Patent Publication Number: US-2005139561-A1

Title: Step-like display stand

Description:
BACKGROUD OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a step-like display stand mainly for use in displaying commodities in the form of steps in stores such as supermarkets, department stores, speciality stores, convenience stores, and the like, excellent in presenting displays in that it is capable for forming two kinds of surfaces, that is, large and small display surfaces.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      In recent years, as one of display racks for use in displaying articles in stores such as supermarket, department stores, speciality stores, convenience stores and the like, there has been known a display rack in which a front display surface is constituted by adjacently providing one inclined surface or more for the placement of commodities in one direction and comprises a commodities fall preventing part at one end of the inclined surfaces and a flat surface at the other end, and a back display surface is constituted by providing at least one fitting groove or more for a partition plate on the back side of the front display surface. A height-variable placement base is arranged in the display case. Either one of the front display surface and back display surface of the commodities display rack is placed on the placement base and commodities are displayed on the other (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-197984). This commodities display rack is a very useful rack which is capable of sufficiently adapting to the frequent diversification and rearrangements of commodities by a few components, reducing the number of unnecessary articles and the need for the articles to be purchased for every rearrangement, and reducing the size of a storage space. In addition, there is also known a display stand in the form of tiers suitable for displaying packed commodities such as grapes and strawberries.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      However, since the display rack described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-197984 is in a one-piece structure, there is a limit in changing the arrangements of display surfaces and it is impossible to assume a step-like display form with a large number of steps. For this reason, there arise some cases where the display rack cannot use any more when commodities are replaced by other commodities of different sizes or shapes for rearrangement. In addition, the display stand in the form of tiers can display only packed commodities having sizes corresponding to the display surfaces thereof, and cannot display round-shaped commodities such as watermelons and melons.  
      An objective of the present invention is to provide a step-like commodities display stand excellent in presenting displays in that it is capable of displaying packed commodities such as grapes and strawberries as well as displaying round-shaped commodities such as watermelons and melons that need placement areas larger than the areas that packed commodities need.  
      Specifically, the present invention provides a step-like commodities display stand including: a step-like display main body which includes two or more steps each having a flat surface member and a vertical member; and auxiliary members each of which has a cross section in the form of reversed L letter and includes a top board member and a vertical member projectingly extending from the front edge portion of the top board member and bending downwardly, and is fitted to said steps to reduce the number of steps.  
      Specifically, the present invention provides a step-like commodities display stand in which said auxiliary members respectively include auxiliary members that are fitted to one step of said display main body to cover two steps into said one step.  
      Further, the present invention provides a step-like commodities display stand in which the number of said auxiliary members is half of the number of the steps that said display main body has.  
      Further, the present invention provides a step-like commodities display stand in which a display surface of said display main body and a display surface of each of said auxiliary member assume an arch shape with its center portion bulging toward a front direction when seen from top.  
      Further, the present invention provides a step-like commodities display stand in which the auxiliary member for each step of said display main body includes two symmetrical left and right members.  
      Further, the present invention provides a step-like commodities display stand in which engaging holes are formed on the flat surface members of the steps at positions of even numbers of said display main body, and engaging pieces to be engaged with said engaging holes are formed at the back surface of the top board member of each of said auxiliary members, and said display main body and said top board members are engaged with each other by engagement between said engaging holes and said engaging pieces.  
      Further, the present invention provides a step-like commodities display stand in which said step-like commodities display stand is mounted on a movable supporting stand.  
      According to the present invention, it is possible to present a first display form preferable for displaying packed commodities such as grapes and strawberries by means of only the step-like display main body, and it is also possible to present a second display form preferable for displaying round-shaped commodities such as watermelons and melons by means of the step-like display main body and auxiliary members in combination. Further, it is possible to present a third display form by restricting the use number of auxiliary members, and it is also possible to present a fourth display form by use of a pair of symmetrical left and right auxiliary members for each step and by further restricting the use number of the auxiliary members. As a result, displays with enhanced presentation can be performed.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view showing a step-like commodities display stand according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view when a pair of auxiliary members is seen from their back surfaces;  
       FIG. 3  is a diagram showing a state where a display main body is mounted on a movable supporting stand in  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 4  is a diagram showing a state where auxiliary members are mounted on the display main body in  FIG. 3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
      A step-like commodities display stand according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.  1  to  4 .  
