Abstract:
A slatwall assembly comprises at least one slatwall panel having a cross section comprising at least one arcuate retaining flange and at least one planar brace adapted to accept standard slatwall hooks and other accessories. The slatwall panel can be constructed of an extruded translucent polymeric material having selected light transmission and visibility qualities ranging from transparent to opaque, and clear to colored.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/302,996, filed Jul. 3, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a slatwall construction for hanging supporting fixtures. In one of its aspects, the invention relates to a slatwall construction that has improved aesthetic appearance yet is functional for hanging supporting fixtures or display of articles. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a slatwall construction that is at least partially transparent for providing light transmission and improved aesthetics. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a slatwall construction having an improved fixture retainer. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Slatwalls well-known in the industry are formed of sheet metal that is roll formed into a shape with retaining flanges for hanging fixtures on a wall. Slatwalls have also been formed of extrusions such as aluminum. Aluminum slatwalls are advantageous in that they provide a load-bearing capacity approaching that of steel at a fraction of the weight. As a result, aluminum extrusions can be used in both taller and narrower or shallower displays, and are particularly advantageous in freestanding displays. The use of taller displays, however, reduces the light that can spill through the display from one open area to the next. A taller display made of an opaque material such as aluminum also restricts the vision of those responsible for security, especially in a retail establishment. Oftentimes, these displays support articles of minimal weight such that the aluminum extrusions are overly strong relative to the load being supported. 
     Conventional slatwalls use panels with upwardly-opening channels that interlock to form a wall and provide a means of suspending a fixture, such as a hook. The hook generally has a downwardly-extending flange that is inserted into the channel and is thereby supported on the slatwall. The hook is not locked into the slatwall channel, and can easily be displaced by an upwardly-directed impact. If the hook supports commercial products as part of a commercial display, displacement of the hook can disrupt the display, with potential damage to the product. Other slatwall systems utilize threaded fasteners, such as screws, to join the panels together, necessitating extra components and complicating the construction of the slatwall system. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     According to the invention, a panel for a slatwall assembly comprises a rectangular wall which forms a structural spine defined by an upper edge, a lower edge, side edges, a front face, and a rear face. The panel has at least one retaining flange extending outwardly from the front face of the wall, having an arcuate outer end defining a retaining channel adapted to receive a support fixture. The panel also has at least one brace extending outwardly from the front face of the wall a distance coextensive with the arcuate outer end of the retaining flange. 
     Further according to the invention, at least two of the panels are mounted in vertical juxtaposition in a frame formed of a pair of vertical side frame members, and each of the vertical side frame member defines an elongate cavity for receiving a side edges of the slatwall panels. The frame is further formed of at least two horizontal frame members, a first horizontal frame member defines an elongate cavity for receiving an upper edge of one slatwall panel and a second horizontal frame member defines an elongate cavity for receiving a lower edge of another slatwall panel. The at least two vertical side frame members and the at least two horizontal frame members are assembled into a rectilinear frame with the at least two slatwall panels supported therein in vertical juxtaposition. 
     Further according to the invention, a fixture is mounted to at least one of the panels and a display article is mounted to the fixture. 
     In one embodiment, the upper edge and the lower edge form connectors for joining like panels together in vertical juxtaposed relationship. One of the connectors comprises a flange forming a male connector, and one of the connectors comprises a pair of parallel, spaced-apart flanges forming a female connector. In yet another embodiment, the retaining flange is J-shaped, and the brace has a linear cross-section. In a further embodiment, the panel is formed of an extrusion, which can comprise a translucent plastic, a clear polyvinyl chloride, or can be color tinted. 
     In yet another embodiment, the panel further comprises at least one retaining flange extending outwardly from the rear face of the rectangular wall, having an arcuate outer end defining a retaining channel adapted to receive a support fixture. In yet another embodiment, the panel further comprises at least one brace extending from the rear face of the rectangular wall a distance coextensive with the arcuate outer end of the retaining flange extending from the rear face. 
     In another embodiment, the retaining flange extending from the rear face is J-shaped, and the brace extending from the rear face has a linear cross-section. Furthermore, this extrusion can be a translucent plastic, can comprise a clear polyvinyl chloride, and can be color tinted. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slatwall panel section according to the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an end view of the slatwall section of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of two joined slatwall sections according to FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of a further embodiment of a slatwall section according to the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an end view of two joined slatwall sections according to FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is an elevation view of an upright display constructed of slatwall according to the invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken through line  7 — 7  of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken through line  8 — 8  of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 9 is an elevation view of the upright display of FIG. 6 shown for scale next to a human silhouette. 
