Patent Application
20240341503
The present invention relates to the structure of a display stand. More particularly, the invention relates to an assembled display stand that is tree-shaped, has a multi-tier structure, can be easily assembled, and provides internal wiring.
Generally, the shelves and aisles in a retail store are planned according to the environment in the store and the types of the products to be displayed for sale. Independent display stands are typically used for recommended new products or promoted products and are positioned at noticeable locations in a store, such as at the center of an aisle, at the junction of two aisles, or in a relatively open area, the objective being to attract the attention of as many consumers as possible. The conventional display stands, however, are seldom eye-catching in themselves; it is the products displayed on such a stand that are used to capture consumers' attention. In other words, the promotional effect provided by a conventional display stand itself is limited. Moreover, as the recommended or promoted products are changed on a regular basis, there may be different requirements for the independent display stands to be used, but it is difficult for a conventional custom-made display stand to satisfy all those requirements. Not only will this cause trouble to the display stand user, but also the replacement of an existing display stand with a new one incurs additional cost.
Furthermore, an independent display stand is usually placed alone at a specific spot, so if the products on display need to be supplied with electricity or call for extra lighting, it is often required to connect an external power source to the products or to a lighting device adjacent to the products through additional wires, which are unsightly if left exposed to view. If a lot of wires are used but not properly organized, consumers will also be at risk of sustaining an electric shock or tripping over the wires.
In view of the above, the inventor of the present invention has improved the aforesaid deficiencies of the conventional display stands and discloses herein a tree-shaped display stand that can be assembled according to user needs, is visually pleasing, has high mobility, and provides internal wiring.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an assembled tree-shaped display stand that is both visually pleasing and convenient in that its sequentially connectable tier posts and tier plates and its standardized connecting structures allow a user to assemble the display stand easily and freely according to practical needs, without having to operate additional tools. Also, the widths and the weight bearing abilities of the tier plates and tier posts are designed to provide the entire structure with high stability as well as a pleasant look.
Moreover, the assembled structure of the present invention allows a decorative item to be connected to the top of the structure and be freely chosen according to the type of the products to be displayed, in order to help the products attract consumers' attention. The bottom-tier plate connected to the bottom of the structure may be provided with a reinforcing plate and a plurality of casters to add to the stability and mobility of the entire assembly. In addition, the invention may use standardized connecting structures in combination with male and female electrical connectors to form a power supply mechanism within the tier posts, thus not only reducing the undesirable effects of using wires that are exposed to view, but also enhancing the convenience of use by being able to satisfy the need to supply electricity to the displayed products and/or to an additional lighting device for illuminating the products. Furthermore, a light-emitting decorative item may be used at the top to better capture consumers' attention.
The major technical means and structural features adopted by the assembled tree-shaped display stand of the present invention include a bottom assembly, a top assembly, and a plurality of stacking assemblies that can be sequentially stacked and connected. The bottom assembly includes a bottom-tier plate having a horizontal surface, and the bottom-tier plate is formed with a bottom-tier connecting portion. The stacking assemblies are connected between the bottom assembly and the top assembly. Each stacking assembly includes a tier plate and a tier post, wherein the tier plate is connected to the tier post. Each tier post is formed with an upper connecting portion at the top end and a lower connecting portion at the bottom end, wherein the upper connecting portion is configured to be joined to the lower connecting portion of another stacking assembly so that during the assembly process, the stacking assemblies can be sequentially stacked and connected to form a multi-tier stacked structure. The lower connecting portion of the lowest stacking assembly is configured to be joined to the bottom-tier connecting portion of the bottom assembly. Each tier plate has a surface parallel to the surface of the bottom-tier plate when the tree-shaped display stand is assembled. The top assembly includes a top-tier connecting portion formed at the bottom end, and the top-tier connecting portion is configured to be joined to the upper connecting portion of the uppermost stacking assembly.
The foregoing structure of the present invention may be so designed that the bottom assembly further includes a power source base mounted at the center of the bottom-tier plate, with the bottom-tier connecting portion provided at the power source base, and with the bottom-tier connecting portion including a power source connecting end; that each tier post is provided therein with an internal circuit electrically connected to an upper electrical connecting end provided at the upper connecting portion of the tier post and to a lower electrical connecting end provided at the lower connecting portion of the tier post; that when each upper connecting portion is joined to the lower connecting portion of another stacking assembly, the upper electrical connecting end of the former contacts and is in conduction with the lower electrical connecting end of the latter; and that when the lower connecting portion of the lowest stacking assembly is joined to the bottom-tier connecting portion, the lower electrical connecting end of the former contacts and is in conduction with the power source connecting end of the latter.
Preferably, the top assembly includes a top post and a light-emitting decorative item, and the top-tier connecting portion is provided at the bottom end of the top post and includes a top-tier electrical connecting end. When the top-tier connecting portion is joined to the upper connecting portion of the uppermost stacking assembly, the top-tier electrical connecting end of the former contacts and is in conduction with the upper electrical connecting end of the latter. Preferably, the top post is provided therein with an internal circuit electrically connected to an electrical connecting base provided at the top end of the top post and to the top-tier electrical connecting end, and the light-emitting decorative item is provided with an electrical connector connectable to the electrical connecting base.
