US3490598A - Display rack - Google Patents

Description

M. FEDERMAN Jan. 2d, 1.97.0

DI SPLAY RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 13, 1967 FIGLI.

3m mw F INVENTOR MURRAY FEDERMAN M. FEDERMAN DISPLAY RACK Jan. 20, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. l5, 1967 FIGS.

FIG.4.

INVENTOR MUIRAY FEDERMAN Y Mhmwkmm HIS ATTORNEYS i United States Patent O 3,490,598 DISPLAY RACK Murray Federman, Clifton, NJ., assignor to Glamorene Products Corporation, Clifton, NJ., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 675,206 Int'. CL'EGSIj 73700; A47f 5/00, 5/14 U.s. cl. 211-4 2 claims ABSTRACT on THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to improvements in display devices and particularly to metal display racks for supporting kits or packages of articles such as upholstery cleaning equipment, power tool equipment and the like and more particularly to devices for retaining and locking the kits or packages in the racks.

Various types of kits of equipment for various purposes are commonly displayed in display cases or on shelves and in some instances on racks so that they are readily available for examination. However, unless some protective means is provided for retaining the articles securely in their displayed positions, they can be dislodged and dropped, damaged or pilfered with consequent loss to the dealer. Locking devices have been provided heretofore on display racks as disclosed generally in my U.S. Patent No. 3,289,851 dated Dec. 6, 1966 for retaining oor polishing and other appliances in positions to display them and at the same time prevent them from being taken without a proper authorization. Articles which come, however, in covered containers such as trays with plastic covers thereon through which the contents of the trays can be viewed present a more diiicult problem in locking them in the display rack for in most instances they cannot be locked to the rack without obscuring the view of the articles in the containers.

In accordance with the present invention, a display rack is provided by means of which kits of various articles such as upholstery cleaning equipment, power tools and the like can be displayed for ready inspection by a prospective purchaser, and at the same time are securely locked in position so that they cannot be dislodged or pilfered without release of the locking device by authorized personnel More particularly, in accordance with the present in vention, the display rack includes a plurality f shelves in a relatively open work frame, each shelf being adapted to receive an article being displayed and having associated arms which can be moved up and down to engage in recesses in the container for the kit to lock the container to the shelf so that it and its contents cannot be removed. The arms are mounted on a frame which can be raised to enable the kit to be removed for closer inspection by or for sale to a customer. In this Way, the kits can be displayed in an attractive fashion and at the same time are retained in the display rack until released by an authorized person.

For better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. l is a front elevational view of a display rack ernbodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view thereof.

Illustrative of the present invention, a typical display rack includes a pair of said frame members and 11 formed of tubular metal such as for example steel or aluminum tubing or the like having a 4straight back leg 1,2, a flat top 13 connected by means of curved portions 14 and 15 to the back leg 12 and front leg 1.6, respectively. The shape of the side framesl can be varied but `the front leg 16, as shown, has an upper portion converging toward the back leg and a lower portion 17 which diverges away from the back leg 12 for stability.

The two frame elements are connected by means of a series of cross rods 18, 19, 20 and 21 as shown in FIG. 4 and the front legs may also be connected to the back legs 12 by means of suitable cross braces 22, 23, 24,25 and 26. The cross braces 24 and 25 for ornamental purposes may be a single rod bent into U-shape and having its rounded base 27 projecting beyond the front leg element of each frame. i

Spanning the space between the two side frames 10 and 11 near the bottom thereof isV a shelf 28 which may be formed of a series of parallel rods or wires 29' Welded to the back cross rod 21 and a front cross rod 30. Transverse stiifening rods 31 and 32 are welded to the rods 29 and have upwardly extending and reversely bent end portions 33 thereon which serve to position a kit K against sideways sliding movement. l i

A second shelf 34 of the same kind may be affixed to the frame members in the same way or several more of such shelves may be provided at spaced intervals as may be desired. Another horizontal shelf 35 is provided near the top of the side frames to support other articles such as bottles, cans and the like.

