Patent Abstract:
To provide a display tool and fixture having above-average strength. A fixture ( 10 ) having: a member ( 12 ) to be fixed; a support member ( 14 ) mounted to the member ( 12 ) to be fixed; and a holding member ( 16 ) which extends in a direction intersecting with the member ( 12 ) to be fixed, which is positioned so that one end thereof is supported by the support member ( 14 ) and so as to make contact with the undersurface of the member ( 12 ) to be fixed or so as to be below the member ( 12 ) to be fixed, and from which an article is hung and held.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Application claims the benefit of priority and is a Continuation application of the prior International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2013/082339, with an international filing date of Dec. 2, 2013, which designated the United States, the entire disclosures of all applications are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a display tool and fixture. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Patent Article 1 describes a merchandise display tool. This merchandise display tool has an engaging member that is detachable from a bar member of a merchandise display shelf and a merchandise display bar whose rear end is detachably connected with the engaging member. The engaging member of the display tool is made of resin and the merchandise display bar is made of metal. 
         [0006]    Patent Article 1: Official Gazette for Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 1999(H11)-076011. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , in a fixture  1  of the prior art, a retaining member  6  used for hanging to hold commercial goods is welded to a support member  4  at a welding component  8 . In order to reinforce the structural weakness, each member including the support member  4  is made to be thicker and longer (in the longitudinal direction of the frame) or needs a reinforcing member. The present invention has a purpose of providing a display tool and fixture that are stronger than the prior art. 
         [0008]    A fixture of a first invention for achieving the aforementioned purpose of the present invention is composed of a member to be fixed, a support member attached to the member to be fixed, and a retaining member extending in a nearly horizontal direction to intersect with a direction along which the member to be fixed extends so that one end thereof is supported by the support member while being positioned at the lower side of the member to be fixed to hang and hold commercial goods in position. 
         [0009]    In the fixture of the first invention, the support member is composed of a first support component that supports the retaining member at a first position, a second support component that supports the retaining member at a second position, and a coupling component that connects the first support component and the second support component. 
         [0010]    In the fixture of the first invention, the coupling component is mounted on the member to be fixed. 
         [0011]    In the fixture of the first invention, there are a first and a second hole formed in the first and the second support members for passing through the retaining member, respectively. 
         [0012]    In the fixture of the first invention, the first support component or the second support component, or the first support component and the second support component have means for fixing the retaining member in position. 
         [0013]    In the fixture of the first invention, the second support component has a positioning component that determines the position of the retaining member in the longitudinal direction. 
         [0014]    In the fixture of the first invention, the base end of the retaining member is tapered or chamfered. 
         [0015]    In the fixture of the first invention, the retaining member is detachably attached to the support member. 
         [0016]    In the fixture of the first invention, the tip of the retaining member preferably has a means for preventing commercial goods from being dropped. 
         [0017]    In the fixture of the first invention, the retaining member is preferably straight, and the means for preventing commercial goods from being dropped is preferably a groove formed along the entire circumference of the tip of the retaining member, or the retaining member has a diameter larger than that of the retaining member. 
         [0018]    In the fixture of the first invention, the fixing means has preferably the direction of extending the center axis of the first hole which is not aligned with the direction of extending the center axis of the second hole. 
         [0019]    In the fixture of the first invention, the means for positioning the retaining member in the longitudinal direction may be a cuff formed on the second support component. 
         [0020]    The display tool of the second invention for achieving the aforementioned purpose is composed of a support member attached to a member to be fixed, and a retaining member which extends in a direction intersecting with a direction along which the member to be fixed extends so that one end thereof is supported by the support member while being positioned at the lower side of the member to be fixed to hang and hold commercial goods in position. 
         [0021]    The present invention may improve the structural strength of the fixture compared with the prior art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a right side views of a frame, a support member, and a retaining member of the fixture of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are a right side view and the front view of the support member of the fixture of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a right side of a modified example of the fixture of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are a front view and a right side view of a modified example of the support member of the fixture of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a right side views of a frame, a support member, and a retaining member of the fixture of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are a right side view and the front view of the support member of the fixture of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a right side view of a frame, a support member, and a retaining member of the fixture of the prior art. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    Referring to figures attached herein, embodiments of the present invention are described for understanding the present invention in detail. In each figure, the parts irrelevant to the description may be omitted. 
       First Embodiment 
       [0030]    The fixture of the first embodiment of the present invention may be installed in a convenience store for hanging to display commercial goods. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the fixture  10  has a frame (part of a fixture member to be fixed)  12 , a support member  14 , and a retaining member  16 . The support member  14  and the retaining member  16  constitute an example of a display tool. 
