A secure display system

Abstract

 A secure display shelving system (10), preferably for use in merchandising, comprising a hollow enclosed base (12) with a display unit (17) which is telescopically mounted in the base (12) for reciprocating vertical movement relative thereto. The shelved display unit (17) is fully retractable into the base (12) holding the shelves and any product thereon in a secure condition, vertical movement of the display unit (17) being assisted by a counterweight mechanism (22) acting between the base (12) and display unit (17).

Description

Field

[0001] This invention relates to a display system for valuable goods and is primarily intended for use in the retail sector.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Display units are typically used for merchandising in the retail sector and may be loaded with goods either for display or for sale. If the goods are of high value for example, jewelry tobacco products, alcohol, drugs etc. then product security is a major problem. Some retailers may clear the display unit of goods for security reasons when the shop or store is closed. This is inconvenient, time consuming and requires a further secure area into which the goods can be moved.

Object of the present Invention

[0003] The present Invention provides a secure in-store merchandising system which allows both product display and out-of-hours secure storage.

Statements of Invention

[0004] According to the present invention there is provided a secure shelf display system comprising a hollow enclosed base with a shelf display unit which is telescopically mounted in the base for reciprocating vertical movement relative thereto, the display unit being fully retractable into the base in a secure condition, with a lifting means acting between the base and the display unit for assisting with the relative vertical movement of the display unit.

[0005] The lifting means may comprise motorized means such as motor driven screw threaded struts which engage cooperating threaded collars on the display unit. Alternatively the lift means may comprise manually rotated screw threaded struts.

[0006] Preferably the lifting means is a counter weight mechanism provides an uplift equivalent to the load required to raise a display unit when carrying between 25-100 % of a full design load, and more preferably about 50-75% of the design load. By 'design load' is meant the weight of the unit plus the nett weight of goods which the unit is designed to carry when fully loaded. The nett weight will vary according to the product.

[0007] Various types of counter weight mechanism may be used for example systems using mass weights and pulleys, or systems using stored energy such as gas springs or hydraulic struts, elastomeric springs, or mechanical springs.

[0008] Preferably the display unit is resiliently biased upwards into a display condition by a counterweight mechanism, which preferably comprises springs.

[0009] The base may further includes an open upper unit which is mounted on the base and the display unit is accommodated within the upper unit when it is raised fully out of the base. The springs are preferably spiral springs, preferably fixed to the upper unit and are in contracted state when the display is in a fully raised condition for display, and are in an extended condition when the display unit is retracted into the base in a secure condition.

[0010] The display unit comprises an open support frame having a top plinth with a plurality shelves located on the frame some of which may be fixed, and at least the lower of which are removable from the unit to allow access to the base for maintenance when the display unit is in a raised condition. The top plinth of the display unit is reinforced, for example by double skinning, to deter forced entry when the display unit is in a retracted secure condition. The plinth has at least one peripheral edge portion projecting outwardly to overlap with and to lie close to the upper surfaces on the base when in the secure condition making it difficult to access any gaps between the base and display unit.

[0011] Such a display system is primarily intended for use in a retail environment but could be used anywhere where it is desirable to simply and quickly place objects on display into a more secure environment , for example it could be useful in museums and workshops.

Description of Drawings

[0012] The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1

is an isometric view of a display system according to the present invention with the display unit in the raised condition,

Fig. 2

is a similar view to Fig. 1 with the display unit in a partially retracted condition,

Fig. 3

is a front elevation of the display system shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

is a plan view of the display system shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 5

is a side elevation of the display system shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 6

is a similar view to Fig. 5 with the display unit fully retracted in a secure condition, and

Fig. 7

is a plan view of part of the base.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0013] With reference to Fig.1 and Fig. 2 of the drawings there shown a display system 10 typically for use in merchandising with this particular example be used for merchandising tobacco products 11.

[0014] The display system comprises a carcass 20 having a hollow base 12 ( see Fig. 7) of substantially rectangular cross-section which is formed from sheet metal, preferably steel. The base has reinforced sides 35 and the front may be covered by a facia panel 36. The base 12 includes an open fronted upper unit 13 again formed from sheet metal. The upper unit 13 has a back wall 30 and sidewalls 31. A display header 14 and decorative side columns 15 are secured to the upper unit 13 and preferably the header 14 slidably engages with the upper unit 13. The header 14 and side columns 15 may have internal illumination .

[0015] A display unit 17 is telescopically mounted in the base for vertical reciprocating movement relative to the base. The display unit may be fully extended as shown in Fig.s 1, 3 & 5, partially extended as shown in Fig. 2, or fully retracted as shown in Fig.6. The back wall 30 may be decorated with logos or advertisements which serves to emphasise that the selling space is empty when the product display unit 17 is in the secure condition.

