. Securement of the second pair of legs having the lug means would be in the same manner for the first pair of legs having lug means.

The centrally disposed member 18 of the display base 13 is of a size adapted to accept either interiorly or exteriorly a central supporting shaft 12 for the display rack 11. The display rack is preferably capable of being broken down in pieces for ease of shipping. The supporting shaft could have the display rack attached directly thereto though this is less preferred.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the central supporting shaft is adapted to be fitted inside the tubular member 18 and allowed to rest upon the

lugs

20 and 21. The adaption of the central supporting shaft to fit the base can be accomplished by using various interfitting tubing sizes or by mechanical compression or expansion of the tube end to provide the desired fit. While it is most convenient to have a sliding fit, screw thread and other such means of securement can be used to attach the central support shaft to the base. The central supporting shaft is provided with apertures along its longitudinal axis to allow for the adjustable positioning of various types of rack means. The rack means can be formed on a tubular member of a size slightly larger in diameter than equivalent to the central support shaft 12. Adjusting the height of the exterior tube member can be easily accomplished by the use of a doubleheaded pin 24. The two heads are so spaced as to provide an opening there between equivalent and preferably slightly larger than the width of the sidewall of the rack supporting tube member. The wall of the tube to which the rack is attached is forced down in the opening between the two heads. The pin is then locked into place and cannot be dislodged or accidentally removed. The rack must be lifted in order to remove the pin discouraging removal of the pin by inquisitive children. The use of the double headed pin is particularly advantageous when the apertures in the central support shaft have been provided by stamping or punching. The punching provides a peripheral indentation at the site of the hole into which one of the heads can rest.

Any suitable material can be used for making the various parts or elements. Preferably, and for economy, tubular aluminum or like material has been found to be most advantageous though square tubes and solid members can be used if desired. It is understood that the various parts can be made in various shapes or sizes as needed or desired. For example, the downwardly extending portion of the leg member can be omitted if the angle between the upwardly extending part of the leg and the outwardly extending part of the leg is increased from 90 to about 1 l. The central member can be essentially square with the sides indented to accept round legs. All these variations are within the scope of the present invention. Other variations of the device of the invention include the use of leveling means in the feet of the leg members and rubber, plastic or metal caps on the leg ends and other open tube members to improve appearance and safety. Signs and other advertising can be inserted in the top of the central support member to draw customer attention to the products displaced on the rack.

The present invention has been illustrated with a detachable central supporting means for the rack. This is the preferred embodiment for the convenience of shipping. However, the central tubular member 18 can obviously be extended to such height as is required to support the display rack. The display rack as is shown in FIG. 1 is a simple coat rack type of device.

Obviously other display racks extending out to support various types of hanging goods, multiple shelves or other types of products can be used.

The display base is generally utilized by the salesman by setting up the base in the shop and transporting same in a vehicle to the sales location or by transporting a packaged container of the display base. After obtaining permission from the store owner for the necessary floor space for the display rack, the salesman can easily assemble the rack by attaching the

legs

14 and 14 to the preassembled leg unit as shown in FIG. 2.

The lu means 20 and 21 are inserted into the apertures 20 and 2 in the central member 18. The securing means illustrated by the bolt 22 and wing nut 23 is then used to secure the legs to the central member.

The central supporting member is then inserted into the base and the rack slid over the central support. The double headed pin is positioned on the central supporting member and the rack allowed to rest thereon. The rack is then filled with the vendors merchandise.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention as is not to be limited to the details of construction herein described other than as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved knock-down pedestal display base comprising a central member and two pairs of similar leg members, each leg member including a vertically disposed section and an outwardly extending foot section, the vertically disposed sections of one pair of leg members being adapted to be secured to the central member and aligned in the same plane, the second pair of leg members including lug means adapted for securing one end of the vertically disposed sections of the second pair of leg members to the central member in a plane other than that of the first pair of leg members, and securing means for securing the other end of the vertically disposed sections of the second pair of leg members to the said central member.

2. A display base as recited in claim 1 wherein said first pair of leg members is secured to the said central member.

3. A display base as recited in claim 1 wherein the outwardly extending foot sections are terminated with downwardly extending vertical sections.

4. A display base as recited in claim 1 wherein said lug means are positioned on the upper portion of said vertically disposed section of said leg members and the securing means is positioned between the said lug means and said outwardly extending foot section.

5. A display base as recited in claim 1 wherein said lug means are dowel pins adapted to be fitted into substantially circular apertures in said central member.

6. A display base and rack unit comprising the display base of claim 1 and a display rack supported by a centrally disposed supporting member being held in an upright position by the said central member of said display base.

7. A display base and rack unit as recited in claim 6 wherein said display rack is mounted on means to allow the adjustable positioning of said rack on said support member.

8. A display base and rack as recited in claim 7 wherein said support member is apertured and said adjustable positioning means is a doubled headed pin member adapted to be inserted in said apertures for supporting said rack on said support member.