Segmental Articulated Article Display

This invention relates to display arrangements and more particularly to a unique arrangement for supporting a plurality of hook suspended article display devices in a spaced, vertical relationship.

Various display arrangements have been devised for supporting a plurality of hook suspended display devices in a spaced, vertical relationship. The hook suspended display devices may take the form of garment hangers, carpet hangers, and the like. In displaying these articles, it is highly desirable to space them vertically so that a portion of each article may be shown or is open for viewing. In this manner, various blouses, coats, shirts, pants, etc. having the same design or different designs and colors may be presented for ready comparison by a customer. In a like manner, various designs and colors of carpet samples may be similarly displayed. Further, in the storage or transportation of various garments or other articles, it is highly desirable to support them in the storage or transport area in a spaced, vertical relationship thereby increasing the effective use of the available area.

An example of one arrangement for supporting hook suspended article display devices in a vertical, spaced relationship may be found in copending, commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 646,178 to John H. Batts, entitled ARTICULATED ARTICLE SUPPORT and filed on even date herewith. The arrangement disclosed therein includes an elongated, flexible tension load supporting strap upon which are slidably mounted a plurality of rigid links. Each link is slotted to fit on the strap and includes a hook extending outwardly from one face thereof. Although substantially alleviating the problems heretofore experienced with such vertical support arrangements, once a device of this nature is assembled, it is possible to increase the number of support points for the article display devices. In other words, the capacity of the device may not be changed at will. Further, a special attachment bracket or a support hook arrangement is required to secure the upper end of the elongated strap to a support surface.

Therefore, a need exists for a display arrangement capable of supporting a plurality of hook suspended devices in a vertically spaced relationship whereby the capacity of the device may be readily increased or decreased at the point of use and whereby the need for special attachment brackets or a support hook arrangement may be obviated. Further, such an improved arrangement would preferably possess the qualities of reduced cost of manufacture, increased ease of manufacture, and increased ease of assembly.

In accordance with the present invention, a unique articulated article support is provided for hook suspended article display devices whereby the problems heretofore experienced are substantially alleviated. Essentially, the segmental, articulated article support includes a plurality of rigid body links interconnected together so as to extend vertically in a tandem or end-to-end relationship. Each individual link includes a rigid body having transversely spaced side members and longitudinally spaced end members. A hook-like portion extends outwardly from the body in the area of one of the end members. The hook portion includes an inner peripheral surface having a stepped configuration and a recess for frictionally receiving and retaining the end member of the next lower link. Provision is made to limit the lateral rotation of the links with respect to one another. Provision is further made for ready attachment of the uppermost link to a support surface without the need for a separate special bracket arrangement.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the segmental, articulated article display in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the article display of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, front elevational view of one of the individual links employed with the present article display;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the link of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional, side elevational view taken generally along line V--V of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view showing the manner in which the individual link may be secured to a support surface;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional side elevational view taken generally along line VII--VII of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the article display showing the manner in which hook suspended article display devices may be supported therefrom.

The unique segmental articulated support in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the drawings and generally designated 10. The support arrangement 10 includes a plurality of individual link members 12 interconnected in an end-to-end or tandem relationship.

As best seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, each individual link 12 includes a rigid body structure having spaced, parallel side members 14 and transversely extending, longitudinally spaced end members 16, 18. A hook portion 20 extends outwardly from the face of end member 18. The hook portion 20 includes an outer peripheral surface 22, an inner peripheral surface 24, and parallel side surfaces 26. Projecting outwardly from the outer peripheral surface 22 is a centrally positioned, flange-like portion, web-like member, or rib 28. The flange portion 28 is arcuate or generally crescent-like in shape. The rib 28 reinforces the hook. It also has an important secondary function as will be described subsequently.

Each link 12 further includes a web-like, planar portion 30 extending transversely between the side members 14. The transverse edges 32 and 34 of the web 30 are spaced from the end members 16, 18 respectively. The web 30, therefore, in conjunction with the end members and side members, defines an upper aperture 36 and a lower aperture 38. An inverted keyway 40 is formed in the upper end of the web 30. The keyway 40 includes a slot 42 opening into the aperture 36 and a circular opening 44 intersecting with the lower end of the slot 42. Similarly, a keyway 46 is formed in the lower edge of the web 30. The upper end of the keyway 46 also terminates in a circular opening 44. The keyway 46 in like manner opens into the aperture 38. The circular openings 44 provide stress relief by preventing stress concentrations at the ends of the keyway slots.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 7, the individual links 12 are interconnected in a chain-like manner by inserting the hook 20 of an upper link through the aperture 36 of the next lower link. The outwardly projecting flange or rib 28 secured to or formed integral with the outer peripheral surface 22 of the hook-like portion is received within the slot 42 of the keyway 40 of the lower link. This structural arrangement greatly increases the resistance to lateral rotation or pivoting of the link members with respect to one another.

