Display system
A display system comprising a number of upright supports (10) spaced-apart horizontally, and a number of mounting bars (30) fitted to the upright supports at vertical intervals, the mounting bars (30) being formed with forwardly-directed channels to receive the rear edges of shelves or the rearwardly-directed brackets of other accessories for carrying items of merchandise.
1. Field of the Invention
This is a continuation of International Application PCT/GB2004/000110, with an International Filing Date of Jan. 13, 2004 and claims the benefit of priority of UK Application 0300727.5, filed Jan. 13, 2003. The present invention relates to a display system particularly but not solely for displaying merchandise in retail stores.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the present invention, there is provided a display system which comprises a number of elongate supports mounted or for mounting vertically at horizontally spaced intervals, and a number of mounting bars for fitting to the elongate supports in horizontal orientation and at vertically-spaced intervals, the mounting bars being formed with forwardly-directed channels to receive therein the rear edges of shelves or the rearwardly-directed brackets of other accessories for carrying items of merchandise.
Preferably the display system further comprises one or more cover strips arranged to fit between an adjacent pair of mounting bars to cover the space between them. Preferably each cover strip is arranged to engage, at or adjacent its upper and lower edges, the front edges or faces of the upper and lower mounting bars. Preferably one or more of the cover strips is arranged to permit wiring, concealed behind the cover strip, to emerge through the cover strip.
It will be appreciated that the invention provides an interchangeable display system for merchandise, in which the mounting bars can be fitted at selected heights and vertical spacings, or disassembled and refitted at different desired heights and spacings. The cover strips are preferably provided in various widths, selected to fit between mounting bars at different vertical spacings.
Typically the elongate or upright supports are formed of metal, preferably steel. Typically the mounting bars are formed of metal, preferably aluminium. Typically the cover strips are formed of metal, preferably aluminium, or of plastics material.
Preferably the elongate or upright supports are formed with a series of lugs, projecting from them and spaced apart along their lengths, on which the mounting bars are rested.
Preferably each mounting bar is formed with a depending flange or rib, along its bottom, rear edge, which engages into notches formed in the top edge of respective supporting lugs of the upright supports.
Preferably each mounting bar is formed with a depending flange or rib, along its rear and adjacent its top, which engages into notches formed in the upright supports above the respective supporting lugs.
Preferably the mounting bars are formed with a longitudinal channel, to receive the rear edge of a shelf (in the form of a flat board) inserted into it, or the rearwardly-directed bracket of one or more accessories for carrying items of merchandise. This channel may comprise a forwardly-directed channel to receive the rear edge of a shelf, and/or an upwardly-extending channel to receive an upwardly-projecting lug of the bracket of an accessory.
The upright supports may comprise U-shaped or channel section members, the spaced-apart sides of which are formed with respective series of lugs (the two series of lugs being aligned with each other) to support mounting bars.
In a modification, the upright supports may be arranged to support mounting bars on opposite sides, to provide a structure enabling shelves and/or other accessories to be mounted to both sides, projecting or facing outwardly in opposite directions.
In another modification, each mounting bar may be arranged to support shelves or other accessories on opposite sides and the upright supports are arranged to support the opposite ends of the mounting bars. Preferably each upright support is formed with a number of projecting lugs, to extend longitudinally under or into the ends of respective mounting bars.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSAn embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, a display system in accordance with the invention uses a number of upright supports 10 as shown in
As shown in
In building a display system, a number of the supports 10 shown in
The two flanges 22,23 are formed, at each of their ends, with respective projecting hook formations 22a, 23a, the one at the rear (22a) being arranged to engage into the slot 18 in the respective support 10, and the one at the front (23a) to engage over the notch 17 of the uppermost lug 11 of the same support 10.
A number of mounting bars 30, shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, are fitted horizontally across the series of upright supports 10 and are mounted on the tops of selected lugs 12 of these supports. Each mounting bar 30 comprises a generally rectangular-section extrusion having a vertical rear wall 31, a horizontal bottom wall 32 projecting forwardly from the rear wall 31 at a point spaced above the bottom edge of the latter, a top wall 33 extending both forwardly and rearwardly from the top edge of the rear wall 31, and a front wall 34 extending downwardly from the forward edge of the top wall 33, level with the front edge of the bottom wall 32 but terminating short of it. A partition wall 35 extends forwardly from the rear wall 31, intermediate its top and bottom edges and parallel to the bottom wall 32, and a further partition wall 35a extends upwardly from the front edge of the first partition wall 35 to meet the top wall 33. The rear edge of the top wall 35 is formed with a downwardly-directed flange 36, whilst a rib 37 runs along the top of the top wall 33 inset from its rear edge.
