Field of the invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a support for display units, in particular a support
for displaying blister packs.
Background art
[0002] As known, a variety of different types of display units for sales points exists on
the market, suited to hold and display various types of products. Said units are equipped
of a number of supports to hang the products.
[0003] A particularly widespread support is the one which is employed to hang packages of
modest-sized products, typically inserted in so-called blister packs.
[0004] These supports, also called "prongs" in the field, consist of a root portion from
which a thin support arm extends, whereon product packages are then hung. The root
portion traditionally comprises a support plate to a vertical wall and fastening means,
such as a pair of engaging teeth or an elastic clip. The fastening or retaining means
are meant to be inserted into corresponding slots obtained in a vertical wall of the
display unit and locked there by simple fitting. The support arm takes up various
shapes and may be single, double or with a different, more complex shape. The crosswise
section of the profile also depends on the type of insertion hole provided on the
package to be hung.
[0005] As a matter of fact, the products on sale are hung to the support arm, inserting
them one behind the other, through the package hole, from the distal (or cantilevered)
end of the arm. The purchasers then slide the product off the support arm upon purchase.
[0006] An example of prior art is
US6234436, where a single arm prong is disclosed.
[0007] The supports are typically made of plastic or metal material, but are nevertheless
objects of a limited size, which can be manipulated easily by hand. Therefore, it
is common practice to prepare a vertical display panel (possibly enriched with pleasant
drawings or advertising messages) in the sales point, in which an ordered series of
slots is practised with which the operator can manually engage the fastening means
of the supports. The mounting operation of the supports on the panel can be performed
very easily: the retaining teeth or the elastic clip are inserted into the slots with
the support tilted in an insertion position, so that the subsequent (downward) rotation
into work position brings the fastening means to engage behind the panel, locking
in position the support and preventing a subsequent accidental detachment or slipping
off of the same. In the locked position, the support arm takes up the desired attitude.
The weight of the products on the support ensures that said support remains in the
work position and hence cannot accidentally slip off.
[0008] Normally, display units are conceived to have a single front useful surface, from
which the above-described supports are hung. For such purpose, the structure of the
units very simply consists of a panel of a modest thickness, in the order of 2-5 mm,
of a paper or plastic material, in which a number of slots equal to the number of
supports which it is necessary to hang is practised. The panel is then supported in
the vertical plane along the lateral edges by fastening it directly to a load-bearing
wall or, more often, making it integral with a suitable frame resting on the floor.
[0009] However, the need to propose innovative and original equipment, as well as the request
to occupy spaces more effectively, has led to the fact that nowadays display units
also exist in which the products are displayed on at least two opposite sides of the
display unit structure.
[0010] For such purpose, the use of a single support panel is desirable, because the slits
to be practised to sustain the support prongs on both sides would be twice the standard
number and, on each side, the fastening means of the support prong mounted on the
other side would be visible, which is aesthetically unacceptable and does not allow
a suitable exploitation of the area available on the panel.
[0011] In order to propose two opposite display sides, according to the known art it is
then provided to couple two standard support panels, each one provided with the sole
slits essential for the support prongs of their own side (and hence the slits of the
one panel fall in correspondence with those of the other panel). The steady coupling
of the two panels may occur by various systems, which nevertheless require the building
of spacer elements and a suitable frame. On each side the support prongs are then
mounted in a conventional way, in the desired number and exploiting as best as possible
the available surface.
[0012] The two panels and the relative supports of the same supporting structure are fully
independent and hence are not affected by each other: there is hence no drawback even
if some support prongs on the two sides were loaded differently. The thus resulting
double structure is satisfactory from the point of view of stability, rigidity and
sturdiness, but is redundant and expensive.
[0013] However, precisely due to the advantages it entails in terms of rigidity and stability,
in the cases in which the panels are made of cardboard or plastics, so far it has
not been possible to replace them with any different solution.
