Locking display tray

Abstract

Shelf or tray units adapted to be mounted on vertical walls for displaying merchandise are provided with a mounting support which has oppositely disposed mounting slots for receiving the stems of suction cups. The oppositely disposed slots prevent accidental or otherwise undesired dislocation of the tray from the supporting wall. The tray unit is also provided with spacing braces disposed between the tray and the wall on which the tray is mounted to prevent the load carried by the tray from exerting rotational forces on the suction cup stems which would cause the suction cups to separate from the supporting wall.

Description

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for holding and displaying merchandise or the like. More particularly, it relates to display shelves or trays adapted for mounting on one face of a substantially vertical wall to support and display products on the wall within view and easy access for the potential user.

Retail businesses commonly display merchandise, such as chilled or frozen products, for sale in refrigerated vaults or the like in trays mounted on a transparent door or wall panel of the vault. Packaged, bottled and/or individual product units are also frequently supported in display containers supported on doors, walls, etc., elsewhere in retail outlets. Trays or shelves supported on such doors, wall panels and the like, either inside or outside a refrigerated vault, are often used to support and display the merchandise at convenient and/or noticeable locations because a passing customer is more likely to select and purchase merchandise displayed where it can be readily seen, recognized and obtained. Accordingly, the retailer desires to maximize visibility of products on display by suspending the display trays at convenient but variable locations on such walls, doors or panels.

Various devices are used to support and display products on vertical surfaces such as walls, doors and the like. Typical of such arrangements are display shelves such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,433 wherein advertising graphics are displayed on a face of the support panel of the shelf to be visible through the transparent wall to which the support panel is attached.

Typically, trays or shelves for supporting and displaying merchandise products on a flat wall, door or other panel include a support panel with notches, slots or holes therein which mate with the shank or stem of a suction cup attached to the wall, door or other panel. To support heavier loads and to provide support stability, a plurality of suction cups is usually employed. The support panel portion of the tray to which the suction cups are secured usually extends parallel with (or forms part of) the back wall of the tray so that the load of the tray and its contents presents a force substantially parallel with the back wall of the tray and normal to the axes of the suction cup stems. However, since the cup portion of the suction cup must be interposed between the support panel and the supporting wall, downward load pressure exerted on the floor of the tray by merchandise supported in the tray tends to bend the stem downwardly. The stem thus acts as a lever exerting a bending torque on the suction cup which tends to pull the upper portion of the suction cup body away from the supporting wall, releasing the attachment between the suction cup and the supporting wall. Furthermore, when a plurality of suction cups are secured to the tray at different elevations on the tray, the load exerted on the lower mountings is different from the load exerted on the higher mountings. This asymmetrical load further tends to release the attachment of the upper cups.

When suction cups are used to mount display trays on supporting walls, the location of the tray on the wall is not necessarily pre-determined or permanently fixed. The suction cups may be removed and re-positioned as desired. Thus the location of the display tray on the supporting wall may be re-positioned as desired, relocating the tray and its products without marking or otherwise damaging the supporting wall. This is usually accomplished by positioning the suction cups on the supporting wall in the desired location and supporting the tray on the stems of the suction cups by simply positioning the suction cup stems in slots at pre-determined locations on the support panel of the tray. Unfortunately, trays mounted in this manner may be accidentally (or maliciously) dislocated from the mounting suction cup stems, sometimes with disastrous results, by simply lifting the tray from the stems of the supporting suction cups.

For wall-mounted display trays to be effective, they should be mounted so as to remain securely attached to the support wall regardless of the load supported. They should also be inexpensive and sufficiently versatile to permit display of various products without modification. Such trays should also be sturdy, reliable and permit easy removal and relocation while resisting accidental (or otherwise undesired) removal, by simply lifting the tray from the stems of the supporting suction cups.

In accordance with the present invention, display shelves or trays adapted to be mounted on a substantially vertical wall or panel (such as a glass window, wall, door or the like) are provided with a support panel adapted to support the tray substantially adjacent the supporting wall with the relationship of the floor of the tray and the supporting wall fixed so that the load carried by the floor is always exerted in a direction parallel with the face of the supporting wall and so that the load exerted on the supporting suction cups is uniformly distributed on all the supporting cups regardless of the load. The tray is supported by a support panel in which all the load-bearing suction cups are arranged so that the load is uniformly distributed and some of the slots which receive the stems of the suction cups extend in opposite directions to prevent accidental or otherwise undesired removal of the tray from the supporting wall. Other features and advantages of the invention will become more readily understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the appended claims and attached drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a back or rear top perspective view of a display tray incorporating the locking support arrangement of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a back side elevational view of the display tray shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the display tray of FIG. 1 taken through line 3-3 illustrating the display tray mounted on a transparent wall.

