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Modular, adjustable display rack Number:7,175,034 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent

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Title: Modular, adjustable display rack

Abstract: A point of purchase display stand for displaying products includes shelving, lights, cabinets, signs, baskets, and other items that may be supported on a slot wall positioned in the back of the stand. The slot wall may be made up of horizontal slots that allow the aforementioned items to be positioned at a plurality of vertical locations and a virtually infinite number of horizontal locations. End panels and doors may also be added to the display stand for providing security to the contents of the display stand. The shelves may only require a small amount of rotation to be removed from the slot wall. The shelves may be oriented in a plurality of different angular orientations, and they may be optionally connected with adjacent shelves so that any sagging of a given shelf is transmitted to the adjacent shelves, thereby maintaining the shelves in horizontal alignment with each other.

Patent Number: 7,175,034 Issued on 02/13/2007 to Nook,   et al.


Inventors: Nook; Thomas J. (Grand Haven, MI), Gavin; Gregory D. (Grand Haven, MI), Johnson; Robert J. (Grand Haven, MI), Zang; Dathan G. (Grand Haven, MI)
Assignee: Harbor Industries, Inc. (Grand Haven, MI)
Appl. No.: 10/462,350
Filed: June 16, 2003


Current U.S. Class: 211/189
Current International Class: A47B 43/00 (20060101)
Field of Search: 211/94.01,87.01,88.01,90.01,90.02,90.04,103,186,187,96,99 248/242 312/245


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Primary Examiner: Purol; Sarah
Attorney, Agent or Firm: VanDyke, Gadrner Linn & Burkhart, LLP

Parent Case Text



CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/388,891 filed Jun. 14, 2002 and entitled MODULAR, ADJUSTABLE DISPLAY RACK. This disclosure of this provisional application is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Claims



What is claimed is:

1. A display stand comprising: a generally vertical back wall having a front face, a back face, a first side, and a second side, said front face including a plurality of parallel, generally horizontal slots that continuously extend for a majority of the distance from said first side to said second side; a shelf releasably attachable to said front face of said back wall, said shelf adapted to be selectively inserted into at least one of said slots to thereby support said shelf on said back wall, said shelf being attachable to said back wall at a plurality of different heights and at a plurality of different side-to-side positions between said first and second sides; wherein said shelf includes a shelf base and a bracket, said bracket including an insert that fits into said at least one of said slots to thereby support said bracket and said shelf base on said back wall, said shelf base including a bracket engaging portion and a wall engaging portion, said bracket engaging portion of said shelf base being adjustably engaged at said bracket, said shelf base being adapted to be adjusted relative to said bracket of said shelf to support said shelf base of said shelf in a selected one of a plurality of different angular orientations relative to said back wall, said wall engaging portion of said shelf base engaging another one of said slots of said back wall when said shelf base is supported at said bracket and said back wall; and a vertical end panel attached to the back wall adjacent each one of the sides of the back wall, said end panel being oriented generally perpendicular to said back wall.

2. The display stand of claim 1 wherein said shelf includes said shelf base and a shelf tray, said shelf tray being releasably attachable to said shelf base.

3. The display stand of claim 2 further including a light bracket attachable to said shelf base, said light bracket adapted to support a light positioned underneath said shelf base.

4. The display stand of claim 2 wherein said shelf tray is slidingly attached to said shelf base such that said shelf tray can slide with respect to said shelf base.

5. The display stand of claim 4 wherein said shelf includes a plurality of dividers adapted to separate products supported on said shelf.

6. The display stand of claim 5 further including a second shelf having a second shelf base and a second shelf tray, said second shelf tray adapted to slidingly attach to said second shelf base, said second shelf base being insertable into at least one of said slots.

7. The display stand of claim 6 wherein said second shelf includes no dividers.

8. The display stand of claim 7 wherein said shelf tray is adapted to be slidingly coupled to said second shelf base, and said second shelf tray is adapted to be slidingly coupled to said shelf base.

9. The display stand of claim 1 wherein said shelf base selectively engages said bracket at one of at least two positions to adjustably mount said shelf base at said rear wall in one of at least two orientations.

10. The display stand of claim 1 wherein said shelf includes first and second sides and a connector, said connector adapted to couple to a second shelf positioned adjacent one of the first or second sides of said shelf, said connector maintaining said shelf and said second shelf in horizontal alignment with each other when said connector is coupled to said second shelf.

11. The display stand of claim 1 further including at least one sign and at least one sign bracket, said sign being coupled to said sign bracket, said sign bracket adapted to be attached to, and detached from, said back wall.

12. The display stand of claim 11 wherein said sign is pivotally attached to said bracket such that said sign can be pivoted to a plurality of different orientations with respect to said sign bracket, said sign including a lock for maintaining said sign in a selected orientation with respect to said sign bracket.

