Abstract:
A multi peg adapter device for providing increased display space beyond standard shelving devices. An elongated crossbar releasably supports a plurality of commercially available peg holders and of adjustable length is provided to allow the product user to regulate the length of the multi peg adapter device to its preferred use. The device further has stabilizer engaging plates at both ends to releasably engage one of the notches of the support arms so as to allow the multi peg adapter device to be secured to standard wall securing structure. Moreover the multi peg adapter device has vertical stoppers longitudinally spaced at equal intervals on the crossbar to prevent the peg holders from sliding along the crossbar.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is related to U.S. provisional application for patent No. 60/194,368 filed on Apr. 4, 2000. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a peg adapter device and more specifically to a peg adapter device adapted to fixedly support to plurality of peg holders and to prop up and advantageously display merchandise in a store. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the modern retail market, competition is fierce among merchants. With ever increasing quantities of merchandise to display, these merchants frequently face article storage and display space limitations. To survive, they must overcome limited shelving space and incorporate an unlimited variety of new products into their display units. They must also face intense competition for the consumers&#39; interest as well emerging technologies such as the internet retail market. There is a constant demand in the industry for new improved methods of displaying a greater number of products especially if the new product is easy to assemble, cost effective and provides a greater ease for the loading of the stock on the shelving unit. 
     Various types of shelving units already exist and are commonly used in today&#39;s retail stores. Although the shelving units are quite versatile on a horizontal plane there are limitations in the existing assemblies in that the displays are limited in depth of the vertical plane. To illustrate, if a narrow assembly is used to hold the retail product attached to the display wall; there is a significant amount of retail space lost in front of this assembly. This lost space could be advantageously used to prop up more salable products without visually or physically disturbing access to the more inwardly (or in-depth) displayed goods. Similarly, most prop up devices currently in use do not give access storing space behind the display assembly. 
     Peg adapter devices currently in use by retailers to display retail goods are not generally mounted in a fixed position and are frequently horizontally laterally slideable. (Most systems use some form of rail structure which does not restrict the lateral displacement of the peg devices). This method of display is limited in that the retailers have to frequently adjust the pegs and goods on display. This is neither time nor cost effective. There is a real demand for a peg retaining device that could effectively retain the pegs without any horizontal displacement but would still allow the easy loading and removal of sellable goods. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a general object of the present invention to provide a multi peg adapter device that obviates the above noted disadvantages. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a multi peg adapter device that can be selectively positioned forwardly to another display assembly or to an empty space to make selective room for product display. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a multi peg adapter device that provides fixed attachment points for the different pegs/peg holders. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multi peg adapter device that has an adjustable length. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multi peg adapter device that is versatile, easy to use and manufacture. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it helps retail merchants to easily change, reorganize, modify and improve the way their merchandise is displayed. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided herein, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi peg supporting adapter for supporting a generally elongated peg, the multi peg supporting adapter being mountable to an anchoring structure attached to a wall, the anchoring structure including attachment apertures formed therein, the peg defining a peg longitudinal axis, a peg first end and an opposed peg second end, the multi peg supporting adapter comprises: 
     a supporting bracket, the supporting bracket having a generally elongated configuration defining a bracket longitudinal axis, a bracket first end and a generally opposed bracket second end, the bracket first end being provided with a bracket releasable mounting means for releasably anchoring the bracket first end to the anchoring structure so that the bracket is cantilevered relative to the anchoring structure with the bracket second end positioned away from the anchoring structure; 
     a generally elongated supporting rod, the supporting rod defining a rod longitudinal axis, a rod first end and an opposed rod second end; 
     a rod-to-bracket releasable attachment means for releasably attaching the rod first end to the supporting bracket so that the rod longitudinal axis extends in a generally perpendicular relationship relative to the bracket longitudinal axis; the rod-to-bracket releasable attachment means allowing the rod first end to be attached to the supporting bracket at predetermined attachment locations positioned along the supporting bracket between the bracket first and second ends; 
     a peg-to-rod releasable attachment means for releasably attaching the peg first end to the supporting rod so that the peg longitudinal axis extends in a generally perpendicular relationship relative to the rod longitudinal axis, the peg-to-rod releasable attachment means allowing for the peg first end to be attached to the supporting rod at predetermined attachment locations positioned along the supporting rod between the rod first and second ends. 