         [0032]    The frame  12 , for example, has a rectangular cross section, and extends in an essentially horizontal direction. Here, the “horizontal direction” does not mean exactly the level line. In other words, the “horizontal direction” means an “essentially level line” within a tolerance allowed by design and production (and the same hereinafter). For instance, the direction in which the frame  12  extends may be slanted within the range of −10 degrees to +10 degrees from the level line. The frame  12  is, for example, a cross bar (a bar member). The material of the frame  12  may be metal, resin, and paper such as cardboard, and the like. Another example of the fixing member to be fixed is a lattice structured member and a board like member. 
         [0033]    The support member  14  is attached to the frame  12  to support the retaining member  16 . Namely, the support member  14  may couple the frame  12  with the retaining member  16 . As shown  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the support member  14  has the first support component  14   a  and the second support component  14   b  and the coupling component  14   c.    
         [0034]    The support component  14   a  is located in front of the frame  12  (which is the side of displaying commercial goods), extending vertically. As shown in  FIG. 2B , at the midpoint of the frame  12  in the vertical direction, there is a cuff part  22  whose lower part is bent to the front side. In the cuff part  22 , there is a hole H 1  through which the retaining member  16  passes. In other words, the first support component  14   a  may support the retaining member  16  at the first position. 
         [0035]    The support component  14   b  is located at the back of the frame  12  (which is the opposite side of displaying merchandise), extending vertically. In the second support component  14   b,  there is a second hole H 2 , which is essentially the same size as the first hole H 1 , through which the retaining member  16  passes. In other words, the second support component  14   b  may support the retaining member  16  at the second position which is behind the first position of the retaining member  16 . At the lower end of the second support component  14   b,  a cuff part  20  is formed folding its tip upward. The retaining member  16  contacts with the cuff part  20  so that the position of the retaining member  16  in the longitudinal direction may be determined when the retaining member  16  is attached to the support member  14 . 
         [0036]    Because of the cuff part  22  formed in the first support component  14   a,  the direction of extending the center axis AX 1  of the first hole H 1  formed in the first support component  14   a  and the direction of extending the center axis AX 2  of the second hole H 2  formed in the second support component  14   b  are different. In other words, viewing from the side, the center axis AX 1  of the first hole H 1  intersects with the center axis AX 2  of the second hole H 2 . 
         [0037]    The coupling component  14   c  is connected to the upper end of the first support component  14   a  and to the upper end of the second support component  14   b  to couple the first support component  14   a  with the second support component  14   b.  The coupling component  14   c  is mounted on the upper surface of the frame  12  (refer to  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0038]    The material of the support member  14  is for example metal and plastics. However, if the support member  14  attains pre-determined strength, its material is not particularly limited, and rubber, wood, cloth, and paper such as cardboard and the like may be used as well. 
         [0039]    The retaining member  16  is, for example, a rod like member whose cross section is a circle or an ellipse. The retaining member  16  extends to the direction with which the frame  12  intersects. The retaining member  16  may hang commercial goods by inserting its one end into a hole of a package of the commercial goods. 
         [0040]    As described above, the base end of the retaining member  16  is attached to the support member  14 , passing through the first hole H 1  formed in the first support component  14   a  and the second hole H 2  formed on the second support component  14   b , and contacting with the lower surface of the frame  12 . 
         [0041]    In order to attach the retaining member  16  to the support member  14 , appropriate force is applied to the cuff part  22  (refer to  FIGS. 2A and 2B ) under the first support component  14   a  of the support member  14  to push the part backward so that the support member  14  is bent to align the center axes of the first hole H 1  and the second hole H 2  so that the retaining member  16  may be inserted into the aligned holes. If the backward-pushing force from the cuff part  22  under the support component  14   a  of the support member  14  is released, the support member  14  restores its straight shape, which exerts force on the retaining member  16  in the radial direction, holding it to the support member  14  in position. 
         [0042]    In order to detach the retaining member  16  from the support member  14 , appropriate force is applied to the cuff part  22  (refer to  FIGS. 2A and 2B ) under the first support component  14   a  of the support member  14  to push it backward so that the support member  14  is bent to align the center axes of the first hole H 1  and the second hole H 2  so that the retaining member  16  may be pulled out from the aligned holes. In this way, the retaining member  16  is detachable whereby a retaining member of appropriate length may be used for various applications. 
         [0043]    Under the first support component  14   a,  there was the cuff part  22  which is bent toward the front side for opening itself. Instead of the cuff part  22 , the other cuff part  24  which is bent toward the front side for opening itself may be also formed under the second support component  14   b  as shown in  FIG. 3 , and  FIGS. 4A and 4B . For example, if commercial goods are not filled from the backside of the retaining member  16 , the parts under the first support component  14   a  and the second support component  14   b  may be bent together. 
