GLOVE DISPLAY RACK WITH RETRACTABLE DOORS

Abstract

A display rack includes left, right, top, and back panels attached to a frame, with a plurality of shelves extending horizontally within the frame to form a plurality of compartments. A door panel covering is compartment has a U-shaped upper edge that pivots about door retaining pins within each compartment to allow the door to be moved from a vertical position in which the door panel covers the front of the compartment and a horizontal position in which the door panel is retracted into the compartment, suspended on door tracks within the compartment. In some embodiments, product racks positioned or attached within the compartments are configured to display products in vertical orientation. In some embodiments the panels are advertising panels imprinted with text and graphics.

Claims

1. A display rack for organizing and displaying products, comprising: a left frame, a right frame, and a top frame attached together to form a rigid structure; a left panel, a right panel, and a top panel attached to the left frame, right frame, and top frame, respectively; a back panel attached to the left and right frames; a plurality of shelves attached horizontally between the left and right frames such that the plurality of shelves, left panel, right panel, top panel, and back panel form a plurality of compartments for storing and displaying product; a plurality of door panels, each one of the door panels configured to cover the front of a corresponding one of the plurality of compartments, wherein each door panel is moveable between vertical position in which the door panel covers a front of the corresponding compartment and a horizontal position in which the door panel is retracted into the corresponding compartment such that the front of the compartment is open.

2. The display rack of claim 1, further comprising left and right door tracks positioned attached to the left and right frames, respectively, within each of the plurality of compartments, the door tracks configured to support left and right edges of a door panel to allow the panel to be slidably retracted into the compartment.

3. The display rack of claim 1, further comprising left and right door retaining pins positioned within each compartment and wherein a top edge of each of the plurality of door panels is curved inwardly and downwardly to form a U-shaped channel configured to pivot about the corresponding left and right door retaining pins.

4. The display rack of claim 3, wherein the left and right door retaining pins are attached to the left and right frames, respectively, such that they are aligned with the left and right door tracks within each compartment.

5. The display rack of claim 1, wherein each of the left, right, and top panels are advertising panels having text and graphical depictions printed thereon.

6. The display rack of claim 1, further comprising one or more product racks positioned within one or more of the compartments, wherein each product rack is configured to display products in a vertical orientation.

7. A display rack for organizing and displaying products, comprising: a frame structure; left, right, top, and back panels attached to the frame structure; a plurality of shelves attached horizontally within the frame structure forming a plurality of compartments for storing and displaying product; a plurality of door panels, each one of the door panels configured to cover the front of a corresponding one of the plurality of compartments, wherein each door panel is moveable between vertical position in which the door panel covers a front of the corresponding compartment and a horizontal position in which the door panel is retracted into the corresponding compartment such that the front of the compartment is open.

8. The display rack of claim 7, further comprising a pair of door tracks positioned within each of the plurality of compartments, the door tracks configured to support side edges of a door panel to allow the panel to be slidably retracted into the compartment.

9. The display rack of claim 7, wherein a top edge of each of the plurality of door panels is curved inwardly and downwardly to form a U-shaped channel configured to pivot about left and right door retaining pins attached to the frame structure.

10. The display rack of claim 9, wherein the left and right door retaining pins are aligned with a corresponding door track within each compartment.

11. The display rack of claim 7, wherein each of the left, right, and top panels are advertising panels having text and graphical depictions printed thereon.

12. The display rack of claim 7, further comprising one or more product racks positioned within one or more of the compartments, wherein each product rack is configured to display products in a vertical orientation.

13. A display rack for organizing and displaying products, comprising: a left frame, a right frame, and a top frame attached together, with a left panel, a right panel, and a top panel attached the left frame, right frame, and top frame, respectively; a plurality of shelves attached horizontally between the left and right frames, forming a plurality of compartments for storing and displaying product; a plurality of door panels, each one of the door panels configured to cover the front of a corresponding one of the plurality of compartments, wherein each door panel is moveable between vertical position in which the door panel covers a front of the corresponding compartment and a horizontal position in which the door panel is retracted into the corresponding compartment such that the front of the compartment is open.

14. The display rack of claim 13, further comprising left and right door tracks positioned attached to the left and right frames, respectively, within each of the plurality of compartments, the door tracks configured to support left and right edges of a door panel to allow the panel to be slidably retracted into the compartment.

15. The display rack of claim 14, wherein a top edge of each of the plurality of door panels is curved inwardly and downwardly to form a U-shaped channel configured to pivot about left and right door retaining pins.

16. The display rack of claim 15, wherein the left and right door retaining pins are attached to the left and right frames, respectively, such that they are aligned with the left and right door tracks within each compartment.

17. The display rack of claim 16, further comprising a door panel stop located in at least one of said left and right door tracks.

18. The display rack of claim 17, wherein each of the left, right, and top panels are advertising panels having text and graphical depictions printed thereon.