     Preferably, the supporting rod has telescoping rod segments for allowing telescopic length adjustment of the supporting rod. 
     Preferably, the supporting bracket has a generally flat configuration defining a pair of opposed bracket surfaces, the bracket also defining a bracket attachment edge; 
     the rod-to-bracket releasable attachment means including at least two attachment notches spaced along the bracket attachment edge and an attachment leg extending from the rod first end, the attachment leg being configured and sized for being at least partially insertable into the attachment notches and retractable therefrom, wherein when the attachment leg is at least partially inserted into a corresponding attachment notch the attachment leg is also releasably secured thereto. 
     Preferably, each of the attachment notches defines a notch first edge extending inwardly and generally perpendicularly to the bracket attachment edge into the supporting bracket; each of the attachment notches also defining a notch second edge intercepting the notch first edge and extending in a direction generally parallel to bracket attachment edge; each of the attachment notches further defining a notch third edge, the notch third edge extending at an angle between the notch second edge and the bracket attachment edge. 
     Preferably, the attachment leg includes a leg spacing segment and a leg attachment segment, the leg spacing segment extending between the rod first end and the leg attachment segment; the leg attachment segment having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration defining a pair of spaced apart abutment plates, the leg attachment segment being at least partially insertable into one of the attachment notches with each of the abutment plates abutting against a corresponding one of the bracket surfaces. 
     Preferably, the anchoring structure includes an anchoring pilaster. attachable in a generally vertical orientation to the wall, the anchoring pilaster having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration defining a pair of pilaster spacing segments maintained in a spaced apart and generally perpendicular relationship relative to each other by a pilaster anchoring segment, the attachment apertures having a generally slot-shaped configuration; 
     the bracket releasable mounting means including a bracket anchoring hook extending from the bracket first end, the bracket anchoring hook being provided for inserting and releasably anchoring into one of the attachment apertures. 
     Alternatively, the anchoring structure includes pegboard attachable in a generally parallel relationship to the wall, the attachment apertures having a generally disk-shaped configuration; 
     the bracket releasable mounting means including a bracket-peg hook extending from the bracket first end, the bracket-peg hook being provided for inserting and releasably anchoring into one of the attachment apertures. 
     Preferably, the supporting rod includes a rod core and a rod sleeve slidably mounted thereon for telescopic movement relative thereto, the peg-to-rod releasable attachment means including at least two attachment rods attached to the supporting rod and extending in a direction generally parallel to the latter, the attachment rods being in a spaced apart relationship relative to each other so as to define an attachment rod spacing therebetween, the attachment rod spacing being configured and sized for releasably receiving an attachment section of the peg first end. 