     FIG. 10 is an elevation view of a further embodiment of an upright display according to the invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken through line  11 — 11  of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 11 A is a detailed view of a cross connector shown in FIG. 11 for connecting slatwall sections into the upright display of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is an elevation view of a further embodiment of an upright display according to the invention shown for scale next to a human silhouette. 
     FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken through line  13 — 13  of FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 14 is an elevation view of a further embodiment of an upright display according to the invention shown for scale next to a human silhouette. 
     FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken through line  15 — 15  of FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a clear, transparent slatwall panel section according to the invention. 
     FIG. 17 is an elevation view of a further embodiment of an upright display according to the invention comprising clear slatwall panel sections through which signage can be observed. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a preferred embodiment of a slatwall panel  10  according to the invention comprises an elongate extrusion shown with a vertical orientation. The material used to form the slatwall panel  10  can be metal, such as aluminum, or plastic. In one embodiment, the panel is made from extruded aluminum. In another embodiment, the panel is made from an extruded plastic. In a preferred embodiment, the extruded plastic is translucent, preferably, tinted with a color. The extruded plastic can vary in clarity from transparent to nearly opaque, but retaining a translucent quality. The material can be tinted to match an architectural color scheme, or can be untinted. The material can also be texturized, thereby enhancing its aesthetic and translucent qualities. The preferred plastic material is clear PVC. A suitable clear PVC is made by Bayshore Rigids, L.L.C. of Tennent, N.J., under the trade designations 14311, 15311 and 13311. The slatwall panel  10  is adapted to removably support slatwall accessories, as exemplified by the slatwall hook  300  shown in FIG.  1 . 
     The slatwall panel  10  includes an upper “female” connector  20  along an upper longitudinal edge comprising a pair of opposing vertical flanges  22  defining a channel  28  therebetween, each of the flanges  22  including a detent  24  projecting inwardly into the channel  28  to thereby narrow the channel  28  at the detent  24 . The channel  28  further includes a widened base portion forming a cavity  26  being substantially circular in cross section and of a width for receiving a threaded fastener  76 , such as a screw (FIG.  8 ), for securing an end cap  70  to the slatwall panel  10 . 
     The slatwall panel  10  further comprises a pair of slatwall rows  30 ′,  30 ″ positioned below the upper connector  20 . The slatwall row  30 ′ comprises a J-shaped retainer  32  projecting perpendicularly outwardly from a central axis of slatwall panel  10 . In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, each slatwall row  30 ′ comprises opposing J-shaped retainers  32  so that the cross section of the slatwall panel  10  is symmetrical about a central axis. Each slatwall row  30 ′ further comprises a horizontal member  36  spaced from the J-shaped retainer by a vertical rib  34  on the central axis of the slatwall panel  10 . Like the J-shaped retainer  32 , the horizontal member  36  is symmetrical about the central axis of the slatwall panel  10 . The slatwall panel  10  of FIGS. 1-3 further comprises a second slatwall row  30 ″ connected to the first slatwall row  30 ′ by a connecting rib  50 . In the disclosed embodiment, the slatwall panel  10  includes two slatwall rows  30 ′,  30 ″ joined by one connecting rib  50 , but a slatwall panel  10  can include any number of slatwall rows  30 ′- 30 ″″. 
     Slatwall panel  10  further comprises a lower “male” connector  40  along a lower longitudinal edge shown below the lowermost slatwall row  30 ″. The lower connector  40  comprises a vertical flange  42  centered on the central axis of the slatwall panel  10 , the lower connector  40  having a connector tip  44  and a pair of detents  46  projecting outwardly from the central axis of the slatwall panel  10  a predetermined distance away from the tip  44  of the lower connector  40 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, a pair of slatwall panels  10  are joined so that their central axes align, with lower “male” connector  40  of an upper slatwall panel  10  occupying the channel  28  of the upper “female” connector  20  of a lower slatwall panel  10 . Lower connector  40  of upper slatwall panel  10  can be inserted directly into channel  28  as upper and lower slatwall panels  10  are moved toward one another along their central axes due to resiliency of the vertical flanges  22  of upper connector  20 . Removal of lower connector  40  from upper connector  20  is resisted by the interaction of inwardly projecting detents  24  of the upper connector  20  and the outwardly projecting detents  46  of lower connector  40 . In the alternative, lower connector  40  can be inserted in upper connector  20  by a relative longitudinal displacement in the direction of the plane defined by the slatwall panels  10 , effectively sliding lower connector  40  into channel  28  of upper connector  20 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, upper and lower connectors  20 ,  40  and connecting rib  50  are sized such that the interval between succeeding slatwall rows  30 ′- 30 ″″ remains uniform within each slatwall panel  10  and across the joint between adjacent slatwall panels  10 . It is also anticipated that the intervals between slatwall rows  30 ′- 30 ″″ can vary within each slatwall panel  10  or across the joint between adjacent slatwall panels  10 . 
