Abstract:
A modular display rack that permits sheet paper products to be stored and displayed at a variety of heights, angles and spacings. The display rack includes a frame having sidewalls from which first and second parallel, spaced apart rows of pegs protrude inwardly. A plurality of detachable trays have rearward portions that detachably mount to the pegs of the rearward row in pivotable engagement therewith, and middle portions that rest atop the pegs of the forward row. The rows of pegs may be formed as elongate strips having base portions that are mounted to the sidewalls of the frame.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/533,987 filed on 2 Jan. 2004. 

   BACKGROUND 
   a. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to display racks for a retail sales environment, and more particularly to an adjustable modular display for retail sale of sheet paper. 
   b. Related Art 
   Effective display racks are an important component of most retail environments, enabling the shopper to conveniently view and select the products that they desire. 
   Many forms of display racks are consequently known, however, retail sale of specialty sheet paper products presents special challenges. By way of background, sale of specialty papers has enjoyed burgeoning success in recent years, with particular areas being sale of papers in scrapbook and crafts stores, as well as specialty papers in art supply stores. As a result, the variety of available papers has increased dramatically, from a few dozen to now several score or even hundreds in some specialty stores. 
   In the past, retail sales racks for sheet paper have conventionally taken the form of flat trays in racks or shelves, upon which the paper has been stacked. If a great many varieties are on offer, the spacing between the adjacent shelves or bins becomes very small, so that the paper is both difficult to view and reach. In some instances, retailers have resorted to the expedient of hanging a piece of the paper adjacent the bin for the shopper to view, however, this presents an obvious difficulty for the retailer and moreover valuable wall space is limited in most shops and stores. Similarly, expensive floor is also negatively impacted by the use of traditional flat, horizontal bins and shelves. 
   Moreover, traditional sheet paper sales racks have offered the retailer little or no flexibility in arranging and displaying the papers therein. For example, the retailer may wish to arrange the rack to display certain products more prominently under some conditions, or to hold more products under others, but this flexibility is simply not afforded by most display racks. Moreover, the varying nature of the products themselves often dictate that they be displayed in different manners, for example, it may be possible to display relatively heavy, stiff papers in angled shelving, while thinner tissues and other relatively “flimsy” papers require more horizontal storage, but again there is no way to adjust most existing display units to accommodate these varying needs. 
   Because of these factors, many retailers have found it necessary to have custom shelving and storage units constructed in order to properly store and display the various papers that they handle. However, this represents a considerable expense to the retailer, and moreover, it is often difficult or impossible to remove and reinstall the custom units in the event that the store relocates, which is a common occurrence for many retailers. 
   Accordingly, there exists a need for a retail display rack for sheet paper products that is readily adjustable to hold and display a variety of products in a suitable manner. Furthermore, there exists a need for such a display rack that presents the paper products to the customer in an attractive and easily viewable manner. Still further, there exists a need for such a display rack that makes sufficient utilization of valuable floor space in a retail environment. Still further, there exists a need for such a display rack that has a simplified, modular construction so that it can be made available at a reasonable price. Still further, there exists a need for such a display rack that can be readily removed, transported and installed in the event that the store relocates. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention has solved the problems cited above, and is a modular display rack which permits the sheet paper products to be stored and displayed at a variety of heights, angles and spacings. Broadly, this comprises: a frame having first and second side walls; first and second parallel, spaced-apart rows of spaced-apart pegs mounted to the sidewalls so as to face inwardly therefrom; and a plurality of tray members having middle portions for being supported by the pegs of the forward row and rearward portions for detachably mounting to the pegs of the rearward row in pivotable engagement therewith. 
   The first and second rows of pegs may be formed as strips with integrally formed pegs, the strips being mounted to the side walls of the frame. The peg strips may be mounted by longitudinal insertion into dove-tailed grooves cut into the first and second side walls. 
   The tray members may each comprise a rearwardly opening fork portion for detachably engaging the rearward row of pegs in pivoting relationship therewith. The rearwardly opening fork portion may comprise a depending flange portion that extends downwardly and rearwardly from the main panel portion of the tray so as to define a receiving area for engaging the cylindrical pegs therein. The tray member may be formed of a rigid, resiliently flexible material, and the opening into the receiving area may be necked down so that the opening resiliently expands to permit entry of the peg and then resiliently returns to its original position so as to retain the peg and thereby hold the tray in place. Alternatively, the tray members may each comprise a forwardly-opening hook portion for detachably receiving the pegs of the rearward row in pivoting engagement therewith. The tray member may further comprise first and second edge notches formed forwardly of the hook portion for permitting passage of said pegs therethrough as a rearward end of said tray member is raised or lowered. 