13. The display stand of claim 11 wherein said sign includes a graphic panel and at least one light positioned behind said graphic panel and adapted to illuminate said graphic panel, said graphic panel being made of an at least partially translucent material.

14. The display stand of claim 1 further including an arm having a slot insert that is adapted to be inserted into at least one of said slots, said arm supporting at least one light.

15. The display stand of claim 14 further including at least one channel defined adjacent a top of said back wall, said arm further including a channel insert adapted to be inserted into said channel and help support said arm on said back wall.

16. The display stand of claim 1 further including an arm adapted to be secured to said back wall in a snap-fitting manner, said arm having a light supported thereon.

17. The display stand of claim 1 further including a vertical divider panel releasably attachable to said back wall at a plurality of side-to-side positions between said first and second sides.

18. The display stand of claim 17 further including a plurality of divider panel brackets that each have at least one insert adapted to be inserted into at least one of said slots and to support each of said brackets on said back wall, said divider panel brackets each including at least one pin and said divider panel including a plurality of channels adapted to receive at least one of said pins to allow said divider panel to be releasably coupled to said plurality of divider panel brackets.

19. The display stand of claim 1 further including a cabinet having at least two sidewalls, a top wall, and at least one pivotable door, said cabinet including at least one insert adapted to be inserted into said slots and to thereby releasably support said cabinet on said back wall.

20. The display stand of claim 1 further including a plurality of electrical outlets positioned on said front face of said back wall.

21. The display stand of claim 20 wherein said plurality of electrical outlets are connected to a source of direct electrical current having a voltage of less than 110 volts.

22. The display stand of claim 1 wherein said slots have at least two different shapes.

23. The display stand of claim 1 wherein said slots have first and second shapes, said first shapes extending vertically upward into said back wall, said second shapes extending vertically downward into said back wall, said slots being arranged in a horizontally alternating fashion between slots having said first shape and slots having said second shape.

24. The display stand of claim 1 further including a base attached to said back wall, said base extending forwardly from said back wall and including a leveler mechanism for changing the horizontal orientation of said base.

25. The display stand of claim 1 further including: a base attached to said back wall; and at least one door positioned in front of said back wall such that said at least one drawer is surrounded by said base, said end panels, said back wall, and said at least one door.

26. The display stand of claim 25 further including an arm having a slot insert that is adapted to be inserted into at least one of said slots, said arm supporting at least one light and at least a portion of a frame surrounding said at least one door.

27. The display stand of claim 26 wherein said at least one door opens by pivoting about a vertical axis.

28. The display stand of claim 26 wherein said at least one door opens by sliding in an upper track and a lower track, said upper and lower tracks defining a path for movement of said at least one door.

29. The display stand of claim 1 wherein said back wall comprises a plurality of extruded slot wall segments attached to a metal frame.

30. The display stand of claim 1 wherein said bracket and said self base include a plurality of inserts adapted to be inserted into said slots to releasably support said shelf on said back wall, said inserts and said slots being configured such that said shelf must be rotated to be removed from said back wall, said shelf requiring no more than forty degrees of rotation to be removed from said back wall.

31. The display stand of claim 1 further including: a vertical utility pole spaced from, and positioned in front of, the front face of said back wall; at least one bracket having a plurality of inserts adapted to be inserted into at least one of said slots whereby said at least one bracket can be releasably supported on said back wall, said bracket adapted to support said vertical utility pole; and an item holder releasably coupled to said vertical utility pole, said item holder adapted to hold and support an item.

32. The display stand of claim 31 wherein said item is at least one cigarette pack and said item holder is a dispenser for dispensing a plurality of the cigarette packs.

33. The display stand of claim 31 wherein said item is at least one piece of literature and said item holder is a bin adapted to hold a plurality of said pieces of literature.

34. The display stand of claim 31 wherein said item is at least one graphic panel and said item holder is a container for at least one of said graphic panels.

35. A display stand comprising: a generally vertical back wall having a front face, a back face, a first side, and a second side, said front face including a plurality of slots; and a plurality of shelves having first and second sides and being releasably attachable to said front face of said back wall, said shelves each including inserts that fit into said slots to thereby support said shelves on said back wall, said shelves being attachable to said back wall at a plurality of different heights and at a plurality of different side-to-side positions between said first and second sides of said back wall; each of said shelves including a shelf base and at least one bracket releasably attachable to said shelf base, each of said brackets including at least one insert that fits into at least one of said slots to thereby support said bracket and an associated shelf base on said back wall, said shelf base including a bracket engaging portion and a wall engaging portion, said bracket engaging portion of said shelf base being adjustably engaged at said bracket, said bracket being adapted to selectively support the associated shelf base in one of a plurality of different angular orientations via adjustment of said bracket engaging portion relative to said bracket, said wall engaging portion of said shelf base engaging another one of said slots of said back wall when said shelf base is supported at said bracket and said back wall; at least one panel attached to said back wall and extending generally vertically along said back wall, said panel being oriented generally perpendicular to said back wall to provide an end panel generally at at least one of said first and second sides of said back wall; and a connector attached to each of said shelves, said connector adapted to couple a first one of said shelves with a second one of said shelves when the second one or said shelves is positioned adjacent one of the sides of said first one of said shelves, said connector maintaining said first and second ones of said shelf bases in alignment with each other when said first and second ones of said shelves are coupled together by said connector.

36. The display stand of claim 35 wherein said shelves each include a shelf tray, said shelf tray being slidably attached to said shelf base such that said shelf tray can slide with respect to said shelf base.

37. A display stand comprising: a generally vertical back wall having a front face, a back face, a first side, and a second side, said front face including a plurality of slots; a plurality of shelves having first and second sides and being releasably attachable to said front face of said back wall, said shelves being attachable to said back wall at a plurality of different heights and at a plurality of different side-to-side positions between said first and second sides of said back wall; at least one bracket releasably attachable to each one of said shelves, said bracket including an insert that fits into at least one of said slots to thereby support said bracket and an associated shelf on said back wall, said shelf including a bracket engaging portion and a wall engaging portion, said bracket engaging portion of said shelf being adjustably engaged at a plurality of shelf engaging portions of said bracket, said bracket being adapted to selectively support the associated shelf in one of a plurality of different angular orientations via adjustment of said bracket engaging portion of said shelf relative to said shelf engaging portions of said bracket, said wall engaging portion of said shelf engaging another one of said slots of said back wall when said shelf is supported at said bracket and said back wall; a connector attached to each of said shelves, said connector adapted to couple a first one of said shelves with a second one of said shelves when the second one of said shelves is positioned adjacent one of the sides of said first one of said shelves, said connector maintaining said first and second ones of said shelves in horizontal alignment with each other when said first and second ones of said shelves are coupled together by said connector, said shelves each including a shelf base and a shelf tray, said shelf tray being slidably attached to said shelf base such that said shelf tray can slide with respect to said shelf base, wherein a first set of said shelf trays includes dividers adapted to separate products supported thereon; a second set of said shelf trays includes no dividers; and said first and second sets of shelf trays are both adapted to be releasably and interchangeably attachable to said shelf bases.

38. The display stand of claim 35 wherein said bracket selectively engages said shelf base at one of at least two positions to adjustably mount said shelf base to said rear wall in one of at least two orientations.

39. The display stand of claim 35 further including at least one sign and at least one sign bracket, said sign being coupled to said sign bracket, said sign bracket adapted to be attached to, and detached from, said back wall, said sign further being pivotally attached to said bracket such that said sign can be pivoted to a plurality of different orientations with respect to said sign bracket, and said sign including a lock for maintaining said sign in a selected orientation with respect to said sign bracket.

40. The display stand of claim 36 further including an arm adapted to be secured to said back wall in a snap-fitting manner, said arm having a light supported thereon.

41. The display stand of claim 35 further including: a vertical divider panel releasably attachable to said back wall at a plurality of side-to-side positions between said first and second sides of said back wall; and a plurality of divider panel brackets that each have at least one insert adapted to be inserted into at least one of said slots and to support each of said brackets on said back wall, said divider panel brackets each including at least one pin and said divider panel including a plurality of channels adapted to receive at least one of said pins to allow said divider panel to be releasably coupled to said plurality of divider panel brackets.

42. The display stand of claim 35 wherein said slots are generally horizontal slots that continuously extend for a majority of the distance from said first side of said back wall to said second side of said back wall, said slots being arranged in a horizontally alternating fashion between slots having a first shape and slots having a second shape, said first shapes extending vertically upward into said back wall, and said second shapes extending vertically downward into said back wall.

43. The display stand of claim 35 further including: a base attached to said back wall; wherein said at least one panel comprises at least two end panels attached to said back wall adjacent the first and second sides of said back wall; and at least one door positioned in front of said back wall such that said at least one drawer is surrounded by said base, said end panels, said back wall, and said at least one door.

44. The display stand of claim 43 further including an arm having a slot insert that is adapted to be inserted into at least one of said slots, said arm supporting at least one light and at least a portion of a frame surrounding said at least one door.

45. The display stand of claim 35 wherein said shelves each include a plurality of inserts adapted to be inserted into a plurality of said slots to releasably support said shelves on said back wall, said inserts and said slots being configured such that said shelves must be rotated to be removed from said back wall, said shelves requiring no more than forty degrees of rotation to be removed from said back wall.

