Abstract:
Elongate articles such as threaded rod and dowels are displayed for sale in a retail situation by inserting them standing generally vertically in a display device having formed from a molded plastics container where a bottom portion forms a base member molded integrally from a plastics material and lid forms a support grid member also molded from a plastics material and arranged to span the side walls. The bottom wall of the base member has upstanding walls for locating bottom ends of the articles. The lid has various openings across it through which the articles extend. The lid is supplemented by small containers at spaced positions therearound and a post each for receiving and displaying related articles. The lids and bases can be stored and shipped in nested condition and erected simply by snapping the lid onto the base.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a method of displaying elongate products and more particularly to a display device therefor.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Display devices are known for displaying various products. Known display devices for elongate products such as threaded rod, dowels and the like in a retail situation generally comprise a welded frame structure including an upper grid and a lower grid. This arrangement holds the elongate objects generally upright for viewing by the purchasing public in a manner where they can readily distinguish between products and can readily withdraw a selected product of products from the display rack. Re-loading by a retail clerk is also readily achieved. The use of the conventional metallic structures is however costly and involves numerous manufacturing steps.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0003]    It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved storage and display device for elongate products and a method of displaying such products.  
           [0004]    According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for displaying for sale elongate products comprising:  
           [0005]    providing a display device having:  
           [0006]    a base member molded integrally from a plastics material and having a bottom wall and side walls extending upwardly from the base member;  
           [0007]    and a support grid member molded from a plastics material and arranged to span the side walls at a location spaced above the base member, the support grid defining a plurality of openings therein;  
           [0008]    securing the support grid at a fixed spacing above the base member;  
           [0009]    and supporting the elongate products in an upright orientation on the base member so as to extend through respective openings in the support grid.  
           [0010]    Preferably the method includes providing a plurality of divider members protruding upwardly from the base member and supporting the elongate products on the base member between respective divider members.  
           [0011]    Preferably the method includes molding the divider members integrally with the base member.  
           [0012]    Preferably the side walls enclose all sides of the base member to forma a hollow interior.  
           [0013]    Preferably the method includes forming the support grid separately from the base member and securing the support grid to the side walls.  
           [0014]    Preferably the support grid and the side walls include respective mating molded snap fastening means for selectively securing the support grid to the side walls.  
           [0015]    Preferably the method includes forming the base member and the support grid member separately and including nesting a plurality of the base members together during storage a transportation thereof.  
           [0016]    Preferably the method includes forming the support grid member from a substantially rigid panel of plastic material.  
           [0017]    Preferably the method includes forming ribs spanning the support grid for added structural support to the support grid.  
           [0018]    Preferably the openings in the support grid comprise apertures formed in the panel have different diameters.  
           [0019]    Preferably the method includes forming ribs spanning at least one of the side walls for added structural support to the side walls.  
           [0020]    Preferably the method includes providing at least one container having an open top side arranged to be secured to the display device and displaying associated items within said at least one container which are arranged co-operate with the elongate products.  
           [0021]    Preferably the containers are mounted at spaced positions around the support grid member.  
           [0022]    Preferably the method includes forming the display device from a molded plastic container in which the base member comprises a floor and respective walls of the container and the support grid member comprises a mating lid of the container having apertures formed therein which define the openings in the support grid.  
           [0023]    Preferably the base member and the lid are connected by molded snap fastening ribs surrounding the base member and the lid respectively.  
           [0024]    Preferably the method includes providing an upstanding post on the base member for storing associated items.  
           [0025]    The method is particularly suited for displaying elongate product like threaded metallic rods for example. The display device may also be arranged to support threaded nuts and washers which are arranged for use with the threaded metallic rods by providing suitable containers.  
           [0026]    The display device is preferably molded from plastic material so as to be readily manufactured in minimal operations at relatively low cost as compared to equivalent display devices formed of welded rod. The arrangement of side walls and a support grid spanning the side walls provides sufficient structural support despite using less costly materials such as plastic in place of metallic display structures.  
