Open Frame Rack Assembly

The retail merchandising of a broad variety of products involve the use of rack or shelf-based display structures. Very often, the products supported for display, collectively, are relatively heavy. For instance, caulking gun refills, paints, and the like can require customer "reachable" feed forward shelving capable of retaining about 400 pounds worth of merchandise.

In achieving requisite supporting strength, the shelving must be sufficiently "open" to permit the customer to identify varieties of the product, for example, caulking types and paint types, colors and the like. However, requisite strength and openness also must be achieved with a high level of aesthetic quality contributing to a desired ambiance within the retail environment.

Because consumer demands for products generally vary with time and the products displayed by merchants change, merchandising display shelving layouts change periodically. Thus, it is helpful for display component fabricators to have a capability for easily expanding, contracting, or geometrically varying a given display line. Heretofore, typical display shelving for heavier, more robust products have been fabricated of conventional sheet metal configurations connected to uprights. This connection may be carried out, for example, with coupling schemes such as the ubiquitous hook and slot or by bolting. To achieve modularity of sorts, stand alone versions of such shelves are available wherein an "L-shaped" back and foot structure is provided for shelf support. When loaded with goods, resultant forward leaning moment is derived to stabilize the loaded assembly. This form of shelving as well as conventional metal shelving has led to some concern, inasmuch as the customer and children of customers may, from time to time, grasp the forward portion of the display and pull it to tend to tip it over. With conventional steel shelving, however, modularity or fabrication flexibility to meet the changing needs of merchandising with ease has not been effectively realized.

Movable shelving or merchandising racks typically are assembled out of a shipping carton by retail clerks. Such assembly usually involves interconnection of a significant number of components with nuts and bolts in accordance with printed instructions. Very often, such assembly poses an unwanted burden upon the clerks in view of the detail necessarily required of instructions describing bolted assembly. As a consequence, the shelving may not be assembled properly leading to potential hazards at the retail floor.

Sheet metal shelving also exhibits the attributes of weight and bulk. Thus, the costs of its shipment becomes a recognizable component of their overall cost to the retailer. By meeting the bulk and weight criteria of certain shipping entities, substantial reductions in landed delivered cost savings may be provided for the retailer. Tooling also becomes a cost aspect for sheet metal shelving, the tooling costs required for fabrication of sheet components being somewhat elevated.

The present invention is addressed to a rack assembly of relatively low weight, open frame architecture utilizing modular components providing not only a flexibility to accommodate varying display demands, but also enjoying a unique simplicity of assembly. Assembly of the display rack is readily accomplished with minimal instruction, inasmuch as the design of the modules forming the rack structure is, in effect, self prompting to the assembler. No tools are required for assembly and the resulting structure is highly secure and stable. The open frame modules employed with the racks exhibit light weight, but high strength permitting the transportion of unerected display racks to retailing sites using less costly shipping entities. Of particular advantage, the display rack assembly has a pleasing aesthetic appearance, lending to its employment within the ambience of better retailing environments.

Among the modular parts employed with the rack apparatus is an open frame load receiving component formed of vertical loading rods which are coupled with a plurality of regularly spaced, vertically disposed receiving connector assemblies. These load receiving components serve to vertically transmit shelf carried loads substantially in compression to a floor or supporting surface. With this load transferring arrangement, the resilience otherwise exhibited by open frame structuring causes the present structure to assume a vertical, compressive load transfer orientation when otherwise disturbed, for example, by being inadvertently pulled forward, a maneuver tending to tip rigid display structures heretofore used. Assembly is carried out through the utilization of a tab rod based geometry in conjunction with receptor gaps formed by paired connector rods which, in turn, are structured to provide the noted receiving connector assemblies.

Another feature of the invention provides a rack assembly positionable upon a floor surface for supporting load carrying shelves. The assembly comprises two, spaced, parallel open frame load receiving components, each having two, parallel, spaced apart, loading rods of first widthwise cross sectional dimension having a floor surface engaging load transfer lower portion and extending vertically upwardly a select height, each further having a plurality of receiving connector assemblies formed of horizontally disposed mutually parallel connector rods connected to an outwardly disposed loading rod and extending outwardly therefrom a predetermined distance to define a receptor gap. The connector assemblies are positioned at spaced levels extending upwardly substantially from the load transfer lower portion. At least one cross member is provide having a shelf support front portion of predetermined bay length extending between first and second end links disposed normally to the front portion. Each of the first and second end links include two, parallel, spaced horizontal end link rods extending from the front portion and supporting respective first and second vertically disposed tab rods of second widthwise cross sectional dimension selected to promote engagement with the connector rods. The first and second tab rods are slidably insertable within oppositely disposed receptor gaps of receiving connector assemblies located at a common level to a position of substantial parallel adjacency with a loading rod to position the two load receiving components in vertical, spaced apart relationship corresponding with the bay length. A back structure is provided which is coupled with the two load receiving components and is oppositely disposed in parallel relationship with the front portion of the cross member. A shelf arrangement is supported between the cross member and the back structure for providing a shelf function.

Another feature of the invention provides a rack assembly locatable upon a floor surface for supporting load carrying shelves and having a front and back located between two sides spaced apart a predetermined width. The assembly comprises first and second open frame load receiving components, the first and second load receiving components constituting the spaced apart sides. Each load receiving component has a plurality of parallel, spaced apart vertical loading rods of first widthwise cross sectional dimension including two outwardly disposed ones of these vertical loading rods. Each load receiving component has a plurality of horizontally disposed, mutually parallel connector rods connected with the loading rods for maintaining the verticality thereof and which extend outwardly in pairs from each of the two outwardly disposed vertical loading rods a predetermined distance and form oppositely disposed regularly vertically spaced receiving connector assemblies, each having a receptor gap.

At least two cross member assemblies are provided having a shelf support front portion of predetermined bay length extending between first and second oppositely disposed end links disposed normally to the front portion and slidably receivable by corresponding receiver connector assemblies at the rack assembly front for transferring a portion of the load from the shelves to the first and second load receiving components. A first corner link assembly is provided including a plurality of horizontally disposed first corner link rods having a first portion extending to and connected with a first vertical corner tab rod of second widthwise cross sectional dimension, selected to promote engagement with the connector rods and slidably insertable within the receptor gap of the vertically spaced receiving connector assemblies of the first load receiving components located at the rack assembly back. The horizontally disposed corner link rods have a second portion normal to the first portion and extend to and are connected with a second vertical corner tab rod located at and inwardly disposed at the rack assembly back. A rack assembly back is provided which includes a third open frame load receiving component, the receiving connectors at a first side thereof having receptor gaps which slidably receive and retain the second vertical corner tab rod of the first corner link assembly at the second portion.

A further feature of the invention provides a display rack which is positionable upon a floor surface for supporting load carrying shelves. The rack comprises first and second spaced, parallel open frame load receiving components, each having a plurality of parallel, spaced apart vertical loading rods including two outwardly disposed vertical loading rods. The lower portions of the loading rods are configured to provide a rectilinear foot engaging the surface in load transfer relationship, each load receiving component having a plurality of paired, regularly vertically spaced, mutually parallel connector rods formed as parallelogramic loops fixed to the loading rods and extending mutually oppositely outward from the outwardly disposed vertical loading rods a predetermined distance and forming receiving connector assemblies having spaced, top and bottom loop components, each defining a receptor gap. A plurality of vertically spaced apart open frame cross members are provided, each having a shelf support front portion of predetermined bay length extending between first and second end links disposed normally to the front portion. Each of the first and second end links include two, parallel, top and bottom end link rods extending from the front portion and supporting respective vertically disposed tab rods, the tab rods of the first and second end links being slidably insertable within the receptor gaps of corresponding receiver connector assemblies of the first and second load receiving components. The top and bottom end link rods are respectively located in abutting adjacency with the top and bottom loop components of corresponding receiver connector assemblies. A first open frame corner link assembly is provided which includes a plurality of horizontally disposed first corner link rods having a first portion extending to and connected with a first vertical corner tab rod. The first vertical corner tab rod is slidably insertable within the receptor gaps of the receiving connector assemblies of the first load receiving component, adjacent ones of the horizontally disposed first corner link rods slidably abutting the spaced top and bottom loop components and the horizontally disposed first corner link rods having a second portion normal to the first portion extending to and connected with a second vertical corner tab rod. A second open frame corner link assembly is provided including a plurality of horizontally disposed second corner link rods having a first portion extending to and connected with a third vertical corner tab rod. The third vertical corner tab rod is slidably insertable within the receptor gaps of the receiving connector assemblies of the second load receiving component, adjacent ones of the horizontally disposed second corner link rods slidably abutting the spaced top and bottom loop components and the horizontally disposed second corner link rods having a second portion normal to the first portion extending to and connected with a fourth vertical corner tab rod. A third open frame load receiving component is provided, the receiving connector assemblies at a first side thereof having receptor gaps which slidably receive and retain the second vertical corner tab rod of the first corner link assembly second portion. A fourth open frame load receiving component is provided, the receiving connector assemblies at a first side thereof having receptor gaps which slidably receive and retain the fourth vertical corner tab rod of the second corner link assembly second portion. An open frame connector panel is provided including a plurality of horizontally disposed panel link rods connected between and supporting oppositely disposed first and second vertical panel tab rods. The first vertical panel tab rod is slidably received and retained by the receptor gaps of the receiving connector assemblies at a second side of the fourth load receiving components. A shelf arrangement is supported between the cross members and the third and fourth load receiving components.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, appear hereinafter. The invention, accordingly, comprises the apparatus and system possessing the construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure. For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rack assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the rack assembly of FIG. 1 taken through the plane 2--2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of one side of a cross member and load receiving component interconnection employed with the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the opposite side of the connector assembly shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a corner link assembly employed with the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing a connector panel and interconnected load receiving components employed with the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of one side of a lowermost cross member and load receiving component interconnection employed with the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a schematic, exploded representation of the display apparatus according to the invention and showing expansion of the display apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view showing an extender link assembly employed with the assemblage of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view showing a common cross member connecting structure employed with assemblage of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view showing a modification of corner link assemblies for use with expanded versions of the rack assembly as represented in FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is an exploded schematic view showing another expanded version of the rack assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a top view of a modified extender link assembly employed with the rack assembly of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a top view of a modified corner link assembly which may be employed with the expanded rack assembly of FIG. 12.

Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective illustration of a rack assembly or display rack according to the invention is represented generally at 10. The assembly 10 is ideally suited for use in a retail sales environment having essentially an all open frame construction which is both light, highly stable, and very easily assembled. In the figure, the assembly 10 is seen to have, in general, a front 12, sides 14 and 16 which are spaced apart a bay width, and a back or back structure 18. This arrangement supports a sequence of shelves 20-25 suitable for carrying a variety of products for display, for example, one such product may be caulking gun inserts as illustrated in the drawing, for example, at 28, supported as a load upon the shelf 24. Typically, the assembly 10 will have a width of 48 inches, a depth of 18 inches, a height of 70 inches, and will be arranged to provide a shelf access vertical gap for shelf-to-shelf spacing of about 12 inches. The assembly 10 is quite modular and may be expanded both laterally and rearwardly employing essentially standardized open frame components or modules.

One of the modular features is observed in the use of a load receiving component. In this regard, load receiving components 30 and 32 are provided which function to provide respective sides 14 and 16. Additionally, load receiving components 34 and 36 are provided which are observed to constitute a portion of the back or back structure 18. These four load receiving components 30-36 carry the loads induced by the products displayed as at 28 to the floor surface upon which the rack or apparatus 10 stands. To provide for this load transfer, the load receiving components are retained in a vertical orientation such that vertically disposed loading rods within them remain substantially in compression, sustaining very little load induced moment. As a consequence, the apparatus 10 may be quite light and suitable for shipment using more efficient shipping entities. Assembly of the four load receiving components 30-36 to form the apparatus 10 is quite simple, being carried out through a tab and slot form of coupling. In this regard, the side position load receiving components 30 and 32 are retained, in part, in their vertical orientation at front 12 by a sequence of horizontal cross members 38-43 seen adjacent respective shelves 20-25. To identify the models or types of goods displayed at the shelves 20-25, elongate face members 45, 47, 49, 51, and 53 which are structured to carry appropriate signage may be attached to the front portions of the horizontal cross members 38-42. These cross members are insertably connected to the corresponding load receiving components 30 and 32 by inwardly depending end links which are disposed normally to the front portions of the cross members.

In somewhat similar fashion, the opposite or rearwardly disposed vertical sides of the load receiving components 30 and 32 are coupled to the back structure 18 by open frame corner link assemblies represented, respectively, in general at 50 and 48. In this regard, again using a tab and slot form of attachment, the corner link assembly 50 connects one side of load receiving component 30 with a corresponding one side of load receiving component 34 at back structure 18. Similarly, the corner link assembly 48 couples the rearwardly disposed vertical side of load receiving component 32 with one side of load receiving component 36 positioned at the back 18. To unite load receiving components 34 and 36 and thus complete the back structure 18, a connector panel 52 is coupled between these load receiving components utilizing a tab and slot arrangement universal to the assembly 10.

Looking momentarily to the shelves 20-25, it may be observed that they are of an open frame configuration. In particular, looking to top shelf 20 and bottom shelf 25, it may be observed that the shelves are formed of four elongate rods extending along the bay width or widthwise dimension of the apparatus 10, certain of which are shown at 54. These rods are attached, for example, by resistance or spot welding to paired rod beams, certain of which are shown at 56. Certain of these paired rod beams extend to tabs and hooks such that the shelves 20-25 extend and are supported between the horizontal cross members 38-43 and the components 34 and 36 of the back structure 18. It may be observed with the structure of the paired cross beams 56, the uppermost of those beams will be in compression and the lowermost beam in tension under the influence of loads such as those depicted at 28. Note, in particular, that the merchandise displayed by the assembly 10 also may be separated with respect to colors, model numbers, and the like by spacers, certain of which are identified at 58.

Now looking to the identical structuring of the load receiving components, component 30 is revealed in FIG. 1 as having a plurality of parallel, spaced apart, vertical loading rods 62-66. These rods have a predetermined widthwise cross sectional dimension. In this regard, the rods may be of rectangular or circular cross section, that cross section preferably being circular. In a preferred arrangement, the rods will have a cross sectional diameter of about 1/4 inch. Of these rods, rear outermost rods 62 and next adjacent rod 63 are formed in looped fashion at 68 to provide a horizontal foot which functions as a load transfer portion partially transferring the shelf based loads to a floor surface upon which the assembly 10 is positioned. Similarly, loading rods 65 and 66 terminate in a load transfer lower portion present as a loop or foot 70.

Retaining the loading rods 62-66 in proper transversely spaced orientations to assure verticality in the completed apparatus 10, are a plurality of horizontally disposed mutually parallel connector rods. These connector rods are paired, regularly vertically spaced mutually parallel and preferably formed as parallelogramic loops, certain of which are identified at 72. These parallelogramic loops extend outwardly and oppositely from the outermost loading rods as at 62 and 66 and form receiving connector assemblies, certain of which are represented at 74 and 76. Particularly looking to the uppermost ones of the receiving connector assemblies 74 in FIG. 1, it may be observed that the paired connector rods, being spaced apart by the widthwise cross sectional dimension of loading rods 62 and 66, function to form or define a receptor gap, certain of which are shown at 78. Preferably, the connector rods 72 mutually converge at the receiving connector assemblies 74 to provide a gripping engagement with the tab forming components that are insert therein. The extent of these gaps 78 also is controlled by the parameters selected in the course of resistance welding the connector rods to the loading rods. This is controlled, for example, by regulating the amount of current, the length of welding, and pressure. In a preferred arrangement, for a loading rod cross sectional diameter of 1/4 inch, the cross sectional diameter of the connector 72 is selected as about 3/16th of an inch.

Referring to FIG. 2, a plan or side view of a load receiving component, in particular, that shown in FIG. 1 at 32 and side 16, is revealed in conjunction with an edge view of the load receiving component 36 and portions of the interconnecting connector panel 52 and corner link assembly 48.

FIG. 2 also reveals a side view of the shelves 20-25. In this regard, the view identifies the technique of their mounting within the assembly 10. For example, about every third of the paired rod beams 56 of the shelves extend to form rearwardly disposed, hook shaped connectors 80 which, for shelves at 20-23 as are mounted horizontally, appear to protrude somewhat from the back structure 18. These same paired rod beams 56 having the connectors 80 also are formed to provide downwardly depending tabs 82 which connect at two transverse rods of the horizontal cross members 38-43. It may be observed that with the extended hook-like connectors 80, the shelves, for example that at 24, may be tilted upwardly at the rear to provide a feed forward slope for rolling or sliding products to make customer access easier.

Looking with particularity to the structuring of the horizontal cross members 38-43, reference additionally is made to FIG. 3 where the cross member 38 is revealed in enhanced perspective detail at one end thereof. The member 38, as it extends across the bay width of the front 12 of apparatus 10 is formed of a horizontal and parallel series of six horizontally spaced and parallel front rods represented generally at 86. Of these six front rods, one closely adjacent pair as seen at 88 serve to receive the front connectors 82 of the shelves as described in connection with FIG. 2. The six front rods are interconnected by a front connector 90 which is fashioned of two parallel S-shaped rods. All of these components as at 86 and 90 of the horizontal cross member 38 are formed, for example, of 3/16th diameter steel wire, permitting them to be of minimum weight but of fully sufficient strength. Affixed to and extending outwardly from the connector pair 90 are two horizontally disposed alignment bars 92 and 93. Bars 92 and 93 are seen to be of larger cross sectional dimension, for example 1/4th inch diameter. Bars 92 and 93 serve to terminate the widthwise or bay length extent of the horizontal cross members 38 whereupon the component 38 transitions normally to its front portion to form an end link represented generally at 94. End link 94 is formed as a U-shaped component with two, parallel horizontal end link rods 96 and 98. End link rods 96 and 98 are spaced apart vertically a tab height and serve to support the vertical tab rod arrangement seen formed of tab rods 100 and 102. Looking momentarily to FIG. 2, it may be observed that these tab rods 100 and 102 extend downwardly and are part of the corresponding and identical end link 104 of horizontal cross member 39. The length of these rods 100 and 102 is such that the components 38 and 39 are spaced apart by three levels of receiving connector assemblies.

Returning to FIG. 3, the connector rod assemblage 72 is seen to be formed as a parallelogramic loop having paired parallel top loop components 72a and paired parallel bottom loop or rod components 72b. These components function to develop the earlier-noted receptor gap 78. In assembly, the tab rods 100 and 102 are slidably inserted within and retained by this gap 78. In this regard, the extent of the gap 78 is determined by the connection between paired connector rods 72a with loading rod 66 and the connection between paired connector rods 72b with that outwardly disposed loading rod 66. Where the rods are resistance welded, the extent of the gap 78 can be adjusted as part of that welding procedure. Additionally, the ends of the receiving connector assembly 74 thus formed may converge to provide an enhanced press fit against the tab rods 100 and 102. In a preferred arrangement, the connector rods 72a and 72b as well as the tab rods 100 and 102 are provided having a diameter of 3/16th inch. Correspondingly, the diameter of the loading rod 66 is 1/4th inch. By controlling the noted resistance welding, the gap 78 will be about 3/16th inch in extent. Generally, it is preferred that the gap 78 fall within a range of 3/16th inch to 1/4th inch in extent. In the course of assembly, as the tab rods 100 and 102 of the end link 94 are inserted within the gap 78, the horizontally disposed alignment bars 92 and 94 will move into contact with the vertical component 106 of the receiving connector assembly 74. For this side 16 of the assembly 10, outwardly disposed tab rod 100 will be spaced from loading rod 66 an amount equivalent to the widthwise cross sectional dimension of rod 100. Thus, a gap 108 is developed between tab rod 100 and loading rod 66. Additionally, the horizontal top end link rod 96 will be positioned over and in parallel abutment with one top connector rod 72a, while the oppositely disposed horizontal bottom end link rod 98 will move into abutment with an oppositely disposed connector rod at 72b. With the arrangement, vertical loading is thus transferred to the load receiving component 32 as may have been present at this considered side of the horizontal cross member 38. In practice, it has been found that the tab and slot connection thus provided is fully sufficient, without more, to retain the horizontal cross member 38 in connection with load receiving component 32. However, as a safety feature, a polymeric tie as represented at 110 may be connected around the vertical, parallel, and adjacent tab rod 100 and loading rod 66 to assure their continued verticality. It is this vertical transfer of load to the loading rods which enhances the stability of the rack apparatus. Cross member 38 extends the bay width of apparatus 10 to another end link assembly for connection with an appropriate receiving connector assembly 72 at the same level and within load receiving component 30 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 4, this oppositely disposed end link of the cross member 38 is represented generally at 112 and shown in united slot and tab connection with load receiving member 30. End link assembly 112 is coupled, as in the case of end link assembly 94, with two horizontally disposed alignment bars 114 and 116 which are attached to a connector as described in connection with FIG. 3 at 90 but now shown in FIG. 4. Link 112, as before, includes a U-shaped assemblage of end link rods 122 and 124 arranged normally to the front portion of the cross member 38. These end link rods 122 and 124 support a tab rod assembly including tab rods 126 and 128. Rods 126 and 128, for example, are resistance welded to the link rods 122 and 124. The end link 112, as before, is slidably retained with the receptor slot 78 formed by the paired connector rod components 72a and 72b of a receiving connector assembly 74 coupled, inter alia, to loading rods 65 and 66 of the load receiving component 30. Note, however, in comparison with the end link 94 that the tab rod 126 of end link 112 nests in abutting parallel adjacency against outwardly disposed loading rod 66. This slight alteration in the positioning of tab rod 100 in the case of end link 94 and tab rod 126 in the case of end link 112 will be seen to permit the convenient expansion of the bay width of a given assembly 10. As before, a polymeric tie as at 130 may be employed to assure the abutting adjacency and verticality between rods 126 and 66. It further may be noted that the rods 126 and 128 extend to and form the tab rods of the next lower adjacent cross member 39 as is the case for tab rods 100 and 102 as described in FIG. 3. As before, rod interconnections preferably are made by resistance welding.

