WO2000041485A2

WO2000041485A2 - Slotted upright for shop merchandising/display system

Info

Publication number: WO2000041485A2
Application number: PCT/GB1999/004411
Authority: WO
Inventors: Neil Woods
Original assignee: Cil International Limited
Priority date: 1999-01-14
Filing date: 1999-12-23
Publication date: 2000-07-20
Also published as: WO2000041485A3; AU1880400A; GB2345629A; GB2345629B

Abstract

A slotted upright (1) for a shop merchandising/display system provided with first and second mounting means (10, 10A, 11, 11A) for two or more decorative strips (2, 3) or a single wider decorative strip (4) whereby the visual appearance of the upright can be readily changed.

Description

SLOTTED UPRIGHT FOR SHOP MERCHANDISING/DISPLAY SYSTEM

This invention relates to a slotted upright for use in a shop merchandising/display system.

Slotted uprights are well known in the art but their appearance can be uninspiring as it is largely dictated by the function that the upright has to perform namely acting as the base structure to which support members can be attached to extend outwardly therefrom to display merchandise thereon or alternatively to support shelves. The appearance of the uprights can be changed by attaching cladding members thereto but this can be expensive and complicated to achieve. Furthermore, such uprights tend to lack versatility in that it can be difficult to change or adapt their appearance to suit different design criteria for the stores in which they are to be used particularly if a mixture of design looks is required. For instance, some stores may want a high-tech metal feel to them whereas others may want a more traditional coloured or wood effect or a combination of both.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a slotted upright which is visually appealing and which includes means whereby its appearance can be readily changed by fitting one or more decorative inserts thereto.

According to the invention, there is provided an upright for a shop merchandising system comprising a pair of facing side walls and a front wall having slots therein for mounting support members, at least one side wall having first and second decorative insert mounting means thereon which, in a first configuration, each wholly receive and mount a decorative insert such that each decorative insert is parallel to but spaced from the other decorative insert and, in an alternative configuration, a single wider decorative insert extends between the first and second decorative insert mounting means.

Preferably each insert mounting means comprises a rebate extending along the length of the upright having undercut side walls which receive and locate the side edges of a decorative insert when inserted therein.

Conveniently the upright has a front wall with a row of axially aligned slots therein and a wall facing said slots with a rebate therein extending along the length thereof and aligned with said slots.

In the preferred embodiment, the upright also has a rear wall with a row of axially aligned slots therein and a wall facing said slots with a rebate formed therein extending along the length thereof.

In the preferred embodiment, a re-entrant opening is formed in the front and rear walls of the upright, each rebate having a bottom wall in which the axially aligned slots are provided.

In the preferred embodiment, the upright is generally oval or elliptical in cross section.

Conveniently each rebate has an upstanding support extending therealong having a top surface which is located slightly below the outer surface of the upright to support the decorative insert intermediate its side edges when inserted in the rebate.

Preferably each side wall has a wall section between the first and second insert mounting means which is shaped to support a single wider insert intermediate its edges when said insert is mounted with one edge in the first insert mounting means and the other edge in the second insert mounting means.

Preferably the or each insert follows the contour of the outer surface of the upright when fitted in the mounting means and additional insert mounting means, i.e. more than two can be provided on each side wall of the upright.

Preferably the upright is a plastics or metal extruded section.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a slotted upright in accordance with the present invention fitted with two decorative strips in a side wall thereof;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the slotted upright shown in Figure 1 but fitted with a single wider decorative strip;

Figure 3 is a front view of the slotted upright shown in Figures 1 and 2 but fitted with two decorative strips on the left side thereof and a single wider decorative strip on the right side thereof;

Figure 4 is a cross section through the upright shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a cross section through the upright shown in Figure 2. Referring first to Figure 4 of the drawings, there is shown in cross section an upright 1 of the present invention which is generally elliptical in cross section and has side walls 1A and IB. A re-entrant opening or rebate 5 is formed at each end thereof in end sections ID and IE, each rebate 5 having a bottom wall 6. A row of axially aligned slots 7 (see Figure 3) are formed in the bottom wall 6 of each rebate 5. Walls 12 are spaced from the bottom wall 6 of each rebate 5 and extend between the side walls of the upright 1. A rebate 13 is provided in each wall 12 and extends along the full length thereof. The purpose of this rebate 13 is to receive and locate the free end of tongues 15 provided on the ends of support arms 14 (see Figure 1) mounted in the slots 7 in the upright 1 to locate them against lateral movement. The arms 14 are of well known type so no further description thereof will be given. The side faces of rebates 5 also engage the side faces of a support arm 14 inserted therein thereby giving it increased lateral stability. End wall 6 is thicker than the side walls of the rebate 5 to provide increased strength for supporting the bracket 4 and any load supported thereby.

