Rotatable display stand

A lightweight yet sturdy article display stand is rotatable on a pedestal base, and comprises a substantially box- or cube-shaped arrangement of panels having a suitably finished outer surface and forming a back for a plurality of article-supporting pockets defined by wire members. The panels are fixed on the outer peripheral edges of one or more generally horizontal frame plates rotatably supported on the base, and comprise a part of the frame for the structure. The pocket-forming wire members encircle the panels at the location of the frame plate, defining a wrap or reinforcement for the structure. Variations of the invention include poster display and storage pockets, and bulletin board or message-card holders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to display stands or racks, and more particularly, 
to display stands for displaying articles such as advertising brochures, 
pamphlets, road maps, books, and the like. The invention is an improvement 
over applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,866. 
2. Prior Art 
Many different types of stands for displaying such articles are known in 
the prior art, including both stationary racks or stands and rotatable 
racks or stands. Such racks or stands generally have means defining a 
plurality of pockets sized approximately to the articles to be supported 
therein. An example of a typical prior art rotatable article display stand 
is commonly located in drug stores, department stores and the like for 
supporting and displaying greeting cards. 
Banks and similar businesses generally display various advertising 
brochures and literature explaining the banking services, but such 
materials are generally displayed in fixed display devices since most of 
the prior art devices are either unsuitable for use in banks and the like, 
because of their appearance or cost, or lack of adaptability to the 
limited number of brochures and the like generally displayed by banks. 
Moreover, it is sometimes desireable to provide a bulletin board or 
similar display surface in a bank lobby or the like, and most of the prior 
art display racks or stands do not lend themselves to use as bulletin 
boards or the like. Examples of some prior art devices are disclosed in 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,065,845, 3,452,880, 3,150,778 and 4,093,077. 
Applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,866 solved many of the problems found 
in the prior art, and defines a device which is constructed such that it 
may readily be used as a bulletin board support or the like. Moreover, the 
appearance of the display rack described in this patent is particularly 
suitable for use in bank lobbies or other similar locations. However, this 
device is relatively heavy and expensive in construction. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, it is a principle object of this invention to provide an article 
display rack which is simple and economical in construction, and yet which 
is sturdy and attractive. 
Another object of the invention is to provide an article display rack or 
stand which includes means for supporting articles such as advertising 
brochures, pamphlets, and the like, and also includes poster display and 
storage means. 
A further object of the invention is to provide an article display stand in 
which the various elements of the structure form a part of the frame of 
the device or serve to reinforce the structure, as well as to form display 
surfaces or pockets for displaying articles. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an article display stand 
in which a box-like arrangement of panels is rotatably supported on top of 
a pedestal base, the panels having a suitable finish thereon and forming a 
back for a plurality of article supporting pockets defined by wire members 
encircling the panels and reinforcing the structure. 
These and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by the 
structure described in detail hereinafter, and in which a plurality of 
essentially rectangular panels are held assembled in a box-like 
configuration, forming a back for a plurality of article-supporting 
pockets defined in part by wire members which encircle the panels. At 
least one generally horizontal frame plate is rotatably supported on top 
of a pedestal base, and the panels are fixed to the outer peripheral edge 
of the plate. The encircling wire members are located at the position of 
the plate and serve to reinforce the structure, in addition to their 
function defining article supporting pockets. Further, longitudinal or 
vertically extending corner pieces are fixed along the adjacent vertical 
edges of the panels, enhancing the appearance of the structure as well as 
serving to hold it in assembled relationship. 
