BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display panel assembly comprising a first embodiment of a slatwall adapter according to the invention.
FIG. 1A is a sectional view of a portion of the display panel assembly illustrated in FIG. 1 taken along view line 1A-1A.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the first embodiment of the slatwall adapter illustrated in FIG. 1A.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a base assembly comprising a portion of a display panel assembly with a pair of slatwall adapters for receipt of a slatwall panel.
FIG. 3A is a sectional view of a portion of the display panel assembly illustrated in FIG. 3 taken along view line 3A-3A.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the base assembly illustrated in FIG. 3 showing the assembly of slatwall panels into a display panel assembly.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating a second embodiment of a slatwall adapter according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
The invention comprises an adapter for a display panel assembly which can be attached to a display panel support adapted for support of a display panel having a first thickness so that a display panel having a second thickness different than the first thickness can be supported by the display panel support. Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, a slatwall assembly 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated comprising a base 12 upon which is supported a display panel assembly 14. The display panel assembly 14 comprises a slatwall panel 16 supported by and extending between a pair of upright panel supports 18. A slatwall adapter 20 according to the invention is attached to the panel supports 18 for support of the slatwall panel 16.
Referring also to FIG. 1A, the panel supports 18 comprise elongated members having a generally rectilinear cross-sectional configuration, and having a generally rectilinear panel slot 22 extending the length of the support 18. The supports 18 are attached to the base 12 so that the panel slots 22 are oriented toward one another for support of a panel therebetween. The slatwall adapter 20 comprises a panel support portion 24 and an insert portion 26 adapted so that the insert portion 26 can be inserted into the panel slot 22. Preferably, the slatwall adapter 20 has a length approximately equal to the length of each support 18.
FIG. 2 illustrates the cross-sectional configuration of the slatwall adapter 20. The slatwall adapter 20 comprises a web 30 having a panel face 42 and an opposed insert face 44. The web 30 transitions at a first end to a half flange 32, and at a second end to a full flange 34. The half flange 32 and the full flange 34 extend generally orthogonally to the web 30 in parallel, spaced-apart disposition. A first portion of the full flange 34 comprises a panel flange 36, which with the web 30 and the half flange 32 defines the panel support portion 24. The panel flange 36, web 30, and half flange 32 define an elongated, channel-like panel slot 46 extending the length of the slatwall adapter 20. A semi-cylindrical, rail-like spacer 48 extends into the panel slot 46 from the panel face 42 intermediate the panel flange 36 and the half flange 32.
A second portion of the full flange 34 comprises an insert flange 38, extending orthogonally away from the insert face 44 of the web 30. The insert flange 38 transitions away from the web 30 to a stabilizer flange 40. The stabilizer flange 40 extends orthogonally to the insert flange 38 parallel to the web 30. The stabilizer flange 40 extends generally the length of the slatwall adapter 20 and has a length orthogonal to the length of the slatwall adapter 20 adapted for generally slidable insertion of the insert portion 26 into the panel slot 22 as illustrated in FIG. 1A.
The slatwall adapter 20 fabricated of a material having suitable strength and rigidity for the purposes described herein. Such materials can include aluminum, steel, plastic, and the like. The slatwall adapter 20 can be an aluminum or plastic extrusion, or a formed or roll-formed steel or aluminum.
FIG. 3 illustrates the use of the slatwall adapter 20 for support of a slatwall panel in a display panel assembly configured to support a thin display panel (not shown), such as pegboard, a solid wood or plastic panel, or tack board. After the thin display panel has been removed, a slatwall adapter 20 is installed to each panel support 18 by inserting the insert portion 26 in the panel slot 22 so that the insert face 44 of the web 30 is in contact with or immediately adjacent to the panel support 18. As illustrated in FIG. 4, 1 or more slatwall panels 16, such as described and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,957 to Muellerleile, can be slidably inserted into the panel slots 46 in each slatwall adapter 20 to create a display panel extending the height of the panel supports 18 (FIG. 1).
The spacer 48 will control the depth to which the panels 16 can be inserted into the panel slot 46. A preferred means of fabricating the slatwall adapter 20 is through a well-known extrusion process. The extrusion process will result in a radius corner where the flanges 32, 36 join the web 30. If the slatwall panel 16 is inserted too far into the panel slot 46, the edge of the panel 16 can bind in the radius corner, thereby making installation and removal of the panel 16 difficult. The spacer 48 prevents this binding from occurring.
If desired, the slatwall panels 16 can be removed, followed by removal of the slatwall adapters 20, and a thin display panel can again be installed in the display panel assembly by inserting the edges of the thin display panel in the panel slots 22. Thus, a single display panel assembly can be utilized for both thin display panels and slatwall display panels.
FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment of a slatwall adapter 60 comprising a panel support portion 80 and an insert portion 82. The panel support portion 80 comprises a web 62 and a pair of flanges 64, 66 extending orthogonally from both ends of a panel face 68 of the web 62. The flanges 64, 66 and a web 62 define a panel slot 72 adapted for receipt of a slatwall panel (not shown) therein. A semi-cylindrical, rail-like spacer 74 extends away from the panel face 68 longitudinally along a midline of the web 62. The insert portion 82 comprises an insert flange 78 extending orthogonally away from an insert face 70 of the web 62 opposite the panel slot 72. The insert web 76 terminates in an insert flange 78 extending orthogonal thereto, generally parallel to the web 62.
The slatwall adapter 60 is assembled to the panel support 80 by inserting the insert portion 82 into the panel slot 22 of the panel support 18 so that the insert face 70 of the web 62 is in contact with or adjacent to the panel support 18. The slatwall panels 16 can then be slidably inserted into the panel slots 72 to form the slatwall assembly 10, as previously described herein. The slatwall adapter 60 is utilized to center the slatwall panels 16 with respect to the panel supports 18, which may be desirable with panel supports 18 that extend from a midline of the base 12 rather than an edge of the base 12 as illustrated in FIG. 1.
Alternatively, the slat wall adapter 20, 60 can be fabricated as an integral part of the slatwall panel 16 or adapted to be fixedly attachable to the slatwall panel 16, such as by a friction or interference fit, to provide a panel/adapter assembly which can be engaged with the panel supports 18 as a single, integrated unit.
In another embodiment, the slatwall adapter can be configured to support a thin panel, such as ΒΌ-inch plywood, in a panel slot along a panel support that is sized to receive a slatwall panel. Thus, the adapter enables the support of a thin panel in a slot that is configured for a thicker panel.
While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the forgoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080000861
