This invention relates to a display unit. The display unit is equipped with shelves that may be adjusted in one or more dimensions relative to each other, as well as a mechanism for making such adjustments.
Display units having multiple trays or shelves are well known. Such display units are generally provided with a frame, housing, or other construction to support the shelves. In such display units, multiple shelves may be pivotally attached to a frame, and the shelves may be provided with additional structures that support the shelves and their contents against the frame. Some display units further include shelves that may be adjusted along the horizontal or vertical axes.
Current display units present a problem as items are removed from the display surfaces. As fewer items are present on a shelf, the shelf begins to appear empty, which may be visually unappealing. Current display units do not provide a way to simultaneously adjust multiple shelves in both the horizontal and vertical directions using a single mechanism for the purpose of reducing the total amount of visual shelf space on a display unit in order to eliminate the unappealing aesthetic of an empty shelf. Accordingly, an adjustable display apparatus including a mechanism for the simultaneous adjustment of multiple shelves in the horizontal and vertical dimensions is desirable.
An adjustable display apparatus is provided. The adjustable display apparatus is provided with a housing, angled sliders, a plurality of shelves, an adjustment mechanism, and a bar linkage mechanism.
The housing is provided with a pair of side walls and a plurality of supports. Each of the side walls is provided with a slider track that is disposed upon each respective side wall at an angle relative to the horizontal plane. The track is provided with a slot or a cutout that may extend the entire length of the track. The supports project downward from the housing and support the display apparatus on the ground.
The angled sliders are elongate members that extend between the pair of side walls of the housing. Each of the angled sliders is provided with a first end, a second end, and a middle portion extending therebetween. The first end and second end of each angled slider is an elongate slider bar. The slider bar rests in the slider track, and therefore allows an angled slider to be supported by the two slider tracks between which it extends. Therefore, the sliders are disposed at an angle to the horizontal plane that is similar to the angle at which the slider track is positioned. This further allows for the angled sliders to slide up and down along the slider track at the predisposed angle. The slider bar is also provided with an aperture.
Each of the plurality of shelves has a top surface and a pair of side surfaces, or shelf end plates. The side surfaces or shelf end plates extend in a generally downward direction from the top surface of the shelf. Each of the shelf end plates is provided with an aperture. When a shelf is positioned in the housing, the aperture of a shelf end plate aligns with the aperture of a slider bar. A bolt or other fastener may then be used to pivotally affix the shelf to the slider bar. This arrangement allows the shelf to pivot about the point at which it is attached to the slider bar, as well travel along the slider track with the angled slider to which it is attached via the slider bar. Each shelf end plate is also provided with an additional support member that projects in a downward direction. This support member rests on the slider plate to which the shelf is attached when the shelf is in a downward pivoted position. When the shelf is in an upward pivoted position, the shelf is at an upward angle and the support member does not contact the slider plate.
The movement of the shelves along the slider track is controlled by an adjustment mechanism that may take the form of a rotatable crankshaft. In one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism includes a crank handle, although alternate methods of driving the adjustment mechanism may be used. For example, an electric motor may be used to drive the adjustment mechanism. In the present embodiment, the crank handle is attached to a bar that extends from the front of the display unit to approximately halfway into the display unit, where the bar s met by a tube. The bar fits inside of the tube and is capable of sliding in a telescoping motion into and out of the tube, as well as rotating with the tube about their shared longitudinal axis in a manner that causes the tube to rotate as well. The tube extends from where it first meets with the bar to the rear portion of the display unit. Here, the tube attaches to a threaded rod. A threaded nut is threaded onto the threaded rod between two rod bearings that are attached at either end of the threaded rod. When the crank handle is rotated, the bar rotates with and telescopes into the tube. The turning of the bar causes the threaded rod to rotate. This results in the threaded nut traveling along the threaded bar in a linear path as the rod is threaded into and out of the nut.
The bar linkage mechanism serves to couple the angled sliders and their attached shelves to the adjustment mechanism such that the adjustment mechanism is capable of adjusting the shelves. The bar linkage mechanism includes a pair of small bar linkages. One end of each of these small bar linkages attaches to either side of the threaded nut, such that there is one small bar linkage attached to the threaded nut on either side of the threaded rod along which the threaded nut may move. A common bar linkage also attaches to the other end of each of these small bar linkages, such that on either side of the threaded rod there is a small bar linkage attached to the threaded nut, with a common bar linkage further attached thereto. Attached to each of these common bar linkages is a plurality of additional connector linkages. The connector linkages couple the common bar linkage to each individual angled slider. At various points along the length of the common bar linkage, one end of a connector bar is attached, and the other end of the connector bar linkage is attached to one of the angled sliders. As this arrangement is the same on either side of the threaded rod, each angled slider is attached to two individual connector bars, with one connector bar positioned on either side of the adjustment mechanism. Each connector bar is attached to the common bar on its respective side of the adjustment apparatus, and the common bar attaches to the threaded nut via the small bar linkage.