Variations of the invention include poster display and storage means on the 
panels, and message card or bulletin board display means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring more particularly to the drawings, a first form of article 
display stand is indicated generally at 10 in FIGS. 1 through 17. The 
stand 10 comprises a plurality of panels 11 assembled in a box-like 
configuration 12. The panels have a suitably finished surface, such as 
wood-grain or the like, and, as seen best in FIGS. 7, 10 and 11, are fixed 
to the outer peripheral edge of a bottom frame plate 13 and a top frame 
plate 14. The bottom frame plate 13 is rotatably supported on top of a 
pedestal base 15, and has its corner notched at 16 to provide clearance 
for corner members 17 extending vertically between adjacent edges of the 
panels 11 and fixed thereto as by staples 18 or the like. Thus, the panels 
are secured to one another via the corner members and the frame plates, 
providing a very sturdy box-like structure. First and second shaped 
annular wire members 19 and 20 extend around the bottom of the box-like 
structure 12 in the vicinity of the bottom frame plate 13, forming 
article-supporting pockets for holding and displaying a plurality of 
advertising brochures, pamphlets, etc. 21. In addition to forming article 
supporting pockets, the wire members 19 and 20 wrap around the structure, 
reinforcing it and helping to prevent stress and splitting of the bottom 
frame plate. 
As seen in FIGS. 7, 10, 11 and 12, the bottom frame plate 13 comprises a 
pair of plates 13a and 13b laminated together, with the top plate 13a 
having the central portion thereof cut out at 22 to accommodate a flanged 
support 23. The bottom plate 13b also has a cut out 24 in the central 
portion thereof, and a depending pin 25 on the support 23 extends 
therethrough. A plurality of bolts 26 extend through both plates 13a and 
13b and through the flange 27 of the support 23. A pair of metal washers 
28 with a rubber gasket 29 sandwiched therebetween are received on each 
bolt between the flange 27 and nuts 30 to reduce noise and stress. 
The corner members 17, as seen best in FIGS. 1, 15 and 16, extend the 
length of the panels 11 and have a shaped or rounded outer portion 31 
covering the exposed edges of the panels and providing an attractive 
appearance. The corner members also have an angle-shaped inner portion 32 
lying against the inner adjacent edge surfaces of the panels and defining 
means for stapling the corner member to the panels (see FIG. 16). The 
inner and outer portions of the corner members define channels in which 
the edges of the panels are received, and are joined by a web 33. 
The top frame plate 14 rests on top of a plurality of angle members 34 
secured around the inside surface of the panels adjacent the top thereof 
(see FIGS. 7 and 17). 
Details of construction of the first and second wire members 19 and 20 are 
seen best in FIGS. 1 through 10. The wire members are annularly shaped 
(FIGS. 2 and 4), each having an upper peripheral rim or wire 35 spaced 
from the panels 11, and depending wires 36, 37, 38 and 39 extending from 
one side to the opposite side of the member in close proximity with the 
outer surfaces of the panels 11. Thus, the wire members serve as a "wrap" 
around the structure 12, reinforcing it. The first wire member 19, in 
addition to the structure described above, also has four pairs of 
equidistantly spaced L-shaped wires 40-41, 42-43, 44-45 and 46-47 spaced 
along each side and extending from their upper ends at the upper 
peripheral rim 35 downwardly along vertical leg 48 and then inwardly along 
horizontal leg or foot 49 to the inner marginal depending wires 36-39, 
respectively. These pairs of wires serve as bottoms to the pockets defined 
by the wire members. The second wire member, in addition to the structure 
described above and common to both wire members, has a plurality of 
equidistantly spaced L-shaped wires 50, 51 and 52 spaced along the sides 
of the wire member 20, and extending downwardly along a first leg 53 from 
an upper end secured to the rim 35 and inwardly along a second leg or foot 
54 to the inner marginal depending wires 36-39, respectively. These wires 
serve as side supports for articles placed in the pockets. 