The above-described drawing is incorporated into and forms part of the specification to illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Throughout the drawing, like reference numerals designate corresponding elements. The figures are not to scale but are intended to disclose the inventive concepts by illustration. The drawing is not to be construed as limiting the invention to the illustrated and described examples.

It will be recognized that the principles of the invention may be utilized and embodied in many and various forms. In order to demonstrate these principles, the invention is described herein by reference to specific preferred embodiments. The invention, however, is not limited to the forms illustrated and described. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to use in connection with glass panels or doors on refrigerated vaults but my find utility in other similar applications involving support and display of products and advertising media on substantially vertical flat panels.

For purposes of this disclosure, the terms “shelf” and “tray” are used interchangeably to mean any structure having a floor on which a product, a package containing a product or advertising media may be placed or suspended from for display.

For perspective and consistency in describing the display tray illustrated, the portion of the tray unit which is closest the vertical supporting wall is described as the back side or rear and the portion most remote from the supporting wall is described as the front. Similarly, spatial orientation and relative terms such as “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “rearwardly,” “horizontally,” “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower” and the like are used in reference to the position of the tray when the tray is mounted on a supporting wall for use.

The embodiment illustrated comprises a display shelf or tray 10 having a back wall 11, a front wall 12, end walls 13 and a floor 14. The display tray 10 is supported by a mounting panel or support 15 which comprises a flange 16 with its top edge 17 attached to and depending from the upper edge of back wall 11. The flange 16 has a first face 19 which lies in a plane substantially parallel with the back wall 11 (normal to the plane of the floor 14) and has a plurality of elongated mounting slots 20, 21. The mounting slots 20, 21 extend substantially vertically and are oriented substantially parallel with each other. Each slot 20, 21 has an entry end and an oppositely disposed closed end. Bottom opening mounting slots 20 are all arranged so that their open ends are coincident with the lower edge 18 of flange 16. Top opening mounting slot 21 is arranged so that its entry end is at the top edge 17 of flange 16 and therefore above its closed end as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 tray 10 is mounted on and secured to a support wall 30 such as a glass door or other substantially flat surface using suction cups 22. Suction cups 22 may be conventional suction cups or the like having a cup body 27 which supports a horizontally extending stem 24 terminating in an expanded base 23. To mount the tray 10 on support wall 30, the stems 24 of suction cups 22 are inserted into slots 20, 21 with their expanded bases 23 between back wall 11 and the flange 16. Each stem 24 is inserted into the bottom opening slots 20 at the entry end of the slot and moved upwardly until the closed end of each slot 20 rests on a stem 24. It should be noted that at least one slot 21 is oriented so that its entry end is above its closed end. Thus a suction cup 22 is mounted in top opening slot 21 by inserting its stem 24 in the entry end thereof and moving it downwardly toward the closed end of top opening slot 21.

With the suction cups 22 mounted in slots 20, 21, the tray 10 is mounted on support wall 30 by aligning the tray 10 in the desired position on support wall 30 and pressing flange 16 toward support wall 30. When pressure is applied to flange 16, the cup body 27 of each suction cup 22 is compressed and secured to the support wall 30. The load carried by the tray 10 is thus supported on the stems 24 of the suction cups 22 mounted in the bottom opening mounting slots 20. However, the tray 10 cannot be removed from the suction cups 22 by moving the tray upwardly because the stem 24 of the suction cup 22 mounted in the top opening slot 21 abuts the closed end of top opening slot 21 and prevents upward movement of the tray 10 relative to the suction cups. Accordingly, the tray cannot be accidentally (or intentionally) removed from the suction cups so long as the suction cups remain secured to support wall 30. The tray 10 can only be removed from the support wall 30 by first disengaging the suction cups 22 from the support wall 30.

In the embodiment illustrated, slots 20, 21 are oriented to extend vertically. In this orientation the weight of the tray 10 and its contents is supported by the upper closed ends of bottom opening slots 20. The suction cup positioned in top opening slot 21 does not support the tray 10. Instead, it prevents removal of the tray 10 from its supporting suction cups by upward movement of the tray to simultaneously withdraw suction cup stems 24 from the bottom opening slots 24. It will be recognized, however, that the slots 21, 21 need not necessarily be oriented vertically or parallel. Any other orientation of the slots 20, 21 which provide a load bearing slot edge for supporting the tray 10 and at least one (1) slot arranged to prevent simultaneously removal of the flange 16 from the suction cups by moving the tray 10 in a single direction will, of course, provide the advantages of the invention and should be considered within the scope of the invention disclosed and claimed.

