GB2340030A - Display Stands - Google Patents

Description

2340030 DISPLAY STANDS The present invention relates to display stands and

in particular to freestanding display stands suitable for magazines, newspapers, books or the like.

According to one aspect of the present invention a display stand comprises a base member, a columnar support member, a series of apertures spaced axially and circurnferentially of one another around the periphery of said columnar support member, and shelf members, the shelf member having one or more formations for engagement of said apertures, 10 whereby the shelf members may be supported on the columnar support member, at different axial and angular locations. According to preferred embodiment f t'e_ invention, the columnar support member is a tubular formation having a regular, for example a circular, square or regular polygonal cross section. 15 The shelf members are preferably formed from sheet material having a back, end walls and a front wall. Preferably the back of the shelf member is inclined downwardly and away from the columnar support from back to f ront. According to one embodiment of the invention, one or more formations 20 may be provided on the rear face of the back of the shelf, for engagement of apertures on the columnar support member. Alternatively a separate support bracket may be provided with one or more formations for engagement of the apertures on the columnar support member, a formation being provided on the shelf member for engagement of 25 corresponding formation on the bracket.

The invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a display stand in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded side elevation of the base member and columnar support member of the display stand illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the base member of the display stand illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view from the rear, of a shelf member of the display stand illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view on enlarged scale of a bracket used to support a shelf member on the columnar support member of a modified version of the display stand illustrated in Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a perspective view from the rear of a shelf member adapted for use with the bracket illustrated in Figure 5.

As illustrated in Figure 1, a free standing display stand 10 for magazines, newspapers, books or the like has the base member 12 which supports a cylindrical column 14, so that it extends vertically. The cylindrical column 14 has a series of apertures 16 which are arranged in angularly separated rows extending axially along the cylindrical column 14 and axially separated rows extending around the circumference of the cylindrical column 14. Shelf members 18 are supported at different angular and axial positions on the cylindrical column 14 by means of formations which engage one or more apertures 16 in the cylindrical column 14.

The base member 12, cylindrical column 14 and shelf members 18 are preferably made of metal but any other suitable materials may be used.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the base member 12 comprises four legs 0 -3 extending at right angles from a central position. In the embodiment illustrated, the legs 20 are interconnected at the central position by a plate 22, to which the legs 20 may be secured in suitable manner. It will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments the base member 12 may be formed from three or more legs 20 extending at appropriate angles from a central position. Furthermore, rather than having individual legs 20 secured together at a central position, oppositely extending legs may be provided by single members, which intersect at the central position. In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the base member 12 may be formed by a single planar element of, for example, circular or any other desirable shape.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the plate 22 interconnecting the legs 20 of the base member 12 defines four tabs 24 which extend vertically of the plane of the base member 12. The tabs 24 serve to secure the cylindrical column 14 to the base member 12, by means of suitable fixing means. In the embodiment illustrated, apertures 26 are provided in the cylindrical column 14 for such fixing means.

However, in an alternative embodiment formations on the tabs 24 may be adapted to engage the apertures 16 in the cylindrical column 14, to secure the cylindrical column 14 to the base member 12. In further embodiments, other means may be used to secure the cylindrical column 14 to the base member 12, for example, a spigot member may be secured to the base member 12 and the spigot member inserted into the lower end of the cylindrical column 14. Alternatively, the cylindrical column 14 may, for example be welded directly to the base member 12.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the cylindrical column 14 may be made in sections which are interconnected in suitable manner. In the embodiment illustrated, this is achieved by means of strips 28 which are secured to each section of the cylindrical column 14 in suitable manner.

I 0 Alternatively, one or more connecting members which engage the apertures 16 of each section of the cylindrical column 14 may be used for this purpose.

A plastic end cap 30 is provided to close the upper end of the cylindrical column 14.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the shelf members 18 are formed from sheet material which is bent along three edges to define a back 32, a pair of end walls 34 and a front wall 36, the side and front walls 34,36 extending substantially normally from the side and bottom edges of the back 32.

As illustrated in Figure 4, a pair of bracket members 38 are secured centrally and towards the upper edge 40, to the rear face of the back 32.

The bracket members 38 extend parallel to one another and to the side edges of the back 32. The brackets 38 define an abutment edge 42, which is inclined with respect to the back 32, diverging away from the back 32 from the upper edge 40 of the back 32 towards it's lower edge.

A pair of axially separated hook formations 44 are provided on the edges 42 of each of the brackets 38. The hook formations 44 on each of the brackets 38 are aligned transversely with those on the other bracket 38 and the axial separation of the hook formations 44 on the edge 42 of each of the brackets 38 and the separation between the brackets 38 is such that, the hook formations 44 on one bracket 38 may be engaged in axially separated apertures 16 in an axially extending row of apertures 16 on the cylindrical column 14, while the hook formations 44 on the other bracket 38 engage axially separated apertures 16 on a parallel row of axially extending apertures 16 thereby securing the shelf member 18 to the cylindrical column 14. The inclination of the abutment edges 42 will cause the shelf member 18 to be supported, so that the back 32 is D inclined downwardly and away from the cylindrical column 14, from it's upper edge 40 to it's lower edge. Magazines, newspapers or the like may consequently be supported on the back 32 of the shelf member 18 and be maintained in position thereon by the front and side walls 36,34.

Several shelf members 18 may thus be supported on the cylindrical column 14 by engagement of the hook formations 44 on the apertures 16, at any axial and angular position. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, a bracket formation 50 has a pair of side walls 52 interconnected by a base portion 54. The side 10 walls 52 are of similar configuration to the brackets 38 of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, having abutment edges 42' which define hook formations 44'. The bracket formation 50 may thus be mounted on the cylindrical column 14 by engagement of the hook formations 44' with apertures 16, as described above. When so 15 mounted, the base portion 54 of the bracket formation 50 extends downwardly and away from the cylindrical column 14. As illustrated in Figure 6, a tab formation 60 is folded over from the upper edge 40' of the back 32 of shelf member 18, so that it lies parallel to the rear face of the back 32 but is separated therefrom to provide a clearance fit with the 20 base portion 54 of the bracket formation 50. The tab 60 may thus engage over the upper edge of the base portion 54 of the bracket formation 50, to support the shelf member 18 in a similar position to that described above. Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. 25 For example, while in the above embodiments hook formations are provided on the shelf member 18 or brackets formation 50 to engage apertures in the cylindrical column 14, other shapes of formation may be used for this purpose.

Claims (9)

1. A display stand comprising a base member, a columnar support member, a series of apertures spaced axially and circurnferentially of one another around the periphery of said columnar support member and shelf members, the shelf members having one or more formations for engagement of said apertures, whereby the shelf members may be supported on the columnar support member, at different axial and angular locations.

2. A display stand according to claim 1 in which the columnar support member is a tubular formation having a regular cross section.

3. A display stand according to claim 2 in which the columnar support member is of circular, square of polygonal cross section.

4. A display stand according to any one of the preceding claims in which the shelf members are formed from sheet material having a back, end walls and a front wall.

5. A display stand according to claim 4 in which the back of the shelf member is inclined downwardly and away from the columnar support member from back to front.

6. A display stand according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which a bracket formation is provided on the shelf member, for engagement of one or more apertures on the support member.

7. A display stand according-to claim 6 in which the bracket formation is formed integrally of the shelf member.

8. A display stand according to claim 6 in which the bracket formation is separate from the shelf member, a formation being provided on the shelf member for engagement of a corresponding formation on the bracket formation.

9. A display stand substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.