STACKABLE DISPLAY SYSTEM AND PANEL FOR USE THEREIN

Abstract: A stackable display system comprises a multiplicity of support panels (2) and a multiplicity of spacer means (3). Each support panel has attachment means on opposed first and second faces (7, 8) for releasable attachment of respective spacer means (3) and complementary fixing means (24, 25) provided at upper and lower edge portions of the support panel for removably fixing an upper edge of a first support panel to a second support panel. The panels (2) are so constructed that they enable an array of horizontal rows and columns of any desired number of modular compartments to be constructed, the array being of attractive appearance. The compartments may be suitable for display of multiple units of a product or products, for example, of individual bags containing food products.

Description: Stackable display system and panel for use therein The invention relates to stacking systems for displaying products for sale and, in particular, to display systems that are suitable for displaying multiple units of a product or products, especially but not exclusively a food product or products, for example in the form of individual packs or bags containing the product or products. It is known to provide stackable display means which may be stacked vertically to form a column of display compartments. In its simplest form, such a display means may consist of a number of boxes containing, for example, packets of crisps, each box containing crisps of a different flavour. It is of course possible for a second or additional column of the display receptacles or containers to be constructed adjacent to the first, but the arrangement so formed does not have any structural integrity. If the display has to be removed, for example, to permit cleaning of the area around it, the stacks must be moved independently. The invention provides a stackable display system, comprising a multiplicity of support panels and a multiplicity of spacer means, wherein each support panel comprises a first face having attachment means for permitting releasable attachment of a side of spacer means to said first face, a second face opposed to said first face and having attachment means for permitting releasable attachment to said second face of second spacer means, and upper and lower edge portions which are provided with complementary fixing means whereby the lower edge portion of a first support panel may be removably fixed to the 2 upper edge portion of a second support panel, the arrangement being such that there can be constructed by assembly of said side panels and spacer means an array of compartments for receiving the products to be displayed, each compartment comprising spacer means extending between and releasably attached to a pair of spaced, substantially vertically extending support walls, each wall comprising at least one support panel . The stackable display system of the invention enables a stack of display compartments to be constructed in modular fashion, that is, having any desired number of compartments arranged in any selected number of rows and columns. Whilst the system is such that a single column of display compartments may be formed, each support wall then comprising at least two support panels that are removably fixed together by means of the complementary fixing means, it will be appreciated that if desired the panels and spacer means may nevertheless instead be so assembled that they form a horizontally extending row of compartments, in which assembly there is no need to form a vertically extending wall comprising more than one support panel . In practice, however, an array of, for example, two to ten columns of compartments, with from two to ten horizontally extending rows of compartments will be preferred. It is a particular feature of the invention that a wide variety of different structures may be constructed from combinations of the side panels and spacer means, optionally in combination with one or more other elements. Thus, whereas in a preferred form of the system there are formed an array of compartments comprising at least one column of compartments, it is also possible, if desired, for a stack to be formed comprising a column that consists of a single compartment, formed by two support walls, each comprising 3 a plurality of support panels, and upper and lower spacer means. Such a column may, if desired, be combined in an array with one or more further columns, each of which may consist of at least one compartment. As a result of the modular nature of the system according to the invention, it is possible for the person using the system, for example a retailer, to select an array of a configuration and size that is appropriate according to the space that he wishes to fill with the displayed food products, and to construct a display stack that meets his requirements as to space. Also, because the side panels are used with separate spacer means to form the compartments, it is straightforward, by means of choice of appropriate dimensions of the spacer means, to construct compartments of greater or smaller width using the same side panels. The system enables compartments to be added or taken away from a stack relatively easily. On the other hand, by virtue of the fact that the structure is an integrated structure with each column being attached to any adjacent column, it is convenient to handle and attractive to consumers. The fact that the assembled stack is of improved appearance, as compared with certain of the prior art display arrangements is advantageous in that such systems are frequently used in consumer outlets, and it is well-established that the decision of a consumer whether or not to purchase a product can be influenced by the manner in which it is displayed. The attachment means may comprise lockable engagement means which are able lockably to retain a spacer means against a face of a support panel. The attachment means may comprise a deformable element which may be deformed from a position in which it 4 locks a spacer means against a face of a support panel to a position which allows the spacer means to be removed. Advantageously, the attachment means comprises snap- fit attachment means. The snap-fit attachment means advantageously comprises at least one snap- fit engagement means on a said face of a support panel. Preferably, each of said first and second faces of a said support panel comprises snap-fit engagement means. The spacer means serves to separate a pair of opposed side panels in order to define therebetween a compartment or a part of a compartment. Thus, the spacer means will normally be so arranged that it contributes to the strength of the assembled system. Preferably, at least one spacer means comprises a tray having first and second tray sides, each of which is releasably attachable to one or both of the first and second faces of a panel. Advantageously, each face of the support panel comprises location means, for example, location lugs or clips, for location of a respective tray edge in a desired position against the support panel and snap- fit clip means for retaining the tray side in that position. As a result, the tray can be attached releasably to the respective support panels, in a desired position relative thereto, in snap- fit fashion. Because the system comprises separate unitary elements that are releasably attachable to one another to form a display stack, it is possible to supply the stackable display system in pieces, which may be easily assembled (and, if desired, thereafter dismantled) . The system therefore is efficient in terms of the space required during storage and transport. The stackable display system is, nevertheless, strong and stable, and may if desired be free-standing. 5 The complementary fixing means may comprise clip means at or in the vicinity of the lower edge of a first panel that are so constructed and dimensioned that they are interlockable with means provided at or in the vicinity of the upper edge of another panel arranged beneath the first panel. The complementary fixing means may be so arranged that they are interlockable in snap- fit fashion. Advantageously, the complementary fixing means are so arranged that they are interlockable by means of relative movement between an upper support panel and a lower panel in a direction parallel to the direction in which the upper and lower edges of the panels extends. Preferably, the complementary fixing means are so arranged that the first, upper support panel may be attached to the second, lower support panel at two or more positions spaced longitudinally along the upper edge thereof, thereby permitting the stack to be staggered in the vertical direction. The support panels may comprise attachment means for enabling the system to be attached to a support, for example, to a wall located, in use of the system, behind the stack. Advantageously, the system also comprises base means, the support panels preferably each being releasably attachable to the base means. Advantageously, the base means comprises an element that is so constructed that it can be secured to a lower edge of a support panel in at least two locations that are longitudinally displaced from one another along said lower edge . The base means may comprise a plurality of feet. The support panels may have means for retaining a closure panel over one or each face. 6 The display system may further comprise an elongate display element, the side panels comprising mounting means arranged to receive an end of the elongate element such that, in the assembled system, the elongate element extends along the front of a compartment between a pair of side panels. The elongate element may comprise a strip, which may advantageously be flexible. The elongate element is, however, advantageously of a rigidity that is such that it contributes to some extent to the structural strength of the assembled stack. Expediently, the elongate element may carry decorative material, for example, artwork or descriptive material, and advantageously the arrangement is such that the front wall of spacer means, for example, the tray, is obscured from view by a said elongate element in the assembled stack. The elongate element may be a strip of a suitable plastics material, for example, of extruded PVC . The display system may also comprise cover means arranged to cover an upper edge of a side panel . Where the spacer means is a tray, at least one support panel face is advantageously provided with location means for location of one or more tray dividers within the tray. The arrangement may be such that a divider extends vertically from the bottom of the tray upwards, thereby dividing the tray into forward and rear compartments. Instead, or as well, the arrangement may be such that a divider extends horizontally across the tray. Advantageously, the system comprises a horizontally extending divider member and a vertically extending divider member that can together define a closed volume of the tray at the rear thereof . The volume of the tray to be filled by the product to be displayed may then be reduced, enhancing the appearance of smaller products, for example bags of nuts, stored in the trays. If desired, a further vertical divider, arranged to extend between the front and back of the tray, may be provided for dividing the tray into two adjacent lateral compartments. It will be appreciated that, if desired, at least one tray may be omitted from the assembled stack, there being as a result at least one compartment in the stack that is higher than other compartments in the stack. That may be desirable where the item to be displayed in the larger compartment is larger than that to be displayed in other compartments, for example where "multi -packs" containing a number of individual product packs are to be displayed in the larger compartment whilst individual packs are to be displayed in the other compartments. A tray may be omitted in that manner without any material weakening of the structure of the stack. The trays may be wire trays . The trays may be in the form of baskets, shelves or any other suitable form, having regard to the need to retain a collection of articles for display purposes. Advantageously, the trays each have a bottom and front and rear walls extending upwardly from the front and rear edges, respectively, of the bottom. Advantageously, the trays are steel wire mesh trays, of which the mesh wires may be coated by a suitable plastics material, for example, polythene. Advantageously, the system further comprises a plurality of closure panels, each of which is arranged to be attachable to at least one of said first and second sides of each support panel. Each said closure panel is able to cover a side of a support panel that defines a part of a lateral wall of the stack. Thus, the closure 8 panel may improve the appearance of the assembled stack by covering the exposed attachment means on those panel sides to which no tray is attached. The closure panels may, if desired carry decorative or marketing material, for example, advertising slogans. Advantageously, each side of the support panels is provided with mounting means for retaining a closure panel . The support panels are advantageously formed by injection moulding. They are advantageously of a plastics material, preferably of an ABS copolymer, those copolymers having good toughness and strength properties, combined with a certain amount of flexibility. Polypropylenes may advantageously be used, and other suitable, although less preferred, plastics materials include acrylics and styrenes . Moreover, the invention provides a display stack comprising a pair of compartments arranged adjacent to one another and each comprising spacer means extending between two support panels, wherein said pair of adjacent compartments embrace between them a support panel to which both the spacer means of the first of said pair of compartments and the spacer means of the second of said pair of compartments is releasably attached. Advantageously, the stack comprises at least two horizontally extending rows of compartments, comprising a lower row of compartments and an upper row of compartments that is displaced rearwardly with respect to the lower row. The display stack may be assembled from a stacking system as defined above. The invention further provides a support panel for use in a modular display system, the panel having a pair of opposed faces, each of which is arranged to permit 9 construction of a modular compartment extending outwardly from the respective face, and the panel further having complementary upper and lower fixing means which are so arranged that the panel is able to be removably fixed by the complementary fixing means to second and/or third like panels arranged respectively above and below the first panel . The stack of the invention is advantageously suitable for display of food products, and especially snack products. Preferably, the stack is suitable for display of bags of snacks, for example, crisps or nuts. For example, the stack may have an array of compartments, each of which can serve for display of bags of different flavoured crisps. One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of two compartments of a stackable display system formed from a plurality of support panels and trays; Fig. 2a is a plan view of a support panel of Fig. 1, viewed from the right in Fig. 1; Fig. 2b is a plan view of the support panel viewed from the left in Fig. 1; Fig. 2c is a section through the panel at X-X in Figs. 2a and 2b; Fig. 3 is a side view of a portion of the panel; Fig. 4a is a section through the panel at Y-Y in Fig. 3; Fig. 4b is a section through the panel at Z-Z in Fig. 3; Fig. 5a is a plan view from above, of a base for attachment to a support panel of the invention; 10 Fig. 5b is a plan view from below of that base; Fig. 5c is a vertical section through that base; Fig. 6a is a plan view from below of an upper closure strip for attachment to a support panel ; and Fig. βb is a side view of that strip. A modular compartment 1 of the stackable display system embodiment shown in Fig. 1 comprises first and second support panels 2, and a tray 3, which in the assembled system extends between the first and second support panels and defines therewith a compartment in which the products may be placed. Each compartment of the system may also include a vertical divider member 4 and a horizontal divider 5, which will be described further below. The support panels 2 are of identical configuration and