Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
lZ8~3944
This invention relates to a display system for use in
displaying merchandise and more particularly to a system having
horizontal openings to receive hangers and the like.
Display systems are often pre-formed, three-dimensional
wall coverings made to receive fittings such as hangers for
suspending merchandise from the wall. The systems usually
appear as a series of parallel horizontal strips separated by
parallel gaps between the strips. These gaps are mouths of
T-slots provided to receive the hangers.
An exemplary use for these structures is to display
merchandise in environments such as retail stores and showrooms
where the aesthetic appearance is most important. Such display
structures are preferably strong enough to withstand loads
applied by heavier merchandise, and resistant to impacts which
tend to cause denting or scratching.
Commonlyl display systems are made from large sheets
- having the frontal appearance of strips separated by slots. The
sheets are available in different types of materials such as
wood, composites, metal, and plastics. There are many problems
associated with these products~ For instance, the sheets tend
to be heavy and unwieldy and as a result they can be damaged
during handling and assembly. Attempts to produce lighter
panels have resulted in structures which are of limited strength
and consequently readily damaged or broken by overloading.
A major drawback to the use of large panels is the lack
of flexibility afforded display designers. Retail outlets are
arranged to be attractive places and designers aee always
seeking materials to provide the flexibility needed when
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creating various aesthetically pleasing display structures.
One attempt to provide more flexibility involves the
use of individual strips which are shaped so that when they are
attached to a wall they give the appearance of strips separated
by slots. However, these structures require fasteners which
show in the slots and detract from the appearance.
The materials used in the structures vary greatly.
Wood and composites have to be quite bulky to provide the
necessary strength to support hangers, etc. otherwise the
material will fail locally under load. One attempt to
strengthen these materials was made using a metal insert in the
T-slots. While this enhanced the strength, it is an expensive
product to produce.
It is among the objects of the present invention to
provide a display element which can be applied with other
elements to a wall without showing any fastening means and which
can be used in back-to-back arrangement to make free-standing
display panels. A further object is to provide an element which
overcomes problems of the prior art.
In one of its aspects the invention provides an
elongate display element for use in building display
arrangements on walls. The display element has a plurality of
front strips arranged in parallel and extending longitudinally,
a first lock structure extending longitudinally in parallel with
the strips at one side of the strips and projecting sideways
beyond the nearest of the strips, and a second lock structure
extending longitudinally in parallel with the first lock
structure at the other side of the strips and underlying the
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nearest of the strips. Adjacent elements can be engaged one
with the other by engagement of the respective first and second
lock structures of the elements resulting in the strips of both
elements being separated uniforml~ from one another. Associated
structure is attached integrally to the strips and combines with
the strips to define at least one T-shaped slot. The mouth of
the slot separates the strips and the remainder of the slot
underlies the ad~acent strips. The strip nearest to the first
lock structure of the first element is adapted to combine with
the strip adjacent the second lock structure of the second
element to define a further T-shaped slot with the mouth of this
T-shaped slot separating these strips.
According to another aspect of the invention, the
display elements are adapted to be attached in back-to-back
lS relationship to build free-standing panels.
In yet another of its aspects the invention provides
hangers and other structures for engagement in and suspension
from the display element.
The invention will be better understood with reference
to the drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is an oblique sectional view of a display
element according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and
shown attached to a wall with some suitable fittings exploded
from the element;
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the element
and shown attached to a connector used to suspend the elements
from upright slotted supports;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a hanger suitable for
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use wlth the display element;
Fig. 4 ls a sectional view showing the hanger in
position;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view drawn to a smaller scale
and showing a special version of the hanger;
Figs. 6 - 9 inclusive are front views of wall
arrangements showing a plurality of display elements attached to
the wall to provide a variety of different visual appearances;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a connector used to
attach display elements to one another in orthogonal
arrangements;
Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing the connector of
Fig. 10 in use;
Fig. 12 is a sectional plan view of a mitred orthogonal
connection of two panels and using the connector of Fig. 10;
Fig. 13 is a perspective view, partly broken away, and
illustrating an external corner of one construction using
elements according to the invention;
Fig. 14 is a perspective exploded view of a corner
portion of a two-sided panel incorporating display elements
according to the invention
Fig 15 is a sectional top view showing an orthogonal
connection of two-sided panels;
Fig. 16 is a top sectional view of an in-line
connection of two two-sided panels; and
Fig. 17 is a sectional top view of an orthogonal
arrangmeent showing connections between four two-sided panels.
Reference is first made to Fig. 1 which illustrates the
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cross-sectional shape and frontal appearance of a preferred
embodiment of an extruded display element according to the
invention, and designated generally by nu~eral 20. Portions of
adjacent elements 22,23 are shown in ghost outline to illustrate
the interconnection of elements when they are attached to an
exemplary wall 24 by screws or other suitable fastenings 26.
The resulting overall appearance created by attaching a
plurality of elements such as element 20 to one another is to
provide horizontal strips 28, 30, 32, etc. which are spaced
apart by respective gaps 34, 36, etc. The gaps are actually the
mouths of T-shaped slots such as 38 and 40 which underly the
front strips 28, 30, etc. For example, the slot 38 includes
mouth or gap 34 and a pair of aligned recesses 42, 44 which
extend vertically to either side of the gap 34 and behind the
respective strips 28, 30. The slot is defined at its inner
extremity by a rear strip 43 and at its vertical extremities by
connecting portions 45, 47 which extend integrally between rear
strip 43 and front strips 28 and 30.
As will be described, the T-shaped slots are provided
both to receive hangers and fittings such as exemplary connector
49 for interconnecting walls in orthogonal arrangements.
The display elements are extruded from filled
polyvinylchloride to form rigid elongate structures which can be
stored and supplied in selected standard lengths.
The T-shaped slot 40 near to the upper extremity of
element 20 is formed in part by a rear strip 46 and extends
upwardly from a connecting piece 48 between front and rear
strips 30, 46. The slot 40 terminates at its outer or (as
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drawn) upper extremity in a fiest locking structure 50 which
combines with a second locking structure on the adjacent panel.
This second locking structure is similar to a corresponding
locking structure 52 shown at the bottom of element 20. The
structure 50 consists of an attachment portion 54 having a
frontal face 56 defining a V-shaped channel 58 used as a pilot
to locate a drill for drilling holes to receive the screws 26.
A tongue 60 depends upwardly from the attachment
portion 54 and, together with the front surface of the wall, 24
defines a channel 62. The proportions are such that when the
elements 20, 22 are inter-engaged, the tongue 60 fits in a
groove 64 (see bottom of element 20) of the second locking
structure and a complementary tongue 66 of this second locking
structure fits in the channel 62. The groove 64 and tongue 66
lS are ormed on a rearward projection 68 dependent from the
rearward surface of the strip 28. Also, the strip 28 is
recessed adjacent its lower extremity at 70 to provide adequate
clearance for the heads of screws 26.
It will be evident from the description thus far that
the display element for the purposes of attachment to the wall
24 includes some necessary components. These include, for
instance, front strips 28 and 30, the locking structure 50, 52
and the rear strips 43, 46 to define the T-shaped slots 38.
Also, the locking structures must cooperate with a adjacent
elements, to form slots such as slot 40. aowever, for the
purposes of further utility and as will be described in detail
with reference to Figs. 14 - 17, the display element 20 also
includes rearwardly open dovetailed slots or recesses 72, and
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74. The slot 74 is wider than the slot 72 which is defined
between the rearward projectlon 68, front strip 28, and
connect.ing piece 47. Similarly the larger slot 74 ls defined
between the connect.ing pieces 47 and 48 behind the front strip
30.
Before describ.ing the pract.ical functions of a display
created from display elements 20, reference is made to Fig. 2 to
describe one use for the dovetailed slot 74. In some
installations the walls will already have slotted posts capable
of receiving conventional shelving and other fixtures which are
hooked into openings in the posts. F.ig. 2 illustrates a simple
connecting element 76 proportioned to f.it .into slot 74 and
having a pair of hook elements 78 for engagement ln the slots of
an existing post 79 shown in ghost outline.
The hook elements 78 are attached to an upright first
portion 80, from which is dependent a first portion 82 shaped
for close engagement in the slot 74. An inner part 84 extends
from the portion 82 and lies ln parallel with the upright part
80 terminating at a short end part 86. This last part is shaped
to lie in close proximity with the dovetalled slot 74 so that
when the connecting element 76 is sl.ipped into the slot 74 from
the end of the slot, it cannot be withdrawn rearwardly from the
element 20. Consequently, it is possible to attach element 20
and associated elements to the uprights using connecting
elements 76 and to take advantage of the existing structure on
the wall without the need for screws 26. The number of
connecting elements will depend on the arrangement of the
uprights and also on the load anticlpated for the resultlng
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display wall.
Reference is now made to Fig. 3 to describe a preferred
embodiment of a hanger for use on display walls made up of
display elements such as that described with reference to Fig.
