DISPLAY UNIT

Abstract: The present invention provides a display system to display goods e.g. in a retail store in a well structured and ordered manner. The goods are horizontally stacked in the rack unit. A theft protection member is provided, which limits unauthorized access to the goods. Said theft protection member is adjustable in height thereby allowing the display unit to accommodate different sizes of goods. The goods are pushed forward by a slide member towards the front end of said rack unit, where items of said goods can be removed from said rack unit in small quantities. The rack unit is releasable mounted and secured by a lock mechanism on a base member, which in turn is mounted on a rectangular bar. The rack unit can be released from said base member by means of a key. The slide member can be locked in a rear end position of said display unit, when the rack unit is removed from said base member. (Re-)filling of said rack unit with goods is easy without interference of said slide member. The height of said theft protection member is adjustable as well, when the rack unit is removed from said base member. When the rack unit is mounted on said base member again, the slide member is automatically released, thereby pushing the goods forward; and the theft protection member is locked at the selected height level.

Description: DISPLAY UNIT TECHNICAL FIELD This invention related to a display unit, as is used to display goods for customers and to allow customers to take goods in small quantities out of said display unit BACKGROUND ART It is desirable to present goods in a well-structured and organized manner. A constant appearance can be achieved by pushing goods forward to the front ofthe display unit either by their own weight or by a spring-loaded slide member. Display units with this feature have been known for some time; however, it is very tedious to (re-)fill this type of display unit against the force ofthe spring-loaded slide member or the weight force ofthe goods. The difficulty is increased when the display unit is mounted on a shelf, where the access to the base is limited. In order to prevent theft, the display unit should be mounted rigidly, e.g., on a shelf or a counter top; moreover, it should be excluded that an unusually large quantity of goods is removed from the display unit in a single access to the display unit This has been achieved previously by leaving only a small opening in a display unit, thereby allowing removal of only one item ofthe displayed goods at a given time While this is an adequate solution for the problem of theft, it limits the flexibility ofthe display unit, i.e., only one size of goods can be displayed with such display units. It is therefore an object ofthe present invention to provide a display unit which overcomes the problems mentioned above. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION This object is solved by the display unit of independent claim 1. Further advantageous aspects and features are evident from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings It is one aspect ofthe invention to provide a display unit which displays goods Ian well- structured and organized manner and which is easy to (re-)fill This is achieved by a display unit which comprises a base member and a rack unit Said base member is mounted, for example, on a rectangular bar, and said rack unit is releasably mounted on said base member to display the goods which are stacked in said rack unit When the rack unit is mounted on said base member, the goods are pushed forward to the front of said rack unit by a slide member In a further aspect ofthe invention, a theft protection is provided which limits the access to the goods in the rack unit to the goods in the rack unit to the extent that only a small number of goods can be removed from the rack unit at a given time This theft protection is adjustable in height, thereby being able to accommodate goods of different sizes The height ofthe theft protection is fixed when the rack unit is mounted on the base member and it can be adjusted in height only when the rack unit is removed from the base member In a still further aspect ofthe invention, the rack unit is locked on said base member, thereby preventing unauthorized removal ofthe rack unit in its entirety However, the rack unit can be removed quickly by means of a key which disengages the lock means and, at the same, pushes the rack unit up and out of said base member In a still further aspect ofthe invention, a display unit is provided, wherein the slide member can be locked in a rear position when the rack unit is removed from the said base member. In this condition, the rack unit is easily (re-)filled without interference of said slide member, when the rack unit is mounted on the base member, the slide member is automatically released and begins to push the stacked goods forward in the rack unit In yet a further aspect ofthe invention, a tray is provided to be mounted on said base member, instead of said rack unit, if bulk goods have to be displayed BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure la shows the assembled