GB2106770A - Display units - Google Patents

Abstract

Cassettes of tape can be displayed for sale in units according to the invention. A holder 10 has a base tray 12 with a recess 14 for an article 15 and an upright portion 16. Pivots 20 secure the holder 10 at the top and bottom of the upright 16 in relation to a rail 22. The rail 22 comprises the back of a wall- mountable case, and has upper and lower projecting flanges 23 each with holes 24 loosely receiving pivots 20. The holders 10 can each be rocked to left and right so that three sides of the article 15 can be seen without removal from the holder 10. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Display units The invention relates to display units suitable for retailing articles such as books or cassettes of recorded audio or video tape. Such cassettes may be of standard size, or offered for sale in a case of standard size, and the invention is particularly but not exclusively concerned with units each suitable for the display of articles of a particular size and shape, and generally rectangular.

A display unit according to the invention comprises a number of article holders each having a base tray with a recess for an article and an upright portion for steadying the article in the base, and pivots securing the holders at each end of the upright in relation to a rail, whereby the holders can each be rocked to left and right and the articles inspected. Adjacent article holders on a rail are preferably spaced by about half the width of a holder so that three sides of an article can be seen without removal from the holder. The unit can hold a relatively large number of articles in a way which enables a would-be purchaser to browse as in a library or book shop.

A preferred unit according to the invention includes means for locking articles in the holders. The locking means may comprise a bar for locking in engagement with an article in such a way that it cannot be removed from the base tray. The holder advantageously includes a cap similar to the base tray and pivotable in relation thereto for securing an article in the holder and for engagement with the locking means. The base tray and upright portion are preferably each an injection moulding of plastics material.

The rail may simply be suitable for mounting on a wall, for example by means of screws; it may be straight or curved. Alternatively, the rail may be part of a wall-mountable case, or triangular, rectangular, square, circular or elliptical, and may be mounted on a pillar to form afree-standing unit. The rail may be provided with pivots projecting from an upper and a lower edge, or separate rails may be provided for pivots to engage each end of the holders. The pivots may be on the holders and engage in holes in the rail(s) or on the rails and engage in holes in the holders. The height of the holders and the separation of the rows of pivots may be such that a holder can be mounted on a rail by raising a holder so that an upper pivot enters a hole and then lowering the holder so that a lower pivot enters a hole without the upper pivot leaving its hole.The pivots may be locked in the holes by means of clips.

Drawings Figure 1 is a section through a display unit according to the invention, and corresponds in many ways to a side view; Figure 2 is a section perpendicular to Figure 1, and corresponds to a front view of the left hand end of a unit with the remainder cut away; Figure 3 is a sectional plan corresponding to Figure 2; Figure 4 is a section like Figure 1 of a lockable unit; and Figures 5 and 6 correspond to Figures 2 and 3 but illustrate the lockable unit of Figure 4.

With particular reference to Figure 1, an article holder 10 has a base tray 12 with a recess 14 for an article 15, and an upright portion 16 for steadying the article in the base. Pivots 20 secure the holder 10 at the top and bottom of the upright in relation to a rail 22. The rail 22 comprises the back of a wallmountable case, and has upper and lower projecting flanges 23 each with holes 24 loosely receiving pivots 20. The holders 10 can each be rocked to left and right as indicated by an arrow in Figure 3 so that three sides of the article 15 can be seen without removal from the holder 10.

In the lockable modification of Figure 4, the same reference numerals have been used as far as possible. Pivots 20 project from the top and bottom of the rail 22 and fit loosely into holes (not separately shown) in a metal strip 30 which is fast with the base tray 12 or with a similar cap 32. The strips 30 are connected by a continuation 34 behind the rail 22 (to the left in Figure 4) and resiliently hinged at 36 so that the cap 32 can be tilted upwards as shown by an arrow in Figure 4 to release the article 15.

A locking bar 40 is hinged at 42 to a top 44 of a wall-mountable case, and in the illustrated position engages the article 15 through the cap 32 so that it cannot be removed from the base tray 12. On the bar 40 is a lock 46 operable by a key 48 to secure the bar 40 in the position shown by engagement with a locking plate (not shown) projecting from the underside of the top 44 of the case. On unlocking, the bar 40 can be turned upward about the hinge 42 as indicated by an arrow in Figure 4, and so releases the cap 32. In this position, the cap 32 can be tilted upward, and the article 15 removed.

1. A display unit suitable for retailing comprises a number of article holders each having a base tray with a recess for an article and an upright portion for steadying the article in the base, and pivots securing the holders at each end of the upright in relation to a rail, whereby the holders can be rocked to left and right and the articles inspected.

2. A display unit according to claim 1 in which adjacent article holders on a rail are spaced by about half the width of a holder so that three sides of the article can be seen without removal from the holder.

3. A display unit as herein described with reference to Figures 1,2, and 3 of the drawings.

4. A display unit according to claim 1 or claim 2 including means for locking articles in the holders.

5. A display unit according to claim 4 in which the locking means comprises a bar for locking in engagement with an article in such a way that it cannot be removed from the base tray.

