Adjustable merchandise display structure

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a) Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a new or improved adjustable merchandise display structure that is designed primarily for use in retail premises to provide a prominent adjustably positioned display to selected items of merchandise.

b) Description of the Prior Art

Numerous display structures have been developed over the years and designed to display various items of merchandise in retail stores. Some of these display structures have involved the use of adjustably interconnected arms, and such arm structures have been used in many other applications to provide an adjustable support arrangement for various articles. For example U.S. Pat. No. 153,943 Gray and U.S. Pat. No. 249,587 Clark demonstrate the use over one century ago of adjustable arm mechanisms for supporting dental trays.

U.S. Pat. No. 339,061 Joseph discloses a furniture clamp which can support a shaft extending either horizontally or vertically, and which includes a clamping screw which can be used for attachment to tables or the like. U.S. Pat. No. 454,553 Whitten shows a book supporting attachment having three sockets arranged at right angles to one another and including a screw clamp which can be affixed to a furniture projection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable arm structure which is adaptable for attachment to various structures in a retail environment and which can be manipulated to display merchandise, e.g. tobacco products at a selected height above a countertop.

The invention provides a merchandise display system comprising a carrier supported by a plurality of adjustably interconnected arms, one said arm being received in a mounting base that is adapted for connection to a mounting structure, said mounting base comprising: a) a U-shaped clamping bracket comprising a flat web plate from a first side of which project two parallel limbs which define with the web a channel, an adjustable clamping means being associated with one said limb and operative to coact with the other said limb to clamp said bracket to the mounting structure; b) an attachment plate which lies parallel to an opposite side of said web plate and is detachably connected to said web plate by threaded screws that pass through aligned holes in said web plate and said attachment plate respectively, said holes being positioned for mutual alignment in a plurality of different orientations of said plate relative to said web; said attachment plate having connected thereto a sleeve that defines an axis lying parallel to said attachment plate, said sleeve being sized to slidably receive said one arm therein and including releasable locking means operative to secure said one arm at a selected longitudinal position therein; a first swivel joint inter-connecting an end of said one arm with an adjacent end of a second said arm, said swivel joint including a swivel clamp that is operative to lock together said first and second arms in a selected relative orientation thereof.

The U-shaped clamping bracket is preferably fabricated from a sheet steel plate bent to form a channel section, the flanges of the channel section constituting the parallel limbs. The sheet steel plate is of sufficient thickness to provide the desired degree of strength and rigidity to the mounting attachment. The web plate is substantially rectangular and has four regularly spaced threaded apertures therein. The attachment plate is similar in size to the web plate, and also has four apertures therein arranged at the same spacing as the threaded apertures. Threaded fasteners such as screws can be passed through the apertures in the attachment plate to engage with the aligned threaded apertures to secure the attachment plate to the web plate.

It will be appreciated that because of the uniform distribution of the apertures the attachment plate can be secured to the web plate in different orientations at 90° intervals. If desired, additional matching apertures could be provided in the web plate and in the attachment plate to enable their interconnection at angular intervals other than 90°.

The adjustable clamping means can be of any suitable structure, and conveniently comprises the arrangement of a clamping screw in threaded engagement with one limb of the clamping bracket and having at one end a toggle driver and at the other end a clamping head presented towards the other limb of the bracket so that rotation of the clamping screw can be utilized to clamp the bracket, e.g. onto the edge of a countertop in a retail premises. If no countertop is available, then the clamp can alternatively be attached to a vertically extending member, e.g. the edge of a partition wall or the like. In either situation the attachment plate can be oriented relative to the clamping bracket so that the arm of the display mechanism that is received in the attachment plate sleeve is arranged at the desired orientation.