Now considering the corner link assemblies 48 and 50 as discussed in general in connection with FIG. 1, reference is made to FIG. 5 where a partial perspective illustration of corner link assembly 50 is shown in conjunction with adjacent load receiving component 30 at side 14 of the apparatus 10 and load receiving component 34 at the back structure 18 thereof. Corner link assemblies 48 and 50 are structured identically for the preferred embodiment. However, when so structured, one is inverted vertically with respect to the other. FIG. 5 reveals that a corner link assembly is formed of a plurality of parallel and horizontally disposed corner link rods, two adjacent ones of which are shown at 132 and 134. Each of the corner link rods 132 and 134 have a first portion respectively at 132a and 134a which extends to a vertical corner tab rod assembly including vertical tab rods 136 and 138. As before, these rods 136 and 138 may be attached to the rod portions 132a and 134a by resistance welding or the like. The tab rods 138 and 136 are seen slidably inserted within the receptor gap 78 of the receiving connector assemblies 74 of the load receiving component 30. Note that vertical tab rod 136 is positioned in parallel abutting adjacency with vertical loading rod 62 of the load receiving component 30. To provide a modicum of safety, as before, a polymeric tie such as at 140 may be utilized to assure the securement and retention within receptor gap 78. One or two ties may be employed in vertically spaced relationship for the corner link assembly application.

The second portions of corner link rods 132 and 134 respectively as at 132b and 134b are formed normally to the first portions at 132a and 134a, and extend to a vertical tab rod assembly including vertical corner tab rods 142 and 144. Connection to respective corner link rod portions 132b and 134b may, as before, be provided by resistance welding. Utilizing the uniform tab and slot assembly approach, vertical corner tab rods 142 and 144 are inserted within the receptor slot 78 of the receiving connector assembly 72 of load receiving component 34 at the back structure 18. Note, as before, that the vertical corner tab rod 142 is in parallel abutting adjacency with vertical loading rod 62 of the component 34. To assure the maintenance of this connecting association, two or more polymeric ties, one of which is shown at 146, may be utilized to tie them together. As before, such small and light tying components may be utilized inasmuch as load imposed forces are vertical and very little lateral moment induced or transverse forces are encountered within the apparatus 10.

The height of the corner link assemblies 48 and 50 is selected such that, for example, they do not touch the floor surface. This height aspect with respect to corner link assembly 48 is seen in FIG. 2. Where that corner link assembly extends upwardly to a corner link rod 148 and downwardly to a corner link rod 150. Note in the figure the associated vertical corner tab rods 152 and 154. All rods making up the corner link assembly are of the lesser cross-sectional dimension, for example, 3/16 inch.

As described in connection with FIG. 1, the back structure 18 is formed of two load receiving components 34 and 36 which are interconnected at the center of the assembly 10 by a connector panel 52. Referring to FIG. 6, the structuring of this open frame connector panel 52 is represented in partial perspective view in conjunction with portions of the associated load receiving components 34 and 36. Connector panel 52 is seen to be formed of a plurality of regularly spaced horizontally disposed panel link rods, two of which are revealed at 160 and 162. The vertical spacing between rods 160 and 162 is the same as the earlier-noted tab height described in connection with end links 94 and 96 illustrated in FIG. 3. The plurality of rods as at 160 and 162 are supported in their horizontal orientations by a vertical rod 164 as well as the outwardly disposed vertical panel tab rod assembly including panel tab rods 166 and 168, and panel tab rods 170 and 172. Similar to the earlier tab and receptor gap assembly, the panel tab rods 166 and 168 are inserted within the receptor gap 78 of the receiving connector assemblies 74 of receiving component 34. Note that vertical panel tab rod 166 is in parallel abutting adjacency with outwardly disposed loading rod 66 of load receiving component 34. In similar fashion, vertical panel tab rods 170 and 172 are slidably inserted and retained within the receptor gap 78 of the receiving connector assemblies 74 of load receiving component 36. Note in this regard that the vertical panel tab rod 170 is in parallel abutting adjacency with vertical loading rod 62. To assure the integrity of the connection of connector panel 52 with the associated load receiving components 34 and 36, small polymeric ties, two of which are shown at 174 and 176 may be employed. As before, because of the relatively light transverse loadings involved, these small and light ties are fully adequate to assure the adjacency of rod 166 with rod 66 and the adjacency of rod 170 with rod 62. Connection of all rod components of panel 52 preferably is by resistance welding.

