Slatwall mounting device

• US 4,805,784 A
• Filed: 01/14/1988
• Issued: 02/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Solheim, John A., Keller, Gary E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin-Shue, Alvin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lechok Eley, Sarah A.
• Application Number:
  US07/143,669
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 211/94, 211/54.1, 211/57.1, 211/59.1, 211/94.5, 211/162, 211/16, 211/125, 248/222.3, 248/223.4, 248/243, 24/590, 24/591, 24/594, 24/593
• US Class Current: 211/94.01
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0846 Display panels or rails with elongated channels; Sliders, brackets, shelves, or the like, slidably attached therein

Abstract

A mounting device for displaying items on slatwall having grooves of T-shaped cross section formed therein. The mounting device comprises a base having a pin projecting rearwardly therefrom for extending through the open throat of the T-groove of the slatwall. The distal end of the pin has a transverse cross bar thereon which is aligned with the open throat of the T-groove and moved therethrough into the channel portion of the groove when the device is being mounted on the slatwall, and then the entire device is then rotated about its longitudinal axis to turn the cross bar into a transverse position relative to the channel. The cross bar of the mounting device is of special configuration so that a wedging action occurs when the device is rotated to move the cross bar into it'"'"'s transverse position which firmly and demountably attaches the device to the slatwall. A support fixture is interchangeably carried by the base of the mounting device for supporting various articles to be displayed on the slatwall.

Claims

1. A display mounting device for demountable use with a slatwall of the type having at least one elongated groove formed therein which is of T-shape cross section to define an elongated inner channel with an elongated relatively narrow throat portion extending from the midpoint of the channel so as to open onto the front face of the slatwall, the channel portion of the groove having an outwardly facing bottom surface and an opposed pair of inwardly facing front surfaces that are located above and below the open throat portion of the groove of the slatwall, said display mounting device comprising:

(a) base means having a flat surface which faces the front surface of the slatwall in spanning overlaying relationship with the forwardly open end of the open throat portion of the groove of the slatwall when said mounting device is mounted on the slatwall;

(b) pin means extending normally from the flat surface of said base means for extending through the open throat portion of the groove of the slatwall, said pin means defining a longitudinal axis;

(c) a transverse cross bar means on the extending end of said pin means for aligned movement through the open throat portion into the channel portion of the groove of the slatwall;

(d) said base means, said pin means and said cross bar means being rotatable as an entity about the longitudinal axis of said pin means for rotating said cross bar means in the channel of the groove of the slatwall between longitudinally aligned and transversely disposed positions therein;

(e) means extending from said base means in a direction opposite to the flat surface thereof for supporting merchandise to be displayed; and

(f) means on said cross bar for interacting with the slatwall to prevent lateral sliding movements of said display mounting device in the elongated groove of the slatwall.

2. A display mounting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for preventing lateral sliding movements comprises a projection means which extends from said cross bar for penetration into the outwardly facing surface of the channel of the groove of the slatwall when said cross bar is rotated into it'"'"'s transverse position in the groove of the slatwall.

3. A display mounting device as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising said cross bar having a first surface which faces the outwardly facing bottom surface of the channel portion of the groove of the slatwall when mounted therein and having a second oppositely facing bearing surface which engages the inwardly facing front surfaces of the channel of the groove of the slatwall when said cross bar has been rotated into its transverse position in the groove of the slatwall.

4. A display mounting device as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising:

(a) projection means extending normally from the midpoint of the first surface of said cross bar;

(b) said cross bar having a width dimension which in conjunction with the extending length of said projection means is greater than the depth dimension of the channel portion of the groove of the slatwall; and

(c) cam surface means at each of the opposite ends of the bearing surface of said cross bar which produce a wedging action to drive said projection means into the outwardly facing bottom surface of the channel portion of the groove of the slatwall and produce a reaction which moves the bearing surface of said cross bar into firm engagement with the inwardly facing front surfaces of the channel of the groove of the slatwall when said cross bar is rotated into it'"'"'s transverse position therein.

5. A display mounting device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the opposite ends of the bearing surface of said cross bar are beveled to provide said cam surface means.

6. A display mounting device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said projection means is of conical configuration.

7. A display mounting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting merchandise to be displayed comprises:

(a) a peg extending from said base means in a direction opposite with respect to said pin means; and

(b) a support fixture means demountably carried on said peg.

8. A display mounting device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support fixture means has a blind bore formed therein in which said peg is received in a press-fit.

9. A display mounting device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support fixture means comprises an elongated tapered rod having a small end and a larger distal end, said small end defining a blind bore in which said peg is received and forms a press-fit therein, said distal end having an enlarged rim for preventing merchandise to be displayed from accidentally being pulled off said rod.

10. A display mounting device in combination with a slatwall structure comprising:

(a) a slatwall having at least one horizontally extending groove formed therein of T-shaped cross section to provide an elongated inner channel with an elongated relatively narrower throat portion which extends normally from the midpoint of the channel and opens onto the front surface of said slatwall, the channel portion of the groove having an outwardly facing bottom surface and an opposed pair of inwardly facing front surfaces that are located above and blow the open throat portion of the groove of said slatwall;

(b) base means having a flat surface which faces the front surface of said slatwall in spanning overlaying relationship with the forwardly opening end of the open throat portion of the groove of said slatwall;

(c) pin means extending normally from the flat surface of said base means through the open throat portion of the groove of said slatwall, said pin means defining a longitudinal axis;

(d) a cross bar means formed transversely on the extending end of said pin means and disposed in the channel portion of the groove of said slatwall, said cross bar having a width dimension which is slightly smaller than the width of the open throat portion of the groove of said slatwall and a length dimension which is slightly shorter than the transverse width of the channel portion of the groove of said slatwall;

(e) said base means, said pin means and said cross bar means being rotatable as an entity about the longitudinal axis of said pin means for aligning said cross bar with the open throat portion of the groove of said slatwall for movement therethrough and for rotating said cross bar between longitudinally aligned and transversely disposed positions in the channel portion of the groove of said slatwall; and

(f) means extending from said base means in a direction opposite of said pin means for supporting items to be displayed; and

(g) means on said crossbar for interacting with said slatwall to prevent lateral sliding movements of said display mounting device in the elongated groove os said slatwall.

11. A display mounting device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means for preventing lateral sliding movements comprises a projection means which extends from said cross bar for penetration into the outwardly facing bottom surface of the channel of the groove of said slatwall when said cross bar is rotated into it'"'"'s transverse position in the groove of said slatwall.

12. A display mounting device as claimed in claim 10 and further comprising said cross bar having a first surface which faces the outwardly facing bottom surface of the channel portion of the groove of said slatwall and having a second oppositely facing bearing surface which engages the inwardly facing front surfaces of the channel of the groove of said slatwall when said cross bar is in its transverse position in the groove of said slatwall.

13. A display mounting device as claimed in claim 12 and further comprising:

(a) projection means extending normally from the midpoint of the first surface of said cross bar;

(b) said cross bar having a width dimension which in conjunction with the extending length of said projection means is greater than the depth dimension of the channel portion of the groove of said slatwall; and

(c) cam surface means at each of the opposite ends of the bearing surface of said cross bar which produce a wedging action to drive said projection means into the bottom surface of the channel portion of the groove of said slatwall to produce a reaction which moves the bearing surface of said cross bar into firm engagement with the inwardly facing front surfaces of the channel of said slatwall when said cross bar is rotated into it'"'"'s transverse position therein.

14. A display mounting device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the opposite ends of the bearing surface of said cross bar are beveled to provide said cam surface means.

15. A display mounting device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said projection means is of conical configuration.

16. A display mounting device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means for supporting merchandise to be displayed comprises:

(a) a peg extending from said base means in a direction opposite with respect to said pin means; and

(b) a support fixture means demountably carried on said peg.

17. A display mounting device as claimed in claim 16 wherein said support fixture means has a blind bore formed therein in which said peg is received in a press-fit.

18. A display mounting device as claimed in claim 16 wherein said support fixture means comprises an elongated tapered rod having a small end and a larger distal end, said small end defining a blind bore in which said peg is received and forms a press-fit therein, said distal end having an enlarged rim for preventing merchandise to be displayed from accidentally being pulled off said rod.