GB2233807A - Display system - Google Patents

Abstract

A display system for kitchen or bedroom furniture comprises a plurality of bearer units 1 mounted for horizontal sliding movement between a retracted stored position in a housing 2 and an extended viewing position. Each unit I comprises a mount panel 1a and an end panel 1b extending to each side of the mount panel 1a to define respective recessed bays 1c for furniture displayed on opposed sides of the mount panel 1a. The units 1 are arranged side by side with the mount panels 1a in spaced apart parallel relationship and, in the retracted position, the end panels lb are aligned and close the housing 2 to conceal the mount panels 1a within the housing 2. The bearing units may incorporate lighting units to illuminate the furniture displayed. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPLAY SYSTEM This invention relates to a display system for kitchen and bedroom furniture.

The invention has particular application to a display system for kitchen and bedroom furniture of the type comprising modular units of predetermined sizesthat can be selected and arranged according to the available space to provide an integrated kitchen or bedroom design.

The known modular units for both kitchen and bedroom furniture comprise a car case to which different combinations of doors and/or drawers are fitted. Usually, several ranges of units are provided having the same combinations but different styles and/or finishes for the doors and/or drawer fronts.

To display the different ranges, it is usual for show kitchens or bedrooms to be assembled in the showrooF from the modular units. In this way, the overall eft,ect of the style and/or surface finish in a typical lay-out for each range is presented to the customer.

The disadvantage of such fixed displays is that they are wasteful of floor space owing to the size of the individual units and the need to provide sufficient clearance space for customers to view each display.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a display system for kitchen and bedroom furniture which overcomes the afore-mentioned disadvantage of fixed displays and enables several ranges of furniture to be displayed in a compact arrangement that makes economical use of available floor space.

According to the present invention we provide a display system for kitchen or bedroom furniture comprising a plurality of bearer units adapted for mounting ranges of kitchen or bedroom furniture with each bearer unit being supported for horizontal sliding movement between a retracted position ("the stored position") and an extended position ("the viewing position") such that each bearer unit is selectively movable to the extended position for showing the associated range of furniture.

The invented display system enables several ranges of kitchen or bedroom furniture to be mounted for selective viewing by the customer in a compact arrangement which makes better use of the available floor space than the conventional fixed displays.

Preferably, each bearer unit comprises a rectangular mount panel supported for the horizontal sliding movement and an end panel secured to one side edge with the end panel being provided with a hand grip accessible to the user for moving the bearer unit between the retracted and extended positions.

Advantageously, each end panel extends to either side of the associated mount panel to define therewith respective display bays on each side of the panel. In this way, ranges of furniture can be mounted for display on each side of the mount panel.

Each bearer unit may be suspended at the top for sliding movement with optional guide means being provided at the bottom to locate the bearer unit during sliding movement. Alternatively, each unit may be supported at the bottom for sliding movement with the optional guide means being provided at the top.

Conveniently, the bearer units are received in a housing in the retracted position. Such housing may be provided in part by the wall(s), floor and ceiling of the showroom, for example an alcove or recess, and/or by fixed side, back, top and bottom panels as appropriate.

In a preferred arrangement, the housing is rectangular with the bearer units arranged side by side with the mount panels in spaced apart parallel relationship and the end panels closing an opening at one end of the housing in the retracted position.

Advantageously, each bearer unit incorporates lighting unit(s) adapted for connection to a power source for illuminating the associated range(s) of furniture.

Other features and advantages of the invented display system will be apparent from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a display system according to the present invention showing one of the bearer units in the extended position and from one side; and FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the system similar to Figure 1 but showing the extended bearer unit from the other side.

The display system for kitchen furniture shown in the accompanying drawings comprises five bearer units 1 mounted for horizontal sliding movement between a retracted position for storage in a rectangular housing 2 ("the stored position") and an extended position for viewing any selected range of kitchen furniture ("the viewing position").

The housing 2 comprises top and bottom walls 2a,2b extending between opposed side walls 2c defining an opening 2d at one end, and a back wall (not shown) extending between the side walls 2c at the other end.

The top and bottom walls 2a,2b may be provided by the ceiling and floor of a showroom with the side walls 2c and back wall being provided by the walls of an existing recess or alcove.

Alternatively, one or more of the side walls 2c and back wall may be provided by a respective fixed panel extending between the ceiling and floor.

In a preferred arrangement, the housing 2 is arranged to provide clearance on either side of the opening 2d for viewing of both sides of each bearer unit 1.

The bearer units 1 are of similar construction each comprising an upright rectangular mount panel la suspended along the top edge from a support track (not shown) for sliding movement by any suitable means (not shown).

The bearer units 1 are arranged side by side with the mount panels la in spaced apart parallel relationship, and each panel la is guided along the bottom edge for such sliding movement by any suitable means (not shown) to maintain the panel la upright and prevent the panel la twisting or swinging about the support track.

Secured to the front or leading side edge of each panel la is a respective upright rectangular end panel ib arranged to extend on either side of the associated mount panel la to define therewith respective recessed display bays lc. In the retracted position, the end panels 1b are aligned and close the opening 2d so as to conceal the mount panels la within the housing. 2.