         [0044]    Furthermore, the parts under the first support component  14   a  and the second support component  14   b  may not be bent either but the center axis AX 1  of the first hole H 1  and the center axis AX 2  of the second hole H 2  may be misaligned. In other words, the direction of the center axis AX 1  of the first hole H 1  and the direction of the center axis AX 2  of the second hole H 2  may be different. 
         [0045]    The degree of misalignment between the center axis AX 1  of the first hole H 1  and the center axis AX 2  of the second hole H 2  or easiness of bending the support member  14  determines the force that is applied to fix the retaining member  16  to the support member  14  in position. By enlarging the degree of misalignment, it is possible to design the fixture of the present invention un-detachably without tools. 
         [0046]    The tip of the retaining member  16  is preferably tapered where the diameter decreases gradually toward the tip end. By tapering the tip, it is easier to insert the retaining member  16  into the first hole H 1  and the second hole H 2 . Instead of tapering, it is also possible to chamfer the edge for this purpose. 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , at the tip of the retaining member  16 , there is a groove  30  formed on the entire circumference. Forming the groove  30  may prevent commercial goods from being dropped. In addition, since the groove  30  is formed along the entire circumference, the retaining member  16  may be installed without concern about the rotational direction of the center axis of the retaining member  16 . 
         [0048]    Instead of forming the groove  30  at the tip of the retaining member  16 , a cap (not shown in the figure) may be attached to the tip. Making the outer diameter of the cap larger than that of the retaining member  16  may also prevent commercial goods from being dropped. The cross-sectional shape of the retaining member  16  may be arbitrary. 
         [0049]    Next, the operation of the fixture  10  is described hereinafter. In the fixture of the prior art shown in  FIG. 7 , the first most possible location that would be broken due to excessive weights of hanging commercial goods and the retaining member is the welded part  5  that welded the support member  3  to the retaining member  2 , and second most possible part is the peripheral area of the upper front surface  6  of the support member  3 . 
         [0050]    The reason why the welded part  8  welding the support member  4  to the retaining member  6  is the most possibly breakable part is the lever action to the welded part  8 ; for example, if the width of the upper surface of the support member  4  is 20 mm and the length of the retaining member  6  is 220 mm, then the magnitude of force acting on the welded part  8  will be approximately 5 to 10 times the total weight of hanging commercial goods and the retaining member  6 . 
         [0051]    The reason why the part around the upper front surface  4   a  of the support member  4  is the second most breakable part is that the support member  6  of the prior art has a structure which receives the aforementioned force in the bending direction for the part of the upper surface  4   a  of the support member  4  with certain thickness and width. 
         [0052]    As for the operation of the display tool  10  of the embodiment, it may significantly reduce the thickness and width of the support member  14  compared with the prior art because no welding is required for manufacturing the member and the rear part of the lower surface  12   a  of the frame  12  (referring to  FIG. 1 ) receives the total weight of hanging commercial goods and the retaining member  16   a.  Because the rear part of the lower surface  12   a  of the frame  12  receives the most weight of hanging commercial goods and the retaining member  16 , it is possible to install a retaining member  16  with a diameter larger than the prior art. 
         [0053]    The total weight of hanging commercial goods and the retaining member  16  is also supported by the lower rim of the first hole H 1  and the upper rim of the second hole H 2 . As a result, the total weight of commercial goods and the retaining member acts as the stretching force in the direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the first support component  14   a  and the thickness direction of the second support component  14   b  respectively (refer to the arrow Al shown in  FIG. 1 ) and as the compression force (refer to the arrow A 2  shown in  FIG. 1 ), and hence the support member is stronger than the prior art. 
         [0054]    The retaining member  16  does not necessarily contact with the lower surface of the member  12  to be fixed. 
         [0055]    Next, the manufacturing method of the fixture is described. In particular, the manufacturing process of a metal support member  14  is described. The support member  14  is manufactured by bending a rectangular plate material. A detailed description of the manufacturing step is given hereinafter. 
         [0056]    (First Step) 
         [0057]    The first step is to cut a metal plate of an appropriate length. 
         [0058]    (Second Step) 
         [0059]    The second step is to form the first hole H 1  and the second hole H 2  at the predetermined positions of the first support component  14   a  and the second support component  14   b  as shown in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , respectively. 
         [0060]    (Third Step) 
         [0061]    The third step is to bend the plate material at two different mid positions in the longitudinal direction of the plate material to form the first support component  14   a,  the second support component  14   b,  and the coupling component  14   c.    
         [0062]    (Fourth Step) 
         [0063]    The fourth step is to form a cuff part  20  by folding the tip of the second support component  14   b  at two different positions. The folding positions are not limited to two. For forming the cuff parts, folding is carried out at least one or more different positions at the tip of the second support component  14  and formed cuffs that determine the position of the retaining member  16  in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, if the position of the retaining member  16  in the long direction may be determined, the cuff parts are not necessarily formed by folding. 
