# Patent

## Title
Display fixture with cantilevered shelf

## Abstract

A display fixture includes a display structure having at least two uprights and at least one cross bar that spans between the at least two uprights. At least one shelf is mounted on the at least one cross bar and includes a deck, a pair of side panels each located on opposing sides of the deck and each having a slot and an elongated channel extending between the pair of slots in the pair of side panels. Each slot is separated from a back edge of each side panel. The channel is defined by a front that extends between front edges of the pair of slots, a back that extends between back edges of the pair of slots and a top that extends between upper edges of the pair of slots. The pair of slots and the channel engage with the cross bar.

## Background
BACKGROUND
Businesses, such as retail stores, use a variety of types of display fixtures to present and display products to customers for purchase. Often display fixtures include display structures having upright and/or vertical frame members. For example, a cross bar can be mounted to a pair of upright frame members to support merchandise. Shelves are also mounted to display structures using brackets that are connected to the upright frame members.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
SUMMARY
A display fixture includes a display structure having at least two uprights and at least one cross bar that spans between the at least two uprights. At least one shelf is toolles sly mounted on the at least one cross bar and includes a deck, a pair of side panels each located on opposing sides of the deck and each having a slot and an elongated channel extending between the pair of slots in the pair of side panels. Each slot is separated from a back edge of each side panel. The channel is defined by a front that extends between front edges of the pair of slots, a back that extends between back edges of the pair of slots and a top that extends between upper edges of the pair of slots. The pair of slots and the elongated channel engage with the cross bar without any additional hardware so that the shelf is cantilevered from the cross bar to support merchandise.
A display fixture includes at least two upright support members, at least one substantially horizontal rail having a first end that mounts to one of the upright support members and a second end that mounts to another of the upright support members, at least one shelf including a main shelf body and a u-channel coupled to an underside of the main shelf body and extending a width of the main shelf body. The u-channel is engaged with the at least one substantially horizontal rail so that the at least one shelf is cantilevered from the at least one substantially horizontal rail. A right side of the u-channel is aligned with an opening in a right side frame member of the at least one shelf, a left side of the u-channel is aligned with an opening in a left side frame member of the at least one shelf, a front of the u-channel extends between front edges of the openings in the right side frame member and the left side frame member, a back of the u-channel extends between back edges of the openings in the right side frame member and the left side frame member. The u-channel is spaced apart from a back edge of the shelf and in closer proximity to the back edge of the shelf than a front of the shelf.
A method is provided for displaying merchandise on a display fixture. At least one cross bar is mounted to a display structure by inserting a first bracket on a first end of the cross bar into holes in a first upright of the display structure and inserting a second bracket on a second end of the cross bar into holes in a second upright of the display structure. A shelf having a deck, a right side frame member, a left side frame member and a front side frame member is mounted to the cross bar by engaging a channel located on an underside of the deck with the cross bar without any additional hardware. The channel is defined by a front that extends between a front edge of an opening in the right side frame member and a front edge of an opening in the left side frame member, a back that extends between a back edge of the opening in the right side frame member and a back edge of the opening in the left side frame member and a top that extends between an upper edge of the opening in the right side frame member and an upper edge of the opening in the left side frame member. Merchandise is displayed on the shelf.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective view of a shelf that is mounted to a cross bar on a display structure without any additional hardware according to one embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the shelf in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the shelf in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the shelf in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a front view of the shelf in FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a right side view of the shelf in FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of the right side view in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a section view of the shelf in FIG. 1 taken through the line indicated in FIG. 5.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the shelf in FIG. 1 being mounted to a display structure according to another embodiment.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the shelf in FIG. 1 mounted to the display structure in FIG. 9 to form a display fixture according to another embodiment.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 11.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the shelf in FIG. 1 mounted to a display structure to form a display fixture according to yet another embodiment.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A cantilevered shelf is toollessly mounted to a cross bar on a display structure without any additional hardware. Normally, a display shelf is mounted to upright frame members on a display structure with shelf brackets and therefore the display shelf width is dependent on the standard distance between the upright frame members of the display structure. Since the cantilevered shelf, as will be discussed in detail below, is engaged with a cross bar that is mounted to the upright frame members on the display structure, the cantilevered shelf can be any width that is the same or less than a length of the cross bar. In this way, the cantilevered shelf need not be as wide as the length between the upright frame members and the remainder of the cross bar can be used to merchandise other types of product.