     Preferably, the peg-to-rod releasable attachment means includes a stopper member attached to the attachment rods for preventing sliding movement of the peg relative to supporting rod along the longitudinal axis. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi peg supporting adapter for supporting a generally elongated peg, the multi peg supporting adapter being mountable to an anchoring structure attached to a wall, the anchoring structure including attachment apertures formed therein, the peg defining a peg longitudinal axis, a peg first end and an opposed peg second end, the multi peg supporting adapter comprises: 
     a pair of supporting brackets, each of the supporting brackets having a generally elongated configuration defining a bracket longitudinal axis, a bracket first end and a generally opposed bracket second end, the bracket first end being provided with a bracket releasable mounting means for releasably anchoring the bracket first end to the anchoring structure so that the bracket is cantilevered relative to the anchoring structure with the bracket second end positioned away from the anchoring structure; 
     a generally elongated supporting rod, the supporting rod defining a rod longitudinal axis, a rod first end and an opposed rod second end; 
     a rod-to-bracket releasable attachment means for releasably attaching the rod first and second ends to a corresponding one of the supporting brackets so that the rod longitudinal axis extends in a generally perpendicular relationship relative to the bracket longitudinal axis; the rod-to-bracket releasable attachment means allowing the rod first and second ends to be respectively attached to the corresponding one of the supporting brackets at predetermined attachment locations positioned along the supporting brackets between the bracket first and second ends; 
     a peg-to-rod releasable attachment means for releasably attaching the peg first end to the supporting rod so that the peg longitudinal axis extends in a generally perpendicular relationship relative to the rod longitudinal axis, the pegto-rod releasable attachment means allowing for the peg first end to be attached to the supporting rod at predetermined attachment locations positioned along the supporting rod between the rod first and second ends. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the annexed drawings, like reference characters indicate like elements throughout. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a multi peg adapter device according to the present invention, showing peg holders mounted thereon; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of a support arm of the embodiment of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged front perspective view of an extension member of the embodiment of FIG. 1 secured to an upper extremity of a stabilizer engaging plate; 
     FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial front view of the crossbar of the embodiment of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 a  is a view similar of FIG. 5 showing a second embodiment of the crossbar; 
     FIG. 6 is a section view taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 6 a  is a section view taken along line  6   a - 6   a  of FIG. 5 a ; 
     FIGS. 7,  8  and  9  are side, front and top plan views of a peg holder to be mounted on the crossbar of the embodiment of FIG. 1; 
     FIGS. 7 a,    8   a  and  9   a  are views similar to FIGS. 7,  8  and  9  respectively, showing a second type of peg holder to be mounted on the crossbar of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and 
     FIGS. 10 and 10 a  are perspective views of pegs adapted to engage the peg holders of FIGS. 7 and 7 a  respectively. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the annexed drawing the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be herein described for indicative purposes and by no means as of limitation. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an embodiment  20  of a multi peg adapter device according to the present invention mounted on a wall securing or anchoring structure such as a pair of holding posts P mounted on a wall (not shown). The device  20  includes an elongated crossbar member  22 , or supporting rod, with two (2) ends, preferably stabilizer engaging plate members  24 , or rod-to-bracket attachment means, supported by cantilevered support arm members  26 , or supporting brackets. The crossbar  22  is adapted for releasably supporting a plurality of display pegs comprised of peg holders  28 ,  28   a,  or peg attachment section, coupled with respective pegs  30 ,  30   a.  Various goods G, generally packaged, are hung on the pegs  30 ,  30   a.  A standard horizontal display Y is also mounted on the same holding posts P. It is shown that the standard display Y is located behind the adapter device  20 , relatively to a vertical plane generally perpendicular to the direction the support arms  26 . This characteristic of the device  20  to be able to display goods G in such a forward position offers one of the main advantages of this invention. As shown, space is valuably used permitting to display a second row of wares while the merchandise held on the display Y remain as visually and physically accessible to the retail shopper. 
     FIG. 2 shows one of the support arms  26 . Each support arm  26  is a generally flat, elongated rectangular plate and is generally horizontally oriented. One of the shorter sides of the support arm  26  is a post holding end  32 , or arm mounting means, adapted to be removably and rigidly fixed onto a standard holding post P (shown on FIG.  1 ), to apertures formed therein, as is well known in the art. A plurality of cutout attachment notches  34  are located along the top long side, or bracket attachment edge, of the support arms  22  to be releasably engaged by the stabilizer engaging plates  24 , or attachment legs. in order to be adjustable in length for fitting the variable distance between two holding posts P and different displays Y, the crossbar  22  has an extension member, preferably telescopic, with an inner sliding member  36 , or rod core, protruding out of one open end of the crossbar  22 , or, rod sleeve. Preferably, both crossbar  22  and sliding member  36  are of square cross-section, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The closed end of crossbar  22  and the exposed outer extremity of sliding member  36  are provided with a stabilizer engaging plate  24  that is preferably vertically oriented as to clear any display Y that could run underneath the crossbar  22 . Each stabilizer engaging plate  24  is preferably flat and rectangular and has the inside of its upper end  38 , or leg spacing segment, secured, preferably by welding, on the its respective end, of sliding member  36  or crossbar  22 . The outside of the lower end  40 , or leg attachment segment, of the stabilizer engaging plate  24  is secured, preferably by welding, to a flange  42 . The top portion of the flange  42  has an outwardly protruding overhanging end  44  such as a downwardly oriented hook with a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration. This hook  44  releasably engages one of the cutout notches  34  of the support arm  26  (shown on FIGS.  1  and  2 ). Preferably, each cutout notch  34  is provided with a bottom edge (or second edge) backwardly oriented extension  35  adapted to slidably receive a portion the hook  44  of the flange  42  for securing and stabilizing the latter therein. 