Each tier post may have a lateral wall portion provided with at least one power socket electrically connected to the internal circuit of the tier post, and the top post may have a lateral wall portion provided with at least one power socket electrically connected to the internal circuit of the top post.
In some feasible embodiments of the foregoing structure, each upper connecting portion is a male engaging structure having a protruding configuration, and each lower connecting portion is a female engaging structure having a recessed configuration corresponding to the protruding configuration. Moreover, each tier plate is centrally formed with a through hole, the upper connecting portion of each tier post protrudes from the top end of the tier post, and the lower connecting portion of each tier post is provided at the bottom end of the tier post in a recessed manner. When the tier plate and the tier post of each stacking assembly are put together, the upper connecting portion of the tier post is inserted through, and joined to the wall of, the through hole of the tier plate and juts out of the surface of the tier plate so as to be joined to the lower connecting portion of the tier post of another stacking assembly.
Preferably, the bottom-tier plate is centrally formed with a through hole, the bottom-tier connecting portion is provided at the top end of the power source base in a protruding manner and is configured to be inserted through the through hole, and jut out of the surface, of the bottom-tier plate so as to be joined to the lower connecting portion of the lowest stacking assembly. Preferably, the top-tier connecting portion is provided at the bottom end of the top post in a recessed manner and is configured to be joined to the upper connecting portion of the uppermost stacking assembly, with the upper connecting portion of the uppermost stacking assembly jutting out of the surface of the tier plate of the uppermost stacking assembly.
Preferably, each upper connecting portion further includes a protective sleeve surrounding the upper electrical connecting end of the upper connecting portion, and the bottom-tier connecting portion further includes a protective sleeve surrounding the power source connecting end.
The bottom-tier plate may be further provided with a reinforcing plate on the side located away from the stacking assemblies. The bottom-tier plate may also be provided with at least three casters on the side located away from the stacking assemblies.
Preferably, the bottom-tier plate and the tier plates are circular or polygonal plates, and the surface area of the lower one of each two adjacent plates is greater than or not less than the surface area of the upper one of the two adjacent plates. Preferably, the top post and the tier posts are circular or polygonal posts, and the width of the lower one of each two adjacent posts is greater than or not less than the width of the upper one of the two adjacent posts.
The aforesaid and other objectives, effects, and technical features of the present invention can be better understood by referring to the following preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
The bottom assembly 10 essentially includes a bottom-tier plate 11, a power source base 13, a reinforcing plate 15, and a plurality of casters 16. The bottom-tier plate 11 has a horizontal upper surface and is centrally formed with a through hole 12. The power source base 13 is mounted at the center of the bottom-tier plate 11, is configured to connect with, and thereby obtain electricity from, an external power source, and is provided with a bottom-tier connecting portion 14 that protrudes upward. The bottom-tier connecting portion 14 is configured to extend through the through hole 12 and jut out of the surface of the bottom-tier plate 11 in order to be joined or connected to a corresponding portion of the stacking assemblies 20. The bottom-tier connecting portion 14 includes a power source connecting end 141 located at an inner part of the bottom-tier connecting portion 14 and a protective sleeve 142 surrounding the power source connecting end 141. The reinforcing plate 15 has generally the same shape as the bottom-tier plate 11 but is smaller (i.e., has a smaller planar area) than the bottom-tier plate 11. The reinforcing plate 15 is mounted at the center of the bottom surface of the bottom-tier plate 11 such that the two plates form a stack. The reinforcing plate 15 helps share the stress in the bottom-tier plate 11 so as to enhance the supporting and bearing ability of the entire structure. The casters 16 are mounted on the bottom surface of the bottom-tier plate 11 and are arranged at intervals around the reinforcing plate 15.
The stacking assemblies 20 essentially include a plurality of sets of tier plates 21, 31, 41, 51 and tier posts 23, 33, 43, 53 that can be sequentially connected in a stacking manner. A user may freely connect the desired number of sets to produce the desired number of tiers. In this embodiment, the middle part of the assembled tree-shaped display stand 1 is essentially a structure composed of four stacking assemblies 20 such that a four-tier structure is formed between the bottom assembly 10 and the top assembly 60. This four-tier structure and the bottom tier formed by the bottom-tier plate 11 make up a five-tier display stand.
The assembled tree-shaped display stand 1 of the present invention is so structured that each stacking assembly 20 includes a tier plate 21/31/41/51 and a tier post 23/33/43/53. The tier plates and tier posts have different dimensions (e.g., different lengths and widths) but have the same structural features for making physical connection and electrical connection.