46. The display stand of claim 42 wherein said shelves each include a plurality of inserts adapted to be inserted into a plurality of said slots to releasably support said shelves on said back wall, said inserts and said slots being configured such that said shelves must be rotated to be removed from said back wall, said shelves requiring no more than twenty degrees of rotation to be removed from said back wall.

47. A display stand comprising: a generally vertical back wall having a front face, a back face, a first side, and a second side, said front face including a plurality of slots; and at least one end panel attached to said back wall adjacent at least one of said first and second sides of said back wall, said at least one end panel extending generally vertically along said back wall; and a plurality of shelves releasably attachable to said front face of said back wall, said shelves each including an upper insert and a lower insert, said upper and lower inserts adapted to fit into separate ones of said slots to thereby support said shelves on said back wall, said shelves being attachable to said back wall at a plurality of different heights and at a plurality of different side-to-side positions between said first and second sides, said slots and said upper and lower inserts being configured such that said shelves must be rotated to be removed from said back wall, said shelves requiring no more than thirty degrees of rotation to be removed from said back wall; wherein said upper insert comprises a bracket that engages at least one of said slots, said bracket comprising an arcuate bracket element having a plurality of shelf mounting portions along an upper surface thereof, said shelf comprising a shelf base having a bracket engaging portion adapted to selectively and adjustably engage said shelf mounting portions of said bracket, said shelf base being adjustable relative to said bracket to adjust an orientation of said shelf base relative to said back wall via adjustment of said bracket engaging portion relative to said shelf mounting portions; and wherein said lower insert comprises a wall engaging portion of said shelf base that extends from a lower portion of said shelf base for engaging another one of said slots of said back wall when said shelf base is supported at said bracket and said back wall.

48. The display stand of claim 47 wherein said slots are generally horizontal slots that continuously extend for a majority of the distance from said first side of said back wall to said second side of said back wall, said slots being arranged in a horizontally alternating fashion between slots having a first shape and slots having a second shape, said first shapes extending vertically upward into said back wall, and said second shapes extending vertically downward into said back wall.

49. The display stand of claim 48 further including: a base attached to said back wall and extending forwardly from said front face of the back wall; and wherein said at least one end panel comprises at least two end panels attached to said back wall adjacent the first and second sides of said back wall.

50. The display stand of claim 49 wherein said shelves each include said shelf base and a shelf tray, said shelf tray being slidably attached to said shelf base such that said shelf tray can slide with respect to said shelf base.

51. The display stand of claim 50 wherein a first set of said shelf trays includes dividers adapted to separate products supported on thereon; a second set of said shelf trays includes no dividers; and said first and second sets of shelf trays are both adapted to be releasably and interchangeably attachable to said shelf bases.

52. The display stand of claim 49 wherein said bracket selectively engages said shelf base at one of at least two positions to adjustably mount said shelf base to said rear wall in one of at least two orientations, said lower insert pivoting at the respective one of said slots when said shelf base is adjusted.

53. The display stand of claim 49 wherein said shelves each include a connector, said connector adapted to couple a first one of said shelves with a second one of said shelves when the second one of said shelves is positioned adjacent a side of said first one of said shelves, said connector maintaining said first and second ones of said shelf bases in alignment with each other when said first and second ones of said shelves are coupled together by said connector.

54. The display stand of claim 49 further including: at least one sign; at least one sign bracket pivotally attached to said sign such that said sign can be pivoted to a plurality of different orientations with respect to said sign bracket, said sign bracket adapted to be attached to, and detached from, said back wall; and a lock for maintaining said sign in a selected orientation with respect to said sign bracket.

55. The display stand of claim 49 further including an arm having a slot insert that is adapted to be inserted into at least one of said slots, said arm supporting at least one light.

56. The display stand of claim 49 further including an arm adapted to be secured to said back wall in a snap-fitting manner, said arm having a light supported thereon.

57. The display stand of claim 49 further including: a vertical divider panel releasably attachable to said back wall at a plurality of side-to-side positions between said first and second sides of said back wall; and a plurality of divider panel brackets that each have at least one insert adapted to be inserted into at least one of said slots and to support each of said brackets on said back wall, each said bracket further including at least one pin and said divider panel further including a plurality of channels adapted to receive at least one of said pins to allow said divider panel to be releasably coupled to said plurality of divider panel brackets.

58. A display stand comprising: a generally vertical back wall having a front face, a back face, a first side, and a second side, said front face including a plurality of slots; a plurality of shelves releasably attachable to said front face of said back wall; at least one panel attached to said back wall and extending generally vertically therealong, said at least one panel being positioned at an end of at least one of said shelves to define an end panel at said end of said at least one of said shelves; and a plurality of shelf brackets, each said shelf bracket including at least one insert adapted to fit into at least one of said slots to thereby support an associated shelf on said back wall, each of said shelves being attachable to the associated shelf bracket in a plurality of different configurations such that said shelf bracket supports the associated shelf in a selected one of a plurality of different orientations with respect to said back wall, said shelf including a wall engaging portion that engages another one of said slots of said back wall when said shelf base is supported at said shelf bracket and said back wall.

