In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a display system which comprises a number of elongate supports mounted or for mounting vertically at horizontally- spaced intervals, and a number of mounting bars for fitting to the elongate supports in horizontal orientation and at vertically-spaced intervals, the mounting bars being formed with forwardly-directed channels to receive therein the rear edges of shelves or the rearwardly-directed brackets of other accessories for carrying items of merchandise.

Preferably the display system further comprises one or more cover strips arranged to fit between an adjacent pair of mounting bars to cover the space between them. Preferably each cover strip is arranged to engage, at or adjacent its upper and lower edges, the front edges or faces of the upper and lower mounting bars. Preferably one or more of the cover strips is arranged to permit wiring, concealed behind the cover strip, to emerge through the cover strip.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides an interchangeable display system for merchandise, in which the mounting bars can be fitted at selected heights and vertical spacings, or disassembled and refitted at different desired heights and spacings. The cover strips are preferably provided in various widths, selected to fit between mounting bars at different vertical spacings.

Typically the elongate or upright supports are formed of metal, preferably steel. Typically the mounting bars are formed of metal, preferably aluminium. Typically the cover strips are formed of metal, preferably aluminium, or of plastics material.

Preferably the elongate or upright supports are formed with a series of lugs, projecting from them and spaced apart

along their lengths, on which the mounting bars are rested.

Preferably each mounting bar is formed with a depending flange or rib, along its bottom, rear edge, which engages into notches formed in the top edge of respective supporting lugs of the upright supports.

Preferably each mounting bar is formed with a depending flange or rib, along its rear and adjacent its top, which engages into notches formed in the upright supports above the respective supporting lugs.

Preferably the mounting bars are formed with a longitudinal channel, to receive the rear edge of a shelf (in the form of a flat board) inserted into it, or the rearwardly- directed bracket of one or more accessories for carrying items of merchandise. This channel may comprise a forwardly-directed channel to receive the rear edge of a shelf, and/or an upwardly-extending channel to receive an upwardly-projecting lug of the bracket of an accessory.

The upright supports may comprise U-shaped or channel section members, the spaced-apart sides of which are formed with respective series of lugs (the two series of lugs being aligned with each other) to support mounting bars.

In a modification, the upright supports may be arranged to support mounting bars on opposite sides, to provide a structure enabling shelves and/or other accessories to be mounted to both sides, projecting or facing outwardly in opposite directions.

In another modification, each mounting bar may be arranged to support shelves or other accessories on opposite sides and the upright supports are arranged to support the opposite ends of the mounting bars. Preferably each upright support is formed with a number of projecting lugs, to extend longitudinally under or into the ends of respective mounting bars.

Embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the

accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of one of the upright supports of a display system in accordance with the present invention, also showing one end of a link bar for fitting between adjacent upright supports to strengthen the structure; FIGURE 2 is a side view of the upright support shown in Figure 1 and also showing, in end views, a mounting bar for fitting to the upright supports to form a framework structure, a locking bar for locking the mounting bar in position, and a cover strip for fitting between adjacent mounting bars; FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of a mounting bar; FIGURE 4 is a side view of an upright support showing, in section, a number of mounting bars fitted to it to form the framework structure; FIGURE 5 is a similar view showing a locking bar engaged in position and also showing cover strips applied between adjacent mounting bars; FIGURE 6 is a similar view showing one of the cover strips replaced by a panel arrangement for enclosing wiring within the framework structure; FIGURE 7 is an isometric view of the assembly shown in Figure 6; FIGURE 8 is a side view of a double-sided upright support, shown with a number of mounting bars fitted to its opposite sides; FIGURE 9 is a section through a double-sided mounting bar; FIGURE 10 is a view of an upright support for the double-sided mounting bar of Figure 9; and FIGURE 11 is a plan view to show the junction between two of the double-sided mounting bars of Figure 9 and a pair of the upright supports of Figure 10, mounted back-to back.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, a display system in accordance with the invention uses a number of upright supports 10 as shown in Figure 1 and a number of

mounting bars 30 as shown in Figure 3, in order to form a structural framework as shown in Figures 4 and 5, to which the desired shelves or other accessories are fitted: in particular, the rear edges of standard shelves, or the rearwardly-directed brackets of other accessories arranged to carry items of merchandise, are engaged into longitudinal channels C and/or D of the mounting bars 30. Typically the upright supports are formed of steel and the mounting bars of aluminium.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, each upright support 10 comprises an elongate channel member having spaced-apart sides 11 formed with a series of forwardly-projecting lugs 12, the lugs of one side of the channel member being aligned with those of the other side. Each side of the channel member is formed with a straight longitudinal edge 13 extending upwardly from each lug 12 and, at the top of this edge, with an elongate recess 14 the lower end of which is formed with a notch 15 and the upper end of which is formed with a notch 15a. The top edge of each lug 12 is formed, at its junction with the straight edge 13, with a notch 16. In the example shown, the top edge of the uppermost lug on each side of the channel member is formed with a further notch 17 forwardly from the first notch 16. To the rear of this uppermost lug, the side of the channel is formed with a longitudinal slot 18.

In building a display system, a number of the supports 10 shown in Figure 1 are mounted vertically at horizontally- spaced intervals, for example by screwing or bolting them to a wall or vertical panel. A link bar 20, one end of which is shown in Figure 1, is then fitted between two adjacent upright supports 10 to make the framework structure more rigid. The link bar 20 comprises a flat strip 21 having a downwardly- directed flange 22 extending along its rear edge and an upwardly-directed flange 23 extending along its front edge.

The two flanges 22,23 are formed, at each of their ends, with respective projecting hook formations 22a, 23a, the one at the rear (22a) being arranged to engage into the slot 18 in the

respective support 10, and the one at the front (23a) to engage over the notch 17 of the uppermost lug 11 of the same support . 10.

A number of mounting bars 30, shown in Figures 2 to 5, are fitted horizontally across the series of upright supports 10 and are mounted on the tops of selected lugs 12 of these supports. Each mounting bar 30 comprises a generally rectangular-section extrusion having a vertical rear wall 31, a horizontal bottom wall 32 projecting forwardly from the rear wall 31 at a point spaced above the bottom edge of the latter, a top wall 33 extending both forwardly and rearwardly from the top edge of the rear wall 31, and a front wall 34 extending downwardly from the forward edge of the top wall 33, level with the front edge of the bottom wall 32 but terminating short of it. A partition wall 35 extends forwardly from the rear wall 31, intermediate its top and bottom edges and parallel to the bottom wall 32, and a further partition wall 35a extends upwardly from the front edge of the first partition wall 35 to meet the top wall 33. The rear edge of the top wall 35 is formed with a downwardly-directed flange 36, whilst a rib 37 runs along the top of the top wall 33 inset from its rear edge.

The top wall 33 is also formed with a longitudinal shoulder 38.

The front wall 34 is formed with a longitudinal groove 39 adjacent its top edge. The upper surface of the bottom wall 32 is formed with a longitudinal groove inset from its front edge and this groove receives an elastomeric insert 40 which stands proud of the surface of the bottom wall. The underside of the bottom wall 32 is formed with a longitudinal rib 41 which curves downwardly and forwardly to define a groove 42.

It will be noted that the bottom wall 32, rear wall 31 and horizontal partition wall 35 define a forwardly-directed channel C, whilst the front wall 34 and the partition wall 35a define an upwardly-extending channel D which extends upwardly from the channel C adjacent the open front or mouth of the latter.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, each mounting bar 30 is fitted at the selected height by resting on the appropriate horizontally-aligned series of lugs 12 of the upright supports 10. It will be noted that the mounting bar 30 seats with its bottom wall 32 resting on the top edges of the lugs 12, the bottom edge of its rear wall 31 seating in the notches 16 of the lugs 12 and its rib 41 lying against the front edge of the lugs. The rear wall 31 of the mounting bar 30 seats against the straight edges 13 of the sides of the supports 10, with the rearwardly-projecting portion of the top wall 33 of the mounting bar 30 entering the recesses 14 of the sides of the supports 10 and the bottom edge of its rear-edge flange 36 (engaging into the lower notches 15 of these recesses 14.

Each mounting bar 30 may be locked in position, in the structural framework, by means of a locking bar L shown in Figures 2,5, 6 and 7. The locking bar L comprises an elongate strip of plastics material having a tab T at one end: the locking bar is inserted through the aligned recesses 14, in the spaces of these recesses remaining above the top wall of the respective mounting bar; the top edge of the locking bar L engages into the notches 15a at the tops of the recesses 14, and its lower edge abuts the top wall of the respective mounting bar, at its rear edge, to prevent the mounting bar lifting out of engagement with the lugs 12 of the upright supports 10.

Once each mounting bar 30 is fitted in position, it will be appreciated that its forwardly-directed channel C may receive the rear edge of a standard shelf inserted into it.

The elastomeric strip 40 is compressed by the underside of the shelf and so serves to grip the shelf and retain it in position. Instead, standard accessories for carrying items of merchandise may be fitted into the channel C: such accessories may comprise holders or hanging arms, and have rearwardly- directed brackets for engaging into the channel C; instead or in addition, such brackets may have upwardly-projecting lugs

on their top sides, for engaging into the upwardly-directed channel D.