display unit mounted on a rectangular bar and filled with goods Figure lb is an enlarged perspective view ofthe display unit mounted on a rectangular bar Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III in the center ofthe display unit Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV ofthe display unit Figure 5 displays the lock means by which the rack unit is locked on said base member Figure 6 displays a detailed view ofthe lock means, which arrests the slide member in a rear position Figure 7 shows the tray alternately mounted on the base member, instead ofthe rack unit DETAILED DESCRDPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure la shows a preferred embodiment ofthe display unit in operating condition The goods (G) are horizontally stacked in the rack unit (3) where they are pushed forward by a slide member (5) The front portion ofthe display unit is covered by the theft protection member (7) which limits the access to the front part of said display unit, from where a small number of goods can be removed at a given time. The rack unit is mounted on a base member (1) and the whole display unit is mounted on a rectangular bar (B) Figure lb shows and enlarged perspective view ofthe preferred embodiment ofthe display unit, wherein it can be seen how the individual components ofthe display unit cooperate The base member (1) is mounted on the rectangular bar (B) by means of a groove (14) When the rack unit (3) is mounted on base member (1), the projections (39) ofthe side walls of said rack unit ( 1 ) rest on top of the side walls (12) of said base member ( 1 ) The rack unit (3) is locked on said base member (1) by means of a tongue (40) (not shown), which engages with the slit (22) at the rear end of said base member (1) and by means ofthe pawls (38), which engage with matching grooves (16) at the front end ofthe base member The theft protection (7) is placed with the side portions (72) in the guiding grooves (35), wherein the upper or lower slits (73, 74) engage with the projections (36), thereby fixing the height ofthe theft protection member The lower portions ofthe side portions (72) of said theft protection member extend through slits (15) through the base plate (22) of said base member ( 1 ) The slide member (5) moves forward in the track (41 ) Figure 2 shows a sectional view along the line II-II of figure lb It is shown how the slide member (5) is pulled forward by a spiral spring (54) which is mounted with its axis on the slide member (5) The loose end of said spring (54) is secured at the front end ofthe rack unit (3) The front plate (51) of slide member (5) pushes against the rear end ofthe stack of goods (G), thereby pushing the stack forward if an item is removed at the front end The downward projection (52) of said slide member (5) glides in the groove (31) ofthe rack unit (3) In this figure, the theft protection member (7) is placed in a low position The two locks (III, IV) will be discussed in detail with figures 4 and 5. Figure 3 is a sectional view ofthe display unit along the line III-III, i.e. the center ofthe display unit In this figure, the theft protection member (7) is located in a higher position and the rack unit (3) is filled with larger goods (G). In the front portion ofthe base member (1) an opening (17) is visible, the pushing finger (92) ofthe key (9) pushes against the bottom ofthe rack unit (3) through that hole when the rack unit (3) is removed from said base member by means of said key (9). Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV The figure shows the slide member (5) with two downward projections (52) gliding in grooves (31). The slide member (5) is held on the track (41) by means of an anchor (56). In this figure, the theft protection member (7) is located in the lower position. The horizontal grooves (74) in the side portions (72) of said theft protection member engage the projections (36) on the surfaces of said guiding grooves (35), thereby fixing the height of said theft protection member (7). To vary the height, the side portions (72) have to be bent apart, whereby the grooves (74) are disengaged from said projections (36). Thereafter, the theft protection member can be moved up until the next grooves (73) engage with said projections (36) However, this is impossible in the configuration shown in figure 4, when the rack unit (3) is mounted on said base member (1), because the side walls (12) of that base member confine said side portions (72) of said theft protection member, thereby preventing said side portions from being bent apart. Consequently, the height of said theft protection member (1) can be adjusted only when the rack unit (3) is removed from said base member (1) Figure 5 provides a detailed view ofthe lock at the front end ofthe display unit A pawl (38), which projects downward from the rack unit (3), engages a protrusion (24) disposed at the inner front surface (19) of said base member (1). The pawl (38) has access to the protrusion (24) through the hole (16) in base plate (23) of said base member (1). If the key (9) is pushed upward against the lock mechanism, releasing finger (91) forces pawl (38) backward, thereby releasing the rack unit (3) from base member (1). When the releasing finger (91) has opened the lock by forcing pawl (38) backward, pushing finger (92) lifts the front end ofthe rack unit (3) out ofthe base member (1). The guiding fingers (93) slide along the inner surfaces ofthe side walls (12) of said base member (1) thereby providing proper alignment ofthe key (9). Figure 6 shows a detailed view ofthe lock mechanism at the rear end of the display unit, to lock the slide member (5) in a rear position while the rack unit (3) is (re-)filled with goods (while the rack unit (3) is removed from said base member (1)) and to automatically release said slide member (5) when said rack unit (3) is mounted on said base member (1) again. When the rack unit (3) is mounted on said base member (3), i.e. position Pl, the slit (32) is occupied by the projection (11), which is rising above the base plate (22) of said base member (1). However, when the rack unit (3) is removed from the base member (1), i.e. position P2, said projection (1 1) no longer occupies the slit (32). In this configuration it is possible, to pull slide member (5) backward to the rear end ofthe rack unit (3), whereby said downward projection (52) first glides along the groove (31) and then moves across the barrier (33) at the end of said groove (31) by gliding up the gentle slope on the front side of said barrier (33). Thereafter, the downward projection (52) is trapped behind the barrier (33) in the slit (32, because the rear surface of said barrier is too steep to allow said downward projection (52) to glide up said rear surface. When the slide member (5) is locked in the rear position by means ofthe mechanism described above, it is easy to (re-) fill the rack unit wit goods, since the slide member (5) is not interfering. Once the rack unit (3) is mounted on the base member again, the projection (1 1) forces the downward projection (52) out of said slit (32) thereby lifting said projection (52) across barrier (33). The slide member is released by that mechanism and is pulled forward again by spring (54), thereby pushing against the rear end of said stack of goods (G) with its front plate (51 ). According to another embodiment ofthe invention, the slide member (5) is mounted on a separate track (55), wherein the loose end of said spring (54) is secured to the front end of said track (55). The complete assembly of slide member (5) and track (55) is then releasable mounted on the bottom of said rack unit (3). According to another aspect ofthe invention a tray (10) is provided, which can be alternately mounted on a number of said base members (1) instead of said rack unit (3). The tray is provided with at least one groove (101), said groove engaging with adjacent side walls (12) of adjacent base members (1), thereby securing said tray on top of said base members. The tray (10) is provided to display other types of goods, which are not compatible with the rack units (3), without removing the complete setup ofthe display unit, thereby saving labor costs and other resources, as well as increasing flexibility.

Claims: What is claimed is: A display unit for displaying goods, comprising a base member, a rack unit, for holding said goods, said goods being arranged in stack in said rack unit, said rack unit being releasable mountable on said base member, a slide member for pushing said stack of goods forward towards the front of said rack unit, the stacking direction of said goods being parallel with the direction of motion of said slide member, and first lock means for locking said slide member in a backward position, said first lock means being automatically disengagable, by mounting said rack unit on said base member, thereby allowing the slide member to move forward thereby exerting a force in the forward direction on the rear end of said stack of goods The display unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a theft protection member, said theft protection member being releasably mountable on said rack unit, thereby limiting access to the goods in said rack unit The display unit according to claim 2, further comprising a second lock means for locking said rack unit on said base member, said second lock means being automatically engagable by mounting said rack unit on said base member, said second lock means being disengagable by a key A display unit according to claim 3, further comprising means to adjust the height levels of said theft protection member to accommodate different sizes of goods, said theft protection member being lockable at one of at least two predetermined height levels, by mounting said rack unit on said base member. The display unit according to claim 4, said theft protection member comprising a top portion and two side portions, said theft protection member being positioned across the top of said rack unit A display unit according to claim 5, the side portions of said theft protection member being disposed in vertical guiding grooves on each side surface of said rack unit in such a way that said means to adjust the height of said theft protection