size, and it is therefore necessary to describe only one panel in detail. With reference to Figs. 2a and 2b, the panel 2 has an essentially planar portion having an upper edge 2a, a front edge 2b, a lower edge 2c and a rear edge 2d. The planar portion of the panel has a first face 7 and a second face 8 opposed to the first face. Each of the faces 7 and 8 is bounded along the front and lower edges 2b and 2c by a continuous flange 9, and along the rear edge 2d by a broken flange 10. The faces 7 and 8 are also each interrupted by a continuous wall 11 that extends about 90% of the distance from the lower edge 2c towards the upper edge 2a, the wall 11 being substantially straight and converging with the broken flange 10 that extends along the rear edge 2d. At the lower end of wall 11 is an L-shaped portion which cooperates with flange 9 to enclose on three sides a small region of face 7 or 8. The upper extremity of the wall 11 is spaced slightly from a horizontal extending wall 12a, which joins the flange 10 11 at the rear edge of the panel via an L-shaped wall portion that forms with flange 10 a channel that may serve, together with a corresponding channel on another side panel, to mount a back panel, which may for example carry decorative or marketing material. Further horizontally extending walls 12b, 12c and 12d extend, for strengthening purposes, between the wall 11 and the flange 10 at the rear edge of the panel . Two apertures 13 are provided in the panel between the wall 11 and the rear edge 2d of the panel, those apertures being in the vicinity of breaks in the flange 10. The apertures 13 may be used, should it be desired to attach the assembled system to support means, for example, an adjacent wall, to attach the panel by means of, for example, screws, to a bracket or like attachment means that may then be fastened to the support means. The apertures 13 also offer the possibility of attaching the rear of a first stack assembly to the rear of a second stack assembly, providing a composite stack having first and second arrays of compartments on opposite sides of the stack, such an arrangement having excellent stability. The wall 11 and that part of the flange 9 extending along the lower edge of the panel are provided with clips in the form of tabs 14, which extend inwardly from the wall 11 or from the inner wall of the flange 9, respectively, in a plane parallel to the plane of the panel face, and spaced therefrom. A further clip 15 of L- shaped configuration is provided on the face of the tray in the vicinity of the front edge 2b. The clip 15 and the clips 14 together serve to locate the edge of tray 3 against the face of the panel. Further L-shaped clips 16 (defining a channel 16a extending from the lower edge 2 towards the upper edge 2a) and further L-shaped clips 17 12 (defining a channel 17a extending from the wall 11 towards the front edge 2b) provide means for location and retention in position of vertical divider 4 and horizontal divider 5. The channels 16a and 17a are indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2b. The clips 14,15,16,17 are each located in register with an associated aperture in the panel 2. Those apertures have no significance in the use of the panel; where as is preferred the panel is formed by injection moulding, however, the presence of those apertures facilitate formation of the respective clips 14,15,16,17. Each face 7, 8 has a snap-fit clip which is in the form of an elongate tongue 18,19 that is located in register with a respective aperture 20,21 in the panel, as may be seen in Fig. 3. Each tongue 18,19 is so positioned relative to the planar portion of the panel that an inner face of the tongue is substantially in the same plane as the respective panel face 7,8, the tongue itself being located on the opposite side of that plane to the planar portion of the panel. The tongues 18,19 are slightly flexible, so that the tongues can be deformed inwardly into the respective aperture 20,21 (see Figs. 4a and 4b) . The snap-fit clip on face 7 is sufficiently spaced from the snap-fit clip on face 8 that the resilience of each clip is not detrimentally affected by the presence of the other. The front portion of the panel has a bulbous extension 22, which includes mounting means, in the form of a channel 23, for mounting a front panel FP . The front panel may be a relatively flexible strip of an extruded plastics material . At the lower edge 2c of the panel, on the outside of the flange 9, there are provided four pairs of vertical 13 mounting clips 24. Each pair of clips 24 consists of parallel clips which are equally spaced from one another to define between them a channel 24a (see Fig. 2c) that is coextensive in width with the width of the planar portion of the panel . On the upper edge 2a of the panel are provided four pairs of arms 25, which extend perpendicularly out of the plane of the panel in opposite directions. The spacing between adjacent pairs of arms approximates the spacing between adjacent clip pairs 24. The regions of the upper edge 2a between the extension portions 25 are not provided with any flange or arm means, and the thickness of the panel at those regions of the upper edge 2a thus corresponds to the thickness of the planar portion of the panel. The arms 25 are provided on their lower surfaces with an enlarged portion 27. The clips 24 are each provided with a recessed area 28 of complementary configuration to enlarged portions 27, whereby the clips 24 can be interlocked with the arms 25. Small projections 26 are provided at intervals along the flange 9 on the front and lower edges and on some of the arms 25. Those projections 26 on the flange 9 are provided on the inner wall of that flange, but are at a greater distance from the respective face of the panel 7,8 than are the tabs 14. The corresponding projections 26 on the arms 25 are at the extremity of those arms. The projections 26 serve to locate in position a closure panel (not shown) , which may be substantially coextensive with the respective face and, when in si tu , covers that face and the associated attachment means. The closure means may be, for example, a panel of plastics material, for example, of PVC, which may serve to carry decorative or marketing material. 