     A small threaded aperture  46  is radially located at the periphery of the crossbar  22  in proximity to the open end the inner sliding extension  36  is inserted in. The threaded aperture  48  receives a securing member, preferably a clamping screw  48 , used to abut against the inner sliding member  36  and rigidly secure the latter in place, thus preventing it from moving relative to the crossbar  22  once in the desired position. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show a partial middle section of the crossbar  22 . A plurality of U-shaped stopper members  50  are secured, preferably by welding, into an up-sidedown, or reversed, position with their two legs of the U-shape being essentially vertical and below the top web, onto the crossbar  22 . Each stopper  50  is preferably formed out of circular rods, of a diameter D. Adjacent U-shaped stoppers  50  are longitudinally, preferably equally, spaced along the elongated crossbar  22  by a minimal distance S′ while the distance between the two legs of each U-shaped stopper  50  is approximately of the distance S. At least two (2), preferably three (3), horizontal attachment rods  52 , forming a peg-to-rod attachment means, are secured, preferably by welding, to the U-shaped stoppers  50 . Each horizontal rod  52  is thereby elongated and parallel to the crossbar  22 . The vertical distance between adjacent horizontal rods  52  is R. The space between the horizontal rods  52  and the crossbar  22  is the diameter D of all reversed U-shaped stoppers  50 . Preferably, the diameter of horizontal rods  52  is also approximately D. 
     FIGS. 5 a  and  6   a  show a partial middle section of a second embodiment the crossbar  22   a . A plurality of vertical stoppers  50   a  are secured, preferably by welding, in vertical alignment on one side of the crossbar  22   a . The vertical stoppers  50   a  are elongated and preferably short circular rods, of a diameter D. All horizontal stoppers  50   a  are longitudinally, preferably equally, spaced along the elongated crossbar  22   a  by a distance S separating adjacent stoppers  50   a . At least two (2) horizontal rods  52   a  are secured, preferably by welding, on a plurality of horizontal stoppers  50   a . Each horizontal rod  52   a  is thereby elongated and parallel to the crossbar  22   a . The vertical distance between adjacent horizontal rods  52   a  is R. The space between the horizontal rods  52   a  and the crossbar  22   a  is the diameter D of vertical stoppers  50   a . Preferably, the diameter of horizontal rods  52   a  is also approximately D. 