The top wall 33 is also formed with a longitudinal shoulder 38.
The front wall 34 is formed with a longitudinal groove 39 adjacent its top edge. The upper surface of the bottom wall 32 is formed with a longitudinal groove inset from its front edge and this groove receives an elastomeric insert 40 which stands proud of the surface of the bottom wall. The underside of the bottom wall 32 is formed with a longitudinal rib 41 which curves downwardly and forwardly to define a groove 42.
It will be noted that the bottom wall 32, rear wall 31 and horizontal partition wall 35 define a forwardly-directed channel C, whilst the front wall 34 and the partition wall 35a define an upwardly-extending channel D which extends upwardly from the channel C adjacent the open front or mouth of the latter.
As shown in
Each mounting bar 30 may be locked in position, in the structural framework, by means of a locking bar L shown in
Once each mounting bar 30 is fitted in position, it will be appreciated that its forwardly-directed channel C may receive the rear edge of a standard shelf inserted into it.
The elastomeric strip 40 is compressed by the underside of the shelf and so serves to grip the shelf and retain it in position. Instead, standard accessories for carrying items of merchandise may be fitted into the channel C: such accessories may comprise holders or hanging arms, and have rearwardly-directed brackets for engaging into the channel C; instead or in addition, such brackets may have upwardly-projecting lugs on their top sides, for engaging into the upwardly-directed channel D.
The spaces between adjacent mounting bars may be enclosed by aluminium or plastics cover strips 50 in the manner shown in
FIGS. 9 to 11 show an alternative double-sided display system, in which a double-sided mounting bar 230 is used together with upright supports 200. Each upright support 200 comprises a U-section channel member, having lugs 202 bent to project outwardly from its rear, at intervals along its length. The bottom wall 232 of the mounting bar 230 is formed with a pair of inturned ribs 233: each mounting bar 230 extends between the rear faces of two upright supports 200, with respective lugs 202 of the upright supports inserted under the ends of the mounting bar 230 and engaged by the inturned ribs 233. The upright support 200 is formed with a screw-hole 201, above each lug 202, for a screw to engage into a screw port 234 formed in the centre of the mounting bar 230. As shown in
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes of modifications may be made thereto without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A display system which comprises a number of elongate supports mounted or for mounting vertically at horizontally-spaced intervals, and a number of mounting bars for fitting to the elongate supports in horizontal orientation and at vertically-spaced intervals, the mounting bars being formed with forwardly-directed channels to receive therein the rear edges of shelves or the rearwardly-directed brackets of other accessories for carrying items of merchandise.
2. A display system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one cover strip arranged to fit between an adjacent pair of mounting bars to cover the space between them.
3. A display system as claimed in claim 2, in which said cover strip is arranged to engage, at or adjacent its upper and lower edges, the front edges or faces of the respective mounting bars.
4. A display system as claimed in claim 2, in which said cover strip is arranged to permit wiring, concealed behind the cover strip, to emerge through the cover strip.
5. A display system as claimed in claim 1, arranged for said mounting bars to be fitted to said elongate supports at selected vertical positions.
6. A display system as claimed in claim 1, in which each said elongate support is formed with a series of lugs projecting therefrom and spaced apart along its length, on which lugs said mounting bars are rested.
7. A display system as claimed in claim 6, in which each said mounting bar is formed with a depending flange or rib along its bottom, rear edge, arranged to engage into notches formed in the top edges of the lugs on which the mounting bar is rested.
8. A display system as claimed in claim 6, in which each said mounting bar is formed with a depending flange or rib, along its rear and adjacent its top, arranged to engage into notches formed in said elongate supports above the lugs on which the mounting bar is rested.
9. A display system as claimed in claim 1, in which each said mounting bar is formed with an upwardly-extending channel to receive an upwardly-projecting lug of an accessory bracket.
10. A display system as claimed in claim 1, in which each said elongate support comprises a member which is U-shaped in section, the spaced-apart sides of which are formed with respective series of lugs to support said mounting bars.
11. A display system as claimed in claim 1, in which said elongate supports are arranged to support mounting bars on opposite sides, to provide a structure enabling shelves and/or other said accessories to be mounted to both sides, projecting or facing outwardly in opposite directions from the elongate supports.
12. A display system as claimed in claim 1, in which said upright supports are arranged to support said mounting bars at the opposite ends only of said mounting bars and each mounting bar is arranged to support shelves or other said accessories on opposite sides thereof.
13. A display system as claimed in claim 12, in which each upright support is formed with a number of projecting lugs arranged to extend longitudinally under or into the ends of respective mounting bars.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 13, 2005
Publication Date: Nov 10, 2005
Inventor: Robert Walker (Aylesbury)
Application Number: 11/181,155