The upright 1 is also formed with a central part tubular section 20 into which a piece of studding or bar can be fitted for fixing to feet (not shown) and/or when used as a gondola.

Rebates 10 and 11 are formed in the side walls of the upright 1 and extend along the full length thereof. Each rebate 10,11 has undercut side walls 10A and 11A. An upstanding support surface 10B,11B also extends along the length of each rebate 10,11 centrally thereof for reasons which will be explained hereafter. It will be noted from Figures 4 and 5 that each upstanding surface 10B,11B is disposed slightly below the level of the undercut side walls 10A,11A for reasons to be explained hereafter.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 4, it can be seen that first and second decorative strips 2 and 3 can each be mounted in the upright 1 by sliding it into rebate 10 or 11 from one end of the upright so that each side edge of the decorative strip 2,3 locates in the first and second mounting means 10,11 i.e. undercuts 10A,11A with its central section intermediate the side edges being supported by the support surface 10B,11B.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 5, it can be seen that a single wider decorative strip 4 can be mounted on the upright 1 by fitting one edge thereof under the rebate 10A and the other edge under the rebate 11 A, the central section of the wider strip 4 being supported by the central section 1C of the side wall of the upright.

The strips 2,3 or 4 are readily fitted in the upright by either bending them if they are flexible strips so that the edges thereof can be located in the undercut rebates 10A,11A or alternatively, if the strips are not particularly flexible, they can be slid into the rebates 10,11 from one end of the upright.

Preferably the upright is made from a metal material and is extruded as a one-piece extrusion. It can however be extruded in a rigid plastics material. Whilst the invention has been described in terms of an upright with mounting means to receive only two narrow decorative strips, it will be appreciated that additional rebates can be provided to mount additional narrow strips without departing from the concept of the present invention of using only the outer rebates to mount the side edges of a single wider strip which will then cover the other rebates.

Claims

1. An upright for a shop merchandising system comprising a pair of facing side walls and a front wall having slots therein for mounting support members, at least one side wall having first and second decorative insert mounting means thereon which, in a first configuration, each wholly receive and mount a decorative insert such that each decorative insert is parallel to but spaced from the other decorative insert and, in an alternative configuration, a single wider decorative insert extends between the first and second decorative insert mounting means.

2. An upright as claimed in claim 1 wherein each strip mounting means comprises a rebate extending along the length of the upright having undercut side walls which receive and locate the side edges of a decorative insert when inserted therein.

3. An upright as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the slots in the front wall are axially aligned and the upright has a wall facing said slots with a rebate therein extending along the length thereof and aligned with said slots.

4. An upright as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the upright has a rear wall with a row of axially aligned slots therein and a wall facing said slots with a rebate formed therein extending along the length thereof.

5. An upright as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein a re-entrant rebate is formed in the front and rear walls of the upright, each rebate having a bottom wall in which the axially aligned slots are provided.

6. An upright as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the upright is generally oval or elliptical in cross section.

7. An upright as claimed in any of claims 2-6 wherein each rebate has an upstanding support extending therealong having a top surface which is located slightly below the outer surface of the upright to support a decorative insert intermediate its side edges when inserted in the rebate.

8. An upright as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each side wall has a wall section between the first and second insert mounting means which is shaped to support a single wider insert intermediate its edges when said insert is mounted with one edge in the first insert mounting means and its other edge in the second insert mounting means.

9. An upright as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the upright is made of an extruded metal or plastics material.

10. An upright as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each decorative insert follows the contour of the outer surface of the upright when fitted in the mounting means.

11. An upright as claimed in any preceding claim including additional insert mounting means on the side walls of the upright.

12. An upright as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the upright has a decorative appearance so that it can be used without the or each decorative insert being fitted thereto.

13. An upright substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.