Abstract:
A rack for displaying a number of magnetic measuring/gauging devices held in a releasable manner. The rack has a rigid, vertically planar, magnetically-attractable holder, a rigid, horizontal tray secured to the lower edge of the holder and configured to engage one of the ends of each device, and an attachment member secured to the rear edge of the holder for mounting the rack to a display structure. Preferably, the measuring/gauging devices are torpedo levels. A label-plate can be attached to the front edge of the holder. The display rack in certain embodiments is capable of attachment to either a cross-bar or a pegboard. In other embodiments, the display rack has two holder-plates and a stand member for engaging a display surface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention is related generally to apparatus for displaying retail goods and, more particularly, to an apparatus for displaying magnetic measuring/gauging devices. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Hardware stores and home-centers constitute a growing segment of the retail market. More homeowners are deciding to tackle a wide variety of home improvement and repair projects themselves so that they save money and add value to their homes. Competition between these retailers has increased in recent years with the customers usually patronizing the store that they find makes it easiest for them to obtain the materials needed to complete their work. 
   One of the reasons that a homeowner commonly travels to a hardware store is the need to purchase a certain tool or other item. Searching for this particular product at such outlets can, however, be often difficult and frustrating. The number of sales personnel available to provide help is always limited and the customer can easily become disoriented in the huge expanse of the modern home-center with its aisle after aisle of tools and building materials. 
   Most customers have little interest or time, however, to scour a store in order to find the various items on their list. Oftentimes, the search can even become an exercise in futility since the tool sought may be difficult to identify from the multitude of other hardware displayed on the shelves or in the bins. 
   A way of catching the eye of the customer to spare him or her from the needless waste of time spent hunting down the desired tool is therefore an aim of nearly all retailers. Any apparatus that prominently and openly displays a specific product has particular value in this regard. These displays not only facilitate the ability of the customer to locate these products within the store but often promote impulsive purchases of such items by other customers as well. 
   Many displays of this nature are designed to be mounted to only one specific type of support surface. Most also include a means of holding or securing the various items being displayed that is built into the apparatus. Certain tools are capable, however, of securing themselves to a display without the need of any assistance of this type. Moreover, the retailer may be losing an excellent opportunity for highlighting a feature of such products that would otherwise be missed by the customer. In particular, suspending magnetic levels from hooks or similar devices in the same manner as non-magnetic ones does little to call to the customer&#39;s attention the usefulness of the magnetic devices and how they are distinctive from other levels. 
   A display rack therefore that overcomes these disadvantages and that uses an inherent property of the tools being displayed to firmly engage them to a simple and inexpensive apparatus would be highly desirable. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a primary object of this invention to provide a display rack that overcomes some of the problems and shortcomings of the prior art. 
   Another object of this invention is to provide a novel display rack that is capable of holding magnetic levels in a visible and easily accessible upright position. 
   Another object of this invention is to provide an exceptional apparatus that displays magnetic levels in a manner that facilitates selection and promotes sales. 
   Yet another object of this invention is to provide an excellent display rack for presenting certain magnetic tools in a fashion that catches the eye of the customer without interfering with the overall appearance of the retail establishment. 
   Still another object of this invention is to provide a desirable display rack that can be mounted to a pegboard or other conventional wall surface structures and extend outward to make access to the tools displayed easier and more convenient to the customer. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide an exceptional apparatus that can be simple and inexpensive to construct, easy to maintain, and highly reliable to use. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention is for a display rack that can be used to display a number of magnetic measuring/gauging devices from a display structure by removably securing them to the rack. The display rack in one aspect of the present invention has a rigid holder made from a material that is magnetically-attractable, i.e. attracted to a magnet but not necessarily exhibiting any of the properties of a magnet itself. Highly preferred is a material that has none of the properties of a magnet. One such preferred material is ferrous metal. 
   The holder has two vertical surfaces that are each configured to allow the magnetic element in a lateral-edge of each device displayed to magnetically engage the rack. The rack further includes a rigid horizontal tray attached to the bottom of the holder and an attachment member on the rear of the holder that mounts the rack to the associated display structure. The rack&#39;s tray is sized to engage and support one end of each measuring/gauging device being displayed and preferably the tray extends orthogonally outward from both sides of the holder. 
   In some desired embodiments, the holder is contiguous from its upper edge to its lower edge, having no breaks in the rack&#39;s magnetically-attractable vertical surfaces. In other preferred embodiments, the rack includes a label-plate that can be used to set out indicia directed to the devices being displayed. 
   Certain desired cases find the measuring/gauging device to be an elongate frame-type level. These levels have a generally rectangular body with squared-off ends that secures one or more bubble vials used to evaluate the proper orientation of a surface to true horizontal or vertical. More preferred is where the levels are torpedo levels. Torpedo levels typically have tapered ends and a working length that is less than that of most frame levels. In a highly preferred embodiment, the torpedo levels being displayed have magnetic elements in each lateral-edge of the level. 