Mounted on the front or outer face of each end panel ib is a respective hand grip id accessible to the user by means of which the associated bearer unit 1 may be manually moved between the retracted or stored position and the extended or viewing position.

Each end panel ib is also provided on the front or outer face with means le for attaching labels (not shown) to identify the kitchen ranges for use by the customer in selecting the required bearer unit 1 to be extended to the viewing position.

Mounted on each side of each mount panel la is a respective show kitchen 3 consisting of an array of modular base units 3a and an array of modular wall units 3b. Typically, the door and drawer fronts of the units 3a,3b will all be to the same style for a given range of units but may have different surface finishes where there is a choice of the surface finish.

Each unit 3a,3b is of the same height and width as the corresponding full-size unit but is of reduced depth so as to be confined within the associated display bay lc. By using normal sizes for the height and width of the units 3a,3b and reducing only the depth, a three dimensional display is obtained which simulates the effect of a conventional fixed display assembled from fullsize units.

Each show kitchen 3 is completed by a narrow strip of worktop 3c extending across the top of the base units 3a and by a cornice 3d extending along the top edge of the wall units 3b.

A pelmet (not shown) may also be provided along the bottom edge of the wall units 3b as well as tiles or other suitable wall covering (not shown) between the base units 3a and the wall units 3b.

Additionally, each bearer unit 1 may incorporate lighting unit(s) (not shown) adapted for connection to a suitable power source to illuminate the associated show kitchens 3.

As will now be appreciated, the present invention provides a compact display system permitting selective viewing of several different ranges of furniture in a floor area considerably less than that required for a conventional fixed display of the same ranges of furniture.

As a result, the number of ranges that can be displayed may be increased for a given floor space or the saving in floor space may be utilised to display other products.

By way of example only and without limiting the scope of the invention as described herein, in the exemplary embodiment above-described, each end panel Ib is 400mm wide providing display bays lc approximately 200mm deep on either side of the associated mount panel la and the base units 3a and wall units 3b are 75mm and 75mm deep respectively as compared with the corresponding full size units which are 500mm and 300mm deep respectively.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment above-described, for example the number of bearer units may be selected as desired.

Each mount panel may be used to mount furniture on one side only, for example where access to both sides of the bearer units is restricted.

Each mount panel may be arranged to mount and display more than one range of furniture on the or each side.

The housing may be arranged with openings at both ends and the bearer units arranged for sliding movement to the extended position from either end. In this way, separate bearer units may be extended from either end for viewing of different ranges at the same time.

The housing may be of any shape or size, for example circular or part circular with the bearer units arranged to extend radially. Two or more housings with the associated bearer units may be arranged side by side, back to back or any other positions as desired.

Finally, although the invention has been described with reference to the mounting and display of ranges of kitchen furniture, it is to be understood that the invention applies equally to the mounting and display of different ranges of modular units of bedroom furniture having door and/or drawer fronts of a particular style and/or finish.

Claims (14)

Claims:

1. A display system for kitchen or bedroom furniture comprising a plurality of bearer units adapted for mounting ranges of kitchen or bedroom furniture with each bearer unit being supported for horizontal sliding movement between a retracted position ("the stored position") and an extended position ("the viewing position") such that each bearer unit is selectively movable to the extended position for showing the associated range of furniture.

2. A display system according to Claim 1 wherein each bearer unit comprises a rectangular mount panel supported for the horizontal sliding movement and an end panel secured to one side edge with the end panel being provided with a hand grip accessible to the user for moving the bearer unit between the retracted and extended positions.

3. A display system according to Claim 2 wherein each end panel is provided with means for displaying a label.

4. A display system according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein each end panel extends to either side of the associated mount panel to define therewith respective display bays on each side of the panel.

5. A display system according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein each bearer unit is suspended at the top for sliding movement with optional guide means being provided at the bottom to locate the bearer unit during sliding movement.

6. A display system according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein each bearer unit is supported at the bottom for sliding movement with optional guide means being provided at the top.

7. A display system according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the bearer uni ts are received in a housing in the retracted position.

8. A display system according to Claim 7 wherein, in use, the system is arranged in a showroom or like display area and the housing is provided in part by the wall(s), floor and ceiling of the room and/or by fixed side, back, top and bottom panels as appropriate.

9. A display system according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 as dependent on Claim 2 wherein the housing is rectangular with the bearer units arranged side by side with the mount panels in spaced apart parallel relationship and the end panels closing an opening at one end of the housing in the retracted position.

10. A display system according to Claim 9 wherein the bearer units can be extended from said one end only.

11. A display system according to Claim 9 wherein each bearer unit has a respective end panel at each end and the bearer units can be extended from each end of the housing.

12. A display system according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the housing is circular or part circular and the bearer units are arranged to extend radially.

13. A display system according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein each bearer unit incorporates lighting unit(s) adapted for connection to a power source for illuminating the associated range(s) of furniture.

14. A display system for kitchen or bedroom furniture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.