14 Where, as is preferred, the panel is formed by injection moulding, apertures may be provided for access by appropriate tools at suitable positions in the panel 2 in the vicinity of arms 25, to facilitate the formation of the portions 27 and projections 26, and in the vicinity of the projections 26 at the front and rear edges of the panel to facilitate formation of those projections. Elongate aperture 29 is provided to facilitate gripping of the panel for the purpose of lifting the assembled stack. In the vicinity of the front edge 2b of the panel are two apertures A, which may if desired be used to secure to the panel spacer means other than tray 3, for example, spacer means in the form of one or more rods. The tray 3 is a wire mesh tray having a coating of polythene. It has a substantially planar bottom 30, of rectangular configuration and having opposed front and rear edges that are longer than the side edges. Front and rear walls 31,32, respectively, extend in an upwardly inclined direction from the front and rear edges of the tray bottom 30. The side edges 33 of the front, bottom and rear walls are each defined by a single continuous wire. As already mentioned, the system may include a vertical divider 4, which in the embodiment shown consists of wire mesh and is rectangular in shape. The divider is of substantially equal length to the width of the tray 3, and is mountable in channel 16a defined by the clips 16 to divide the tray into front and rear sub-compartments . Horizontal divider 5 has a rectangular portion of wire mesh having along one long edge an upturned flange and, spaced along the opposed long edge, hook means arranged to engage with the wire mesh of the rear wall 32 of the tray. The divider 5 is mountable in channel 17a defined by the 15 clips 17. The clips 16 and 17 may, if desired, be provided with interference means for retaining the dividers in interference fit between the clips 16,17 and the respective face 7 or 8 of the panel. If desired, a further vertical divider V shaped and dimensioned for division of the tray into right and left sub-compartments can also be provided. The system also includes a plurality of bases, each of which comprises an elongate member 34 (see Figs. 5a to 5c) having in an upper web elongate apertures 35 for receiving the clips 21 at a lower edge 2c of a panel 2. Elongate raised areas 36 are provided underneath the upper web of the strip 34 adjacent to each pair of apertures 35, the clips 21 being engageable in snap-fit fashion with those areas. In the lower surface of member 34 are provided recesses 37 in the vicinity of each end for engaging with base extender means (not shown) , which may serve to raise the assembled stack by, for example, a few inches above the floor. It will be appreciated that it may be desirable, for example, where the assembled stack is staggered, for the front three pairs of apertures 35 to be engaged with the rear three pairs of clips 24 on the lower edge of the support panel. The position of the two apertures 37 (and the corresponding base extender means) will then be displaced towards the rear of the stack, which will give increased stability in the case of a staggered stack. The extender means may be of any suitable configuration, but are preferably such that the bottom of the lowest compartment in the stack is raised by at least four inches from the surface on which the stack stands . The system also optionally has one or more upper closure strips 38 (see Figs. 6a and 6b), which comprises 16 clip means 39 that are so arranged that they can interlock with the arms 25 to conceal an upper edge of a top panel in the assembled stack. In use of the system, a multiplicity of trays and support panels are used to form an array as will now be described. A first compartment may be formed by placing an edge of a tray 3 against a support panel 2 such that the lateral edge 33 of the front wall 31, bottom wall 30 and rear wall 32 are located in a channel formed between the respective panel face and, respectively, clip 15, and the tabs 14 extending from the flange 9 or the wall 11. In order to locate the edge of the rear wall of the tray in that channel at the wall 11, deformation of the tongue 18 into the aperture 20 is necessary. On correct location of the tray, the tongue 18 snaps back into its undeformed position locking the tray against face 7 of the side panel . The other side of the tray is then attached in like manner to face 8 of a second side panel (it being appreciated that tongue 19 and aperture 21 will be applicable instead of tongue 18 and aperture 20) . The module so obtained can then be extended by attachment of further trays and side panels to the remaining exposed sides of the first two panels used. Once the desired number of compartments