     FIGS. 4-5 disclose a further embodiment of a slatwall panel  110  similar in overall configuration and components to the slatwall panel  10  of FIGS. 1-3, having upper “female” connector  120  comprising two vertical flanges  122  defining a channel  128  therebetween, the channel  128  having a widened base portion forming a cavity  126 . Each of the vertical flanges  122  includes an inwardly projecting detent  124 . The slatwall panel  110  further comprises at least one slatwall row  130 ′ comprising a J-shaped retainer  132  and a horizontal member  136  separated from the J-shaped retainer  132  by a vertical rib  134 . Successive slatwall rows  130 ″,  130 ′″,  130 ″″ are joined by a connecting rib  150 . Unlike the slatwall panels  10  of FIGS. 1-3, however, slatwall panels  110  of FIGS. 4-5 are not symmetrical about a central axis but rather have a flat face  160 . Upper and lower connectors  120 ,  140  are offset from the flat face  160 . The lower connector  140  comprises a vertical flange  142  offset from the central axis of the slatwall panel  110 , the lower connector  140  having a connector tip  144  and a pair of detents  146  projecting outwardly from the central axis of the vertical flange  142  a predetermined distance away from the tip  144  of the lower connector  140 . Referring to FIG. 5, the offset upper and lower connectors  120 ,  140  join successive slatwall panels  110  such that the flat face  160  of each slatwall panel  110  is effectively continuous with the flat face  160  of adjoining panels  110 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 6-8, an exemplary display  210  comprises a generally conventional base  212  supported by generally conventional adjustable feet  214  and a plurality of slatwall panels  10 ,  110  supported thereon, the slatwall panels  10 , 110  aligned along their central axes with upper connectors  20  and lower connectors  40  interlocked as heretofore described. An elongate end cap  70  having a generally U-shaped cross section defining a central elongate cavity  72  and including a channel  74  at the base of the cavity  72  is placed over an end of the slatwall panels  10 ,  110  so the ends of the slatwall panels  10 ,  110  are received in the cavity  72 . A fastener  76 , such as a screw, is fixedly received in the boss/cavity  26 ,  126  of each slatwall panel.  10 ,  110  so that the head of the fastener  76  is spaced from the end of the slatwall panel  10 ,  110  by a body of the fastener  76  such that the body of the fastener  76  can pass through the channel  74  and the head of the fastener  76  cannot. The display is thus assembled by longitudinally sliding the end cap  70  relative to the ends of the slatwall panels  10 ,  110  so that the body of the fastener  76  passes through the channel  74 , the head of the fastener  76  preventing the end cap  70  from being removed from the end of slatwall panels  10 ,  110 . The display  210  further includes a plurality of generally conventional top caps  216  which, in the preferred embodiment, are adapted to matingly communicate with the upper connectors  20  of the uppermost panels  10 . Referring to FIG. 9, the display  210  is shown for scale next to a human silhouette. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 10-11, a further embodiment of a display  220  according to the invention comprises a plurality of slatwall panels  10 ,  110  supported by a base  222  on adjustable feet  224 , slatwall panels  10 ,  110  arranged in a cross configuration having a central cross connector  80 , each of the arms across being finished on an outer end by an end cap  70 , and comprising a plurality of top caps  226 . As shown in FIG. 11A, the cross connector  80  comprises four orthogonally-connected grips  60  comprising a pair of opposing vertical flanges  62  defining a channel  68  therebetween, each of the flanges  62  including a detent  64  projecting inwardly into the channel  68  to thereby narrow the channel  68  at the detents  64 . The channel  68  further terminates in a widened base portion  66  forming a cavity being substantially circular in cross section. 
