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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
DISPLAY UNIT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2018/158705
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The display unit (1) comprises: a bearing structure (5) having a support base (2) and a support element (3) associated with the support base (2) and adapted to receive items (4) to be displayed; at least a substantially cylindrical closing element (10) and having a central axis (8), associated with the support base (2) to define a display area (9); rotation means (11, 19, 20) of said closing element (10) around the central axis (8) for the rotation of the closing element (10) relative to the support base (2).

Inventors:
BRIOSI ANTONELLO (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2018/051280
Publication Date:
September 07, 2018
Filing Date:
February 28, 2018
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
METALSISTEM S P A (IT)
International Classes:
A47F3/00
Foreign References:
US6196161B12001-03-06
JP2009297400A2009-12-24
DE3901831A11990-07-26
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
BRUNACCI, Marco (IT)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1) Display unit (1) comprising:

a bearing structure (5) having a support base (2) and a support element (3) associated with the support base (2) and adapted to receive items (4) to be displayed;

at least a substantially cylindrical closing element (10) and having a central axis (8), associated with said support base (2) to define a display area (9); characterized by the fact that it comprises rotation means (11, 19, 20) of said closing element (10) around said central axis (8) for the rotation of said closing element (10) relative to said support base (2).

2) Display unit (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said rotation means (11, 19, 20) comprise at least an entrainment element (11) integrally associated with said closing element (10) and rotatable around said central axis (8).

3) Display unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said entrainment element (11) comprises at least an entrainment extremity (12) integrally associated with said closing element (10) and a constrained extremity (13) pivoted onto said bearing structure (5) at said central axis (8).

4) Display unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said closing element (10) comprises a fixed portion (16) associated with said bearing structure (5) and a movable portion

(17) associated with said entrainment element (11).

5) Display unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said fixed portion (16) comprises at least a slot

(18) adapted to house said entrainment element (11) to measure when the latter is shifted in rotation.

6) Display unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said rotation means (11, 19, 20) comprise a pin (19) secured to said bearing structure (5) and a through hole (20) formed on said entrainment element (11), said pin (19) and said hole (20) being associated with each other to define a pivoting coupling. 7) Display unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises locking means (21) of said closing element (10) adapted to lock said closing element (10) in a predefined position to prevent the latter from rotating around said central axis (8).

8) Display unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said locking means (21) comprise a latch lock.

9) Display unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises unlocking means (28) of said closing element (10) for the shift of the closing element (10) from said predefined position to another rotated position relative to the predefined one.

10) Display unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said unlocking means (28) comprise at least an electronic control unit associated with said locking means (21) for their unlocking.

11) Display unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said unlocking means (28) comprise at least a detection unit (28) associated with said electronic unit and adapted to detect at least an indicator signal for the unlocking of said locking means (21).

12) Display unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises a first lighting set (30) associated with said bearing structure (5) and arranged on top of said support element (3).

13) Display unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises a second lighting set (31) associated with said bearing structure (5) and arranged below said support element (3).

Description:
DISPLAY UNIT

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a display unit.

Background Art

It is common practice in commercial activities and public premises to display items for sale in order to show them off to the public.

Display units are commonly used in shops or other premises to allow the public to better see the items on display.

Known display units have a support structure with a surface raised off the floor on which to directly place the items to be displayed, or on which a support can be engaged which extends in height having an inclined or stepped profile, with the items, in this latter case, arranged on several levels.

The need is known to be able to arrange the items quickly and easily in display units, facilitating the operations of the operators intending to change the item setup.

The need is also known to ensure the exposure of the items on display, together with that of protecting them against theft.

A known type of display unit has a transparent cover, usually made of Plexiglas or glass, adapted to separate the interior area in which to place the items from the outer area.

Access to the interior area is possible thanks to a door obtained on the cover itself.

In particular, the cover is made up of a fixed portion and a moving door hinged to it.

By lifting the door, the internal area becomes accessible, allowing items to be taken out or placed inside.

One drawback of this known type of display unit is tied to the fact that accessibility to the interior area is limited.

The door, in fact, although raised, remains bulky, and partially obstructs access to the interior area.

Furthermore, the hinge needed to secure the door to the fixed portion of the cover extends along the cover itself, partially covering the view to a hypothetical external observer.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to provide a display unit which allows facilitating the pick and place operations of the items.

One object of the present invention is to provide a display unit which allows facilitating the physical access to the interior area.

A further object is to provide a display unit which allows improving the exposure of the items on display.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a display unit which allows overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art within the scope of a simple, rational, easy, efficient to use and cost-effective solution.

The aforementioned objects are achieved by the present display unit having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive embodiment of a display unit, illustrated by way of an indicative, but non-limiting example, in the attached drawings in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are axonometric views of two configurations of the display unit according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a partially exploded axonometric view of the display unit according to the invention;

Figures 4 and 5 are views of different configurations of a detail of the display unit according to the invention.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these illustrations, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a display unit.

The display unit 1 comprises a bearing structure 5 having a support base 2 and a support element 3 associated with it and adapted to receive and support the items 4 to be displayed.

In the present embodiment, the bearing structure 5 comprises a support base 2 with parallelepiped shape on the upper base of which is placed the support element 3.

The support base 2 can rest on a piece of furniture, or on load-bearing legs, and can have a different conformation from that shown in the illustrations.

The support base 2 illustrated comprises a cavity 7 which is deepened with respect to the peripheral edges and covered with the support element 3.

The bearing structure 5, moreover, is provided with two side walls 6 facing parallel to each other and which extend vertically on top of the support base 2. In the present embodiment, the side walls 6 have a semicircular conformation. The support element 3 shown is of the type of a surface on which it is possible to rest the items 4, but different solutions cannot be ruled out wherein the support element 3 has a different conformation, e.g. with pyramidal upward extension, or with stepped upward extension on several levels for resting the items 4 at more than one level.

Furthermore, the solution cannot be ruled out in which the support element 3 is integrated to the support base 2, e.g. in which it corresponds to a surface of the base itself.

The display unit 1 also comprises a substantially cylindrical closing element 10 and has a central axis 8, associated with the support element 3 to define a display area 9.

In particular, the area 9 is delimited at the top by the closing element 10, at the bottom by the support base 2 and at the side by the side walls 6.

According to the invention, the display unit 1 comprises rotation means 11, 19, 20 of the closing element 10 around the central axis 8 for the rotation of the closing element itself with respect to the support base 2.

This way it is possible to allow the accessibility or not to the area 9.

When the closing element 10 is in contact with the edge of the support base 2 (Figure 1), the area 9 is inaccessible.

When the closing element 10 is raised from the edge of the support base 2 (Figure 2), the area 9 is accessible.

The rotation of the closing element 10 allows facilitating the passage from one configuration to the other.

Usefully, the rotation means 11, 19, 20 comprise at least one entrainment element 11 integrally associated with the closing element 10 and rotatable around the central axis 8.

In particular, the entrainment element 11 comprises at least one entrainment extremity 12 which is integrally associated with the closing element 10 and one constrained extremity 13 pivoted onto the bearing structure 5 at the central axis 8.

In this embodiment, a pair of entrainment elements 11 is placed at the respective side walls 6.

Each entrainment element 11 comprises three elongated portions 14 having respective entrainment extremities 12 fixed to the closing element 10 by means of connecting elements 15.

The three elongated portions 14 have a constrained extremity 13 in common and are arranged in a radial pattern.

Usefully, the angle comprised between the furthest radii is substantially orthogonal, but solutions that provide for an angle width different from that shown cannot be ruled out, just as solutions cannot be ruled out which provide for entrainment elements having several elongated portions such as those illustrated, or which are made up of a single piece of sheet metal with a circular- sector shape.

Still with reference to the present embodiment, the closing element 10 comprises a fixed portion 16 associated with the bearing structure 5 and a movable portion 17 associated with the entrainment element 11.

The fixed portion 16 comprises two slots 18 which are adapted to house the entrainment elements 11 to measure when the latter are shifted in rotation.

The slots 18 enable the entrainment elements 11 to penetrate into the fixed portion, thus permitting greater travel of the movable portion 17 when this is made to rotate.

This way, to make the area 9 accessible, the movable portion 17 can be rotated and positioned on top of the fixed portion 16, thus achieving the advantages of convenience and simplicity of execution of the opening and closing operations. Advantageously, the rotation means 11, 19, 20 comprise, for each entrainment element 11, a pin 19 secured to the bearing structure 5 and a through hole 20 formed on each entrainment element 11.

The pin 19 is formed on the side walls 6 at the intersection of the central axis 8 with the surface represented by the side walls themselves.

The pin 19 and the hole 20 are associated with each other so as to define a pivoting coupling.

This characteristic allows for the rotation of the closing element 10 around the central axis 8.

Usefully, the display unit 1 comprises locking means 21 for locking the closing element 10 adapted to lock the closing element itself in a predefined position so as to prevent the latter from rotating around the central axis 8.

In the present embodiment, the predefined position is configured with the movable portion 17 of the closing element 10 which is in contact with the peripheral edge 23 of the support base 2, so as to prevent access to the area 9. In the present embodiment, the locking means 21 are of the type of a latch lock 21.

The latch lock 21 comprises a latch 22 arranged at one side of the peripheral edge 23 of the support base 2.

In particular, the latch 22 comprises an elongated body 24 which extends from one extremity of the peripheral edge 23 to the other and is provided with at least one engagement extremity 25 which is chamfered and protruding with respect to the elongated body 24.

The engagement extremity 25 is associated with elastic elements, for simplicity not shown in the illustrations, adapted to keep the extremity itself in place.

The latch lock 21 also comprises an engagement body 26 associated with the entrainment element 11 and adapted to engage itself with the engagement extremity 25 to keep the entrainment element 11 in position.

When the entrainment element 11 is brought to a predefined position (Figure 1), the engagement body 26 pushes the engagement extremity 25 overcoming the elastic force of the springs and sliding it over the body itself.

The engagement body 26 then comprises a through opening 27 adapted to be inserted by the engagement extremity 25.

When the engagement extremity 25 meets the opening 27, the action of the springs returns the extremity itself into position, allowing it to insert itself into the engagement body 26 and, thereby defining a locking coupling (Figure 5). In the present embodiment, there are two engagement extremities 25, placed in a distal position the one with respect to the other along the elongated body 24 of the latch 22, and are adapted to engage with respective engagement bodies 26 fixed to the entrainment elements 11 placed at the side walls 6.

Usefully, the display unit 1 comprises unlocking means 28 of the closing element 10 adapted to allow the shift of the closing element 10 from the predefined position to another rotated position relative to the predefined one. In particular, the unlocking means 28 allow the latch lock 21 to be released to allow the engagement body 26 to disengage from the engagement extremity 25. Advantageously, the unlocking means 28 comprise an electronic control unit, for simplicity not shown in the figures, associated with the locking means 21 for their unlocking.

The unlocking means 28 also comprise at least one detection unit 28 associated with the electronic unit and adapted to detect at least one indicator signal for the unlocking of the locking means.

The detection unit 28, for example, is of the type of a chip, of an electronic sensor or the like, which is able to send a signal to the electronic control unit which provides for the unlocking of the locking means 21.

In the present embodiment, the display unit 1 also has a mechanical locking/unlocking system, indicated by the reference number 29.

The system 29 permits locking/unlocking the latch lock 21 using a traditional key.

Solutions which provide for the absence of the system 29, or solutions which provide for the presence of the system 29 alone, without the unlocking means 28 cannot be ruled out.

Advantageously, the display unit 1 comprises a first lighting set 30 associated with the bearing structure 5 and arranged on top of the support element 3.

Usefully, the first lighting set 30 comprises a strip of LED lights.

In the present embodiment, there is a first lighting set 30 on each side wall 6. This feature makes it possible to improve the lighting of the area 9, thus reducing energy and maintenance costs.

Usefully, the display unit 1 also comprises a second lighting set 31 associated with the bearing structure 5 and arranged below the support element 3.

In particular, the second lighting set 31 is located inside the cavity 7.

The second lighting set 31 is also of the type of a strip of LED lights.

This feature allows backlighting the items 4, improving the exposure of the items themselves and the lighting of the area 9.

The operation of the present invention is as follows.

The movable portion 17 of the closing element 10 is rotated with respect to the central axis 8 until the entrainment element 11 enters the slot 18.

The area 9 is thus made accessible and the items 4 to be displayed can be placed on the support element 3.

By rotating the movable portion 17 to the opposite direction until it is in abutment with the support base 2, the area 9 is made inaccessible.

The locking means 21 are activated, with the engagement extremity 25 which first slides on the engagement body 26 and then enters into the opening 27, thus blocking the entrainment element 11 in a predefined position.

By activating the detection unit 28, the locking means 21 are released, so as to allow the entrainment element 11 to rotate again around the central axis 8.

The first lighting set 30 and the second lighting set 31 diffuse light radiation into the area 9, allowing better exposure of the items 4 on display.

It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects and, in particular, the fact is underlined that the display unit provided makes it easier for operators wanting to replace the items on display. The rotation means of the closing element with respect to the central axis, in fact, make it easier to pick up from and arrange the items on the support element.

The movable portion which rotates until it positions itself above the fixed portion ensures easier physical access to the internal area.

The lighting sets and their arrangement, furthermore, make it possible to ensure and improve the exposure of the items on display.

The locking and unlocking means in the devised display unit make it possible to secure the items from possible theft in a simple way, with simplified locking and unlocking operations.