In the event that no suitable structure is available for engagement by the clamping bracket, the mounting base can be disassembled by withdrawing the clamping bracket, and securing the attachment plate directly to a vertical wall surface, e.g. by screws passed through the holes in the attachment plate and engaged into the wall structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will further be described, by way of example only, with reference to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1

is a perspective view of the overall merchandise display system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2

is an exploded fragmentary perspective view to a larger scale showing the interconnection of first and second arms of the system;

FIG. 3

is an exploded perspective view to the same scale as

FIG. 2

showing the attachment of the second arm of the display system to a support pin;

FIG. 4

is a sectional view taken on the line IV—IV in

FIG. 3

drawn to an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5

is a sectional view taken on the line V—V in FIG.

1

and drawn to a larger scale;

FIGS. 6 and 7

are perspective views generally similar to FIG.

1

and showing different mounting arrangements for the merchandise display system;

FIG. 8

is a sectional view taken on the line

8

—

8

in

FIG. 5

; and

FIG. 9

is a sectional view taken on the line

9

—

9

in FIG.

5

.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As seen in

FIG. 1

, the merchandise display system of the present invention comprises a mounting base

2

which provides support for an adjustable arm structure

4

which in turn carries a product case

6

. As is more clearly seen in

FIG. 5

the mounting base

2

comprises a mounting bracket

8

of metal plate formed into two U-shaped channels each comprising horizontal upper and lower flanges

10

,

12

interconnected to opposite ends of a vertical web plate

14

.

Each of a pair of clamping screws

16

extending parallel to the plate

14

is in engagement with a threaded hole in a lower flange

12

, the screw having an enlarged head

18

at its upper end and a radial toggle bar

20

extending through its lower end. It will be understood that rotation of the clamping screw will cause the head to move towards or away from the upper flange

10

and enable the mounting brackets to be clamped onto a counter edge portion

22

by tightening each screw so that its head presses against the counter portion and clamps it against the underside of the upper flange

10

. In the embodiment illustrated there are two clamping screws

16

which adds security and a degree of stability, although in some circumstances a single screw will suffice, and in other circumstances more than two screws may be desired.

On the rear side of the web plates

14

are two rectangular steel attachment plates

24

each of which carries a sleeve

26

. The sleeves

26

are mounted on a wall

28

that extends at right angles from each plate

24

. The attachment plates

24

are substantially identical in form, and the wall

28

of each provides support for a respective sleeve

26

, the sleeves being in axial alignment. As better seen in

FIGS. 8 and 9

each sleeve

26

is of substantially C-shaped form defining a generally cylindrical through passage

30

, a gap

34

extending between the limbs

29

of the sleeve receive the wall

28

with clearance and opens into the cylindrical passage

30

. Each sleeve

26

is secured to the associated wall

28

by a pair of screws

31

in threaded engagement with the wall. Additionally, each sleeve

26

carries a clamping screw

23

which passes through clearance holes in one of the limbs

29

and the wall

28

and is in threaded engagement with the second limb

29

. It will be evident that tightening of the screw

33

will be effective to narrow the gap between the limbs

29

and the wall

28

and thus constrict the cylindrical passage

30

, binding the sleeve

26

to the cylindrical arm

40

. On the other hand slackening of the screw

33

will allow the sleeve

26

to relax, releasing the engagement between the sleeve

26

and the arm

40

so that the latter can be moved longitudinally relative to the sleeve

26

. As noted, the wall

28

is received with clearance in the narrow gap

34

between the two limbs

29

so that tightening of the screws

33

will have the effect of narrowing the gaps

34

and thus constricting the cylindrical passage

30

, the sleeve

26

being of a resilient metal which can readily accommodate the deflection involved.

The attachment plates

24

are rigidly secured with respect to the mounting bracket

8

by means of four short machine screws

23

which pass through corresponding holes

25

in the plates

24

and are received in threaded engagement in holes

27

in the web plates

14

. The two sets of holes

25

and

27

are arranged in identical square patterns and can be readily aligned to secure the attachment plates

24

to the mounting bracket

8

as seen in FIG.

5

. It will also be appreciated that because of the regular spacing of the two sets of holes, the plates

24

can likewise be secured to the mounting bracket

8

at orientations angularly spaced by 90° from that shown in FIG.

5

.