   The tray may further comprise an upwardly projecting lip portion, for retaining a supply of paper therein and for permitting the tray member to be disengaged from the rearward pegs by pulling forwardly or pushing rearwardly thereon. 
   The frame may comprise first and second side walls, and top, bottom and rear walls. The side walls may taper from a relatively narrow top to a relatively wide bottom, so as to provide a broad footprint for stability of the assembly. 
   These and other features and advantages of the invention will be understood from a reading of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front, perspective view of an adjustable paper display rack in accordance with the present invention, showing the rack one of the adjustable trays thereof installed; 
       FIG. 2  is a side, cross-sectional view of the display rack of  FIG. 1 , showing the manner in which the shelf units thereof can be installed at a variety of angles so as to display various paper products at an optimal angle; 
       FIG. 3  is a top, cross sectional view of one wall of the display rack of  FIG. 1 , taken along line of  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 , showing the manner in which the pegs that provide the attachment and support plates for the shelf units are formed on first and second strips that are dovetailed into the wall; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged, elevational view of the end of one of the shelf units of the rack assembly of  FIGS. 1-2 , showing the manner in which the shelf unit attaches to the rearward row of pegs in the assembly; 
       FIG. 5  is a front, perspective view of a second display assembly in accordance with the present invention, showing the manner in which the wall portions and peg strips of the assembly are utilized in a modular fashion to assemble display assemblies of different sizes; and 
       FIG. 6  is a side, elevational view of a shelf unit in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, having forwardly-facing openings that receive the pegs rather than the rearwardly-facing openings of the shelf units shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a retail paper display rack  10  in accordance with the present invention. As can be seen, this includes first and second side walls  12 ,  14  and upper and lower end walls  16 ,  18 , the rear of the assembly being enclosed by vertical back wall  19 . Although the shape of the individual walls are somewhat optional, and may be varied for aesthetic purposes and other design factors, has been found advantageous to use the tapering shape that is shown in  FIG. 1 , in which each of the side walls tapers from a comparatively narrow upper end to a comparatively wide lower end  22 , with the upper and lower walls  16 ,  18 , be sized accordingly, in that this is a clean design that provides a stable footprint for the assembly. 
   A plurality of pegs  24  project inwardly in rows from the side walls  12 ,  14  of the assembly, and provide attachment and support points for the shelf units  26 . Unlike conventional shelving assemblies that employ pegs in holes drilled in the walls, the pegs  24  of the present invention are formed on strips  30  that are dovetailed into the side walls  12 ,  14  of the assembly. This provides significant advantages in both economy of manufacture and flexibility of the assembly. The strips  30  and pegs  24  can be formed integrally of molded plastic (with the length of the strips being shorter or longer depending on the capabilities of the interjection molding apparatus), or in other embodiments may be formed of wood or other metal using automated processes. The two parallel spaced dovetailed slots  32  are then simply cut into the side walls, and the peg strips  30  are cut to the desired length and slid into place. The top, bottom and back walls are then installed and the assembly is complete. This method of manufacture is much faster and less expensive than traditional techniques in which the side boards are typically drilled with jigs for installation of separate pegs. Moreover, the standardized peg strips of the present invention can be installed in sidewalls of different sizes and shapes, as will be described in greater detail below with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the two peg strips are installed on the opposing side walls so that the levels of the pegs are slightly off-set, with those in the rearward row being slightly above the level of their mates in the front row. Both rows of pegs provide support for the spay trays  26 , with the rearward row also providing pivotable attachment points for the trays. 
   As can be seen, each of the trays includes a generally flat main panel portion  34  having an upwardly projecting wall or flange  36  across its forward edge. The upper surface of each tray thus forms a retaining area  38  for holding a supply of paper. 
   The lower surface of each of the panel portions, in turn, rests on the projecting pegs  24  of the forward and rearward peg strips so as to support the tray  26  thereon. In addition, a rearwardly opening mounting channel or fork  40  is formed along the rearward edge of each of the trays  26  for pivotable attachment to the rearward row of pegs. As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the mounting fork is formed by flange portion  42  that extends downwardly from the main panel  34  from the tray and then rearwardly somewhat parallel to the panel, so as to define a rearwardly-facing opening  44 . The opening leads into a receiving area  46  that is sized to receive the pegs  24  and has a semi-cylindrical inner wall  48  for establishing a pivoting interfit therewith. A downward protuberance  50  on the rearward edge of the main panel  34  necks the opening down to smaller than the diameter of the pegs  24 , and the rearward edges  52 ,  53 , panel and flange are tapered and rounded so as to guide the peg toward the opening. 
