RETAIL DISPLAY RACK

Abstract

A display stand has a pair of vertical standards connected by two tie members having ends vertically spaced from each other. Horizontal feet coupled to a lower end of the vertical standards project forward from the vertical standards. Two buttress rods having a lower end coupled to a projecting portion of the feet and an upper end coupled to one of the vertical standards. At least one generally horizontal display rod includes depending hooks adapted to receive goods to be displayed. Signage panels can be fixed between each of the buttress rods and the adjacent vertical standard as well as above and below the upper tie member to attract customers to the displayed goods.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a display stand of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a display stand of the present invention displaying folded desk chair mats.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the display stand shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the display stand shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a display stand 10. The display stand 10 is shown to have a pair of side members 12. Each side member 12 is shown to have a vertical standard 14 having an upper end 16 and a lower end 18. A horizontal foot or base member 20 is fixed to the lower end 18. The horizontal foot 20 has a forward end 22 and a rearward end 24. The lower end 18 of the vertical standard 14 can be centered between the forward end 22 and the rearward end 24, but is shown to be offset so that the forward end 22 projects forward by a distance that is greater than the rearward projection of the rearward end 24.

Each side member 12 also includes a buttress rod 26 having a lower end 28 fixed to a forward projecting portion 30 of the horizontal foot 20. The lower end 28 of the buttress rod 26 can be fixed to the forward end 22 of the horizontal foot 20, but is shown to be fixed at a point 32 spaced from the forward end 22. An upper end 34 of the buttress rod 26 is fixed to an upper portion 36 of the vertical standard 14. The upper end 34 of the buttress rod 26 can be fixed to the upper end 16 of the vertical standard 14, but is shown to be fixed at a point 38 spaced downward from the upper end 16. The buttress rod 26 can be linear so as to extend directly between points 32 and 38, but is shown to include a substantially horizontal portion 40 and an inclined portion 42 joined by a curved portion 44.

The side members 12 can be coupled together in spaced relation by tie members 46 and 48. The upper tie member 46 includes ends 50 and 52 that can be coupled to forward facing surfaces 54 of the vertical standards 14. The lower tie member 46 includes ends 56 and 58 that can be coupled to the forward facing surfaces 54 of the vertical standards 14. The tie members 46 and 48 are shown to be substantially horizontally parallel, but could be diagonal and/or overlapping in cross-bracing fashion. The tie member ends 50 and 56 are desirably vertically spaced from each other as are the other ends 52 and 58. The side members 12 are desirably coupled to each other so that the horizontal feet 20 coupled to the lower ends 18 of the vertical standards 14 are generally parallel to each other.

A first display support rod 60 can be coupled to inside surfaces 62 of the vertical standards 14 or to inside surfaces 64 of the buttress rods 26. A second display support rod 66 can be coupled to the inside surfaces 64 of the buttress rods 26 at a position spaced forward from display support rod 60. The display support rods 60 and 66 can be parallel to each other and can be equally spaced from the horizontal feet 20. At least one display rod 68 can be coupled to the display support rods 60 and 66 between the buttress rods 26. The number of display rods 68 may be selected as a function of the geometry and other characteristics of the goods to be displayed. Only a single display rod 68 is shown situated midway between the buttress rods 26 and situated generally parallel to the horizontal feet 20. A plurality of coupling members such as hooks 70 can be fixed to an under surface 72 of the display rod 68. The number and character of the coupling members 70 may be selected as a function of the geometry and other characteristics of the goods to be displayed.

A first signage panel 74 can be fixed between the two vertical standards 14 generally above the display support rod 60. The first signage panel 74 can include suitable commercial and/or informational messages on both a forward facing surface 76 and a rearward facing surface 78. A second signage panel 80 can be fixed between the two vertical standards 14 generally below the display support rod 60. The second lower signage panel 80 can include suitable commercial and/or informational messages on both a forward facing surface 82 and a rearward facing surface 84, however some consideration should probably be given to the likelihood that the forward facing surface 82 may be substantially hidden or concealed by any goods displayed from the display rods 68, as seen, for example in FIGS. 2 and 4. Laterally facing signage panels 86 can be included between each buttress rod 26 and the adjacent vertical standard 14. Any commercial and/or informational messages would generally only appear on the outward facing surface 88 of the laterally facing signage panels 86 due to the likely concealment by the goods displayed from the display rods 68. It will be noted from FIG. 2 that the laterally facing signage panels 86 may also contribute to the concealment of the forward facing surface 82 of the second lower signage panel 80.

