IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY DISPLAY STANDS

Abstract: Improvements in display stands of the kind comprising disc shelves (1) which are mounted for rotation about a centre post (11) and which are maintained at different levels by means of spacer sleeves (12a) positioned around the post (11) and between the disc shelves (1). The spacer sleeves (12a) are formed with a plate (5a) which is integrally secured to the sleeve and each disc shelf (1) is removably attached to one of these plates (5a). In assembled condition, the sleeve (12a) extends through and above a centre opening (4) formed in the disc shelf (1).

Description: Improvements in Rotary Display Stands The subject invention concerns improvements in rotary display stands. One type of rotary display stands which is generally available on the market today, is a structure comprising two disc shelves, each one of which is arranged for rotation separately about a fixed centre post and which shelves are maintained at different levels by means of spacer sleeves which are positioned freely over the centre post. Each spacer sleeve extends between two pipe stubs, each one of which is secured to its associated one of the disc shelves in a centre aperture in the discs and which pipe stubs thus form a hub-like member about which the disc shelf turns upon rotation. This prior-art structure functions well as far as rotatability of the shelf discs is concerned. However, the structure suffers from certain drawbacks inasmuch as it comprises an unnecessarily large number of components. The display stand is delivered in the form of a construction kit to be assembled by the customer. To allow easy and uncomplicated assembly of the stand by the customer without demanding that he possesses a high degree of technical skill some components are delivered in the form of pre-assembled units. However, in some aspects to be explained in more detail in connection with the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, the pre-assembl of certain components is a drawback. The purpose of the subject invention is to simplify the structure of the device without in any way impairing the function of the display stand. For this reason the invention which concerns a rotary display stand of the kind outlined in the aforegoing and which comprises a centre post which is rigidly mounted on a base and which supports thereon rotatably mounted disc shelves or similar members which are maintained at different vertical levels by means of sleeves extending coaxially with the centre post, is characterized therein that said spacer sleeves are equipped with a transversely and outwardly directed plate which is integrally secured to the sleeve, and in that each disc shelf is removably attached to such a plate and its associated sleeve, the latter extending through and above a centre opening formed in the disc shelf. One prior-art stand as well as the improved stand in accordance with the invention will be described in closer detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the prior-art stand, Fig. 2 illustrates in a mixed lateral and exploded view the improved structure in accordance with the invention, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a rotary stand in accordance with the invention. In order to illustrate the characteristic features of the improved stand in accordance with the invention Fig. 1 illustrates one embodiment in accordance with the prior-art technology referred to generally in the preamble. The disc shelves 1 are made e.g. from wood or wood particle board and are manufactured in a joinery shop. In the shop, the disc shelves are provided with a pipe stub 3 formed with a flanged ring 2. In the mounting of the pipe stub 3, the latter is inserted through a centre hole 4 formed in the disc shelf 1. In addition, a load-distribution plate 5 is mounted so as to be sandwiched between the flanged ring 2 and the lower face of the disc shelf 1 and finally a washer 6 is mounted on the opposite face of the disc shelf. The components are kept in the assembled condition by means of throug -screws 7 which are screwed into threaded holes 8 formed in the flanged ring 2 or into nuts (not shown) on the lower face of the ring. After assembly, a synthetic resin collar 9 is applied on either side of the pipe stub 3. The components, thus mounted on their associated one of the disc shelves, are dispatched as one item to the company selling display stands and the seller company thereafter dispatches packages containing these pre-assembled components to the buyer together with other packages containing other components necessary to assemble a complete display stand, such as a base which may be in the form of wheel -mounted cross-arms 10, as illustrated in Fig. 3, a centre post 11, spacer sleeves 12 including synthetic resin collars 13 therefor and mounting bearing units comprising a roller bearing 14 and a spacer washer 15 on either side thereof. The components deli ered to the customer are assembled by him into a rotary display stand and the instructions he receives to assist him are comparatively simple, which is a consequence of the pre-assembly of some parts as described in the aforegoing. As also indicated before, this pre-assembly is, however, a disadvantage in some aspects. Joinery shops are equipped primarily to manufacutre the disc shelves as such and it therefore constitutes an out-of -routine complication to have to handle metal components and in addition thereto, to have to mount them on the shelves. Furthermore, these pre-assembled disc shelves 1 with their metal fittings in the form of the pipe stub 3 and associated details occupy considerably more space in the transportation package or box than do single, flat disc shelves. Consequently, these transportation packages will be a great deal more bulky and space-consuming. All these factors taken together result in an end product that is more expensive than it need to be. The product in accordance with the invention is considerably simplified compared with the prior art. The characteristic feature of the invention is that each space sleeve 12a - as seen in Fig. 2 - is provided with a plate 5a which is integrally secured to the associated spacer sleeve and which extends transversely outwards from the latter. This plate 5a replaces both the flanged ring 2 and the plate 5 of the prior-art structure described in the aforegoing. Pre-assembly is no longer needed in the joinery shop and consequently plane, single disc shelves 1 may be transported in compact condition to the company selling the display stands. The joinery shop need not occupy themselves with any other components of the stand. Because of the improved, simplified structure no pre-assembly need either be carried out by the company selling desplay stands. Instead, all metal components of the stand may be shipped together in one package and the number of disc shelves 1 ordered by the customer are packed and shipped together in a second package. Both packages are dispatched to the customer who assembles the display stand in the manner appearing from the exploded view of Fig. 2, i.e. each spacer sleeve 12a is introduced through the centre hole 4 in the associated disc shelf 1 until the plate 5a abuts against the lower face of the disc shelf, whereupon the washer 6 is threaded onto the sleeve 12a and the parts are joined together by means of the screws 7. A synthetic resin collar 16 is thereafter applied at the upper and lower mouth of the sleeve. The unit thus assembled is placed over the centre post 11 - which initially has been secured to the base 10 (see Fig. 3) in a manner known per se which therefore need not be described herein - resulting in the structure illustrated in the lower part of Fig. 2. A bearing unit 14, 15 is thereafter placed over the post 11 in abutment against the upper synthetic resin collar 16 of the sleeve 12a, whereafter the mounting procedure just described may be repeated and a second disc shelf 1 be mounted in position above the first one. In a few minutes the customer himself can assemble the display stand components correctly into the display stand illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein each disc shelf 1 of the assembled stand is rotatable individually. Although the display stand designed in accordance with the teachings of the subject invention is at least as stable and as sturdy as its predecessors the end product is less expensive, thanks to the more functional and rational handling made possible. The invention is not limited to the embodiment as illustrated and described in the aforegoing but several modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claim. This is true particularly as regards the appearance of the shelves, plates and washers as well as the type of bearings chosen for the stand.

Claims: CLAIM Improvements in rotary display stands comprising a centre post (11) which is rigidly mounted on a base (10) and which supports thereon rotatably mounted disc shelves (1) or similar members which are maintained at different vertical levels by means of sleeves (12, 12a) extending coaxially with said centre post (11), c h a r a c t e r¬ i z e d t h e r e i n that said sleeves (12a) are equipped with a transversely and outwardly directed plate (5a) which is integrally secured to the sleeve (12a), and in that each disc shelf (1) is removably attached to such a plate and its associated sleeve (12a), the latter extending through and above a centre opening (4) formed in the disc shelf (1).

Inventors: SVENSSON JOHAN, SVENSSON, JOHAN
Applicants: AXHAMRE INREDNINGAR AB
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A47F5
IPC codes: A47B49, A47F5