The inner peripheral surface 48 of the upper end member 16 (FIG. 5) is rounded or cylindrical in nature. This surface 48 is received within a semi-circular recess or socket 50 formed in the inner peripheral surface of the hook 20, approximately at its point of juncture to the main body of the link. The cylindrical recess 50 acts as a bearing surface which permits limited pivotal movement of the interconnected links. The tip 51 of recess 50 is in effect a continuation of ledge 53 formed in the inner peripheral surface 24 of hook 20. This arrangement restricts entry to the recess or socket 50 and provides a detent type restraint. The detent restraint maintains the links interconnected and firmly retains the end member within the socket during use of the support. As a result, when the lowermost link of the chain is grasped and pulled outwardly away from a vertical or other support surface, the support will assume a curved configuration (FIG. 2) to thereby separate the display articles supported by the hook portions of each individual link. A pull ring 80 including an end portion 82, configured the same as the end portions 16 of each link, may be inserted within the recess 50 of the lowermost link to increase the ease with which the support may be swung outwardly.

In order to increase the stability of the support arrangement when a plurality of garment hangers or the like are suspended therefrom, the outer peripheral surface of each end member 16 is beveled at an angle .theta. to a transverse plane passing perpendicular through the end member to define a beveled surface 39 curved along its longitudinal axis. As best seen in FIG. 7, this beveling of the end member results in the curvature of the inner surface 24 of the hook 20 being continued across the top of the end member 16, thus defining a smooth and positive seat for the support hook of the individual hangers. The sloping or beveled surface 39 causes the support hooks of the individual hangers to be biased against the side members 14 of the links under the action of gravity. It is preferred that the angle be a small one. A 20.degree. angle has been found to provide the desired result.

The structural arrangement of the present invention results in a segmental, articulated support whereby a plurality of hook suspended display devices may be supported in a spaced, vertical relationship. The capacity of the support may be readily increased or decreased merely by adding or removing the individual links. Therefore, it can be readily and quickly adapted to the specific requirements of each particular usage. Since the support is segmentized in a chain-like fashion, the ease with which the device may be swung or pivoted outwardly to separate the individual hangers suspended from the support is substantially increased when compared to a device employing a rigid support arm. Therefore, the advantages of the aforementioned articulated support employing a flexible strap member are retained while significant additional advantages are also obtained.

As best seen in FIG. 6, no special bracket arrangement need be provided to secure the segmental support 10 to a vertical support surface 60. As shown therein, the circular openings 44 of the keyways 40, 46 are dimensioned to readily receive detachable fasteners such as screws or the like 62. It is preferred that the web 30 be positioned flush with the lower edge of the side members 14. In this manner, when the uppermost link is secured to a vertical support surface, the weight of the overall device will be spread out over a substantial area. Further, the chances of cracking or breaking the web portion 30 by overtightening the fasteners 62 is substantially reduced.

As best seen in FIG. 8, when the articulated support has been secured to a support surface, the support hooks 70 of individual display hangers 72 are placed in front of the individual links 72. The hanger portion or support portion 74 is positioned behind the links. Since the links are capable of limited pivotal or rotational movement with respect to each other and further as best seen in FIG. 2 when interconnected, the support assumes a step-like configuration, the device will readily accommodate additional garments.

As previously stated, when the support is swung outwardly from the bottom, the individual garment support will remain vertical and therefore the articles displayed will be separated for ease of removal and placement on the support device. Each article displayed, whether it be a garment, carpet sample, a swatch of wall covering material, or the like, may be viewed by the customer with a short segment of each readily visible. Due to the unique interconnection between adjacent links, the resulting device is fairly rigid and is substantially free from lateral twisting or rotational effects. The arrangement, by permitting vertical spaced support of the individual hangers, increases the capacity of available storage or transport areas. Since links may be easily added, the full area available may be used for storage.

It is preferred that the individual links be molded from a rigid, plastic material having sufficient tensional strength to withstand the forces imposed upon the links during use. It is also important that the material be capable of withstanding long periods under heavy tension loading without significant elongation or other distortion. The material must have high impact resistance. Since this device is intended to be used to display merchandise at the point of sale, it is very important that its appearance neither detract from nor conceal the appearance of the goods being displayed. Therefore, it should be manufactured from a transparent material. Such a material permits the colors of the articles to be seen through the links, and thus the links tend to readily blend into the background of the displayed articles and largely lose their identity. In this way, they do not detract from the merchandise. It has been found that a polycarbonate material meets these specifications. One polycarbonate material which has been successfully used is that sold by Mobay Chemical Company, specification number M-40-1010CL.

Various modifications to the support as illustrated and described will undoubtedly become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the generally rectangular shape of each link may be varied without departing from the inventive concept disclosed. Further, the web portion 30 may extend substantially the entire length of the link body and/or the lower keyway may be changed to a semi-circular opening. Therefore, it is expressly intended that the above description should be considered as that of the preferred embodiment only. The true spirit and scope of the present invention will be determined by reference to the appended claims.