Connector panel 52 also is of restricted length. As seen in FIG. 2, panel tab rod 172 terminates upwardly at 178 and at level 180 at the bottom of the assembly 10. Thus, all load weight essentially is received by the vertical loading rods of the load receiving components. As before, the widthwise cross sectional dimension for all of the rod components of connecting panel 52 are of lesser extent than the corresponding dimensions for the loading rods as at 62-66. In this regard, in a preferred embodiment, the rod components of panel 52 are, for example, 3/16th of an inch in diameter.

Looking to the very bottom cross member as identified at 43 in FIGS. 1 and 2, a minor structural variation may be observed, inasmuch as this lowest cross member serves the additional purpose of providing a kick panel. However, its employment with the receiving connector assembly 74, gaps 78, and loading rods remains essentially the same as the cross members described above. Looking to FIG. 7, the cross member 43 is seen to be comprised of six horizontally disposed front rods represented in general at 182. FIG. 1 reveals that these front rods are held in their horizontal orientations by a plurality of U-shaped connectors, certain of which are shown at 183. Two front rods within the grouping 182 also support two parallel vertically spaced apart horizontally disposed alignment bars 184 and 185 which are connected to a vertically extended end link 186. The bottom end link rod 186a is seen to extend essentially to ground level in parallel with the foot 70 formed of end link rods 65 and 66. The end link 186 then extends upwardly to top end link rod 186b and these end link rods extend to connection with a tab rod assembly which extends upwardly to form the tab rods in common with cross member 42 and as are shown at 187 and 188. End rods 187 and 188, as before, are insertable within and retained by the receptor gap 78 of the lowermost position receiving connector assembly 74. The positioning of the tab rods 187 and 188 is varied between the two sides of the cross-member 143 in the same manner as the upwardly disposed cross members 38-42. Note that the outermost tab rod 187 is seen to be in parallel abutting adjacency with outermost disposed loading rod 66. As before, the connection of those components forming the assembly 43 is by resistance welding. Small polymeric ties (not shown) as described above may be employed as a safety precaution retaining the innermost tab rods with the outwardly disposed loading rods as at 66 for all of the tab and slot connections at the front of the assembly 10.

Because of the utilization of load receiving components employing regularly dimensioned and spaced receiving connector assemblies which perform with tab rod based systems, a desirable architectural flexibility or modularity is achieved. FIG. 8 illustrates one aspect of that flexibility where the basic components are conjoined to evoke a doubling of the available bay widthwise dimension of a rack assembly. In FIG. 8, in exploded and simplified form, the back and side components for such an expanded architecture are revealed generally at 190. In this regard, it may be observed that seven load receiving components 192-198 are employed, the two side load receiving components being those identified at 192 and 198. A centrally disposed component 195 is seen to be parallel with those two side defining elements. At the back structure load retaining components 193, 194, and 196, 197, are combined with respective connector panels 202 and 203. Corner link assemblies 206 and 207 respectively couple load receiving components 192 and 193, and 197 and 198. To unite all of the back structure elements, a "T-shaped" extender link assembly 210 is provided interconnecting load receiving components 194-196. The extender link assembly function 210 can be implemented in two ways. Preferably, the extender link 210 is utilized, however, two corner links may be employed with an alignment generating alteration of the corner tab rod positioning.

Referring to FIG. 9, the singular T-shaped extender link assembly 210 is revealed in partial perspective as it is positioned in conjunction with load receiving components such as those described at 194-196 in FIG. 8. In the figure, the assembly 210 is seen to be comprised of two co-planar portions 212 and 214 which are formed of a plurality of horizontally disposed extender link rods. In this regard, extender link rods 216 and 218 are seen within portion 212, while extender link rods 220 and 222 are illustrated at coplanar portion 214. Extender link rods 216 and 218 extend to and are connected to an extender tab assembly including extender tab rods 224 and 226. Similarly, extender link rods 220 and 222 of portion 214 extend to extender tab rods 228 and 230. Extender tab rods 224 and 226 are seen to have been received within the receptor gap 78 of a receiving connector assembly of load receiving component 194. In this regard, the outermost extender tab rod 224 is seen to be positioned in parallel abutting adjacency with outwardly disposed loading rod 62 and the extender link rods 216 and 218 are seen to be positioned, respectively, above and below the connector rods 72a and 72b of the receiving connector assembly illustrated. A small polymeric tie 232 assures the retention of the abutting association of rods 224 and 62.

The extender link assembly 210 further is structured having a third portion 234 disposed normally to the coplanar portions 212 and 214. In this regard, extender link rods 216 and 218 are seen to be bent to the orientation shown, respectively at 216a and 218a, while the corresponding extender link rods 220 and 222 are shown bent at the third portion 234 as respectively shown at 220a and 222a. This combination of extender tab rods at the third portion 234 extend to and are fastened by resistance welding or the like to vertically oriented extender tab rods 236 and 238. Rods 236 and 238 are seen to be slidably retained within receptor gap 78 of the receiving connector assembly formed by connector rods 72a and 72b at load receiving component 195. Note that extender tab rod 236 is located in parallel abutting adjacency with outwardly disposed loading rod 62 of the component 195 and this orientation is assured through the utilization of a small polymeric tie 240. All of the components of assembly 210 may be formed of rods of lesser cross sectional dimension, for example, 3/16 inch, by resistance welding.