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a shelf 100 and FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of shelf 100. FIGS. 3-6 are a top view, a bottom view, a front view and a right side view, respectively. The left side view is a mirror image of the right side view. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a section view of shelf 100 taken through the line indicated in FIG. 5.
Shelf 100 includes at least a deck or main shelf body 102, a right side frame member or side panel 104, a left side frame member or side panel 106, a front frame member or front panel 108 and a u-channel or elongated channel 110 that is coupled to an underside 112 of deck 102 and extends across a width 114 of deck 102. Right side frame member or side panel 104 and left side frame member or side panel 106 are located on opposing sides of deck or main shelf body 102 and each have an opening or slot.
Opening or slot 116 is located in right side frame member 104 and includes a front edge 120, a back edge 122 and an upper edge 124 (see FIG. 6). Opening or slot 118 located in left side frame member 106 is substantially identical to opening or slot 116 and includes a front edge 126, a back edge 128 and an upper edge 130 (see FIG. 7). Further, opening 116 includes an upper portion 117 where the distance between front edge 120 and back edge 122 is uniform and a lower portion 121 where the distance between front edge 120 and back edge 122 is non-uniform. Still further, opening 118 includes an upper portion 119 where the distance between front edge 126 and back edge 128 is uniform and a lower portion 123 where the distance between front edge 126 and back edge 128 is non-uniform. In particular, back edges 122 and 128 of lower portions 121 and 123 are tapered from where upper portions 117 and 119 meet lower portions 121 and 123 and to bottom edges 142 and 145 of right and left side frame members 104 and 106. In addition, back edges 122 and 128 of openings 116 and 118 are separated from a back edge 130 of shelf 100 by a space 132 and front edges 120 and 126 of openings 116 and 118 are separated from front frame member 108 of shelf 100 by a space 134. Space 132 is less than space 134.
A right side of u-channel 110 aligns with upper portion 117 of opening 116 in right side frame member 104 and a left side of u-channel 110 aligns with upper portion 119 of opening 118 in the left side frame member 106. Therefore, u-channel 110 extends between openings 116 and 118 in right side frame member 106 and left side frame member 108, respectively, and is defined by a front 136 that extends between front edges 120 and 126 of openings 116 and 117, a back 138 that extends between back edges 122 and 128 of openings 116 and 117 and a top 140 that extends between upper edges 124 and 130 of openings 116 and 117. A distance 139 between front 136 and back 138 is less than a width 141 of openings 116 and 118 of right and left side frame members 104 and 106 at bottom edges 143 and 145 of right and left side frame members 104 and 106.
Between a bottom edge 142 of front 136 and a bottom edge 144 of back 138 is a channel opening 146. Bottom edges 142 and 144 are located above bottom edges 143 and 145 of right side frame member 104 and left side frame member 106, respectively. Channel opening 146 receives a cross bar or substantially horizontal rail on a display structure so that u-channel 110 mounts to or engages with the cross bar or substantially horizontal rail and the cross bar or substantially horizontal rail directly contacts front 136, back 138 and top 140. In addition, openings 116 and 118 in right side frame member 104 and left side frame member 106 also mount to or engage with the cross bar. The engagement of u-channel 110 and openings 116 and 118 with the cross bar is accomplished toollessly and without any additional hardware so that shelf 100 is cantilevered from the cross bar to support merchandise.
Openings 116 and 118 in right side frame member 104 and left side frame member 106 and u-channel 110 are separated from back edge 130 of shelf 100 by space 132 and are in closer proximity to back edge 130 of shelf 100 than to front frame member 108 of shelf 100. This separation in combination with a height of u-channel 110 and heights of openings 116 and 118 in right and left side frame members 104 and 106, contribute to the ability of shelf 110 to be cantilevered from the substantially horizontal rail or cross bar without additional hardware.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of shelf 100 in FIGS. 1-8 being mounted to an exemplary display structure 200. Exemplary display structure 200 is a rolling rack. The rolling rack is a mobile display structure that includes a plurality of frame members including at least two upright or substantially vertical frame members. In this embodiment, display structure 200 includes three upright frame members 202a, 202b and 202c. Each upright frame member 202a, 202b and 202c includes a plurality of spaced apart holes 204a, 204b and 204c. Each of the plurality of holes 204a, 204b and 204c is capable of receiving a bracket on a cross bar or substantially horizontal rail. In FIG. 9, a cross bar or substantially horizontal rail 208 spans between two upright frame members 202a and 202c. Upright frame member 202a receives a first bracket or first end (not illustrated in FIG. 9) of a cross bar or substantially horizontal rail 208 and upright frame member 202c receives a second bracket or second end 210 of cross bar or substantially horizontal rail 208.