The spaces between adjacent mounting bars may be enclosed by aluminium or plastics cover strips 50 in the manner shown in Figure 5. Such a cover strip is shown in Figure 2 and comprises a front panel 51 having an upwardly-curved upper rib 52 running along its rear surface adjacent its top edge, a second rib 53 running along its rear surface towards its lower edge, and a longitudinal web 54 extending rearwardly at a point spaced above the lower rib 53, the web 54 having a rear edge which is hooked on its underside as shown at 55. As shown in Figure 5, the cover strip 50 fits between two mounting bars 30 fitted to adjacent series of lugs 12 of the supports 10. At its upper edge, the cover strip 50 fits against the front edge of the bottom wall 32 of the upper mounting bar and, at its lower edge, the cover strip fits against the front wall 34 of the lower mounting bar: the upper rib 52 of the cover strip fits into the groove 42 of the upper mounting bar and the lower rib 53 of the cover strip fits into the groove 39 of the lower mounting bar, whilst the hooked-end 55 of the web 54 of the cover strip engages over the shoulder 38 on the top wall of the lower mounting bar.

Figure 5 shows, at 60, a similar cover strip which is of greater height and arranged to fit between two mounting bars 30 which are positioned further apart than two adjacent series of lugs 12 of the upright supports 10. Figure 5 further shows a modified cover strip 61 for the top of the structure, comprising a front panel 62 and a rearwardly-extending top panel 64, the front panel 62 having a rib 63 for engaging into the groove 39 of the front wall 34 of the top mounting bar and the top panel 64 of the cover strip having a depending flange 65 to abut the side edges of the upright supports 10.

Figures 6 and 7 show a modified cover strip arrangement serving to enclose wiring within the framework structure. In this, an upper cover strip 70 comprises a front wall 71 with

an upwardly-curved rib 72 on its rear and adjacent its top edge for engaging the groove 42 of an upper mounting bar, and a bottom wall 73 which abuts the front of the lugs 12 immediately below. This bottom wall 73 is formed with a flexible, rearwardly-projecting flange 74, the rear edge of which is enlarged to engage in notches 12a adjacent the front edges of the lugs 12 of the supports 10. Below this, there is a mounting bar fitted with a cover strip 80 comprising a front wall 81 formed, along its rear edge, with a rib 82 for engaging the groove 39 of the mounting bar and a rearwardly-extending web 83, hooked at its rear edge, to engage over the shoulder 38 on the top wall 33 of this mounting bar. A partition 84, in the form of a brush strip, projects upwardly from the top of the web 83 of this cover strip and its top edge is held in place by engagement in a groove 75 in the underside of the bottom wall 73 of the upper cover strip 70. Wiring can be run horizontally in the space S behind the partition 84 and brought out through this partition at required locations: in particular, the cables are laid in position then the cover strip is 70 is clipped in position by pivoting along its rib 72 and engagement of its flexible flange 74 in the notches 12a.

Figure 8 and Figures 9 to 11 show display systems of "gondola"type, in which shelves and/or other merchandise- carrying accessories project or face outwardly in opposite directions from a central structural framework. Referring to Figure 8, the system comprises a number of double-sided upright supports 100, each of which extends upwardly from a cross-bar 102 which rests on the floor, the upright supports being spaced-apart horizontally. Opposite sides of the upright supports 100 are formed with a series of lugs 112 of the same profile as the lugs 12 of the upright supports 10 described above. Mounting bars 30 are fitted horizontally to both sides of the upright supports 100 to form a structural framework, enabling shelves to be mounted to both sides thereof.

Figures 9 to 11 show an alternative double-sided

display system, in which a double-sided mounting bar 230 is used together with upright supports 200. Each upright support 200 comprises a U-section channel member, having lugs 202 bent to project outwardly from its rear, at intervals along its length. The bottom wall 232 of the mounting bar 230 is formed with a pair of inturned ribs 233: each mounting bar 230 extends between the rear faces of two upright supports 200, with respective lugs 202 of the upright supports inserted under the ends of the mounting bar 230 and engaged by the inturned ribs 233. The upright support 200 is formed with a screw-hole 201, above each lug 202, for a screw to engage into a screw port 234 formed in the centre of the mounting bar 230. As shown in Figure 11, two upright supports 200 may be disposed with the longitudinal flanges of one fitted between the longitudinal flanges of the other and their lugs 202 projecting away from each other, to support the ends of two mounting bars 230 which meet at this point.