GB2133495A

GB2133495A - Rack systems

Info

Publication number: GB2133495A
Application number: GB08234304A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dennis H Peers; Ian Peers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-12-01
Filing date: 1982-12-01
Publication date: 1984-07-25

Abstract

A rack system comprises upright members (14) and transverse members (20), the upright members each having at one end thereof a male threaded portion (16) and at the other end thereof a corresponding female threaded portion (18). The transverse members (20) have at each extremity thereof boss portions (22, 24) capable of fitting onto the male threaded portions (16) of the upright members. The members may be assembled simply and conveniently into an exhibition rack. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rack systems This invention relates to a rack or stand system capable of carrying or displaying goods, posters, or the like.

Trade fairs and exhibitions are one ofthe ways in which manufacturers can display there products and obtain new business, and so are well patronised.

However, in orderto display one's products to the best advantage, they must be attractively presented and to this end stands are usually erected for each manufac tureron which posters or other artwork, samples of goods;and so forth can be displayed. The erection and dismantling of such stands is usually time consuming and inconvenient.

The invention seeks to provide a rack system capable of being used as an exhibition stand, which can be assembled and dismantled quickly and simply.

According to the present invention there is provided arrack system which comprises upright members and transverse members, the upright members each having asoneendthereofa malethreaded portion and atthe other end thereof a corresponding female threaded portion, and the transverse members having at each extremitythereof boss portions capable of fitting onto the male threaded portions ofthe upright members.

Thus, a-rack or stand can be built by assembling a desired number of upright members together by screwing the malethreaded portion of one end to the femalethreaded portion ofthe next, and linking the transverse members to them bytrappingthe boss portions thereof between adjacent screwed upright members, The boss portions ofthetransverse members may be integrally formed with the transverse members, or may be separatelyformed and attachedtoorinserted into the transverse members. In orderthatthe height ofthe system should be uniform, dummy boss members may be provided for inclusion between adjacent pairs of upright memberswhere no trans- verse memberisto be affixed.

The invention will be describedfurther, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures San exploded view of part of a rack system in accordance with the invention; and Figure2 is a perspective view of the assembled system.

Referring to the drawings, it can be seen that a rack system generally designated 10 comprises tubular upright members 14 each having a male threaded portion 16 and a corresponding female threaded portion 18. This enables adjacent upright members 14 to be screwed together as illustrated. Transverse members 20 of rectangular section tubular metal are also provided andthese haveattheiropposite extremities boss portions 22,24 capable of fitting on the male threaded portion 16. As can be seen from Figure 1, the boss portions 22 and 24 are offsetfrom one another and each is of a thickness of approximately half the vertical height ofthe transverse members 20.

Dummy boss portions 26 are also provided as well as base members 28 and finishing members 30.

In describing the assembling ofthe system of the invention consider a corner such as that indicated by arrowA in Figure 1. In this two upright members 14 are joined together trapping two transverse members 20 so thatthe lower boss 22 of one and the upper boss 24 ofthe other abut and produce the neat finished effect shown in Figure 2, also by arrow A. Where only one transverse member20 isto be attached to corresponding uprights 14, as for example at an edge ofthe rack, a dummy boss member 26 is inserted so as to preserve the neat finished effect. Base units 28, having plain bottoms, or being provided with feet or the like, may be used beneath the bottom layer of transverse members 20, and members 30 may be usedabovethetop layer of members 20 so asto provide a neat finish to the system.

The boss members 22,24 may be integrally formed with the transverse members 20 or, is illustrated, may be provided with body portions 32 which are a friction fitwithintheendsofthetubulartransverse members 20, serrations being provided to reduce the likelihood ofthe members 32 being accidentally removed from their corresponding transverse members 20. Alternatively, the boss members 22,24 may be metal and be welded to the corresponding transverse members 20.

The rack system ofthe invention is extremely versatile and built into a variety of shapes without tools being necessary, manual screwing and unscrewing oftheuprightmembers being the only mechanical action required. Thus the system ofthe invention may be rapidly assembled and dismantled at exhibitions by untrained staff, and packed away very compactly.

Naturally, the transverse members 20 and/orthe upright members 14 may be provided with hooks, brackets, orthe like whereby shelves, trays art displays and soon can be attached to the erected rack to provide an exhibition stand.

Although the terms "upright" and "transverse" have been employed, since this will be the normal orientation in use of the parts so-referred, it is to be understoodthatthe rack system of the invention is not limited to any particular spatial orientation.

CLAIMS (filed on 20-10-83) 1. A rack system which comprises upright members and transverse members, the upright members each having at one end thereof a male threaded portion and atthe other end thereof a corresponding femalethreaded portion, and the transverse members having at each extremity thereof boss portions capable of flitting onto the male threaded portions of the upright members.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the boss portions at each extremity of the transverse members are offset with respect to one another.