     FIGS. 7,  8  and  9  show the standard peg holder, as known in the industry. The peg holder  28  is preferably formed out of a generally flat material of uniform thickness T. The peg holder  28  includes a generally vertical flat main section  60  with two adjacent backwardly protruding L-shaped ears  54  secured to its top portion. The two L-shaped ears  54  are parallel and separated by a distance w and provide an overall width W to the peg holder  28 . The vertical upper part  56  of each L-shaped ear  54  is of a height H and upwardly extends from its corresponding horizontal lower part  58 , itself of a depth E and backwardly extending from the main section  60 . A holding section  62 , formed of two lateral arms  63 , forwardly extends from the main section  60 . The L-shaped ears  54  are adapted to be inserted in-between two adjacent horizontal rods  52 ,  52   a . The distance R between the two adjacent rods  52 ,  52   a  is sufficient to allow for a smooth passage of the ears  54  therethrough (FIGS. 5,  5   a ,  6  and  6   a ). The upper parts  56  of the L-shaped ears  54  are adapted to be positioned between the upper horizontal rod  52 ,  52   a  and the crossbar  22 ,  22   a . Also to allow for the smooth passage, the thickness T of the upper parts  56  of the L-shaped ears  54  shall be relatively smaller than the diameter D of the stoppers  50 ,  50   a . The depth E is generally equal to or slightly larger than the diameter D of the horizontal rods  52 ,  52   a . The height H shall be enough to permit the upper parts.  56  to abut on the upper back of the horizontal rod  52 ,  52   a  while the lower parts  58  rest on the lower horizontal rod  52 ,  52   a . Most of the main section  60  abuts on the front of at least the first lower horizontal rod  52 ,  52   a . Thus, when the peg holder  28  is inserted in-between the two horizontal rods  52 ,  52   a  it is rigidly but releasably secured in the vertical plane. For the embodiment of the FIGS. 5 and 6, the distance S is preferably slightly larger than the distance W between the two legs of the stoppers  50 . Similarly, the distance S′ in-between two adjacent stoppers  50  is preferably slightly smaller than the distance w, hence permitting a positioning of the peg holder  28  not only in-between the two legs of a same U-shaped stopper  50  but also overlapping two adjacent legs of two adjacent U-shaped stoppers  50 . Furthermore in the second embodiment of FIGS. 5 a  and  6   a , when the peg holder  28  is inserted in-between the two horizontal rods  52 ,  52   a , the peg holder  28  is also positioned to have its two L-shaped ears  54  between two horizontal stoppers  50   a . Again, the distance S is preferably slightly larger than the distance W, and S′ slightly smaller than w. Thus, when the peg holder  28  is inserted in-between the two horizontal rods  52 ,  52   a  and between the vertical stoppers  50   a , or in-between or overlapping the legs of the U-shaped stoppers  50 , it is rigidly but releasably secured within the vertical plane; the peg holder  28  is then vertically secured between rods  52 ,  52   a  and horizontally secured along the direction of the crossbar  22 ,  22   a  by the stoppers  50 ,  50   a . It is also perpendicularly secured to the vertical plane by the rods  52 ,  52   a.    
     FIGS. 7 a ,  8   a  and  9   a  show another type of standard peg holder  28   a . The peg holder  28   a  has similar elements  54   a ,  56   a ,  58   a ,  60   a  and  62   a  and characteristics T′, w′, W′, H′, E′ to the peg holder  28  presented in FIGS. 7,  8 , and  9  with the only noticeable difference of a slightly modified holding section  62   a  for the reason explained here after. 
     FIG. 10 shows a standard elongated peg  30  adapted to engage peg holder  28 . The peg  30  includes a horizontal support section  72  having. a back peg engaging extremity  64  and a free front extremity  68 . The peg engaging extremity  64  preferably includes a generally vertical portion adapted to abut the main section  60  of the peg holder  28 , and a generally upper horizontal portion adapted to be removably and securely received by the arms  63  of the holding section  62  of the peg holder  28 . Goods G with a little hanger or packaged goods G with a small hole in the package (see FIG. 1) can therefore be inserted onto the peg  30  via the free extremity  68  and slide along the support section  72  of the peg  30  to be hung or propped up for display for potential customers (shown on FIG.  1 ). Optionally, the peg  30  includes a tag rod  70  horizontally extending from the peg engaging extremity  64  and supporting a tag holder  66  at its front extremity essentially located just above said free extremity  68 . 
     FIG. 10 a  shows a second type of a standard peg  30   a . The peg  30   a  has similar elements  64   a ,  68   a  and  72   a  and characteristics to the peg  30  of FIG. 10, except for a noticeable difference at the peg engaging extremity  64   a . The latter is essentially formed of a downwardly extending extremity of the support section  72   a  and adapted to be received within a vertically oriented bore hole of the holding section  62   a  of the peg holder  28   a  of FIGS. 7 a ,  8   a , and  9   a.    
     The materials used for each presented components of the multi peg adapter device  20  should be rigid enough to sustain the various holding forces required. Various alloys or strong, resilient thermoplastics can be considered. 
     Although the present multi peg adapter device has been described with a certain degree of particularity it is to be understood that the disclosure has been made by way of example only and that the present invention is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed.