Modular Rack for Displaying Merchandise

1. Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to display racks for merchandise, particularly, fabric or paper goods merchandise such as rolls of wallpaper where it is desirable to place a sample of the merchandise close to its storage compartment.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The merchandising of fabrics and wallpaper, particularly wallpaper, has generally occurred by giving the customer access to several sample books and then having the customer obtain the wallpaper from the factory or a regional distribution center upon order. Mistakes made by the distribution center and the delay in obtaining the wallpaper has made this type of merchandising technique inconvenient and unsatisfactory for the customer. The modern trend is to now have a more limited selection of wallpaper available at the retail outlet so that the customer can select from a sample and take the wallpaper home at the same time. Heretofore, a convenient and sales appealing display rack for holding the merchandise, such as wallpaper, has not been available.

In general, the standard merchandising display rack used for the above purpose is a specially made carpenter erected wooden display rack which is aesthetically unappealing and expensive to construct.

It is an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive modular display rack the components of which are modular units so that the components can be mass produced to provide an inexpensive but attractive display rack.

It is another object of this invention to provide a display rack suitable for storing merchandise, especially rolls of wallpaper, and to provide a display panel for displaying a sample of the wallpaper.

It is another object of this invention to provide a modular display rack for merchandise which can be easily rearranged for various displaying space requirements.

Basically these objects are obtained by providing a pair of end members each having one or more openings, preferably three openings, and being spaced therefrom. The end members are interconnected at their openings with tubular means which form merchandise storage receptacles. Preferably, again, three of these tubular means are provided. The end member facing outwardly in the direction of the customer is provided with protruding display panels laterally adjacent each of the openings so that a sample of the merchandise in the storage receptacle can be displayed. The end members are all identical units so that display panels can be protruding from opposite ends of the combined display unit or can be used to interconnect endwise a second display unit.

In the embodiment where two units each comprising two end members and two sets of tubular means are connected together the abutting end members can have their vertical slots coaligned so that a splicing board can be inserted into each to positively join the end members together. Likewise the opposite most remote end members can have their vertical slots reversed to one another so that a customer approaching from one end of the combined unit will face a display panel when travelling right to left and will also face a display panel at the opposite end member when travelling also from right to left. Since the end members are all modular, that is, identical they can be rotated end for end as desired depending on the direction in which the display panels are to face. The modular construction of the end units also provides for reduced per unit manufacturing costs and simplicity of construction. The display units can be stacked one on top of another and/or arranged side by side, and/or arranged end for end as described.

FIG. 1 is a front isometric of a modular display unit embodying the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the display unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section of a combined display unit of the type shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 4 is a top plan of the display unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a set of display units adjoined endwise in abutting relationship.

FIG. 6 illustrates a plan of the combined display units shown in FIG. 5 also arranged in side by side adjacency with other endwise connected display units.

FIG. 7 is an isometric of several display units of the type shown in FIG. 1 in side by side and staggered adjacency.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the units shown in FIG. 7.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 a modular display unit 10 is formed of modular end members 12 and 14 and modular tubes 16. The term "modular" as used herein means that the members are each identical to the same type of members. Each end member 12 and 14 includes a plurality of openings 18 which receive the ends of the tubes 16. Preferably the openings 18 have enlarged diameters as at 20 so that the inside surface of the tube 16 is flush with the inside surface of the opening 18 at its outer end.

Each of the end members is also provided with a plurality of vertical slots 22 which hold removable display panels 24. As best shown in FIG. 1, the display panel will have a swatch or sample of the merchandise M such as rolls of wallpaper.

While the advantages of the modular end panels is best achieved by being identical, it should be understood that substantial benefits are also obtained by having only the end members which are intended to be viewed by the customer provided with the vertical slots and with the opposite end members devoid of slots. Preferably, however, two endwise adjacent panels such as shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 can be joined endwise together through the use of the vertical slots. As best shown in FIG. 3, for example, a second display unit having end members 26 and 28 joined by tubes 16 can have the two end members 14 and 22 in abutting relationship with the slots 22 of each being coaligned. In this manner a splicing board or plate 30 can be partially inserted into the confronting slots to splice the two end panels together. Preferably, the end panel 28 is rotated end for end relative to the end panel 12 so that its slots 22 and display panels 24 are diagonally opposite from the display panels of the end member 22. In this way the combined display units can be arranged as the center aisle in a showroom so that a customer can walk from right to left completely around both ends of the display unit and always have the display panels appearing in front of them.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 the endwise connected panel units as shown in FIG. 5 are arranged in a staggered sidewise adjacent array.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 single panel units arranged in vertically stacked adjacent staggered sets are illustrated. These vertically adjacent staggered sets are generally arranged along a showroom wall 40 as best shown in FIG. 8.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described it should be understood that variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art without departing from the principles herein. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated.