Abstract:
The subject invention comprises a modular, pop-up shelf display system that includes vertical slotted shelf support posts, horizontal tie bars, and shelf or accessory members. Two slotted support posts are connected at the top and bottom ends by a pair of tie bars; the top of each slotted support post leans against a wall. Shelves or accessories, which include brackets that engage the slots in the vertical support posts are then attached to the support posts to form horizontal shelves or accessories between the support posts at desired heights and orientation. The system includes internal connectors positioned inside the post ends and the ends of the tie bars which secure the tie bars to the posts to secure the posts in an upright manner against the wall.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    This application relates to a modular shelving system for use in retail sales, and more particularly to a shelving system which is easily assembled and disassembled while maintaining a high degree of stability and support. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In recent years a new type of retail sales store has evolved. At different seasonal times of the year, or for other reasons, a “pop-up” store or other event driven opportunities may open for a limited period of time to sell holiday related items or other specific goods. It is important for such stores to quickly and easily set up and open, and then knock down and close. Traditional shelves and other display fixtures can be difficult and time-consuming to assemble and disassemble. Therefore, there is a need for shelving and display fixtures that can be easily set-up and quickly taken down without leaving holes or nail marks in the walls. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, one of the benefits of the subjection invention is a shelf assembly that may be easily and quickly assembled and disassembled by unskilled labor, with no tools. 
         [0004]    A further benefit of the subject invention is a shelf assembly that has shelves with adjustable heights, and orientation. 
         [0005]    A still further benefit of the subject invention is a shelf assembly that has interchangeable and common parts for easier assembly and less expensive manufacture. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The subject invention comprises a modular, pop-up shelf display system that includes vertical slotted shelf support posts, horizontal tie bars, and shelf or accessory members. Two slotted support posts are connected at the top and bottom ends by a pair of tie bars; the top of each slotted support post leans against a wall. Shelves or accessories, which include brackets that engage the slots in the vertical support posts are then attached to the support posts to form horizontal shelves or accessories between the support posts at desired heights and orientation. The system includes internal connectors positioned inside the posts ends and the ends of the tie bars to secure the posts in an upright manner against the wall. A free standing shelf system is also envisioned utilizing the slotted support posts, joined by a pair of tie bars. 
     
    
     
       CONCISE DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    These and other benefits, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and the accompanying figures illustrating preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the shelf assembly of the subject invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the shelf assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a shelf assembly of the subject invention, showing a multi section shelf assembly. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the top portion of a support post with the post insert in an exploded view 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a support connector insert of the shelf assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a shelf bracket assembly of the subject invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a connector assembly for a shelf of the subject invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a free standing assembly according to the subject invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a free-standing shelf assembly according to the subject insertion. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10(   a ) is a cross-sectional view along the lines A-A of  FIG. 10(   b ). 
           [0018]      FIG. 10(   b ) is a plan view of the inner side of cam lock insert of the subject invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a cross-section of the shelf of  FIG. 6  of the subject invention, showing the pivoting shelf ledge. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2  there is shown shelf assembly  10  having vertical support posts  20 . The supports  20  are secured together in spaced relation by tie rods  30  at an upper and lower location of the shelf assembly  10 . Shelves  40  or other accessories, such as hanger rods  17  ( FIG. 3 ), are secured between the vertical supports  20  by brackets  41  on either side of the shelf. Back panel  21  may be a laminated board and serves as a decorative backdrop for the products displayed on the shelf. As such back panel  21  may have decorative designs, as desired. Back panel  21 , as best seen in  FIG. 2 , does not support the shelf assembly, nor does it touch the floor  19 . 
         [0021]    The vertical support posts  20  lean against the wall at approximately a 10° to 20° angle, and preferably 10°. Each vertical support may have a non-skid foot  22 .  FIG. 3  shows another embodiment where the shelf assembly  50  is a multi-unit assembly, having interlinked upright supports  20  with tie rods  30  between and connected to adjacent vertical supports  20 . Vertical support  20  has two opposing sides with channel slots  18  along the length of the vertical support. These channel slots  18  support the shelves in a manner to be described. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a shelf assembly of the subject invention with multiple sections one of which may support hanger rods  17  or other accessories. As each support post  20  has identical slots and other openings on opposing sides, additional sections can be added without the need for different parts fasteners or tools, thereby contributing to the low cost of equipment and ease of assembly. 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  shows the manner of connection of a tie rod  30  to a support post  20 . Tie rod insert  31  fits snuggly inside the hollow end of the tie rod  30  and is secured there by pin or screw  36  which is inserted through opening  34  of the tie rod into the insert  31 . On an outer end of insert  31  is a peg  32  having oppositely positioned pins  35  extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of peg  32  and tie rod  30 . 
         [0024]    As best seen  FIGS. 10(   a ) and  10 ( b ), cam lock insert  26  has a central opening  27  with opposing peripheral wing openings  48  on an outer side, and on an inner side cammed surfaces  28 . The cammed surfaces comprise an inclined surface as shown in  FIG. 10(   a ). At the start of the inclined plane is a level surface  49  which leads to helical inclined plane  39  and afterwards depression  33  which holds or locks the pins  35  in position. 
