In-store display having variable width

• US 5,295,596 A
• Filed: 06/05/1992
• Issued: 03/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mechtronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mechtronics Corporation
• Inventors: Squitieri, Anthony C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERGER, DEREK JOEL
• Application Number:
  US07/894,456
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 211/43, 211/175, 211/88, 211/184
• US Class Current: 211/175
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 45/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features enabling enlarging in height, length, or depth sectional furniture A47B87/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0068 Shelf extensions, e.g. fixed on price rail

Abstract

An expandable display including a central member and two end pieces, the central member including fingers extending laterally from each side, the end pieces each having fingers extending laterally towards the central member, the fingers of the end pieces slidingly engaging the fingers of the central member, permitting the width of the display to be varied by relative sliding movement between the central member fingers and the end piece fingers. Each of the end pieces may include a hinged back for receiving and holding a display card. The central member may include a clamp at the rear for securing the display to another structure.

Claims

1. An expandable display including

a central member and at least one end piece associated with said central member,

said central member including a group of central member fingers for each said end piece, said central member fingers defining central member slots therebetween, said central member fingers extending laterally toward said end piece,

each said end piece having end piece fingers extending laterally towards said central member, said end piece fingers defining end piece slots therebetween,

said central member fingers being slidingly mounted within said end piece slots, said end piece fingers being slidingly mounted within said central member slots, said central member fingers slidingly engaging said end piece fingers, and

a back mounted on the back edge of at least one of said end pieces, said back being hinged to said end piece along said back edge,

whereby the width of said display may be varied by relative sliding movement between said central member fingers and said end piece fingers.

2. An expandable merchandise display including

a first base member and a second base member,

a plurality of first spaced fingers on said first base member projecting towards said second base member, a plurality of second spaced fingers on said second base member projecting towards said first base member, said first spaced fingers being slidingly interfitted between said second spaced fingers, said first spaced fingers alternating with said second spaced fingers, and

a back hingedly mounted along the rear edge of at least one of said base members,

whereby said base members can provide a merchandise display of variable width.

3. An expandable display including

a central member and at least one end piece associated with said central member,

said central member including a group of central member fingers for each said end piece, said central member fingers defining central member slots therebetween,

each said end piece having end piece fingers extending laterally towards said central member, said end piece fingers defining end piece slots therebetween,

said central member fingers being slidingly mounted within said end piece slots, and said end piece fingers being slidingly mounted within said central member slots, and said central member fingers slidingly engaging said end piece fingers, and

said central member fingers being Z-shaped with a base and a shelf and said end piece fingers being Z-shaped with a base and a shelf, whereby said central member fingers overlap said end piece fingers and said end piece fingers overlap said central member fingers,

whereby the width of said display may be varied by relative sliding movement between said central member fingers and said end piece fingers.

4. An expandable display including

a central member and two end pieces associated with said central member,

said central member including central member fingers extending laterally from each side thereof, said central member fingers defining central member slots therebetween,

said end pieces each having end piece fingers extending laterally towards said central member, said end piece fingers defining end piece slots therebetween,

said central member fingers being within said end piece slots, and said end piece fingers being within said central member slots, and said central member fingers slidingly engaging said end piece fingers,

each said end piece including a back portion mounted in a generally vertical position at the rear of each said end piece, and

said back portions being hingedly mounted to said end pieces,

whereby the width of said display may be varied by relative sliding movement between said central member fingers and said end piece fingers and said back portions may be folded under their respective said end pieces for shipment or storage of said expandable display.

5. An expandable display as set forth in claim 4 including latch means to hold said hinges in a fixed position.

6. An expandable display including

a central member and two end pieces associated with said central member, said central member and said two end pieces together forming a horizontal tray section,

said central member including central member fingers extending laterally from each side thereof, said central member fingers defining central member slots therebetween,

said end pieces each having end piece fingers extending laterally towards said central member, said end piece fingers defining end piece slots therebetween,

said central member fingers being within said end piece slots, and said end piece fingers being within said central member slots, and said central member fingers slidingly engaging said end piece fingers,

said central member fingers being Z-shaped with a base and a shelf, and said end piece fingers being Z-shaped with a base and a shelf, whereby said central member fingers overlap said end piece fingers and said end piece fingers overlap said central member fingers in said horizontal section,

whereby the width of said display may be varied by relative sliding movement between said central member fingers and said end piece fingers

7. An expandable display as set forth in claim 6 in which each said end piece includes a back portion mounted in a generally vertical position at the rear of each said end piece.

8. An expandable display as set forth in claim 7 in which said back portions include mounting means for holding a display card.