59. The display stand of claim 58 wherein said plurality of different orientations includes a first orientation in which said shelves are generally perpendicular to said back wall, and a second orientation in which said shelves are angled downwardly from said back wall.

60. The display stand of claim 59 wherein said slots are generally horizontal slots that continuously extend for a majority of the distance from said first side of said back wall to said second side of said back wall, said slots being arranged in a horizontally alternating fashion between slots having a first shape and slots having a second shape, said first shapes extending vertically upward into said back wall, and said second shapes extending vertically downward into said back wall, each said shelf bracket including a plurality of inserts, one of said inserts adapted to insert into said slots having said first shape, and another of said inserts adapted to insert into said slots having said second shape.

61. The display stand of claim 60 wherein said shelves each include a shelf base and a shelf tray, said shelf base being insertable into at least one of said slots and said shelf tray being slidably attached to said shelf base such that said shelf tray can slide with respect to said shelf base.

62. The display stand of claim 61 wherein a first set of said shelf trays includes dividers adapted to separate products supported on thereon; a second set of said shelf trays includes no dividers; and said first and second sets of shelf trays are both adapted to be releasably and interchangeably attachable to said shelf bases.

63. The display stand of claim 1, wherein said bracket comprises an arcuate bracket element having a plurality of shelf mounting portions along an upper surface thereof, said bracket engaging portion of said shelf base being adapted to selectively and adjustably engage said shelf mounting portions of said bracket.
Description



BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to display racks, and more particularly to adjustable display racks used to display products for sale in retail locations.

Retail display racks are used to display a wide variety of different products that are offered for sale. In the past, these retail display racks have suffered from a number of disadvantages. For example, past retail displays have often been manufactured having a fixed size and fixed arrangement for displaying the products. These past displays have also been limited in the location, arrangement, and ease of re-arrangement of the advertising and signs that accompany the display and which help to sell the products stored thereon. The individual shelves on past display racks have also often been difficult to adjust without removing the surrounding shelves. This is due to the fact that prior shelves must have their front ends lifted vertically a certain distance before they can be removed and secured at a different height. This certain distance is often more than the vertical distance that separates the shelves. The person attempting to adjust the shelf therefore must remove all of the shelves above the shelf that is to be adjusted before the adjustment can be made.

Furthermore, some display racks are also sold or provided to retailers by the manufacturer of the product that is to be placed on the display. When this is done, the manufacturer of the product has an interest in ensuring that the display is used to display their product, and not the products of another manufacturer. Past displays have offered no assistance in ensuring that retailers did not use the displays to promote other manufacturer's products. As a result, manufacturers of products who provide displays for their products to retailers often find that their displays are altered and used to sell other products. The need can therefore be seen for a display rack that helps alleviate these and other disadvantages of past display racks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a display rack that overcomes these and other disadvantages. The display rack is constructed of a multitude of modular components that can be easily assembled without the use of special tools or separate fasteners. Moreover, once assembled, the components can easily be re-arranged into a variety of different display configurations. The display offers a great degree of flexibility in being constructed in different sizes and configurations. Numerous other advantages are also provided, as will be discussed in more detail below.

According to one aspect of the invention, a display stand is provided that includes a back wall and at least one shelf. The back wall includes a front face, a back face, a first side, and a second side. The front face includes a plurality of parallel, generally horizontal slots that continuously extend for a majority of the distance from the first side to the second side. The shelf is releasably attachable to the front face of the back wall and is adapted to fit into at least one of the slots to thereby support the shelf on the back wall. The shelf is attachable to the back wall at a plurality of different heights and at a plurality of different side-to-side positions.

According to another aspect of the invention, a display stand is provided that includes a generally vertical back wall, a plurality of shelves, and a connector. The back wall has a front face, a back face, a first side, and a second side. The front face of the back wall includes a plurality of slots. The shelves each have first and second sides and the shelves are releasably attachable to the front face of the back wall. The shelves also each include at least one insert that fits into at least one of the slots to thereby support the shelves on the back wall. The shelves are attachable to the back wall at a plurality of different heights and at a plurality of different side-to-side positions between the sides of the back wall. The connector is attached to each of the shelves and adapted to couple a first one of the shelves with a second one of the shelves when the first and second shelves are positioned adjacent to each other in a side-by-side arrangement. The connector maintains the first and second shelves in horizontal alignment with each other when the shelves are coupled together by the connector.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a display stand is provided that includes a generally vertical back wall and a plurality of shelves that are releasably attachable to the back wall. The back wall includes a plurality of slots. The shelves each include an upper insert and a lower insert. The upper and lower inserts are adapted to fit into separate ones of the slots defined on the back wall to thereby support the shelves on the back wall. The shelves are attachable to the back wall at a plurality of different heights, and at a plurality of different side-to-side positions. The slots in the upper and lower inserts are configured such that the shelves must be rotated to be removed from the back wall and the amount of rotation required to remove them from the back wall is less than 30.degree..