         [0025]    Situated inside hollow vertical support is support insert block  24 , better seen in  FIG. 5 . Support insert block  24  is sized to fit snuggly inside the hollow end of support post  20  and secured there by a screw or other fastener  42 . Insert  24  has a channel or recess  25  into which cam lock insert  26  is located on opposite sides of the insert block  24 . Each cam lock  26  has a groove or channel  37  that lines up with a similar channel  38  on the insert, so as not to block openings  27  and  29 . In use, the cam locks are placed into the channel and locked in place by the use of spring clip  16  in grooves  37  and  38 . The insert  24 , with cam locks secured, are then placed into the hollow ends of the support post  20 . A tie rod  30  aligns the peg  32  and pins  35  for insertion into and through the central opening  27  of cam lock  26 . The tie rod  30  is rotated, causing the pins  35  to engage the cammed surfaces  28 , go over the slight ridge  15 , into the depression  33 , pulling the tie rod into the support post and locking the tie rod into position. 
         [0026]    The shelf assembly  40  is shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Shelf assembly  40  comprises shelf panel  45 , accessory support assembly  56  and shelf ledge  44 . Accessory support assembly  56  includes shelf support brackets  43  and left and right accessory support brackets  41 . Bracket  41 , as shown in  FIG. 7  has openings  51  and  52 . Opening  51  can be a straight slot, while opening  52  may be an L shaped slot having a vertical component and a lower horizontal component. The horizontal component has an enlarged region at the closed end. When the bracket is installed on the shelf sides as in  FIG. 6 , the bracket angle relative to the shelf can be changed from about 15° to 0° selectively by placement of the fasteners  53  in either extremities of the respective slots. The fasteners  53  secure the bracket  43  to support bracket  41 , which may be secured to support posts by insertion of hooks  61  into slots  18  on the support posts. The accessory support brackets  41  slide onto and hold the shelf panel  45  or at the desired angle. The shelf orientation may be reversed to position the shelf ledge at the front of the assembly as desired. Other means for securing the shelf to the support posts while allowing different angled attachments may be used, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,480. 
         [0027]    Shelf ledge  44  may also be hinged to allow movement from a first upward vertical position to a second downward vertical position. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the shelf ledge  44  may pivot at one end to allow such movement. The shelf ledge would be pivoted to the upward vertical position when the shelf itself was in an angled position, so that objects placed on the shelf cannot roll or otherwise fall off. When the shelf was level or in a horizontal position, the shelf ledge would be pivoted to the downward vertical position and out of the way. In the embodiment of  FIG. 11 , the shelf panel  45  is enclosed in a monolithic shell, preferably of sheet metal  47 . An end panel  46  is secured to the shell  47  by a screw  54  or other fastener which may be self-tapping or engage an embedded nut as shown. Shelf ledge  44  pivotally secured to an upper end of panel  46  so it can pivot from the raised position to the lowered position, as indicated by the arrow. The lowered position may include a recess  58  in the shelf to provide a substantially flat shelf surface, while allowing the shelf ledge to pivot from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position. Stop  59  may be formed in end panel to restrict the maximum pivotal movement of the shelf ledge  44  to a 90° position from horizontal, i.e., substantially vertical. 
         [0028]    In the event a free standing unit was desired, a trapezoid shaped assembly may be used with mitered corners as shown in  FIG. 9 . A connector assembly similar to that in  FIGS. 4 and 5  may be used. As shown in  FIG. 8 , lower support rail  55  is attached to support posts  20  at opposite ends by angled connector assemblies  60 . Similar to insert  24  in  FIGS. 4 and 5  both cam lock inserts  26  are seated in recess  25  so that the camming surface  28  is facing the interior. With the cam locks seated in the recess, the right angle connector assemblies are inserted into the hollow ends of both support posts  20  and support rail  55 . Screws or pins (not shown) are inserted into holes  57  and  52  to secure the support post  20  and support rail  55  together. A spacer  62  may be used between the support post  20  and support rail  55 . A similar construction may be used to attach the upper support rail to the top end of the support post. The same structure is then used to construct the opposite side. A tie rod  30  is then used to connect the two structures at the upper end and the lower end in the same manner as described above. Thus, the tie rod  30  is inserted into opening  23  in both left and right support posts, taking care the peg  32  and pins  35  ( FIG. 4 ) enter the central opening  27  of cam lock  26 , with the pins inserted through wing openings  48 . The tie rod  30  is then twisted to bring the pins  35  into contact with the camming surface  28  and then locked in position as the pins overcome ridge  15  and seats in the depression  33 . Shelves are secured to support posts in a manner similar to the wall leaning shelf described above. 
         [0029]    It will be understood that the foregoing description is of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention and that the invention is not limited to the specific forms shown or described herein. Various modifications may be made in the design, arrangement, and type of elements disclosed herein, as well as the steps of making and using the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.