An adjustable display device

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an adjustable display device that allows the angular orientation of two components to be adjusted relative to each other. The present invention finds particular, though not exclusive, application in a retail display environment.

Background of the invention

In retail stores, clothing and goods for sale are displayed on racks that have an arm that protrudes either from a wall or from a stand. Garments are typically hung from hangers, which are then suspended from the arms. The arms are either straight poles or are equipped with dividers to space out the hangers and garments to ensure all garments are visible.

Display racks, particularly those used for displaying clothing, are configured to a height so that the garments are suspended without the bottom of the garments touching the floor and generally so that the garments are displayed at eye level. The arms protrude substantially horizontally or at a set angle, so that all of the garments on the arm can be seen, including those at the rear.

When the types of garments to be displayed need to be changed, the arms are removed from the wall or stand and the required type of arm, i.e. horizontal or angled, is attached. This can be time consuming and requires a retail store to have a number of different arms in storage for attachment as needed. There may be times when it is thought that a particular garment would be best displayed horizontally, and then once the arm is changed and the garments are suspended, it is realised that an angled arm would be better. The garments then need to be removed and the arm changed again.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable display device that at least in part alleviates some of the problems associated with current systems, or at least provides the public with a useful choice.

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides an adjustable display device, including:

a first component fixedly attachable to a structure; and

a second component connected to the first component, the second component being adapted to display at least one item;

wherein the second component is pivotable with respect to the first component to a plurality of positions, whereby the second component can be selectively positioned at different angular orientations with respect to the structure that the first component is attached to; and

further including latch means to selectively releasably latch the second component in each of the plurality of positions.

The second component may be formed from two sections, including a distal section that is adapted to display at least one item, and may be interchangeable to suit different items to be displayed. Alternatively, the second component may be a single integral component.

The second component is preferably an elongate arm. The arm may be formed with spaced apart notches or projections to enable garment hangers to be displayed. The second component may also be a flat plate, which could be used as a shelf, a rack or a sign.

The first and second components are preferably connected by a linking mechanism. A button may be provided to release the latch means allowing the second component to be moved and latched into another selected position. The latch means is preferably spring loaded into a latched configuration, with the button pushing against the spring bias to release the latch means.

Advantageously, the latch means includes a plurality of radially spaced apertures on either the first or second component and corresponding projections on the other

component. The projections are biased into engagement with the apertures by the spring.

The first component may include two spaced apart circular walls, and the second component may include a central circular wall, which slots in between the two spaced apart circular walls. The walls may include apertures, through which a pin projects to pivotally connect the first and second components together.

Preferably, the latching means includes two circular discs on either side of the central circular wall of the second component. The circular discs are advantageously housed in recesses, which may be of greater depth than the depth of the discs, such that the discs can slide within the recesses. The discs may include the plurality of radially spaced projections. Corresponding radially spaced apertures are preferably provided on the inside of the spaced circular walls. The discs may be biased towards the spaced circular walls by springs, such that the projections are biased into engagement with the apertures.

Disengagement of the projections may be effected by the depression of a button, which pushes against the spring bias to move the discs inwardly.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1(a) to 1(c) are perspective views of three adjustable display devices, according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing three different arm configurations;

Figures 2(a) and 2(b) are perspective views of the adjustable display device shown in Figure 1(a), showing the arm in two different angular orientations;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the linking mechanism and latching means of an adjustable display device;

Figure 4 is a top cross-sectional view through an assembled linking mechanism and latching means;

Figures 5(a) to 5(c) are perspective views of the three adjustable display devices shown in Figures 1 (a) to 1 (c), with interchangeable arms;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an adjustable display device, with an interchangeable arm according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the adjustable display device of Figure 6, showing the arm in three different angular orientations;

Figure 8 is side cross-sectional view of the interchangeable arm of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of an adjustable display device attached to a display stand; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of an adjustable display device attached to a display wall.

Detailed description of the embodiments An adjustable display device 10 is suitable for use in displaying retail items in a store environment. The device 10 includes a first component 12, which is able to be fixedly attached to a structure 8, as shown in Figures 9 and 10. Typically the structure would be a wall or similar vertical structure, as in Figure 10, however the first component 12 may also be attached to a stationary or moveable stand, as in Figure 9. The first component 12 may be attached using any suitable fastening means, such as screws or a slotted arrangement. A second component 14 is connected to the first component 12 and is adapted to display at least one item (not shown).

As can be seen from Figures 1(a) to 1(c), the second component 14 may be an elongate arm. The arm includes a plurality of spaced apart notches 16, as shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(c), or may include a plurality of spaced apart projections 18, as

shown in Figure 1(b). Garment hangers (not shown) may engage in the notches 16 or between the projections 18. This spaces the garments (not shown) to be displayed, so that each can be seen and they do not collect at the end of the arm if it is positioned at a downward angle with respect to structure 8.

