Display apparatus

The display apparatus 2 comprises a cascading display device 4 which defines three elongate channels 6, 8, 10 in which articles, for example magazines or newspapers, may be arranged and displayed. The display device 4 is supported by a support device 12 which extends between a rear wall 14, situated behind the device 4, and the display device and is arranged to support the display device against downwards movement. The support device includes a support flange 78 which extends into a gap defined between limbs 34, 36 of respective channels 6, 8. Support rods 16 extend between the wall 14 and the display device 4 and are arranged to space the display device 4 from the wall 14; to prevent the display device 4 from pivoting about the support device 12; and to add rigidity to the display apparatus. In another embodiment, a support device is provided which includes support flanges which extend into respective gaps defined between the first and second channels 6, 8 and the second and third channels 8, 10.

This invention relates to display apparatus and particularly, although not 
exclusively, relates to display apparatus for displaying flat articles, 
for example magazines, newspapers, brochures, stationery, greetings cards, 
post cards, hosiery and video cassette tapes. 
European Patent Number 0 295 869 (Eolas) discloses a display unit for 
articles which comprises a plurality of elongate J-shaped cross-section 
channels suspended one from the other. The free end of the longer limb of 
the uppermost J-shaped channel defines a hook arrangement which engages a 
wall hook which is fixed to a wall, so that the uppermost J-shaped channel 
(and each lower J-shaped channel) is supported in position against 
downwards movement away from the wall. 
One problem associated with the display unit described is that all of the 
weight of the J-shaped channels is incident upon and, therefore, must be 
supported by, the engaged hook arrangement of the uppermost channel and 
the wall hook, and consequently, one or both of the hooks may break and/or 
become distorted over time, particularly if the unit is supporting a 
relatively heavy load. 
Another problem associated with the display unit described is that the unit 
may sag under heavy loads. This may be detrimental when a first display 
unit is fixed above a second display unit, since the sagging of the first 
display unit may result in articles which are displayed in an uppermost 
J-shaped channel of the second display unit being partially obscured by 
the first unit. Additionally, when two of the display units described are 
arranged side by side with adjacent J-shaped channels of the units being 
generally in line with one another in order to define a continuum 
therebetween, differences in the extent of sagging of one of the units 
relative to the other will lead to the continuity between the adjacent 
units being distorted and, therefore, the units will appear uneven. 
A further problem associated with the display unit described is that the 
hook-shaped free ends of the channels project slightly into the area of 
the channels in which articles are received for display. The free ends may 
be relatively sharp and may, therefore, damage articles, for example 
magazines, when they are inserted into or removed from the channels. 
Preferred embodiments of the present invention aim to alleviate problems 
associated with known display apparatus. 
According to the invention, there is provided display apparatus comprising 
a plurality of elongate article supports for supporting articles to be 
displayed, said article supports being arranged to define a tiered 
arrangement having an upper end and a lower end, support means being 
provided for supporting the tiered arrangement against downwards movement, 
said support means being arranged to be secured relative to a fixed 
structure and to engage the tiered arrangement at a position below the 
upper end thereof. 
Each of the said article supports is preferably of channel cross-section. 
Preferably, at least two, more preferably at least three article supports 
of channel cross-section are provided. Each of said article supports 
preferably includes a first limb and a second limb. Said first limb is 
preferably longer than said second limb. Said first limb and said second 
limb preferably extend substantially parallel to one another. A base 
member preferably extends between said first and second limbs. Said base 
member preferably extends perpendicularly to the first and second limbs. 
Said article supports preferably define first and second channel sections, 
wherein the first channel section is above the second channel section. 
Said second channel section is preferably in front of the first channel 
section. Preferably, a said first limb of the second channel section 
extends parallel to a second limb of the first channel section. 
Preferably, a part of said first limb of the second channel section is 
superimposed upon said second limb of the first channel section. A gap is 
preferably defined between the first and second channel sections, for 
example between the second limb of the first channel section and the first 
limb of the second channel section. Said gap is preferably elongate and 
suitably has a width which is less, preferably by a factor of at least 
five, more preferably by a factor of at least ten, than the width of the 
first and/or second channel sections. 
Said plurality of article supports are preferably permanently secured to 
one another. For example, said plurality of article supports may comprise 
a unitary piece of material which has been bent (or otherwise formed) to 
define said article supports. 
Where the article supports of the tiered arrangement include a first limb, 
said support means is preferably arranged to engage the tiered arrangement 
at a position below the first limb of the uppermost article support. Said 
support means may be arranged to abut a lower surface of a base member of 
a said article support. Said support means may also be arranged to abut a 
rearwardly facing surface of a said first limb of said article support. 
Where the article supports define first and second channel sections with a 
gap being defined therebetween, said support means is preferably arranged 
to extend into the gap. 
Where the article supports define first and second channel sections, said 
first and second channel sections may be any adjacent channel sections of 
the tiered arrangement. For example, if the tiered arrangement comprises 
five article supports the second and third article supports may be in the 
form of said first and second channel sections as described above. 
Said support means preferably includes bracket means arranged to be secured 
to the fixed structure which structure may be a wall or other upright. 
Preferably, said bracket means comprises first and second bracket members 
which may be mirror images of one another. 
Said bracket means is preferably arranged to support a co-operation means 
of said bracket means, wherein said co-operation mean is arranged to 
engage the tiered arrangement as described above. Preferably, said 
co-operation means includes a part which is arranged to extend into a gap 
defined between first and second channel sections of the tiered 
arrangement. In a preferred embodiment, said co-operation means includes a 
thin flange which is arranged to extend into the gap. 
Said co-operation means is preferably arranged to be releasably secured to 
the bracket means. For example, said bracket means and said co-operation 
means may include co-operable male and female elements. Said bracket means 
may comprise a cylindrical, preferably circularly cylindrical, member 
which is arranged to extend into a correspondingly shaped opening of said 
co-operation means. 
The apparatus preferably includes restrictor means for restricting pivotal 
movement of the article supports relative to the support means. Said 
restrictor means may include a restrictor element arranged to extend 
between the fixed structure and the tiered arrangement at a position below 
the level of said support means. 
Said restrictor element preferably comprises an elongate strut. Said strut 
is preferably arranged to engage a surface of the tiered arrangement and 
to extend rearwardly to engage a surface of the fixed structure. Said 
restrictor means preferably comprises of plurality of restrictor elements. 
Preferably, the apparatus is arranged so that a lowermost restrictor means 
does not extend below the level of a lowermost surface of a lowermost 
article support of the apparatus. 
The invention extends to an assembly of a display apparatus, the assembly 
comprising a plurality of elongate article supports for supporting 
articles to be displayed, said article supports defining a tiered 
arrangement and having an upper end and a lower end, support means being 
secured relative to a fixed structure and engaging the tiered arrangement 
at a position below the upper end thereof in order to support the tiered 
arrangement against downwards movement. 
The invention extends to a plurality of article supports for a display 
apparatus per se, the plurality of article supports being permanently 
secured to one another. 
The invention extends to a bracket means for supporting an article support 
means of a display apparatus, said bracket means being arranged to be 
secured to a fixed structure and including first means arranged to extend 
into a first gap defined by the article support means and second means 
arranged to support the article support means against pivotal movement. 
Said first means of said bracket means is preferably arranged to extend 
into a gap defined between two article supports of the article support 
means. The two article supports suitably define a tiered arrangement and 
the gap may suitably be defined between adjacent limbs of the two article 
supports. The gap is preferably downwardly open. 
Said bracket means may include a third means arranged to extend into a 
second gap defined by the article support means. The second gap is 
suitably defined at an upper end of the article support means, for example 
by means of a hook-shaped end region thereof. 
Said first means and/or said third means when provided preferably comprise 
flanges. Said first means and/or said third means is/are preferably 
substantially planar. Said first means preferably extends substantially 
parallel to said third means. 
Said first means and/or said third means when provided preferably include 
restrictor means, for example in the form of a projection, for restricting 
disengagement of said first means and/or said third means from out of the 
gap(s) defined by the article support means. 
Said second means preferably includes a surface arranged to about the 
article support means, suitably a downwardly facing surface thereof. Said 
second means preferably defines a seat arranged to cooperate with a part 
of said article support means for seating the part thereon. Said second 
means is preferably arranged to abut a back part of said article support 
means. Said seat is preferably arranged to abut a base part of said 
article support means. 
Said second means may be arranged to cooperate with a first article support 
with which said first means is also arranged to cooperate. A fourth means 
having any relevant feature of the second means described herein may be 
arranged to cooperate with a second article support with which said third 
means, where provided, is also arranged to cooperate. 
Said bracket means is preferably arranged to cooperate with at least two 
tiers of the article support means. 
