Abstract:
A wall system for displaying product in retail establishments and the like is disclosed. The wall system employs strips that are positioned on a wall. The strips have slots for receiving hook members on one or more brackets. The brackets are in the form of a flat plate with an orifice through the plate. The plate has a first arm and a second arm around the orifice and the arms are separated at their ends forming an opening between the arms leading to the open area representing the orifice a rod is inserted between the arms and rotated to lock the rod into position in the orifice.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/203,534 filed Dec. 24, 2008, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed to the field of product displays and more particularly the articles used to create displays in, for example, retail environments. More particularly the present invention is directed to a wall bracket and an accompanying accessory system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Many retail establishments use wall space to display articles that are available to the customer. The wall space can be an actual wall of a room or building or it can be any vertical surface in an area that is either a permanent fixture or removable. One type of display arrangement that is very common includes a metal or plastic strip that is secured to a wall type surface. The strip is generally positioned vertically on the wall surface and is frequently paired with a second similar strip. The strip can be any length but is typically about a half inch or so wide and has a top surface and a pair of side surfaces extending from the top surface toward the wall surface. The rear surface of the strip may be open to the interior or closed. The top surface of the strip is provided with one or more narrow slots extending vertically along the top surface. The slots are designed to receive an arm that extends outwardly from the top surface of the strip. The arm may have a free end and an opposite end that is removably secured to the strip. The arm may have one or more male members or pins that are each received in a slot and thereby held in place. In a typical arrangement, the arm has a first tab and a second tab that is received into a pair of slots. The tabs have a hook member that extends downwardly and prevents the tab from being inadvertently removed. 
         [0004]    A variety of display arrangements can be made using the display strip. A pair of strips, for example, with their arms in a side by side arrangement can have a shelf extending from one arm on the strip to the other arm on the strip. Alternatively, the arm may be provided with a plurality of upwardly extending members. A plurality of hangers with product thereon can be hung on the arm with the upwardly extending members separating the hangers. In another arrangement, the arm can have a u-shaped receptacle on each of the arms. A length of a rectangular or circular bar can be received by the u-shaped members at the ends of the arms. A plurality of hangers can then be placed on the rod and be supported thereby. Other arrangements are well known in the art. These other display arrangements can use the slotted strip or they may employ other arrangements to show goods and merchandise. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a unique bracket for use in display systems. 
         [0006]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide a bracket and accessory system that is versatile and easy to assemble. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the invention to provide a bracket without inadvertently becoming disassembled. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved wall assembly system. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention is directed to improvements in wall systems for displaying merchandise including but not limited to clothing and other garments as well as a variety of other products. The system employs one or more strips that are secured to the wall. These strips can vary in length and usually have at least a top surface with one or more slots in the top surface. The slots are usually generally rectangular but can be any shape or size. 
         [0010]    Inserted into the slot or plurality of slots on the strip is a bracket. Each strip may have one or more brackets removably secured to the strips by means of the slots. The bracket is in the form of a disk or plate. The disk or plate is preferably thin and its other dimensions can vary as desired. The bracket has an outer edge between two side surfaces that is provided with a hook or other means for securing the bracket to the strip. Opposite the edge with the hook the plate has a generally “C” configuration, i.e., an opening section in the outer edge of the disk or plate between two arms that leads to an open area generally in a center region of the disk. The open area is generally greater in cross section than the opening between the two arms. The open area is provided with first and second tabs that extend into the open area. 
         [0011]    The wall system also has a rod that is preferably rectangular in cross section. The rod can be any length depending on how far the strips are separated. The rod also preferably has a cross section where the distance from one side wall of the rectangle to the opposite wall of the rectangle is shorter than the distance from one end wall of the rectangle to the opposite end wall of the rectangle. 
         [0012]    The opening in the outer edge of the disk or plate is preferably formed by first and second arms. The first arm has a first edge portion and the second arm has a second edge portion the distance from one edge portion to the opposite portion that constitutes the opening section of the plate is less than the length of the rod cross section from one end of the rod&#39;s cross section to the other end of the rod&#39;s cross section and greater than the distance from one side of the rectangular cross section to the opposite side of the cross section. 
