Display device

• US 5,161,702 A
• Filed: 05/02/1991
• Issued: 11/10/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas A Schutz Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Thomas A Schutz Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Skalski, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Purol, David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PUROL, SARAH L
• Application Number:
  US07/694,568
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.3, 211/59.2, 211/43, 211/51, 211/184
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means

Abstract

A display device having a front cartridge section against which objects can be stacked, one against the other, in a first line; first and second strips each wound about itself to define first and second coils with first and second axes; structure for connecting the strips to the front cartridge section so that the axes of the coils are transverse to the first line; and a rear cartridge section having first and second legs which are extendable at least partially through the first and second coils. By moving the rear cartridge section away from the front cartridge section in the first line with the first and second legs extended into the first and second coils, the legs cause the first and second coils to unwind, whereby a force is developed on the first and second strips tending to draw the front and rear cartridge sections towards each other so that an article to be displayed can be resiliently captured in a display position between the front and rear cartridge sections.

Claims

1. A display dispenser for articles, said display dispenser comprising:

an article support having first and second facing wall surfaces having a height defining a space therebetween for articles to be placed for movement thereof between a first storage position and a second access position;

a first strip wound about itself to define a first coil with a first axis;

means for connecting the first strip to the article support so that the first strip can be stretched to place the first coil in a partially uncoiled state;

a second strip wound about itself to define a second coil with a second axis; and

means for connecting the second strip to the article support so that the second strip can be stretched to place the second coil in a partially uncoiled state,

the first and second coils of the first and second stretched strips urging articles in the first storage position towards the second access position as the first and second strips recoil,

there being no structure connecting between the first and second coils so that the first and second coils recoil independently from their partially uncoiled state,

said first and second coils, in their partially uncoiled state, each having a sufficient diameter to prevent passage of articles therebetween.

2. The article display dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel.

3. The article display dispenser according to claim 2 wherein articles translate in a first line between the first and second positions therefor.

4. The display dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first and second facing wall surfaces are connected to a bottom surface upon which the articles are supported in a vertical direction.

5. The display dispenser of claim 4 wherein the first facing wall surface includes a forwardly facing edge against which at least one of the first and second strips bears.

6. The display dispenser of claim 5 further including a retaining means for holding at least one article in said access position and wherein the first and second coils urge the article in the storage position against said at least one article.

7. The display dispenser of claim 6 wherein the retaining means is a wall attached to the bottom surface transverse to the first and second facing wall surfaces.

8. The display dispenser of claim 7 wherein the wall of the first retaining means includes a cutout to permit viewing of said at least one article in said access position.

9. The display device of claim 7 wherein the wall of the retaining means is formed of clear plastic to permit viewing of a said at least on article in said access position.

10. The display device of claim 5 wherein the first strip includes a first end, the first coil is located at the first end, while said first means for connecting said first strip to said article support is located at a second end opposite said first end.

11. The display device of claim 10 wherein said first strip includes a first bend located between said first and second end, the first bend engaging the forwardly facing edge.

12. The display device of claim 10 wherein the first wall surface includes a slot adjacent said forwardly facing edge and wherein the first connecting means includes a transverse bend at said second end which is received in said slot.

13. The display dispenser of claim 12 wherein the first strip includes a notch on the first bend engaging the forwardly facing edge and wherein the forwardly facing edge includes a pin engaging the notch to prevent vertical movement of the first strip.

14. A display dispenser for articles comprising:

a tray including first and second side walls each having a forwardly facing edge, and a bottom surface;

a first retainer against which the articles are to be stacked, one against the other, in a first line, the first retainer is attached to the bottom surface;

a first strip wound about itself at one end to define a first coil having a first variable diameter, the first strip including a first fastener located at an opposite end, and a first forward bend located between the first coil and the first fastener;

a second strip wound about itself at one end to define a second coil having a second variable diameter, the second strip including a second fastener located at an opposite end, and a second forward bend located between the second coil and the second fastener;

the first forward bend is engaged with the forward facing edge of the first side wall, the first coil is located between the first and second side walls and the first fastener is attached to the first side wall;

the second forward bend is engaged with the forward facing edge of the second side wall, the second coil is located between the first and second side walls and the second fastener is attached to the second wall;

there being no structure connecting between the first and second coils so that the first and second coils recoil independently from their partially uncoiled state;

whereby when articles are placed between the first retainer and the diameters of the first and second coils, a force is developed by the first and second strips tending to draw the diameters of the first and second coils towards the first retainer so that the article is resiliently captured in a display position between the first retainer and the diameters of the coils.

15. The display device according to claim 14 wherein the forward facing edges of the first and second side walls include a pin and both the first and second strips include a notch on the first and second forward bend, respectively, the pin and the notch for preventing at least one of vertical and horizontal movement of the first and second flexible strips relative to the article support.

16. The display device of claim 14 wherein the retainer includes a cutout to permit viewing of a forwardmost article being displayed.

17. The display device of claim 14 wherein the retainer is formed of clear plastic to permit viewing of a forwardmost article being displayed.

18. The display device according to claim 14 wherein at least one of the first and second flexible strips is made at least partially of plastic.

19. The display device according to claim 14 wherein at least one of the first and second flexible strips is made at least partially of metal.

20. The display device of claim 14 wherein the rectangular tray is made by vacuum forming.

21. The display device of claim 14 wherein the fastener of each first and second strip includes a transverse bend in the opposite end, and the first and second side walls include a slot located a distance from the forward facing edge, the transverse bend being located approximately the same distance from the first and second bends such that as the first and second forward bends are engaged with the forward facing edges of the first and second side walls, the transverse bend is aligned with the slot to lock the first and second strips in place.

22. A display dispenser for articles comprising:

an article support including first and second side walls each having a forward facing edge, at least one center wall having a forward edge and a bottom surface;

a first and second retainer against which the articles are to be stacked, one against the other, in a first and second line, the first and second retainers both being attached to the bottom surface;

a first strip wound about itself at one end to define a first coil having a first diameter, the first strip including a first fastener located at an opposite end, and a first forward bend located between the first coil and the first fastener;

a second strip wound about itself at one end to define a second coil having a second diameter, the second strip including a second fastener located at an opposite end, and a second forward bend located between the second strip and the second fastener; and

at least one center strip wound about itself at one end in one direction to define a third coil having a variable diameter and wound about itself at the opposite end in an opposite direction to define a fourth coil having a variable diameter, the center strip including a third forward bend located between the third and fourth coils,

the first forward bend is engaged with the forward facing edge of the first side wall, the first coil is located between the first side wall and the center wall and the first fastener is attached to the first side wall,

the second forward bend is engaged with the forward facing edge of the second side wall, the second coil is located between the center wall and the second side wall and the second fastener is attached to the second wall,

the third forward bend is engaged with the forward facing edge of the center wall, the third coil is located adjacent the first coil and the fourth coil is located adjacent the second coil,

there being no structure connected between the first and second coils so that the first and second coils recoil independently from their partially uncoiled state,

whereby when articles are placed between the first and second retainer and the diameters of the first and third and second and fourth coils, a force is developed by the first and second strips tending to draw the diameters of the first, second, third and fourth coils towards the first and second retainer so that the article is resiliently captured in a display position between the first and second retainer and the diameters of the coils.

23. The display device according to claim 22 wherein forward facing edges of the first and second side walls and the center wall each include a pin, and the first, second and center strips each include a notch on the first, second and third forward bend, respectively, for reception of a pin, the pin and the notch preventing vertical or horizontal movement of the first and second flexible strips relative to the article support.