Now considering the positioning of cross members within expanded architectures such as at 190 as seen in FIG. 8, it may be recalled from the discussions in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4 that a slight variation occurs in the positioning of the tab rod assemblies within opposite sides of a given such cross member. In this regard, FIG. 3 shows that tab rod 100 is spaced from loading rod 66 by a gap identified at 108 corresponding with the cross sectional widthwise extent of the rod 100. Correspondingly, as demonstrated in connection with FIG. 4, the opposite end link of that same cross member positioned the outwardly disposed tab rod in abutting adjacency with a corresponding outwardly disposed loading rod of the opposite load receiving component. This arrangement permits the common insertion of two end links within the same receptor gap of a receiving connector assembly without disrupting the linear alignment of adjacent cross members at the same shelf level. This desirable attribute is illustrated in connection with FIG. 10. Referring to FIG. 10, the centrally disposed load receiving component 195 of the expanded arrangement of FIG. 8 is revealed to the extent of an outwardly disposed loading rod 66 as associated with a receiving connector assembly 74 with paired top connector rods 72a and paired bottom connector rods 72b providing a receptor gap 78. Connected to the receiving connector assembly 74 is one side of a cross member represented generally at 246. Cross member 246 includes six horizontally disposed parallel front rods represented generally at 248 which are joined at one side of the cross member 246 by a front connection assembly 250. As before, joining is, for example, by resistance welding. Coupled additionally to the front connector 250 are two spaced parallel alignment bars 252 and 254 which extend outwardly horizontally to an end link represented generally at 256. End link 256 is formed two spaced, parallel end link rods 258 and 260 which are seen to extend to a tab rod assembly including vertical tab rods 262 and 264. Rod 262 is seen to be positioned in parallel spaced adjacency with respect to vertical loading rod 66. Additionally, the inwardly facing outer surfaces of the alignment bars 252 and 254 will have touched the vertical outer loop component of the receiving connector assembly 74 to so position the tab rods 262 and 264.

FIG. 9 also reveals the end link represented generally at 270 of a next adjacent cross member. This end link is structured in the manner described in connection with FIG. 4. Note, in this regard, that two spaced and parallel horizontal alignment bars 272 and 274 extend to and are connected, for example, by resistance welding to the end link 270 which, in turn, is formed of horizontal end link rods 276 and 278. These end link rods 276 and 278 extend to a tab rod assembly including vertical tab rod 280 and 282. Note that tab rod 280 is in parallel abutting adjacency with loading rod 66. It also is inboard with respect to that rod of vertical tab rod 262 of end link 256. As before, a small polymeric tie 284 provides a safety feature maintaining the verticality and parallel adjacency of tab rod assembly with outwardly disposed loading rod 66. Thus, a lengthwise alignment of the front portions of two adjacent cross members is effected when the tab rod of one connector assembly and the oppositely oriented tab rod of the other are commonly retained within a receiving connector assembly 74 which includes the receptor gap 78.

This same relative tab rod spacing procedure can be employed with corner link assemblies as an alternative to the extender link assembly 210 discussed above in connection with FIG. 9. Referring to FIG. 11, the centrally disposed load receiving component 195 as discussed in connection with FIG. 8 is partially revealed in perspective fashion in connection with a singular receiving connector assembly 74 incorporating gap 78 formed in conjunction with parallel spaced and paired top connector 72a and bottom connector rod 72b. Similarly, the load receiving component 94 within the back structure of the assemblage of FIG. 8 is partially revealed as including outwardly disposed loading rods 72 and associated receiving connector assembly 74 with receptor gap 78, top connector paired horizontal connector rods 72a and bottom paired parallel connector rods 72b. One corner link assembly 290 is seen interconnecting load receiving components 194 and 195. The corner link assemblage as before is formed of a plurality of horizontally disposed corner link rods 292 and 294. A first portion of these corner link rods as at 292a and 294a extend to and are connected with corner tab rods 296 and 298. These corner tab rods 296 and 298 are seen inserted within the receptor gap 78 of the receiving connector assembly 74 of load receiving member 195. Note, however, that corner tab rod 296 is in spaced parallel adjacency with outwardly disposed loading rod 62 of the load receiving component 195. The corner link rods 292 and 294 then extend normally with a second portion 292b and 294b to the support of corner tab rods 300 and 302. Note that in consistent fashion, the corner tab rod 300 is positioned in abutting adjacency with outwardly disposed loading rod 62. Additionally, a small polymeric tie 304 assures the maintenance of that abutting adjacency.

A second corner link assembly is shown in general at 306. Assembly 306, as before, is comprised of a plurality of horizontal and parallel corner link rods, two of which are revealed at 308 and 310. A first portion of these corner link rods as at 308a and 310a extend to a corner tab rod assembly including corner tab rods 312 and 314. Note that rod 312 is in parallel abutting adjacency with corner tab rod 296 of corner link assembly 290. That grouping of abutting rods 62, 312, and 296 is further secured by a small polymeric tie 316.

Rods 308 and 310 also extend as a second portion 308b and 310b normal to the first portion to a corner tab rod assembly including vertically disposed corner tab rods 318 and 320. These corner tab rods are slidably received within a next adjacent load receiving component such as that at 196 as described in conjunction with FIG. 8. Preferably, all components of the assemblies 290 and 306 are of lesser cross sectional dimension, for example, 3/16 inch diameter. All connections forming them preferably are made by resistance welding.

