Cassette display unit

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to displays and, more particularly, to a display in which discrete objects can be exhibited, and from which the objects can be controllably removed.

2. Background Art

The sale of audio and video tapes and disks has branched out from dedicated movie, music and computer stores to virtually every conceivable point of purchase sales environment. Movies and music in both tape and disk form are now commonly sold in gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores, and the like. It is also common to see these tapes and disks sold in fast food environments during periodic promotions which are coordinated with the release of high profile movies or plays.

To best exploit this market, it is desirable to place the tapes and disks on display for purchase or rental in a highly visible and heavily trafficked area of a store. Ideally, the tapes and disks should be displayed so that the containers therefor are readily viewable by a prospective purchaser or renter. At the same time, the actual tape or disk that is to be purchased or rented should be readily accessible to be picked up by the customer.

Accessibility to the tape or disk is particularly a problem where space is at a premium. In dedicated movie rental facilities, video containers may be lined edge-to-edge over a large expanse of a vertical wall. It is not uncommon for as much as an 8′×8′ area of a wall to be occupied by copies of a single, popular title.

While dedicated movie rental and sales facilities may have the luxury of space, in other types of business, only a small area may be available for display of such items. A purveyor of such items may be left with the options of either purchasing and displaying only a limited number of a particular title or storing a separate supply thereof at a location remote from the display. The former option is undesirable in that potentially a large number of sales or rentals may be lost. This problem is aggravated by the fact that a particular operation may get a reputation for having very limited product availability, which may result in a loss of customers that might frequent the facility for tape or disk movie or rental.

The other option is undesirable in that it is an inconvenience to both the customer and the store operator. In the event that a supply of a particular title is exhausted at the display, the customer may have to have a sales representative intervene and seek out a tape or movie at the remote location. This may significantly compromise the overall efficiency of the store.

If the above two options are not practical, the store operator may revert to the mass display, as discussed above. As an alternative to an edge-to-edge display as is common in dedicated movie rental facilities, the individual packages may be stacked one against the other. However, to the knowledge of the inventors herein, no such display arrangement is in existence which allows the tapes and/or disks to be stored in bulk at the point of purchase in such a manner that the identity of the tape or disk can be prominently advertised and so that the tape and/or disk are conveniently situated to be removed one-by-one for purchase or rental.

Another problem with this bulk display is that undetected removal of the tape or disk may occur. This is particularly a problem with smaller size objects such as digital video disks which, while small, are expensive. A thief could grasp a handful of the bulk display disks and place them in a coat pocket and depart the premises without detection.

Attempted theft of the above tapes and disks encountered in dedicated tape and disk rental operations may be detected by using electronic sensors at the entrance and exit doors of the facilities. However, in operations where sales of tapes and disks is merely an adjunct to the main business, investment in such detection equipment may not be warranted. Since the tapes and disks may be relatively high priced and relatively low profit margin items, the potential purveyor of such items may opt against offering this type of product because of the potential loss that is attributable to theft. The store operator that makes this decision may not only lose the revenue associated with the tapes and movies, but the additional revenue from the main business sales which occur as an incident of people coming in to peruse available disks and tapes.

The theft problem is aggravated by the fact that many facilities, such as grocery stores, may make available tapes and disks only for certain hours, before and/or after which the main business remains open. The tape and disk area may be unattended by any employee while the other business in the facility is ongoing. This increases the likelihood of theft. Employee theft may also be problem. Employees working in the facility after hours may be tempted to take readily accessible tapes and/or disks.

A further problem with displaying and dispensing tapes and disks from facilities not dedicated to these products is that sometimes expensive and elaborate displays might be required for the tapes and disks. Generally, to produce such a display with any significant capacity, a permanent-type display unit might be required. Aside from the expense involved in constructing such a permanent-type display, flexibility in rearranging display areas may be lost.

The above are just some of the many things that are often considered in displaying tapes and disks for sale or rental. Even though tapes and disks offer a tremendous lure to customers and to virtually any facility, business owners may opt against these displays due to the potential expense, theft problems, etc. As a result, a substantial business opportunity may be lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention contemplates a display system having a frame, a storage space on the frame for an object to be displayed, a closure element on the frame that is repositionable between a closed position and an open position, a loading opening through at least one of the frame and closure element in communication with the storage space, and a removal opening through at least one of the frame and closure element that is spaced from the loading opening and in communication with the storage space. The closure element blocks access to the storage space from a loading location with the closure element in the closed position and permits access to the storage space from the loading location with the closure element in the open position. An object to be display can be directed into the storage space selectively a) from the loading location with the closure element in the open position and b) through the loading opening with the closure element in the closed position into a storage position within the storage space and removed from the storage position through the removal opening.