   In another desired embodiment, the attachment member on the display rack is preferably a bracket assembly for securing the rack to a cross-bar. Most preferred is where the bracket assembly includes a top-bracket and an adjustable bottom-bracket that are spaced apart from one another. 
   Certain other cases find a hook assembly as the attachment member for mounting the display rack to a pegboard. In these cases, it is more preferred that the hook assembly have a hook-portion and a stabilizer-portion that are spaced-apart from one another. A most highly preferred embodiment is where the holder has a support-panel disposed adjacent to its rear edge and orthogonal to its surfaces. In this embodiment, the hook-portion of the hook assembly is attached at the top of the support-panel and the stabilizer-portion is mounted at the support-panel&#39;s bottom. 
   In another aspect of this invention, a display rack is provided that releasably retains several magnetic levels, preferably torpedo levels, for displaying the levels from a display structure. The rack has a rigid holder formed from an integral sheet of ferrous material, preferably sheet steel. The holder includes two vertical and planar holder-surfaces, each surface being configured to be magnetically engaged by a magnetic element in the lateral edge of each level, and a vertical support-panel at a right angle to the holder-surfaces. The rack further includes a rigid horizontal tray secured to the lower edge of the holder where the tray extends outward orthogonally from both holder-surfaces and is configured to engage and support one end of each level. The rack also has an attachment member that is attached to the support-panel for mounting the display rack to the associated display structure. 
   In one highly preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the attachment member is a bracket assembly having a top-bracket and a bottom-bracket for attaching the display rack to a cross-bar. More preferred is where the support-panel has an adjustment-slot and the bottom-bracket is secured to the support-panel by a fastener inserted through the adjustment-slot so that the bottom-bracket can be raised or lowered up to the length of the adjustment-slot. 
   In another desired embodiment, the attachment member is a hook assembly having a hook-portion and a stabilizer-portion for mounting the display rack to a pegboard. In this embodiment, the hook-portion is secured adjacent to the top-end of the support-panel and the stabilizer-portion is secured adjacent to the support-panel&#39;s bottom-end. 
   In a highly desired aspect of this invention, a display rack for multiple magnetic levels includes a rigid, magnetically-attractable holder and an attached stand member. The holder is provided with two substantially vertical holder-surfaces. Each holder-surface is configured to be magnetically engaged by the magnetic element mounted within each level. The stand member allows the rack to be mounted on a display surface. 
   A most preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the holder has two holder-plates and a front-panel joined to the two at their front edges. More preferred is where each holder-plate is contiguous between its upper edge and lower edge. A highly desired embodiment finds the display rack having each holder-plate perpendicular to the display surface, preferably a horizontal display surface. 
   Certain preferred cases find the stand member to be a front-support that is secured to the front-panel. Most desired is where the front-support has a horizontal support-flange for engaging the display surface. It is highly preferred that the front-panel have a width less than the length of the support-flange. 
   Another desired embodiment finds the display rack having a rigid, horizontal tray as the stand member. The tray extends outward from the lower edge of each holder-plate with its upper surface configured to engage and support one end of each level and its lower surface engaging the display surface. Highly preferred is where the stand member further includes a front-support with a horizontal support-flange mounted to the front-panel. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a display rack for levels in accordance with this invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the rack of  FIG. 1  having the label-plate removed. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a second preferred embodiment of a display rack for levels in accordance with this invention having the rack mounted to a cross-bar. 
       FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the rack of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of a display rack for levels in accordance with this invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of a display rack  10  in accordance with this invention. Display rack  10  has a holder  12 , a tray  14 , and an attachment member  16 . Attachment member  16  is provided to mount display rack  10  to a display structure. In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , attachment member  16  is a hook assembly having hook member  18  and stabilizer member  20 . As shown, members  18 ,  20  enable display rack  10  to be mounted where the display structure is a pegboard  21 . 
   As further illustrated in  FIG. 1 , holder  12  includes a substantially vertical holder-plate  22  having a lower edge  24 , a rear edge  26 , and two opposing vertical holder-surfaces  28 . Holder  12  is made from a material that has an attraction to magnetized elements but is not itself a magnet. Such material is preferably a ferrous metal such as sheet steel. 
   Bottom flange  30  is seen in  FIG. 2  to extend at a right angle from holder-plate  22  at lower edge  24 . Holder-plate  22  and bottom flange  30  are preferably formed from a single piece of sheet metal by making a 90° bend in the piece along a line defining lower edge  24 . The upper surface of tray  14  is rigidly joined to the bottom surface of bottom flange  30 , preferably by welding, to secure tray  14  to holder  12 . 