[0016] With reference now to Figs. 3-6, the display unit 17 is a rectangular cross-section open frame structure which carries a plurality of shelves 18, generally between four and eight shelves, on which the product 11 is stored. The shelves 18 at their front edges locate on horizontal 'L' or 'T' section struts 19 which can carry decorative facings. At least the lower two shelves 18B are removable allowing access to the interior of the base 12 when the display unit 17 is in the raised condition. Such access may be necessary for maintenance of the system. The shelves may include conventional runners, dividers and pushers 21. Any fixed shelves may be formed with reinforced front edges allowing the shelves to be used as lifting handles when the unit 17 is raised out of the base 12.

[0017] The display unit 17 is raised with the help of a counter weight mechanism 22 which is attached to the top of the upper unit 13 of the base 12. The counter weight mechanism comprises spiral leaf springs 23 which are retracted when the display unit 17 is in a raised condition but are extended when the unit 17 is in a secure condition as shown in Fig. 6. The free ends of the leaf spring 23 are secured to vertical runners 24 which are attached to the sides of the moveable display unit 17 by any suitable means e.g. rivets, nuts & bolts, adhesive or combinations thereof. The runners 24 are made from a suitable material such as nylon strip or rod, phenolic resin impregnated cloth (Tufnol), hard wood etc. The runners slide against the inner surfaces on the sides of the base 12 and upper unit 13.

[0018] In an alternative the free ends of the springs could be attached directly to the display unit.

[0019] The display unit 17 has a sheet metal top plinth 26 which may be reinforced for security by for example, being double skinned or being of a robust construction. The plinth 26 has a projecting front edge portion 27 which overlaps and lies against the top surface of the base 12 when the display unit 17 is in the secure condition. In this condition the projecting edge 27 makes difficult the insertion of tools such as screw drivers, levers, crow bars etc into the gap between the base and the display unit. Lifting handles (not shown) may be sunk into the plinth 26 and are preferably formed integrally into the sheet metal of the plinth. The lifting handles facilitate the initial upwards movement of the unit from the secure condition.

[0020] With the display unit 17 in the secure condition the system may be locked in this condition by seven lever locks 37 mounted on the base 12 and engageable with detents on the display unit 17. The locks 37 are operated by keys insertable through key holes 38 located on the front of the base 12.

[0021] The display systems 10 are typically made to standard widths between 900mm - 2000mm. A display unit 17 for a typically 1200mm wide system may have a tare weight of approximately 66kg. and when fully laden with for example tobacco products will have a gross weight of about 96-100 kg. The counter weight load provide by the spiral spring mechanisms 22 called constant force spring assemblies available from Applied Spring Technology Ltd. Northampton, and is preferably equivalent to a 75% laden gross weight, in this example an uplift of between 90-92 kg.

Claims

1. A display system comprising a hollow enclosed base with a display unit which is telescopically mounted in the base for reciprocating vertical movement relative thereto, characterised in that the display unit (17) has a plurality of display shelves (18) thereon and is fully retractable into the base (12) to hold the shelves (18) and product (11) thereon in a secure condition, and relative vertical movement of the display unit (17) is assisted by lifting means (22) acting between the base and the display unit.

2. A display system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the lifting means (22) comprises spring means (23) which biases the display unit (17) upwards into a display condition.

3. A display system as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the spring means (23) comprise spiral springs that are in a contracted state when the display unit (17) is in a fully raised condition for display, and are in an extended condition when the display unit (17) is retracted into the base (12) in a secure condition.

4. A display system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the base (12) further includes an open upper unit (13) and the display unit (17) is accommodated within the upper unit (13) when it is in a raised condition.

5. A display system as Claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the counter weight mechanism (22) provides an uplift equivalent to the load required to raise a display unit (17) when carrying between 50-100% of a full design load.

6. A display system as claimed in Claim any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the lower shelves (18B) are removable from the unit (17) to allow access into the base (12) for maintenance when the display unit (17) is in a raised condition.

7. A display system as claimed in Claim 3, and any one of Claims 4 to 6 when dependant upon Claim 3, wherein guide runners (24) are attached to the display unit (17) to facilitate the relative movement of the unit (17) and the free ends of the spiral springs (23) are attached to the runners.

8. A display system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the display unit (17) has a reinforced top plinth (26) to deter forced entry when the display unit is in a retracted secure condition, and the top plinth (26) of the display unit (17) has at least one peripheral edge portion (27) that overlaps to lie against upper surfaces on the base (12) in said secure condition making it difficult to access any gaps between the base and display unit.

9. A display system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein at least one locking mechanism (37) is mounted on the base (12) for cooperation with detents on the display unit (17) when in said secure condition.

10. A display system as claimed in any one claim depending from Claim 4, wherein the upper unit (13) includes a header display (14) and side display panels (15) which may include internal illumination for display purposes.

Drawing