The wire members 19 and 20 are secured to the panels and frame plate by 
brackets 55 and clips 56, respectively, as shown best in FIGS. 6-10. As 
noted previously, the depending inner marginal wires 36-39 of the first 
wire member 19 extend is substantial alignment with the plane of bottom 
frame plate 13, and the brackets 55 are secured over these wires and to 
the panels 11 and the edges of plate 13. Any suitable fasteners may be 
used, such as rivets, screws, etc. The depending inner marginal wires 
36-39 of the second wire member 20 are secured to the panels 11 by means 
of the clips 56, which comprise short straps or strips of suitable 
material, such as plastic or the like, wrapped around the wires and 
inserted through aligned slots 57 in the panels 11. The ends of these 
straps or clips are then riveted or otherwise suitably secured to a thin, 
flat bar 58 at the inner surface of the panels 11. 
Poster display and storage means 59 are formed on each of the panels near 
the top and spaced upwardly from the wire members 19 and 20 and comprise a 
pair of vertically extending spaced apart channel members 60 and 61, 
opening toward one another, and a bottom channel member 62, opening 
upwardly. The channel members are recessed into the surface of the panel 
11, so that a continuous flush surface is formed completely across the 
display means by the surface of the panel and the back leg of the channel 
members. One or more posters 63 may be placed behind a transparent panet 
(glass, plastic, etc.) 64 received in the channel members. 
As seen in FIG. 6, labels 65 may be placed in association with each pocket 
to identify the brochure, etc., to be placed therein. When brochures, 
etc., are present in the pocket, these labels are not visible to 
customers. 
A second form of the invention is indicated generally at 100 in FIGS. 18 
through 23 and, as before, comprises a plurality of panels secured to the 
outer peripheral edges of top and bottom frame plates and having first and 
second wire members forming article support pockets near the bottom of the 
box-like structure defined by the panels. However, in this form of the 
invention the panels are divided into top and bottom halves 11a and 11b, 
and the structure is supported from a middle frame plate 101 rotatably 
supported at the top of a pedestal base 15' extending upwardly through a 
hole 102 in the center of the bottom frame plate 13', which remains free 
of attachment with the pedestal. Further, instead of the poster display 
and storage means 59, third and fourth wire members 103 and 104 are 
attached to the structure in the vicinity of the middle frame plate 101. 
While the fourth wire member 104 is identical in construction to the 
second wire member 20 (which is, in turn, identical to that earlier 
described), the third wire member 103 is basket-shaped and extends 
completely across the interior of the box-like structure 12'. In other 
words, instead of the L-shaped wires 36-39 of FIGS. 1-17, the "feet" 
36'-39' extend from one side to the other of the structure. A flanged 
support 23 at the upper end of the pedestal base is bolted to the 
underside of the middle frame plate 101, with the wires of the wire member 
103 sandwiched therebetween. Further, the bottom edges of the upper panels 
11a are notched to provide clearance for the wires 36'-39'. Connecting 
plates 105 are fitted in notches 106 formed in the edges of the plate 103 
and are secured to the top and bottom panels 11a and 11b to unify the 
structure. 
In addition to the changes noted above, both the first wire member 19' and 
the third wire member 103 have a pair of vertically spaced rim wires 35a 
and 35b rather than the single rim wire 35 as described in connection with 
the first form of the invention. 
A third form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 at 200, and is 
constructed substantially similarly to the construction of the second form 
of the invention, 100, except that extended corner members 201 project 
upwardly beyond the upper edge of panels 11a, and a plurality of notched 
panels 202 are supported thereby for holding message cards 203 or the 
like. The notched panels 202 may be further supported and rigidified by an 
arrangement similar to that shown in FIG. 21, wherein connecting plates 
would be provided between the panels 11a and 202. Also, aluminum angles 
may be extended in the inside corners of the box-like structure. 
It should be noted that the recessed area at the top of the structure may 
be used for storage of extra brochures, etc., if desired. 
The panels 11, 11a, 11b and 202 may comprise masonite or the like, and the 
frame plates may comprise wood. Other suitable materials may obviously be 
used if desired. 
While the invention has been shown and described in detail, it is to be 
understood that various changes in construction may be made without 
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the 
appended claims.