         [0064]    (Fifth Step) 
         [0065]    A cuff part  22  is formed by bending the mid position of the first support component  14   a  so that the tip of the first support component  14   a  is opened outward. With this step, the center axis AX 1  of the first hole H 1  and the center axis AX 2  of the second hole H 2  become unaligned. 
         [0066]    As described above, the support member  14  may be easily manufactured by applying the bending and the drilling steps on the plate material. The aforementioned second and fifth steps may be interchanged if possible, and the forth and the fifth steps may be carried out as required and not always carried out. 
         [0067]    As explained above, the fixture  10  may maintain a stronger structure that the prior art. As shown in  FIG. 7 , in a fixture of the prior art, because the base end of the retaining member  16  is welded, it is impossible to add commercial goods from behind, whereby the idea of first in, first out, i.e., selling goods in stock first is not implemented. However, the fixture  10  of the embodiment of the present invention may implement the first in, first out by adding goods to the retaining member  16  from behind because the retaining member  16  is detachable. 
         [0068]    For adding commercial goods to a retaining member  6  of the prior art where a support member  4  and a retaining member  6  are welded together, there should be some room between a hole of a commercial goods package for hanging it and its content. In other words, a package is made to be somewhat longer for this purpose. By making the package longer, a shop clerk may hold the upper parts of the packages and add them all to the retaining member. However, due to the package thickness and other reasons, commercial goods that cannot be hung are placed on a shelf and the like. 
         [0069]    The fixture  10  of the embodiment of the present invention does not require the aforementioned package modification but may hang thick commercial goods to implement the first in, first out sales easily. 
         [0070]    Furthermore, the fixture  10  has another advantage in facing up commercial goods and pushing them forward. 
         [0071]    On a shelf of displaying commercial goods, a periodic facing up is required to line them up otherwise the shelf display becomes noticeably disorganized. The fixture  10  may line up commercial goods to be less disorganized than a conventional shelf and hence an organized display may be maintained. 
         [0072]    The fixture  10  basically does not require pushing the displayed commercial goods forward. A shop clerk may add commercial goods by lowering the tip of the retaining member  16  which is detached from the support member  14 , and then attach it to the support member  14  to push the commercial goods forward. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0073]    A fixture  50  as a second embodiment of the present invention is described hereinafter. The configurational elements which are the same as those in the fixture of the first embodiment have the identical reference numerals and are omitted from the description. 
         [0074]    As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the directions of the center axis AX 11  of the first hole H 11  formed in a first support component  54   a  and the center axis AX 12  of the hole H 12  of a second support component  54   b  are essentially the same. There is a ring  60  made of flexible material such as silicon and rubber is fitted to the rim of the second hole H 12  of the second support component  54   b.  The inner diameter of the ring  60  is smaller than the outer diameter of the retaining member  16  whereby the ring  60  may hold the retaining member  16  that is inserted (press-fitted) into the ring. 
       Third Embodiment 
       [0075]    Next, a fixture of a third embodiment of the present invention is described hereinafter. The configurational elements which are the same as those in the fixture of the first embodiment have the identical reference numerals and are omitted from the description. 
         [0076]    It is possible to fix the retaining member in position using the magnetic force of a magnet attached to the rear end or the cuff member of the retaining member. It is also possible to make a locking mechanism at the cuff for fixing the retaining member in position. Furthermore, using a material such as plastic to increase the thickness of the support member and fix it with a wedge and the like may eliminate the cuff of the support member. 
         [0077]    The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be modified without changing the technological scope of the present invention. For example, all of the aforementioned embodiments or part of them combined may be considered within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0078]    The fixture of the aforementioned embodiments may be also used to hang cookware in a kitchen. The retaining member of the fixture may be also used for holding documents by poking them. In other words, the fixture of the present invention includes storage cabinets for hanging cookware and office cabinets to hold documents. 
         [0079]    In general, if a commercially available fixture utilizes the fixture of the present invention, it needs a display tool for displaying commercial goods&#39; prices. The support member of the fixture of the aforementioned embodiments of the present invention may also be integrated with a display tool. 
         [0080]    Note that, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. Although it is to those skilled in the art, the following are disclosed as the one embodiment of this invention.
       Mutually substitutable members, configurations, etc. disclosed in the embodiment can be used with their combination altered appropriately.   Although not disclosed in the embodiment, members, configurations, etc. that belong to the known technology and can be substituted with the members, the configurations, etc. disclosed in the embodiment can be appropriately substituted or are used by altering their combination.   Although not disclosed in the embodiment, members, configurations, etc. that those skilled in the art can consider as substitutions of the members, the configurations, etc. disclosed in the embodiment are substituted with the above mentioned appropriately or are used by altering its combination.       
 
         [0084]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the sprit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5