Merchandise display apparatus

2,887,232

May 19, 1959

F. J. WINTER, JR

MERCHANDISE DISPLAY APPARATUS

Filed Dec. 6, 1954

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United States Patent Office „ ²&gt;⁸⁸⁷&gt;²³²

-^: : Patented May 19, 1959

2,887,232

MERCHANDISE DISPLAY APPARATUS Frank J. Winter, Jr., Ferguson, Mo. Application December 6, 1954, Serial No. 473,197 1 Claim. (CL 211—78) ¹⁰

This invention relates generally to apparatus for displaying merchandise in stores so that the merchandise may be readily viewed and selected by the customer.

While devices of various sorts have heretofore been provided for shelving or displaying merchandise to customers, such devices are invariably so arranged that when a selection of merchandise is displayed, one article either obscures full view of another, or the articles must be arranged with so much space between them that there is substantial loss of available display space. Moreover, except in cases where merchandise is displayed on top of a counter or showcase (a practice Which increases the temptation for shoplifting) the merchandise must be displayed within the confines of a display rack so that, to some extent at least, the rack itself obscures full view of the merchandise.

. Numerous articles lend themselves to self-selling when displayed in an inviting and unobscured manner, but to accomplish such result, the display must be of a character in which die customer’s view of a reasonable collection (from which the customer may select one or more) is displayed in a manner such that no member of the collection substantially interferes with full view of the other members. Baby shoes are an example of such an article which may be displayed in a variety of sizes, colors, and patterns, so that the customer may select the one which is desired.

The object of the invention generally stated is to provide a display device and package to be used therewith, whereby merchandise may be displayed for sale so as to offer an unobstructed view of a variety of products on display.

Πιβ invention contemplates generally a stand provided on its several sides with support members which substantially delineate the horizontal bounds of the stand itself; and adjacent each such support member there is provided means located inwardly and upwardly therefrom upon which a package of the merchandise may be hung, so as to rest upon the support member in upwardly tilted relationship so that substantially all of the merchandise being displayed is located outside of the bounds of the stand. The invention also involves the provision of a pack- 55 age adapted to cooperate with the components of the stand so as to accomplish the object desired without interfering with the usual wrapping and packaging techniques.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: 60

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the display device partially laden with merchandise on display;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on enlarged scale taken ⁶⁵along line 3—3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the package shown in cooperation with the stand in Figures 1 and 2; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view on enlarged scale taken τη along line 5—5 of Figure 4. ‘°

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the stand ³⁰ consists of a four-sided columnar framework consisting of a square loop of wire 1 at the top and a similar square loop of wire 2 at the bottom. Midway of the four sides of the loops 1 and 2, vertical runners 3 are provided and suitably secured, as by welding, to the respective loops. Diagonal reinforcing members 4 are provided for the top loop 1 and a pair of diagonal reinforcing members 5 is provided for the bottom loop.

Secured by welding, or otherwise, to each of the vertical runners 3 is a series of supporting members 6 which define the outer confines of the stand in the horizontal direction. In the form shown in the drawings, each of the four sides of the stand is provided with three such supporting members 6 arranged in vertically spaced relationship. Situated inwardly from, and upwardly of, each of the supporting members 6 is a pair of upstanding studs 7, one on each side of the vertical runners 3, and in spaced relationship therewith. In the form shown in the drawings, the respective supporting members 6 and thenadjunct pair of studs 7 are formed of one piece of wire, the central section of which extends horizontally and constitutes the supporting member, while the end portions thereof (forming intermediate support members) are bent upwardly and inclined rearwardly (i.e., inwardly toward the center of the stand), and finally the terminal extremities are bent up to provide studs 7. An abutment member 8 is preferably provided at the base of each stud The abutment member 8 may take the form of an ordinary washer secured, as by welding or peening, on the wire from which the studs 7 and supports 6 are formed.

In the form shown in the drawings, the stand is provided for rotation about a central vertical axis. To accomplish this, a suitable pedestal 9 is provided with an upwardly extending post 10 which is embraced by suitable bearings mounted on the upper diagonals 4 and the lower diagonals 5, respectively.

For use in connection with the stand just described, the invention further contemplates the provision of a package adapted to be pendently supported from any stud 7 while resting on the corresponding support 6, as clearly shown in Figure 3. The package consists essentially of a relatively stiff bottom 11 adapted to rest upon the support 6. Die bottom 11 must be sufficiently stiff that the merchandise contained in the package will not substantially bend or distort the package when it is sustained on stud 7 and support 6, as shown in Figure 3. The bottom 11 is also provided with an upstanding flange 12 which, in the form shown, extends about all four of its sides to confine the merchandise resting on bottom 11, and prevent the merchandise from sliding off when the package is sustained in the position shown in Figure 3.

In order to expose the merchandise for full view substantially outside the confines of the stand, the package is provided with a connector 13 hingedly secured to bottom^ 11 as by means of an eyelet 14. The connector 13 is of a length such as to bridge a substantial part of the space between support 6 and stud 7 when the package is on display upon the stand. The eyelet 14, however, provides a hinged connection whereby the connector 13 may be turned to the dotted line position shown at 15 in Figure 4, in which latter position the connector is well within the horizontal confines of the package and hence does not interfere with its being wrapped, packed, or handled m the usual manner.

In order to releasably retain connector 13 in the extended position shown in full lines in Figure 4, the connector may be formed of two plies, one of which 16 underlies bottom 11 and is penetrated by eyelet 14. The other ply, 17, overlies ply 16 and is secured thereto bv a pair of eyelets 18, so that ply 17 (when in the extended position shown in full lines in Figure 4) abuts the adjacent edge of bottom 11. In this abutting relationship

2,887,232 ³connector 13 is restrained from pivotal movement about its hinge at eyelet 14, but in view of the inherent flexibility of the paperboard material from which the connector is made, ply 16 may be readily flexed enough to permit ply 17 to clear bottom 11 and be turned about eyelet 14 to the dotted line position shown at 15 in Figure 4.

The upper end of connector 13 is provided with an eyelet 19 of size sufficient to receive, without undue play, stud 7.

Accordingly, when the package has its connector 13 extended as shown in full lines in Figure 4, and its eyelet 19 engaged with stud 7, the package is pendently sustained by stud 7 while resting upon support 6. The position of support 6 with reference to bottom 11 is remote from outermost edge 20 of bottom 11, so that the merchandise contained within the package is almost entirely outside the confines of the stand.

In order to accomplish full display of the merchandise contained in the package, the closure therefor is preferably wholly, or partially, transparent. In the form shown in the drawings, the closure consists of a cap 21 having a top panel and four side panels, all of which are formed of an integral piece of transparent plastic sheeting, such as cellophane. The closure 21 is arranged to be received over flanges 12 of bottom 11. Thus when the package is sustained on the stand as above-described, the merchandise contained in each package is readily examinable without removing the package from the stand; yet when the customer makes her selection, the package is readily removed from the stand by merely disengaging eyelet 19 from stud 7. Then the connector 13 is flexed to release ply 17 from engagement of the edge of bottom 11 and when released, the connector is turned about hinge 14 to the position 15 shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. With the connector in the latter position, the package is entirely free of projections which would otherwise interfere with its normal wrapping and handling.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the stand is adapted to receive and display twenty-four such packages as that described, each displaying its contained merchandise outwardly of the confines of the stand and in such manner that the packages obstruct the view of adjacent packages. Accordingly, a customer may make her selection by viewing the merchandise displayed on the side nearest and then, by rotating the stand about post 10, bring the merchandise on other sides into full view. If desired, a display band indicating sizes, ages, and the like, may be arranged about upper loop 1 so as to provide an index for the merchandise displayed. The upper end of post 10 may also be provided with a suitable clip 22 which performs the function both of a handle for the stand and of a means for exhibiting an advertisement.

From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art should readily understand the construction and operation of the invention and realize that it accomplishes its object. While one form of the device has been disclosed in detail, it is not to be understood that the invention is limited to the details of the foregoing disclosure save as indicated by the appended claim.