3. A system as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 in which the boss portions have a vertical dimension approximately equal to halfthe vertical height of the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Rack systems This invention relates to a rack or stand system capable of carrying or displaying goods, posters, or the like. Trade fairs and exhibitions are one ofthe ways in which manufacturers can display there products and obtain new business, and so are well patronised. However, in orderto display one's products to the best advantage, they must be attractively presented and to this end stands are usually erected for each manufac tureron which posters or other artwork, samples of goods;and so forth can be displayed. The erection and dismantling of such stands is usually time consuming and inconvenient. The invention seeks to provide a rack system capable of being used as an exhibition stand, which can be assembled and dismantled quickly and simply. According to the present invention there is provided arrack system which comprises upright members and transverse members, the upright members each having asoneendthereofa malethreaded portion and atthe other end thereof a corresponding female threaded portion, and the transverse members having at each extremitythereof boss portions capable of fitting onto the male threaded portions ofthe upright members. Thus, a-rack or stand can be built by assembling a desired number of upright members together by screwing the malethreaded portion of one end to the femalethreaded portion ofthe next, and linking the transverse members to them bytrappingthe boss portions thereof between adjacent screwed upright members, The boss portions ofthetransverse members may be integrally formed with the transverse members, or may be separatelyformed and attachedtoorinserted into the transverse members. In orderthatthe height ofthe system should be uniform, dummy boss members may be provided for inclusion between adjacent pairs of upright memberswhere no trans- verse memberisto be affixed. The invention will be describedfurther, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures San exploded view of part of a rack system in accordance with the invention; and Figure2 is a perspective view of the assembled system. Referring to the drawings, it can be seen that a rack system generally designated 10 comprises tubular upright members 14 each having a male threaded portion 16 and a corresponding female threaded portion 18. This enables adjacent upright members 14 to be screwed together as illustrated. Transverse members 20 of rectangular section tubular metal are also provided andthese haveattheiropposite extremities boss portions 22,24 capable of fitting on the male threaded portion 16. As can be seen from Figure 1, the boss portions 22 and 24 are offsetfrom one another and each is of a thickness of approximately half the vertical height ofthe transverse members 20. Dummy boss portions 26 are also provided as well as base members 28 and finishing members 30. In describing the assembling ofthe system of the invention consider a corner such as that indicated by arrowA in Figure 1. In this two upright members 14 are joined together trapping two transverse members 20 so thatthe lower boss 22 of one and the upper boss 24 ofthe other abut and produce the neat finished effect shown in Figure 2, also by arrow A. Where only one transverse member20 isto be attached to corresponding uprights 14, as for example at an edge ofthe rack, a dummy boss member 26 is inserted so as to preserve the neat finished effect. Base units 28, having plain bottoms, or being provided with feet or the like, may be used beneath the bottom layer of transverse members 20, and members 30 may be usedabovethetop layer of members 20 so asto provide a neat finish to the system. The boss members 22,24 may be integrally formed with the transverse members 20 or, is illustrated, may be provided with body portions 32 which are a friction fitwithintheendsofthetubulartransverse members 20, serrations being provided to reduce the likelihood ofthe members 32 being accidentally removed from their corresponding transverse members 20. Alternatively, the boss members 22,24 may be metal and be welded to the corresponding transverse members 20. The rack system ofthe invention is extremely versatile and built into a variety of shapes without tools being necessary, manual screwing and unscrewing oftheuprightmembers being the only mechanical action required. Thus the system ofthe invention may be rapidly assembled and dismantled at exhibitions by untrained staff, and packed away very compactly. Naturally, the transverse members 20 and/orthe upright members 14 may be provided with hooks, brackets, orthe like whereby shelves, trays art displays and soon can be attached to the erected rack to provide an exhibition stand. Although the terms "upright" and "transverse" have been employed, since this will be the normal orientation in use of the parts so-referred, it is to be understoodthatthe rack system of the invention is not limited to any particular spatial orientation. CLAIMS (filed on 20-10-83)

1. A rack system which comprises upright members and transverse members, the upright members each having at one end thereof a male threaded portion and atthe other end thereof a corresponding femalethreaded portion, and the transverse members having at each extremity thereof boss portions capable of flitting onto the male threaded portions of the upright members.

3. A system as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 in which the boss portions have a vertical dimension approximately equal to halfthe vertical height of the transverse member.

4. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which dummy boss portions are provided similar in dimensions to the boss portions attached to the transverse members.

5. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the boss portions are integral with the transverse members.

6. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the boss portions are integral with the body which is a friction fit within the end of a transverse member.

7. Asystem according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in which base units and/ortop members are provided.

8. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which some or all ofthetransverse members and/or all ofthe upright members are provided with hooks or brackets whereby shelves, trays, art or art displays can be attached to the erected racks.

9. A rack system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.