1. Hanger 90 consists essentially of a stiff upright portion 92
having a rearwardly extending bottom flange 94 at right angles
to the main body of portion 92 and, at its upper end, a shorter
flange 96 from which depends a rearwardly and upwardly extending
projection 98 terminating where it is attached to the
longitudinal centre of a round rod 100. This rod has a length
significantly greater than the width of the upright portion 92.
A hanger bar 102 (which is exemplary of various types of
projections) extends from the upright portion 92 for receiving
items such as clothing on hangers and other forms of
merchandise. The bar 102 is preferably a hollow tubular element
having a cap 104 at its outer end.
The hanger 90 is shown mounted on a display made up of
display elements in Fig. 4. It will be seen that the hanger is
engaged by moving rod 100 through gap 106 with the bar 102
angled upwardly. Once the rod is through the gap it can be
moved vertically into recess 108 thereby bringing the flange 94
into position for engagement in T-shaped slot 110 with the
flange extending through gap 112 of this slot. Once in
position, the upright portion 92 of the hanger is proportioned
so that the flanges 94 and 96 rest on upper extremities of
respective front strips 114 and 116. Consequently, the downward
load of merchandise hanging from the bar 102 will be distributed
by the hanger 90 on both strips 114 and 116. Also, torsional
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forces tending to strip the rod 100 out of the recess 108 will
be resisted by a couple created by the reactionary forces of the
end of the flange g4 on the wall of the T-shaped slot 110 and by
the rod 100 engaged behind the lower extremity of a front strip
118. The length of the rod 100 is selected to distribute this
reaction loading along the length of the strip 118 to minimize
the possibility of overstressing the strip locally with
resulting breakage or damage. Further, the length of the rod
lends stability transversely to the bar 102 to prevent
accidental disengagement caused by hori~ontal forces applied to
the sides of the bar.
Clearly the hanger 90 can take many forms consistent
upon the use of rod 100 and upright portion 92. Different bars
can be attached with varying cross sections and angles so that a
variety of display structures can be developed consistent with
the use of these portions of the hanger. One example of such a
use is shown in Fig. 5. Here a compound hanger 120 includes a
pair of aligned rods 122, 124 associated with respective upright
portions 126, 128 which correspond generally to the rod 100 and
upright portion 92 of the structure described with reference to
Fig. 3. Dependent from the respective portions 126, 128 are
rails 130, 132 which extend in parallel and are of similar
length terminating in an outer rail 134. This compound hanger
can be used to receive shelves or garments suspended from
hangers hooked over the outer rail 134, etc.
Although the utility of the display element is
important, it is also noteworthy that the element has an
attractive appearance and can also be used to advantage as a
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wall decoration. Clearly this can be combined with merchandise
displays in selected areas. The designs are limitless,
consistent with using horizontal strips separated by horizontal
gaps. For instance, in Fig. 6 groups of elements are provided
at three different levels, i.e. 136, 138 and 140. Such an
arrangement has the effect of creating a visual impression of a
longer wall while at the same time breaking the monotony of a
blank wall.
In Fig. 7, a serpentine effect is created using display
elements of various lengths. A series of longer length elements
are provided at level 142 and similarly elements at level 144
have the s~me length as those at level 142 and are staggered
horizontally. The space between these levels is filled by
shorter elements at levels 146 to complete the serpentine
effect. If desired, spaces on the wall such as space 148 and
150 can carry pictures, mirrors or the like. Similarly, in
other spaces, different colour decorations could be provided.
It should also be remembered that because the material
used to make the display element can be coloured simply by
adding colourants to the material, the serpentine effect could
consist of different colours spaced at random or selectively in
groups.
Fig. 8 is a further demonstration of the flexibility of
the system. Here continuous levels at 152 and 154 are linked by
groupings at various levels to create a labyrinth path 156. A
further alternative using similar techniques is shown in Fig. 9.
Clearly the display element described can be used to
decorate featureless walls and enhance the appearance not only
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of merchandise display areas, but also of walls generally. A
merchandiser's logo or name could be built up on the wall along
with special features used by the merchandiser to identify goods
etc. This flexibility is inherent in the system and because
each of the patterns is built up from display elements it is
possible to vary the pattern by dismantling and reassembling.
So far the description has been limited to the
application of display elements to a wall or similar surface.
