WO2005025377A1

WO2005025377A1 - Display system

Info

Publication number: WO2005025377A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/003991
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tobias John Mason; Kathryn Alexia Merrifield; Alexander James Merrifield
Original assignee: Informs Limited
Priority date: 2003-09-18
Filing date: 2004-09-17
Publication date: 2005-03-24

Abstract

A display system, and in particular, a shelving system, comprises a plurality of elongate support elements (5) movable longitudinally relative to one another. One set of ends of the support elements (5) defines a display surface (6, 7). Support structures, such as shelves, hanging rails, etc., can be provided in the display surface (6, 7) by adjusting the relative positions of the support elements (5).

Description

Display System

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to display systems, and in particular to systems providing shelving and other display means for the retail and domestic environment.

Background to the Invention

Many kinds of display and storage systems, including shelving systems, are known. Systems whose configuration can be changed rapidly to accommodate changes in the needs of the user are particularly desirable. Aesthetic considerations are also of great importance in the design of such systems .

US 6,189,246 describes a billboard structure having a board defining a matrix of holes through which are inserted independently movable rods, such that the ends of the rods define a three-dimensional display. However there is no suggestion that a structure of this sort may be used for any other purpose.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a system for storing or displaying goods, ornaments, or the like. It is particularly (but not exclusively) intended for use in a domestic or retail environment . The display system may also have a decorative role in its own right.

Broadly the present invention provides a display system comprising a plurality of elongate support elements movable longitudinally relative to one another. In particularly preferred embodiments, the display system is a shelving system.

The display system has a display surface defined by one set of ends of the support elements . Preferably it has two display surfaces defined by respective opposite ends of the support elements. The contour of the display surfaces is controlled by adjusting the relative positions of the support elements. In this way, the display surfaces can be adjusted as desired to provide support structures including shelves, projecting rails for clothes hangers, etc.. Exposed top, bottom and side surfaces of the support elements may also be considered to form part of the display surface.

Where all the support elements are of the same length, the display surfaces will be complementary images of one another. Thus if a shelf is provided in one display surface by positioning a block of support elements forward of the rest of the surface, a complementary recess will be formed in the opposite display surface. However it is not necessary that all support elements are of the same length.

The support elements are preferably arranged in substantially horizontal layers, each layer comprising one or more support elements, typically adjacent one another. Preferably each layer comprises greater than two, greater than 5, greater than 10, greater than 20, greater than 30, greater than 40, or greater than 50 support elements.

The display system preferably comprises a plurality of layers of support elements. Preferably the system comprises greater than two, greater than 5, greater than 10, greater than 20, greater than 30, greater than 40, or greater than 50 layers of support elements .

Thus, viewed head-on, the display surface typically appears as a two-dimensional array formed by the ends of the support elements .

Preferably the support elements are movable independently of one another. However two or more support elements may be connected such that they move as a unit. The support elements move longitudinally; i.e. the length of the support elements is defined in their direction of movement. The support elements are typically thin; that is to say, their vertical height is small in comparison to their length. The width of the support elements is defined horizontally, transverse to their direction of movement. In preferred embodiments, the width of the support elements is also small compared to their length. In particularly preferred embodiments their width and height are approximately equal, and both are small in comparison to the length (e.g. one fifth of the length or less, preferably one tenth of the length or less) , in which case the support elements may be regarded as rods . Preferably the support elements are at least approximately 200mm long. A length of approximately 500mm may be convenient.

By way of example, a single rod may have dimensions of 50mm x 50mm x 500mm. A display system comprising a 40 by 40 array of such rods thus presents a display surface of at least a 2 metres square .

The support elements may have any desired cross-section (in a vertical plane transverse to their length) . Preferred examples are approximations of regular geometric shapes, such as squares, circles, triangles, hexagons, etc. It may be desirable that the cross section has rounded corners, so that the long edges of the support elements are rounded.

The display system may further comprise retaining means to restrict or prevent lateral (as opposed to longitudinal) and/or vertical movement of the support elements. Typically the retaining means are located around, between or through the support elements . In preferred embodiments the retaining means comprises a perimeter border or frame surrounding most or all of the support elements . Preferably the border or frame is upright. Additionally or alternatively, the retaining means may comprise elongate retaining members (e.g. wires or struts) extending between or through the support elements . These internal retaining members may be supported by any perimeter border or frame . Preferably the retaining means are static and/or fixed in position, e.g. relative to a base.

Preferably the retaining means comprises a plurality of compartments each housing one or more support elements. The compartments may comprise a plurality of channels, the support elements being received within said channels. Each support element is preferably housed in a separate channel . In such embodiments the retaining means may be viewed as a grid, wherein the grid lines define channels suitable to receive a plurality of support elements. Preferably the channels are open at both ends, with the support elements extending therethrough, i.e. the channels are formed by tubes.

The retaining means may be composed of individual cells, each cell comprising a single channel or tube to receive a single support element, the cells being adapted for assembly into a grid (e.g. into a plurality of rows and columns) to form a frame for the display system.

Alternative embodiments may also be envisaged. For example, the retaining means may comprise a plurality of internal wires, on which the support elements are mounted.

Preferably the support elements are movable independently relative to the retaining means and relative to each other. However, as described above, two or more support elements may be connected such that they move as a unit, and one or more support elements may be fixed within the retaining means such that they cannot move .

It is desirable that the retaining means prevents the support elements from tilting when not evenly positioned on either side of the frame. Typically, the retaining means has sufficient depth in the direction of support element movement to prevent the support elements tilting when not balanced on either side of the retaining means. Thus the retaining means can be capable of supporting the support elements in a cantilever fashion.

In certain embodiments the support elements are removable from the retaining means. However in some circumstances it may be desirable to provide means preventing the support elements from being withdrawn from the retaining means.

Typically the support elements are movable by sliding relative to one another. However other types of motion are possible as long as they result in a longitudinal translation of one support element relative to one or more others. For example, a support element and adjacent retaining means may carry complementary threads, enabling the support element to move by a screw action. Other possibilities will be apparent to the skilled person.

Devices of the present invention lend themselves to modular construction. That is to say, individual repeating units may be added to, or removed from, the system as desired. Depending upon the method of assembly, any number of support elements may constitute the basic repeating unit, but preferably the basic repeating unit is a single support element, along with any surrounding retaining means. This provides the user with great flexibility in determining the shape and nature of the display.

Preferably the retaining means has a modular construction. Sections housing one or more support elements (e.g. individual channels) can preferably be added or removed at will either around the edges of the system or from within the body of the system. The retaining means may be a frame comprising planar fins connectable, preferably into a grid, via nodal connector elements . The display system may comprise locating elements capable of restricting or calibrating movement of the support elements . The locating elements may simply act to oppose undesired movement of the support elements (e.g. if the system is unintentionally knocked) , or may be capable of fixing the support elements in position relative to one another and/or relative to the retaining means (if any) . they may comprise interengageable male and female elements. For example, the support elements may carry surface formations engageable with complementary female formations on adjacent support elements or on the retaining means . Many ways of achieving this will be apparent to the skilled person. As one example, a support element may carry one or more transverse ribs capable of engaging with complementary troughs in its respective retaining channel or on an adjacent support element. The support element is free to slide when the rib and troughs are not in register, but movement will be impeded when rib and trough are engaged. Locating elements may be spaced uniformly along the length of support elements so that movement can take place in pre-defined increments.

Display systems of the invention have a striking visual appearance. This may be enhanced by suitable lighting, and preferably the appearance is further enhanced by allowing light to pass through the display. One or more of the support elements and/or part or all of the retaining means may be formed of translucent or transparent material to allow light to pass through the structure. For example the support elements and/or the retaining means may be formed from plastics material (e.g. PVC) or glass. The skilled person is well able to choose suitable materials depending upon the structural requirements and desired appearance of any given system.

One or more of the support elements may comprise electrical lighting means, so that illumination can be provided from within the display system itself . The lighting means may be contained within the support element. The retaining means may comprise electrically conducting members for supply of electricity to such support elements. For example, wires may be carried on the surface of the retaining means or embedded within it. The support elements may comprise electrically conductive contacts for engagement with the conducting members of the retaining means .

The system may comprise drive means for controlling movement of one or more of the support elements. For example the retaining means may comprise a worm screw capable of driving longitudinal movement of a support element.

Illumination and/or movement of the display system may be controlled remotely by a suitable control system, preferably comprising a computer. Thus the system may further comprise a control system for controlling supply of electricity to the drive means or to one or more support elements .

Display systems of the present invention may be free-standing, e.g. by means of a suitable base, which may be ballasted or weighted, or mounted by any appropriate means to a wall, floor, ceiling, etc. Typically the retaining means (e.g. a frame) will be mounted to a base.

Display systems of the invention may be provided in kit form. Thus the present invention provides a kit for assembly into a display system as described herein. Preferably the kit comprises a plurality of support elements and a plurality of retaining elements . The retaining elements may be connectable to provide an exterior perimeter to surround the support elements and/or retaining members extending between or through the support elements . Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example and not limitation, by reference to the accompanying drawings .

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show front and side elevations and a perspective view respectively of a display system according to the invention.

Figure 4 shows the display system of Figures 1, 2 and 3 with its display surfaces arranged to provide sets of shelves of differing depths .

Figures 5 and 6 show front and rear perspective views of the display system of Figures 1, 2 and 3 arranged into nested recesses .

Figures 7 and 8 show the display system of Figures 1, 2 and 3 arranged into a curved decorative display.

Figures 9 and 10 show the construction of the frame of the display system shown in Figures 1 to 8.

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the display system of Figures 1, 2 and 3 in which apertures have been formed by removal of support elements and frame portions.

Figures 12 and 13 show a display system according to the present invention having a stepped outline.

Figure 14 shows a display system according to the present invention having a free-form outline.

Figures 15 and 16 show an alternative construction in which the frame of the display system is made up of stacked individual cells, each of which accommodates a single support element . Detailed Description of Particular Embodiments

With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a display unit 1 comprises a rectangular base 2 having mounted thereon an upright frame 3 consisting of a 40 by 40 array of short tubular channels 4. The channels 4 have a square cross section and each holds an identical rod-shaped support element 5 having a substantially square cross section with flat ends. Each rod 5 is approximately seven times the length of the channel 4 in which it is held.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, all of the rods 5 are shown balanced evenly on either side of the frame 3 such that their ends are all aligned, forming front and rear vertical planar display surfaces 6 and 7.

Rods 5 are all free to slide within their respective channels 4. The contour of the display surfaces 6 and 7 can thus be adjusted by altering the relative positions of the rods 5, to provide support surfaces such as shelves, hanging rails and the like, for display of goods, ornaments etc. For example, moving a block of adjacent rods 5 (e.g. one or more entire rows of rods) forward of the rest of the surface creates a projecting shelf, and a complementary recess in the other display surface. A single rod 5 projecting forward of the surrounding surface may be used as a hanging rail, for clothes hangers etc.. The contour of the display surface, and the particular support surfaces which it presents, may be adjusted quickly and easily depending on the user's requirements at the time.

Various possible arrangements are illustrated in Figures 4 to 6. Thus Figure 4 shows the display surfaces arranged to provide a plurality of projecting shelves on each side of the display unit. Figure 5 shows a plurality of nested recesses formed in the front display surface 6. The upward-facing surfaces of these recesses may serve as shelves, as could the upward-facing surfaces of the complementary projections on the rear display surface 7 (shown in Figure 6) .

The striking visual appearance of the arrangements shown in Figures 4 to 6 shows that the display unit can be used as a decorative fixture in its own right, as well for as its primary function as a means for displaying other items . Indeed the unit can adopt arrangements which are wholly decorative, such as the curved arrangement shown in Figures 7 and 8. It will be clear, though, that the upper surface of the unit, formed by the top layer of rods 5, could be used as a shelf if required.

The frame 3 has a modular construction, which is illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. The frame is assembled from square planar fins 31 connected into a grid formation via extruded elongate cruciform connector elements 33. The fins 31 have rebated side edges 32 which are received by square channels 34 formed in the arms of the connector elements 33, either by a snap fit, or by sliding edges 32 into channels 34. Once the frame is assembled, rods 5 can simply be slid into the channels 4 so formed.

In the embodiment shown here, the rods 5 are free to slide completely out of channels 4, (although it is possible to provide the rods or fins with stops to prevent removal of the rods) . Removing two or more adjacent rods 5 exposes the internal fins 31 which previously lay between separated those rods . The construction of the frame 3 enables those exposed fins also to be removed if desired, without compromising the structural integrity of the remainder of the unit . This allows the user to create apertures within the body of the unit as shown in Figure 11.

