REMOVABLE DISPLAY RACK

Abstract

A removable display rack for items of merchandise includes a U-shaped mounting bracket having a pair of spaced sidewalls and a topwall and is secured to a support structure by tightening thumbscrews which extend through the sidewalls and against the support structure, clamping the display rack firmly to the support structure. Extending vertically from the topwall of the mounting bracket is a square tube with an open end. A round tube extends vertically from a bottom wall of the tray and is inserted into the open end of the square tube. The tube is secured by another thumbscrew extending through the square tube, and clamps the tray at a desired vertical position. Merchandise is placed on the tray and held by sidewalls extending vertically from the bottom wall of the tray. The display rack is easily adjusted by loosening the thumbscrews and repositioning the rack vertically and horizontally on the support structure.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/195,662 filed Oct. 9, 2008; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The invention relates generally to the display of merchandise. More particularly, the invention relates to a display rack for affixing to a base. Specifically, the invention relates to a merchandise display rack connected to a mounting bracket with thumbscrews for removably affixing to a base and which is adjustable both rotationally about a horizontal plane and vertically.

2. Background Information

Display racks are an excellent way of presenting merchandise in storefronts, offices, or sales floors. Bins or display windows tend to obscure the items of merchandise or prevent the potential customer from handling the item. Department stores, convenience stores, and other retail shops often have windows which are used to display goods. These windows typically display a limited selection of goods because the goods are usually arranged on a table, a staged floor or some other prop. Shelving can be constructed adjacent or in the window, but structural members of conventional shelving obstruct the customer's view of the goods on display. Display racks allow the customer to fully view and handle the item at the customer's convenience, but they are generally not easily moveable. If a merchant wishes to move the display, he must first remove the entire product then disassemble the display fixtures and elements, move the display parts, reassemble the display rack in the new location, and finally load the display rack with the product. This is very time consuming and labor intensive for simply moving a display rack and product.

Suction devices may be used to removably mount and secure display racks to surfaces such as glass, plastic, or Formica®. Problems often arise in use of suction devices in that they are difficult to properly position. Once a suction device is attached to a surface, the suction forces resist repositioning of the display rack. The attachment of the suction device to an object can also be a problem. The suction devise of the display rack may release when a large load is applied, causing the merchandise to fall to the ground.

Another limitation of present display rack is the inability to adjust the display both rotationally about a horizontal plane and vertically. Once a display is affixed to a wall or resting on flooring, it is difficult to adjust the display height or orientation within a horizontal plane. A shop owner might want to change the “open” checkout lane and orient the display to this new adjacent lane. Current display racks are limited in their ability to adjust once assembled.

Therefore, the need exists for a display rack which does not obstruct the customer's view of the merchandise, has a large load carrying capacity, and yet is sturdy when secured to a support structure. The display rack should be easily moveable to a new location without the need to remove the product. Additionally, the display tray should provide for adjustment both rotationally about a horizontal plane and vertically when secured to a support structure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention allows a user to display various objects and merchandise to customers and includes a presentation tray which is adjustable both rotationally about a horizontal plane and vertically, while being fully removable and relocatable to another position as the user desires. Typically a user selects a generally vertical support structure, such as an end-cap of a merchandise aisle fixture, or other store fixtures. The mounting bracket of the invention is placed on the vertical support structure. Thumbscrews, which extend through the mounting bracket, are tightened around the support structure, securely holding the mounting bracket to the structure.

The mounting bracket has a square tube extending vertically and generally in the same vertical plane as the support structure. The tray portion of the invention includes a circular tube extending orthogonally and is placed inside the square tube of the mounting bracket. When the circular tube is at a desired depth within the square tube, a thumbscrew extending through a wall of the square tube is tightened to clamp the tray to the mounting bracket. This causes circular tube to be held by the thumbscrew inside of square tube, holding the merchandise tray at the desired height. The round tube within a square tube allows the tray to be rotated within the horizontal plane to change the orientation of the merchandise on the tray. The tray includes sidewalls extending vertically from the horizontal bottom wall of the tray to hold the merchandise on the tray. This allows the rack to be moved while the merchandise is on the tray and eliminate the need to remove the merchandise for changing positions.

With the display rack removably secured to the support structure, customers are free to observe and take merchandise from off the tray. When the user wants to reposition the tray, the process for securing the mounting bracket to the support structure is reversed, the thumbscrews are loosened and the invention is moved easily to a new location.