Vice versa, in the sector of metal display units - which, however, find different
application with respect to cardboard/plastic ones, both due to reasons of cost, and
for aesthetic and weight/handling manipulation reasons- the subject of the double
display surface has been dealt with differently. As a matter of fact, the support
structure does not provide slits in the surface continuity, as instead described above
for the cardboard panels, but - due to the intrinsic rigidity of the metal material
- is itself designed so as to provide fastening openings. For example, the support
structure is in the shape of a mesh or grid made of thin metal rods or threads. Thereby
it is possible to join to the metal load-bearing structure, support elements which
have support arms facing the two opposite sides. Opposite-arm support devices, also
made of metal, have hence been suggested which are steadily constrained to the rigid
framework of the metal grid, fastening them by tightening means (such as screws and
bolts) or by welding.
[0014] The individual opposite-arm supports are well constrained to a rigid structure and
are hence not affected by mounting problems, nor by load imbalance problems. This
same layout - as may be guessed - is not repeatable in the sector of cardboard or
plastic (plexiglass) panels, where in addition the panel material is prone to collapse
and is sensitive to load imbalances. Moreover, a metal support with relative fastening
means implies a high cost, which is justified only by the duration of the metal material,
while it is inacceptable for cardboard display units for temporary use (lasting the
time of a season or of a promotion campaign).
Summary of the invention
[0015] The object of the present invention is to solve the prior art drawbacks set forth
above, providing an economic support which may be applied to the sector of short-lived
display units, that is, units made of cardboard or plastic material, and which allows
to suitably exploit both sides of the display panel, without risks of accidental detachment
or instability.
[0016] Such object is achieved through a support for display units as defined in its essential
features in the attached claims.
Brief description of the drawings
[0017] Further features and advantages of the invention will in any case be more evident
from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, given purely as
a non-limiting example and illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:
figs. 1-3 are front elevation, top plan and bottom plan views, respectively, of a
support prong according to a first embodiment of the invention;
figs. 4-5 are bottom and top perspective views, respectively, of the support of fig.
1;
figs. 6-10 are views identical to the one of figs. 1-5 with respect to a second embodiment
of the invention.
[0018] In the following, reference will be made to a support prong, describing it with respect
to the attitude it takes up when it is installed in work position. Therefore, the
statements "upper" and "lower", or "upwards " or "downwards" refer to such attitude,
that is, when it is installed on a display panel mounted according to a vertical plane.
[0019] Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a support according to the invention, suitable
to be inserted and locked in a slit practised in a display panel made of thin (for
example of the order of 3-7 mm) cardboard or plastic material.
[0020] The support has a central body 1 in the shape of an elastic clip, from which two
identical arms 2a and 2b depart, directed according to two opposite directions with
respect to the symmetry axis X-X of the support.
[0021] Central clip-like body 1 is made of a think web of plastic material. It has a curved
head 1a (which develops along an arc of a circle at least equal to or greater than
180°), from which two wings 1b and 1c extend, slightly converging towards the opposite
end to head 1a. These wings 1b and 1c define two converging and opposite, planar inner
surfaces, making up resting surfaces of a suitable size, for example of at least 15x10
mm, preferably at least 20x13 mm.
[0022] The angle of convergence between the two wings is of about 2-3°, so as to pass from
a cross distance of 5-6 mm between the inner surfaces at the head 1a, up to a cross
distance of only 2 mm in correspondence of their free ends.
[0023] The two wings 1b and 1c end with free ends, slightly curved outwards, in the shape
of terminal lips 1d and 1e. The rounding and the curvature of these terminal ends
1d and 1e takes into account two different requirements. On the one hand, the rounding
and the outward orientation eases the introduction of clip-like body 1 into a slit
of the support panel (not shown), which operation occurs by tilting the support and
then putting it upright once it is in a locking position. On the other hand, the rounding
of the surface ensures that an adequate resting surface is opposed to the support
panel, even in the case in which the support is strongly tilted on one side due to
an unbalanced loading with respect to symmetry axis X-X; as a matter of fact, the
shape of these terminal lips (clearly visible in fig. 1) avoids that, with an asymmetrical
loading of the support, an end of the clip-like body imparts too much a concentrated
pressure on the cardboard panel, biting into it irremediably (which problem did not
arise in the prior art, in which the cardboard panel could be supported with a large
opposition surface on the back side opposite to the one of the support arm).