Similarly, the slots 20, 21 need not terminate in an open end which coincides with an edge of the flange 16. It is only necessary that the slots 20, 21 permit insertion of stems 24 into mounting slots in positions in which the expanded base 23 prevents withdrawal of stem by movement of the flange 16 axially with respect to the stems 24 and also prevent removal of the tray 10 from all suction cup stems simultaneously by movement of the tray 10 in a single direction. For example, a slot which has a width approximating the width of the stems 24 which, at some point along its length, has an enlarged opening which permits the insertion of the expanded base 23 therethrough will satisfy the requirements of an open ended slot as described herein. Accordingly, a keyhole-type slot or the like may be considered an elongated slot with a closed end and an open end within the scope of the invention disclosed and claimed.

In the embodiment illustrated, the closed ends of the bottom opening slots 20 (the load bearing slot edges) are all aligned along a single horizontal plane which is above the floor 14 of the tray 10. Accordingly, the load exerted on the stems 24 of the suction cups will be exerted uniformly on all the stems 24 extending horizontally in a single plane.

With flange 16 secured to, spaced from and depending from the upper portion of back wall 11, and with the suction cup body 27 of each suction cup 22 positioned between flange 16 and the support wall 30, the back wall 11 is spaced from the support wall 30 a distance equal to the space between the back wall 11 and the flange 16 plus the thickness of flange 16 plus the thickness of the cup body 27 in the compressed condition. Accordingly, when the tray 10 carries heavy product, the load exerted on floor 14 tends to push floor 14 downwardly and, since the back wall 11 is spaced from the support wall 30 and the stems 24 all extend in a single plane, the bottom of the tray 10 will be twisted toward the support wall. Movement of the tray 10 downwardly and inwardly toward the support wall 30 exerts an asymmetrical twisting load on the stems 24 of the suction cups 22. Such asymmetrical loads tend to twist the suction cup bodies 27 and disengage the suction cups from the support wall 30.

To prevent application of downwardly twisting asymmetrical loads on the suction cups 22, tray 10 is provided with spacing braces 25. Spacing braces 25 extend from the lower portion of back wall 11 to the support wall 30 below the horizontal plane of supporting suction cup stems 24. The outer edge 26 of each spacing brace 25 is preferably spaced from back wall 11 a distance which equals the space between back wall 11 and flange 16 plus the thickness of flange 16 plus the thickness of the suction cup body 27 in the compressed condition. When the tray 10 is properly mounted on support wall 30, the outer edge 26 of each spacing brace 25 is aligned with and positioned adjacent support wall 30 below the suction cups 22. The spacing braces 25 thus prevent rotation or twisting movement of the tray 10 when the tray 10 is loaded and maintain the position of floor 14 fixed with respect to support wall 30 at all times.

In the embodiment illustrated two (2) spacing braces 25 are shown. Each spacing brace 25 is in the form of a thin body which extends from the top of back wall 11 to the bottom edge of back wall 11. It will be appreciated, however, that spacing braces 25 may take various other forms. For example, spacing braces 25 may be in the form of an extension of or attachment extending from floor 14 toward support wall 30; may be an extension of or attachment extending from side walls 13 toward support wall 30; or may be protrusions of any other shape or size extending from back wall 11 toward support wall 30.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 mounting support 15 comprises a flange 16 attached to and depending from the top edge of back wall 30. When flange 16 is formed of relatively thin or lightweight plastic or the like, the flange 16 may not be sufficiently rigid to uniformly and fully compress a plurality of suction cups 22 mounted therein. In order to reinforce the flange 16 and assure uniform compression of the suction cups, and to rigidly connect flange 16 to the body of tray 10, a plurality of rigidity braces 28 are positioned in the space between back wall 11 and flange 16. The rigidity braces 28 may, of course, take any of various forms and need only provide a fixed spatial relationship between flange 16 and back wall 11 so that horizontal pressure applied to back wall 11 will be uniformly transmitted to flange 16 to fully and completely compress suction sup bodies 27.

The tray structure of the invention may readily be fabricated from any of various suitable materials. In the preferred embodiment the structures are formed of molded plastics, acrylics or the like to form unitary transparent, translucent or tinted bodies. Obviously, various other materials and manufacturing technologies may be used as desired. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the tray need not be in the form of a rectangular basket as illustrated. Similarly, the tray need not necessarily include walls 11, 12 and 13 in the form or relationships shown. It is only necessary that the tray of the invention include a floor which is supportable on a substantially vertical wall by a flange which, when attached to the supporting wall with suction cups, maintains the position of the floor fixed with respect to the supporting wall and cannot be removed from the supporting suction cups while all the suction cups are affixed to the supporting wall.