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a display stand is provided that includes a generally vertical back wall, a plurality of shelves, and a plurality of shelf brackets. The back wall has a front face, a back face, and first and second sides. The front face includes a plurality of slots. The shelves are adapted to be releasably attachable to the front face of the back wall by way of the shelf brackets. Each of the shelf brackets includes at least one insert adapted to fit into at least one of the slots to thereby support an associated shelf on the back wall. Each shelf bracket is attachable to the associated shelf in a plurality of different configurations such that the shelf bracket can support the associated shelf in a plurality of different orientations with respect to the back wall.

According to other aspects of the present invention, each shelf may include a shelf base and a shelf tray, wherein the shelf base is insertable into at least one of the slots on the slot wall and the shelf tray is releasably attachable to the shelf base. The shelf base may be designed such that it can accommodate a plurality of different styles of shelf trays that are interchangeable with a given shelf base. These styles may include trays having dividers adapted to separate product supported on the shelf, as well as trays that lack such dividers. The trays may be slidingly coupled to the shelf bases such that they can slide forward on the shelf base to allow them to be more easily accessed. The display stand may further include one or more signs that can be coupled to the back wall at different locations. The signs may include a graphic panel and at least one light positioned behind the graphic panel in order to illuminate the graphic panel. End walls may further be attached to the back wall, as well as a plurality of divider panels that may be attached at any desirable side-to-side position on the back wall. A cabinet may also be attached to the back wall at any desired location. Doors may be included on the display stand such that the contents of the display stand cannot be accessed without opening the doors. The doors preferably can be locked and may open either by pivoting about a vertical axis or by sliding along tracks.

The display stand of the present invention provides a number of advantages over prior display stands. The display stand of the present invention can be configured in virtually an unlimited number of different manners so that users of the display stand can individually tailor it to their own specifications. This individual tailoring includes the selection and placement of different types of shelves, the selection and placement of cabinets, signs, lights, product dispensers, literature dispensers, and other items that may be incorporated into the display stand. Once a given configuration of the display stand has been chosen and implemented, changes to this configuration can be made quickly and easily, if desired. Additionally, the slots on the back wall of the display stand and the inserts on the shelves, and other items, may be shaped in a nonstandard manner so that conventional shelving may not fit into the slots, thereby discouraging retailers from using the display stand to display other types of products. These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display stand according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a back wall and base of the display stand;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a frame of the display stand;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the frame, base, an end panel, and a plurality of overhead lights and light brackets;

FIG. 5 is a partial, elevational view of the upper portion of the components of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial, elevational view of the lower portion of the components of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side, elevational view of the frame;

FIG. 8 is a side, elevational view of a double hanger rail of the frame;

FIG. 9 is a side, elevational view of a single hanger rail of the frame;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the slot wall;

FIG. 11 is a side, elevational view of the slot wall;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the base illustrated without a cover;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the base illustrated with a cover;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a foot in the base;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a leveler extension bracket;

FIG. 16 is a side, elevational view of the bracket of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a front rail of the base;

FIG. 18 is a side, elevational view of the rail of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an end panel;

FIG. 20 is a partial, side elevational view of a light bracket shown attached to the top end of the back wall;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the light bracket of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is another perspective view of the light bracket taken from another angle;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a cover for the light bracket;

FIG. 24 is a side, elevational view of a light bar for the light bracket of FIG. 20;

FIG. 25 is a side, elevational view of a top wall extrusion;

FIG. 26 is a side, elevational view of an illuminated sign and sign bracket;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the illuminated sign and sign bracket of FIG. 26 illustrated with end covers attached;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the sign bracket;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a back wall of the illuminated sign;

FIG. 30 is a side, elevational view of the back wall of FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a side, elevational view of the illuminated sign shown with the end cover removed;

FIG. 32 is a side, partial, elevational view of the area labeled XXXII in FIG. 31;

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of a light panel that fits within the illuminated sign of FIG. 26;

FIG. 34 is a side, elevational view of the light panel of FIG. 33;

FIG. 35 is a perspective view of the end cover for the illuminated sign;

FIG. 36 is a partial, side, elevational view of a plurality of shelves shown attached to the slot wall;

FIG. 37 is a partial, side, elevational view of the shelves of FIG. 36 illustrated with a middle shelf tipped upward to a slot wall removal position.