[0024] From the outer surface of each one of the two wings 1b and 1c, support arms 2a and
2b, respectively, project. Each one of the two arms consists of a planar plate 21
- of a variable length depending on requirements (for example from 10 to 250 mm) -
which ends in a cantilevered end 22, folded upwards. Along the surface of plate 21
a stiffening longitudinal rib 23 is provided, preferably both on the lower side and
on the upper side. As can be appreciated in the drawings, the lower ribs end against
the respective wings with a small radial connection 23a, which reduces local deformations
and hence increases the duration of the part. Preferably ribs 23 with the relative
connections do not affect the terminal bottom area of the wings, where the turn-ups
of terminal lips 1d and 1e are provided: this layout has proved to be the best compromise
between the stiffening and the duration of arms 2a and 2b, the flexibility of clip-like
body 1 and the effectiveness of the retaining action on the panel.
[0025] Each arm 2a and 2b extends according to a longitudinal axis which is not perpendicular
to the plane of wings 1b and 1c, but has a slight upward inclination. The dihedral
angle β of these two arms 2a and 2b, that is, the angle formed with the perpendicular
to symmetry plane X-X, is of at least 8-10° and preferably of the order of 15°.
[0026] The dihedral angle p is chosen taking also into account the specific deformability
of the two arms 2a and 2b: depending on the length thereof and on the elasticity of
the material, the dihedral angle may be increased or decreased. In particular, it
is desirable for the longitudinal axis of the arm to never drop below the horizontal
line, taking into account the arm deformation and the maximum lateral yielding which
the support mounted on the panel may have following a load imbalance between the two
opposite arms 2a and 2b.
[0027] The entire support prong is advantageously made of plastic material, for example
by moulding.
[0028] Finally, preferably, on the inner side of at least one of the two wings 1b, 1c a
halt tooth 1h is provided. Such tooth 1h protrudes from the inner surface of the wings
by a very short extent, for example by 0.5-2 mm, and extends for example across the
entire width of the wing. Tooth 1h has the function of inserting in a small recess
or slit (where provided) in the support panel or to "bite" into the panel material,
with the purpose of stabilising the retaining position.
[0029] With this embodiment, the mounting of the support according to the invention on a
display panel is very simple and by all means stable. It is sufficient to practise
a slit in a panel slightly thicker (by some tenth of a millimetre) than the inner
distance between the two wings 1b and 1c, to then introduce therein one of arms 2a
or 2b, until bringing body 1 across the panel edge. At this point, the support can
be securely engaged with the panel, causing the panel wall to slide between the two
wings 1b and 1c, until arriving in abutment in the inner part of head 1a. During this
operation, a slight outward spreading-apart of wings 1b and 1c is caused, which produces
an elastic reaction (mainly caused by the shape of head portion 1a) apt to bring the
inner resting surfaces in contact under pressure on the two opposite sides of the
panel.
[0030] Due to the large surface of the two wings 1b and 1c, to the presence of terminal
curved lips 1d and 1e, as well as to the optional presence of tooth 1h, the retaining
of the support prong on the panel edge is stable and secure, despite the intrinsic
yielding of a cardboard or plastic panel. Also, should load imbalances arise - which
event is all but rare, since the two opposite arms 2a and 2b lie on two opposite sides
of the panel and can be used for different uses or with a different number of products
- the support is kept well fastened to the panel; in any case, the relative inclinations
of the arms with respect to the wings prevent the arms from dropping below the horizontal
plane, hence avoiding the risk of the products slipping off the arm.
[0031] Figs. 6-10 show a second embodiment of the invention. The clip-like body 1 is fully
equivalent to that of the first embodiment. In this case, however, much thinner support
arms are provided, in the form of circular-section bars or rods. A couple of circular-section
rods 210 departs from the two opposite sides of wings 1b and 1c, also provided with
a first dihedral angle. A terminal part 220 of the rods bends upwards with a second,
more accentuated dihedral angle than the first one.
[0032] As can be clearly understood, with the support prong according to the invention,
it is possible to achieve the object set forth in the premises. As a matter of fact,
a support has been provided, which may be applied to a single panel, which gives the
opportunity to exploit both sides of the display unit. The support is inexpensive,
because manufactured by moulding of plastic material. The layout and the intrinsic
inexpensiveness of this device reflect synergistically in the overall manufacturing
economics of the entire display unit, which no longer requires a double support panel
and a frame structure, but can exploit both opposite sides of a single panel (of a
thickness suitable to bear the expected load). The arrangement of the prong, exploiting
the elasticity of the plastic material and suitable surface developments and inclinations,
ensures good stability also on the yielding edge of a cardboard and/or plastic panel.
