Lockable spinner display

Abstract

A lockable point of purchase display device includes three product display racks facing outwardly on a turntable in an enclosure with three vertical openings providing customer access to the product, with the openings and the racks are spaced radially apart 120 degrees, and a lock to lock the racks either adjacent the openings or adjacent closed sections of the enclosure preventing access to the product.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a display apparatus useful in retail merchandising as point of purchase display and product dispenser units, that allows open access to items held in the apparatus, while by a simple adjustment the apparatus allows the items to hidden and inaccessible. Other fields of use are contemplated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Point of purchase displays and dispensing devices are an important segment of retail marketing. Freestanding dispensers coupled with advertising graphic messages are common sights close to the cashier and scattered throughout most retail stores. These dispensers take a variety of forms to display the packaged items and allow easy access for removal by the consumer to take the selected items to a store clerk for check out and payment for the items. Products that are dispensed in this manner include cigarette packages, audio and videocassette or disc packages, camera film, women's hosiery, electric storage batteries, as well as a myriad of other consumer products. During the stores open hours the display is usually preferred to readily accessible to the consumers, so that they can easily make their choice of the particular item or items they prefer. However, once the store is closed, it is important bar access to the packaged items, except to authorized personnel. Unfortunately, retail stores suffer large losses due to thievery by their own personnel. Employees, when not supervised and exposed to easy and ready access to small moderately priced items, sometimes yield to the temptation of slipping the item into a bag or purse and neglecting to pay for it. These losses mount up and constitute a major problem for retail establishments. On the other hand, if the items are behind break resistant panels, most persons will not be tempted to take the risk to get someone to unlock a cabinet or to break a lock, particularly for a modestly priced item. There is a need for a convenient and effective display device that discourages thievery by employees.

Prior art devices are described below and include U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,437 to Rumble et al. discloses a Rota table CD display apparatus wherein the circular trays move axially up and down to alternatively lock the CD's in between the trays and unlock so the sales person can remove the CD's. This device does not appear to be as effective or simple as the present invention and includes no open and closed arc sections of an enclosure with a lockable spinner display.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,085 to Gaus discloses a lazy Susan CD display apparatus. No relevant security mechanisms are disclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,334 to Smith discloses a rotatable CD display rack. Lock 46 in form of cotter pin merely holds the carousel units together. No relevant security mechanisms are disclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,595 to Willis discloses a rotatable floppy display and storage apparatus wherein the trays are accessible through doorways that have lockable doors. The device does not appear to have the effective or simple use of the present invention and no open and closed sections of an enclosure with lockable spinner positions are included.

Other prior are devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,665 to Rumble; U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,021 to Ong; U.S. Pat. Des. 329,548 to Wells et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,170,741 to Richards, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,065 to Todd; U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,494 to Geffen; U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,779 to Szenay et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 1,549,467 to Dumond et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,264 to De Palma; U.S. Pat. No. 4,269,124 to Rosenthal et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,010 to Eckert. The disclosed devices include a number that show rotatable display units but none include or suggest the elements of the present invention.

None of the above prior art devices disclose the present invention or attain the objects described herein below or satisfies the needs described above.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide an apparatus that holds and displays items or packaged items providing easy access by consumers.

It is a further object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide an apparatus that holds and displays items or packaged items providing easy access by consumers, while the apparatus may be easily adjusted and locked to prevent access by unauthorized persons.

It is an additional object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a point of sale display apparatus that is adapted for graphic headers and wrap around messages that remain in view whether the access to the items on the apparatus is open or closed.

It is an further object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a point of sale display apparatus that is adapted to receive graphics on each shelf to identify the product that are viewable when access to the products is open or closed.

An embodiment of the invention is a lockable display apparatus that includes a rack adapted to hold and display items on a turntable in an enclosure with at least one aperture adapted to provide access to the items on the rack, and a lock to firstly lock the turntable in a first radial position to align with the aperture to allow access to the items and secondly to lock the turntable in a second radial position to prevent access to the items. The positioning the radial locking position, the construction of the rack and the positioning of the rack on the turntable prevents access to the items on the rack when the turntable is locked in the second position.