A first tubular arm

40

of the adjustable arm structure has an outside diameter corresponding to the bore of the cylindrical passage

30

so that when the passage is in unconstricted form the arm

40

can be inserted into and adjusted longitudinally relative to the passage

30

. Once a desired position of adjustment has been achieved the screws

33

are tightened to lock the arm

40

relative to the attachment plates

24

.

An adjustable pivot joint

42

interconnects the upper end of the arm

40

to one end of a second arm

44

, this joint being shown in greater detail in

FIG. 2

to which reference is now made. A tubular fitting

46

defines a socket that receives and is rotatable relative to the upper end of the arm

40

. The fitting

46

terminates in a flat circular plate

48

extending diametrically thereof. A second tubular fitting

52

is attached to one end of the second arm

44

and likewise has a diametrical circular plate

54

thereon. As clearly shown in

FIG. 2

, the circular plate

48

has an annular ring of radially extending ribs

56

, these ribs being at successive angular intervals, e.g. of 10°. A similar array of ribs (not shown) is provided on the confronting surface of the plate

54

. The plate

48

has a central square-section hole

60

therein which aligns with a round central holes

52

in the plate

54

, these holes being sized to receive a carriage bolt

64

passed therethrough, the bolt being received in non-rotatable condition in the square hole

60

, passing through the round hole

62

and being in threaded engagement with a knob

66

. It will be seen that tightening of the knob

66

on the carriage bolt

64

will cause the plates

48

and

54

to be pressed against one another so that the interengaging ribs

56

become locked and the arm

44

is thus secured in a predetermined fixed angular orientation with respect to the arm

40

. To reposition the arm

44

relative to the arm

40

it is merely necessary to slacken the knob

66

to provide sufficient clearance for disengagement of the confronting ribs, whereupon the arm

44

can be swivelled to a new location and locked therein by tightening of the knob

66

.

By virtue of the rotatable connection between the fitting

46

and the arm

40

, the arm

44

and all the elements supported thereon can be pivoted around the vertical axis of the arm

40

.

The arm

44

as seen in FIG.

3

and in

FIG. 1

comprises telescopically arranged tubular sections

44

.

1

,

44

.

2

, the outer of which carries at its end a clamping bracket

48

formed with a tubular bore

70

to receive the smaller diameter section

44

.

2

. A radial slot

73

extending from the bore

70

to the exterior of the clamping bracket separates the two limbs

72

. A screw

74

carried in one of the limbs extends across the gap and through the other limb, being engaged by a threaded knob

76

which can be manually operated to tighten or to constrict the bore

70

about the inner arm section

44

.

2

. A rod-shaped key

78

carried in the clamping bracket

68

is in sliding engagement with an axially extending groove

80

in the arm section

44

.

2

. The key

78

permits the arm sections

44

.

1

,

44

.

2

to be telescoped in the axial direction, but prevents relative rotation therebetween.

At the free end of the arm section

44

.

2

is attached a tubular fitting

82

which terminates in a flat circular plate

84

formed with a central bore

86

and arranged in confronting relationship with a similar plate

88

formed with a central square hole

90

, the plate

88

being formed at the end of a fitting

92

which terminates in a cylindrical pin

94

. A carriage bolt

96

is sized to pass through and engage the square hole

90

, pass through the bore

86

and be threadedly engaged by a rotatable lever clamp

98

. The confronting faces of the plates

84

do not have serrations or ribs, but are relatively smooth, and a friction disc

100

is interposed between them as indicated in FIG.

3

.

From the foregoing it will be understood that when the plates

84

,

88

are pressed against opposite sides of the friction disc

100

and the lever

98

threaded onto the carriage bolt

96

, rotation of the lever in one sense will serve to clamp the elements together and thus fix the pin

94

at a desired angular disposition with respect to the arm

44

. However when it is desired to reposition the pin it is merely necessary to slacken the lever clamp

98

slightly, and the pin can then be adjusted continuously throughout the full range of angular movement rather than being confined to 10° adjustment increments as is the joint

42

.