in the horizontal direction has been reached, the outer side panels may be covered with closure panels. The building of the array in the vertical direction is accomplished by forming vertically extending walls consisting of interlocking side panels. An upper panel may be attached to a lower panel by means of interlocking of the clips 24 at the lower edge of the upper panel with the arms 25 at the upper edge of the lower panel. In 17 particular, the upper edge of the lower panel is advanced towards the lower edge of the upper panel such that the free edge portions are received in the channel 24a. The upper panel may then be displaced relative to the lower panel, in the rearward direction, such that the clips 21 engage with the arms 25. Trays may then be fitted to the upper panels in the manner previously described, each upper tray defining a top wall of the compartment immediately beneath, and providing rigidity for the overall structure. Vertical divider member 4 may be fitted into the channel 16a, and horizontal divider 5 may be fitted into the channel 17a in order to reduce the size of the space to be filled with the product to be displayed in the compartment. Horizontal divider 5 may instead be inverted and placed in the front of the tray to reduce the depth of the tray to be filled. Those side panel faces of the assembled stack that are exposed may then if desired be covered by closure panels, which may be retained over the exposed face by means of the detent means 26. Modular compartments may be built up horizontally and/or vertically relative to the first compartment. If desired, one or more trays in a column of compartments may be omitted, so forming a compartment of double height. In that case, a divider may be located between the upper pair of opposing panels 2 in the channel formed between tabs 14 and the respective face 7 or 8 at the wall 11, the divider serving as an extension of the rear wall 32 of the tray below. The space at the upper extremity of wall 11 and the L-shaped portion at the lower extremity of wall 11 may serve to locate the divider in position. In order to dismantle the system, the tongue 18 or 19 is deformed inwardly into the adjacent aperture 20 or 21, respectively, to release the tray edge 33, and the tray 3 and side panel 2 are in that manner separated. It will be appreciated that some, only, of the modules may if desired be dismantled and then reconstructed to give a stack of a different configuration. If it is desired that the compartments should be vertically staggered, thus increasing the visibility of the products within the compartments, that may be achieved by so constructing each vertical wall of interlocking side panels that an upper panel is displaced rearwardly relative to the panel beneath it. That may be achieved with little or no detrimental effect on the stability of the assembly by engaging the front pair of clips 24 of the upper panel, not with the front pair of arms 25 of the lower panel, but with the adjacent pair of arms behind that front pair. In a typical display, the assembled stack may have, for example, three columns, and five rows of compartments. It is a feature of the system of the invention, however, that the configuration of the array is extremely flexible. If desired, the heights of the columns in the stack may differ from one another, and similarly the length of the rows in a single stack may differ from one another. It will be appreciated that the assembly described is versatile, offering great flexibility as to the number of compartments and their configuration. In particular, the provision of a panel, to which trays can be attached from both sides, enables the components to be so fixed to one another that a strong, relatively rigid and stable structure is obtained, even where the number of compartments is relatively large. Further, it permits addition or removal of the modular compartments in a simple manner. On the other hand, the whole assembly may 19 be dismantled and reconstructed easily, so that it occupies relatively little storage space, reducing the costs of storage, packing and transport. The provision of separate front panels and closure panels also offers the possibility of easy updating of the colour and general exterior appearance of the assembly. The invention thus provides a display stack comprising an array of modular compartments, which array can be moved as a single unit. Whilst the embodiment of the invention described above includes trays as spacer means, it is also possible to use as all, or as some, of the spacer means other structures, for example, elongate rods or bars. That may be advantageous where, for example, the articles to be displaced are to be hung within a compartment. It will be appreciated that the form of attachment means required may then differ from those described above. It is also possible to use the support panels of the invention to construct one or more columns comprising a single compartment. In that case, it is possible for the compartment to be closed at the rear and, save for an opening at the bottom to permit access to products stored within the column, at the front, by respective rear and front panels. In that case, the products may be introduced at the top of the column, with the consumer removing products from the bottom opening at the front of the column. The support panel of the invention may, if desired, comprise securing means, for example, apertures, for the securing of optional structural elements such as front and rear panels.

