[0001] This invention relates to an object-holding device, constituted by the horizontal
combination of modular sectional elements, particularly suitable for supporting and
displaying prismatic containers, such as boxes and various packages of miscellaneous
products, such as for instance drug packages, toiletries and the like, as well as
for supporting and displaying items having different shapes, such as vases from glass,
plastic materials or other materials, bottles and the like.
[0002] As is known, the problem of tidily displaying products that are contained in boxes,
small bottles and packages of different type and size, particularly drugs, toiletries,
perfumes, medicinal herbs, anf food in general, is usually solved, in some cases,
by laying out the packages side by side on the display surface (for instance, shop-windows,
shelves and racks in general), in other cases, the packages of one only product or
of several products are arranged on special trays, or the like, in order to keep them
tidily arranged or placed side by side on the supporting surface.
[0003] In still other cases, the packages of products to be displayed, for instance, on
counters, are arranged on multilevel displayers, often rotatory and/or orientatable,
so as to permit the choice and taking of the products one wishes.
[0004] In practice, the present systems of presentation-display of products packaged on
sale shelves or in shop-windows do not usually maintain stably tidy and arranged said
products, as would be necessary for both practical and aesthetical reasons. Besides,
they have the drawback of not allowing an easy and quick taking of the packages wished
and the replenishment of empty spaces, as the lack of stabilizing means for the supporting
surfaces involves almost always an unwished shifting and/or disalignment of the packages
from the starting placement line.
[0005] In those case in which packages are placed on tray-like supports provided with sideboards,
it is imposssible to arrange on said fixed supports sets of packages having different
size or shape, exploiting fully the displaying capacity of said supports.
[0006] Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide an object-holding device so
designed as to allow the presentation and/or display of the packages in a stable and
tidy manner, whatever the size and shape of the individual packages may be, and independently
on the fact that said packages contain different or equal products, and such as to
allow an easy taking and replenishment of the empty spaces after each taking, without
alterating the starting position of the sets of adjoining packages.
[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide an object-holding device so designed
as to be easily and quickly adaptable to the sizes and shapes of the packages and
boxes to be displayed and to allow variations of the display capacity within wide
limits, without having recourse to special tools.
[0008] Still a further object of the invention is to provide an object-holding device of
the aforementioned type, so designed at to be highly reliable and functional, realizable
from various materials, of a limited overall dimensions and to very low costs.
[0009] These and still further objects which will be more clearly disclosed by the following
description, are reached by an object-holding device placeable on shelves, shop-windows
and the like, which device, according to this invention, comprises:
- at least a couple of bar-elements from rigid plastic material or the like having the
shape of substantially rectangular ledges and provided with a sideboard along one
of the longitudinal sides placed in a mirror-opposite position on each couple of said
bar-elements provided with a sideboard;
- one or more base bar-elements from rigid plastic material or the like having substantially
the shape of rectangular ledges, transversally fastened, relatively to at least a
side-by-side and opposing couple of said elements provided with sideboard, in such
a way as to constitute a substantially rectangular flat structure with quadrangular
meshes, of variable size according to the positioning of the couple of elements provided
with a sideboard relatively to said transversal base elements, wherein the vertical
side-by-side placed sideboards of each couple of elements provided with sideboards
define a plurality of parallel ways, even of different dimensions relatively to one
another, suitable to support containers and items having different shapes, such as
boxes, bottles, jars, and suitable supports for items having an irregular or an asymmetrical
shape, as well as packages of various products to be displayed to the public.
More particularly, said bar-elements provided with sideboards and/or said base bar-elements
are provided with transversal notches at prefixed spacings, suitable to become as
many stress raiser for separation by bending and breaking of lengths of said elements,
in order to adjust the size of the reticular structure to the size of the supporting
shelves and to the sizes of the items to be displayed.
[0010] Besides, at the end which will remain on sight of the bar-elements provided with
sideboards, a flat inclined element is provided, suitable to be used for possible
inscriptions and/or words characterizing the products on display.
[0011] Said flat inclined element is also a supporting element for an elongated longitudinal
element constituting the plate, the support for a plate or a protection for same,
so inserted as to bestridingly fit between the special longitudinal engagement projections
realized before and behind said inclined flat element and parallel to the latter.