The display system may further include at least one object that is at least one of a) an audio tape, b) a video tape, c) an audio disk, d) a video disk, and e) a disk with data stored thereon that is in the storage position in the storage space. A plurality of the objects may be in vertically stacked relationship in the storage position in the storage space.

In one form, the loading opening is above the removal opening so that objects directed into the storage space through the loading opening are urged under their own weight downwardly towards the removal opening.

A door may be provided and is repositionable between a blocking position and an access position. The door in the blocking position prevents removal of an object from the storage space through the removal opening.

A locking system may be provided on the frame for selectively maintaining the door in the blocking position. In one form, the locking system includes a bar that is pivotable about a substantially vertically extending axis relative to the frame between locked and unlocked positions. The bar in the locked position abuts to the door to prevent the door from moving from the blocking position into the access position.

In one form, the closure element defines a receptacle for an object to be displayed, with there being a window on the closure element to allow viewing of an object in the receptacle on the closure element with the closure element in the closed position.

In one form, a second loading opening communicates with the receptacle on the closure element and a door is provided on the closure element that is repositionable between a) a blocking position wherein the door prevents the direction of an object to be displayed through the second loading opening into the receptacle on the closure element and b) an access position wherein the object to be displayed can be directed through the second loading opening into the receptacle on the closure element.

The display system may further include a divider that is positionable selectively in a plurality of different positions within the storage space to thereby define different compartment configurations within the storage space.

A cam surface may be provided within the storage space for guiding an object directed into the storage space through the loading opening in a direction transverse to vertical as an object moves under its own weight towards the removal opening.

The display system may further include a cassette within the storage space and defining a receptacle for an object to be displayed, with there being an exit opening on the cassette in communication with the receptacle. The removal opening has a first area, with the exit opening having a second area, with the first and second areas being different. The second area may be smaller than the first area.

A plurality of objects may be provided within the cassette receptacle.

At least one rolling element may be provided on the frame for facilitating movement of the frame against, and relative to, a subjacent surface supporting the display system.

In one form, there are a plurality of storage sub-spaces in the storage space on the frame and a plurality of closure elements on the frame that are each associated with a storage sub-space and repositionable selectively between a) a closed position wherein each closure element blocks access to its associated storage sub-space from an associated loading location and b) an open position wherein access to the storage sub-space associated with each closure element is permitted from the associated loading location.

In one form, a first closure element in the plurality of closure elements is spaced vertically from a second closure element in the plurality of closure elements.

In one form, the frame has first and second transverse walls and a first closure element in the plurality of closure elements is provided on the first wall and a second closure element in the plurality of closure elements is provided on the second wall.

A storage compartment may be provided on the frame and separated from the storage space for storing a supply of objects to be placed in the storage space.

A lockable door may be provided to selectively prevent access to the storage compartment.

The invention is also directed to a display system having a frame, a storage space on the frame, at least one object that is at least one of a) an audio tape, b) a video tape, c) an audio disk, d) a video disk, and e) a disk with data stored thereon in a storage position in the storage space, a loading opening in communication with the storage space through which the at least one object can be directed into the storage space, and a removal opening in communication with the storage space and through which the at least one object can be removed from the storage space.

The display system may include a second loading opening and a closure element on the frame that is repositionable selectively between an open position and a closed position. The closure element in the closed position substantially blocks the second loading opening to prevent direction of the at least one object through the second loading opening into the storage space. The closure element in the open position permits the at least one object to be directed through the second loading opening into the storage space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a display system, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2

is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the inventive display system showing one object being directed into, and one object being removed from, a storage space on a frame on the inventive display system;

FIG. 3

is a view similar to that in

FIG. 2

with a closure element in front of the storage space being resituated to facilitate bulk loading of objects into the storage space;

FIG. 4

is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation view of the display system in FIGS.

1

-

3

with an object being directed into the storage space;

FIG. 5

is a view as in

FIG. 4

with an object being removed from the storage space;

FIG. 6

is a view as in

FIGS. 4 and 5

with the closure element being repositioned as in FIG.

3

and an object being directed into a receptacle in the closure element for display therewithin;

FIG. 7

is an enlarged, perspective view of an insert which is used to maintain an object in a predetermined position within the receptacle in the closure element;

FIG. 8

is an enlarged, perspective view of the object and the insert in

FIG. 7

being directed into the receptacle in the closure element;

FIG. 9

is an enlarged, plan view of a divider that can be placed in the storage space to selectively divide the storage space into compartments;

FIG. 10

is an enlarged, side elevation view of the divider in

FIG. 9

;

FIG. 11

is an enlarged, front elevation view of the divider in

FIGS. 9 and 10

;

FIG. 12

is an enlarged, perspective view of the divider in FIGS.

9

-

11

;

FIG. 13

is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the storage space with the closure element in an open position and one of the dividers being positioned within the storage space;

FIG. 14

is a fragmentary, perspective view of a locking system for the closure element and with the locking system in a locked state;

FIG. 15

is a view as in

FIG. 14

with the locking system in a partially locked state in which a door on the closure element can be repositioned with the closure element itself being maintained in a closed position;

FIG. 16

is a view as in

FIGS. 14 and 15

with the locking system in an unlocked state;

FIG. 17

is an enlarged, perspective view of a cassette which can be placed in the storage space to hold a plurality of discrete objects;

FIG. 18

is a view as in

FIG. 17

with a plurality of discrete objects in a receptacle in the cassette;

FIG. 19

is an enlarged, side elevation view of the closure element in the closed position therefor;

FIG. 20

is a view as in

FIG. 19

with the closure element being moved towards the open position therefor;

FIG. 21

is a view as in

FIGS. 19 and 20

with the closure element in the open position therefor; and

FIG. 22

is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view of the cassette in

FIGS. 17 and 18

in relationship to a guide assembly for directly introducing objects into the cassette.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A display system, according to the present invention, is shown in the drawings at

10

. The display system

10

consists of a frame

12

which defines a storage space

14

for objects

16

to be displayed. In the embodiment shown, the frame

12

has four walls, with two transverse walls

18

,

20

shown. Through an arrangement of internal partitions, the storage space

14

is divided into four, vertically spaced sub-spaces

22

on each wall

18

,

20

. The precise number of sub-spaces

22

is, a matter of design choice. The remaining walls have a like arrangement of storage sub-spaces

22

. Alternatively, the frame

12

can be constructed for corner placement such that the other walls do not have any storage spaces

22

defined therewithin. In another form, storage sub-spaces

22

may be provided on only the front wall

18

.

The display system

10

is designed to accommodate a wide range of objects

16

and is particularly suitable for the storage and display of objects

16

such as conventional audio tapes, video tapes, audio disks, video disks, disks with data stored thereon, etc. The display system

10

, as described in greater detail below, is designed so that the objects

16

can be conveniently loaded into the storage sub-spaces

22

, prominently displayed so that a prospective customer can identify, from externally of the storage sub-spaces

22

, the objects

16

within the storage sub-spaces

22

, and removed from the storage sub-spaces

22

one-by-one for purchase or rental. At the same time, a locking system at

24

is incorporated and is selectively operable to prevent unauthorized removal of the objects

16

from the storage sub-space

22

with the locking system

24

in a locked state.

As seen particularly in FIGS.

3

-

6

and

13

, each storage sub-space

22

has an associated loading opening

26

which allows bulk loading of objects

16

from a loading location, in front of the opening

26

, through the opening

26

, and into a storage position in the storage sub-space

22

. A closure element

28

is associated with each storage sub-space

22

and is movable selectively between a closed position, as shown in each of

FIGS. 1

,

2

,

4

,

5

,

14

and

15

, and an open position, as shown for the lower closure element

28

in FIG.

3

and in

FIGS. 6

,

13

and

16

.

Pins

30

(see FIGS.

19

-

21

) project from the frame

12

into elongate slots

32

adjacent the bottom of each closure element

28

to guide pivoting movement of each closure element

28

around a horizontally extending axis

34

between the open and closed positions.

In the open position for each closure element

28

, the closure element

28

cooperates with the frame

12

in such a manner that a planar surface

38

on the closure element

28

is oriented substantially horizontally (See

FIGS. 6

,

13

and

16

), whereby it is itself strategically situated to have objects

16

directed therewithin for display, as hereafter described, and so as to be conveniently grasped for resituation to the closed position. With the closure element

28

so situated, objects

16

can be conveniently directed through the loading opening

26

into a stacked relationship within the associated storage sub-space

22

.

In this embodiment, each storage sub-space

22

is divided into four compartments

40

,

42

,

44

,

46

, as shown in FIG.

13

. This is accomplished by using a series of removable dividers

48

, as shown in FIGS.

4

-

6

and

9

-

13

. Each divider

48

has a flat main body

50

with a transverse rear wall

52

which defines an angled ramp surface

54

. As seen in FIGS.