Said bracket means is preferably a unitary component. It is suitably formed 
from a single piece of metal. 
The invention extends to a display apparatus comprising an article support 
means and a bracket means, said bracket means being arranged to be secured 
relative to a fixed structure and including first means extending into a 
gap defined by the article support means and second means supporting the 
article support means against pivotal movement. 
Any feature of any aspect of the invention may be combined with any feature 
of any other aspect of the invention.

The display apparatus 2 comprises a cascading display device 4 which 
defines three elongate channels 6, 8, 10 in which articles, for example 
magazines or newspapers, may be arranged and displayed. The display device 
4 is supported by a support device 12 which extends between a rear wall 
14, situated behind the device 4, and the display device and is arranged 
to support the display device against downwards movement. Support rods 16 
extend between the wall 14 and the display device 4 and are arranged to 
space the display device 4 from the wall 14; to prevent the display device 
4 from pivoting about the support device 12; and to add rigidity to the 
display apparatus. 
The display apparatus 2 is described in greater detail below. 
The cascading display device 4 of the apparatus 2 is shown in FIG. 2. The 
device 4 comprises a single piece 20 of plastics material which is bent so 
as to form the convoluted cascading profile shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the 
profile defines three channel sections 22, 24, 26. The uppermost channel 
section comprises a longer limb 28, having a hook 30 at its free end, a 
base part 32 which extends substantially perpendicularly to the longer 
limb 28 and a shorter limb 34 which extends perpendicularly upwardly from 
the base part 32. 
The upper end of the shorter limb 34 is turned back upon itself through 
180.degree. so as to define a continuum with longer limb 36 of channel 
section 24. 
The channel section 24 also includes a base part 38 and a shorter limb 40. 
The shorter limb 40 defines a continuum with longer limb 42 of channel 
section 26. Channel section 26 includes a base part 44 and shorter limb 46 
having a free end 48. 
Circular cross-section sockets 50, 52, 54 are fixed to the rearwardly 
facing surfaces of the longer limbs 28, 36, 42 respectively. Each 
rearwardly facing surface carries at least two sockets at horizontally 
spaced apart positions. The actual number of sockets provided on each 
longer limb depends upon the length of the display device 4. 
Sockets 50, 52 have respective axes 56, 58 which extend perpendicularly to 
the plane of the longer limbs 28, 36, whereas axis 60 of the socket 54 
extends at an acute angle to the main plane of the longer limb 42. 
The sockets 56, 58, 60 are arranged to releasably secure ends of support 
rods 16 in position. Preferably, the ends of the support rods are an 
interference fit in the sockets. 
The support device 12 shown in FIG. 3 comprises spaced apart metal brackets 
62, 64 which are mirror images of one another. Each of the brackets 62, 64 
includes a generally trigonal planar part 66 and a circularly cylindrical 
tubular part 68 which extends perpendicular to the planar part from a 
position adjacent a forward edge thereof. A rearwardly facing side of each 
part 66 is provided with a hook arrangement 72 by means of which the 
brackets 62, 64 can co-operate with suitable fixings on the rear wall 14 
in order to secure the brackets 62, 64 in position. 
The support device 12 also includes an elongate tubular support strut 74. 
The strut 74 is made from a single rectangular piece of steel which is 
formed and fixed so as to define a circularly cylindrical tube part 76 
from which an elongate support flange 78 extends. The flange 78 is rigidly 
fixed relative to the tube part 76. 
The cylindrical tubular parts 68 of the brackets 62, 64 and the tube part 
76 of the strut 74 are arranged so the tube parts 68 are a sliding fit in 
respective opposing ends of the tube part 76. 
The display apparatus 2 is assembled as follows. 
Firstly, respective tubular parts 68 of the brackets 62, 64 are slid into 
opposing ends 80, 82 of the tube part 76 of strut 74, in order to 
pre-assemble the support device 12. The hook arrangements 72 of the 
support device 12 are then engaged with corresponding fixings on the wall 
14, in order to secure the support device 12 in position. 
When secured in position, the brackets 62, 64 and strut 74 define a support 
device 12 which is a rigid arrangement. 
Next, cascading display device 4 is fixed to the support device 12. To this 
end, the display device 4 is arranged so that the support flange 78 of the 
strut 74 is just below a position between shorter limb 34 of channel 
section 22 and the longer limb 36 of channel section 24. Then, the device 
4 is urged downwardly so that the support flange 78 extends between the 
limbs 34, 36. The device 4 is moved downwardly until tubular parts 68 of 
metal brackets 62, 64 abut both the lower surface of the base part 32 and 
the rearwardly facing surface of the longer limb 36. 
When device 4 is in position, hook 30 of device 4 may suitably abut wall 
14. 
Support rods 16 are then cut to an appropriate size and one is engaged with 
each socket 56, 58, 60 so as to extend between the wall 14 and display 
device 4. It will be appreciated that with the support rods in position, 
the display device 4 cannot pivot in a clockwise direction about strut 74. 
Also, since hook 30 abuts wall 14, the device cannot pivot in an 
anti-clockwise direction about strut 74. 
It should be noted that support rods 16 which engage sockets 50, 52 will 
define an acute angle to the wall 14, whereas socket 54 is arranged so 
that a rod engaged therewith defines an angle of about 90.degree. to the 
wall. This allows a second display apparatus 2 to be positioned closely 
below the apparatus 2. 
The apparatus 2 may readily be adapted so that two display devices 4 may be 
disposed side by side so that there is continuity between adjacent channel 
22, 24, 26 of the devices. To this end, provided brackets 62, 64 for one 
display device 4 are in line with brackets 62, 64 for the other display 
device 4, the channels of the two devices will be aligned, irrespective of 
the loads being carried by the respective devices. 
Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 8, an alternative display apparatus 91 includes 
a bracket 90 which supports cascading display device 92. 
The display device 92 is similar to the display device 4 except that it 
includes two elongate channels 6, 8 (although more may be provided if 
desired) and does not include sockets 50, 52, 54. 
The bracket 90 is formed from a single piece of steel plate. It comprises a 
planar section 94 which defines a first seat 96 and a second seat 98 each 
of which defines a seat which is perpendicular in cross-section. The first 
seat 96 is defined between parts 100, 102 of the planar section 94 and the 
second seat 98 is defined between part 104 and a leg 106 of the section 
94. First and second flanges 108, 110 extend at 90.degree. from one side 
of the planar section 94 above the respective seats 96, 98. Each of the 
flanges includes a pair of inwardly projecting pips 99 which are formed by 
indenting the steel of the flanges. An L-cross-section support member 112 
extends at 90.degree. from the other side of the planar section 94. The 
support member 112 includes a planar face 114 which extends parallel to 
the planar section 94. A hook arrangement 72 extends from face 114 for 
fixing the bracket 90 to a wall. 
The display apparatus 91 includes two brackets 90 which are mirror images 
of one another. Each of the brackets is secured to the display device by 
engaging hook 30 of the display device 92 with the first flange 108 and 
engaging the second flange 110 in the gap defined between limbs 34, 36 of 
the display device such that planar face 114 of the bracket 90 is 
substantially flush with end 116 of the display device. When so disposed, 
the first elongate channel 6 rests upon and is supported by the first seat 
96 and the second elongate channel 8 rests upon and is supported by the 
second seat 98. Once assembled, the display device 92 and bracket 90 are 
relatively securely engaged with one another by virtue of the fact that 
the pips 99 tend to wedge flanges 108, 110 in position. 
The assembled display apparatus 91 may be supported on a wall via its hook 
arrangements 72. When so supported, the weight of the apparatus causes 
planar face 114 of each bracket 90 to make face to face contact with the 
wall. 
The apparatus 2, 91 described may be advantageous for a number of reasons. 
For example, since the support device 12/brackets 90 support the display 
device 4, 92 at a position below hook 30, the apparatus is more stable and 
less prone to failure under heavy loads. Also, as a consequence of the 
positioning of the support device 12/brackets 90 relative to the device 4, 
92, the device 4, 92 tends not to sag under heavy loads and consequently 
two or more display devices 4, 92 may readily be arranged one above the 
other or side by side. In the case of the apparatus 91, the display device 
92 is further supported on seats 96, 98 defined by the bracket 90. 
Furthermore, since display device 4, 92 is made in one piece, it does not 
have sharp edges and, accordingly, damage to articles, for example 
magazines, as they are inserted into and removed from the channels of the 
device may be minimized. 
The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are 
filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection 
with this application and which are open to public inspection with this 
specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are 
incorporated herein by reference. 
All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any 
accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of 
any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, 
except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are 
mutually exclusive. 
Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying 
claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features 
serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated 
otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed 
is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing 
embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel 
combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including 
any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or 
any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.