           [0027]    The display device is preferably formed in two parts comprising a first part including the base member and a first portion of the side walls and a second part including the support grid and a second portion of the side walls. Forming the display device in two parts permits the device to remain unassembled for nesting the parts of numerous display devices within one another in a storage position of the devices before the display devices are assembled into their respective assembled positions.  
           [0028]    In one embodiment, the display device may be formed from a molded plastic container in which the base member and the side walls comprise a floor and respective walls of the container and the support grid comprises a mating lid of the container having apertures formed therein which define the openings in the support grid. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0029]    In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the display device in an assembled position shown with elongate threaded rods display therein.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the display device according to FIG. 1.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line  3 - 3  of FIG. 2.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line  4 - 4  of FIG. 2.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the display device with the support grid normally mounted spaced above the base member shown removed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0035]    Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a display device generally indicated by reference numeral  10 . The device  10  is generally intended for displaying elongate product materials, for example rigid metallic threaded rods  12  and the related accessories. The display is intended to be located in retail or similar locations for displaying for sale elongate items. Preferably the device is for use in a hardware situation where many such elongate items are sold including rods, pipes, dowels and the like.  
         [0036]    In the illustrated embodiment the display device is formed from a molded plastic tote box container available under the trademark Rubbermaid. The device  10  is molded in two parts. A first part  11 A includes a base member  14  in the form of a generally rectangular floor panel defining the floor of the container with integral side walls  16  extending upwardly from the base member  14  on all sides for defining a continuous wall structure extending upwardly from a periphery of the base member.  
         [0037]    A second part  11 B of the device comprises a lid adapted to enclose the open top end of the first part of the container and is used to form a support a grid  18  which spans the side walls  16  of the device at a fixed spacing above the base member. The support grid  18  thus comprises a panel-like structure having a peripheral side wall portion  20  arranged for securement to the side walls  16  of the first part  11 A of the device.  
         [0038]    The base member  14  and side walls  16  are molded integrally with one another with the walls extending upwardly at an outward incline so as to permit nesting with the first part of other display devices having a similar configuration. The side walls  16  include a shoulder  22  formed therein which extends generally horizontally spaced upwardly from the base member for added structural support. The shoulder  22  defines an internal ledge as the walls are offset outwardly at the shoulder  22  at a top end of the container in relation to the bottom end adjacent the base member. The shoulder  22  extends the full length of both longer sides  24  of the device as well as part way across the shorter ends  26  of the display device.  
         [0039]    The side walls  16  at the shorter ends  26  of the display device each include a centrally located vertical channel which meets the shoulder  22  from each of the longer sides  24  of the display device. The channel  28  is raised inwardly in relation to the side walls  16  and includes a handle portion  30  formed at a top end thereof. The channels  28  act as a longitudinally extending rib for added structural support to resist bending of the side walls.  
         [0040]    A lip  32  is provided about an upper periphery of the side walls  16  at an open top end of the first part of the display device. The lip  32  curls upwardly and outwardly from the side walls  16  about a full periphery of the side walls and extends downwardly at a free end  34  spaced outwardly from the side walls  16 . The curved lip again provides added structural support while the free end  34  includes a blunt end for snap-fitting the second part of the display device thereon.  
         [0041]    The second part  11 B of the display device generally comprises a rigid panel  36  which spans the side walls  16  in an assembled position. A peripheral edge of the rigid panel  36  is curled upwardly then outwardly and finally downwardly at a free end thereof similarly to the lip  32  for added rigidity to the panel  36 . The side wall portion  20  extends away from the panel  36  at an outward incline from the opposing side wall portions so that the side wall portions of the second part of the display device flare outwardly for nesting with similar second parts of display devices having a similar configuration as noted above with regard to the first part of the display device. The rigid panel  36  includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs  40  extending a full length of the panel for added structural support. Each rib generally comprises an elongate dome-shaped structure formed into the panels. The panel  36  further includes a handle portion  42  at each end thereof which is arranged to mate with the handle  30  formed in the side walls  16  of the display device.  