Claims: 20 CLAIMS 1. A stackable display system comprising a multiplicity of support panels and a multiplicity of spacer means, wherein each support panel comprises a first face having first attachment means for permitting releasable attachment of a first spacer means to said first face, a second face opposed to said first face and having second attachment means for permitting releasable attachment to said second face of second spacer means, and upper and lower edge portions which are provided with complementary fixing means whereby the lower edge portion of a first support panel may be removably fixed to the upper edge portion of a second support panel, the arrangement being such that there can be constructed by assembly of said side panels and spacer means an array of compartments for receiving the products to be displayed, each compartment comprising spacer means extending between and releasably attached to a pair of spaced, substantially vertically extending support walls, each wall comprising a plurality of support panels that are removably fixed together by means of said complementary fixing means. 2. A stackable display system according to claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises lockable engagement means which are able lockably to retain a spacer means against a face of a support panel . 3. A stackable display system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the attachment means comprises a deformable element which may be deformed from a position in which it locks a spacer means against a face of a support panel to a position which allows the spacer means to be removed. 21 4. A stackable display system according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second attachment means comprise snap-fit attachment means. 5. A stackable display system according to claim 4, wherein the snap-fit attachment means comprises at least one snap- fit engagement means on a said face of a support panel . 6. A stackable display system according to claim 5, wherein each face of the support panel comprises snap- fit engagement means. 7. A stackable display means according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein at least one said spacer means comprises a tray having first and second tray sides, each of which is releasably attachable to one or both of the first and second faces of a panel . 8. A stackable display system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each face of the support panel comprises location means for location of a respective tray side in a desired position against the support panel and snap- fit clip means for retaining the tray side in that position. 9. A stackable display system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the complementary fixing means comprise clip means at or in the vicinity of the lower edge of a first panel that are so constructed and dimensioned that they are interlockable with complementary clip means provided at or in the vicinity of the upper edge of a second panel arranged beneath the first panel. 10. A stackable display system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the complementary fixing means are so arranged that they are interlockable in snap- fit fashion. 22 11. A stackable display system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the complementary fixing means are so arranged that they are interlockable by means of relative movement between an upper support panel and a lower panel in a direction parallel to the direction in which the upper and lower edges of the panels extend. 12. A stackable display system according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the complementary fixing means are so arranged that the first upper support panel may be attached to the second lower support panel at two or more positions spaced longitudinally along the upper edge of that lower panel, thereby permitting the stack to be staggered in the vertical direction. 13. A stackable display system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein at least one support panel face is provided with clip means for location and retention of one or more tray dividers within the tray. 14. A stackable display system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, in which the support panels comprise attachment means for enabling the assembled system to be attached to a support . 15. A stackable display system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, which comprises base means. 16. A stackable display system according to claim 15, in which the base means comprises an element that is so constructed that it can be secured to a lower edge of a support panel in at least two locations that are longitudinally displaced from one another along said lower edge . 17. A stackable display system according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the support panels have means for retaining a closure panel over one or each face. 23 18. A stackable display system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, which further comprises an elongate display element, the support panels comprising mounting means arranged to receive an end of the elongate element such that, in the assembled system, the elongate element extends along the front of a compartment between a pair of side panels. 19. A stackable display system according to any one of claims 1 to 18, which further comprises cover means arranged to cover an upper edge of a side panel. 20. A stackable display system according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein each tray has a bottom, and further comprises front and back portions that are inclined relative to the bottom. 21. A stackable display system according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the trays are wire trays. 22. A stackable display system substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by any of Figs. 1 to 4. 23. A display stack comprising a pair of compartments arranged adjacent to one another and each comprising spacer means extending between two support panels, wherein said pair of adjacent compartments embrace between them a support panel to which both the tray of the first of said pair of compartments and the tray of the second of said pair of compartments is releasably attached. 24. A display stack according to claim 23, wherein the stack comprises at least two horizontally extending rows of compartments, comprising a lower row of compartments and an upper row of compartments that is displaced rearwardly with respect to the lower row. 24 25. A display stack, which has been constructed from a stackable display system according to any one of claims 1 to 22. 26. A display stack according to any one of claims 23 to 25, which is suitable for the display of bagged snack products . 27. A support panel suitable for use in a stackable display system according to any one of claims 1 to 22 or in a display stack according to any one of claims 23 to 26. 28. A support panel for use in a modular display system, the panel having a pair of opposed faces, each of which is arranged to permit construction of a modular compartment extending outwardly from the respective face, and the panel further having complementary upper and lower fixing means which are so arranged that the panel is able to be removably fixed by the complementary fixing means to second and/or third like panels arranged respectively above and below the first panel. 29. A support panel substantially as described herewith with regard to and as illustrated by any of Figs. 1 to 6.

Inventors: BOWKER JOHN, LEECH BRIAN, ROBSON JOHN, BOWKER, JOHN, LEECH, BRIAN, ROBSON, JOHN
Applicants: BOWKER JOHN, LEECH BRIAN, ROBSON JOHN, UNITED BISCUITS LTD, BOWKER, JOHN, LEECH, BRIAN, ROBSON, JOHN, UNITED BISCUITS (UK) LIMITED
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A47B87
IPC codes: A47B87, A47F5