Merchants do not have to secure the display rack to a flat edge of a support structure. The mounting bracket and thumbscrews facilitate mounting to various shapes and type of support structures. Furthermore, if the support structure is inaccessible on one side, the merchant can remove the thumbscrews on a side of the mounting bracket and slide this sidewall onto the inaccessible portion the support structure. The thumbscrews on the accessible side are then tightened to secure the display rack to the support structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the removable display rack of the present invention with merchandise being displayed thereon and the rack mounted on a support structure;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the display rack affixed to a support structure;

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the display rack as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the display rack mounted on a support structure with a single pair of thumbscrews.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The removable display rack of the present invention is generally indicated at 1, and is shown in FIGS. 1-6 removably secured to a support structure 5 and shown on FIG. 1 holding merchandise 3. Display rack 1 is comprised of a U-shaped mounting bracket 11 having a top wall 13 and two parallel and spaced apart sidewalls 15 extending therefrom. Each sidewall 15 contains a pair of threaded holes 10 (FIG. 5) sized to receive the threaded shaft 6 of a thumbscrew 7. Each thumbscrew 7 includes threaded shaft 6 intermediate a removable cap 9 and flat portion 8. As shown in FIG. 5, each thumbscrew 7 passes through a sidewall 15 by way of hole 10, and is threadably adjustably mounted therein. Cap 9 is removably affixed to the terminal end of threaded shaft 6, distal to flat portion 8.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, extending vertically from top wall 13 of bracket 11 is a square tube 17 formed with a hole 22 in a sidewall 16 thereof aligned with a threaded hole 26 of a nut 27 secured to sidewall 16 by a weld 28. A thumbscrew 21, having a threaded shaft 23 and a flat portion 25, extends though hole 22 and is threadably engaged in hole 26 of nut 27. As shown in FIG. 4, square tube 17 telescopically slidably receives a round tube 19 therein. Round tube 19 is sized to slidably engage and abut inside surfaces 24 of square tube 17 throughout the length of both members as round tube 19 extends into square tube 17. Thumbscrew 21 extends though threaded hole 22 with the terminal end of threaded shaft 23 abutting round tube 19 within square tube 17. Thumbscrew 21 clamps tube 19 at the desired height and rotational orientation within a horizontal plane within square tube 17, allowing for an adjustable height and horizontal orientation of tray 31 on support structure 5. As shown in FIG. 5, square tube 17 is secured to top wall 13 of mounting bracket 11 by welds 18.

Bottom wall 32 of tray 31 provides a flat, horizontal base for displaying merchandise 3. Tray 31 includes a first pair of sidewalls 33 and a second pair of sidewalls 35, each pair spaced apart and parallel, and extending vertically from bottom wall 32. Sidewalls 33 and 35 are generally perpendicular to each other and surround bottom wall 32 to form a raised perimeter assisting to retain merchandise 3 on tray 31.

In operation, support structure 5 will preferably include a top surface 39, a first side surface 41, and an opposed second side surface 43. A user secures display rack 1 onto support structure 5 by positioning top surface 39 of support structure 5 within sidewalls 15 of mounting bracket 11, preferably abutting top wall 13 of mounting bracket 11. The user then turns flat portions 8 on thumbscrews 7 to rotate threaded shafts 6 and move thumbscrews 7 though holes 10 to clamp caps 9 abutting tightly against first side surface 41 and a second side surface 43 of support structure 5, whereby mounting bracket 11 is held securely to support structure 5.

Once mounting bracket 11 is affixed to support structure 5, the user aligns round tube 19 with square tube 17 by inserting round tube 19 into the open end of square tube 17. Manually holding tray 31 at the desired vertical height and orientation within a horizontal plane, the user turns flat portion 25 of thumbscrew 21 which rotates threaded shaft 23 to clamp cap 9 against round tube 19 and frictionally hold tray 31 vertically at the user's desired height. Additionally, the circular cross-sectional shape of round tube 19 enables tube 19 to be rotated within square tube 17 so that the user can rotate tray 31 in the horizontal plane after display rack 1 has been affixed to support structure 5. This allows the user to make adjustments and reposition the merchandise by slightly loosening thumbscrew 21, and raising, lowering, or rotating tray 31, and retightening thumbscrew 21. Although shown as square, square tube 17 could be rectangular or rounded or any other shape which could allow for rotation of round tube 19 therein.

Removable display rack 1 also provides for securing mounting bracket 11 to a non-flat side or a thicker support structure 5. Thumbscrews 7 are moveable independently from one another and allow the user to tighten thumbscrews 7 to conform a non-planer surface. Furthermore, if a particular side 41 or 43 of support structure 5 is unreachable or not sufficiently exposed to allow a user to tighten thumbscrews 7 onto that side, as shown in FIG. 6, one pair of thumbscrews 7 may be removed from one of the sidewalls indicated at 15B. Likewise, if support structure 5 is thicker or wider, one pair of thumbscrews 7 may be removed. As shown more particularly in FIG. 6, sidewall 15B has thumbscrews 7 removed to allow sidewall 15B to directly abut side surface 43 of support structure 5. Thumbscrews 7 in sidewall 15A are tightened by a user to secure mounting bracket 11 to support structure 5. In this way, removable display rack 1 may be secured to an item which is immovable and close to a wall or other immoveable object which provides limited access to one side. Removable thumbscrews 7 add versatility to where display rack 1 may be positioned.

Once display rack 1 is secured to support structure 5 and tray 31 is secured vertically at the user's desired height and oriented horizontally, the user sets merchandise 3 onto tray 31. Potential customers may view merchandise 3 at leisure as rack 1 is preferably positioned to be readily noticed by passing customers. Merchandise 3 is prevented from falling off tray 31 by sidewalls 33 and 35. Sidewalls 33 and 35 form a raised perimeter which surrounds bottom wall 32 of tray 31 and retains and prevents merchandise 3 from falling off tray 31. Customers can view merchandise 3 without obstructions from rack materials.