         [0013]    The rod is insert into the opening between the arms and the plate and the rod passes to the open area where it is rotated from a first position where the sidewalls of the rod are transverse or perpendicular to the strip to a finished position where the sidewalls of the rod are parallel to the strips. One sidewall of the rod contacts an edge of one of the tabs and the other sidewall of the rod contacts the opposite tab. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a planar view of a wall bracket and accessory system of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a cut away view of the system of  FIG. 1  taken through the section A-A. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the slotted strip used in  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a slot. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the bracket of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7A  is a slightly enlarged view of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is an end view of the bracket of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the bracket of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the system of  FIG. 1  with the rectangular rod prior to rotation in the bracket. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the system of  FIG. 1  with the rectangular rod partially rotated in the bracket of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the system of  FIG. 1  with the rectangular rod fully rotated in the bracket of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a side view of the assembly of  FIG. 12  with an arm hanging from the rod and a shelf on top of the arm. 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged view of the assembly of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the bracket of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  shows an end view of the bracket of  FIG. 15 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  shows a perspective view of the bracket of  FIG. 15 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    In the retail trade there are some standard wall systems that include a metal strip  11  that is typically positioned vertically on a wall surface  12 . The wall surface may be part of the building or it may be a free standing wall. The metal strip  11  is preferably a generally inverted U-shaped strip having a top surface  13  and a pair of side surfaces  14  and  15  that extend from the top surface. The strip  11  is secured to the wall surface by any suitable means including but not limited to nails, screws, adhesive, etc. The strip may be open at the end opposite the top surface  13  or there may be a rear surface (not shown) extending from the first side surface  14  to the second side surface  15  forming an enclosed preferably hollow strip. Whether the strip has a rear surface or not when the strip is secured to the wall surface, the strip  11  is provided with an open interior section  17  for at least a portion of its length. The top surface  13  of the strip is provided with a plurality of slots  18  along the top surface in the region of the open interior section  17 . The slots are preferably generally rectangular in shape and have a top edge  19  a bottom edge  20  and a pair of side edges  21  and  22 . See  FIG. 6 . The slot extends from the top surface through the strip to the interior section  17  of the strip. The slots are used to support one or more brackets  30  that are hung from the strip. The brackets are used to support merchandise or shelves or other aspects of the display. 
         [0033]    As seen in  FIG. 7 , the bracket is preferably a generally flat plate of sheet metal, plastic or other suitable material. The overall shape of the bracket can vary depending on the aesthetics or other considerations. While a generally square bracket is shown in the Figures that exact shape is not required under the present invention. 
         [0034]    The bracket  30  has a first side surface  31  and a second surface  32  There may be a top edge  33  a bottom edge  34  as well as a front edge  35  and a rear edge  36  is provided with one or more hook members  37  extending rearwardly from the surface of the edge. The hook members  37  are provided with a first section  38  extending rearwardly of the rear edge. The hook member  37  may be a separate member or it may be integrated with the edge of the plate. The first section  38  has a top edge  39  and a bottom edge  40 . Adjacent to the first section  38  is a rear section  41 . The rear section is provided with a hook section  42  which extends downwardly toward the bottom surface  34  of the plate. The configuration of the hook member forms a recess area  43  formed by the rear edge of  36  of the plate the bottom edge  40  of the first section and the inner surface  44  of the hook section  42 . The plate is preferably provided with at least two of the hook members  37 . The hook member  37  is inserted into the slot  18 . Bottom edge  20  of the slot is positioned within the recess  43 . The hook section  42  thereby prevents removal of the plate from the slot in the strip. 
         [0035]    In a preferred embodiment, the rear edge  36  of the plate may be provided with a stabilizing bar  50 . The stabilizing bar  50  has a first section  51  that has a top edge  52  and a bottom edge  53 . In the embodiment shown in the Figures the top edge  52  is an extension of the top edge  33  of the plate  30  however it is not required to have that arrangement. The top edge  52  may be in the same plane as shown or it may be above or below the edge  33 . Extending from the first section is a rear section  54 . The rear section may have a hook section  55  which also extends downwardly toward the bottom surface of the plate. The downward extension of the hook section  55  also forms a recess area  56 . The recess area is for receiving the bottom edge  20  of a slot. 