Movement of the rods 5 within channels 4 is regulated by complementary locating elements on the rods 5 and the fins 31. Each fin 31 comprises a shallow trough (not shown) which runs across its surface perpendicular to the direction of movement of the rod. At least one surface of each rod 5 carries a plurality of complementary transverse ribs . When a rib is engaged with a trough, the rod 5 tends to resist sliding movement within its channel 4. However the rod 5 can be made free to move by disengaging the rib from the trough, for example, by applying sufficient longitudinal pressure to one end of the rod 5. The rod 5 is then free to slide until the next rib engages the trough. Thus the rods 5 can make stepwise incremental movements within the channel.

As a result of the modular construction of the frame, it is also possible to give the unit any desired vertical outline or perimeter shape, and allows the user to change the shape of the frame even after it has been constructed. Thus the square unit shown in Figures 1 to 6 can be reconfigured to provide e.g. a stepped or free-form perimeter shape (see Figures 12 to 14) .

In the embodiments shown here, both the frame and the rods are formed of translucent plastics material (PVC) which allows light to pass through the display unit . The rods have a hollow construction to reduce the weight of the unit and the stresses applied to the frame. One or more of the rods may contain a lighting element, e.g. a fluorescent discharge tube. Electric current may be supplied to the tube through low voltage wires embedded in the fins and complementary electrical contact on the surface of the fins and the rod.

It is also possible to apply graphics to the sides and/or the ends of the support rods. For example a sheet of graphics may be applied across all the rod ends of an entire display surface. The sheet may then be separated or cut along the gaps between the rods to allow each rod to move individually. Alternatively larger areas of the sheet may be left intact, so that a group of rods are effectively joined together and can move only as a unit . Alternatively graphics may be applied individually to the ends of the rods.

Figures 15 and 16 illustrate an alternative construction for the frame 3, involving individual tubular cells 35 having an approximately square cross-section. Three corners 36 of each cell are concave. The fourth corner of each cell carries a projecting channel 38 running the length of the cell 35, having the cross-section of an open circular tube. The channel 38 receives a clamp, which comprises two clamping discs 8 located at either end of the channel, connected by a thin threaded screw (not shown) . The cells 35 stack into an array such that the projecting channel 38 of each cell 35 contacts and is accommodated by the recessed corners 36 of each of the three abutting cells 35. The screw is then tightened, causing the clamping discs 8 to bear on the walls of all four adjacent cells 35, clamping them together.

Once the frame 3 is assembled, a hollow rod 5 is slid into each cell, and end caps 51 fitted to each rod. Longitudinal ribs (not shown) extending from the internal side and lower faces of the cells 35 engage complementary grooves (not shown) in the side faces of the rods 5 in order to locate the rods 5 within the cells 35.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims :

1. A display system comprising a plurality of elongate support elements movable longitudinally relative to one another, wherein one set of ends of the support elements define a display surface, and wherein support structures can be provided in the display surface by adjusting the relative positions of the support elements.

2. A display system according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of layers of support elements.

3. A display system according to claim 2 wherein each layer comprises greater than 10 support elements .

4. A display system according to any one of claims 2 or 3 , comprising greater than 10 layers of support elements.

5. A display system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the support elements are movable independently of one another .

6. A display system according to claim 5 wherein the support elements are rods .

7. A display system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 further comprising retaining means to restrict lateral or vertical movement of the support elements.

8. A display system according to claim 7, wherein the retaining means extend around, between or through the support elements .

9. A display system according to claim 7 or claim 8 , wherein the retaining means comprise a perimeter border.

10. A display system according to claim 9 wherein the retaining means comprises a plurality of channels, each support element being housed in a separate channel .

11. A display system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the system has a modular construction.

12. A display system according to claim 11 wherein the repeating unit of the modular system is a single support element, and any surrounding retaining means.

13. A display system according to any one of claims 1 to 12 comprising locating elements capable of restricting longitudinal movement of the support elements .

14. A display system according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein one or more of the support elements is translucent or transparent .

15. A display system according to claim 14 as dependent on any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein the retaining means is translucent or transparent .

16. A display system according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein one or more of the support elements comprises electrical lighting means.

17. A display system according to any one of claims 1 to 16 comprising drive means for controlling movement of one or more of the support elements .

18. The display system according to any one of claims 1 to 17 which is a shelving system.

19. A kit for assembly into a display system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, or a shelving system according to claim 18, comprising a plurality of support elements and a plurality of retaining elements connectable to provide retaining means for restricting lateral or vertical movement of the support elements .

20. A kit according to claim 18 wherein the retaining means extend around, between or through the support elements.