Combination shelf and display unit

• US 20030201203A1
• Filed: 04/24/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fast Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fast Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Fast, Robert A., Fast, Jacob, Lowry, Michael G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,732,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/527
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0043 Show shelves shelves in general A47B96/02; brackets or similar shelf-supporting means A47B96/06; advertising or price indication G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/204 specially adapted to be attached to a shelf or the like

Abstract

A display unit for use in combination with a shelf having a depressed well at its front end, the display unit providing a stop for merchandise resting on the shelf and being formed of a multiplicity of integrally formed panels, portions of which can be seated and locked into the well of the shelf, with other portions then being interengaged to rigidify the unit and preclude accidental collapse.

Claims

1. In combination, a shelf and a display unit, said shelf comprising a generally planar support member having front and rear ends and an upper surface, a depressed well formed toward said front end, said well being defined by a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom wall, said well having a depth measured from said bottom wall to said upper surface of said support member, and a length measured between said front and rear walls, and a channel communicating with said rear wall of said well and underlying said support member to define a lip at that end of the well, said display unit comprising a first panel having an upper edge and a lower edge, said first panel having a height between its upper and lower edges greater than said depth of said well, a second panel having an upper edge and a lower edge, said upper edge of said second panel being hingedly connected at an angle to said upper edge of said first panel, said second panel having a length between its upper and lower edges greater than said length of said well, a third panel having a front edge and a rear edge, said rear edge of said third panel being secured to said lower edge of said first panel, said third panel having a length between its front and rear edges less than said length of said well, a fourth panel having a lower edge and an upper edge, said lower edge of said fourth panel being secured to said front edge of said third panel, said fourth panel having a height between its lower and upper edges greater than said depth of said well, and a fifth panel having a rear edge secured to said upper edge of said fourth panel and having portions with an upper surface extending forwardly therefrom, a locking member having a lower edge secured to a lower portion of said first panel, said locking member extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom to a free upper edge, and complementary, selectively interengageable, members on said lower edge of said second panel and said upper surface of forwardly-extending portions of said fifth panel to secure said panels together to form a relatively rigid, generally right-triangular, upper portion and a relatively rigid lower portion formed from the lower portion of said first panel together with said third and fourth panels, said lower portion of said display unit adapted to be seated in said well with said locking member extending into said channel and engaged under said lip to secure said display unit to said shelf and with the upper portion of said first panel extending above said upper surface of said support member to define a stop for articles carried by said support member.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said panels are integrally formed of a plastic material and the hinged connection between said upper edges of said first and second panels is an integral hinge.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said plastic material is polyvinyl chloride.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said shelf includes an arcuate bull nose portion extending forwardly of said well and downwardly to a free lower edge, and wherein said forwardly-extending portion of said fifth panel includes a complementary arcuate front end portion with a reverted terminal lip adapted to engage under said free lower edge of said bull nose portion of said shelf to further secure said display unit to said shelf.

5. The combination of claim 4, further including a label holder comprising an arcuate, flexible, transparent cover member having a forward edge connected to said upper surface of said arcuate front end portion of said fifth panel to slidably receive a paper label or the like in a pocket formed between said cover member and said front end portion of said fifth panel.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein a rearward edge portion of said cover member includes a finger-engaging element to facilitate opening said pocket.

7. The combination of claim 1 further including means to support said shelf with said upper surface angled forwardly and downwardly.

8. The combination of claim 7, further including at least one display article carried on said upper surface of said shelf and engaged by gravity with said stop.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said display article comprises a box.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein said box carries a pair of shoes.