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 9. As illustrated in both FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, openings 116 and 118 of shelf 100 as well as u-channel 110 are engaged with cross bar 208 without any additional hardware by position au-channel 110 over cross bar 208 and lowering shelf 100 until cross bar 108 is located within u-channel 110. By mounting shelf 100 to cross bar 208 in this manner, shelf 100 can be any width, such as width 115, that is the same or less than the length of cross bar 208 and the same or less than a distance 205 between upright frame members 202a and 202c. In this way, shelf 100 need not be as wide as the distance between the upright frame members and the remainding length of cross bar 208 can be used to merchandise other product.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of shelf 100 mounted to exemplary display structure 200 in FIG. 9 to form an exemplary display fixture 300 according to another embodiment. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 11. As illustrated in both FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, openings 116 and 118 of shelf 100 as well as u-channel 110 are engaged with cross bar 208 without any additional hardware. In addition, the width of shelf 100 is less than the length of cross bar 208. This allows for display structure 200 to be outfitted with various display accessories for displaying various types of merchandise. In FIG. 11, a hanger bar 211 is mounted to the remaining length of cross bar 208 and supports hanging merchandise. An additional accessory, which is front facing hanger bar 212, is mounted to a frame member of display structure 200 and supports additional hanging merchandise.
With reference back to FIGS. 1-8, shelf 100 further includes a plurality of apertures 150a, 150b and 150c extending through a thickness 103 of deck or main shelf body 102. While shelf 100 illustrates three apertures 150a, 150b and 150c, it should be realized that any number of apertures are possible. Within each aperture 150a, 150b, 150c is a hollow receiver 154a, 154b and 154c. Hollow receivers 154a, 154b and 154c are configured to receive a portion of a display stand, such as a rod or similar hardware. For example, hollow receivers 154a, 154b and 154c could each received a mounting rod on a stand for supporting a mannequin.
Still further, shelf 100 includes a block 156 mounted to underside 112 of deck or main shelf body 102. Block 156 extends across width 114 of deck 102 and includes a plurality of apertures 158a, 158b and 158c (FIG. 2) that align with apertures 150a, 150b and 150c. Block 156 supports a length (of which length 160b is illustrated) of each hollow receiver 154a, 154b and 154c, which extend for greater distances than thickness 103 of deck 102.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of shelf 100 in FIGS. 1-8 mounted to an exemplary display structure 400 to form an exemplary display fixture 500 according to another embodiment. Exemplary display structure 400 is a wall. The wall is a fixed display structure that includes a plurality of frame members including at least two upright or substantially vertical frame members 402a and 402b separated from each other by a standard distance 405, such as four feet. Each upright frame member 402a and 402b includes a plurality of spaced apart holes 404a and 404b. Each of the plurality of holes 404a and 404b is capable of receiving a bracket on a cross bar or substantially horizontal rail. In FIG. 12, a cross bar or substantially horizontal rail 408 spans between the two upright frame members 402a and 402b. Upright frame member 402a receives a first bracket or first end 409 of cross bar or substantially horizontal rail 408 and upright frame member 402b receives a second bracket or second end (not illustrated in FIG. 12) of cross bar or substantially horizontal rail 408.
Openings 116 and 118 (not shown in FIG. 13) of shelf 100 as well as u-channel 110 (not shown in FIG. 13) are engaged with cross bar 408 without any additional hardware. Mounting shelf 100 to cross bar 408 as shown in FIG. 13 allows shelf 400 to be any width, such as width 115, that is the same or less than the length of cross bar 408 and the same or less than distance 405 between upright frame members 402a and 402b. In this way, shelf 100 need not be as wide as the distance between the upright frame members and the remaining length of cross bar 408 can be used to merchandise other types of product. In FIG. 12, a hanger bar 411 is mounted to the remaining length of cross bar 208 and supports hanging merchandise.
As illustrated in FIG. 13, display fixture 500 further includes a partial mannequin 414 that is securely held in hollow receiver 154b of shelf 100. Partial mannequin 414 may or may not display merchandise that is displayed on other display accessories, such as hanger bar 411.
The figures as discussed above also include a method of displaying merchandise on a display fixture, such as display fixture 300 or 500. At least one cross bar 208 or 408 is mounted to display structure 200 or 400 by inserting a first bracket or first end on cross bar 208 or 408 into holes 204a or 404a in a first upright 202a or 402a of display structure 200 or 400 and inserting a second bracket on cross bar 208 or 408 into holes 204c or 404b in a second upright 202c or 402b of display structure 200 or 400. Shelf 100 is mounted to cross bar 208 or 408 by engaging channel 110 located on underside 112 of deck 102 of shelf 100 with cross bar 208 or 408 without any additional hardware. Merchandise is then display on shelf 100 whether or not the merchandise is displayed on a mannequin, such as partial mannequin 414, which is mounted to hollow receiver 154b or whether the merchandise is supported directly by shelf 100. In addition, a display accessory, such as display accessory 211, 212 or 411 is mounted to cross bar 208 or 408 so as to support other merchandise other than the merchandise supported by shelf 100.
Although elements have been shown or described as separate embodiments above, portions of each embodiment may be combined with all or part of other embodiments described above.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