4

-

6

and

13

, the storage sub-space

22

is bounded by a bottom wall

56

with upwardly projecting, and parallel, rails

58

which facilitate guided introduction of the dividers

48

in the direction of the arrow

60

within the storage sub-space

22

. Between adjacent rails

58

, receptacles are defined for the dividers

48

. By placing the dividers

48

between different adjacent rails

58

, the configuration of the compartments

40

,

42

,

44

,

46

can be varied. In this particular construction, four compartments

40

,

42

,

44

,

46

are formed with substantially equal width. However, the number and width of the compartments

40

,

42

,

44

,

46

may be varied depending upon the number of objects

16

being displayed, the amount of storage space required, and the size and shape of the objects

16

.

After the objects

16

are loaded with each closure element

28

in the open position, the closure element

28

can be pivoted back to the closed position. As the closure element

28

approaches the closed position, pins

62

(

FIGS. 19

,

20

) move, one each, into an L-shaped slot

64

at each side edge of the closure element

28

to the state shown in FIG.

20

. The closure element

28

is then released so that the closure element

28

shifts downwardly in the direction of the arrow

66

to the

FIG. 19

position, causing the pins

30

,

62

to move to the upper edge of the slots

32

,

62

, whereby attempted opening pivoting movement of the closure element

28

is arrested by slot edges

68

which abut to the pins

62

. To effect opening, the closure elements

28

must first be shifted upwardly to a transition location, as shown in

FIG. 20

, and then pivoted outwardly. With the closure element

28

in the closed position, the closure element

28

substantially block the opening

26

and thereby access to the storage sub-space

22

from the loading location immediately forwardly of the loading opening

26

.

A removal opening

70

in communication with each storage sub-space

22

, is provided in each closure element

28

, and potentially partially in the frame

12

, and permits removal individually of the objects

16

from the storage position in the storage sub-space

22

. The removal opening

60

preferably has a cross-sectional area that has the same general shape as one profile of the objects

16

being displayed and has a slightly larger dimension than that profile to allow the objects

16

to be grasped and drawn through the removal opening

70

by the user without significant interference.

As seen clearly in FIGS.

4

-

6

, stacked objects

16

in the display position are urged under their own weight downwardly within the storage sub-space

22

. The bottommost object

16

abuts to the ramp surface

54

and is cammed transversely to a vertical direction i.e. forwardly, so as to be in close proximity to the removal opening

70

. The user can then conveniently grasp the bottommost object

16

, as shown in

FIG. 5

, and withdraw that object

16

.

Each closure element

28

is also provided with loading openings

72

which are in communication with the storage sub-space

22

at the top thereof, above the removal openings

60

. The loading openings

72

, which could alternatively be provided on the frame

12

, have the same general cross-sectional configuration as that of the removal openings

70

. The loading openings

72

facilitate placement of the objects

16

in the storage position within the storage sub-space

22

. As shown in

FIGS. 2 and 4

, the objects

16

can be directed, one-by-one, through the loading opening

72

into stacked relationship in the storage position within the storage sub-spaces

22

. This gives the user the option of loading the objects

16

one-by-one into the storage sub-space

22

or opening the closure elements

28

to permit more unobstructed access to the storage sub-spaces

22

through the larger loading opening

26

. At the same time, a user that removes the bottommost object

16

through the removal opening

70

and decides not to purchase or rent that object

16

, may conveniently return the inspected object

16

to the storage sub-space

22

through the loading opening

72

.

To facilitate identification of the contents of the compartments

40

,

42

,

44

,

46

, each closure element

28

is provided with a like number of receptacles

78

for a sample object

16

within the associated compartment

40

,

42

,

44

,

46

. Each closure element

28

may have a clear plastic or glass cover/window

80

thereover to permit viewing of the object

16

residing within the receptacle

78

. The receptacles

78

are accessible through top openings

82

in the closure elements

28

. Each closure element

28

has a door

84

at the top thereof that is pivotable between a blocking position, as shown in FIGS.

1

-

5

, wherein the door

84

blocks the top openings

82

to prevent an object

16

from being directed into or removed from a receptacle

78

through the top opening

82

, and an access position, as shown in

FIGS. 6 and 8

, wherein the top opening

82

are exposed to allow objects

16

to be directed into and removed from the receptacles

78

through the openings

82

.

The loading openings

72

are formed in a part of the door

84

, which pivots as the door

84

moves between the blocking and access positions. The door

84

can be pivoted from the blocking position to the access position therefor only with the closure element

28

in the open position. With the closure element

28

in the closed position, as seen in

FIGS. 4 and 5

, a back edge

86

on the door

84

abuts to the frame

12

to prevent pivoting movement of the door

72

out of the blocking position.