6. A display unit according to claim 5 in which the holder includes a cap similar to the base tray and pivotable in relation thereto for securing an article in the holder and for engagement with the locking means.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Display units The invention relates to display units suitable for retailing articles such as books or cassettes of recorded audio or video tape. Such cassettes may be of standard size, or offered for sale in a case of standard size, and the invention is particularly but not exclusively concerned with units each suitable for the display of articles of a particular size and shape, and generally rectangular. A display unit according to the invention comprises a number of article holders each having a base tray with a recess for an article and an upright portion for steadying the article in the base, and pivots securing the holders at each end of the upright in relation to a rail, whereby the holders can each be rocked to left and right and the articles inspected. Adjacent article holders on a rail are preferably spaced by about half the width of a holder so that three sides of an article can be seen without removal from the holder. The unit can hold a relatively large number of articles in a way which enables a would-be purchaser to browse as in a library or book shop. A preferred unit according to the invention includes means for locking articles in the holders. The locking means may comprise a bar for locking in engagement with an article in such a way that it cannot be removed from the base tray. The holder advantageously includes a cap similar to the base tray and pivotable in relation thereto for securing an article in the holder and for engagement with the locking means. The base tray and upright portion are preferably each an injection moulding of plastics material. The rail may simply be suitable for mounting on a wall, for example by means of screws; it may be straight or curved. Alternatively, the rail may be part of a wall-mountable case, or triangular, rectangular, square, circular or elliptical, and may be mounted on a pillar to form afree-standing unit. The rail may be provided with pivots projecting from an upper and a lower edge, or separate rails may be provided for pivots to engage each end of the holders. The pivots may be on the holders and engage in holes in the rail(s) or on the rails and engage in holes in the holders. The height of the holders and the separation of the rows of pivots may be such that a holder can be mounted on a rail by raising a holder so that an upper pivot enters a hole and then lowering the holder so that a lower pivot enters a hole without the upper pivot leaving its hole.The pivots may be locked in the holes by means of clips. Drawings Figure 1 is a section through a display unit according to the invention, and corresponds in many ways to a side view; Figure 2 is a section perpendicular to Figure 1, and corresponds to a front view of the left hand end of a unit with the remainder cut away; Figure 3 is a sectional plan corresponding to Figure 2; Figure 4 is a section like Figure 1 of a lockable unit; and Figures 5 and 6 correspond to Figures 2 and 3 but illustrate the lockable unit of Figure 4. With particular reference to Figure 1, an article holder 10 has a base tray 12 with a recess 14 for an article 15, and an upright portion 16 for steadying the article in the base. Pivots 20 secure the holder 10 at the top and bottom of the upright in relation to a rail 22. The rail 22 comprises the back of a wallmountable case, and has upper and lower projecting flanges 23 each with holes 24 loosely receiving pivots 20. The holders 10 can each be rocked to left and right as indicated by an arrow in Figure 3 so that three sides of the article 15 can be seen without removal from the holder 10. In the lockable modification of Figure 4, the same reference numerals have been used as far as possible. Pivots 20 project from the top and bottom of the rail 22 and fit loosely into holes (not separately shown) in a metal strip 30 which is fast with the base tray 12 or with a similar cap 32. The strips 30 are connected by a continuation 34 behind the rail 22 (to the left in Figure 4) and resiliently hinged at 36 so that the cap 32 can be tilted upwards as shown by an arrow in Figure 4 to release the article 15. A locking bar 40 is hinged at 42 to a top 44 of a wall-mountable case, and in the illustrated position engages the article 15 through the cap 32 so that it cannot be removed from the base tray 12. On the bar 40 is a lock 46 operable by a key 48 to secure the bar 40 in the position shown by engagement with a locking plate (not shown) projecting from the underside of the top 44 of the case. On unlocking, the bar 40 can be turned upward about the hinge 42 as indicated by an arrow in Figure 4, and so releases the cap 32. In this position, the cap 32 can be tilted upward, and the article 15 removed. CLAIMS

1. A display unit suitable for retailing comprises a number of article holders each having a base tray with a recess for an article and an upright portion for steadying the article in the base, and pivots securing the holders at each end of the upright in relation to a rail, whereby the holders can be rocked to left and right and the articles inspected.

2. A display unit according to claim 1 in which adjacent article holders on a rail are spaced by about half the width of a holder so that three sides of the article can be seen without removal from the holder.

3. A display unit as herein described with reference to Figures 1,2, and 3 of the drawings.

4. A display unit according to claim 1 or claim 2 including means for locking articles in the holders.

5. A display unit according to claim 4 in which the locking means comprises a bar for locking in engagement with an article in such a way that it cannot be removed from the base tray.

6. A display unit according to claim 5 in which the holder includes a cap similar to the base tray and pivotable in relation thereto for securing an article in the holder and for engagement with the locking means.

7. A display unit as herein described with referpence to Figures 4, and 6 of the drawings.