However, the elements can be combined with one another either
while connected to a wall or independently. Returning to Fig. 1
for instance, the connector 49 can be used to connect a display
element at right angles to the element 20. The connector
includes a large square nut 158 proportioned to slide freely in
the T-slot 38 and having a central threaded opening 160 to
receive a threaded element 162 of a large-headed bolt 164. The
; head of this bolt is proportioned to slide in a slot similar to
slot 38 in a display element to be attached at right angles to
the element 20. The head also has a threaded opening 166 to
receive a set screw 168. To assemble the elements to one
another, the nut lS8 is first placed in the slot 38 and then the
bolt 164 is threaded into the opening 160 until the end of the
bolt engages the back wall of the slot to lock the nut in the
desired location in the slot. The proportions of the bolt are
such that this will happen before the head of the bolt meets the
strips 28, 30 of the element 20.
Once the element to be connected is in place, the set
screw 168 is tightened to engage the back of the corresponding
slot and thereby lock the structure in place. Because the
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elements are made from synthetic plastlc material, there will be
some deformation where the element 162 meets the element 20 and
where the set screw 168 meets the element containing the bolt
164. Such minor deformation has no detrimental effect but
nevertheless ensures adequate locking.
Reference is next made to Fig. 10 to show an
alternative connector sultable for connecting display elements
at right angles to one another. Connector 170 consists of first
and second portions 172, 174 arranged orthogonally and connected
integrally by a bridge 176~ The portions are proportioned to
slide in the T-shaped slots of the display elements and, as seen
in Fig. 11, the portion 172 ls engaged in a slot 178 associated
with a display element 180. The bridge 176 is proportloned to
provide clearance for the front strips 182, 184 and is located
in the gap or mouth of the slot 178. Similarly, the portion 174
is engaged in a T-shaped slot 186 of a further display element
188 arranged orthogonally to the element 180. With the
connector engaged in these elements, they can be adjusted by
sliding horizontally until the desired position is found. Set
screws 190 (one of which is shown) are then used to tlghten the
connector in place, the set screws belng threadably engaged in
respective openings 192, 194 in the portions 172, 174.
The connector 170 shown in Fig. 10, can also be used at
mitred corners. As seen in Fig. 12, display elements 196, 198
are connected at a mitred corner by connector 200 wh.ich is
similar to the connector 170 described previously. The
connector has a first portion 201 engaged in the first dlsplay
element 196 and a second portlon 202 engaged in the element
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12~894f L
198. In this arrangement, the bridge (176 in Fig. 10) is
irrelevant but because the connector includes the bridge, it can
be usèd in both the Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 arrangements. One
further advantage of the elements is that because they are
extruded, the colour is consistent throughout so that they can
be cut, mitred etc. and the colour will continue to be exposed.
Fig. 12 also shows in ghost outline a structue 204 of
vertical wood strips defining a corner to provide support for
the elements 196, 198. The elements would be connected to the
wood using screws such as those indicated by reference numeral
26 in Fig. 1, making it possible to build towers with mitered
corners and reinforced by an internal wood structure. Such
reinforcing would of course be necessary only for controlling
taller or stronger structures.
Display elements with mitred corners can also be
connected in an alternative manner. Fig. 13 shows display
elements 205, 207 connected by L-shaped connectors 209, 211.
The connector 209 has a first portion 211 having a cross-section
adapted to fit snugly in the dovetailed slot 213 of display
element 205 and a similar second portion 215 engaged in the
dovetailed slot 217 of display element 207. A similar but
~eeper connector 219 is positioned so that a first portion 221
is engaged in the wider dovetailed slot 223 of display element
205 and a second portion 225 is engaged in the dovetailed slot
227 of display element 207. Short, self-tapping screws (such as
the one indicated by reference numeral 229 which fits through
hole 231) are used to fasten connector 209 to display element
207. This type of fastening system allows structures to be
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built so that none of the connecting hardware is visible from
the outside.
Reference is next made to Fig. 14 which illustrates the
use of display elements previously described in back-to-back
arrangement to provide for display to both sides of a panel
structure. As seen in Fig. 14, an upper corner of a panel
structure is shown with parts exploded and the panel structure
is indicated generally by the reference numeral 206. A central
panel section 208 is surrounded by a peripheral frame 210. The
section 208 is made up of a plurality of display elements 212,
214, etc. stacked on one another. Above elements 212, 214 are a
pair of modified display elements 216, 218 which are similar in
cross section to that described with reference to Fig. 1 with
the exception that the elements terminate short of the first
locking structure 50 (Fig. 1). This is because the locking
structure is not required and would interfere with the smooth
appearance of the panel section 208.