Between the shelves 34 and 35 is a shelf 36 which can be inclined with respect to the horizontal, this shelf also being formed of a series of parallel rods 37 connected at their forward end to a cross rod 38 having hooks 39 and 40 at its opposite ends for engaging the cross bracing rods 23 in the side frames. An additional bracing rod 41 may be provided at the front ends of the rods 37. The rear ends of the two outermost rods 37 of the shelf 36 are formed as hooks 42 and 43 which engage a rod 44 welded to a pair of vertical rods 45 and 46 extending upwardly between the side frame elements and welded or otherwise secured to the rods 18, 19, 20 and 21. In this way, the shelf is supported in a tilted position but can be shifted to a horizontal position by engaging the hooks 42 and 43 with the cross rod 19. Suitable hook shaped members 47 and 48 may be formed on transverse members of the shelf 36 to serve as lateral stops for the kits.

Any of the other shelves of the rack may be arranged like the shelf 35 for movement between horizontal and tilted positions, if desired.

In accordance with the present invention a locking device is provided on the display rack to prevent the unauthorized removal of kits of tools and the like which are supported by the shelves. By way of example of a typical kit, it includes a tray T for receiving, for example, a power unit, brushes and other accessories, the tray having a carrying handle H, and a transparent cover C provided with a transverse groove C or notches for receiving the retaining elements to be described hereinafter. As best shown in FIG. 4, the retaining means includes a ladderlike sliding member 50 having a pair of upright rods 51 and 52 which are suitably connected by rod-like cross bars S3, at intervals along the lengths of the rods 51 and 52. The frame 50 is connected for vertical sliding movement relative to and between the vertical rods 45 and 46 on the frame either by forming eyes on the cross bars 53 or by means of elements clamped to the frame 50 and slidably engaging the vertical rods 45 and 46. Spaced at intervals along the frame 50 are generally C- shaped clamping members 54, 55 and 56, each corresponding to one of the shelves and having arms which extend outwardly over the kits K and having inwardly extending end portions which engage in the groove C in the cover of each kit to hold the kits on their respective shelves and the covers C on the trays T. In order to retain the frame 50 in a position holding the kits against removal, the frame is provided with a cross bar 57 having an eye 58 at its end which can be brought into alignment with and locked by means of a padlock to an eye 60 on a similar cross bar 59 welded to the rods 45 and 46. The frame 50 can be raised to enable all of the kits on the shelves to be released for removal and may be retained in the upper position by means of downwardly extending shaft 61 having a ball 62 on its end which engages in a resilient socket 63 mounted on a cross member 64 at the upper end of the frame 50. The gripping action of the socket is suicient to retain the frame until it is pushed down to lock the kits on the shelves.

If desired, other reinforcements for the frame may be provided where necessary to support heavy articles or kits and the size and dimensions of the display rack can be modified as the purpose demands. The shelves and side frames and connecting rods may be plated with bright metal such as chromium or painted or otherwise treated as may be desired and advertising displays may also be connected to the fronts of the shelves and/or to the top of the rack as may be required or desirable.

I claim:

1. A display rack comprising a frame having a pair of substantially vertical side frame elements, means connecting and retaining said frame elements in spaced-apart relation and a plurality of vertically-spaced shelves between and supported by said frame elements for supporting containers thereon, at least one of said shelves inclined to the horizontal to support said container in an inclined position; a sliding member mounted for substantially vertical movement on said frame, at least one clamping member iixed to said sliding member and movable therewith, said clamping member extending between said frame members and overlying and substantially parallel with at least one of said shelves, said clamping member being movable downwardly with said sliding member to a rst position engaging and retaining a container on said one shelf and upwardly to a second position with' said sliding member to release said container from said shelf.

2. A display rack comprising a frame having a pair of substantially vertical side frame elements, means connecting and retaining said frame elements in spacedapart relation and a plurality of vertically-spaced shelves between and supported bysaid frame elements for supporting containers thereon; a sliding member mounted for substantially vertical movement on said frame, at least one clamping member xed to said sliding member and movable therewith, said clamping member extending between said frame members and overlying at least one of said shelves, said clamping member being movable downwardly with said sliding member to a iirst position engaging and retaining a container on said one shelf and upwardly to a second position with said sliding member to release said container from said shelf, and means for releasably retaining said sliding member in said second position comprising a `ball and a resilient socket on said frame and said sliding member is engagable with said resilient socket when said sliding member is in said second position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 591,124 10/1897 Brown 211-4 X 2,041,749 5/1936 Fischer 2li-8 2,926,788 3/1960 Jacobson 2ll-4 3,289,851 12/1966 Federman 211--4 CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

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