When the user wants to vertically adjust tray 31, thumbscrew 21 is loosened by turning flat portion 25 and tray 31 is raised or lowered to the desired new position. When the user is satisfied, thumbscrew 21 is tightened by turning flat portion in an opposite direction and pressure from thumbscrew 21 holds round tube 19 vertically in position. Likewise, if the user wishes to adjust tray 31 rotationally in the horizontal plane, thumbscrew 21 is loosened slightly and tray 31 is rotated. When the user is satisfied, thumbscrew 21 is retightened.

When the user wishes to reposition display rack 1, the process of securing mounting bracket 11 to support structure 5 is reversed. Thumbscrews 7 are loosened by turning flat portions 8 in the opposite direction, which reverses threaded shafts 6 and rotates thumbscrews 7 in an outward direction through holes 10 in sidewall 15. As thumbscrews 7 release frictional hold on support structure 5, display rack 1 is removed and carried to another support structure 5 for repositioning. A major improvement over the prior art allows for the user to move display rack 1 while merchandise 3 is on tray 31. If tray 31 is kept in a generally horizontal position, sidewalls 33 and 35 hold merchandise 3 onto bottom wall 32 of tray 31 as the user carries removable display rack 1 to a new location. This important feature eliminates the requirement that the user first removes merchandise 3 before moving rack 1. Unloading, moving, and loading merchandise 3 is a time-intensive task which is eliminated by removable display rack 1.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Claims

1. A display rack comprising:

a mounting bracket having sidewalls, a top wall, and a first tube extending from the top wall;

at least one bracket fastener adapted to secure the mounting bracket to a support structure;

a tray having at least a bottom wall and a second tube extending from the bottom wall, wherein the second tube is sized to be telescopically slidably received and rotatable within said first tube; and

a tube fastener for adjustably securing the second tube within the first tube for vertically and rotationally adjusting the tray with respect to the support structure.

2. The display rack of claim 1, wherein the first tube has a rectangular cross-sectional configuration.

3. The display rack of claim 1, wherein the second tube has a circular cross-sectional configuration.

4. The display rack of claim 1, wherein the top wall of the mounting bracket is disposed in an orthogonal orientation to the first tube extending therefrom.

5. The display rack of claim 1, wherein the tray has a plurality of sidewalls extending from the bottom wall; and wherein the bottom wall is disposed in an orthogonal orientation to the second tube extending therefrom.

6. The display rack of claim 1, wherein each bracket fastener is sized to extend through an opening formed in the sidewalls of the mounting bracket.

7. The display rack of claim 1, wherein the tube fastener is sized to extend through an opening formed in the first tube.

8. The display rack of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket is U-shaped.

9. The display rack of claim 8, in combination with a support structure sized to be received within the U-shaped mounting bracket.

10. The display rack of claim 9, wherein the support structure includes a top surface and first and second opposed side surfaces.

11. The display rack of claim 10, whereby the mounting bracket abuts the top surface and the first side surface of the support structure, and the bracket fasteners abut the second side surface when the mounting bracket is secured to the support structure.

12. The display rack of claim 10, whereby the mounting bracket abuts the top surface of the support structure, and the bracket fasteners abut the first and second side surfaces when the mounting bracket is secured to the support structure.

13. A display rack comprising:

a U-shaped mounting bracket having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls and a top wall;

a plurality of thumbscrews sized to extend through openings formed in said sidewalls and adapted to secure the mounting bracket to a support structure;

a rectangular-shaped tube extending from the top wall of the mounting bracket; and

a tray having sidewalls, a bottom wall, and a round tube extending from the bottom wall and sized to be received within the rectangular-shaped tube.

14. The display rack of claim 13, further comprising another thumbscrew sized to extend through an opening formed in the rectangular-shaped tube and clampingly engage the round tube to selectively secure the round tube in a vertical and rotational position within said rectangular-shaped tube.

15. The display rack of claim 13, further comprising an inner surface disposed in the rectangular-shaped tube, wherein the round tube abuts the inner surface when the round tube is telescopically received within the rectangular-shaped tube to provide a rotational sliding fit therebetween.

16. A method of displaying merchandise comprising the steps of:

securing a U-shaped mounting bracket to a support structure whereby a portion of the support structure is disposed between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the mounting bracket;

inserting a round tube extending from a tray into a rectangular-shaped tube extending from the mounting bracket; and

securing the round tube within the rectangular-shaped tube by at least one tube fastener to a selectable rotational and vertical position with respect to the support structure.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of extending a plurality of bracket fasteners through openings formed in the first sidewall to secure the mounting bracket to the support structure.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of extending a plurality of additional bracket fasteners through openings formed in the second sidewall to secure the mounting bracket to the support structure.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of placing merchandise on the tray; and rotating the round tube while the merchandise is on the tray.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of rotating the round tube within the rectangular-shaped tube to adjust the tray vertically and rotationally with respect to the support structure.