This invention relates to a kit of parts capable of being assembled to form a display rack. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Display racks, being essential furniture piece that almost every business runner needs, are often deployed to optimise the usage of a limited space. Articles that otherwise occupy a substantial area of space can be kept on the racks. Tray planes which are often provided in a rack allow the displayed articles to be organised for more efficient retrievals or maintenances in the future.

US7762410B2 discloses a modular display rack capable of multi-unit stacking and simultaneously accommodating trays in either a gravitational- feed orientation or a non-gravitational-feed orientation. A preferred embodiment comprises: a first tray and a second tray, wherein each one of said trays comprises a left tray panel, a right tray panel, a front tray panel, a rear tray panel, and a bottom tray panel; a first pillar, a second pillar, and a third pillar; wherein the second tray is aligned above the first tray, and the first and second trays are spaced apart and secured in their relative positions by shared attachment to the first, second, and third pillars such that: the first pillar is adjacent to the trays' left tray panels; the second pillar is adjacent to the trays' right tray panels; and the third pillar is adjacent to the trays' rear tray panels.

US 37001 14 A discloses an adjustable shelf support bracket having a pair of oppositely extending cantilever type shelf support beams pivotally connected at their inner ends to a vertically adjustable inner plate with hooked tabs to connect the plate to a vertical column at a desired height. The angular orientation of each beam is determined by the engagement of an adjustment pin with an individual tooth chosen from a plurality of teeth formed in the inner end of the beam and such orientation may be varied by selectively changing the tooth engaged by the adjustment pin. Existing display racks suffer from a number of drawbacks which have not been addressed. Some of the racks are not assembled from standard parts, rendering deployment of the racks time-consuming. Some of the racks have their fasteners and sharp edges exposed after assembly. This condition, apart from being unsightly, is prone to cause injury to users who accidentally touch the fasteners or the edges. Some of the racks have permanently fixed members which could hardly be removed, and customising the racks to suit varying needs of users is a cumbersome task.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the drawbacks are overcome by a kit of parts capable of being assembled to form a display rack, which comprises: at least one connector member; and at least one tray member having: at least one perforation in body of the tray member, each perforation for receiving a pole member, such that one tray plane is connectable to another tray plane, one spaced above another, by the pole member; and at least one locking frame in edge of the tray member, each frame for receiving the connector member, wherein the connector member has at least one generally "U"-shaped slot, inner portion of which being defined by a resilient locking arm having a wedge-shaped tip portion, forming a stepped profile in neck of the arm; and the frame comprises one aperture for receiving, after the connector member is inserted into the frame, the tip portion of the arm, such that base of the stepped profile abuts edge of the aperture, preventing movement of the connector member off the frame; whereby one tray member is capable of being joined edge-to-edge with another tray member, by the connector member, to form an extended tray plane.

Preferably, the kit also comprises an elongate panel member having at least one through hole being located at a location corresponding to the frame on the edge of the tray member, wherein said panel member is capable of being fittingly abutted to said edge, such that the hole of the panel member is aligned to the frame of the tray member, and the connector member is capable of being inserted into and locked in the frame of the tray member, to secure the panel member onto the edge.

Advantageously, the kit also comprises a pole connector, wherein the pole connector includes a base member, one surface of which has a tub-like member, into which one end of the pole member is capable of being slotted, and the opposing surface has four legs, each being disposed on said opposing surface in a way such that each leg is capable of being inserted into the perforation of the tray member. Preferably, the kit also comprises at least one light capable of being arranged on the rack for ornamentation and/or illumination.

Advantageously, the kit also comprises at least one computer having means for enabling a user to interact with the computer, wherein said means for enabling the user to interact with the computer is capable of being mounted on the rack.

Preferably, the means for enabling the user to interact with the computer is a touch screen monitor.

Advantageously, the kit also comprises at least one light box capable of being mounted on the rack for displaying publicity information. Preferably, the kit also comprises at least one panel having at least one perforation; and means for suspending at least one article; wherein said panel is capable of being vertically connected to the rack, such that said means for suspending at least one article is capable of being transversely mounted on said panel by securing one end of said means in the perforation.

Advantageously, the kit also comprises at least one signage panel capable of being mounted on the rack.

Preferably, the signage panel is made of acrylic material.

Advantageously, the kit also comprises at least one side panel capable of being mounted on the pole member or the edge of the tray member. Preferably, the side panel is made of either acrylic or glass material.

Advantageously, the kit also comprises a roller capable of being mounted on bottom of the rack, enabling the rack to be moved from one location to another. Preferably, the kit also comprises a strip member, capable of being mounted on the edge of the tray member, for showing information about, or prices of, articles on display.

Advantageously, the kit also comprises a wooden panel capable of being disposed on top of the tray member. Preferably, the kit comprises a panel on which sticker having wood-like pattern is attached, wherein said panel is capable of being disposed on top of the tray member.

Advantageously, the perforation is disposed adjacent at least one corner of the tray member such that, when four tray members are connected in a way such that the corners adjacent which the perforations are disposed abut one another, a group of perforations, capable of receiving the legs of the pole connector, is formed.

Preferably, the connector member comprises two slots being disposed back-to-back, the tip portions of the slots opposing each other, such that the arm of one slot is capable of being inserted into and locked in the frame of one tray member, and the arm of the other slot is capable of being inserted into and locked in the frame of an adjacent tray member.

Advantageously, the connector member comprises one slot, and end of the connector member, opposing the tip portion, comprises at least two flanges being disposed in an opposing manner along edge of said end, for stopping said end from moving beyond opening of the frame.