The tier plate 21/31/41/51 and tier post 23/33/43/53 of each stacking assembly 20 are configured to connect to each other. Each tier plate 21/31/41/51 is centrally formed with a through hole 22/32/42/52 for connecting with the top end of the corresponding tier post 23/33/43/53. Each tier post 23/33/43/53 is formed with an upper connecting portion 24/34/44/54 at the top end and a lower connecting portion 25/35/45/55 at the bottom end. The upper connecting portions 24, 34, 44, and 54 are of the same specifications, and so are the lower connecting portions 25, 35, 45, and 55 to enable end-to-end connection, e.g., between the upper connecting portion 24 and the lower connecting portion 35/45/55 of another stacking assembly 20. The bottom-tier connecting portion 14 of the bottom-tier plate 11 is of the same specifications as the upper connecting portions 24, 34, 44, and 54 so that the lower connecting portion 25 of the lowest stacking assembly 20 can be joined to the bottom-tier connecting portion 14. Thus, the tier posts 23, 33, 43, and 53 of the stacking assemblies 20 can be sequentially connected on top of the bottom-tier plate 11, with the tier plates 21, 31, 41, and 51 connected to the tier posts 23, 33, 43, and 53 respectively to form surfaces parallel to the surface of the bottom-tier plate 11.
The top assembly 60 serves mainly as a decoration at the top and can be designed into any shape as desired. The main structure of the top assembly 60 at least includes a top-tier connecting portion 62 formed at the bottom end and configured to be joined to the upper connecting portion 54 of the uppermost stacking assembly 20.
In some feasible embodiments, the upper connecting portions 24, 34, 44, and 54 are male engaging structures having a protruding configuration, and the lower connecting portions 25, 35, 45, and 55 are female engaging structures having a recessed configuration corresponding to the protruding configuration to facilitate connection, thereby allowing a user to complete the assembly process easily, without having to use additional tools. In the embodiment illustrated herein, each upper connecting portion 24/34/44/54 is a male connector protruding from the top end of the corresponding tier post, and each lower connecting portion 25/35/45/55 is a female connector formed at the bottom end of the corresponding tier post in a recessed manner. Similarly, the bottom-tier connecting portion 14 of the bottom assembly 10 is a protruding male connector, and the top-tier connecting portion 62 of the top assembly 60 is a female connecter formed in a recessed manner.
To put each tier plate 21/31/41/51 and the corresponding tier post 23/33/43/53 together, the upper connecting portion 24/34/44/54 of the corresponding tier post 23/33/43/53 is inserted through, and joined to the wall of, the through hole 22/32/42/52 of the tier plate 21/31/41/51 so as to jut out of the surface of the tier plate 21/31/41/51 and therefore be able to be joined to the lower connecting portion 35/45/55 (in the case of the upper connecting portion 24) or 45/55 (in the case of the upper connecting portion 34) or 55 (in the case of the upper connecting portion 44) of the tier post of another stacking assembly 20.
Referring to
In this embodiment, the top assembly 60 includes a top post 61 and a light-emitting decorative item 66. The top-tier connecting portion 62 is provided at the bottom end of the top post 61 in a recessed manner in order to be joined to the upper connecting portion 54 of the uppermost stacking assembly 20, wherein the upper connecting portion 54 juts out of the surface of the tier plate 51 of the uppermost stacking assembly 20. The top-tier connecting portion 62 includes a top-tier electrical connecting end 621, and when the top-tier connecting portion 62 is joined to the upper connecting portion 54 of the uppermost stacking assembly 20, the top-tier electrical connecting end 621 contacts and is in conduction with the upper electrical connecting end 541 of the upper connecting portion 54. The top post 61 is provided therein with an internal circuit 64, and the internal circuit 64 is electrically connected to the top-tier electrical connecting end 621, an electrical connecting base 63 provided at the top end of the top post 61, and a power socket 65 provided in a lateral wall portion of the top post 61. The light-emitting decorative item 66 is provided with an electrical connector 67 configured to be connected to the electrical connecting base 63. When the top post 61 is connected to the upper connecting portion 54 of the uppermost stacking assembly 20, and the light-emitting decorative item 66 is connected to the top post 61, the resulting internal electrical conduction path allows electricity to be supplied to the power socket 65 and the light-emitting decorative item 66 to further enhance the look and convenience of use of the assembled tree-shaped display stand 1.
In other feasible embodiments of the present invention, referring to
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bottom-tier plate 11 and the tier plates 21, 31, 41, and 51 are circular plates but may be designed as polygonal plates instead. Moreover, in each two adjacent plates, the surface area of the lower one is preferably greater than or not less than the surface area of the upper one, in order to help maintain the tree shape and the balance and stability of the entire structure. Similarly, the top post 61 and the tier posts 23, 33, 43, and 53 in a preferred embodiment are circular posts but may be designed as polygonal posts instead to match the plate design, and in each two adjacent posts, the width of the lower one is preferably greater than or not less than the width of the upper one to help maintain a secure supporting structure.
The embodiments described above are only some preferred ones of the present invention. Any change, modification, alteration, or equivalent substitution made according to, or derived from, the technical means of the invention shall fall within the scope of the appended claims.
