GB2122484A - Mounting and display apparatus and a method of displaying video cassette sleeves - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a plurality of individually rotatable members (14) mounted on a column (12), each member having a disc like part (16) with a plurality of support means (20) in the form of cylindrical channels or pins (23,21). Sleeve holders having corresponding pins or channels respectively (24,25) are supported on the support means, each to be rotatable about an axis adjacent an edge thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mounting and display apparatus and a method of displaying video cassette sleeves This invention relates to means for mounting and displaying a plurality of sleeves particularlyvidec cassette sleeves.

Conventionally video cassettes are supplied in boxes each of which has a sleeve extending to both sides of the box and displaying information aboutthe cassette within. In orderforthe public to be able to choose a desired cassette, the cassette sleeves must be displayed so thatthe matter printed on the sleeves can be viewed.

Conventionally the boxes carrying the sleeves are mounted in fixed racks divided into a plurality of compartmens arranged in rows and columns, the boxes being slid into and out of the compartments so that only one side of a box is visible when it is in a compartment. The cassettes themselves are normally removed from the boxes before display to prevent pilfering.

An object ofthe present invention is to provide mounting means by means of which both sides of a sleeve can be viewed while the sleeve is supported by the mounting means.

Another object is to provide a mounting means which optimisesthe use ofthe space available for displaysothata maximum numberofsleevescan be displayed in the available space and may be viewed by several people simultaneously.

In one form the invention provides mounting means for mounting and displaying a plurality of sleeves comprising a column member having a vertical axis, a plurality of rotatable members mounted one above the other on the column memberforindependent rotation about the axis, each rotatable member having a plurality of support means spaced angularly there around, eachforsupporting a sleeve carrying member thereon, such that each sleeve carrying member is rotatable relative to the rotatable memberabouta vertical axis adjacent one edge thereof, such that both sides of each sleeve can be viewed.

Thisarrangementallows one to achieve excellent use of the space available for displaying as many sleeves as possibleto several peoplesimultaneously and allows both sides of each sleeve to be viewed.

In one form the sleeve carrying member is the conventional box in which a cassette is supplied. In this case each support means may be a pin onto which a box can be pushed so that it is pivotable thereon. The boxes conventionally have a channel at one edge into which a pin can be inserted when there is no cassette in the box, to allowthe box to pivot about the pin.

In a preferred form a novel sleeve holder is provided,thissleeveholdercomprising merely a frame for receiving the cassette sleeve withoutthe box. In this case the holder may have an integral pin extending from its lower edge which can be inserted into one of a series of holes in the rotatable member, the holes forming the support means. The frame will preferably be formed oftransparent plastics material.

The frame could befitted with clips to clip onto an upstanding pin on the rotatablememberorachannel to receive such a pin.

In another aspect the invention provides a method of mounting and displaying a plurality of video cassette sleeves which comprises arranging a plural ity of such sleeves without their boxes i n in individual frame-like sleeve holders, and mounting the holders for individual pivotting movement each about an axis adjacent an edge thereof, the axes being spaced apart distances less than half the widths of the sleeves so that sleeves can be pivotted to view both sides thereof.

One embodiment of mounting dispay apparatus in accordance with the invention will now be described, byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing of which: Figure lisa vertical section through a mounting and display apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a section on the line il of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of a sleeve holder of the apparatus, and Figure 4 is a plan view of the holder of Figure 3.

Referring to Figures 1 and2,the mounting and display apparatus comprises a circular sectioned column 12 extending upwards from a base 13. In an alternative the column could bewaIl-mounted provided it is spaced from the wall a sufficient distance.

Mounted on the column are a plurality, in this case seven, rotatable members 14, each having atubular cylindrical portion 15 which is a sliding and rotatable fit on the column and a disc-like portion 16 extending horizontally outwardly from the column. The base of each disc-like portion has a groove 17 to receive the cylindrical portion 15 ofthe member 14 immediately below it. The members 14 are mounted one above the other on the column to be each independently rotatable about the axis ofthe column and are retained thereon by a cap member 18. If it is not required to have a rotatable member 14 at the bottom ofthe column a stop may be attached at an appropriate position of the column to supportthe lowest member 14.

Each ofthe disc-like parts 16 has a plurality of support means 20 equiangularly placed around its upper surface, for example, ten to twenty support means per member 16. The top disc 16 is shown with one form of support means 20 each comprising an upstanding pin 21. The remainder ofthe members 14 are shown with an alternative form of support means 22 as seen in the plan view, Figure 2. In this case each support means is in form of a circular sectioned cylindrical hole 23. A sleeve holder may be supported on each support means. In one form the sleeve holder will be a conventional video cassette box only one of which is illustrated at 24 into a channel ofwhich is pushed a pin 21 so that the sleeve holder is pivotable about a vertical axis adjacent one edge thereof, i.e.

aboutthe axis ofthe pin 21. In another form the sleeve holder 25 comprises a frame member of transparent plastics material into which a sleeve of a video cassette may be pushed so that each side can be seen through the transparent sides of the holder. The sleeve holder 25 is formed with an integral circular sectioned pin 26 extending from its lower edge adjacent one side, this pin being insertable into one of the holes 23 so thatthe holder is pivotable aboutthe axis of pin 26.

In an alternative form the side of the holder may be formed with clips 27 of a channel to be mounted on a pin such as 21 or a separate bar. In this case the cassettes can remain in their boxes and onlythe sleeves are displayed which increases the efficiency of dispensing the cassettes and boxes to the customers.

With the arrangement shown where 20 sleeves are mounted on each of seven rotatable members 73 sleeves are contained in an area of half a square meter. Since each ofthe rotatable members is individually rotatable different people spaced around the column 12 can independently rotate the series of sleevesto bring a desired sleeve immediately in front of them and can then pivotthe particular sleeve aboutthe axis adjacent its edge to view both sides of it.

Conventional sleeves are between 20 and 23 cms in height and 15.25 cms in width. The size of the sleeve holder 25 will be sufficient to hold the maximum size ofsleeveand height of each rotatable member will be arranged sothatthe sleeve holders cannot be removed from the rotatable members without raising the rotatable member immediatelythereabove. The discs 16 mayfor example have a diameter from 15.25 to 20.3 cms.

CLAIMS (filed on 30 Sep 1982) 1. Mounting means for mounting and displaying a plurality of sleeves comprising a column member having a vertical axis, a plurality of rotatable members mounted one above the other on the column member for independent rotation about the axis, each rotatable member having a plurality of support means spaced angularlytherearound, eachforsupporting a sleeve carrying memberthereon, such that each sleeve carrying member is rotatable relativetothe rotatable member about a vertical axis adjacent one edge thereof, such that both sides of each sleeve can be viewed.

2. Mounting means according to Claim 1 in which each support means comprises a substantially verti- callyextending pin.

3. A mounting means according to Claim 2 in which each sleeve carrying member has a channel adjacent one edge for receiving one of said pins.

4. Mounting means according to Claim 1 in which each support means comprises a channel.

5. Mounting means according to Claim 4 in which each sleeve carrying member has a pin adjacent one edge receivable in one of said channels.

6. Mounting means according to any of Claims 1 to 5 in which the sleeve carrying members are in the form of a frame for receiving a cassette sleeve.

7. Mounting means for mounting and displaying a plurality of sleeves substantially as described herein with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of mounting and displaying a plural ity of video cassette sleeves which comprises arrang ing a plurality of such sleeves without their boxes in individual framelike sleeve holders, and mounting the holders for individual pivoting movement each about an axis adjacent an edgethereof,the axes being spaced a part at distances less than half the width of the sleeve so thatthe sleeves can be pivoted to view both sides thereof.

9. A method of mounting and displaying a plurality of video cassette sleeves substantially as described herein.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. cassette may be pushed so that each side can be seen through the transparent sides of the holder. The sleeve holder 25 is formed with an integral circular sectioned pin 26 extending from its lower edge adjacent one side, this pin being insertable into one of the holes 23 so thatthe holder is pivotable aboutthe axis of pin 26. In an alternative form the side of the holder may be formed with clips 27 of a channel to be mounted on a pin such as 21 or a separate bar. In this case the cassettes can remain in their boxes and onlythe sleeves are displayed which increases the efficiency of dispensing the cassettes and boxes to the customers. With the arrangement shown where 20 sleeves are mounted on each of seven rotatable members 73 sleeves are contained in an area of half a square meter. Since each ofthe rotatable members is individually rotatable different people spaced around the column 12 can independently rotate the series of sleevesto bring a desired sleeve immediately in front of them and can then pivotthe particular sleeve aboutthe axis adjacent its edge to view both sides of it. Conventional sleeves are between 20 and 23 cms in height and 15.25 cms in width. The size of the sleeve holder 25 will be sufficient to hold the maximum size ofsleeveand height of each rotatable member will be arranged sothatthe sleeve holders cannot be removed from the rotatable members without raising the rotatable member immediatelythereabove. The discs 16 mayfor example have a diameter from 15.25 to 20.3 cms. CLAIMS (filed on 30 Sep 1982)

1. Mounting means for mounting and displaying a plurality of sleeves comprising a column member having a vertical axis, a plurality of rotatable members mounted one above the other on the column member for independent rotation about the axis, each rotatable member having a plurality of support means spaced angularlytherearound, eachforsupporting a sleeve carrying memberthereon, such that each sleeve carrying member is rotatable relativetothe rotatable member about a vertical axis adjacent one edge thereof, such that both sides of each sleeve can be viewed.

2. Mounting means according to Claim 1 in which each support means comprises a substantially verti- callyextending pin.

3. A mounting means according to Claim 2 in which each sleeve carrying member has a channel adjacent one edge for receiving one of said pins.

4. Mounting means according to Claim 1 in which each support means comprises a channel.

5. Mounting means according to Claim 4 in which each sleeve carrying member has a pin adjacent one edge receivable in one of said channels.

6. Mounting means according to any of Claims 1 to 5 in which the sleeve carrying members are in the form of a frame for receiving a cassette sleeve.

7. Mounting means for mounting and displaying a plurality of sleeves substantially as described herein with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of mounting and displaying a plural ity of video cassette sleeves which comprises arrang ing a plurality of such sleeves without their boxes in individual framelike sleeve holders, and mounting the holders for individual pivoting movement each about an axis adjacent an edgethereof,the axes being spaced a part at distances less than half the width of the sleeve so thatthe sleeves can be pivoted to view both sides thereof.

9. A method of mounting and displaying a plurality of video cassette sleeves substantially as described herein.