MERCHANDISE DISPLAY SHELVING UNIT

Abstract

A merchandise display shelving unit comprised of a perforated center support pole, a base, a plurality of shelf supports, and a plurality of shelf inserts. The shelf inserts nest inside the shelf supports. The shelf supports have a mating collar that attaches to the perforations of the center support pole through the use of fasteners. The shelf support and inserts can be a variety of shapes, such as round, square, triangular, and rectangular. The shelf supports and shelf inserts can be of incrementally decreasing size, so as to create a terraced effect.

Claims

1. A merchandise display shelving unit, comprising a perforated center support pole, wherein the perforated center support pole has a radius, circumference, and an axial length, wherein the perforations are a plurality of holes that cover the circumference of the perforated center support pole along at least a portion of its axial length; and wherein the holes are all the same size; a plurality of shelf supports; a plurality of shelf inserts; a base; and a decorative base wrap; wherein each shelf support is comprised of a perimeter, annular center support mating collar with an inner radius, and a plurality of spokes connecting the perimeter to the center support mating collar; wherein the shelf inserts map onto the shelf supports in a one-to-one fashion; wherein each shelf insert nests inside its respective shelf support perimeter; wherein the center support mating collar fits over, and can be fastened to, the perforated center support pole; and wherein the base is weighted so as to give the merchandise display shelving unit stability.

2. The merchandise display shelving unit of claim 1, wherein the perforated center support pole has a perforated portion and an unperforated portion along its axial length.

3. The merchandise display shelving unit of claim 2, wherein the holes constituting perforations are arranged in rows around the circumference of the perforated center support pole; and wherein the centerline of each row of perforations lies in a plane perpendicular to the axial length of the perforated center support pole.

4. The merchandise display shelving unit of claim 3, wherein the perforated portion of the perforated center support has 9 or more holes per square inch.

5. (canceled)

6. The merchandise display shelving unit of claim 3, wherein the perforations are arranged in offset rows.

7. The merchandise display shelving unit of claim 3, wherein the distance between the centerline of two adjacent rows of perforations is the hole row spacing; and wherein the inner radius of the center support mating collars of the plurality of shelf supports is no larger than the sum of the radius of the perforated center support pole plus three times the hole row spacing.

8. The merchandise display shelving unit of claim 1, wherein the perforated center support pole is fabricated from at least one of wood, poly(methyl-methacrylate) (“PMMA”), polycarbonate (“PC”), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (“ABS”), polypropylene (“PP”), high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”), low-density polyethylene (“LDPE”), stainless steel, chrome steel, aluminum, steel, copper, brass, tin, or an alloy one or more of stainless steel, chrome steel, aluminum, steel, copper, brass, and tin.

9. (canceled)

10. The merchandise display shelving unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of shelf supports are fabricated at least one of wood, PMMA, PC, ABS, PP, HDPE, LDPE, stainless steel, chrome steel, aluminum, steel, copper, brass, tin, or an alloy one or more of stainless steel, chrome steel, aluminum, steel, copper, brass, and tin.

11. The merchandise display shelving unit of claim 10, wherein the plurality of shelf supports has at least one of a brushed metal finish, a painted finish, a stained wooden finish, and a colored plastic finish.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. The merchandise display shelving unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of shelf inserts is fabricated out of at least one of wood, PMMA, PC, ABS, PP, HDPE, LDPE, stainless steel, chrome steel, aluminum, steel, copper, brass, tin, or an alloy one or more of stainless steel, chrome steel, aluminum, steel, copper, brass, and tin.

15. The merchandise display shelving unit of claim 14, wherein the top surface of the plurality of shelf inserts has at least one of a brushed metal finish, a painted finish, a stained wooden finish, or a colored plastic finish.