The second component 14 is pivotable with respect to the first component 12 to a plurality of positions (two of which are shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b)). The second component 14 can be selectively positioned at different angular orientations with respect to the structure 8 that the first component 12 is attached to. For example, if the first component 12 is attached to a wall, the arm 14 is able to be tilted downwardly to lie at a 45° angle, as shown in Figure 2(b). This allows the garments on the hangers to be viewed at a preferred orientation, such that the size labels on all of the garment hangers are visible when standing in front of the garments. For other items or products, the optimum display angle will be different, and may be horizontal or vertical.

The first and second components 12, 14 are connected by a linking mechanism 20. The linking mechanism 20 includes means 22 to selectively releasably latch the second component 14 in each of the plurality of positions. The latching action is required to give a positive engagement to ensure that the second component 14 is held in the selected position when items are placed on it or suspended from it.

An exploded view of the linking mechanism 20 and latching means 22 is shown in Figure 3. The linking mechanism 20 connects the first and second components 12, 14 together via a central pivot. The first component 12 has two spaced apart circular walls

24 to form a socket. The second component 14 includes a central circular wall 26 that locates between the spaced walls 24 into the socket. Each wall 24, 26 has a central aperture 28 through which a pin 30 projects to create the central pivot that connects the first and second components 12, 14 together. The second component 14 is able to pivot with respect to the first component 12 to a plurality of positions.

The latching means 22 selectively releasably latches the second component 14 in each of the plurality of positions. The latching means 22 includes two circular discs 32 on either side of the central circular wall 26 of the second component and housed in

recesses 34. The discs 32 include a plurality of peaks 36 and troughs 38 that lock the disc into corresponding peaks 40 and troughs 42 on the inside of the recess 34. This prevents the discs 32 rotating with respect to the central circular wall 26 or second component 14. The depths of the recesses 34 are greater than the depth of the discs 32, such that the discs 32 can slide within the recesses 34. However, the discs 32 are biased outwardly by springs 44.

On the outer side of the discs 32 are a plurality of radially spaced projections 46. These projections 46 correspond to a plurality of radially spaced apertures 48 on the inside of the spaced circular walls 24. When the central circular wall 26 is located in the socket between the two spaced circular walls 24, the springs 44 bias the discs 32 outwardly to latch the projections 46 into engagement in the apertures 48. This is shown in the cross- sectional view in Figure 4.

Disengagement of the projections 46, to enable the second component 14 to pivot, is effected by depression of buttons 50. The buttons 50 include legs 52 that project through slots 54 in the spaced circular walls 24 to engage against the discs 32. Simultaneous depression of the buttons 50 slides the discs 32 inwardly against the spring bias to disengage the projections 46 from the apertures 48. The second component 14 is then able to be pivoted to the desired angular orientation and the buttons 50 may then be released. The projections 46 will latch into corresponding apertures 48 when they are in alignment. If the angle is only required to be changed slightly, the buttons 50 may be released before pivoting the second component 14 and the projections 46 will automatically latch into the next apertures 48 to align. The buttons 50 are held in place by flanges 56 on the ends of the legs 52, which latch against the inside of the spaced circular walls 24.

Whilst it will be appreciated that the second component 14 may be a single integral component, as can be seen in Figures 5(a) to 5(c), the second component 14 may by formed from two sections, a socket 58 and an interchangeable arm 60. This allows arms 60 with different spaced notches 16 and projections 18 to be changed to suit the garments, without having to detach the first component 12 from the structure. The

interchangeable arms 60 are released by spring biased buttons 62 that lock into apertures 64 in the socket 58.

As can be seen from Figure 6, an alternative interchangeable arm 66 may be attached to the socket 58 to form the second component 14. The interchangeable arm 66 includes a slot 68 into which a sheet 70 is fixed by a screw 72. This is best shown in

Figure 8, which also shows how the spring biased buttons 62 are configured. The sheet

70 may be a shelf for displaying items horizontally or a sign to be displayed at the desired angle, as shown in Figure 7. The sheet 70 may include display means such as a plurality of apertures (not shown), through which jewellery may be inserted for display. The angular orientation of the sheet 70 may be adjusted to suit the items being displayed.

The advantage of an adjustable display device according to the present invention is that a single component can be fixedly attached to a structure such as a wall and need not be removed. The angular orientation of the second component, which is adapted to display items, can be adjusted to optimise the display of those items. In one embodiment, the second component can include interchangeable arms to provide additional flexibility.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.