[0012] Said elongated element is made from transparent plastic material bendable and/or
flexible of a length equal to the length of said way or ways, and of a height equal
or slightly greater or slightly shorter than the height of said inclined flat element.
[0013] Said elongated element may be advantageously obtained, for instance, from a slab-element
from flexible transparent material, provided with transversal back-not-ches, suitable
to make posssible the bending of the slab according to the shape wished.
[0014] More in particular, said elongated element is advantageously utilized to highlight
the inscriptions, the words and/or the pictures characterizing the products on display.
The elongated element constituting a plate or a plate support or protection, as said,
can be applied by glueing or the like on said inclined flat elements, or can be fitted
between said inclined elements and the engagement protrusions, and ensures also a
greater assembly stability between said bar-elements, allowing at the same time the
presentation and/or display of the packages in a stable, tidy and elegant manner.
[0015] The elements which constitute the object-holding device according to this invention
are preferably made from rigid plastic material or the like, such as for instance
polymethylmetacrilate, polyvynil chloride, polystyrene and the like.
[0016] To keep said object-holding device in the right position on shelves and the like,
one or more magnetic elements are advantageously utilized, which are fixed to the
lower face of said elements provided with sideboard if said shelves or the like are
made from metal, or if they are made from different materials, suitable magnets or
the like can be provided on said shelves or the like, in correspondence with said
magnetic elements.
[0017] Always according to this invention, said bar-elements provided with a sideboard are
provided with one or more hollow support elements having preferably a rectangular
section, suitable to support said elements and therefore the frame on shelves and
the like, said hollow support elements being also suitable to contain and hold said
magnetic elements and to keep them in place by embedding, adhesion or the like.
[0018] Always according to this invention, further bar-elements are provided having the
shape of substantially rectangular ledges, constituted by a bearing base and a vertical
and longitudinal separation board centrally placed at 90°C relatively to said bearing
base, which can be placed between said bar-elements provided with a sideboard and
stably kept in the right position by adhesion of their bearing base on said base bar-elements,
circumscribing in this way parallel ways, even of different width relatively to one
another, suitable to support the products and/or the packages to be displayed to the
public.
[0019] According to another embodiment of this invention, said couple of bar-elements provided
with a sideboard along one of their longitudinal sides comprises:
- a first element provided with rectangular bar-extensions, perpendicularly placed relatively
to the bearing base of said first element, the surface opposite to the supporting
surface of each of said bar-extensions being constituted by several raised prismatic
elements, equispaced and parallel to one another;
- a second element whose bearing base is provided on its lower face with a series of
grooves parallel to one another, equispaced and placed longitudinally relatively to
said bearing base, said grooves being suitable for housing and embedding said raised
elements provided on said bar-extensions; the sideboard of said second element being
mirror-opposing the sideboard of said first elements; wherein the association between
said first and said second element circumscribes a way suitable to support containers
and other items, such as boxed, bottles, jars and suitable supports for items of irregular
or asymmetrical shape and packages of various products to be displayed to the public;
said first element and said second elements constituting a first couple being also
provided respectively with one or more protruding hook-elements placed on the external
side of said sideboard and in correspondence with the bearing base of said first element
and with one or more notches provided on the external side of said sideboard of said
second element and placed in correspondence of said pretruding elements, said notches
provided on said second element of said first couple being suitable for housing and
embedding the protruding hook-elements or the like provided on the first element of
a second couple, allowing in this way to combine one or more couples among one another,
and realizing in this ways a modular device which circumscribes a plurality of ways
suitable to support containers of various type, as well as products of different sizes
and shapes to be diasplayed to the public.
[0020] Said elements are also provided with suitably spaced transversal notches, suitable
to constitute as many stress raisers for the separation by bending and breaking of
lengths of said elements, in order to adjust the dimensions of the structure to the
dimensions of the shelves.
[0021] Besides, these bar-extensions are also provided with a series of transversal notches,
suitable to form engagements for the separation by bending and breaking of the protruding
lengths of said extensions, once said first and said second elements have been positioned
and fixed at the distance wished.
[0022] The ends of each of said elements that should remain on sight are preferably realized
according to an inclined plane and are also provided with a first strip bent by 90°
towards the inside, as well as with a parallel counter-strip, opposite and spaced
from said first strip, so as to create a space or groove inside which the edges of
plates, labels and the like suitable to characterise the products on display can be
slidingly introduced, which plates and the like are therefore kept in position, while
being easily replaceable by simple unthreading.
[0023] According to a further embodiment of this invention, said couple of bar-elements
provided with a sideboard along a longitudinal side, comprises:
- a first elongated element from heat-moulded plastic material, realized as one only
box-shaped hollow piece, said first element being constituted by a substntially elongated
base, a sideboard also elongated, placed at 90° relatively to said base along a longitudinal
side, and a downwards bent slip, also elongated, placed at 90° relatively to said
base along its longitudinal side opposite to the one corresponding to said sideboard,
suitable to constitute, together with the lower edge of said sideboard, the supporting
perimeter of said first element, said first element being also provided with one or
more notches on the external surface of said sideboard, the front end of said first
element being realized according to an inclined plane and protruding in the upper
part relatively to said sideboard,
- a second elongated element from heat-moulded plastic material or the like, realized
as one only box-shaped hollow piece, said second element being constituted by a substantially
elongated base, a sideboard also elongated, placed at 90° relatively to said base
along a longitudinal side and mirror-opposed to said sideboard of said first element,
a downwards bent strip, also elongated and placed at 90° relatively to said base along
its longitudinal axis opposite to the one corresponding to said sideboard, suitable
to constitute, together with the lower edge of said sideboard, the supporting perimeter
of said second element, said second element being also provided with one or more protruding
elements, whose shape corresponds to the shape of said notches provided on said first
element, positioned on the external surface of said sideboard and in crrespondence
of said notches, the front end of said second element being also realized according
to an inclined plane and protruding in the upper part relatively to said sideboard,
- at least two rectangular slab-elements from rigid plastic material or the like, suitable
to fix and keep stably in position said first and said second element associated among
one another to form a first couple, by adhesion of the first of said slab-elements
on the front surfaces of said inclined plane front strips of said first and said second
element, as well as by adhesion of the second of said slab-elements flatly placed
on a length of the upper surfaces of said bases of said first and said second element
constituting said first couple, circumscribing therefore a way suitable to support
containers of different shapes, such as boxes, bottles and the like, and suitable
supports for items of irregular or asymmetrical shape and packages of various products
to be displayed to the public, said notches provided on said sideboard of said first
element constituting said first couple being suitable for housing and embedding the
protruding elements provided on the second element of a second couple, allowing in
this way to associate two or more couples among one another, circumscribing a plurality
of parallel ways suitable to support containers of different shapes, such as boxes,
bottles and the like, and supports suitable for items of irregular or asymmetrical
shape and packages of various products to be displayed to the public, said notches
provided on said sideboard of said first element constituting said first couple being
suitable for housing and embedding the protruding elements provided on the second
element of a second couple, allowing in this way to associate two or more couples
among one another, circumscribing a plurality of parallel ways suitable to support
containers having different shapes, such as boxes, bottles and the like, and suitable
supports for items of irregular or asymmetrical shape and packages of various products
to be displayed to the public.
[0024] Besides, said slab-elements have different sizes, allowing in this way to modify
the distance between said first and said second element constituting said first couple,
according to the shapes and sizes of the items to be displayed to the public.
[0025] Said rectangular slab-elements are also provided, on their underface, of at least
two strips of tape, positioned along the two opposite ends of said slab-elements which
are to lay on said elongated bases and on said inclined plane front ends of said first
and said second element. Said tape strips are also protected by means of paper strips
or the like, suitable to be easily removed when said slab-elements are positioned
on said first and said second element.
[0026] Besides, said first and said second element are provided with one or more transversal
notches realized on said sideboards, suitable to become as many stress raisers for
the separation by cutting of lengths of said elements, in order to adjust the length
of the object-holding device to the dimensions of the shelves.
[0027] The transversal notches are preferably "V"-shaped, so as to lend the structure also
special aesthetic effects.
[0028] The problem of keeping said object-holding device stable on shelves and the like
can be advantageously solved by means of one or more nagnetic elements placed and
fixed within said first and said second container, in correspondence of the lower
face of said elongated bases and in such a way as to be flush with the lower edge
of said sideboards and said downwards bent strips. More particularly, said first and
said second elemnd are preferably realized from heat-moulded plastic maerial, such
as for instance polystyrene, polyvynil chloride and the like. Said slab-elements are
advantageously realized from rigid plastic material, such as for instance polymethylmetacrilate,
polyvynil chloride and the like.