      A movable step-like commodities display stand  10   a  according to this embodiment includes a movable supporting stand  19 , a step-like display main body  11 , and auxiliary members  12 . The movable supporting stand  19  supports the display main body  11  thereon and can move with conveyance capability, and includes a supporting frame body  191 , four casters  192 , a pair of left and right grip portions  193 , and crossrail members  194 .  
      In this embodiment, the step-like commodities display stand  10  includes 10 steps  17   a  to  17   j  each including a flat surface member b and a vertical member a. The step located at the lowest position includes a skirt portion  16  representing a design and having a rectangular shape as its entire shape when seen from top (front view) The flat surface members b constituting the steps respectively assume an arch shape with its center portion bulging toward a front direction when seen from top. The flat surface members b constituting the steps at positions of even numbers respectively formed with engaging holes  18 ,  18  to be used for attaching auxiliary members  12 . A side plate  112  is attached to the side of the display main body  11  in order that the back surfaces of the steps are invisible from the side. The side plate  112  is formed with notches  111  to be engaged with the respective crossrail members  194  of the movable supporting stand  19 . In thus-structured step-like commodities display stand  10 , one flat surface member b and one vertical member a together constitute one step-like display surface. Since the depth of the individual flat surface member b is short, this display stand  10  assumes a display form suitable for displaying packed commodities such as grapes and strawberries.  
      The individual auxiliary member  12  has a cross section in the form of reversed L letter, and includes a top board member c and a vertical member d projectingly extending from the front edge portion of the top board member c and bending downwardly. The auxiliary member  12  is fitted to the one step and covers two steps into one step. In this embodiment, an auxiliary member for one step in the display main body  11  includes two symmetrical left and right members. Specifically, the auxiliary member to be mounted to the first step  17   a  in the display main body  11  includes a first left auxiliary member  13   a  and first right auxiliary member  14   a ; the auxiliary member to be mounted on the third step  17   c  in the display main body  11  includes a second left auxiliary member  13   b  and second right auxiliary member  14   b ; the auxiliary member to be mounted on the fifth step  17   e  in the display main body  11  includes a third left auxiliary member  13   c  and third right auxiliary member  14   c ; the auxiliary member to be mounted on the seventh step  17   g  in the display main body  11  includes a fourth left auxiliary member  13   d  and fourth right auxiliary member  14   d ; and the auxiliary member to be mounted on the ninth step  17   i  in the display main body  11  includes a fifth left auxiliary member  13   e  and fifth right auxiliary member  14   e.    
      The depth dimension of the top board member c of the individual auxiliary member is twice as large as the depth of the horizontal member of the display main body, and the height dimension of the vertical member d of the auxiliary member is substantially the same as the height dimension of the vertical member of the display main body. In  FIG. 2 , the auxiliary member  12  is shown with its fifth left auxiliary member  13   e  and fifth right auxiliary member  14   e  turned by 180° about a horizontal axis extending in a lateral direction, and includes engaging pieces  134 ,  144  at the back surface of the top board member c. A side plate e is provided at a left surface of the left auxiliary member, whereas a side plate e is provided at a right surface of the right auxiliary member.  
      The movable step-like commodities display stand  10   a  of this embodiment is built up in the following manner. That is, the movable step-like commodities display stand  10   a  is built up by incorporating the step-like commodities display stand  10  into the movable supporting stand  19  (see  FIG. 3 ). The method for incorporating the step-like commodities display stand  11  into the movable supporting stand  19  is not specifically limited. As in this embodiment for example, they can be assembled by fitting the notch  111  formed at the side plate of the step-like commodities display stand  10  to the crossrail member  194  of the movable supporting stand  19 .  