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of the top of a shelf base;

FIG. 39 is a perspective view of the under side of the shelf base;

FIG. 40 is a sectional view of the shelf base taken along the line XL--XL in FIG. 42;

FIG. 41 is a front, elevational view of the shelf base;

FIG. 42 is a plan view of the shelf base;

FIG. 43 is a sectional view of the shelf base taken along the line XLIII--XLIII in FIG. 42;

FIG. 44 is a perspective view of a cover for the shelf base;

FIG. 45 is perspective view of a divided shelf tray;

FIG. 46 is a side, elevational view of the divided shelf tray of FIG. 45;

FIG. 47 is a front, elevational view of the shelf tray of FIG. 45;

FIG. 48 is a perspective view of the divided shelf tray attached to the shelf base;

FIG. 49 is a plan view of the divided shelf tray and shelf base of FIG. 48;

FIG. 50 is a perspective view of a shelf bracket;

FIG. 51 is a side, elevational view of the shelf bracket of FIG. 50;

FIG. 52 is a sectional view of the shelf base, shelf tray, and bracket taken along the line LII--LII in FIG. 49 illustrating the shelf in a first orientation;

FIG. 53 is a side, elevational view of the shelf base, shelf tray, and shelf bracket, similar to FIG. 52 but illustrating the shelf bracket in a second orientation;

FIG. 54 is a perspective view of an undivided shelf tray;

FIG. 55 is a side, elevational view of the shelf tray of FIG. 54;

FIG. 56 is a perspective view of the undivided shelf tray shown attached to the shelf base;

FIG. 57 is a perspective view of a waterfall shelf tray;

FIG. 58 is a side, partial, elevational view of the waterfall tray shown attached to the slot wall;

FIG. 59 is a perspective view of a divider panel bracket;

FIG. 60 is a side, elevational view of the divider bracket of FIG. 59;

FIG. 61 is a plan view of the divider panel bracket of FIG. 59;

FIG. 62 is a side, elevational view of a divider panel;

FIG. 63 is a perspective view of a cabinet side wall;

FIG. 64 is a perspective view of a cabinet bracket;

FIG. 65 is a side, elevational view of the cabinet bracket;

FIG. 66 is a perspective view of a basket;

FIG. 67 is a side, elevational view of the basket of FIG. 66;

FIG. 68 is a perspective view of a utility pole supporting a literature holder and a light box;

FIG. 69 is a plan view of the utility pole, literature holder, and light box of FIG. 68;

FIG. 70 is a perspective view of a utility pole bracket;

FIG. 71 is a perspective view of a literature holder bracket;

FIG. 72 is a front, perspective view of a gravity fed product dispenser shown attached to the utility pole;

FIG. 73 is a rear, perspective view of the gravity fed, product dispenser and utility pole of FIG. 72;

FIG. 74 is a plan view of the dispenser and utility pole of FIG. 72;

FIG. 75 is a perspective view of the bracket for the gravity fed product dispenser;

FIG. 76 is a side, elevational view of a shelf light support;

FIG. 77 is a plan view of the shelf light support of FIG. 76;

FIG. 78 is a perspective view of a tap plate;

FIG. 79 is a perspective view of a pair of security doors;

FIG. 80 is a perspective view of a top member of the security door frame;

FIG. 81 is a perspective view of a bottom member of the security door frame;

FIG. 82 is a perspective view of a rear, bottom track segment for sliding doors;

FIG. 83 is a perspective view of a rear, top track segment for the sliding doors;

FIG. 84 is a perspective view of a front, bottom track segment for the sliding doors;

FIG. 85 is a perspective view of a front, top track segment for the sliding doors;

FIG. 86 is a partial, perspective view of the slot wall and an electrical outlet;

FIG. 87 is a partial, perspective, exploded view of the slot wall and electrical outlet illustrating an optional cap for the outlet;

FIG. 88 is a perspective view of the display stand illustrating sliding doors attached in their closed position;

FIG. 89 is a perspective view of the display stand illustrating sliding doors attached and moved to an open position.

FIG. 90 is a perspective view of a light box and bracket for supporting the light box directly on the slot wall; and

FIG. 91 is a side, elevational view of the light box and bracket of FIG. 90.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings where the reference numerals in the following written description correspond to like-numbered elements in the several drawings. A display stand 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 1. Display stand 100 includes a pair of vertical end panels 102 positioned at the ends of stand 100, a plurality of shelves 104, a cabinet 106, a plurality of illuminated top signs 108, a plurality of interior signs or light boxes 526, and a gravity fed product dispenser 112. A pair of vertical divider panels 114 divide the shelves into a plurality of columns. One or more light brackets 116 may also be included along the top of display stand 100 to support the lights that help illuminate the product positioned on the shelves. While display stand 100 can be used to support any type of products, the illustrated embodiment is especially suited for supporting and displaying cigarette packs and cartons. The containers of cigarettes may be positioned on the shelves 104, in the dispenser 112, and in the cabinet 106.