Preferably, the pole member comprises at least one perforation, being disposed longitudinally along body of the pole member, into which fastener is capable of being inserted for securing publicity materials onto one or more generally parallel disposed pole members. Advantageously, the tray member is of a shape of rectangle, square, semicircle, or quarter-circle.

Preferably, the perforation is either elongate, or of a shape of "T" or "L".

Advantageously, the pole member is either thin and flat, or of an "L" profile.

The invention also provides a display rack which is assembled from at least one of above-mentioned kit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded underside view of a set of tray members of the kit of parts according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective underside view of said set of the tray members when assembled;

Fig. 3 is a perspective upper-side view of the set of the tray members when assembled;

Fig. 4 is an exploded underside view of another set of tray members according to the invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective underside view of said other set of the tray members when assembled;

Fig. 6 is a perspective upper-side view of the other set of the tray members when assembled;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of first form of connector member according to the invention;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of second form of connector member according to the invention; Fig. 9 is an exploded view of a panel member and the second form of connector members;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the panel member and the second form of connector members when combined; Fig. 1 1 is a perspective view of the panel member and the second form of connector members secured onto the edge of one form of the tray member;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one form of pole member according to the invention; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of another form of pole member according to the invention;

Fig. 14 is a perspective upper-side view of a pole connector according to the invention;

Fig. 15 is a perspective underside view of a pole connector; Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a pole connector assembled onto the tray members;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a pole member and a pole connector assembled onto the tray members; and

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of one form of display rack assembled from one of above-mentioned kit.

As shown in Fig. 1 to 3, a plurality of tray members 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 is assembled to form an extended tray plane of a shape of round corner rectangle. This set of tray members includes a rectangular tray member 1 , each edge of which is being connected to another rectangular tray member 2, 3, 4, 5 of the same profile. Each pair of said peripheral tray members 2, 3, 4, 5 is connected to a quarter-circular tray member 6, 7, 8, 9, which forms a corner section of the plane. As shown in Fig. 4 to 6, another set of tray members 10, 1 1 , 12 is assembled to form an extended tray plane of an oval shape. This set of tray members 10, 1 1 , 12 includes a rectangular member 10, two opposing edges of which are each connected to a semi-circular tray member 1 1 , 12, which forms an end section of the plane.

Above-mentioned tray members can be of a shape of rectangle, square, semi-circle, or quarter-circle. Referring to Fig. 4, each of the tray members 10, 1 1 , 12 has one or more edges 13, 14, 15, 16, each of which comprises two locking frames 17, 18; 19, 20; 21 , 22; 23, 24, and each frame is configured to receive a connector member, such that one tray member is capable of being concatenated edge-to-edge with another tray member, by the connector member, to form an extended plane. Referring to Fig. 6, body of the tray member comprises a plurality of perforations, which is either elongate 25, or of a shape of "T" 26 or "L" 27. Each perforation is configured to receive a pole member, such that one tray plane is connectable to another tray plane, one spaced above another, by the pole member.

As shown in Fig. 7, the connector member 28 comprises two generally "U"-shaped slots 29, 30 being disposed back-to-back. Inner portion of each slot 29, 30 is defined by a resilient locking arm 31 , 32 which has a wedge-shaped tip portion 33, 34, forming a stepped profile 35, 36 in neck of the arm 31 , 32. The tip portions 33, 34 of the slots 29, 30 opposes each other, such that the arm 31 of one slot is capable of being inserted into and locked in the frame of one tray member, and the arm 32 of the other slot is capable of being inserted into and locked in the frame of an adjacent tray member.

As shown in Fig. 8, the other form of connector member 37 comprises one slot 38 of the same profile as the slots of the previous form of connector member 28, and end 39 of the connector member 37, opposing the tip portion 40, comprises two flanges 41 , 42, each on an opposing edge of said end 39. The flanges 41 , 42 stop the end 39 the connector member 37 from moving beyond opening of the frame. As shown in Fig. 9 to 1 1 , the kit also comprises an elongate panel member 43 which has two through holes 44, 45, each being located at a location corresponding to the frame in the edge of the tray member 46. Said panel member 43 is capable of being fittingly abutted to said edge, such that the holes 44, 45 of the panel member 43 is aligned to the frames of the tray member 46, and the connector member 47, 48 is capable of being inserted into and locked in the frame of the tray member 46, to secure the panel member 43 onto the edge of a tray member 46.

As shown in Fig. 12, one form of the pole member 49 is of a generally "L" profile, which is capable of being inserted into an "L"-shaped perforation of the body of the tray member. The pole member 49 is also of a corrugated profile, which strengthens the member 49 and increases its loading capacity.

As shown in Fig. 13, the other form of the pole member 50 is thin and flat. This pole member 50 comprises a plurality of perforations 51 , which is disposed longitudinally along body of the pole member 30. The perforations 51 allow fasteners to be inserted for securing publicity materials onto the pole members.

As shown in Fig. 14 and 15, the pole connector 52 includes a base member 53 of a rectangular profile. One surface of the base member 53 has a tub-like member 54, into which one end of the pole member 50 is capable of being slotted, and the opposing surface has four legs 55, 56, 57, 58, each being disposed adjacent one corner of said opposing surface, such that each leg is capable of being inserted into the perforation of the tray member.

As shown in Fig. 16 and 17, "L"-shaped perforations 59, 60, 61 , 62 are disposed adjacent one or more corners of each tray member. When four tray members are connected in a way such that the corners adjacent which the perforations 59, 60, 61 , 62 are disposed abut one another, a cross-shaped group of perforations, capable of receiving the legs of the pole connector 52, is formed. As shown in Fig. 18, the display rack 63 is assembled from at least one of above-mentioned kit. Posters 70 are attached onto the parallel pole members at top portion of the rack 63, for the purpose of publicity.