US2921826A - Display rack - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 19, 1960 L.. F. MCLENNON A 2,921,826

DISPLAY RACK Filed Sept. 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fbg. .2

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Jan. 19, 1960 Filed Sept. 14, 1955 L. F. MCLENNON 2,921,826

DISPLAY RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mi #W5 United States Patefif' C 1,921,826. nrsrrarnaek Leo F; `Mcliemon; Chicago, Ill. Appli-ationseptember 14,1955; No.- ss4,19'1 sclaims. (13.312445) This invention relatesgenerally to a display rack construction. The instant display rack has been particularly constructed for use Vwith a composite base carrying` a card rack and having display shelving between the-base and card rack.

Today retailers all over the c ountry are engaging 1n the highly profitable business of selling greeting cards. The racks presently used to display these cards require a very considerable amount' of expensive store space.

Many retailers also are engaged in selling gift wrapping materials. These gift wrapping materials are alsospace consuming and heretofore have required separate display accommodations,V t

The present invention concerns itself with the prov1- sion of an intermediate display shelving sandwiched between the base and card rack now most commonly employed to the end of greatly reducing the overall space required for displaying the aforementioned merchandise and in so doing, utilizing space formerly completely Wasted.

From a merchandisers standpoint the instantdisplay rack construction is highly advantageous since it greatly promotes tie-in salesV of greeting cards andy gift wrapping materials.

Accordingly it is anl object of this invention to provide a highly simple display rackconstruction for displaying both greeting cards and gift wrappingmaterials.

Still another object of this inventionY is to provide a display rack construction which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and which greatly reduces the amount of oor space presently used to display the same merchandise.

A further object of this invention isfto provide a display rack construction which greatly promotes tie-in sales of merchandise. y

According to the general features of this invention there is provided in a composite display structure including a base and a display rack vcarried thereon, intermediate display shelving sandwiched between the base and rack including a relatively narrow shelf supported over the base forwardly of the rack and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined support for rolls of merchandise extending under the rack having an outer forward edge below and spaced fromV the rear edge of the shelf to a distance less than the diameter of the merchandise rolls so that the rolls can gravitate-downwa'rdly on said support into an exposed position of rest on the spaced edges ofv the shelf and support outwardly of the'rack butl over the forward portion-of the base;

Another feature of this invention relates to the provsion of an intermediately located inclined feederl shelf having adjustable dividers for' accommodating various widths of rolls of merchandise.

Other objects and features of vthis invention will tore fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which .illustrate a single embodiment thereof and in which:

2,921,826 Patented Jan. 19, 1960 .ICC

Figurel is a front elevation of my novel display rack embodying features of this invention;

Figure 2yis aV sideelevation of the display rack shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged front elevation of the intermediate display shelving embodying features of the present invention;

VFigure 4 is aplan view of the intermediate section shovvnin Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section showing the detail of a notched strip for accommodating stock spacing wires.

A s shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally my no vel display rack construction which includes a base section 11 having a plurality of drawers 12 positioned below a longitudinally extending rearwardly inclined surface 13 positioned along the upper vertical edge of the section 11. This inclined surface 13 is especially adapted to have suitably mounted thereon indicia 14 for identifying the' various merchandise carriedupon shelves as will hereinafter become apparent.

Positioned on top of the base section 13 is my novel detachable intermediate section 1S which is most advantageously constructed so as to be capable of having mounted thereon a detachable card rack 16. This card rack 1 6 maybe of the type shown in the I. C. Hall Patent No. 2,067,051 which `is especially adapted to highlight and display greeting cards.

Any suitable materials'may be utilized in building m`y rack 10l with excellent results being attainable through the use of wood.

My invention is particularly concerned with the construction and operation of the intermediate section 15 which is sandwiched between the base 11 and rack 16 in the illustrated embodiment.

vThe intermediate section 15 includes two side walls 17 and 18 joined together by a rear panel 19. Each of the side walls 17 and 18 has a reduced forward portion (Figs. 1 and 2) defined by a flat edge 20 connected to' an arcuate edge 21 leading to a vertically upper edge 22.

Insertable within the yhousing defined by side walls 17 and 18 and rear panel 17 are three identical space dividers and shelf supporters 23. Each of these dividers has a suitable number of slots 24 which are preferably spaced and staggered vertically rearwardly with the lowermost slot extending forwardly of all of the vertically upper slots; the same being true for each of the suceeding slots (Figure 5). v

Each of the' dividers 23 Vis of a relatively narrow cross section and includes aat bottom 25(Fig. 5) which is adapted to rest upon cabinet top 26; and a relatively at rear wall 27 which is' adapted to bottom against rear panel 19 (FigJS).

The dividers 23 have a vertically upwardly offset edge 28 coplanar'with edges 2G which are adapted to provide a rest for a transparent member or shelf 29 which may be constructed of a suitable material such as glass or the like. VOffset edge 29 is connected to a vertically downwardly angled edge 30 which is in turn connected-tb a rearwardly upwardly inclined edge or surface 31 adapted to carry an inclined shelf 32 which may be secured to the edges 31 in any suitable manner.

Slidably disposed in the slots 24 between the dividers 23 are a series of staggered shelves 33.

In Vassembly the dividers 23 may be assembled with upwardly staggered shelves or racks 33 and fastendedtogether by any suitable means such as glue or nails. Thereafter, the divider and shelf assembly may be slid within the housing dened by the side walls 17 and 18 j@ 1,921,836 Y Y.

suitable manner as previously set forth.

In Figures 3-5 it will beenoted thatV rear panel 19 isY notched Yat Y34 along therlength of Asarne at predetermined intervals. Similarly, ,theV forward end of shelf 32 vhas a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings' Y3,5fextending a portion fof 'the way through? the shelfl 32 with Veach vof the openings 35 being in alignment with the Irearwardly disposed notch 34. Guide `rails or wires` 36 each have a hooked end 37 and an extended'rearward terminal portion -378 Yon the opposite end` and each maybepositionedV in the opening 35 and 'notch 34, respectively in assembly. Theseguide wires Y36 maybe placed i'n Vany suitable position in/orderto accommodate variable sized ribbon rolls 39'as is shown in the drawings'. l

Y In operation, the guide wires `36 are placed in predef termined longitudinally L spaced positions and` variable sized rolls may be stackedV uponthe'inclined shelf 32 Ibetwee'n'the wires 36. Forward edge 40 of shelf 32 is positioned vertically below glass eidge41 andris `of a 'predetermined smaller distance apart than the diameter of the rolls. When a series of rolls 39 are positioned along the inclined'plane between the guide wires 736 the lowermost roll is readily viewed by the prospective b uyer as it is supported between edgesY `40 and 41. Y It is in this manner that the ribbons are constantly in proper position since asone roll ofribbons removed'another'will immediately gravitate' into position between -the previously mentioned edges. f Y Y' Y Y As a prospective card purchaser views the greeting cards carried by the card rack 16, his vattention willbecome diverted to the rolls of ribbon 39 carried slightly ward edge, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined support for rolls of merchandisefbeing disposed generally rearwardly of said shelf, said rearwardly inclined support having an outer forward edgebelow and spaced from said rearward edge of said shelf to a distance less than the diameter of the merchandise rolls so that the rolls may gravitate downwardly. on said support into Van exposed position of restbetween'said rearward edge of the shelf v and saidouter forward edge, saidshelf being transparent,

and at least one A horizontallyY disposed second shelf mounted below and staggered forwardlyof said outer support edge, said secondrshelf located belowY said transparent shelf for carrying merchandise below Ysaid trans# parent shelf and which merchandise may be viewed from above the transparent shelf.

-2. A roll display and shelving structure including a relatively narrow generally horizontally disposed first shelf for supporting packages and the like having a rearward e edge,'an upwardly andrrearw'ardl'y inclined support for to the rear of the vglass shelf 29 and to packages of wrapv ping paper and other like 'merchandise 42 carried upon cabinet top 26, and shelves 33 respectively, which are all in staggered relation to one auother. The prospective purchaser may rest his or her'packages and purse upon v the glassy shelf or counter while viewing` through theY glass a considerable variety of merchandise 42 (Fig; 3,) which vmay be removed from lthe forward end of the frack 10 for closer scrutiny and purchase. It will beappreciated Vthe glass shelf additionally serves to keep the merchandise clean. f

The merchandise 42above mentioned niay comprise rolls, iovaleorat packages of gift Vdressings of variable lengths, for example, a rolled package of wrapping'paper 30 long. This'is highly advantageous sinceV the presently known displaying facilities do not accommodate rolls of such length. Y

. The instant rack construction 10 greatly increases the number of tie-in *salesV since a prospective buyerglooking for one type of merchandise such vas a greeting card' will be'reminded that he may also need some other related item such'as wrappings and ribbon for a gift. I

Another advantage of the instant construction is=that formerly wasted space may :be utilizedto Vdisplay lgoods' since separate display r'acksjv are no longer needed for greeting cards, ribbons and wrappings. .'Stll'further the space contained in cavity 43 (Fig. 5)V define/d by the walls of the card rack may be utilized vsince the Yrolls of merchandise may extendl therein when resting upon inclined support 32 thereby utilizing formerly wasted space for storing merchandise rolls.

It will be understood that modifications and variations I may =be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, but it understood that this Vapplication is tobe limited only by the scope of the appended claims. Y i K s g l VI claim as my invention:V Y Y 1. A roll display and shelving structure includingV a relatively narrow generally horizontally disposed v `rst shelf for supporting packages and theY like having a rearrolls of merchandise ,being disposed generally rearwardly of said shelf,said rearwardly inclined support having an outer forward edge below and spaced. from said rear-v ward edge of said shelf to a distance less than therdiameter of the merchandise rolls so that the rolls may gravitate forwardly of said outer support edge, said second shelf located below'said transparentl shelf for carrying 'merchandise below said transparent shelf, and a third shelf mountedbelow said'second shelf and staggered forwardly of said second shelf, said second and third shelves adapted to carry merchandise which'may be viewed-from above said transparent shelf. Y Y

3. A roll display and shelving structure including a relatively narrow generally horizontally disposed rst shelf for supporting packages and the like having a rearward edge, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined support for rollsV of merchandise being disposed generallyrearwardly of said shelf, said rearwardly inclined support having an outer forward edge below and spaced from said 'rearward edge of said shelf to a distance lessthan the diameter of the merchandise rolls so Ythat the'f rolls maygravitate downwardly'on said support into an exposed position of rest between said rearward edge of the shelf and said outer forward edge, a plurality of guide rails extending rearwardly on said'support'with a hooked forward end, a plurality of openingsv in the forward portion ofthe support anda plurality of notches in the rearward portion of the support for supportingly and adjustably receivingsaid rails, said first shelf being transparent, and at least one horizontally disposed second shelf mounted below andv staggered forwardly of said outer support edge,rsaid second shelf located below said transparent shelf for carrying merchandise below said transparent shelf so that it may be viewed from above the transparent shelf,

References Cited inthe file of this patent n UNITED VSTATES PATENTS 888,556 Germany I V sept. s, 1953

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