Abstract:
A free-standing slatwall comprises first and second posts supported in vertical positions, the first and second posts having respective inner walls facing each other; first and second vertical members attached to the respective inner walls; and slatwall panel having first and second vertical edge portions attached to the respective first and second vertical members.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally directed to a slatwall for displaying merchandise and particularly to a free-standing slatwall. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A free-standing slatwall comprises first and second posts supported in vertical positions, the first and second posts having respective inner walls facing each other; first and second vertical members attached to the respective inner walls; and slatwall panel having first and second vertical edge portions attached to the respective first and second vertical members. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a free-standing slatwall embodying the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the slatwall shown in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2  is an assembly view of the slatwall shown in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 3  is an edge view of a one-sided slatwall section for use in the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an edge of a double-sided slatwall section for use in the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is an assembly view of the slatwall subassembly shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-section view taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a female clip used in the present invention. 
         FIG. 9B  is a front view of the female clip shown in  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a male clip used in the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 1A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A double-sided slatwall  2  embodying the present invention is disclosed  FIGS. 1A and 1B . The slatwall  2  includes posts  4  sufficiently supported in the vertical position by a base  6 . A slatwall panel  8  is attached to vertical members  10  at its respective vertical edge portions  12 . The slatwall panel  8  may be positioned along selected portion of the posts  4 , as shown in  FIG. 1A , or may extend the length of the posts  4 , as shown in  FIG. 1B . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , each of the posts  4  is preferably four-side tubular member having front wall  14 , rear wall  16 , outer wall  18  and inner wall  20 . The front and rear walls  14  and  16  may be provided with slots  22  for attaching thereto standard display shelves (not shown). The inner side  20  has a plurality of horizontal slots or half-hoops  22 . The post  4  further includes side flanges  24  that extend along the front and rear walls  14  and  16  and extend away from the inner wall  20 . 
     The slatwall panel.  8  is standard and may be single-sided as shown in  FIG. 3  in cross-section or double-sided as shown in cross-section in  FIG. 4 . The panel  8  includes a plurality of horizontal and parallel partly enclosed recesses  25  adapted to hold standard hanger brackets (not shown) for displaying merchandise. A double-sided slatwall panel will be used in further describing the invention, but it should be understood that a single-sided slatwall panel is equally applicable. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , each of the vertical members  10  is hollow and in cross-section includes front wall  26 , rear wall  28 , side walls  30  and  32 , inner walls  34 ,  36  and  38 . The front wall  26  and the rear wall  28  are preferably substantially parallel. The side wall  30  is preferably substantially perpendicular to the front wall  26 . Similarly, the other side wall  32  is substantially perpendicular to the rear wall  28 . The walls  34 ,  36  and  38  form a groove  40  that receives a respective edge portion  12  of the slatwall panel  8 . The walls  34  and  36  project inwardly into a space  42  partially enclosed by the walls  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32 . The walls  34  and  36  are preferably substantially parallel to one another and preferably substantially perpendicular to the respective walls  30  and  32 . The wall  38  is preferably substantially perpendicular to the walls  34  and  36 . The vertical members  10  are preferably extruded of suitable material, such as metal or plastic. 
     A projection  44  extends from the wall  36 . The projection  44  preferably extends the length of the wall  36 . The projection  44  is preferably substantially perpendicular to the wall  36 . The projection  44  is configured to interlock with the edge portion of the slatwall panel  8  with a groove  46  that receives the projection  44 . The groove  46  is preferably cut into the front at one edge portion  12  and rear side at the other the edge portion  12  of the slatwall panel  8 . The groove  46  may also be cut on the same side of the slatwall panel  8 . A screw  48  secures the slatwall panel  8  with respect to the vertical member  10  in the vertical direction. The vertical member  10 , except for the projection  44 , is preferably symmetrical about an axis  49 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the slatwall panel  8  is attached to the vertical members  10  by sliding the projections  44  into the respective grooves  46  disposed at each end portion  12  (the other groove  46  is behind the front of the slatwall panel  8  and is, therefore, not visible). This places the edge portions  12  inside the respective grooves  40  and interlocks the slatwall panel  8  to the vertical members  10  in the horizontal direction. The slatwall panel  8  is secured to the vertical members  10  in the vertical direction with screws  48  (see  FIGS. 2, 5 and 7 ). 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the vertical members  10  are attached to the respective posts  4  with male clips  50  and female clips  50 . Only one male clip  50  and one female clip  52  are shown in this view, but it should be understood that that female clip  52  not visible in the view is to receive the visible male clip  50 . Similarly, the visible female clip  52  is understood to receive a male clip not visible in the view. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the slatwall panel  8  is attached to the vertical member  10  by screws  48  in the vertical direction. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the female clip  52  is attached to the post  4  through the slot  22  which is cut out from the inner wall  20  of the post  4 . The slot  22  may preferably be a half-hoop  56 , which is a strip of expanded metal cut from the inner wall  20  of the post  4 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the female clip  52  is preferably made from sheet metal bent into a U-shaped portion  58  for receiving the male clip  50  and two U-shaped portions  60  for insertion into the slot  22  or half-hoop  56 . The portions  60  are spaced apart from each other for easier insertion into the half-hoop  56 . The portions  60  include leg portions  62  that are inserted and wedged into the semi-hoop  56  such that the leg portions  62  are disposed between the rear side  64  of the semi-hoop  56  and the outer surface  66  of the inner wall  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the male clip  50  is preferably made from sheet metal having a ramp plate portion  68  bent at an obtuse angle relative to a flat plate portion  70 , preferably substantially at 165°. A hole  72  is used for receiving a screw  74  for attaching the male clip  50  to the wall  38  of the vertical member  10 . The male clip  50  when received within the female clip  52  is configured to bias the respective vertical member  10  to the respective post  4  to create a tight abutment between the outer edges  76  of the vertical member  10  and the outer surface  66  of the respective post  4 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . The resulting structure advantageously provides lateral stability between the posts  4  without requiring additional braces. The side flanges  24  advantageously provide front-to-back stability to the vertical members  10 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 8 , it should be understood that the ramp plate portion  68  would be forced to the bottom of the U-shaped portion  58 , causing the ramp plate portion  68  to bias the vertical member  10  toward the post  4  for a tight connection. The male clips  50  and the female clips  52  are preferably made of flexible and resilient material, such as spring metal. 
     While this invention has been described as having preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modification, uses and/or adaptations following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.