     FIGS. 1–2  illustrate that tray  14  extends orthogonally, i.e. at substantially a 90° angle, outward from both sides of holder-plate  22 . One can readily see that in other embodiments in accordance with this invention, tray  14  can be fastened to bottom flange  30  in a manner where tray  14  extends outward from lower edge  24  on only one side of holder-plate  22 . 
   Holder  12  and tray  14  are sized to define space on both sides of holder-plate  22  for displaying multiple magnetic levels  32 , preferably torpedo levels as shown in  FIG. 1 . Each magnetic level  32  includes a magnetic element in the form of a magnetic strip  34 . Magnetic strip  34  need only be mounted to one lateral-edge  36  of level  32  but is most commonly found on both lateral-edges  36 . 
   Levels  32  are held in position upon display rack  10  through the magnetic attraction of the magnetic strip  34  to either holder-surface  28 . As can further be seen in  FIG. 1 , tray  14  engages and supports one of the ends  38  on each level  32 . This manner of attachment permits levels  32  to be arranged upright in a compact formation for visually presenting an optimal number of individual levels. It will be appreciated that each level can be easily removed by exerting a lateral force away from holder-surface  28  or by sliding the level upward and across upper edge  39  of holder-plate  22 . 
   Holder-plate  22 , as shown in  FIGS. 1–4 , has a contiguous surface from upper edge  39  to lower edge  24 . It can be readily appreciated, however, that in other embodiments in accordance with this invention, holder-plate  22  may have one or more apertures such that two or more spaced-apart surface areas are provided. In these embodiments, levels  32  remain in place on display rack  10  by magnetically gripping the areas of holder-surface  28  that abut the lateral-edge  36  contacting the rack. 
   As seen in  FIG. 1 , a label-plate  40  is firmly secured to front edge  42  of holder-plate  22 .  FIG. 2  illustrates that tray  14  includes label-flange  44 . Label-flange  44  is adjacent to front edge  42  and orthogonal to the remaining portion of tray  14 . Since label-flange  44  extends downward from and is co-planar with front edge  42 , label-flange  44  provides additional surface upon which label-plate  40  is mounted. Label-plate  40  is preferably spot welded to label-flange  44  and front edge  42  for strongly joining these structures together. 
   A user of display rack  10  can place upon label-plate  40  an adhesive label printed or written with indicia that include such information as the make and model of the level displayed, its stock number, and its price. When there is a need for a change in this product information, the label may be peeled off and replaced with another. It will be readily understood that a card holder having a frame designed to receive a card printed with this same information could be used in place of label-plate  40  in other embodiments of this invention. 
     FIGS. 1 and 4  show support-panel  46  extending outward from rear edge  26 . Support-panel  46  is substantially vertical and at substantially right angles to holder-plate  22 . Support-panel  46  is preferably formed from the same piece of sheet metal as holder-plate  22  by making a 90° bend in the piece along a line defining rear edge  26 . 
   Hook member  18  and stabilizer member  20  are mounted on support-panel  46 . A top-bracket  48  is rigidly fastened, preferably spot welded, to the upper end  50  of support-panel  46 . Hook member  18  is firmly attached to the upper surface of the middle portion  52  of top-bracket  48 . Stabilizer member  20  is secured to support-panel  46  at a position adjacent to the lower end  54  of support-panel  46 . Members  18 ,  20  are preferably fastened to support-panel  46  by means of welding or a similarly suitable method. Both members  18 ,  20  are rigid, integral structures preferably formed from stainless steel wire. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , hook member  18  includes two peg-hook portions  56  that extend outward from support-panel  46  towards the rear of display rack  10 . Each peg-hook portion  56  has an upwardly directed distal end  58 . Peg-hook portions  56  are sized and spaced-apart to fit two corresponding apertures  60  on pegboard  21 . 
   Stabilizer member  20  has two stabilizer-support portions  62  extending rearward from support-panel  46 . Each stabilizer-support portion  62  has a distal, substantially horizontal projection  64 . Stabilizer-support portions  62  are also sized and spaced apart to be received by two corresponding apertures  60  on pegboard  21 . 
   In mounting display rack  10  onto a wall provided with pegboard  21 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , distal ends  58  of hook member  18  are first inserted into two apertures  60  by the user holding display rack  10  at an upward angle with respect to pegboard  21 . Upon lowering display rack  10 , each distal end  58  is catchably received by its corresponding aperture  60  such that each hook member  18  becomes securely engaged to pegboard  21 . Upon lowering display rack  10 , projections  64  of stabilizer member  20  are received by two apertures  60  to which projections  64  are in alignment. Each projection  64  frictionally engages the inner surface of the receiving aperture  60  to assist in positively holding display rack  10  in position upon pegboard  21 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , another embodiment in accordance with the present invention finds the attachment member to be a bracket assembly  68  where the display structure is a cross-bar  70 . Cross-bar  70  is a substantially horizontal structure having an upper ledge  72  and a lower ledge  74 . Cross-bar  70  may be found fastened directly to a wall or mounted by being snapped onto fixed vertical wall members that allows cross-bar  70  to be easily raised or lowered. 