The display elements 212, 214 along with the modified
display elements 216, 218 are retained in back-to-back
relationship by the use of a plurality of connecting pieces such
as piece 220. This has a cross-section corresponding to an
opening 222 formed by a pair of dovetailed recesses 224, 226 in
the respective display elements 216, 218. Similar openings will
of course be available formed by elements 212, 214 etc. The
piece 220 has a longitudinal opening 228 passing through it to
receive a screw (not shown) of the self-tapping type. This
screw is entered in the hole 230 formed in an upright section
232 of the peripheral frame so that the screw can be used to
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attach the piece 220 firmly to the frame. The holes 230 are
predrilled in the required locations so that when the frame is
being built it is necessary only to engage screws and position a
suitable number of connecting pieces 220 on the upright section
232 and corresponding upright of the other side of the panel
structure.
The top and bottom of the panel section 208 located on
strips such as 234 shown on the underside of a top section 236
and held in place by suitable self-tapping screws (not shown).
For convenience the strip 234 has the same cross section as the
connecting piece so that the lengths of this material can be
provided and cut to form strips or connecting pieces as
required. Clearly the strip 234 will engage snugly in the top
of the panel section to locate this and similarly a strip will
be provided at the bottom of the panel section for further
location of the panel section.
The peripheral frame 210 is made of two upright
sections 232, the top section 236 and a similar bottom section
(not shown). These parts have mitered ends and are connected
one to another by a L-shaped corner pieces such as piece 238
having first and second legs 240, 242 for engagement in the
tubular upright section and top section respectively. The
engagement is a snug fit and once engaged, respective set screws
244, 246 are threaded through threaded openings 248, 250 to
engage depressions 252, 254 in the legs 240, 242 for positive
location. However before this assembly can be completed,
firstly the upright sections 232 are positioned and the
connecting pieces 220 engage in the corresponding recesses 224
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to bring the upright sections into position to either end of the
panel section 208. The corner pieces are then engaged loosely
in the ends of the top section 236 and corresponding bottom
section and these sections are brought into position against the
panel section 208 to engage the strip 234 and corresponding
strip at the bottom in the panel section. As this movement
takes place, the legs of the corner pieces will engage in the
upright sections 232, then permitting the set screws 244, 246 to
be tightened at all of the corners of the panel structure to
complete the assembly.
It will be seen that the corner piece 238 includes a
threaded opening 256. This permits the corner piece to be used
in association with the bottom of the panel to receive a foot or
leveller which can be threaded through a suitable opening formed
in the bottom section of the panel structure and engaged in such
a threaded opening 256. Of course such an arrangement could
also be used to receive straps for connecting one panel
structure to another, etc.
The structure described with reference to Fig. 14
allows a double sided display panel to be built from elements
without wall support. However, it will be unstable without
attachment either to other such structures or to a wall or
pillar. Reference is next made to Fig. 15 which shows an
interconnection between two panel structures 258 and 260 of the
type described with reference to Fig. 14 and arranged at right
angles to one another so that they will result in a self
supporting upright structure. The connection between the panel
structures is ~ade using enlarged nuts 262 and 264 which are
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engaged in the respective structures 258, 260 prior to assembly
of the structures. The nuts are conveniently arranged in a
number of the slots of the structure for use in this manner or
as will be described. The nuts are similar to that described
with reference to Fig. 1 and are sliding fits in the T-shaped
slots of the display elements forming the panel structures.
Consequently, with these nuts in place, it is necessary
only to provide a series of straps 266, 268 which are similar in
shape to the bolt 164 described with reference to Fig. 1.
However, in this case there is a clearance opening to receive
respective machine screws 270, 272 rather than the threaded
opening described with reference to a nut shown in Fig. 1.
The assembly is made by first engaging the straps in
the nuts 262 loosely and then bringing the panel structure 260
into place so that the machine screws 270, 272 can be engaged in
the nuts 264 and then, while holding the panel structures in the
required positions, the assembly can be completed by tightening
the machine screws.
Should it be required to connect a pair of panel
structures in alignment one with another, then the arrangement
shown in Fig. 16 is used. In this case, simple straps 274, 276
having suitable clearance openings receive machine screws 278
which engage in nuts contained in the T-shaped slots of the
panel structures as previously explained. Here again, the
machine screws are tightened after first engaging the parts
loosely one with another and then holding the panel ~tructures
in position.
A final example of assemblies incorporating panel
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structures is shown in Fig. 17. As seen in this figure four
panel structures are connected to one another at a cross-over
point using parts similar to those described with reference to
Fig. 15. Four two-panel structures 280 are attached to one
another using straps 282 similar to the strap 286 described with
reference to Fig. 15.
The foregoing description and the drawings describe
various structures using the basic display element. The
element, the structure and other structures using the invention
concept are within the scope of the invention as claimed.
Particularly although the preferred panel is extruded, clearly
it could be made in many other ways such as from wood with
aluminum inserted to define the slots.
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