         [0036]    The stabilizing member  50  also has an upwardly extending strip  57 . When the plate is being installed onto the strip  11 , the upwardly extending member  57  is inserted through a slot  18 . The plate is pushed generally upward toward the slot&#39;s top edge  19 . The hook sections  55  is then inserted into the slot  18  and the plate is moved downwardly so that the bottom edge  20  of the slot is retained in recess area  56 . The stabilizing bar  50  provides additional support to reduce the risk that the plate could be inadvertently removed from the strip. 
         [0037]    The front edge  35  of the plate is provided with an upper edge or arm section  60  and a lower edge or arm section  61  the upper and lower edge section  60  and  61  are separated by an entrance area  63  and an open area  62 . The open area  62  is generally circular and access to the open area  62  is through the entrance area  63 . The plate  31  has a body portion  64  and a pair of arm areas  65  and  66 . The first arm area  65  is formed generally by the top edge  33  upper section  60  and bottom arm edge  67 . The second arm area is formed generally by a top arm edge  60 , lower edge section  61  and bottom edge  34 . 
         [0038]    Bottom arm edge  67  may have a first end  69  and a second end  70 . Top arm edge  68  may have a first end  71  and a second end  72 . Bottom arm edge  67  and top arm edge  68  are preferably the same length as seen in  FIG. 7  but can also be as seen in  FIG. 15 . The configuration of the arms, can vary in shape as desired 
         [0039]    The general outline or circumference of the open area  62  is shown by solid lines  73  and dotted lines  74  and  75 . The dotted lines  74  and  75  represent the extension of the circumference  73  of the open area  62  and form what has been designated as the base of tips  76  and  77  which tips extend into the open area  62 . The tips can have two sides each as seen on tip  76  there is a first side  76 A and a second side  76 B similarly for tip  77  there is a first side  77 A and a second side  77 B. Preferably side  76 B and  77 B are generally parallel to each other. More preferably a line drawn from the base  76 C along the edge  76 B is parallel to a line drawn from the base  77 C along the edge  77 B. At least a portion of the edge  77 A is preferably parallel to at least a portion of the edge  76 A.The plate may also be provided with an orifice  78  for a plurality of plates to be secured together. 
         [0040]    When the plate  30  is secured in the strip  11  a second plate is secured to a corresponding strip  11 A a distance from the first strip  11 . The two strips  11  and  11 A are preferably parallel to each other. The plates are used to secure a rod  80  that extends from the first plate  30  to the second plate  30 A. The rod  80  may be any length and is preferably rectangular in cross section. The rod  80  has a top surface  81  and a bottom surface  82  and a pair of opposing side surfaces  83  and  84 . The distance form side surface  84  must be less that he distance from bottom arm edge  67  to top arm edge  68  so that the rod  80  may be inserted through the entrance area  63  into the open area  62  as seen in  FIG. 10 . When the rod is in position as seen in  FIG. 11  the rod  80  is rotated so that bottom surface  82  is moved toward sidewall  77 B of tip  77 . At the same time the top surface  81  is rotated toward tip sidewall  76 B. As seen in  FIG. 12  sidewall  84  of the rod  80  contacts tip side  77 B and side wall  83  contacts tip side  76 B. This provides a suitable arrangement for the rod in the bracket and makes it difficult for the rod to be inadvertently released from the bracket particularly when items are hung from the rod or a shelf is placed on the rod as the weight makes it difficult to rotate. Although the rod has been depicted as a rectangular rod a triangular rod can also be used or other similar configurations where one edge of the rod can enter the opening but the size of the other edge when the rod is rotated makes it difficult to remove the rod from the opening because of its size. 
         [0041]      FIG. 13  shows the bracket of the present invention where the rod has an arm  90  extending from the rod. The arm has an inverted “U”  91  at one end. The inverted “U” goes over the top surface of the rod  80 . A shelf  92  may be positioned over the arm.  FIG. 14  shows the arrangement slightly enlarged.  FIGS. 15-17  show an alternative embodiment for the stabilizer  57 . In addition there is no hook to hold the bracket in the slot. In this arrangement there is a semicircular member  101  that enters one slot while the other member  102  has a stabilizer  103  extending upwardly. The length of this stabilizer is greater than the stabilizer in  FIG. 7 . The length of the stabilizer renders the need for a hook member on the bottom semi-circular member unnecessary.