As a further demonstration of the modularity or flexibility of the display apparatus of the invention, reference is made to FIG. 12 where the somewhat standardized components again are employed to form a display rack structure of four bays arranged in back-to-back fashion as represented generally at 324. Rack assembly 324 utilizes ten load receiving components 326-335 in conjunction with two open frame connector panels 338 and 339. The above standardized components are combined with a modified extender link 342 which has a "cross" shape and two modified corner links 344 and 345 which have structures quite similar to the extender link assembly 212 described in connection with FIG. 9. Modified extender link assembly 344 is, in effect, two of the assemblies 210 which are interconnected at their tab rods as described in conjunction with FIG. 9.

Referring to FIG. 13, the modified extender 342 is revealed as a partial top view in conjunction with the receiving connector assembly 74 of the adjacently coupled load receiving component 329-332. As before, the assembly 342 is formed of a plurality of horizontally disposed extender link rods bent to extend into normally disposed planar configurations. In this regard, note that the extender link rods 348 have one portion at 348a extending and affixed to a vertical extender tab rod assembly including extender tab rods 350 and 352. These rods 350 and 352 are within the receptor gap 78 of a receiving connector assembly 74 of loading component 331. Note that extender tab rod 350 is in abutting parallel adjacency with load rod 66 of the component 331.

The second portion of the extender link rods 348 as at 348b extend normally to the first portion to an extender tab rod assembly including extender tab rods 354 and 356. These extender tab rods 354 and 356 are engaged within the receptor gap 78 of the receiving connector assemblies 74 of load receiving component 332. Note in this regard that extender tab rod 354 is in parallel abutting adjacency with vertical loading rod 66. In similar fashion, a plurality of regularly spaced horizontal extender rods 358 are revealed having first portions 358a extending and fixed to vertical extender tab rods 350 and 352. Correspondingly, the normally disposed portions of these connector rods extend as at 358b to resistance welded attachment with vertical extender tab rods 360 and 362. These tab rods 360 and 362 are inserted within the receptor gaps 78 of receiving connector assembly 74 of load receiving component 329. Note in this regard that vertical extender tab rod 360 is in parallel abutting adjacency with outwardly disposed vertical loading rod 62 of the component 329.

Assembly 342 additionally includes a plurality of regularly spaced horizontally disposed extender link rods 364 having one portion identified at 364a extending to a vertical extender tab rod assembly including extender tab rods 366 and 368. Tab rods 366 and 368 extend within the receptor gaps 78 of receiving connector assembly 74 formed within load receiving component 330. Note in this regard that extender tab rod 366 is in parallel abutting adjacency with corresponding outwardly disposed vertical loading rod 62 of the component 330. The second portion of horizontal extender link rods 364 at 364b extends to and is connected with extender tab rods 360 and 362. Finally, a plurality of horizontally disposed extender link rods 370 are provided having an initial portion 370a extending to and connected with vertical extender tab rods 366 and 368. The second normally disposed portion of the extender link rods 370 at 370b extend to and are connected with vertical extender tab rods 354 and 356. All of the connections for the assemblage 342 are preferably provided by resistance welding and the dimensions of the rod components fall within the criteria, for example, of the expander described in connection with FIG. 11 and the corner components as described in connection with FIG. 5.

Turning to FIG. 14, a top view representation of the modified corner link assembly 344 is revealed. Assembly 344 includes a plurality of horizontally disposed regularly vertically spaced corner link rods 374 having a first portion 374a which extend to a corner tab rod assembly including corner tab rods 376 and 378. Connection with these tab rods preferably is by resistance welding. Tab rods 376 and 378 are seen to be retained within the receptor gap 78 of the receiving connector assembly 74 of load receiving component 326. In this regard, note that vertical corner tab rod 376 is positioned in abutting parallel adjacency with vertical outwardly disposed loading rod 66 of the component 326. A second portion 374b extends an expanded distance perpendicularly to the first portion to a corner tab rod assembly including vertically disposed corner tab rods 380 and 382. Connection with these rods preferably is by resistance welding. Note that the rods 380 and 382 are retained within receptor slots 78 of receiving connector assembly 74 of the load receiving component 328. Corner tab rod 380 is seen to be in parallel abutting adjacency with outwardly disposed vertical loading rod 66 of the component 328.

A second plurality of horizontally disposed corner link rods is provided with the assembly 344 as represented at 384. A first portion as at 384a of these corner link rods extends to connection with a corner tab rod assembly including vertically disposed corner tab rods 388 and 390. Connection with the tab rods 388 and 390 preferably is by the noted resistance welding procedure. Rods 388 and 390 are retained within the receptor gap 78 of receiving connector assembly 74 of the load receiving unit 327. Note in this regard that corner tab rod 388 is positioned in parallel abutting adjacency with outwardly disposed vertical loading rod 62 of the component 327. The second and normally disposed portion of the horizontally disposed corner link rods 384 is provided as shown at 384b extending to connection with vertically disposed corner tab rods 380 and 382. As before, preferable connection is by resistance welding, and all rod components are of lesser cross sectional dimension, for example, 3/16 inch diameter.

Since certain changes may be made in the above described system and apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the description thereof or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.