To accommodate objects

16

of different size, and to maintain the objects

16

centered within the receptacles

78

, centering inserts, shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

at

90

, can be employed. Each insert

90

has a frame

92

that fits snugly within a receptacle

78

. The insert frame

92

defines a sub-receptacle

94

which can be closely matched to the configuration of the object

16

to be displayed.

To prevent unwanted access to objects

16

in the storage position within a storage sub-space

22

, a door

96

is provided on each closure element

28

. Each door

84

is pivotably mounted for movement between a blocking position, shown in

FIGS. 1

,

4

,

15

and

16

, and an access position, shown on the top closure element

28

in FIG.

2

and in FIG.

5

. In the blocking position, the door

96

covers the removal openings

70

. By grasping the door

96

, as shown in

FIG. 5

, the door

96

can be pivoted from the blocking position to the access position, wherein the removal openings

70

are exposed, thereby permitting access to the bottommost objects

16

within the storage sub-space

22

.

For security, a locking system

24

is activated. The locking system

24

includes at least one vertically extending bar

98

, as seen in FIGS.

1

and

14

-

16

. The bar

98

is pivotable around vertically spaced, offset pins

99

about a vertically extending axis defined by the pins

99

between a fully locked position, as shown in

FIG. 14

, and an unlocked position, as shown in FIG.

16

. In the locked position, the bar

98

resides directly in front of, and closely adjacent to an edge on each of, the doors

96

to prevent the doors

96

from being pivoted out of the blocking position into the access position therefor. The closure element

28

itself is likewise prevented from pivoting from the closed position into the open position therefor. With the bar

98

in the unlocked position of

FIG. 16

, both the closure element

28

and door

96

can be freely repositioned to the open and access positions, respectively. In

FIG. 15

, the bar

98

is in a transition position between the locked and unlocked positions. With the bar

98

in the transition position, the door

96

can be moved between the blocking and access positions, however, the closure element

28

is blocked by the bar

98

in the closed position. This allows consumers to access the objects

16

one-by-one, but does not permit access to the storage sub-spaces

22

for bulk removal of objects

16

. With the arrangement shown, a single bar

98

can lock the door

96

associated with each of the four closure elements

28

on each wall

18

,

20

.

A locking element

100

is mounted on a flange

102

on each bar

98

and is operable through a key

104

to extend a pin

106

(

FIG. 15

) into bores

108

,

110

,

112

with the bar

98

in the locked position, unlocked position, and transition position. With the key

104

removed, the bar

98

cannot be moved out of any of the three different positions in which it is set.

To facilitate storage of different size objects

16

within the storage sub-spaces

22

, a cassette

116

, as shown in

FIGS. 17

,

18

, and

22

, may be used. The cassette

116

defines a receptacle

118

for multiple objects

16

′. The objects

16

′ are shown to have a smaller profile than the objects

16

. In the absence of the use of the cassette

116

, a user could grasp, and simultaneously remove, a number of the objects

16

′ through the removal openings

70

. To prevent this from occurring, the cassette

116

is provided with a T-shaped exit opening

120

in communication with the receptacle

118

through which objects

16

′ can be withdrawn from the receptacle

118

. The cross-sectional area of the bottom portion

122

of the exit opening

120

is matched to the profile of the object

16

′ and has an area that is less than the area of the removal openings

70

. Thus, the wall portion

124

of the cassette

116

blocks removal of more than one object

16

′ stacked within the receptacle

118

. The cassette

116

can be configured to closely fit within any one of the storage compartments

40

,

42

,

44

,

46

.

Direction of the objects

16

′ into the receptacle

118

is facilitated by the use of a guide assembly at

126

consisting of a divider

48

, as previously described, and a complementary insert

128

, which can be releasably attached through bars

132

to the divider

48

, to increase the lateral dimension of the divider

48

and decrease the fore-and-aft dimension of a compartment otherwise defined within a storage sub-space

22

occupied by the divider

48

. The ears

132

can be directed into complementary openings

136

in the divider

48

to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the divider

48

and insert

128

. The divider

48

can thus be conveniently used selectively either alone or together with the insert

128

.

Optionally, a frame extension

140

can be used to provide a lockable storage compartment

142

that is separate from the storage space

14

. A door

144

may be hinged or otherwise guidingly movable with respect to the frame

12

between open and closed positions. In the open position, the storage compartment

142

can be accessed to place a bulk supply of objects

16

,

16

′ to be displayed. A conventional lock

146

can be used to maintain the door

144

in the closed position.

To facilitate movement of the display system from one location to another, rolling elements/wheels

148

are provided on the frame

12

to be rolled against a subjacent surface

150

supporting the display system

10

.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the invention.