US3695455A

US3695455A - Display stand

Info

Publication number: US3695455A
Application number: US74767A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles O Larson
Original assignee: CHAS O LARSON Co
Current assignee: CHAS O LARSON Co
Priority date: 1970-09-23
Filing date: 1970-09-23
Publication date: 1972-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-03

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to display stands for articles to be sold, and more particularly to display stands upon which articles for sale may be mounted in vertically spaced relation. An embodiment of the invention disclosed herein comprises central post means having vertical frame members spaced laterally from and equally distributed about the axis of the post means. Article display panel members extend between adjacent frame members, providing panel sections vertically spaced, so as to assure clear visibility through the stand from one side thereof to the other when articles for display are mounted thereon.

Description

United States Patent Larson 51 Oct. 3, 1972 541 DISPLAY STAND 3,195,736 7/1965 Bomar ..211/163 2,941,669 6/1960 Palay ..211/163 x [72] Inventor Charles Lawn Steflmg a 982,216 1/1911 Madden ..211/163 x [73] Assignee: Chas. O. Larson C0., Sterling, Ill. 9 [22] Filed, Sept 23 1970 Primary ExaminerNile C. Byers, Jr.

Appl. No.: 74,767

[52] US. Cl. ..211/78, 248/D1G. 3 [51 lnt. Cl. ..A47g 29/00 [58] Field of Search ..211/78, 57, 70, 95, 163; 248/D1G. 3

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,223,247 12/1965 Bleed ..211/163 1,718,881 6/1929 Schander ..211/163 2,868,386 l/l959 Seyforth ..211/95 3,243,047 3/1966 Witteborg ..21 l/95 X D85,303 10/1931 Peterson ..211/78 X Att0rney-Olson, Trexler, Wolters & Bushnell [57] ABSTRACT The present invention relates generally to display stands for articles to be sold, and more particularly to display stands upon which articles for sale may be mounted in vertically spaced relation. An embodiment of the invention disclosed herein comprises central post means having vertical frame members spaced laterally from and equally distributed about the axis of the post means. Article display panel members extend between adjacent frame members, providing panel sections vertically spaced, so as to assure clear visibility through the stand from one side thereof to'the other when articles for display are mounted thereon.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures DISPLAY STAND SUMMARY OF THE-INVENTION Display stands have heretofore been in use for supporting and displaying articles for sale on the external periphery thereof. One of the problems incident to the use of such stands, as for example in hardware stores where bags of screw fasteners, etc., are displayed along the external periphery of a stand, is the inability of the sales personnel to cope with the problem of pilfering. To a certain extent this is due to the inability of the sales personnel to observe the activities of customers located at the side .of the stand opposite from the salesperson. It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide an improved structurally simple, yet sturdy display stand structure which is so arranged as to assure clear visibility through the stand from one side thereof to the other when articles for display are mounted thereon.

More specifically, the present invention contemplates a unique and practical stand arrangement wherein a plurality of article supporting panel sections are so arranged as to permit unobstructed view therethrough from one side to the other.

The present invention has a very practical application in instances where articles for sale are to be displayed along the periphery of a stand comprised of a plurality of vertically spaced article display sections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

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

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front view of the stand illustrated in FIG. 1, with portions thereof broken away to disclose parts otherwise hidden;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view ofa modified form of display stand contemplated by the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a still further modified form of a display stand, the structure of which defines a square when viewed from the top; and

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings more in detail, wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar parts throughout the various figures, it will be seen that one embodiment of a display stand of the type contemplated by the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 10 in FIGS. 1-3, inclusive. The display stand 10 includes a suitable base 12 and a vertical support or post 14, the lower extremity of which is mounted within the base 12. Suitable strut members 16 incline upwardly from the base 12 and lend lateral rigidity to the post 14.