         [0042]    The side wall portions  20  of the rigid panel  36  include a shoulder  44  which extends substantially horizontally outward to a free end  46  which curls downwardly to define a lip which secures about the lip  32  of the side walls  16 . An inner side of the free end  46  includes a catch  48  for snap-fitting to the free end  34  of the side walls. The side wall portions of the rigid panel  36  of the second part of the display device can thus be selectively snap-fit to the side walls  16  of the first part of the display device.  
         [0043]    The support grid  18  is defined by a plurality of apertures  50  in the rigid panel  36  which form the openings of a grid structure which are suitably sized to receive bunches of the threaded rods  12  therethrough. The apertures  50  have varying diameters for accommodating different sizes and numbers of rods therein.  
         [0044]    A plurality of divider members  52  are provided which are supported on the base member  14  to extend upwardly therefrom only part way in relation to the side walls  16  to form a grid structure similar to the support grid  18 . In a preferred embodiment the divider members  52  are molded integrally with the base member  14  however as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 5, a series of plastic collars  54  may be positioned in an upright orientation in a side by side arrangement glued to the floor for defining a grid structure between adjacent walls of the various collars  54 .  
         [0045]    A set of small molded plastic containers  56  are supported on the shoulder  44  and secured about the rigid panel  36 . In various embodiments the containers  56  may be molded directly into the rigid panel  36  or formed about a periphery of the panel as illustrated. The containers  56  are suitably arranged for containing nuts and washers therein which are intended for use with the threaded rods  12 . The containers may also be formed as separate elements connected to the periphery of the shoulder  44 .  
         [0046]    A mounting stake  58  is mounted on the rigid panel  36  in an upright orientation thereon to extend upwardly in the assembled position of the display device. The mounting stake  58  is suitably arranged for supporting annular members such as washers stacked thereon about the stake.  
         [0047]    In the illustrated embodiment, when displaying elongate product such as threaded rods, a container is first provided having a base member and side walls within which a plurality of the divider members  52  may be mounted as described above. Apertures  50  are formed into the rigid panel  36  to define the support grid  18  formed from the lid of the container which may be snap-fit onto the side walls of the display device for fully enclosing the interior of the display device. The support grid  18  is supported on the side walls  16  at a fixed spacing above the base member  14  by either melting the two parts of the display device together or by suitable fastening such as glue, screws or other suitable fasteners. The containers  56  and the stake  58  are further mounted on the display device as described above at which point the product may then be displayed on the device. The elongate rods  12  are displayed by inserting the rods through a respective aperture  50  and aligning a bottom end of the rods between a respective pair of the divider members  52  so that the bottom end of the rods may be supported on the base member  14 . Mating threaded nuts and washers for use with the rods are then supported on the stake  58  and within the containers  56  as desired.  
         [0048]    In alternate embodiments of the display device, the device is preferably molded into two pieces as described above, but with the containers  56 , the divider members  52  and the apertures  50  all being formed integrally in the molding process. A first part  11 A would include the base member  14  and corresponding side wall portions  16  extending therefrom at an outward incline away from each other for nesting as described above. The panel forming the base member  14  may be molded with suitable ribs to define an integral grid formed therein for restricting sliding movement of the bottom end of the rods being displayed from sliding laterally about on the base member. The second part  11 B of the integrally molded display device includes the support grid  18  in which the panel  36  has the apertures  50  therein during the molding process as well as side wall portions  20  which similarly extend outwardly from the panel  36  at an outward incline away from one another for nesting as described above.  
         [0049]    In either arrangement the display device may be stored or transported in a nested position before being assembled into the assembled position of FIG. 1 in which product may be displayed. The nested position may comprise supporting one molded part  11 A or  11 B within the other, for example nesting the base member  14  and side walls  16  within the side wall portions  20  extending from the rigid panel  36 , or by nesting each of the parts  11 A or  11 B with a plurality of like parts of display devices having similar configurations.  
         [0050]    While some embodiments of the present invention have been described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.