member comprises at least two horizontal slots being vertically aligned in each side portion of said theft protection member, wherein said slots are disposed to engage a pair of projections thereby fixing the height of said theft protection member, said projections being disposed in said guiding grooves on each side surface of said rack unit, the height of said theft protection member being adjustable, when said rack unit is removed from said base member, by slightly bending apart said side portions of said theft protection member thereby disengaging said grooves from said projections, and the height of said theft protection member being fixed by when said rack unit is mounted on said base member, wherein constraints, disposed on said base member, prevent said side portions of said theft protection members from being bent apart A display unit according to claim 1 further comprising a spring to actuate said slide member 8. A display unit according to claim 1, wherein said spring is a spiral string 9. A display unit according to claim 1, wherein said slide member is mounted on a track, said track being mounted in said rack unit. 10. A display unit according to claim 1, wherein said base member comprises means to mount said base member on supporting equipment, especially shelves. 1 1 A display unit according to claim 10, said means to mount said base member comprising a groove or hooks in its rear end portion, thereby allowing to mount said base member on a rectangular bar. 12. A display unit according to claim 3, wherein said second lock means comprises a number of pairwise interacting protrusions and pawls, said interacting protrusions and pawls automatically engaging, when said rack unit is mounted on said base member, and that said key comprises a corresponding number of fingers to disengage said pawls from said protrusions, thereby releasing said rack unit from said base member and lifting said rack unit from said base member, when said key is pushed into said lock mechanism 13. A display unit according to claim 1, said first lock means comprising at least one downward projection being disposed at the bottom of said slide member, at least one groove extending on the bottom of said rack unit in the direction of motion of said slide member, thereby allowing said downward projection to slide in said groove, at least one slit longitudinally extending at the rear end of each of said grooves, the slit and the guiding groove being separated by a barrier, said barrier rising moderately sloped from the bottom of said groove and having a steep drop toward said slit, thereby allowing said slide member to be pulled backward, across said barrier, wherein said downward projection glides up the sloped side of said barrier and is trapped behind that barrier thereafter, thereby preventing said slide member from moving forward, said base member comprising at least one upward projection corresponding to said at least one slit, said upward projection being disposed to force said downward projection out of said slit, when said rack unit is mounted on said base member, thereby releasing said slide member 14 A display unit according to claim 1, wherein the front wall of said rack unit is partly cut away to provide easy access to the goods in said rack unit 15 A display unit according to claim 1 , wherein the side walls of said rack unit are lower in the rear end portion than in the front end portion of said rack unit, thereby allowing easier refilling of said rack units with goods 16 A display unit according to claim 11, said base member comprising side walls, said side walls having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion having rectangular shape and extending over the full length of said base member, and said lower portion of said side walls increasing in area towards the rear end thereof, said rear end of said side wall being one boundary of said groove, said rear end of said boundary abutting against said rectangular bar, thereby providing support to said base member when said base member is mounted on said rectangular bar 17 A display unit according to claim 2, wherein said rack unit and said theft protection member are made at least in part of transparent plastics 18 A display unit according to claim 1 , wherein said base member(s) comprise a pin on one side wall and a hole on the other side wall, said pins and holes engaging their respective counterpart, of an adjacent base member, if two or more base members are placed in adjacent positions 19 A display unit, comprising at least one base member according to claim 18, and a tray for displaying bulk goods, said tray having a width of once or twice or more times the width of said base member, said tray being mountable on a number of said base member(s), said tray comprising grooves to engage with the upper edges of said side walls of said base members, if the width ofthe trays twice the width ofthe base member or more

Inventors: ENGEL CHRISTIAN, HEINEN THOMAS, ENGEL, CHRISTIAN, HEINEN, THOMAS
Applicants: WARNER LAMBERT CO, WARNER-LAMBERT COMPANY
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A47F1
IPC codes: A47F1