[0029] Further characteristics and advantages of this invention will be stressed by the
following detailed description of one of its practical embodiments, wherein reference
is made to the enclosed drawings, wherein:
Figs. 1 to 7 show a first embodiment of the invention;
Figs. 8 to 12 show a second embodiment of the invention;
while Figs. 11 to 13 show still a third embodiment of the invention.
[0030] More particularly:
Fig. 1 shows, in perspective view, the bar-element provided with a centrally placed
vertical wall; Fig. 2 shows, always in perspective view, the rectangular ledge-shaped
bar-element; Fig. 3 shows, always in perspective view, the bar-element provided with
a sideboard; while Fig. 4 shows, always in perspective view, the couple constituted
by the first and the second element associated among one another and kept stable by
the rectangular ledge-shaped element.
[0031] Fig. 5 shows a plan of the transparent slab-element from plastic material, while
Fig. 5' shows the same element viewed laterally along the d-d' line.
[0032] Fig. 6 shows the section of a detail of a slab-element provided with a sideboard,
while Fig. 7 shows the section of the element of Figs. 3 and 6, bestrided by the elongated
element assembled on it.
[0033] Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a first element provided with a sideboard and
provided with a bar-extension, connected to a second element, according to a second
embodiment of the invention; Fig. 9 shows, always in perspective view, the detail
of the connection of said bar-extension with said second element;
Fig. 10 shows the plan of the detail of the transversal notches suitable to become
as many stress raisers for the separation by bending and breaking of lengths of said
elements;
Fig. 11 shows a perspetive view of said first element provided with the bar-extension;
Fig. 12 shows, always in perspective view, said second element.
[0034] Figs. 14 and 15 show, in perspective view, the first and the second elongated box-shapeded
element, while Fig. 13 shows, always in perspective view, the first and the second
element connected to one another and kept in the right position by two slab-elements,
according to still a further embodiment of this invention.
[0035] With reference to Figs. 1 to 7, according to this invention, element 4 is constituted
by a bearing base 4a and by a vertical wall 4b, placed at 90° and centrally positioned
relatively to said base 4a. Three supporting hollow elements 5 are positioned on the
lower face of said base 4a, suitable for housing and holding by adhesion the magnetic
elements 6. Besides, at the end which shall remain on sight of said element 4, an
inclined flat element 7 is provided, suitable to carry possible inscriptions characterizing
the products displayed, and suitable to constitute a supporting element for said elongated
element 8, which is shown mounted on Fig. 7.
[0036] Said element 4 is also provided with transversal notches 9, suitable to become as
many stress raisers for the separation by bending and breaking of lengths of said
element 4.
[0037] Fig. 2 shows the rectangular ledge-shaped element 3, provided with transversal notches
9c, suitable to become as many stress raisers for the separation by bending and breaking
of said element 3.
[0038] Element 2, shown in perspective view on Fig. 3, is constituted by a bearing base
2a, a sideboard 2b placed at 90° along the longitudinal side of base 2a; besides,
three support hollow elements 5a are positioned on the lower face of said base 2a,
suitable for housing and holding by adhesion the magnetic elements 6a. Besides, at
the end which shall remain on sight of said element 2, an inclined flat element 7
is provided suitable to carry possibile inscriptions characterizing the products displayed
and suitable to constitute a supporting element for said elongated element 8, shown
assembled on Fig. 7.
[0039] Said element 2 is also provided with transversal notches 9, suitable to become as
many stress raisers for the separation by bending and breaking of lengths of said
element 2.
[0040] Element 1, shown on Fig. 4 connected to said element 2 to form a couple, is constituted
by a bearing base 1a, not shown on the figure, a sideboard 1b placed at 90° along
a longitudinal side of said base a and mirror-opposite to said sideboard b2 of said
element 2. Two supporting hollow elements 5b, suitable for housing and holding by
adhesion the magnetic elements 6b, are positioned on the lower face of said base 1a.
Besides, at the end which shall remain on view of said element 1, an inclined flat
element 7 is provided, suitable to carry possible inscriptions characterizing the
products displayed, and suitable to constitute a supporting element for said elongated
element 8, shown assembled on Fig. 7.
[0041] Said element 1 is also provided with transversal notches 9, suitable to become as
many stress raisers for the separation by bending and breaking of lengths of said
element 1.