## Claims

1. A display fixture comprising:
a display structure including at least two uprights and at least one cross bar that spans between the at least two uprights;
at least one shelf toollessly mounted on the at least one cross bar, the at least one shelf comprising:
a deck;
a pair of side panels each located on opposing sides of the deck and each having a slot, wherein each slot is separated from a back edge of each side panel; and
an elongated channel extending between the pair of slots in the pair of side panels,
the elongated channel being defined by a front that extends between front edges of the pair of slots, a back that extends between back edges of the pair of slots and a top that extends between upper edges of the pair of slots;
wherein the pair of slots and the elongated channel engage with the cross bar without any additional hardware so that the shelf is cantilevered from the cross bar to support merchandise; and
wherein the shelf includes a plurality of apertures extending through a thickness of the deck, each aperture includes a hollow receiver that is configured to receive and securely hold a mannequin; wherein
a block is mounted to an underside of the deck, the block includes a plurality of apertures that align with the plurality of apertures in the deck so as to support a length of each hollow receiver that extends for a greater distance than the thickness of the deck.

2. The display fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least two uprights comprise a plurality of spaced apart holes for receiving a first bracket located on a first end of the cross bar and a second bracket located on a second end of the cross bar.

3. The display fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one shelf has a width that is less than a distance between the at least two uprights.

4. The display fixture of claim 1, wherein bottom edges of the front and the back of the elongated channel are located above bottom edges of the pair of side panels.