Rotating the crank handle causes the threaded rod to rotate within the threaded nut, thereby moving the threaded nut in a linear direction along the threaded rod. If, for example, the threaded nut begins in a position closest to the rear of the display unit, and travels along a path towards the front of the display unit, the point of the common bar linkage that is attached to the small bar linkage follows this path, thereby causing one end of the common bar to travel towards the front of the unit, and the other end to be pivoted towards the rear of the unit. The common bar linkage is further attached to the adjustable display apparatus at a fixed pivot point about which this pivoting of the common bar linkage occurs as the threaded nut moves the common bar linkage. Therefore, all connector bar linkages that are attached to the common bar are also displaced towards the rear of the unit. As this occurs, the connector bar linkages pull the connected angled sliders and the shelves to which they are attached in the general direction that the connector bar linkages are travelling, causing the angled sliders to travel along the angled track that is disposed upon the sidewalls of the housing. This causes each of the plurality of shelves to travel in upward vertical and rearward horizontal directions. That is, the shelves slide horizontally under one another and vertically into one another, reducing the overall horizontal and vertical dimensions of the shelves. In this retracted position, there is reduced shelf surface area for displaying items.
In an alternative example, the display unit begins in the retracted position, and the crank handle is rotated such that the threaded nut moves from its position near the front of the display unit towards the rear of the display unit. The point of the common bar linkage that is attached to the small bar linkage follows this path, thereby causing one end of the common bar to travel towards the rear of the unit, and the other end to be pivoted towards the front of the unit. The common bar linkage pivots about its fixed pivot point, so all connector bar linkages that are attached to the common bar are also displaced towards the front of the unit. As this occurs, the connector bar linkages pull the connected angled sliders and the shelves to which they are attached in the general direction that they are travelling, causing the angled sliders to travel along the angled track that is disposed upon the sidewalls of the housing. This causes each of the plurality of shelves to travel in downward vertical and forward horizontal directions. That is, the shelves slide horizontally out from under one another and vertically out of one another, increasing the overall horizontal and vertical dimensions of the shelves. In this extended position, there is increased shelf surface area for displaying items.
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As will be clear to those of skill in the art, the slider track 23 may be angled relative to horizontal and various angles depending on the desired vertical spacing of the shelves 40. In some embodiments, the slider track is angled in the range of 10 to 45 degrees.
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The end of the tube 53 into which the bar 52 is not inserted is attached to a threaded rod 54. Threaded rod 54 is inserted into a threaded nut 55, which may be a high density plastic linear nut. As the rotation of the crank handle 51 causes the rotation of the bar 52 and tube 53, threaded rod 54 also rotates, causing the threaded nut 55 to travel in a linear path along the threaded rod 54. That is, when the crank handle 51 is rotated in one direction, the threaded nut 55 travels a linear path along the threaded rod 54 towards the front of the adjustable display apparatus 10. When the crank handle 51 is rotated in the opposite direction, the threaded nut 55 travels a linear path along the threaded rod 54 towards the rear of the adjustable display apparatus 10. The movement of the threaded nut 55 along the threaded rod 54 is limited by rod bearings 56.
Threaded nut 55 is attached to a bar linkage mechanism 60. The bar linkage mechanism includes short bar linkages 61, common bar linkages 62, and connecting bar linkages 63. Short bar linkages 61 are coupled at one end to the threaded nut 55. At their other end, the short bar linkages 61 are coupled to one end of a common bar linkage 62. A plurality of connecting bar linkages 63 are attached at one of each of their respective ends to the common bar linkage 62. That is, one end of each of the connecting bar linkages 63 is attached at a different location along the length of the common bar linkage 62. The other end of each of the connecting bar linkages 63 is attached to one of the angled sliders 30. The connecting bar linkages 63 may be of different sizes. For example, the connecting bar linkages 63 that are closest to the sidewalls 21 of the housing 20 may be the longest connecting bar linkages 63, such that these connecting bar linkages 63 are attached at one end to a common bar linkage 62 at the end of the common bar linkage 62 that is not attached to the small bar linkage 61. As this connecting bar linkage 63 is the longest, its other end may be attached to the angled slider 30 that is nearest to the front of the adjustable display apparatus 10. As an additional example, the connecting bar linkages 63 that are closest to the adjustment mechanism 50 may be the shortest connecting bar linkages 63, such that these connecting bar linkages 63 are attached at one end to a common bar linkage 62. The other end of these connecting bar linkages 63 may be attached to the angled slider 30 that is nearest to the rear of the adjustable display apparatus 10. The attachment of the various components of the bar linkage mechanism 60 may be achieved by the use of fasteners 64.