As seen in

FIG. 1

, the product case

6

is a generally box-shaped element having rectangular upper and lower walls

102

,

104

. The front and the sides of the casing can be open, or can be of transparent material to reveal the product

106

displayed therein. On the underside of the lower wall

104

there is a downwardly extending tubular socket

110

sized to receive the pin

94

, and carrying a clamping screw

112

which can be tightened to form a secure attachment to the pin

94

. The pin

94

has a short section

94

.

1

that is of reduced external diameter, this section being aligned with the clamping screw

112

when the product case is supported on the pin. The effect of the reduced diameter section

94

.

1

is to ensure that any surface deformities created therein by engagement of the clamping screw

112

will not exceed the diameter of the remainder of the pin

94

, and therefore will not interfere with the mounting attachment of the socket

110

on the pin

94

.

The display structure described and illustrated can be attached to a counter surface as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 5

by means of the mounting bracket

8

, and the arms

40

and

44

and pin

94

adjusted in position with respect to the mounting base

2

to orient and locate the product display case

6

in a desired location. The adjustments available are briefly as follows:

1) axial and angular adjustment of the arm

40

with respect to the sleeve

26

;

2) angular adjustment of the arm

44

above the upper end of arm

40

;

3) extension or retraction in the length of the arm

44

;

4) angular adjustment of the pin

94

with respect to the arm

44

; and

5) rotation of the casing

6

about the axis of the pin

94

and socket

110

.

It will be understood that adjustment in the position of the product case

6

can be achieved rapidly and relatively simply by manipulation of the previously described adjustment control elements.

Where no horizontal counter edge is available to provide a mounting for the display system as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 5

, a vertical wall edge or partition edge

114

or even a post (not shown) can be utilized as indicated in FIG.

6

. To accomplish this requires a minor manipulation of the mounting base. Specifically the four machine screws

23

interconnecting the attachment plate

24

to the web plate

14

are removed whereupon the mounting bracket

8

is rotated through 90° and reattached to the mounting plate by the same four screws. The mounting bracket can then be clamped to the vertical structure

114

as shown in FIG.

6

. As is evident from

FIGS. 5 and 6

, the mounting bracket

8

is formed of two individual U-shaped sections, which in the configuration shown in

FIG. 5

form with the attachment plates

24

a unitary structure. However in the configuration shown in

FIG. 6

the mounting plate sections are rotated through

90

degrees from the position shown in FIG.

5

and the gap between them is now aligned with the junction between the plates

24

. Accordingly, one of the mounting plate sections

8

can be displaced longitudinally of the arm

40

and attached to the partition edge

114

at a location vertically spaced from the other as shown in broken lines in

FIG. 6

, this providing a more secure attachment of the structure. The spacing between the two mounting brackets longitudinally of the arm

40

can be adjusted continuously to achieve the desired support characteristics.

Where no vertical or horizontal edge structure is available, the display system can nevertheless still be mounted to any suitable vertical surface that is available. To do this, the attachment plate

24

is removed from the mounting bracket

8

, and then connected directly to a vertical surface as indicated in

FIG. 7

by means of elongate wood screws

116

or the like tapped into the vertical wall surface. In this arrangement the sections of the brackets can be vertically separated as discussed above relative to FIG.

6

. Wall anchors or the like (not shown) can be used if necessary. Similarly the attachment plate

24

could be mounted to vertical panels or the like by various forms of attachments including threaded fasteners passed through aligned holes in the attachment plate and the panel.

The display structure disclosed is intended to accommodate rather lightweight merchandise within the product case

6

, i.e. weighing of the order of 2 kilograms. In this structure the mounting bracket

8

is of ¼ inch steel plate. The vertical tube

40

is of 18 gauge steel, ¾ inch diameter and 18 inches in length. The tube section

44

.

1

is similar in structure to the tube

40

, the tube section

44

.

2

being slightly smaller, and the combined length of these tube sections being adjustable from about 12 inches to about 18 inches.

Where the merchandise within the display case

6

is of high value, the case may be fully enclosed and have a locked access door (not shown).