The same arrangement succeeds in facing also load imbalances on the two opposite sides,
without impairing the stability of the displayed products.
[0033] However, it is understood that the protection of the invention described above is
not limited to the special embodiments shown, but extends to any other equivalent
construction variant as defined by the attached claims.
[0034] In particular, it can be noticed that the arrangement and the operation principle
of the illustrated embodiments is substantially equivalent; it is hence provided that
other variants are conceivable, which differ from each other due to small details,
which in any case fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0035] To give an example, the two symmetrical wings of the central body may be perfectly
mutually parallel, but with a mutual distance below the thickness of the panel on
which they must be installed, so as to nevertheless exploit an elastic returning force
due to a spreading-apart effect.
[0036] Furthermore, the inner surface of the two wings, instead of being smooth could be
variously patterned to better adhere to the panel surface. If the panel is made of
cardboard, it may be useful to provide knurlings or thin horizontal ribs, which may
sink with their imprint in the material and guarantee greater friction.
[0037] Moreover, above the head of the clip body further retaining means may be provided,
which means may engage the cut-out of the panel. For example, the two wings 1b and
1c could be extended upward by a short measure, defining an upper, U-shaped housing:
these two extensions would be meant to define two further resting points against the
two opposite surfaces of the display panel, in the upper part of the installation
cut-out of the panel. In such case, the lateral stability of the support could be
further improved.
[0038] Finally, also the shape of the two support arms may differ from the one shown in
the drawings. For example the two arms may consist of a pair of parallel rods joined
at their distal ends, or of a pair of rods joined by a thin wall, or else of variously
shaped rods, and so on depending on the requirements of the packages to be displayed.
1. Plastic hanging support for a display unit, comprising at least a support arm which
projects from a support-retaining body, said retaining body being apt to engage with
a through-slot of a display panel of the display unit, characterised in that said retaining body (1) is generically formed as a symmetribal, U-shaped, elastic
clip, from the opposite sides of which identical support arms (2a, 2b, 210) project.
2. Plastic hanging support for a display unit, comprising at least a support arm which
projects from a body of the support, said body being apt to engage with a through-slot
of a display panel of the display unit, characterised in that said body of the support is shaped according to a symmetrical clip (1), with an elastic
yielding head portion (1a) and two planar wings (1b, 1c) which extend from said head
portion (1a) symmetrically with respect to a symmetry plane (X-X), and in that
from each of said wings (1b, 1c) two identical and opposite support arms (2a, 2b,
210) project from the two sides of a symmetry plane of the support, said arms (2a,
2b) being provided with a dihedral angle (β) of at least 8°-10°.
3. Plastic hanging support as claimed in claim 2, wherein said wings (1b, 1c) from the
opposite side of said head portion (1a) are provided with two outwardly-curved terminal
lips (1d, 1e).
4. Plastic hanging support as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least a tooth (1h) protruding
from the inner surface of said wings (1b, 1c) is provided.
5. Plastic hanging support as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said wings (1b, 1c)
have opposite inner surfaces extending by at least 15x10 mm, preferably by at least
20x13 mm.
6. Plastic hanging support as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein said dihedral
angle (β) is in the order of 15°.
7. Plastic hanging support as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein said head
portion (1a), is made of a curved web extending across an arc of at least 180°.
8. Plastic hanging support as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein said wings
(1b, 1c) extend also above said head portion (1a) so as to define a generic, upper,
U-shaped housing, apt to engage with an upper edge of said through-slot of the display
panel.
9. Plastic hanging support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said
support arms (2a, 2b, 210) have a flat section profile (21) with opposite ribbings
(23) on the two sides.
10. Plastic hanging support as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said support
arm (2a, 2b, 210) has a circular section profile.
11. Display unit having a plurality of removable plastic hanging supports as in any one
of the preceding claims, characterised in that it includes a single display panel made of plastic sheet or cardboard where a plurality
of through-slot are pierced where said hanging supports are engaged.