A second embodiment of the present invention is a lockable spinner display apparatus that includes a base platform and turntable means attached on an upper surface of the base platform, said means adapted to support a device on an upper surface and allow said device to rotate in a horizontal arc around a vertical central axis with minimal friction resistance. The apparatus further includes display rack support means on the upper surface of the turntable means, the display rack support means adapted to support a multiplicity of display rack means each adapted to hold and display a multiplicity of articles with identifying indicia of each article, the rack support means including a first section of the rack support means adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the first section from a first direction radially outwardly from the central axis. The apparatus further includes an enclosure attached to and resting on the base platform extending upwardly enclosing the turntable means and partially enclosing the display rack support means, and locking means to alternatively firstly lock the turntable means to the base platform in a first position with the first direction of the first section of the support means aligned to a closed section of the enclosure, and secondly unlock the turntable means from the base platform in a second position so that the first direction of the first section of the support means is alignable with and is fully exposed through a first opening in the enclosure.

It is preferred that the display rack support means include a first section of the support means adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the first section from a first direction radially outwardly from the central axis and a second section of the support means adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the second section from a second direction radially outwardly from the central axis, that there be first and second openings in the enclosure, and the locking means being capable of firstly locking the turntable to the base platform in a first position so that the first direction of the first section of the support means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the first opening in the enclosure and the second direction of the second section of the support means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the second opening in the enclosure, and secondly capable of locking the turntable means to the base platform in a second position with the first and second directions of the first and second sections of the support means aligned to two closed sections of the enclosure. It is more preferred that in the above apparatus that the access directions of the two sections of the rack support means be facing outwardly in opposite directions. It is also preferred that there be three sections of the rack support means, the first section of the support means, the second section of the support means, and a third section of the support means adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the third section from a third direction radially outwardly from the central axis, there be first, second, and third openings in the enclosure, and that the locking means be capable of firstly locking the turntable means to the base platform in a first position so that the first direction of the first section of the support means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the first opening in the enclosure, the second section of the support means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the second opening in the enclosure, and the third section of the support means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the third opening in the enclosure, and secondly capable of locking the turntable means to the base platform in a second position with the first, second, and third directions of the first, second, and third sections of the support means aligned to three closed sections of the enclosure. It is more preferred that in the above apparatus that the access directions of the three sections of the support means be facing outwardly in directions 120 degrees apart. It is also preferred that the closed section of the enclosure include a clear transparent plastic sheet, more preferably that the enclosure include two closed sections of a clear transparent plastic sheet, and most preferably that the enclosure include three closed sections of clear transparent plastic sheet. It is further preferred that the apparatus further include vertically aligned frame means attached on the turntable means adapted to hold at least one graphic panel juxtaposed to the display rack support means, wherein the graphic panel is aligned behind the clear transparent plastic sheet when the turntable means is locked in the first position and with the first opening when the turntable means is locked in the second position. It is more preferred that the apparatus further include vertically aligned frame means attached on the turntable means adapted to hold at least two graphic panels juxtaposed to the display rack support means, wherein the graphic panels are aligned behind the clear transparent plastic sheets when the turntable means is locked in the first position and with the first and second openings when the turntable means is locked in the second position. It is most preferred that the apparatus further include vertically aligned frame means attached on the turntable means to hold at least three graphic panels juxtaposed to the display rack support means, wherein the graphic panels are aligned behind the clear transparent plastic sheets when the turntable means is locked in the first position and with the first, second and third openings when the turntable means is locked in the second position.

A third embodiment is lockable spinner display apparatus that includes a base platform, a turntable means attached on an upper surface of the base platform, said means adapted to support a device on an upper surface and allow said device to rotate in a horizontal arc around a vertical central axis with minimal friction resistance. The apparatus further includes display rack means on the upper surface of the turntable means, the display rack means adapted to hold and display a multiplicity of articles with identifying indicia of each article, the rack means including a first section of the rack means adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the first section from a first direction radially outwardly from the central axis. The apparatus also includes an enclosure attached to and resting on the base platform extending upwardly enclosing the turntable means and partially enclosing the rack means. The apparatus further includes locking means to alternatively firstly lock the display rack means to the base platform in a first position so that the first direction of the first section of the rack means is aligned with and is fully exposed through a first opening in the enclosure and fully enclosed in all other directions, and secondly lock the display rack means to the base platform in a second position with the first direction of the first section of the rack means aligned to a closed section of the enclosure.

It is preferred that in the above lockable spinner display apparatus, the display rack means include a first section of the rack means adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the first section from a first direction radially outwardly from the central axis and a second section of the rack means adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the second section from a second direction radially outwardly from the central axis, there are first and second openings in the enclosure, and the locking means is capable of firstly locking the display rack means to the base platform in a first position so that the first direction of the first section of the rack means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the first opening in the enclosure and the second direction of the second section of the rack means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the second opening in the enclosure, and secondly capable of locking the rack means to the base platform in a second position with the first and second directions of the first and second sections of the rack means aligned to two closed sections of the enclosure. It is further preferred that in the above apparatus the access directions of the two sections of the rack means are facing outwardly in opposite directions. It is also preferred that in the above apparatus there be three sections of the rack means, the first section of the rack means as above, the second section of the rack means as above, and a third section of the rack means adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the third section from a third direction radially outwardly from the central axis, there be first, second, and third openings in the enclosure, and the locking means be capable of firstly locking the rack means to the base platform in a first position so that the first direction of the first section of the rack means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the first opening in the enclosure, the second section of the rack means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the second opening in the enclosure, and the third section of the rack means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the third opening in the enclosure, and secondly capable of locking the rack means to the base platform in a second position with the first, second, and third directions of the first, second, and third sections of the rack means aligned to three closed sections of the enclosure. It is also preferred that in the above lockable spinner display apparatus the access directions of the three sections of the rack means be facing outwardly in directions 120 degrees apart. It is further preferred that in the lockable spinner display apparatus above, the closed section of the enclosure include a clear transparent plastic sheet. It is more preferred that in the lockable spinner display apparatus above at least one of the two closed sections of the enclosure include a clear transparent plastic sheet, and more preferred that that both do. It is even more preferred that in the lockable spinner display apparatus above that at least one of the three closed sections of the enclosure comprises a clear transparent plastic sheet, and most preferred that all three do.

A fourth embodiment of the invention is a lockable spinner display apparatus that includes a base platform and a turntable means attached on an upper surface of the base platform, said means adapted to support a device on an upper surface and allow said device to rotate in a horizontal arc around a vertical central axis with minimal friction resistance. The apparatus further includes display rack means on the upper surface of the turntable means, the display rack means adapted to hold and display a multiplicity of articles with identifying indicia of each article, the rack means including a three sections of the rack means, each section adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the particular section from a direction radially outwardly from the central axis, wherein the directions are spaced apart 120 degrees. The apparatus further includes a cylindrical enclosure attached to and resting on the base platform extending upwardly enclosing the turntable means and partially enclosing the rack means with three openings with centers spaced apart 120 degrees. The apparatus further includes locking means to alternatively firstly lock the display rack means to the base platform in a first position so that the directions of the sections of the rack means are aligned with and fully exposed through the three openings in the enclosure, and secondly lock the display rack means to the base platform in a second position with the directions of the sections of the rack means are aligned to a closed section of the enclosure.

A fifth embodiment of the invention is a lockable spinner display apparatus that includes a base platform and a turntable means attached on an upper surface of the base platform, said means adapted to support a device on an upper surface and allow said device to rotate in a horizontal arc around a vertical central axis with minimal friction resistance. The apparatus further includes display rack means on the upper surface of the turntable means, the display rack means adapted to hold and display a multiplicity of articles with identifying indicia of each article, the rack means including three sections of the rack means, each section adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the particular section from a direction radially outwardly from the central axis, wherein the directions are spaced apart 120 degrees. The apparatus further includes a cylindrical enclosure attached to and resting on the base platform extending upwardly enclosing the turntable means and partially enclosing the rack means, the enclosure including three closed sections each including a clear transparent plastic sheet spaced apart circumferentially with three openings with centers spaced apart 120 degrees juxtaposed between the three closed sections. The apparatus further includes locking means to alternatively firstly lock the display rack means to the base platform in a first position so that the directions of the sections of the rack means are aligned with and fully exposed through the three openings in the enclosure, and secondly lock the display rack means to the base platform in a second position with the directions of the sections of the rack means are aligned to a closed section of the enclosure. The apparatus further includes vertically aligned frame means attached on the turntable means to hold at least three graphic panels juxtaposed to the display rack means, wherein the graphic panels are aligned with the clear transparent plastic sheets of the three closed sections when the display rack is locked in the first position and with the first, second and third openings when the display rack is locked in the second position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front side view of an apparatus of the present invention with the racks to hold and display items normally attached to the grid removed for clarity.

FIG. 2 is a top elevational view of said apparatus with the turntable supporting the grid rotated to an open position with any racks attached to the grid aligned to open sections in the outer enclosure and includes a top elevational view of a rack exploded outwardly from the position where it is attached to the grid and aligned with an open section of the outer enclosure.

FIG. 3 is a second top elevational view of said apparatus with the turntable supporting the grid rotated to and locked in a closed position with any racks attached to the grid aligned with closed sections in the outer enclosure.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of said apparatus composed of three sheets designated FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, with a product display rack exploded outwardly from the position where it is attached to the grid and aligned with an open section of the outer enclosure.

FIG. 5 is a top elevational diagram view of a second apparatus of the present invention with the turntable supporting the grid rotated to an open position with any racks attached to the grid aligned to open sections in the outer enclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top elevational diagram view of a third apparatus of the present invention with the turntable supporting the grid rotated to an open position with any racks attached to the grid aligned to open sections in the outer enclosure.

FIG. 7 is a top elevational diagram view of a fourth apparatus of the present invention with the turntable supporting the grid rotated to an open position with any racks attached to the grid aligned to open sections in the outer enclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the product display rack shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Apparatus 10 is a point of purchase lockable spinner display unit of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4. The display unit with the racks to hold and display items normally attached to the grid being removed for clarity. A rack 40 for DVD packages is illustrated in FIG. 4 as exploded from the position where it is attached to the grid and aligned with an open section of the outer enclosure. While rack 40 is designed for DVD packages, it should be understood that racks of differing styles may be utilized for dry cell battery packages, panty hose packages, CD packages, inexpensive watches, and the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the balance of the unit 10 rests on circular plywood base platform 12 which is supported and attached to five-two and one half inch commercially available twin wheel nylon hooded swivel locking casters 14 from Service Caster Company. Circular lower rack support platform 18 rotates horizontally around a vertical central axis and is attached with flat head screws 19 on lazy susan turntable 16 attached in the center of base platform 12 with flat head screws 17. As best shown in FIG. 4, wire grid rack support 20 is constructed of three U-shaped wire grids 22, 24 and 26, each grid aligned vertically lengthwise with the open shape of the U-shape of each grid facing outwardly and the corners of the base of each of the U-shapes abutting the corners of the adjacent U-shape forming three open spaces with centers 120 degrees apart and extending vertically the length of wire grid rack support 20. At the base of each U-shaped grid vertically downwardly extending lower center posts 28, 28′ and 28″ located on the base of the U-shapes of grids 22, 24 and 26 respectively are engaged in three vertical holes 30, 30′, and 30″ respectively, all opening upwardly through upper surface 21 of grid rack support 20. Also at the base of each U-shaped grid vertically downwardly extending lower end post pairs 32, 32′ and 32″ located on the ends of the U-shapes of grids 22, 24 and 26 respectively are engaged in three vertical hole pairs 34, 34′, and 34″ respectively, all opening upwardly through upper surface 21 of grid rack support 20. Upper rack support platform 36 rotates freely and is supported by pivot tube 38 extending downwardly through center hole 40 in platform 36 from center hole 42 in upper enclosure housing platform 44. At the upper end of each U-shaped grid vertically upwardly extending upper center posts 46, 46′ and 46″ located on the base of the U-shapes of grids 22, 24 and 26 respectively are engaged in three vertical holes 48, 48′, and 48″ respectively, all opening upwardly through the lower surface of upper rack support platform 36. Also at the upper end of each U-shaped grid vertically upwardly extending upper end post pairs 50, 50′ and 50″ located on the ends of the U-shapes of grids 22, 24 and 26 respectively are engaged in three vertical hole pairs 52, 52′, and 52″ respectively, all opening upwardly through the lower surface upper rack support platform 36. The vertical spacing between upper enclosure housing platform 44 and upper rack support platform 36 is no more than the width of fixed spacer washer 54 on pivot tube 38. Commercially available push button pop-out locks 56 and 