     FIGS. 12-13 disclose a further embodiment of the display  230  according to the invention, shown for scale next to a human silhouette, that comprises a plurality of slatwall panels  10 ,  110  supported by a bottom channel section  232  on adjustable feet  234 , and capped with a plurality of top caps  236 . Slatwall panels  10 ,  110  of display  230  are terminated at each end of the display  230  by an end cap  70 . The display  230 , in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 13, describes an “M,” each section of the display connected by an angled connector  85 , such as a right angle connector or a connector having any other desired angle. 
     FIGS. 14-15 disclose a further embodiment of a display  240  according to the invention shown for scale next to a human silhouette. The display  240 , as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 15, is triangular and includes legs comprising a plurality of slatwall panels  10 ,  110 , each of the legs joined by an acute angle connector  90 . The acute angle connector  90  further serves the function of holding the slatwall panels  10 ,  110  in the same fashion as the end cap  70  in the previous embodiments. In the preferred embodiment, the connector  90  defines a 60° angle for a display forming an equilateral triangle. However, the connector  90  can be provided with selectively different angles, or with a pivoting apex to enable orienting the panels  10 ,  110  at angles of varying degrees for displays of differing configurations. The display  240  is supported by a plurality of channel sections  242  supported by adjustable feet  244 , and further includes a plurality of top caps  246 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the slatwall panels  10 ,  110  are extrusion-formed of a plastic material that can be selected to be transparent or translucent in varying degrees from clear, as shown in FIG. 16, to near-opaque, as shown in FIG. 1, such that light of selectively-variable intensity can pass through the product to meet architectural, retail, or institutional needs. As shown in FIG. 17, clear panels  110  having the flat face  160  can be assembled into a display incorporating a poster or other signage  248  in contact with the flat face  160  so that the poster  248  can be viewed through the panels  110 . FIG. 17 shows the panel assembly utilized to display retail products, with the signage  248  announcing pertinent information, such as price, and drawing attention to the display. Alternatively, the panels  110  can be used to display a poster or signage for purposes other than the display of retail products, such as directional signs or theater announcements. 
     The slatwall panels  10 ,  110  can be connected as a partition or divider between adjacent areas in a retail or architectural setting. For the purposes of improving security, the slatwall panels  10 ,  110  can be used as a display or partition permitting surveillance beyond the panels  10 ,  110  due to their translucent nature. Store personnel, for instance, have the ability to see through the panel  10 ,  110  and to monitor shoplifting, price-switching, or other unauthorized activities. In office or residential settings, occupants have the ability to monitor unauthorized access to restricted areas, theft, vandalism, or personal threat. The slatwall panels  10 ,  110  can also act as a decorative light-diffusing system that is architecturally pleasing and further has the ability to display product inventory. 
     The slatwall panels  10 ,  110  can also act as part of a storage system, allowing more visual access to items due to the translucent nature of the slatwall panels  10 ,  110 . For example, one or more panels  10 ,  110  can be placed in front of an existing wall or panel so that a user can see items behind the front-most panel. Such panels  10 ,  110  can also be mounted into a sliding track or hinged door system to provide access to items identified through the translucent panel  10 ,  110 . 
     The slatwalls  10 ,  110  can also act as a light diffuser and provide lighting enhancement to standard fluorescent or incandescent light fixtures by mounting the slatwall panels  10 ,  110  either horizontally or vertically, individually or in combination, or arranged in parallel or free-form grouping. 
     The slatwall panels  10 ,  110  can be used in an inverted position (relative to that shown in FIGS. 1-5) so that the J-shaped retainers  32 ,  132  open upward to serve as a cable management device through which telephone, cable television, optical, data or electrical cables or wiring can be routed. The slatwall panels  10 ,  110  can thus act as a cable routing device while allowing light to pass therethrough. Such panels  10 ,  110  can be used in other work surfaces or in office partitions, in room dividers, or in retail displays. 
     The translucent slatwall panels  10 ,  110  can also serve as a decorative lighting device, in which lighted-cord, low-voltage light ribbon, or fiber optic cables can be carried. In this use, the decorative lighting cables can be routed so that light emitted from the cables can be seen through the panel  10 ,  110 . This can be used in architectural applications, graphic information displays, or product displays for the purpose of product enhancement, illumination, or as an art form. 
     While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the forgoing description of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.