   Bracket assembly  68  includes top-bracket  48  and bottom-bracket  76 . Top-bracket  48  is C-shaped having a middle portion  52 , a proximal portion  78  and a distal portion  80 . Proximal portion  78  is rigidly fastened to upper end  50  of support-panel  46 . Bottom-bracket  76  has an upwardly extending distal lip  82  and a downwardly extending proximal mount  84 . Proximal mount  84  is provided with a bolt aperture (not shown) and weld-nut  86 . Weld-nut  86  is coaxial with the bolt aperture and positioned on the surface of proximal mount  84  that faces distal lip  82 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , display rack  10  is mounted onto cross-bar  70  by first positioning distal portion  80  of top-bracket  48  to the rear of upper ledge  72  such that top-bracket  48  catchably engages cross-bar  70 . Bottom-bracket  76  is then brought into position by the user between support-panel  46  and cross-bar  70 . Distal lip  82  is inserted behind lower ledge  74  and proximal mount  78  is positioned such that weld-nut  86  is in alignment with adjustment-slot  88  of support-panel  46 . A fastener, shown in  FIG. 3  as bolt  90 , is then inserted through adjustment-slot  88  and screwed into weld-nut  86  to firmly secure bottom-bracket  76  in said position where it is catchably engaging lower ledge  74 . Upon unscrewing bolt  90 , it can be seen that the position of bottom-bracket  76  with respect to support-panel  46  can be raised or lowered along the length of adjustment-slot  88 . 
   Both top-bracket  48  and bottom-bracket  76  are sized to receive upper ledge  72  and lower ledge  74  respectively. It can be readily appreciated that the location of adjustment-slot  88  on support-panel  46  and the vertical length of adjustment-slot  88  will determine the range in the vertical height of cross-bar  70  on which display rack  10  can be mounted. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates another preferred embodiment of a display rack  10  in accordance with this invention. Holder  12  of display rack  10  has two substantially vertical holder-plates  22 . A front-panel  92  connects each of the holder-plates  22  to the other. Front-panel  92  is a C-shaped channel having panel-flanges  94 , preferably formed from a single piece of sheet metal. The outer surface of each panel-flange  94  is rigidly joined to the corresponding holder-plate  22 , preferably by spot welding, adjacent to the front edge  42  of each holder-plate  22 . 
   Display rack  10  includes stand member  96 . Stand member  96  is provided to mount display rack  10  to display surface  98 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , stand member  96  includes tray  14 . Tray  14  consists of tray-portions  100 . Each tray-portion  100  extends outward from the lower edge  24  on the corresponding holder-plate  22 . 
   Each tray-portion  100  is substantially horizontal and is preferably formed along with the corresponding holder-plate  22  from a single piece of sheet metal by bending the piece 90° along a line defining lower edge  24 . The bottom surface of tray  14  abuts display surface  98 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 5 , stand member  96  also includes front-support  102 . Front-support  102  is firmly secured to front-panel  92 , preferably by spot welding a portion of the back surface of front-support  102  to the lower end of front-panel  92 . Support-flange  104  extends outward orthogonally from front-support  102  along support-edge  106 . Support-flange  104  is coplanar with tray-portions  100  and together with tray  14  provides support for display rack  10  to stabilize display rack  10  and to maintain holder-plates  22  in an upright configuration whenever display rack  10  is placed upon a horizontal display surface  98  as, for instance, a display counter or on display shelving. 
   Front-support  102  extends laterally from front-panel  92  on both sides of holder  12  such that support-flange  104  has a length greater than the width of front-panel  92 . One can readily appreciate that this configuration of front-support  102  provides display rack  10  with a wider base at one end of holder  12  to assist display rack  10  in staying erect. 
   As with the other preferred embodiments of this invention,  FIG. 5  illustrates that holder-plates  22  are contiguous from upper edge  39  to lower edge  24 . Each holder-plate is provided with a holder-surface  28  facing outward from holder  12 . Each holder-surface  28  and the corresponding tray-portion  100  are dimensioned to receive an upright formation of magnetic levels. The magnetic strip along a lateral edge on each level allows the levels to magnetically engage either of the two holder-surfaces  28 . Each level is further supported by the particular tray-portion  100  abutting one of the ends on the level. 
   Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.