FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to slatted wall structures commonly installed in retail establishments. In particular the invention relates to slatted wall structures having substantially elongate inserts provided therein.

BACKGROUND

A known slatted wall (or 'slatwall') structure 10 is shown generally at 10 in FIG. 1 . The slatwall structure 10 is typically in the form of an MDF board (medium density fibreboard) having a plurality of channels 1 1 formed therein along a direction parallel to a major face 1 OA of the board. The channels 1 1 are each provided with an aperture 12 along a length thereof to allow display elements such as shelf members or hanger members to be coupled to the slatwall structure 10.

Some slatwall structures 10 are provided with insert members 15 arranged to be inserted in respective channels 1 1 (FIG. 1 ). The insert members 15 may be used to improve an aesthetic appearance of a slatwall structure 10 by hiding interior surfaces of the channels 1 1. Insert members 15 may be provided in different colours to match a decor of a given environment in which the slatwall structures 10 are to be used.

Furthermore the strength and stability of fixing elements coupled to a slatwall structure 10 can be improved by the use of insert members 15. In some cases insert members are formed from metallic materials, such as extruded aluminium.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a fixing element for a slatwall structure, the fixing element being configured to be coupled to an insert member provided in a channel of the slatwall structure, the fixing element having a hook portion arranged to be inserted into a cavity defined by the insert member thereby to couple the fixing element to the insert member, the insert member being further arranged to support an edge of a display panel provided in juxtaposition with a face of the slatwall structure. Embodiments of the invention have the advantage that a display panel may be coupled to a slatwall structure such that the display panel is in juxtaposition with a major face of the slatwall structure without a requirement to use an adhesive. Nor do fixing elements according to embodiments of the invention require permanent modification of the insert member in order to be effective, such as by perforation or other modification of the insert member.

Thus, unlike fixing elements such as nails, screws or bolts, it is not required to form an aperture in a wall of the insert member in order to couple the fixing element to the insert member.

Furthermore, embodiments of the invention have the advantage that a display panel may be supported using existing insert members installed in a slatwall structure.

Preferably the fixing element is provided with a lip portion arranged to limit an extent to which an edge of the display panel can move away from the slatwall structure in a direction substantially normal to the face of the slatwall structure.

Preferably the lip portion is arranged to be provided in spaced apart relationship with the face of the slatwall structure when the fixing element is coupled to the insert member.

The lip portion is preferably arranged to lie parallel to and in abutment with a longitudinal edge of the insert member.

Preferably a pair of lip portions are provided, the lip portions being arranged to support edges of a pair of display panels provided on opposite sides of the channel.

This feature has the advantage that a single fixing element may be used to support a display panel above the fixing element and a display panel below the fixing element.

Preferably the hook portion of the fixing element is provided with at least one grip element arranged to co-operate with an interior wall of the insert member to couple the fixing element thereto.

The at least one grip element may be of a shape complementary to that of an inner wall of the insert member. Preferably the at least one grip element is resiliency deformable thereby to allow the fixing element to be coupled to the insert member.

The fixing element may comprise a plurality of grip elements.

A pair of grip elements may be provided, the grip elements being arranged to be resiliency deformable in a direction towards one another thereby to allow the grip elements to be inserted into and removed from the insert member.

The fixing element may comprise a substantially hollow body portion arranged to define the plurality of grip elements.

The body portion may be provided with a cut-out portion along a length thereof.

Preferably the cut-out portion is arranged to allow the grip elements to be resiliency deformable towards one another.

In some embodiments this features has the advantage that an extent to which the grip elements may be deformed towards one another is limited due to interference between the grip elements.

Preferably the fixing element is in the form of an extrusion.

The fixing element may be arranged to be slidably coupled to the insert member.

This has the advantage that repositioning of fixing elements for example to align fixing elements or space the elements at suitable positions with respect to one another or to a panel being displayed may be made in a rapid and convenient manner.

The fixing element may further comprise means for supporting a display plate at a location spaced apart from the face of the slatwall structure to which the fixing element is coupled.

Preferably the fixing element comprises a boom member arranged in use to project away from the slatwall structure. Preferably the boom member is provided with a coupling element arranged to allow the display plate to be coupled to the boom member.

