Patent Publication Number: US-2005127018-A1

Title: Versatile display rack

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      This invention relates to display structures. More particularly, the present invention relates to a versatile display rack for hanging miscellaneous items thereon.  
      2. Description of Prior Art  
      There are many styles of display racks and devices for hanging miscellaneous items such as clothing, hats, accessories, and bags. One type of conventional display rack has two or more dual columned side posts connected by a plurality of horizontal bars. One such type of rack is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,833 issued to Yeh. This type of display rack has a base member connected below each of the side posts for providing balance and support. Also, there are slots, notches, and bars in predetermined levels placed throughout the height of the object so that the user can fit display arms on the desired level. A disadvantage of this rack is that all of the parts are pre-formed for mounting various display arms in fixed heights and at fixed positions. Other types of display racks utilize telescopic side posts and bars with clips for adjusting the height of the display rack or display arms. None of the prior art teaches the display rack as taught by the present invention.  
      It is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a versatile display rack which has easily height adjustable displaying members for displaying items. It is another objective of the present invention to provide a display rack on which multiple display items can be hung from the front, back, and sides of the display rack at multiple heights and positions.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is contrived to overcome the conventional disadvantages. As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the display rack comprises a pair of side posts joined by a top support bar and supported by a base member. Each side post has a channel formed therethrough and is divided into an upper channel and lower channel by a bridge. At least one slot is formed on the upper end of each side post. Additionally, one or more side support clamps can be attached to each side post through the corresponding channel, and each side support clamp is formed to be adjustable in its position along the corresponding channel. Each support clamp is also formed and positioned so that a pair of opposed support clamps on the side posts can hold one or more support bars therebetween. The display rack can further comprise one or more display bars placed between the side posts. Depending on the embodiment, the display bars can be attached alone on the side posts or in conjunction with the side support clamps. The display bar&#39;s placement along the height of the side posts can be varied, and furthermore, the display bar is formed to be removable. The display bar has a plurality of slots for receiving a supporting arm of a display structure such as hanging bars and shelves. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the display rack according to the present invention shown without any display bar or support clamp;  
       FIG. 2  is a view of a section of an embodiment of the display rack having a pair of support clamps having a pair of support bars;  
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2  cut along the  4 — 4  line;  
       FIG. 4  is a view of a section of the present invention showing a support clamp having a display arm received thereto;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a section of an embodiment of the present embodiment having a display bar. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      With reference to the accompanying drawings, a display rack  10  for hanging miscellaneous items thereon according to the present invention will now be described. The display rack  10  comprises a first side post  15  and a second side post  20 . Each side post  15 ,  20  has an elongated channel formed therethrough, and each side post  15 ,  20  has an upper end and a lower end. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the display rack has a top frame bar  22  connecting the side posts near the upper ends of each side post  15 ,  20 , and a base member  25  placed near the lower ends of the side posts  15 ,  20  provides support to the display rack  10 . The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  shows a base member  25  having a bottom frame bar  28  connecting the side posts  15 ,  20  near the lower ends and a pair of elongated support members  30  extending from below the side posts  15 ,  20 .  
      The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  also has a bridge  31  formed on each side post  15 ,  20  which divides each elongated channel into an upper channel and a lower channel. Additionally, there is at least one slot  34  formed on the upper end of each side post  15 ,  20 .  
      FIGS.  2  to  4  show a display rack  10  having a side support clamp  35  mounted on each side post  15 ,  20  through the corresponding channel. Each support clamp  35  has an inner plate  37  and an outer plate  38  which is joined to clamp onto a corresponding side post  15 ,  20 . In the embodiment as shown in  FIG. 3 , the inner plate  37  has a threaded bore which receives a threaded member protruding from the outer plate  38  for tight engagement of the inner and outer plates  37 ,  38 . Each inner plate  37  has a plurality of slots  40  formed thereon, and the slots  40  and support clamps  35  are formed and positioned for holding one or more support bars  43  between the support clamps  35  with each end of the support bar  43  being received into a corresponding slot  40  of a corresponding inner plate  37  as shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  further shows the display rack having a pair of support bars  43  placed between the support clamps  35 , and each support bar  43  has a plurality of slots  46  which are formed for receiving the supporting arms  49  of a display device as shown in  FIG. 2 . The outer plate  38  of each support clamp  35  can have an outward protrusion  50  having a hole  52  therethough for removeably receiving a display arm  53  therein as shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of the structure of the outward protrusion  50  for holding a display arm  53  thereon. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the outward protrusion has an outer end having a threaded bore leading into the hole  52  formed through the protrusion  50 . An end piece  57  having a threaded protrusion twistably engages with the outward protrusion  50  such that the threaded protrusion of the end piece  57  can enter into the hole  52  through the threaded bore as the end piece  57  is tightened onto the outward protrusion  50 .  
      The versatile display rack can further comprise a display bar  60  placed between the side posts  15 ,  20  as shown in  FIG. 5 . As shown, the display bar  60  has an end extending through the corresponding channel of each side post  15 ,  20 . The display bar  60  has a pair of connection members  65  for removeable connection to each side post  15 ,  20  so that the height of the placement of the display bar  60  can be varied along the side posts  15 ,  20 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , each connection member  65  has an outer plate  68  and an inner plate  70  which can be moved together to clamp onto a side post placed therebetween. The display bar  60  further has a plurality of slots  70  for receiving a supporting arm  80  of a display structure  85  therein.  
      In use, the display rack is extremely versatile. The one or more slots formed at the upper end of each side post can hold a mirror therebetween or a display bar for further attachment of display arms thereon. In addition a plurality of side support clamps  35  can be mounted on each side post  15 ,  20  as desired through the corresponding channel. Each side support clamp  35  can be varied in height throughout each side post according to the desired height requirements of the user. One or more support bars  43  can be placed between each pair of opposed support clamps  35  as desired. Each support bar  43  has a plurality of slots  46  which are formed for receiving the supporting arms  49  of a display device which can range from hanging bars to shelves. The supporting arms  49  can hang from the support bars  43  frontward, backward, or sideward relative to the display rack. The display rack can further comprise one or more display bars  60  placed between the side posts  15 ,  20  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The display bars  60  can be used by themselves on the side posts or in conjunction with the side support clamps  35  according to the preference of the user. The display bar  60  is versatile in that its height can be varied along the side posts  15 ,  20  and furthermore, the display bar  60  can be removed if necessary. The display bar  60  further has a plurality of slots  70  for receiving a supporting arm  80  of a display structure  85  ranging from hanging bars to shelves.  
      Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated for purposes of clarity and example, it should be understood that many changes, substitutions and modifications to the described embodiment will be apparent to those having skill in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention which is defined by the claims which follow.