      Subsequently, the auxiliary members  12  are incorporated into the step-like commodities display stand  10  ( FIG. 4 ). In this embodiment, the auxiliary members  12  are incorporated into the step-like commodities display stand  10  by engaging the engaging pieces  134 ,  144  formed on the back surface of the top board c of the auxiliary member  12  into the engaging holes  18  of the horizontal member b that forms the step of step-like commodities display stand  10 . Thus, 10 steps of the display main body  11  are covered with the auxiliary members  12  fitted thereto, and as a result, they are turned into 5 steps.  
      The step-like commodities display stand  10  of the present invention can assume various display forms depending on whether or not the auxiliary members  12  are used. Further, the step-like commodities display stand  10  can also assume various display forms depending on the use number of auxiliary members  12 . Further, the step-like commodities display stand  10  canal so assume various display forms depending on the location and the use number of the auxiliary members each including two symmetrical left and right members to be used for one step of the display main body.  
      The first display form of the step-like commodities display stand  10  of the present invention is established by the step-like display main body  11  alone. In this case, it is possible to constitute a step-like commodities display stand having 10 display surfaces with steps  17   a  to  17   j . This structure is preferable for displaying packed commodities such as grapes and strawberries. The second display form is constituted by, as shown in  FIG. 4 , preparing five pairs of left and right auxiliary members  12 , and then fitting them to the steps at positions of even numbers of the display main body  11 . In this case, the depth dimension of the top board member c of the auxiliary member  12  is twice as large as the depth dimension of the horizontal member b of the display main body. This structure provides a wide display surface which is suitable for displaying round-shaped commodities such as watermelons and melons.  
      The third display form has a structure in which the use number of the auxiliary members is restricted in the second display form (not shown). There is no specific limitation to the method for restricting the use number of the auxiliary members. Examples of the method include, in  FIG. 4 : a method in which auxiliary members  11  located at every two steps are omitted; a method in which auxiliary members  11  of arbitral steps are omitted; a method in which all the right auxiliary members or left auxiliary members of the steps are omitted; a method in which the right auxiliary member among the auxiliary members of the first step is omitted, and next, the left auxiliary member of the second step is omitted, and this operation of regularly omitting the auxiliary members is repeated thereafter to form a zigzag-shaped arrangement of auxiliary members; and a method in which the right or left auxiliary member of the first step is omitted, and next, the left or right auxiliary member of the second step is omitted, and this operation of irregularly omitting the auxiliary members is repeated thereafter.  
      According to the movable step-like commodities display stand  10 A of this embodiment, it is possible to present a display form preferable for displaying packed commodities such as grapes and strawberries by use of only the step-like display main body, and also to present a display form preferable for displaying round-shaped commodities such as watermelons and melons by use of the step-like display main body and the auxiliary members in combination. Further, by restricting the use number of auxiliary members, and by using a pair of left and right symmetrical auxiliary members per step and restricting the use number of the pairs, the display form can be changed, and as a result, displays with enhanced presentation can be performed. Further, since the commodities display stand is movable, it can be located at a desired position in stores.  
      As a modification of the step-like commodities display stand of the present invention, it is possible to use auxiliary members which are fitted to the two steps of the display main body to cover three steps into one step. In this case, if the engagement method of the above embodiment is employed, the depth dimension of the top board member of the individual auxiliary member is three times as large as the depth dimension of the horizontal member of the display main body, whereas the height dimension of the vertical member of the individual auxiliary member is twice as large as the height dimension of the vertical member of the display main body.  
      In the step-like commodities display stand of the present invention, the location where the step-like display main body is provided is not limited on the movable supporting stand. Examples of its location, besides the movable supporting stand, include a fixed supporting stand, a space between a wall surface and a floor surface, or the like. The number of the steps of the step-like display main body is not specifically limited. The skirt portion of the step-like display main body may be present or absent.