[0042] Said elements 1 and 2 which form said couple are kept at the distance wished and
held in the right position by adhesion of a length of the lower faces of said bases
1a and 2a on the upper face of said element 3.
[0043] Besides, the way provided with sideboards allows to shift the packages towards an
end, usually the front one which is on sight, in order to improve the aesthetic appearance
of the device even in the case of a way where there are empty spaces.
[0044] To allow for the adjustment of the overall dimensions of the structure obtained as
descrived above, the individual elements 1, 2 and 4 are provided with transversal
notches 9 provided on sideboards 1b, 2b and 4b and on the bearing bases 1a, 2a and
4a, while element 3 is provided with transversal notches only. Said notches become
as many stress raisers for the separation of element lengths by simple bending of
the lengths to be removed in order to adjust the structure to the width and length
of the bearing surface of same. In particular, the notches provided on sideboards
1b, 2b and 4b are preferably "V"-shaped, so as to lend the structure special aesthetic
effects.
[0045] Lastly, at the ends of elements 1, 2 and 4, which shall remain on sight when the
structure is utilized, elements are applied for holding the packages which are constituted
by a reverse "V"-arched wall or the like, wherein wall 10 is an end board and the
inclined part 7 constitutes a surface useful for carrying inscriptions and/or words
related to the characteristics and/or the price of the packages displayed.
[0046] Fig. 5 is a plan of the slab-element from flexible transparent plastic material 8,
provided with notches 12 which allow to perform the bending of element 8 according
to the shape wished.
[0047] Fig. 5' is a side view of the same slab-element 8, along the line d-d'. Fig. 6 shows
the section of an element constituted by a reverse "V" arched wall or the like, shown
also in perspective on Figs. 1, 3 and 4, provided with a vertical wall 10 and an inclined
wall 7, which circumscribes on its external lower bearing surface end a "s" space
suitable for housing the bent slab-element shown assembled on Fig. 7.
[0048] An equivalent "s" space shown on Fig. 6 is circumscribed also between the internal
surface of the vertical wall 10 and the protrusion 14, always to keep bestridingly
embedded said elongated element 8 indicated on Fig. 7.
[0049] With reference to Figs. 8 to 12, according to this invention, element 31 is constituted
by a rectangular section 31a provided (or inegrally realized) with a sideboard 31b
placed at 90°, which runs all along the longitudinal side of said element 31. Said
element 31 is also provided with a substantially rectangular bar-extension 34, fixed
perpendicularly to the bearing base 31a of said element 31, and provided on its upper
surface with a set of protruding prismatic elements 35, equispaced and parallel to
one another. Said bar-extension is also provided with one or more transversal notches
45, suitable to become as many stress raisers for the separation by bending and breaking
of the protruding lengths 46 of said extension, once elements 31 and 32 have been
positioned and fixed at the distance wished.
[0050] Said element 31 is also provided with transversal notches 36 and 36', respectively
provided in sideboard 31a, suitable to become as many stress raisers for the separation
by bending and breaking of lengths of said element 31, in order to adjust the overall
dimensions of the product-holding device according to the needs. Besides, said element
31 is provided with one or more protruding hook-elements or the like, positioned on
the external side of said sideboard 31b.
[0051] Element 32 is constituted by a rectangular section 32a provided (or integrally realized)
with a sideboard 32b placed at 90°, running all along a longitudinal side of said
element 32 and such as to be mirror-opposite to said sideboard 31b of element 31.
[0052] Besides, said element 32 is provided, on the lower face of its bearing base 32a,
with a set of grooves 37, suitable for housing and embedding said raised elements
32 provided on the upper surface of said bar-extension 34, as shown in transparence
on Fig. 8 and in detail on Fig. 9, in order to fix said element 32 at the distance
wished relatively to element 31, forming a first couple and obtaing a stable structure.
[0053] Said element 32 of said first couple is also provided with one or more notches 44,
provided on the external side of said sideboard 32b, suitable for housing and holding
the protruding elements, provided on element 31, of a second couple, allowing in this
way to join two or more couples to one another, realizing in this way a modular device.
[0054] Further still, for each element 31 and 32, the ends which shall remain on sight,
respectively indicated by 38 and 39, are realized according to an inclined plane and
provided with a first strip bent at 90° towards the inside and by a counter-strip,
parallel and so spaced from said first strip as to create a space 41, within which
the edged of plates, labels and the like 42 can be slidingly iserted, as shown on
Fig. 8, suitable to characterize the products on display; said plates 42 are therefore
kept in position and are quickly and easily removable by simple unthreading.