5. The display fixture of claim 1, wherein a distance between the front and the back of the elongated channel is less than a width of the slots in the pair of side panels at bottom edges of the pair of side panels.

6. A display fixture comprising: at least two upright support members; at least one substantially horizontal rail having a first end that mounts to one of the
upright support members and a second end that mounts to another of the upright support members;
at least one shelf including a main shelf body, wherein a U-shaped rail defining a u-channel is coupled to an underside of the main shelf body and extends substantially across an entire width of the main shelf body, wherein the u-channel is engaged with the at least one substantially horizontal rail so that the at least one shelf is cantilevered from the at least one substantially horizontal rail;
wherein a right side of the u-channel is aligned with an upper portion of an opening in a right side frame member of the at least one shelf, a left side of the u-channel is aligned with an upper portion of an opening in a left side frame member of the at least one shelf, such that a distance between a front of the u-channel and a back of the u-channel is substantially similar to widths of the upper portions of the openings in the right side frame member and the left side frame member and the front of the u-channel extends between front edges of the openings in the right side frame member and the left side frame member and the back of the u- channel extends between back edges of the openings in the right side frame member and the left side frame member;
wherein the u-channel is spaced apart from a back edge of the shelf and in closer proximity to the back edge of the shelf than a front of the shelf; and
wherein the widths of the upper portions of the openings in the right and left side frame members are less than widths of where the openings in the right and left side frame members intersect bottom edges of the right and left side frame members to guide the at least one shelf to sit on the at least one substantially horizontal rail.

7. The display fixture of claim 6, wherein the u-channel and the openings in the right and left side frame members engage with the at least one substantially horizontal rail without any additional hardware.

8. The display fixture of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of apertures extending through a thickness of the main shelf body, each aperture includes a hollow receiver for receiving a portion of a display stand.

9. The display fixture of claim 8, further comprising a mannequin including a mounting rod for being securely held in the hollow receiver of one of the apertures located through the thickness in the main shelf body.

10. The display fixture of claim 8, further comprising a block mounted to an underside of the main shelf body and including a plurality of apertures that align with the plurality of apertures in the main shelf body so as to support a length of the each hollow receiver that extends for a greater distance than the thickness of the main shelf body.

11. The display fixture of claim 6, wherein the at least one shelf has a width that is less than a distance between the at least two upright support members.

12. The display fixture of claim 6, wherein bottom edges of the front and the back of the u-channel are located above bottom edges of the right and left side frame members.

13. A display fixture comprising:
a display structure including at least two uprights and at least one cross bar that spans between the at least two uprights;
at least one shelf toollessly mounted on the at least one cross bar, the at least one shelf comprising:
a deck having a top surface and a bottom surface;
a pair of side panels each extending downwardly from opposing sides of the deck and each having a slot, wherein each slot is separated from a back edge of each side panel; and a front panel extending downwardly from a front edge of the deck; wherein the side panels and the front panels are combined to form a border; wherein a cavity is defined from the underside of the shelf by the border and the deck;
wherein the cavity defined by the corresponding panels is configured to receive a support beam that is configured to be mounted to the bottom surface of the deck within the cavity;
an elongated channel extending between the pair of slots in the pair of side panels,
the elongated channel being defined by a front that extends between front edges of the pair of slots, a back that extends between back edges of the pair of slots and a top that extends between upper edges of the pair of slots;
wherein the pair of slots and the elongated channel engage with the cross bar without any additional hardware so that the shelf is cantilevered from the cross bar to support merchandise; and
wherein the shelf includes a plurality of apertures extending through a thickness of the deck,
a mannequin mounted to the shelf using a post that is inserted within an aperture in the deck.

14. The display fixture of claim 13, further comprising a display accessory mounted onto the at least one cross bar and next to the shelf so as to support additional merchandise other than merchandise displayed by the shelf.

15. The display fixture of claim 13, wherein the shelf has a width that is less than a width between the first upright and the second upright.