All of the aforementioned components of display stand 100 are mounted onto a back wall 118 that is supported on a base 120 (FIG. 2). Back wall 118 is made up of a slot wall 122 secured to a frame 124. Frame 124 is, in turn, secured to base 120. Slot wall 122 includes a plurality of parallel, generally horizontal elongated slots 126 defined on a front 128 of back wall 118. Slots 126 are continuous and extend all the way from a first side 130a to an opposite side 130b. It will be understood that slots 126 could alternatively extend for only a portion of the way between sides 130a and 130b. Still further, slots 126 could be interrupted in one or more locations so that they are not continuous from one side 130a to another side 130b.

Slots 126 are used to releasably secure and support the various components of display stand 100 on back wall 118. Specifically, slots 126 are used to support shelves 104, end panels 102, cabinet 106, top signs 108, interior signs 526, product dispenser 112, divider panels 114, and light brackets 116. While the precise manner in which all of these components are supported on slot wall 126 will be described in more detail below, they all generally include one or more inserts that fit into one or more of the slots 126 on back wall 118. The insertion of these inserts into slots 126 allows the components to be hung on slot wall 122. Because the slots 126 in the illustrated embodiment extend all the way from one side 130a to another side 130b, the components can be hung in any side-to-side location between sides 130a and b. The components can also be hung at different heights by selecting slots 126 that are at the desired height for locating the display stand component.

Slot wall 122 thus provides a virtual blank slate for assembling display stand components thereon. The purchaser or user of display stand 100 has complete freedom in configuring display stand 100. For example, if the user of display stand 100 did not want to include cabinet 106, he or she could simply remove cabinet 106 from slot wall 122 and replace it with a different display stand component. The replacement display stand component could be one or more shelves 104, one or more interior signs 526, one or more product dispensers 112, or other items, or a combination of these items. Alternatively, if the user desired to have more than one cabinet 106, additional cabinets could be added in any desired location. The number of components, as well as their location, can thus be completely custom defined by the user of display stand 100. In addition, the size of display stand 100 can be easily varied. While the back wall 118 depicted in FIG. 2 may have a standard length, such as four feet, longer display stands 100 can be created by simply placing one or more back walls 118 and their associated bases 120 next to each other in an end to end manner. Any size length of display stands 100 can therefore be created that has a length that is an integer multiple of the standard length of a single back wall 118. The standard length of back wall 118 can, of course, be varied from the four foot length mentioned above.

The construction of frame 124 is depicted in more detail in FIG. 3. Frame 124 includes a pair of vertical posts 132 that are positioned at each end of frame 124. Posts 132 are oriented generally parallel to each other. Posts 132 are connected to each other by way of a plurality of horizontal, double hanger rails 134. A single hanger rail 136 is positioned adjacent the bottom of frame 124. Posts 132, double hanger rails 134, and single hanger rail 136 may all be manufactured from a suitable metal, such as steel. Other materials are also possible. Hanger rails 134 and 136 may be attached to posts 132 by any suitable means, such as rivets, screws, welding, or other means. Hanger rails 134 and 136 are used to support slot wall 122 on frame 124. More specifically, double hanger rails 134 each include an upper flange 138 and a lower flange 140 (FIG. 8). Each flange 138 and 140 fits into a rear slot 142 defined on the back of slot wall 122 (FIG. 20). Similarly, single hanger rail 136 includes a flange 144 that fits into one of the rear slots 142 on slot wall 122 (FIG. 9). The flanges on rails 134 and 136 thus secure slot wall 122 to frame 124. In order to insert flanges 138, 140, and 144 into rear slots 142 on slot wall 122, the slot wall 122 must be positioned adjacent one of the sides 130a or 130b of frame 124 such that the flanges are in alignment with rear slots 142. The slot wall 122 is then slid across frame 124 from one side 130a towards another side 130b. Slot wall 122 is slid until it is centered between posts 132 on frame 124. Once in this position, slot wall 122 is securely attached to frame 124 via hanger rails 134 and 136. In order to remove slot wall 122 from frame 124, it must be slid off one of the sides 130a or b of frame 124. A rear panel 125 may be attached by suitable means to the back side of frame 124.

While the accompanying drawings illustrate only a single slot wall 122 attached to frame 124 (e.g. FIG. 2), it will be understood that slot wall 122 may be comprised of a number of individual, smaller sized slot wall segments. This may be done in order to allow slot wall 122 to be more easily manufactured. While slot wall 122 can be made from any suitable material, it may advantageously be extruded from plastic. As such, it may be easier to manufacture sections of slot wall 122 having heights and widths that are less than that depicted in FIG. 2. In such a case, each


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