[0055] Between the vertical sideboards 31b and 32b of said elements 31 and 32, a longitudinal
way creates on which one can stably insert containers or prismatic packages of various
products; the stability of packages is ensured by the sideboards and the continuity
of the flat parallel surfaces 31a and 32a of said elements 31 and 32. Said longitudinal
way, circumscribed by the vertical sideboards 31 and 32 is suitable to hold not only
box-shaped containers or prismatic packages as said, but also containers of various
shapes such as jars, bottles, etc., providing possibly additional support elements
placed on said parallel flat surfaces 31a and 32a of said elements 31 and 32 having
a shape suitable for holding asymmetrical containers having irregular shapes. Assembling
two or more couple among one another, constituted each by the association of said
first and said second element, one can realize a multi-way modular object-holding
device from which packages can be easily taken out or introduced into the spaces left
empty after each taking, without running the risk of alterating the alignment of the
packages in each way. Besides, the ways provided with sideboards allow to shift packages
towards one end, normally the front one which is on sight, in order to improve the
aesthetic effect of the whole even in case of ways where there are empty spaces.
[0056] To allow the adjustment of the overall dimensions of the structure obtained as described
above, the individual elements are provided with stress raisers 36 and 45 and transversal
notches 36' and 45, provided on sideboards 31b and 32 b, in flat sections 31a and
32a, and in bar-extensions 34. Said notches become as many stress raisers for the
separation of lengths of said elements and said extensions by simple bending of the
lengths to be removed in order to adjust the structure to the width and length of
the bearing surface of same. In particular, stress raisers 36 and 45 provided in sideboards
31b and 32b and in extensions 34, are preferably "V"-shaped, so as to lend the structure
also particular aesthetic effects.
[0057] With reference to Figs. 14, 15 and 13, Fig. 14 shows in perspective view the first
element 61 of hollow, elongated, box-like shape, integrally constituted by a flat
elongated base 61a, an elongated sideboard 61b placed at 90° relatively to base 61a,
and a downwards bent strip 61c. Said first element 61 is also provided with two hollow
spaces 66 provided on the external face of the lateral sideboard 61b; the front end
63 of said element 61 is made according to an inlined place and is slightly protruding
relatively to said sideboard 61b. Said element 61 is also provided with two transversal
notches 65 provided on sideboard 61, suitable to become as many stress raisers by
cutting of lengths of said element 61.
[0058] Fig. 15 shows, in perspective view, the second hollow elongated box-shaped element
62 integrally constituted by a base 62a having also an elongated shape, a sideboards
62b placed at 90° relatively to said base 62a and mirror-opposing said sideboard 61b,
a downwards bent strip 62c, placed at 90° relatively to said base 62a along the side
opposite to said sideboard 62b. Element 62 is also provided with two protruding elements
67, positioned on the external face of said sideboard 62b and in correspondence with
said hollow spaces 66 on sideboard 61b; besides, the front end 68 of said element
62 is made according to an inclined plane and its upper part is protruding relatively
to sideboards 62b. Element 62 is also provided with two transversal notches 65 cut
in sideboard 62, suitable to become as many stress raisers for the separation, by
cutting, of lengths of said element 62.
[0059] Fig. 13 shows, always in perspective view, elements 61 and 62 assembled to one another
and held in position by means of two rectangular plate-elements 69 and 50; said plate-elements
69 and 50 are suitable to stably fasten elements 61 and 62 assembled to one another
to form a first couple, by adhesion of the first element 69 on to the front faces
63 and 68 of said elements 61 and 62, as well as by adhesion of the second element
50 in flat position on a length of the upper faces of said elongated bases 61a and
62a of said elements 61 and 62.
[0060] The hollow spaces 66 provided on sideboard 61b of element 61 making part of the first
couple are suitable for housing and embedding the protruding elements provided on
the second element of a second couple, allowing to assemble two or more couples among
one another, circumscribing a plurality of parallel ways, suitable to support box-shaped
containers and product of various kind.
[0061] In the practical realization, changes in the materials and sizes of the various components
as well as in the shape and relative arrangement of the components can be made to
the above described object-holding device without exceeding the protection scope of
this invention.
1. Product-holding device for the tidy display of items and box-shaped containers, of
items having asymmetrical and irregular shapes, placeable on rack-shelves and in shop-windows,
characterized in that it comprises:
- at least a couple of bar-elements from rigid plastic material or the like, substantially
shaped as rectangular ledges and provided with a sideboard along a longitudinal side,
arranged a in mirror-opposed position on each couple of said bar-elements provided
with a sideboard;
- one or more base bar-elements also from rigid plastic material, substantially shaped
as rectangular ledges, fastened in transversal position to at least a side-by-side
placed couple of said elements provided with a sideboard, so as to form a substantially
reticular flat structure with quadrangular meshes, with dimensions varying according
to the position of the couples of elements provided with sideboards relatively to
said transversal base elements, the vertical side-by-side placed sideboards of each
couple of elements provided with sideboards circumscribing a plurality of parallel
ways also of different size, suitable to support box-shaped and other containers,
such as bottles, jars and suitable supports for items having asymmetrical or irregular
shapes, and packages of various products to be displayed to the public.
2. Object-holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that said couple of bar-elements
provided with a sideboard along a longitudinal side comprises:
- a first element provided with rectangular bar-extensions, equispaced and perpendicularly
placed relatively to the bearing base of said first element, the surface opposite
to the bearing base of each of said bar-extensions being constituted by a set of prismatic
raised elements, equispaced and placed parallelly to one another;
- a second element shaped as a rectangular ledge, the bearing base of said second
element being provided on its lower face with a set of grooves parallel to one another,
equispaced and longitudinally placed relatively to said bearing base, said grooves
being suitable to house and embed said raised elements provided on said bar-extensions;
the sideboard of said second element being also mirror-opposite to the sideboard of
said first element; the association between said first and said second element circumscribing
a way suitable to support prismatic containers and other containers, such as boxes,
bottles, jars or suitable supports for items having asymmetrical or irregular shapes
and packages of products to be displayed to the public; said first element and said
second element constituting a first couple are provided, respectively, with one or
more hook-shaped protruding elements provided on the external side of said sideboard
and in correspondence of the bearing base of said first element, and with one or more
notches, provided on the external side of said sideboard of said second element and
placed in correspondence of said protruding elements, said notches provided on said
second element of said first couple being suitable for housing and embedding the hook-shaped
protruding elements or the like, provided on the first element of a second couple,
allowing in this way to join two or more couples to one another, and providing in
this way a modular device which circumscribes a plurality of ways suitable to support
box-shaped containers of various kind as well as products of various shapes and sizes
to be diplayed to the public.
3. Object-holding device according to claim 2, characterized in that said bar-extensions
are provided with a set of transversal notches suitable to become as many stress raiser
for the separation by bending and breaking of the protruding lengths of said extensions,
once said first and said second element have been positioned and fastened at the wished
distance.
4. Object-holding device according to claim 2, characterized in that the ends that shall
remain on sight of each of said first and said second element are realized according
to an inclined plane and provided with a first strip bent at 90° towards the inside
and with a parallel counter-strip, opposite to and spaced from said first strip, so
as to form a space or groove where the edges of plates and labels can be inserted
and kept in place, suitable to characterize the products on display.
5. Object-holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that on said bar-elements
provided with sideboards and/or on said base bar-elements transversal notches are
provided at pre-fixed spacings, suitable to become as many stress raiser for the separation
by bending and breaking of lengths of said elements, so as to adjust the dimensions
of the structure to the dimensions of the supporting shelves and to the sizes of the
items to be displayed.
6. Object-holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that at the on-sight
ends of said bar-elements provided with sideboards or with a central vertical wall,
a flat element, substantially shaped as a reverse "V" is provided, a flange of which
closes the head of the bar-element, while the other flange, iclined relatively to
the first one, is utilized to carry inscriptions and/or indications characterizing
the products placed on said ways.
7. Object-holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that in correspondence
of the on-sight ends of said bar-elements, an elongated element is provided made from
transparent plastic material, bent according to a pre-fixed shape, which elongated
element is bestridingly fitted into special hollow spaces provided in correspondence
of the flat inclined elements provided at the ends of said bar-elements, and constitutes
a plate or a support and/or protection element for a plate carrying inscriptions,
designs and the like.
8. Object-holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that said bar-elements
provided with sideboards and said base bar-elements are made from rigid plastic material,
chosen among polymetachrylate, polyvynil chloride and polystyrene.
9. Object-holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that on the lower face
of the bearing bases of said elements, one or more magnetic elements are placed, suitable
to lend greater stability to the products displayed on metal shelves or on shelves
from different materials, provided with magnets placed in correspondence of said magnetic
elements.
10. Object-holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises:
- a first elongated element from heat-moulded plastic material, made as one only hollow
box-shaped piece, said first element being constituted by a substantially elongated
base, a sideboard, placed at 90° relatively to said base along one of its longitudinal
sides, and by an also elongated downward bent strip, placed at 90° relatively to said
base along its longitudinal side opposite to the side corresponding to said sideboard,
suitable to constitute, together with the lower edge of said sideboard, a perimetral
support for said first element, said first element being also provided with one or
more notches provided on the external face of said sideboard, the front end of said
first element being realized according to a protruding inclined plane cantilever-protruding
relatively to said sideboard,
- a second elongated element from heat-moulded plastic material, made as one only
hollow box-shaped piece, said second element being constituted by an elongated base,
an also elongated sideboard, placed at 90° relatively to said base along one of its
longitudinal sides and mirror-opposite relatively to said sideboard of said first
element, and by an also elongated downwards bent strip, placed at 90° relatively to
said base along its longitudinal side opposite to the side corresponding to said sideboard,
suitable to constitute, together with the lower edge of said sideboard, a perimetral
support for said second element, said second element being also provided with one
or more protruding elements, having a shape corresponding to the shape of said notches
provided on said first element, provided on the external face of said sideboard and
in correspondence of said notches, the front end of said second element being realized
according to an inclined plane, cantilever-protruding relatively to said sideboard,
- at least two rectangular plate-elements from rigid plastic material, suitable to
fasten and hold stably in position said first and second elements associated to one
another to form a first couple, by adhesion of the first of said plate-elements to
the front faces of said inclined plane front ends of said first and said second element,
as well by adhesion of the second of said plate-elements in flat position to a length
of the upper faces of said bases of said first and said second elements constituting
said first couple, circumscribing in this way a way suitable to support prismatic
containers and other containers, such as boxes, bottles and suitable supports for
items having asymmetrical or irregular shapes, and packages of various products to
be displayed to the public.
11. Object-holding device according to claim 10, characterized in that said notches provided
on said sideboard of said first element constituting said first couple, are suitable
for housing and embedding the protruding elements provided on the second element of
a second couple, allowing in this way to join two or more couples among one another
and circumscribing a plurality of parallel ways suitable to support prismatic containers
and other containers such as boxes, bottles and supports suitable for items having
asymmetrical or irregular shapes and packages of different products to be diplayed
to the public.
12. Object-holding device according to claim 10, characterized in that said plate-elements
have variable sizes, allowing in this way to adjust the distance between said first
and said second element constituting said first couple, according to the shapes and
sizes of the various products to be displayed to the public.
13. Object-holding device according to claim 10, characterized in that said rectangular
plate-elements are provided on their lower face with at least two strips of tape,
placed along the opposite ends of said plate-elements which are to rest on said elongated
bases and on said inclined plane front ends of said first and said second element.
14. Object-holding device according to claim 10, characterized in that said first and
said second elements are provided with one or more transversal notches provided on
said sideboards, suitable to become as many stress raiser for the separation by bending
and breaking of lengths of said elements, allowing in this way to adjust the length
of the object-holding device to the dimensions of the supporting shelves.
15. Object-holding device according to claim 10, characterized in that said object-holding
device is advantageously held in position on shelves or the like by means of one or
more magnetic elements positioned and fastened in the inside of said first and said
second box-element, in correspondence of the lower face of said elongated bases and
such as to be flush with the lower edge of said sideboards and said downwards bent
strips.
16. Object-holding device according to claim 10, characterized in that said first and
said second element are made from heat-moulded plastic material, chosen among polystyrene
and polyvynil chloride, and that said plate-elements are made from rigid plastic material
chosed among polymetachrylate and polyvynil chloride.
17. Object-holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that said device is suitable
to support items having different shapes, such as jars, bottles, as well as additional
supporting elements suitable to hold items having asymmetrical and irregular shapes.