58, part designation DTSDL from Industrial Lock & Hardware, Lancaster, Calif., are attached with flat head screws through holes through platform 36. The key openings are exposed through the lower surface of platform 36 and are accessible under the lip of platform 36. The strikers of locks 56 and 58 extend upwardly with a throw of about ⅜ inch and engage striker plate 60 (hidden in FIG. 4 with the lateral position the same as 60′ as shown in FIG. 3) attached on the underside of upper enclosure housing platform 44. The locks and the striker plate are positioned to lock the inner rotating storage unit at two different positions about sixty degrees apart, one to expose the product though the open section(s) of the outer housing tube structure and the second to place the product behind the solid section(s) of the outer housing tube structure. Lower lock 58′ is included for extra security in the closed position and attached with flat head screws through lower rack support platform 18, with the striker extending downwardly to engage a striker plate 60′ attached on the upper surface of circular base platform 12. The enclosure is constructed of three arc formed colorless transparent polymeric plastic sheet panels 62, 62′ and 62″, composed of polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate or like materials, each arc being about sixty degrees of the generally cylindrical enclosure circumference. Panels 62, 62′ and 62″ are framed along their vertical lengthwise edges by molding pairs 64, 64′ and 64″ of aluminum U-shaped extruded moldings. The pairs of moldings to receive and hold the clear panels are fixedly attached by flat head metal screws through the respective platforms into vertical holes 88 in the ends of the moldings. The bottom ends of molding pair 64 are attached through holes 66 through base platform panel 12; the bottom ends of molding pair 64′ are attached through holes 66′ through base platform panel 12; and the bottom ends of molding pair 64″ are attached through holes 66″ through base platform panel 12. The top ends of molding pair 64 are attached through holes 68 through upper enclosure platform panel 44; the top ends of molding pair 64′ are attached through holes 68′ through upper enclosure platform panel 44; and the top ends of molding pair 64″ are attached through holes 68″ through upper enclosure platform panel 44. Arc slot 70 cut through or preferably merely partially into the lower surface of upper enclosure platform panel 44 is positioned and is of an arc length of about sixty degrees to receive pin 72 extending upwardly from upper rack platform panel 36 to limit the degree of rotation possible back and forth from the open and the closed positions. A similar slot 70′ is cut into base platform 12 to receive pin 72′ extending downwardly from lower rack support platform 18. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, L-shaped brackets 74 welded to the base of wire grid rack support sections 22, 24, and 26 allow the bases to be secured to platform 18 with wood screws through holes through the lower sections of the brackets. Although the advertising panels are not shown for clarity purposes in all the figures except FIGS. 2 and 3 the adaptability to receive advertising panels is important for any point-of-purchase display unit. This invention has the capacity to receive and display numerous advertising panels, which may replaced and changed at will. Flexible cardboard or plastic advertising panels 76, 76′ and 76″ are held essentially coterminous and adjacent behind clear panels 62, 62′ and 62″ respectively with lengthwise frame flanges extending inwardly at about twenty degrees from an inside corner of from molding pairs 64, 64′ and 64″. These advertising panels are held convex outwardly and exposed at all times. A second set of advertising panels are held between the outside longwise edges of adjacent sections of the wire grid rack support units. The edges of these flexible cardboard or plastic advertising panels 78, 78′ and 78″ are wedged behind the vertical lengthwise end wires of adjacent grids. For example, advertising panel 78 is wedged concave outwardly between vertical end wire 80 of section 22 and vertical end wire 80′ of section 24. Panels 78′ and 78″ are likewise held in place. These panels are hidden in FIG. 2 when the turntable is locked in the open position with the display racks, such as display rack 80, hooked on and hanging on wire grid rack support 20, frontally exposed together with all the product on the racks exposed and available to customers through lengthwise openings 82, 84 and 86 of the enclosure constructed of plastic panels 62, 62′ and 62″, platform 18, and platform 36. As shown in FIG. 3 with the turntable locked in the closed position, openings 82, 84, and 86 are blocked by advertising panels 78′, 78 and 78″ respectively as well as the outside faces of wire grid rack support 20. For example, opening 84 is blocked by left leg 90 of U-shaped wire grid rack support 24 and right leg 92 of U-shaped wire grid rack support 24. Likewise the other two openings 82 and 86 are blocked by the legs of adjacent grid rack supports. As best illustrated in FIG. 8, product display rack 80 is a standard constructed welded wire rack with horizontal wire platform grid 94, rear wire risers 96, and shorter front risers 98. Two end hooks 100 and the top of two rear wire risers 96 allow the rack to hang on horizontal wires of wire grid rack support 20 and flanged horizontal slide label holder 102 welded on the front of front risers 98 allow product information to be displayed and easily replaced on each shelf formed by each rack. Rack 80 may hold two DVD packages side by side and six deep. With six racks per side opening, there are 36 total product facings with a total capacity of 216 packages. It should be emphasized that the invention does not include the racks, but rather includes the rack support on which a multitude of different style and sized racks may be hung displaying and dispensing a multitude of product packages. Further the size of the apparatus may vary considerably from a floor and aisle display unit to a counter size display unit. Not only the height, but the diameter of the enclosure may vary in size within the scope of the invention. Even the shape of the enclosure may vary from the preferred cylindrical shape to any practical shape including a parallelepiped and combination shapes such as shown on FIGS. 5 and 7. All that is required from the size and shape of the enclosure is that it allow the edges of the turntable and the rack support thereon to clear the inside of the enclosure allowing the openings of the rack support to reach the open and closed positions. Pivot tube 38 may, although it is not necessary, include length extension 104 upwardly above the upper surface of upper enclosure platform 44. This extension provides a fourth opportunity to display advertising material. For example, a cylindrical banner display may be attached to extension 104 with or without an additional three dimensional figure to catch the consumer's eye. A possibility is to attach a plastic molded enlarged replica of the product including the easily recognized trademark or trade dress of the manufacturing/retail company. FIG. 5 illustrates a diagram of apparatus 106 with a truncated enclosure shape wherein the sides with two lateral space openings 110 and 110′ into the enclosure are essentially vertically flat with base platform 12′ and lower rack support platform 18′ being circular plywood panels truncated on the two open sides. The enclosure includes two plastic panels 62′″ supported by four vertical frame moldings 64′″, each panel with about a ninety degree arc each enclosing about one-quarter of the lateral space around wire grid rack support sections 108 and 108′ attached and supported on platform 18′. These rack support sections open to about one-quarter of the lateral space and are proportionally wider and deeper U-shapes than those of rack support 22. FIG. 6 illustrates a diagram of apparatus 112 with a cylindrical enclosure shape. The enclosure includes a single cylindrical plastic panel 118 supported by two vertical frame moldings 116 essentially identical to frame moldings 64, the panel with about a 324 degree arc enclosing all but about one-tenth of the lateral space around five wire grid rack support sections 120 attached and supported on platform 18″. Each of these rack support sections 120 may be separately and in turn locked open to the about one-tenth of the lateral space 114 between frame moldings 116 and are proportionally narrower U-shapes than those of rack support 22. Apparatus 112 differs from the other configurations in that only one rack support section 120 is accessible when the turntable is locked in the open position. Multiple locks allow platform 18″ on the turntable to be locked in any of the five open positions to expose the product to the consumers held on racks attached to the respective rack support sections 120. As with the other embodiments platform 18″ may be locked in one or all of the five closed positions. FIG. 7 illustrates a diagram of apparatus 122 with a truncated enclosure shape wherein one side with a single lateral space opening 124 into the enclosure is essentially vertically flat with base platform 12′″ and lower rack support platform 18′″ being circular plywood panels truncated on the open side. The enclosure includes plastic panel 126 supported by two vertical frame moldings 116′, the panel with about a one hundred and eighty degree arc enclosing about one-half of the lateral space around wire grid rack support 128 attached and supported on platform 18′″. This rack support opens to about one-half of the lateral space between moldings 116′ and is a proportionally wider and deeper U-shape than the sections of rack support 22. The arc rotational movement of the turntable between the locked position where the open space of the U-shape of support 22 faces opening 124 and the locked position where the rear and bottom face of the U-shape faces the inside surface of panel 126 enclosure is about 180 degrees.

While this invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and the patent is intended to include modifications and changes which may come within and extend from the following claims.

Claims

1. A lockable spinner display apparatus comprising:

(A) a base platform,

(B) a turntable means attached on an upper surface of the base platform, said means adapted to support a device on an upper surface and allow said device to rotate in a horizontal arc around a vertical central axis with minimal friction resistance,

(C) display rack support means on the upper surface of the turntable means, the display rack support means adapted to support a multiplicity of display rack means each adapted to hold and display a multiplicity of articles with identifying indicia of each article, the rack support means comprising a first section of the rack support means adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the first section from a first direction radially outwardly from the central axis,

(D) an enclosure attached to and resting on the base platform extending upwardly enclosing the turntable means and partially enclosing the display rack support means, and

(E) locking means to alternatively firstly lock the turntable means to the base platform in a first position with the first direction of the first section of the support means aligned to a closed section of the enclosure, and secondly unlock the turntable means from the base platform in a second position so that the first direction of the first section of the support means is alignable with and is fully exposed through a first opening in the enclosure.

2. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display rack support means comprises a first section of the support means adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the first section from a first direction radially outwardly from the central axis and a second section of the support means adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the second section from a second direction radially outwardly from the central axis, there are first and second openings in the enclosure, and the locking means capable of firstly locking the turntable to the base platform in a first position so that the first direction of the first section of the support means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the first opening in the enclosure and the second direction of the second section of the support means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the second opening in the enclosure, and secondly capable of locking the turntable means to the base platform in a second position with the first and second directions of the first and second sections of the support means aligned to two closed sections of the enclosure.

3. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 2, wherein there the access directions of the two sections of the rack support means are facing outwardly in opposite directions.

4. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 2, wherein there are three sections of the rack support means, the first section of the support means, the second section of the support means, and a third section of the support means adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the third section from a third direction radially outwardly from the central axis, there are first, second, and third openings in the enclosure, and the locking means capable of firstly locking the turntable means to the base platform in a first position so that the first direction of the first section of the support means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the first opening in the enclosure, the second section of the support means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the second opening in the enclosure, and the third section of the support means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the third opening in the enclosure, and secondly capable of locking the turntable means to the base platform in a second position with the first, second, and third directions of the first, second, and third sections of the support means aligned to three closed sections of the enclosure.

5. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 4, wherein there the access directions of the three sections of the support means are facing outwardly in directions 120 degrees apart.

6. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the closed section of the enclosure comprises a clear transparent plastic sheet.

7. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one of the two closed sections of the enclosure comprises a clear transparent plastic sheet.

8. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one of the three closed sections of the enclosure comprises a clear transparent plastic sheet.

9. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus further comprises vertically aligned frame means attached on the turntable means adapted to hold at least one graphic panel juxtaposed to the display rack support means, wherein the graphic panel is aligned behind the clear transparent plastic sheet when the turntable means is locked in the first position and with the first opening when the turntable means is locked in the second position.

10. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus further comprises vertically aligned frame means attached on the turntable means adapted to hold at least two graphic panels juxtaposed to the display rack support means, wherein the graphic panels are aligned behind the clear transparent plastic sheets when the turntable means is locked in the first position and with the first and second openings when the turntable means is locked in the second position.

11. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus further comprises vertically aligned frame means attached on the turntable means to hold at least three graphic panels juxtaposed to the display rack support means, wherein the graphic panels are aligned behind the clear transparent plastic sheets when the turntable means is locked in the first position and with the first, second and third openings when the turntable means is locked in the second position.

12. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base platform is supported on swivel caster means to allow the apparatus freely roll in any direction and be locked in any chosen position.

13. A lockable spinner display apparatus comprising:

(A) a base platform,

(B) a turntable means attached on an upper surface of the base platform, said means adapted to support a device on an upper surface and allow said device to rotate in a horizontal arc around a vertical central axis with minimal friction resistance,

(C) display rack means on the upper surface of the turntable means, the display rack means adapted to hold and display a multiplicity of articles with identifying indicia of each article, the rack means comprising a first section of the rack means adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the first section from a first direction radially outwardly from the central axis,

(D) an enclosure attached to and resting on the base platform extending upwardly enclosing the turntable means and partially enclosing the rack means, and

(E) locking means to alternatively firstly lock the display rack means to the base platform in a first position so that the first direction of the first section of the rack means is aligned with and is fully exposed through a first opening in the enclosure and fully enclosed in all other directions, and secondly lock the display rack means to the base platform in a second position with the first direction of the first section of the rack means aligned to a closed section of the enclosure.

14. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 13, wherein the display rack means comprises a first section of the rack means adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the first section from a first direction radially outwardly from the central axis and a second section of the rack means adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the second section from a second direction radially outwardly from the central axis, there are first and second openings in the enclosure, and the locking means capable of firstly locking the display rack means to the base platform in a first position so that the first direction of the first section of the rack means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the first opening in the enclosure and the second direction of the second section of the rack means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the second opening in the enclosure, and secondly capable of locking the rack means to the base platform in a second position with the first and second directions of the first and second sections of the rack means aligned to two closed sections of the enclosure.

15. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 14, wherein there the access directions of the two sections of the rack means are facing outwardly in opposite directions.

16. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 14, wherein there are three sections of the rack means, the first section of the rack means, the second section of the rack means, and a third section of the rack means adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the third section from a third direction radially outwardly from the central axis, there are first, second, and third openings in the enclosure, and the locking means capable of firstly locking the rack means to the base platform in a first position so that the first direction of the first section of the rack means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the first opening in the enclosure, the second section of the rack means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the second opening in the enclosure, and the third section of the rack means is aligned with and is fully exposed through the third opening in the enclosure, and secondly capable of locking the rack means to the base platform in a second position with the first, second, and third directions of the first, second, and third sections of the rack means aligned to three closed sections of the enclosure.

17. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 16, wherein there the access directions of the three sections of the rack means are facing outwardly in directions 120 degrees apart.

18. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 13, wherein the closed section of the enclosure comprises a clear transparent plastic sheet.

19. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least one of the two closed sections of the enclosure comprises a clear transparent plastic sheet.

20. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of the three closed sections of the enclosure comprises a clear transparent plastic sheet.

21. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus further comprises vertically aligned frame means attached on the turntable means to hold at least one graphic panel juxtaposed to the display rack means, wherein the graphic panel is aligned with the clear transparent plastic sheet when the display rack is locked in the first position and with the first opening when the display rack is locked in the second position.

22. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 19, wherein the apparatus further comprises vertically aligned frame means attached on the turntable means to hold at least two graphic panels juxtaposed to the display rack means, wherein the graphic panels are aligned with the clear transparent plastic sheets when the display rack is locked in the first position and with the first and second openings when the display rack is locked in the second position.

23. The lockable spinner display apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus further comprises vertically aligned frame means attached on the turntable means to hold at least three graphic panels juxtaposed to the display rack means, wherein the graphic panels are aligned with the clear transparent plastic sheets when the display rack is locked in the first position and with the first, second and third openings when the display rack is locked in the second position.

24. A lockable spinner display apparatus comprising:

(A) a base platform,

(B) a turntable means attached on an upper surface of the base platform, said means adapted to support a device on an upper surface and allow said device to rotate in a horizontal arc around a vertical central axis with minimal friction resistance,

(C) display rack support means on the upper surface of the turntable means, the display rack support means adapted to hold and display a multiplicity of display rack means adapted to hold and display articles with identifying indicia of each article, the rack support means comprising three sections of the rack support means, each section adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the particular section from a direction radially outwardly from the central axis, wherein the directions are spaced apart 120 degrees,

(D) a cylindrical enclosure attached to and resting on the base platform extending upwardly enclosing the turntable means and partially enclosing the rack support means with three openings with centers spaced apart 120 degrees, and

(E) locking means to alternatively firstly lock the turnable means to the base platform in a first position so that the directions of the sections of the rack support means are aligned with and fully exposed through the three openings in the enclosure, and secondly lock the turntable means to the base platform in a second position with the directions of the sections of the rack support means aligned to a closed section of the enclosure.

25. A lockable spinner display apparatus comprising:

(A) a base platform,

(B) a turntable means attached on an upper surface of the base platform, said means adapted to support a device on an upper surface and allow said device to rotate in a horizontal arc around a vertical central axis with minimal friction resistance,

(C) display rack support means on the upper surface of the turntable means, the display rack support means adapted to hold a multiplicity of display rack means adapted to hold and display a multiplicity of articles with identifying indicia of each article, the rack support means comprising a three sections of the rack means, each section adapted to provide access to any of the articles on the particular section from a direction radially outwardly from the central axis, wherein the directions are spaced apart 120 degrees,

(D) a cylindrical enclosure attached to and resting on the base platform extending upwardly enclosing the turntable means and partially enclosing the rack support means, the enclosure comprising three closed sections each comprising a clear transparent plastic sheet spaced apart circumferentially with three openings with centers spaced apart 120 degrees juxtaposed between the three closed sections,

(E) locking means to alternatively firstly lock the turntable means to the base platform in a first position so that the directions of the sections of the rack support means are aligned with and fully exposed through the three openings in the enclosure, and secondly lock the turntable means to the base platform in a second position with the directions of the sections of the rack support means are aligned to a closed section of the enclosure, and

(F) wherein the apparatus further comprises vertically aligned frame means attached on the turntable means to hold at least three graphic panels juxtaposed to the display rack support means, wherein the graphic panels are aligned behind the clear transparent plastic sheets of the three closed sections when the turntable means is locked in the first position and with the first, second and third openings when the turntable means is locked in the second position.