From the foregoing it will be recognized that the principles of the invention may be employed in various arrangements to obtain the benefit of the many advantages and features disclosed. It is to be understood, therefore, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the invention have been set forth together with details of the structure and function of the invention, this disclosure is to be considered illustrative only. Various changes and modifications may be made in detail, especially in matters of size, shape and arrangements and combination of parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A tray for supporting and displaying products adjacent one face of a substantially vertical wall comprising:

(a) a floor having a top face lying in a substantially horizontal plane;

(b) a back wall lying in a substantially vertical plane having a top edge extending upwardly from the top face of said floor;

(c) a front wall extending upwardly from the top face of said floor with a substantial portion thereof spaced horizontally from and substantially parallel with said back wall;

(d) a mounting support having a first face lying in a plane substantially parallel with and horizontally spaced from said back wall; and

(e) a plurality of elongated mounting slots in said mounting support, each slot having an entry end and a closed end, with at least one slot extending from its entry end to its closed end in a first direction and at least one slot extending from its entry end to its closed end in a second direction.

2. A tray as defined in claim 1 wherein a plurality of said elongated mounting slots are arranged to extend substantially vertically with their entry ends below their closed ends.

3. A tray as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting support is attached to and depends from the top of said back wall in a plane substantially parallel with and spaced from said back wall.

4. A tray as defined in claim 3 including a brace secured in the space between said mounting support and said back wall which maintains a fixed spatial relationship between said mounting support and said back wall.

5. A tray as defined in claim 3 wherein:

(i) said mounting support defines a lower edge and a top edge;

(ii) the entry end of at least one of said slots extends to said lower edge; and

(iii) the entry end of at least one of said slots extends to said top edge.

6. A tray as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

(f) a spacing brace extending from the plane of said back wall toward and past the plane of said mounting support.

7. A tray as defined in claim 6 wherein said spacing brace extends from said floor.

8. A tray as defined in claim 6 wherein said spacing brace extends from said back wall.

9. A tray as defined in claim 6 further comprising side walls intermediate said front wall and said back wall wherein said spacing brace extends from at least one of said side walls.

10. A tray for supporting and displaying products adjacent one face of a substantially vertical wall comprising:

(a) a floor having a top face lying in a substantially horizontal plane;

(b) a back wall extending upwardly from the top face of said floor in a second plane;

(c) a front wall extending upwardly from the top face of said floor with a substantial portion thereof spaced horizontally from and substantially parallel with said back wall;

(d) a mounting support supporting said floor and having a first face lying in a plane substantially parallel with and horizontally spaced from said back wall; and

(e) a spacing brace extending from the plane of said back wall toward and past the plane of said first face of said mounting support.

11. A tray as defined in claim 10 wherein said spacing brace extends from said floor.

12. A tray as defined in claim 10 wherein said spacing brace extends from said back wall.

13. A tray for supporting and displaying products adjacent one face of a substantially vertical panel comprising:

(a) a floor having a top face lying in a substantially horizontal plane;

(b) a wall lying in a substantially vertical plane having a top edge extending upwardly from the top face of said floor;

(c) a mounting support having a first face lying in a plane substantially parallel with and horizontally spaced from said wall; and

(d) a plurality of elongated mounting slots in said mounting support, each slot having an entry end and a closed end, with at least one slot extending from its entry end to its closed end in a first direction and at least one slot extending from its entry end to its closed end in a second direction.

14. A tray as defined in claim 13 wherein a plurality of said elongated mounting slots are arranged to extend substantially vertically with their entry ends below their closed ends.

15. A tray as defined in claim 13 further comprising:

(e) a spacing brace attached to and extending from said floor in the direction of and extending past the plane of said mounting support to maintain the position of said floor spatially fixed with respect to said mounting support.

16. A tray for supporting and displaying products adjacent one face of a substantially vertical panel comprising:

(a) a floor having a top face lying in a substantially horizontal plane;

(b) a mounting support connected to and supporting said floor having a first face lying in a plane substantially normal to said floor;

(c) a plurality of elongated mounting slots in said mounting support, each mounting slot having an entry end and a closed end with the closed ends of said mounting slots aligned in a plane above the top face of said floor; and

(d) a spacing brace attached to and extending from said floor in the direction of and extending past the plane of said mounting support to maintain the position of said floor spatially fixed with respect to said mounting support.

17. In combination:

(a) a support wall with a substantially flat face lying in a substantially vertical plane;

(b) a tray with a floor lying in a substantially horizontal plane;

(c) a mounting support, attached to and supporting said floor, with a first face aligned substantially parallel with and spaced from said face of said support wall;

(d) a plurality of elongated mounting slots in said mounting support, each slot having an entry end and a closed end, with at least one slot extending from its entry end to its closed end in a first direction and at least one slot extending from its entry end to its closed end in a second direction;

(e) a plurality of suction cups, each having a suction cup body and a stem extending from said suction cup body which terminates in an expanded base having a diameter greater than the diameter of the stem, with the stem of one suction cup mounted in the closed end of each of said slots; and

(f) a spacing brace attached to said tray and extending between said tray and said support wall to maintain the position of said floor spatially fixed with respect to said support wall.