The fixing element may be arranged to allow the display plate to be coupled to the boom member at or proximate a free end of the boom member.

Preferably the fixing element is configured whereby the display plate may be caused to execute an oscillatory motion when the free end of the boom member is deflected from an undeflected condition and subsequently released.

The boom member may be a resiliency deformable member.

Preferably the fixing element is arranged to be removably coupled to the insert member.

The fixing element may be arranged to be coupled to the insert member by being passed through at least a portion of a wall of the insert member.

For example, the fixing element may be arranged to bite into the wall of the insert member. In some embodiments the fixing element is arranged to pierce through a wall of the insert member.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a fixing element for a slatwall structure, the fixing element being arranged to be coupled to an insert member provided in a channel of a slatwall structure, the fixing element being arranged to support an edge of a display panel provided in juxtaposition with a face of the slatwall structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a portion of a prior art slatwall structure with an insert member installed in a channel thereof; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a prior art insert member with a fixing element according to an embodiment of the invention coupled thereto;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the fixing element of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a fixing element according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of a fixing element according to an embodiment of the invention installed in a slatwall structure; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a fixing element having a boom member for supporting a display plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2 shows a fixing element 130 according to one embodiment of the invention coupled to a known insert member 15 of a slatwall structure. The fixing element 130 is in the form of an extrusion having a cross-section illustrated in FIG. 3. The fixing element 130 has a body portion 132 that includes a pair of grip elements 134, 135 arranged to be inserted within a cavity 16 defined by insert member 15. The grip elements 134, 135 are resiliency deformable in a direction towards one another thereby to allow the grip elements to be inserted into the cavity 16. Excessive deformation of the grip elements 134, 135 towards one another is prevented by interference between the grip elements 134, 135.

The fixing element 130 is provided with a pair of lip portions 138, 139 that project away from the body portion 132 in opposite directions. The lip portions 138, 139 are configured to be provided in an orientation generally parallel to an outer face 10A of a section of a slatwall structure 10 (FIG. 1 , 5). As shown in FIG. 5 the lip portions 138, 139 in combination with body portion 132 are arranged to support edges of display panels 20, 21 respectively, the display panels 20, 21 being provided in juxtaposition with a face 10A of a section of a slatwall structure 10. Lip portions 138, 139 thereby prevent the display panels 20, 21 from falling from the slatwall structure 10. The fixing element 132 shown in FIG. 5 is arranged to cooperate with corresponding fixing elements provided in a channel above and a channel below the channel 1 1 shown in order to support the display panels 20, 21 respectively.

In some embodiments of the invention the fixing element 130 is formed from a plastics material, in particular an extrudable plastics material. For example in some embodiments the fixing element 130 is formed from a transparent plastics material such as Zylar™. This has the advantage that graphics provided on display panels 20, 21 are not obscured. Other materials are also useful such as PTFE.

The fixing element 130 may be conveniently slid along a length of an insert member 15 to which the fixing element 130 has been coupled to a required location. This allows the fixing element 130 to be conveniently repositioned in use according to a particular requirement.

It is to be understood that a plurality of fixing elements may be required in each of a pair of adjacent channels in order to provide sufficient support for a display panel 20, 21 .

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the invention in which a fixing element 230 is provided with a boom member 260 arranged to project away from a body portion 232 of the fixing element. A coupling element 270 is provided at a free end of the boom member 260.

The coupling element 270 is configured to allow an information plate or like element to be coupled to the boom member 260 and supported thereby. In some embodiments the coupling element 270 is provided with a resiliency deformable nose portion 272 arranged to be passed through an aperture formed in the information plate, the information plate being arranged to be gripped by the boom member 260 between the nose portion 272 and a buffer portion 274.

In some embodiments the boom member 260 is arranged to be resiliency deformable. In some embodiments the boom is arranged to be sufficiently resiliency deformable that when an information plate is coupled to the boom member 260 as described above, bending of the boom member by displacement of the information plate in a substantially radial direction followed by release of the boom member 260 (such as when a shopper brushes past the information plate) results in oscillation of the information plate in a manner likely to attract the attention of persons in the vicinity of the information plate. In some embodiments fixing elements 230 provided with a boom member 260 are formed from polypropylene. Other materials are also useful.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", means "including but not limited to", and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.