FIGS. 2-4 show a display stand 10 as previously described being used as a display for desk chair mats 90. The desk chair mat 90 is shown to have a longitudinal fold line 92 and the chair mat 90 is shown to be folded in half about the fold line 92. Preferably, if the underside of the desk chair mat 90 is formed with integral spikes, the spikes will face inwardly when the chair mat 90 is in the folded condition. The chair mats 90 can be provided with a pair of handles 94 on opposite side edges 96 thereof, such that the handles 94 are aligned when the chair mat 90 is folded. A wrap 98 can be provided that extends about the folded chair mat 90 perpendicularly to the fold line 92. The chair mat 90 can also be provided with at least one hang tab 100 along a third edge 102 thereof. The chair mat 90 can be suspended from at least one of the hooks 70 by the hang tab 100. This combination of the folded chair mats 90 and hanging display 10 provides enhanced signage space on which product related graphics can be presented that are designed to attract customers to the displayed goods, the display 10 being sufficiently robust to withstand the wear caused by the stocking and selection activities of the heavy sheet goods represented, for example, by the folded desk chair mats 90.

While these features have been disclosed in connection with the illustrated preferred embodiment, other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art that come within the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A display stand comprising: a pair of vertical standards, at least two tie members having ends vertically spaced from each other, the ends of the at least two tie members being fixed to the vertical standards, a pair of horizontal feet coupled to the a lower end of the vertical standards so that the feet are perpendicular to the tie members, the feet having ends projecting forward from the vertical standards, at least two buttress rods, each buttress rod having a lower end coupled to a projecting portion of one of the feet and having an upper end coupled to one of the vertical standards, a generally horizontal display rod adapted to receive goods to be displayed, the display rod being fixed between the buttress rods substantially parallel to the feet, and a panel fixed between each of the buttress rods and the adjacent vertical standard.

2. The display stand of claim 1, wherein at least one of the tie members comprises a horizontal member.

3. The display stand of claim 1, wherein an uppermost of the tie members is spaced downwardly from the vertical standards upper ends.

4. The display stand of claim 1, wherein a first of the tie members extends between the vertical standards at the upper ends of the buttress rods.

5. The display stand of claim 4, further comprising a support member extending between the buttress rods in front of the first tie member, the display rod being coupled to the support member and the first tie member.

6. The display stand of claim 1 or 5, further comprising a row of hooks depending from the display rod.

7. The display stand of claim 6, further comprising a panel situated between the vertical standards above the horizontal display rod.

8. The display stand of claim 5, further comprising a rearwardly facing panel situated between the vertical standards between the feet and the display rod.

9. The display stand of claim 8, wherein the feet also project rearwardly from the vertical standards.

10. A display stand comprising: a pair of vertical standards, horizontal feet coupled to the a lower end of the vertical standards so that the feet have ends projecting forward from the vertical standards, at least two buttress rods, each buttress rod having a lower end coupled to a projecting portion of one of the feet and having an upper end coupled to one of the vertical standards, a tie member coupled to the vertical standards at the upper ends of the buttress rods, a support member extending between the buttress rods in front of the tie member, and a generally horizontal display rod adapted to receive goods to be displayed, the display rod being fixed to the support member and the tie member between the buttress rods substantially parallel to the feet.

11. The display stand of claim 10, wherein the feet also project rearwardly from the vertical standards.

12. The display stand of claim 11, further comprising a rearwardly facing panel situated between the vertical standards between the feet and the tie member.

13. The display stand of claim 12, further comprising a panel situated between the vertical standards above the display rod.

14. The display stand of claim 13, further comprising a panel fixed between each of the buttress rods and the adjacent vertical standard.

15. The display stand of claim 14, further comprising a row of hooks depending from the display rod.

16. The display stand of claim 15, further comprising tie members fixed to a front surface of both the vertical standards at two locations between the buttress rods and the feet.

17. A display stand comprising: a pair of vertical standards, horizontal feet coupled to the a lower end of the vertical standards so that the feet have ends projecting forward from the vertical standards generally parallel to each other, at least two buttress rods, each buttress rod having a lower end coupled to a projecting portion of one of the feet and having an upper end coupled to an upper portion of one of the vertical standards, a tie member coupled to the vertical standards between upper ends of the buttress rods and the feet, a support member extending between the buttress rods in front of the tie member, a generally horizontal display rod adapted to receive goods to be displayed, the display rod being fixed to the support member between the buttress rods substantially parallel to the feet, a panel situated between the vertical standards above the display rod, and a laterally outwardly facing panel fixed between each of the buttress rods and the adjacent vertical standard.

18. The display stand of claim 17, wherein the tie member coupled to the vertical standards between the buttress rods and the feet comprises a rearwardly facing panel.

19. The display stand of claim 18, further comprising tie members fixed to a front surface of the vertical standards at two locations between the buttress rods and the feet.

20. The display stand of claim 19, further comprising a row of hooks depending from the display rod.