A plurality of upright frame members 18 uniformly distributed about and laterally spaced from the post 14 accommodate and support opposite extremities of display panels 20. The panels 20 shown in FIGS. l-3, inclusive, are slightly arcuate when viewed in plan, and define a substantially triangular structure. This arcuate disposition of the panels 20 lends considerable lateral strength. Three of each of the display panels 20 provide a panel section designated generally by the numeral 22, which is substantially triangular when viewed in plan. Particular attention is directed to the fact that panel sections 22 are vertically spaced sufficiently to constantly maintain clear visibility transversely of the stand from one side thereof to the-other. Thus bags 24 containing articles for sale may be carried on hooks 26 as clearly shown in FIG. 1 without completely obstructing the view through the stand. It has been found convenient to employ conventional perforated fiberboard material for the panel members 20. In the disclosed embodiment, the bottom panel section 22 is rotatably supported upon a bearing member 28 through the agency of a plate member 30. Upper display panel 22 is rotatably supported upon the upper extremity of the post 14 by means of a plate 32'ancl a bearing member 34.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 a modified form of display stand is shown and is designated generally by the numeral 100. The display stand 10a, like the previously described display stand 10, includes a base 12a and a central vertical post 14a, steadied at its lower extremity by suitable brace members 160. Upright frame members 18a support a plurality of display panel sections 22a in proper spaced relation. Each of the display panel sections 22a comprise a pluralityof panel members 20a which, when viewed from the top, define a hexagon. Like the previously described display stand 10, the lower panel section 22a carries a mounting plate 300 and the upper panel section 22a carries a similar mounting plate 32a. The panel sections 22a intermediate the top and bottom sections rely for their support entirely upon engagement with the upright frame members 18a. The panel sections and upright members are rotatable as a unit about the axis of the central vertical post member 140. Particular attention is directed to the vertical spacing of the sections 220 which afford ample unobstructed view across the stand when article bags 24a are on display.

FIGS. 6 and 7 disclose a further modified form of display stand designated generally by the numeral 10b. It will be noted that the structural features of the display stand 10b are similar to the previously described stands 10 and 10a, the only significant difference being that the stand 10b employs four corner posts or frame members 18b, thus enabling the provision of a plurality of vertically spaced panel sections 22b which, when viewed in plan, define a substantially square shape. To lend additional lateral strength, each of the panel members 20b are flexed as clearly illustrated in FIG. 7. Other elements of the stand 10b corresponding with the previously described elements of the

stand

10 and 10a are indicated by like numerals bearing the suffix b.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention contemplates a display stand which is structurally extremely simple, yet relatively rigid. It makes possible the very practical use of such sheet material as perforated fiberboard and the like, forming display panel sections vertically spaced and capable of supporting articles for sale in. such a manner that transverse visibility through the display stand is maintained. It will also be noted that the present invention enables the production of display stands which, when viewed in plan, define a variety of shapes. In the drawings, a number of polygonal shapes have been disclosed. The above described structures may be shipped in knocked down form, and may be assembled with minimum effort and skill. By use of the arcuate or flexed form of panel members, it is possible to spring" them into locking association with the upright frame members. This arrangement, as mentioned above, also lends considerable lateral rigidity to the display panel sections and consequently to the entire assembly.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A display stand including vertical, substantially central post means, a mounting for the lower extremity thereof, a plurality of upright frame members laterally spaced from and substantially equally distributed about said post means, a plurality of vertically spaced horizontally elongate article display panel sections extending substantially horizontally between adjacent frame members and having a plurality of horizontally and vertically spaced apertures for detachably accommodating means such as hooks, for supporting and displaying articles, and means detachably associated with said panel sections for supporting and displaying articles for sale, the vertical spacing of said panels being sufficient to afford clear visibility through said stand from one side thereof to the other when articles are in supported position upon said panel.

2. A display stand as set forth in claim 1, wherein the article display panels, when viewed in plan, define a polygonal structure.

3'. A display stand as set forth in claim 1 wherein the article display panels, when viewed in plan, define a triangularly shaped structure.

4. A display stand as set forth in claim 1 wherein the article display panels, when viewed in plan, define a hexagonal structure.

5. A display stand as set forth in claim 1 wherein the article display panels, when viewed in plan, substantially define a square shaped structure.

6. A display stand as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the article display panels are bowed slightly toward the axis of the vertical post means.

7. A display stand as set forth in claim 1 wherein each panel is mounted at opposite extremities in complementary upright frame members.

8. A display stand as set forth in claim 1 wherein the display panel sections are rotatable about the axis of the vertical post means.

9. A display stand as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper and lower panel sections are supported by the vertical post means.

10. A display stand as set forth in claim 1 wherein certain of the panel sections are supported only by the upright frame members and other panel sections are supported by the upright post means.

Claims

3. A display stand as set forth in claim 1 wherein the article display panels, when viewed in plan, define a triangularly shaped structure.