16. The merchandise display shelving unit of claim 14, wherein the top surface of the plurality of shelf inserts has at least one of a brushed metal finish, a painted finish, a stained laminate wooden finish, or a colored plastic finish; wherein the bottom surface of the plurality of shelf inserts has at least one of a brushed metal finish, a painted finish, a stained wooden finish, or a colored plastic finish; and wherein the finish of the top surface and the finish of the bottom surface are different.

17. (canceled)

18. The merchandise display shelving unit of claim 1, wherein the perimeter of the shelf supports and the shelf inserts are round.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. The merchandise display shelving unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of shelf supports and the plurality of shelf inserts are of incrementally increasing area, creating a terraced effect when mounted on the perforated center support pole.

24. The merchandise display shelving unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the shelf supports' center support mating collars are held in place about the perforated center support pole with fasteners.

25. The merchandise display shelving unit of claim 24, wherein the fasteners are self-centering machine screws.

26. The merchandise display shelving unit of claim 24, wherein the fasteners are spring-loaded pins.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The present invention is illustrated with 12 drawings on 9 sheets.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a top view of a Merchandise Display Shelving Unit.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a lateral view of a Merchandise Display Shelving Unit.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a top view of a shelf support for the Merchandise Display Shelving Unit.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a lateral view of a shelf support for the Merchandise Display Shelving Unit.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a top view of a shelf insert for the Merchandise Display Shelving Unit.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a lateral view of a shelf insert for the Merchandise Display Shelving Unit.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a top view of a decorative wrap for the base of the Merchandise Display Shelving Unit.

[0029] FIG. 8 is a side view of a decorative wrap for the base of the Merchandise Display Shelving Unit.

[0030] FIG. 9A is an exploded isometric drawing of the Merchandise Display Shelving Unit. FIG. 9B is an isometric isolation of the perforated center support pole.

[0031] FIG. 10 is an isometric in situ drawing of the Merchandise Display Shelving Unit.

[0032] FIG. 11 is an alternative isometric in situ drawing of the Merchandise Display Shelving Unit.

[0033] FIG. 12 is an isolation of perforations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The following descriptions are not meant to limit the invention, but rather to add to the summary of invention, and illustrate the present invention, a Merchandise Display Shelving Unit. The present invention is illustrated with a variety of drawings showing various possible embodiments.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a lateral view of the present invention 100, a Merchandise Display Shelving Unit. The present invention has a center perforated center support pole 1 constructed from a perforated tube. The perforated center support pole 1 can be constructed out of stainless steel, chrome steel, aluminum, steel, copper, tin, or an alloy one or more. The perforated center support pole 1 can also be constructed out of rigid, structural plastic such as poly(methyl-methacrylate) (“PMMA” or trade names Plexiglas or Lucite®), polycarbonate (“PC” or trade name Lexan®), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (“ABS”), polypropylene (“PP”), high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”), or low-density polyethylene (“LDPE”). For aesthetics, a lighting source can be placed inside the perforated center support pole 1, illuminating the perforations 150.

[0036] The perforated center support pole 1 holds a plurality of shelf supports 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. The shelf supports 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 support a plurality of shelf inserts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. The shelf supports 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 can be fabricated from a variety of metals such as stainless steel, chrome steel, aluminum, steel, copper, tin, or an alloy one or more. The shelf supports 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 can also be constructed out of rigid, structural plastic such as PMMA, PC, ABS, PP, HDPE, or LDPE. The shelf supports 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 can also be constructed from wood, including wood solids, particle board, and laminated particle board. The shelf supports 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 can also be decorative in nature, with brushed metal finishes, finished wood laminates, paint, or colored plastic. The shelf inserts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 can be fabricated from a variety of metals such as stainless steel, chrome steel, aluminum, steel, copper, brass, tin, or an alloy one or more. The shelf inserts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 can also be constructed out of rigid, structural plastic such as PMMA, PC, ABS, PP, HDPE, or LDPE. The shelf inserts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 can also be constructed from wood, including wood solids, particle board, and laminated particle board. The shelf inserts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 can be decorative in nature, being covered with brushed metal finishes, finished wood laminates, paint, or colored plastic. The bottom of the present invention 100 can be wrapped in a laminated or decorative wrap 17.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a top view of the present invention 100. The terraced nature of the present embodiment of the present invention 100 is visible. The perforated center support pole 1 is surrounded by the shelf supports 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and shelf inserts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

