Display rack with repositionable shelf

• US 6,758,355 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2003
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Astoria Wire Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Astoria Wire Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Zidek, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US10/427,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20030192848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 211/181.1, 211/90.03, 211/106, 211/205, 211/204, 211/90.04, 211/193, 211/208, 211/119.003, 211/94.01, 211/196, 211/175, 211/90.01, 211/90.02, 108/102, 108/105-108, 108/147.11, 248/224.61, 248/124.61, 248/124.2, 248/121, 248/153, 248/158, 248/175, 248/200.1, 248/215, 248/218.4, 248/219.3, 248/222.52, 248/225.21, 248/298.1, 248/302-304, 248/338
• US Class Current: 211/205
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/01 made of tubes or wire A47F5/0807 takes precedence foldable or adjustable A47F5/13
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/06 adjustable

Abstract

A display rack includes an upright that supports a crosspiece and one or more shelves. Each shelf includes two clips, and each clip includes a lip element configured to fit over and to engage an upper surface of the crosspiece, and a spring element configured to snap-lock against a lower, opposed of the crosspiece. The first and second clips are positioned on the shelf such as the shelf is mountable on the crosspiece in three different positions: a first position, in which each clip is disposed on a respective side of the upright; a second position, in which both clips are disposed on a first side of the upright; and a third position, in which both clips are disposed on the other side of the upright.

Claims

1. A display rack comprising:

a base;

at least one upright secured to the base;

at least one crosspiece secured to the at least one upright, said at least one crosspiece comprising a first cantilevered part extending on a first side of the at least one upright and having a first unsupported free end and a second cantilevered part extending on a second, opposed side of the at least one upright and having a second unsupported free end;

at least one shelf comprising first and second clips, each clip comprising a respective lip element configured to fit over and to engage a first side of the at least one crosspiece, and a respective spring element configured to snap-lock against a second, opposed side of the at least one crosspiece;

said first and second clips positioned on the at least one shelf such that the at least one shelf is mountable on the at least one crosspiece in each of three positions;

a first position, in which both spring elements are snap-locked against the at least one crosspiece with the first clip disposed on the first side of the at least one upright and snap-locked against the first cantilevered part and the second clip disposed on the second side of the at least one upright and snap-locked against the second cantilevered part;

a second position, in which at least the second spring element is snap-locked against the first cantilevered part of the at least one crosspiece with both the first and second clips disposed on the first side of the at least one upright; and

a third position, in which at least the first spring element is snap-locked against the second cantilevered part of the at least one crosspiece with both the first and second clips on the second side of the at least one upright.

2. The display rack of claim 1 wherein said respective lip elements and said respective spring elements of each of said first and second clips are vertically aligned.

3. The display rack of claim 1 wherein said at least one crosspiece comprises a wire loop forming an upper and lower horizontal member on each of said first and second sides of the at least one upright, wherein said upper horizontal member is positioned above said lower horizontal member, and wherein each said respective lip element is configured to fit over and engage one of said upper and lower horizontal members and each said respective spring element is configured to snap-lock against the other of said upper and lower horizontal members.

4. The display rack of claim 3 wherein first and second unsupported free ends are curved between said upper and lower horizontal members on each of said first and second sides of the at least one upright.

5. The display rack of claim 3 wherein each of said clips comprises at least one tab protruding into a space bounded by said wire loop, the at least one tab positioned to mechanically interfere with the wire loop when the at least one shelf is mounted on the at least one crosspiece in at least one of the first, second and third positions, thereby limiting sliding movement of the at least one shelf along the at least one crosspiece away from the at least one upright.

6. The display rack of claim 1 wherein said at least one shelf has a first length and said at least one crosspiece has a second length, wherein said first length is greater than said second length.

7. A display rack comprising:

a base;

at least one upright secured to the base;

at least one crosspiece secured to the at least one upright and having at least a first portion extending on a first side of the at least one upright and at least a second portion extending from an opposite second side of the at least one upright, the at least said first and second portions of said at least one crosspiece each comprising an upper and lower horizontal member defining a plane and joined by a curved end portion, wherein said upper horizontal members are positioned above said lower horizontal members, and wherein said curved end portions are each curved within said respective plane;

at least one shelf comprising a first element configured to fit over and to engage one of said upper and lower horizontal members of a selected one of the first and second portions of the at least one crosspiece, and a second element configured to fit over and engage the other of said upper and lower horizontal members of the selected one of the first and second portions of the at least one crosspiece.

8. The display rack of claim 7 wherein said upper and lower horizontal members and said curved end portion of said first portion are integrally formed from a single piece of material.

9. The display rack of claim 8 wherein said upper and lower horizontal members and said curved end portion of said second portion are integrally formed with said first portion from said single piece of material.

10. The display rack of claim 7 wherein said at least one shelf comprises first and second clips, each clip comprising one each of said first and second elements;

said first and second clips positioned on the at least one shelf such that the at least one shelf is mountable on the at least one crosspiece in each of three positions;

a first position, in which both of said second elements are snap-locked against the at least one crosspiece with the first clip disposed on a first side of the at least one upright and snap-locked against the first portion and the second clip disposed on the second side of the at least one upright and snap-locked against the second portion;

a second position, in which at least one of the second elements is snap-locked against the first portion of the at least one crosspiece with both the first and second clips disposed on the first side of the at least one upright; and

a third position, in which at least one of the second elements is snap-locked against the second portion of the at least one crosspiece with both the first and second clips disposed on the second side of the at least one upright.

11. The display rack of claim 7 wherein said at least one shelf comprises at least one tab protruding into a space bounded by at least one of said first and second portions of said at least one crosspiece, said at least one tab positioned to mechanically interfere with the at least one first and second portion when the at least one shelf is mounted on the at least one crosspiece in at least one of the first, second and third positions, thereby limiting sliding movement of the at least one shelf along the at least one crosspiece away from the at least one upright.

12. The display rack of claim 7 wherein said first and second elements are vertically aligned.

13. A display rack comprising:

a base;

at least one upright secured to the base;

at least one crosspiece secured to the at least one upright and having at least a first portion extending on a first side of the at least one upright and at least a second portion extending from an opposite second side of the at least one upright, the at least said first and second portions of said at least one crosspiece each comprising an upper and lower horizontal member, wherein said upper horizontal members are positioned above said lower horizontal members; and

at least one shelf comprising a first element configured to fit over and to engage one of said upper and lower horizontal members of a selected one of first and second portions of the at least one crosspiece, and a second element configured to fit over and engage the other of said upper and lower horizontal members of the selected one of the first and second portions of the of the at least one crosspiece;

wherein said at least one shelf has a first length and said at least one crosspiece has a second length, wherein said first length is greater than said second length.