In one mode of adjustment of the adjustable display apparatus 10, the threaded nut 55 travels in a linear direction towards the front of the adjustable display apparatus 10. This causes the small bar linkages 61, which are attached to the threaded nut 55, to be pulled in the direction of travel of the threaded nut 55. As the small bar linkages 61 are pulled in this direction, they pull the end of the common bar 62, to which the small bar linkages 61 are attached, in the same direction towards the front of the adjustable display apparatus 10. As this end of the common bar 62 is pulled toward the front of the display apparatus 10, the common bar 62 pivots about fixed pivot point 65. That is, the end of the common bar 62 that is attached to the small bar linkage 61 pivots toward the front of the adjustable display apparatus 10, while the end of the common bar 62 that is not attached to the small bar linkage 61 pivots toward the rear of the adjustable display apparatus 10. As the common bar 62 pivots about the fixed pivot point 65, the connecting bar linkages 63 that are each attached at one of their respective ends to the common bar 62 follow the end of the common bar 62 that is not attached to the small bar linkage 61. Therefore, the connecting bar linkages 63 travel toward the rear of the adjustable display apparatus 10. Because the common bar 62 pivots about the fixed pivot point 65, the connecting bar 63 that is attached to the end of the common bar 62 travels the greatest physical distance. The closer to the fixed pivot point 65 a connecting bar 63 is attached to the common bar 62, the less physical distance it travels. As the connecting bars 63 move, the ends of the connecting bars 63 that are attached to the angled sliders 30 each pull the angled slider 30 to which they are respectively attached toward the rear of the adjustable display apparatus 10. This causes the slider bars 31 to travel along the slider tracks 23 in both an upward and rearward direction. The distance that a slider bar 31 travels along the slider tracks 23 will be equal to the distance that the connecting bar 63 to which it is attached travels. Therefore, both the vertical and horizontal distances between the individual shelves 40 attached to a respective angled slider 30 are decreased, but the distance that each individual shelf 40 moves will be different. This leads to an overall decrease in the area of the top surface 41 of a shelf 40 that is available for use. However, because each individual shelf 40 travels a different distance, the area of the top surface 41 of a shelf 40 that is available may be kept constant between the individual shelves 40.
In another mode of adjustment of the adjustable display apparatus 10, the threaded nut 55 travels in a linear direction towards the rear of the adjustable display apparatus 10. This causes the small bar linkages 61, which are attached to the threaded nut 55, to be pulled in the direction of travel of the threaded nut 55. As the small bar linkages 61 are pulled in this direction, they pull the end of the common bar 62, to which the small bar linkages 61 are attached, in the same direction towards the rear of the adjustable display apparatus 10. As this end of the common bar 62 is pulled in this direction, the common bar 62 pivots about the fixed pivot point 65. That is, the end of the common bar 62 that is attached to the small bar linkage 61 pivots toward the rear of the adjustable display apparatus 10, while the end of the common bar 62 that is not attached to the small bar linkage 61 pivots toward the front of the adjustable display mechanism 10. As the common bar 62 pivots about the fixed pivot point 65, the connecting bar linkages 63 that are each attached at one of their respective ends to the common bar 62 follow the end of the common bar 62 that is not attached to the small bar linkage 61. Therefore, the connecting bar linkages 63 travel toward the front of the adjustable display apparatus 10. As this occurs, the ends of the connecting bars 63 that are attached to the angled sliders 30 each push the angled slider 30 to which they are respectively attached toward the front of the adjustable display apparatus 10. This causes the slider bars 31 to travel along the slider track 23 in both a downward and forward direction. Therefore, both the vertical and horizontal distances between the individual shelves 40 attached to a respective angled slider 30 are increased. This leads to an overall increase in the area of the top surface 41 of a shelf 40 that is available for use. In this mode of adjustment, the distances moved by the individual shelves 40 differ in the same manner that they do when the adjustable display apparatus 10 is adjusted to allow for an overall decrease in shelf space, as previously described. Similarly, this mode of adjustment also allows for the available area of the top surface 41 of a shelf 40 to be kept constant between the individual shelves 40, even as the overall available shelf space is increased.
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The present invention provides an adjustable display apparatus with shelves that are simultaneously adjustable in the vertical and horizontal directions. A slider track that is provided on the housing of the apparatus engages angled sliders onto which the shelves are attached. An adjustment mechanism causes a bar linkage assembly that is attached to the angled sliders to pivot about a fixed point. This pivotal movement slides the angled sliders and the shelves attached thereto along the angled track. As the shelves slide along the track, the total available shelf area of the storage unit may be increased or decreased to a desired amount. Thus, the available shelf area may be adjusted to accommodate the volume of items that need to be displayed.
As will be clear to those of skill in the art, the herein described embodiments of the present invention may be altered in various ways without departing from the scope or teaching of the present invention. It is the following claims, including all equivalents, which define the scope of the invention.
This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/027,987, filed Jul. 23, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62027987 | Jul 2014 | US |