[0038] FIG. 12 is an isolation of a typical embodiment of the perforations 150. The perforations 150 are arranged in alternating, offset rows 600, 700. The distance between the centerline of two adjacent rows 600, 700, is the hole row spacing. The perforations 150 should be greater than 9 holes per square inch. The open area ratio of the perforation 150 should be 20% or more. The open area ratio is the summation of the area of the holes divided by the area of the portion of the perforated center support pole 1 that has perforations.

[0039] FIGS. 3-4 show a shelf support 12. The shelf support 12 has a perimeter 52 to which are attached a plurality of spokes 22. The spokes terminate at a support mating collar 32. The support mating collar 32 has fasteners 42 that mate with the perforations 150, securing the shelf support 12 in place on the perforated center support pole 1.

[0040] FIGS. 5-6 show a shelf insert 2. The shelf insert has a top planar surface 122, a bottom planar surface (not visible), an outer radius 112, and an inner radius 102. The inner radius 102 fits over the perforated center support pole 1, centering the shelf insert 2. The shelf insert 2 is supported by the shelf support 12, specifically, the spokes 22 of the shelf support 12. The shelf insert 2 nests inside the shelf support 12, with the outer radius 122 of the shelf insert 2 fitting inside the shelf support 12 perimeter.

[0041] Logos, images, trademarks, or word phrases can be printed, permanently or temporarily, on the perimeter 52 of the plurality of shelf supports 12 and on the top 122 and bottom planar surfaces of the shelf inserts 2. The logos, images, trademarks, or word phases can be printed so that they deliver a single message when all of the perimeters 52 of all of the shelf supports 12 are read together. The plurality of shelf supports 12 and shelf inserts 2 can be round (as shown), or, in alternative embodiments, square, triangular, rectangular, elliptical, or any other practicable shape.

[0042] FIGS. 7-8 show a decorative wrap 17 that encircles the bottom or base of the invention 100. The decorative wrap 17 has an external decorative surface 107 and a top surface 117. The decorative wrap 17 is held in place by magnets 127.

[0043] FIG. 9A is an exploded view of the invention 100. The shelf insert 2 nests into the shelf support 12. The shelf support 12 fits over the perforated center support pole 1. The shelf support 12 is held in place with fasteners 101. The fasteners 101 fit into the holes 42 in the support mating collar 32. The fasteners 101 can be self-centering machine screws, other self-centering screws, spring-loaded pins, or slide pins. The perforated center support pole 1 terminates in the weighted base 227. The inner surface 137 of the decorative wrap 17 wraps around the weighted base 227, and is held in place with the magnets 127. The top of the base 227 is a shelf 6.

[0044] FIG. 9B is an isometric isolation of the perforated center support pole. The perforated center support pole 1 has a radius 400 and a long-axis 500. The maximum radius of the support mating collar 32 is the radius 400 of the perforated center support pole 1 plus three times the hole row spacing 600, 700.

[0045] FIG. 10 shows the present invention 100 in situ. A shelf support 12 is held in place at the top of the perforated center support pole 1 with fasteners 101 through the support mating collar 32. Hanging clothes 200 can be hung around the perimeter 52 of the shelf support 12. Folded clothes 201 can be placed on the plurality of shelves 6. The decorative wrap 17 covers the base 227.

[0046] FIG. 11 is an alternative embodiment of the present invention 100 in situ. The plurality of shelves 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 fit over the perforated center support pole 1. The folded clothes 201 can be place on the plurality of shelves 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. The decorative wrap 17 covers the base 227.