   The shelves  26  are formed of molded plastic or other material that has sufficient rigidity to support the paper therein, but also degree of resilient flexibility. Accordingly, as the shelf unit is pressed back against the rearward row of pegs, the flange portion  42  flexes downwardly to expand the opening  44 , until the peg passes therethrough and into receiving area  46 . The lower flange then “snaps” back into place to hold the peg in pivoting engagement with the receiving area. However, whenever the operator desires, the shelf can be detached from the peg by simply grasping the grip  36  of the shelf and pulling forward, reversing the process described above. The shelf unit can then be reinstalled in a different position or at a different angle as necessary, without requiring any modification of the structure. 
   As can be seen with further reference to  FIG. 2 , the spacing of the pegs and the two rows is selected to allow the angle of the trays to be adjusted simply by moving the tray so that the middle portion of its panel  34  is supported by the next lower or higher set of pegs. For example, the spacing of the pegs may be selected to allow an angular adjustment of five or ten degrees between positions. In the example that is illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the rearward row of pegs is offset slightly higher than the forward row (as noted above), so that in its initial position, with the tray attached to the rearward set of pegs and its middle portion resting on the next lower row in front, the tray is angled just slightly downwardly, e.g. by about five degrees. When the middle portion of the tray is supported by the next lower set of pegs in the forward row, as shown by the second tray from the top in  FIG. 2 , the downward angle of the tray is increased, e.g. to fifteen degrees, and so on. Adjusting the angle of the trays is easily accomplished by simply pulling the tray forwardly to detach it from the rearward row of pegs, as described above, then inserting through a lower opening between the pegs at the front of the assembly and reattaching it to its original (or another) set of pegs at the back. 
   Paper products can thus be displayed in the trays at various angles, and at various spacings, according to both the requirements of the product and the desires of the retailer. Moreover, the number of trays on display can easily be adjusted as desired. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates the manner in which the components described above can be utilized to construct display racks of different sizes and capacities in a modular fashion. In the enlarged display rack  60  that is shown in  FIG. 5 , which has double the capacity of that shown in  FIG. 1 , the sidewalls  62 ,  64  are identical to those used in the unit described above. The peg strips  66  and the manner in which they are installed are also identical. The only modifications necessary to achieve the enlarged capacity are wider top, bottom and back walls  70 ,  72 ,  74 , and the addition of a central divider panel  76  having pegs strips  76  installed in dove-tailed grooves cut in at its opposing sides, in the same manner as that described above. The modular construction provided by the present invention thus facilitates the economical manufacture of display racks of different sizes and capacities. 
     FIG. 6  shows a shelf unit  80  in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, for use in the display racks described above. In overall shape, the tray  80  is similar to the trays  26  described above, in that this includes a generally flat main panel portion  82  having an upwardly projecting wall or flange  84  across its forward edge and forms a retaining area for holding a supply of paper. In this case, the retaining area is bordered by first and second edge walls  86  (one only shown in  FIG. 6 ) along the sides of the panel portion  82 . In addition, the distal edge portion  88  of the main panel is depressed (i.e., bent) below the plane of the main surface of the panel in order to make it easier for the tip of a finger to slip part way under and lift the bottom most sheet or sheets from the shelf unit during use. 
   In contrast to the shelf units  26  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the shelf unit  80  has a forwardly facing peg opening  90  as opposed to the rearwardly facing opening  44  described above. As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the peg opening  90  is defined downwardly and forwardly extending hook portion  92  that forms an extension of the upper edge  94  of the main panel  82 . A depending wall (not shown) extends between the panel and the lip of the hook portion at the laterally inward sides of the openings  90 , so as to form gussets that strengthen the hook portions and prevent them from spreading/cracking during use. 
   First and second notches  96  (one only showing in  FIG. 6 ) are formed just forwardly of the hook portion  92 , above the upper ends of the side walls  86 . The notches are sized in width and depth to permit free passage of the pegs therethrough on either side of the shelf unit. This facilitates adjusting the angle of the shelf unit, since the pegs at the back of the frame can be slipped through the notches  96  as the rearward end of the shelf unit is raised/lowered, as indicated by arrow  98 , and then attached to the selected set of pegs by sliding the shelf unit forwardly so that the pegs enter the opening  90  in the direction indicated by arrow  100 . 
   Since the shelf units  80  are suspended from the pegs in openings  90 , it is not essential that openings be bent down to provide a “snap” engagement as described above, however, such a feature may be included to promote a positive engagement between the pegs and shelf units  80  if desired. 
   It is to be recognized that various alterations, modifications, and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts described above without departing from the spirit or ambit of the present invention.