19. The display rack of claim 18, further comprising one or more product racks positioned within one or more of the compartments, wherein each product rack is configured to display products in a vertical orientation.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, and wherein:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a display rack with retractable doors in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the display rack with retractable doors taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the display rack with retractable doors of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 4A is a front perspective view of a retractable door panel of the display rack with retractable doors of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 4B is a side end view of the door panel of FIG. 4A.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a portion of the frame of the display rack of FIG. 1 showing the door track and door retainer pin.

[0016] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a door track of the display rack of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 6B is a side end view of the door track of FIG. 6A.

[0018] FIG. 7A is a partial cross-sectional view of the retractable door panel of the display rack of FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 7B is a partial cross-sectional view of the retractable door panel of the display rack of FIG. 1 shown in the closed position.

[0020] FIG. 7C is a partial cross-sectional view of the retractable door panel of the display rack of FIG. 1 shown in the open position.

[0021] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a single shelf of the glove display rack with retractable doors of FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a product hanger assembly for use with the glove display rack with retractable doors of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The subject matter of select embodiments of the invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. But the description itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope of claims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied in other ways to include different components, steps, or combinations thereof similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described. The terms about or approximately as used herein denote deviations from the exact value in the form of changes or deviations that are insignificant to the function.

[0024] Looking to FIG. 1, a display rack in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is depicted generally by the numeral 100 comprises a left side 102, and a right side 104, a top 106, and a back 108 with a plurality of spaced-apart shelves 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d extending horizontally between the left side 102 and right side 104 to form a plurality of compartments for displaying and organizing products. In the embodiment depicted, bottom shelf 110d functions as the bottom of the display rack.

[0025] A plurality of feet 112 are attached to the bottom of the rack, positioned at the four corners of the bottom.

[0026] A plurality of door panels 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d each cover one of the formed compartments. As will be described in more detail below, each door panel may be pivotably lifted upwardly from the depicted covered (i.e., closed) position to a horizontal position and pushed inwardly into the display rack such that the front of the compartment is open with the door panel held in a horizontal retracted position on two door tracks positioned at the upper left and right sides of the compartment.

[0027] Each door panel 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d is generally rectangular shaped, with a semicircular cutout centered along the bottom edge of the panel to provide a handhold for a user to easily grasp and pull the door open from its closed position.

[0028] Door panels 114a, 114b, 114c, and 114d are preferably made from a rigid, moldable material, such as acrylic. As will be described in more detail below, the top edge of each door panel is curved inwardly forming a U-shaped channel configured to engage a door retaining pin at each side of the compartment to allow the door panel to pivot and prevent the door panel from being pulled completely out of the display rack.

[0029] Looking to FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of the display rack 100 of FIG. 1, and to FIG. 3, an exploded view of the display rack 100 of FIG. 1, the various components of the display rack 100 will be described in more detail. As seen in FIG. 3, the left and right sides 102, 104 of the display rack 100 each comprise an upper frame 103a, 103b and a lower frame 105a, 105b. The upper frames 103a, 103b are preferably attached to the lower frames 105a, 105b using fasteners such as screws, nails, or other securement methods to form rigid, upright side frames. The top end of each upper frame 103a, 103b is sloped downwardly from horizontal, with a top frame 107 attached between the sloped top end of the left and right upper frames 103a, 103b to form a sloped top to the assembled frame. In the embodiment depicted, bottom shelf 110d serves as a lower frame attached to and between the bottom of left and right lower frames 105a, 105b, in other embodiments the lower frame may be a separate frame piece.

[0030] A back frame 109 extends horizontally between the left and right frames, and is attached to each of the upper and lower frames 103a, 103b, 105a, 105b to secure, in conjunction with the top frame and bottom frame (or bottom shelf), the entire frame assembly together.

[0031] Shelves 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d extend between and are attached to the left and right frames using screws, nails, dowel pins, or other fasteners. Feet 112 are positioned at the bottom corners of the assembled frame and may be used to level the frame and allow the frame to be moved by sliding across a floor surface. Left and right panels 116a, 116b, and top panel 117 are attached to the left and right sides and top of the frame, respectively to cover and enclose the display rack. A back panel 119 attaches to the left and right frames and covers the back of the display rack. Each of the left, right, and top panels are preferably advertising panels, with product information, logos, decorations, or other printing and writing on the visible surface of the panel.

[0032] With the frame assembled, panels attached, and shelves attached within, a plurality of open-front compartments for storing and displaying products are formed within the sloped-top display rack. For example, the lower compartment is defined by the left and right side panels, the back panel, the upper surface of bottom shelf 110d, and the lower surface of shelf 110c.

[0033] Product rack 121, mounted to the back panel of the display rack 100, in the upper compartment, comprises a plurality of upwardly-sloped product pegs or hangers configured to allow hanging one or more products having hangtags or other hanging means. For example, a stack of pairs of gloves, with each pair having a tag attaching the two gloves and an opening or slot formed in the tag to allow hanging from the product pegs. The gloves may be arranged or stacked on the pegs by style, color, size, or other categorization. In some embodiments a product rack 121 may be mounted in any or none of the compartments, in other embodiments alternative product racks or organizers may be mounted or contained in the compartments.

[0034] As described with respect to FIG. 1, a plurality of door panels 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d each cover one of the formed compartments. Each door panel 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d is generally rectangular shaped, with a semicircular cutout centered along the bottom edge of the panel to provide a handhold for a user to easily grasp and pull the door open from its closed position.

[0035] Within each compartment, left and right door tracks are attached to the upper portion of the frame, extending from the front of the compartment to the rear of the compartment. Each door track (111a, 1l1b, 1l1c, 111d, 113a, 113b, 113c, 113d) is a square-shaped C, with the open portion facing into the compartment and configure to receive the left or right edge of the corresponding door panel to support the edge of the door panel and to allow the door to slide inwardly and outwardly within the track. A plurality of door retaining pins 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d, 117a, 117b, 117c, 117d are secured in the left and right side frames near the front of each door track to engage a U-shaped channel at the top edge of each door panel to allow the door panel to pivot upwardly and downwardly and to prevent the door panel from being pulled completely out of the display rack.

[0036] Turning to FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5, 6A, and 6B, a door panel, a door track, and a door retaining pin attached to the frame are depicted in more detail. Door panels 114a, 114b, 114c, and 114d can be made from a rigid, moldable material, such as acrylic. As depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the upper edge of each door panel is inwardly (with respect to the compartment it covers) forming a U-shaped channel 120. As seen in FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B, a protruding cylindrical door retaining pin 117b is positioned in the frame 103a at each side of each compartment, at the front end of the door track 111b. As best seen in FIGS. 6A and 6B, door track 111b is a square-shaped C track mounted to the corresponding side frame. A door panel stop or limiter (depicted as 118a, 118b, 118c, 118d, and 123b in the figures) may be located within a door track to stop movement of the door panel along the track.

[0037] Turning to FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C, the movement and operation of a door panel 114b pivoting about a door retaining pin 117b attached to a frame 103a, with the side edges of the door sliding within the door track 111b is depicted in cross-sectional view.

[0038] As seen in FIG. 7A, with the door panel 114b extended from the track 111b, the top, curled edge of the door panel engages the door retaining pin 117b, allowing the door panel 114b to pivot about the retaining pins (one pin at each side of the compartment).

[0039] As seen in FIG. 7B, with the door panel 114b pivoted downwardly to a vertical position, the door panel covers the front of the compartment, hiding and/or protecting any product inside the compartment.

[0040] As seen in FIG. 7C, with the door panel 114b pivoted upwardly to a horizontal position, the door panel may be slid inwardly into the door track 111b (one door track at each side of the compartment). When sliding inwardly, the door panel may encounter a stop or limiter 123b located on one or more of the door tracks, which prevents the door panel from sliding too far through the tracks. Limiter 123b can take any number of forms including a protrusion or short rod fixed with a door track to prevent the door panel from retracting further. It is foreseen that limiters may be used in one or both tracks for a door panel, or a limiter may not be used at all. In this retracted position, the door panel 114b is at least partially hidden, leaving the front of the compartment to allow access to the products displayed inside. Door panel 114b may protrude slightly from the tracks to make it easy to grasp and lower the door panel.

[0041] Looking to FIG. 8 a shelf 110b of a shelf 110b of the display rack 100 as described above is depicted. Shelf 110b may include mounting holes 124, 126 on each end for attaching the shelf to the left and right frames of the display rack. A price tag bar 122 may be attached to the front edge of the shelf 110b to allow product pricing or other information to be displayed.

[0042] Turning to FIG. 9, a product display container 130 for use with the display rack 100 of FIG. 1 includes a main compartment 132 with a hanging peg 134 extending outwardly from the back wall. The product display container 130 may be used to individually organize and display products. In one embodiment a plurality of product display container may be positioned on one or more of the shelves of the display rack.

[0043] From the above, it can be seen that the display rack of the present invention is well suited for containing, organizing, and displaying products for sale, such as pairs of gloves attached together by a hangtag. The retractable door panels allow the multiple compartments to be selectively opened or closed to display or secure the items within that compartment.

[0044] Many different arrangements of the various pieces and components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the scope of the claims below. Embodiments of the invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after and because of reading it. Alternative means of implementing the aforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of the claims below. Identification of structures as being configured to perform a particular function in this disclosure and in the claims below is intended to be inclusive of structures and arrangements or designs thereof that are within the scope of this disclosure and readily identifiable by one of skill in the art and that can perform the particular function in a similar way. Certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims.