US1700976A - Display rack - Google Patents

Description

E.l o. BULMAN DISPLAY RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet Y m m m m n m m n 0. A. .N h QM.. a .1. w .w l1 l E M l 7 l a0 3 fm r 7 l 4l .m .8.. o@ m M 1/ m ,W am. 3 @W 3 .TM [s l .y I 5 11 .AF/0 .o ...L7 h n 9 mi l l .in

Peb. 5, 1929.

E. O. BULMAN DISPLAY RACK Filed Jan. 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ewuh Ouhmm Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELVAH 0. BULMAN, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

DISPLAY RACK.

Application led January 3, 1927.

This invention relates to a display rack particularly adapted for use in retail stores, lt is a primary object and purpose of this ini'ention to construct a rack of simple and economi lal construction and in which article or merchandise holdingl trays may be supported either in horizontal or inclined position. ln the horizontal position different articles of merchandise may be held by the trays and in the inclined position of the trays, two of the trays together provide a bin in which, as in grocery stores, many unpackaged articles ot merchandise may be held such as potatoes, various grains and the like. The invention consists in many novel details ot' confttruction and arrangements and combination of parts whereby a rack of this character may be produced and one in which the change of any of the pairs of trays used thereon from horizontal to the inclined position, can bc e'tlected almost instantly and without the use of tools or skilled labor. For an understamling of the invention reference may be had to the following description taken in connection with thel accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rack, the upper trays being located in horizontal position and the lower trays in inclined position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the inner end structure of the supporting frame of the rack for one of the pair of trays.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2 but having a pair of trays applied thereto and held in horizontal position.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3, the trays being changed from horizontal vto inclined position in which position they make a bin.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in. the different figures of the drawings.

In construction, four corner posts 1, preferably of angle iron, are used and the posts at each side are connected at their lower ends by horizontal bars 2 of angle iron and at their upper ends by horizontal bars 3 which may be of any desired commercial form. The posts at each end of the frame are connected by a plurality of cross bars 5, 6 and 7 which are welded at their ends to the inturned tianges of the posts 1. The bar 5 is located below the bar 6 and bar 7 above the bar 6. In some instances the bars 7 are not used, that is, toward the upper ends of the rack as Serial No. 158,515.

such bars are used only for additional strengthening` and reinforcement.. Each of the bars 6 between its ends and substantially midway between the posts 1- to which it is connected, is formed with an inwardly struck tongue 8, the purpose of which will later appear.

On each of the bars a member of channel form is located and secured substantially midway between its ends. Each of said members includes a web 9, a lower inwardly eX- tending tlange 10 and an upper inwardly extending flange 11, the web 9 lying against the outer side of its bar G and being spot welded or otherwise permanently secured thereto. Each of the flanges 11 is formed with two spaced apart downwardly pressed ribs 12, one lying at each side of the vertical plane ot the tongue S struck from the bar and located between the two flanges t() and t l. This is best shown in Fig. 4.

It is to be understood that there are a number of the bars 6 with associated bars 5 in the height of the rack. A pair of the bars 6 wit-h the channel members attached thereto, serve as a support for a pair of trays located be tween the ends of the frame as will later appear. In addition, at the inner sides of the end posts 1, inclined ways or guides 13 oli` angle iron are permanently secured, the same inclining from their upper outer ends downwardly and inwardly and meeting substantially midway between the front and rear sides of the rack frame. The vertical legs of these guides 13 are secured to the bars 5 and to the posts 1 by welding and the other legs of said guides adjacent their meeting ends are turned at right angles making stops 1t, the free edges of which come against each other. The vertical tlanges of the guides lil are also connected by a bar 15 welded thereto which is located between bars 5 and (i, as shown in Fig. 2.

The trays which are used are made of sheet metal and are of rectangular form having a bottom 16 from which the metal is turned ii pwardly at right angles at each edge makingsides 17 and the metal of cach side is then bent back upon itself for reinforcement, as indicated at 18. T he trays are completed by two ends 19. i

A pair of trays may be disposed, as before stated, between any pair of the bars 6 which lie in the same horinontal plane and are attached to opposite ends of the supporting frame. The trays may be moved inwardly horizontally so that their inner portions are received between upper and lower flanges 10 and 11 of the channel members, previously described, until their inner sides engage against the lugs 8 which serve stops. Also the inner sides ot the trays pass under the downwardly pressed ribs 12 so that when the outer portions ot' the trays are let down to horizontal position, resting upon the upper ends ot the guides 13, the trays are secured against outward movement. In such position the trays are adapted to receive and hold any article ot merchandise which can he conveniently placed thereon, packaged or otherwise.

The trays may also be larried in downwardly and inwardly inclined position by the guides 1?. ln such case they are disconnected from the channel members, drawn outwardly and then tilted so as to slide down the guides 13 until their inner sides` corne against the stops 14, as shown iu Fig. 4. ln such position the uppc edges ot the inner sides of the trays abut and malte a closure so that articles placed loosely in the trays will not drop through any opening between the saine. This in effect makes a bin which will hold large articles' as the openings be tween the bars 5, 15 and 6 at the endsy are not so large that the large articles can pass therethrough, while for smaller articles, such as grains or the like, any temporary removable end may be fitted in at each end against the bars 5, 15 and t3.

A rack ot' the character descril'ad is cconomically constructed, all ot the parts being made from stock materials and easily blankcd and formed with suitable dies. lart ol the trays in the rack may he in horizontal position and part ot them inclined to inake bins as shown in Fig. 1. The trays are readily removed from the rack and are interchangeable between the two positions which they occupy in a very short time without the use ot any tools. ylt is evident that the bars 2 and 3 may he disconnected whereby the rack can be shipped in knoclidown torni so as to occupy the leastl possible space. This rack construction is very practical and etlective and has so proved in practice. 'lhe invention embodied thereby is detined in the appended claims a u d is to be considered ci'nnprehensive of all t'orius ot structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. A rack comprising a supporting trame, a tray associated with said Vtrame and means on said frame tor supporting said tray in either a horizontal or an inclined position comprising, an inclined guide on the trame on which the tray rests in inclined position and a support on the inner portion of the frame located horizontally with the outer end ot said inclined guide whereby the tray ma),v be supported in horizontal position by resting on said support at its inner edge and on the outer end ot' theinclined guide at its outer edge.

fr rack comprising, a trame, a tray associated therewith, and means on the trarne tor supporting said tray in either inclined or horizontal position comprising, an inclined guide extending downwardly trom the outer side to the inner side of the trame, a stop ou the lower inner end ot said inclined guide r-fhcreby the tray rests upon said inclined guide and st op in inclined position, and a support ou the inner portion ot the frame located horizontally with the upper outer end of the inclined guide whereby the tray may be supported in horizontal position by resting on said support at its inner edge and upon the uppcr outer end ot' the inclined guide at its outer edge.

3. A rack comprising, a traine, a tray associated therewith and means on the trame tor supporting said tray in either inclined or herir/aiuta] position comprising, an inclined `fuide on the trame on which the tray rests in inclined position, a support on the inner portion ot the trame located horizontally with the outer cud ot said inclined guide whereby the tray is supported in horizontal position with it inner edge resting` upon said support and its outer edge resting upon the outer end ot' said inclined guide and a clip associated with said support and engageable with said tray to relcasably retain the tray in position on the support.

l. rai-i; comprising. a trame, a tray aS- sociatcd therewith and means on thel frame to support the tray in either horizontal or inclined position comprising, a guide extending downwardly troni the outer to the inner portion ot' the trame, a stop at the lower inner cud of the guide whereby the tray is supported in inclined position by resting on said guide and against said stop, a support ou the inner portion ot the traine located horizontally with the upper outer end ot the inclined guide whereby said tray is supported Vin horizontal position by resting at its inner edge on said support and at its outer edge on the outer upper end ot said inclined guide and a clip associated with said support and cngageable iith said tray to releasably retziiu the tray Yin position on the support.

ln testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ELVAH o. BULMAN.

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