DISPLAY STAND

Abstract

 A display stand (10) comprises a support frame (11), a support surface (12) which is supported by the frame and which is configured so as to display products to be displayed on the display stand, at least one peripheral portion (13) which develops in a direction away, in an opposite vertical direction with respect to the support frame, a side wall (14) which is configured so as to confine the support surface at least in the region of one side. The display stand comprises guide means (15) for the side wall which are configured so as to allow a translational movement of the side wall in a translation direction comprising at least one vertical component.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a display stand of the glazed and refrigerating type. The refrigerating stand is in the field of items of equipment for conserving and displaying food products and non-food products.

Technological background

[0002] Nowadays, the use of refrigerating stands, display stands and refrigerated glass cabinets is widespread for the conservation and display of food products which require conservation at temperatures less than ambient temperature. These items of equipment are particularly widespread in environments which are provided for the sale of the above-mentioned products, such as supermarkets, bakeries, butcher's shops and fish-mongers, or in environments which are provided for catering.

[0003] The presence of transparent glass panes, at least at the front portion of the stand, that is to say, the side nearest the consumer, allows the products for sale to be seen and at the same time to be protected.

[0004] The structures of the refrigerated stands are also suitably provided with interiors which are made from sheet metal, which is plasticized or painted, or made from stainless steel, in order to allow ease of cleaning, and a refrigeration and ventilation system. The front glass pane and the other walls have to be sufficiently high to allow the containment of the ventilated air and to prevent disadvantageous dispersions of heat. In particular, the front glass pane also has to be sufficiently high to create a barrier between the products which are contained in the stand and the users. To this end, this glass pane may have a substantially inverted-L-shaped formation in cross-section, which is suitably supported by a frame, with a vertical portion and a transverse upper portion.

[0005] In order to make cleaning the internal glass pane easier, that is to say, the one directed towards the food products, there is normally provision for the capacity for opening one or more portions of the glass pane. In some solutions, it is possible to open both the vertical portion, for example, by means of a front opening, with upper hinging in order to allow opening from the bottom, and the horizonal portion of the glass pane, for example, by means of a front opening upwards, with hinging in order to allow the opening thereof.

[0006] Examples of known display stands are described in EP3329805A1, DE202011105080U1 and EP3771364A1.

[0007] Although this type of refrigerated stand is particularly widespread in commerce and in catering, the presence of a front glass pane exposes the stand to possible damage during transport and prevents the production of a packaging which has contained dimensions and which is optimized for transport. The packagings used in fact are typically of parallelepipedal shape and the presence of the glass pane requires that the packaging have a significant volume unless the stand is disassembled into several pieces. Furthermore, the presence of the glass pane makes it difficult to stack a plurality of refrigerated stands during transport, both as a result of the mentioned dimensions of the packaging, and because the weight of the upper stand mainly bears on the front glass pane, increasing the risk of it becoming damaged. All this, therefore, in fact prevents a plurality of packagings from being stacked in order to optimize the space of the containers and the loading compartments of the transport means and, because the packagings provide for the use of protective means around the stand, the product is exposed to a higher risk of breakage of the fragile portions, such as the glass pane.

Description of the invention

[0008] The objective of the present invention is to provide a display stand which is capable of improving the prior art in one or more of the aspects indicated above.

[0009] In the context of this objective, an object of the invention is to provide a display stand which can be protected with packagings with smaller dimensions and which is capable of optimizing the space in the containers and in the loading compartments of the transport means.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art in an alternative manner with respect to the other existing solutions.

[0011] An object of the present invention is also to make available a display stand which allows the known solutions to be improved in the context of a rational solution with contained costs.

[0012] This objective and one or more of these objects and other objects are at least partially achieved by a display stand comprising a support frame, a support surface which is supported by the support frame and which is configured so as to display products to be displayed on the display stand.

[0013] The display stand preferably comprises at least one peripheral portion which develops in a direction away, in an opposite vertical direction with respect to the support frame, from the support surface.

[0014] Preferably, the display stand comprises a side wall which is configured so as to confine the support surface at least in the region of one side.

[0015] Preferably, the display stand comprises guide means for the side wall which are configured so as to allow a translational movement of the side wall in a translation direction comprising at least one vertical component so as to move an upper edge of the side wall towards/apart from the support surface.

[0016] The Applicant has observed that, if the side wall can move in translation vertically, it can be positioned with the upper edge at the same height as the above-mentioned at least one peripheral portion.

[0017] In this manner, any packagings for the transport of the stand can be produced with a regular shape or substantially with a regular shape.

[0018] Preferred though non-exclusive features of the invention are further defined by the dependent claims.

[0019] The side wall is preferably transparent.

[0020] Even more preferably, this side wall is made from glass.

[0021] On the basis of another aspect of the invention, the side wall comprises a transverse extension which is configured so as to cover, at least partially, the support surface.

[0022] Preferably, the transverse extension is configured so as to move in translation in the translation direction together with the side wall.

[0023] On the basis of yet another aspect of the invention, the support frame comprises a reticular structure which is formed by tubular elements, with support feet on the ground.

[0024] Preferably, the guide means have a vertical development.

[0025] More preferably, these guide means comprise at least one guide which is formed in at least one of the tubular elements and a runner which is connected to the side wall and which is configured so as to move in translation in the guide elements. Preferably, the guide means comprises a pair of guides formed in a corresponding pair of tubular elements, each one being provided with a respective runner.

[0026] As a result of this feature, the side wall can be readily moved in translation in a controlled manner vertically, avoiding a situation in which it can move away from the frame in other directions.

[0027] Preferably, the reticular structure comprises legs, by means of which the display stand is supported on the ground. In some embodiments, the legs are connected to feet for support on the ground.

[0028] In preferred embodiments, the guide or the guides of the guide means is/are formed in the region of the legs and, preferably, in the region of a pair of legs which are directed towards the front side.

[0029] As a result of this feature, it is possible to produce a structure which is strong but at the same time simple and compact.

[0030] On the basis of another aspect of the invention, the guide means comprise blocking means which are configured so as to block the side portion in the translational movement direction.

[0031] Preferably, the blocking means are configured so as to block the side wall in a transport position, in which the upper edge of the side wall is substantially aligned in the vertical position with a respective end of the peripheral portion and/or in a display position, in which the upper edge of the side wall is in the upper position with respect to the end of the peripheral portion.

[0032] In this manner, the position of the side wall is adjustable in accordance with the requirements for use and packaging and transport, and furthermore the weight of another stand which is stacked above another stand can bear uniformly both on the side wall and on the peripheral portion.

[0033] Preferably, the blocking means comprise threaded elements which are configured so as to engage in the region of a first seat in order to carry out the blocking of the side wall in the transport position and in a second seat in order to carry out the blocking of the side wall in the display position.

[0034] In some embodiments, the display stand may comprise a lifting mechanism which, for example, can be implemented or replaced by linear actuators, electric motors, mechanisms which are provided with single or double toothing, both motorized and mechanical.

[0035] In some embodiments, the display stand comprises an additional side wall of the support surface.

[0036] Preferably, the peripheral portion is defined by the additional side wall.

[0037] In some embodiments, the side wall comprises a transparent display surface.

[0038] Preferably, the display surface extends in a direction substantially parallel with the transverse direction.

[0039] Even more preferably, the side wall extends from the support frame in a cantilevered manner.

[0040] In some embodiments, the side wall is fixed to the legs by means of arms which extend, from the guide means, in a direction away from the legs themselves. Preferably, the structure formed by arms, side wall and transverse extension overall having a substantially C-shaped form.

[0041] According to some embodiments, the display stand has a perimeter which develops substantially in the manner of a rectangle, the side wall developing substantially in the region of a greatest side of the rectangle.

[0042] In some other possible embodiments, the display stand is provided with covering panels which can be connected to the structure of the support frame in a vertical position and in the region at least of the same side at which the side wall is present.

[0043] Preferably, the covering panels can be connected when the side wall is in a display position.

[0044] It will be appreciated that the covering panels are thereby not an impediment to the positioning of the side wall in a transport position. They do not impede the production of a regular packaging and can be applied directly at the installation site of the stand.

[0045] The covering panels are connected to the support frame by way of rapid pressure-coupling means, of the type known per se which can be adjusted eccentrically so as to be able to move the covering panel in at least four directions.

[0046] It is thereby possible to ensure excellent alignment of the panels beside each other.

[0047] Preferably, the side wall defines a front side of the display stand. Preferably, the peripheral portion defines a rear side of the display stand.

[0048] According to another aspect, the display stand comprises ventilation means.

[0049] In some embodiments, the transverse extension and the transverse surface define a ventilation flow F between opposite sides of the support surface. Preferably, the ventilation flow is directed from a front side to a rear side of the display stand.

[0050] In the present description and in the claims appended thereto, and more generally in the context of the present invention, a number of terms and expressions are considered to take on, unless explicitly indicated otherwise, the meaning expressed in the following definitions.

[0051] In particular, the terms "substantially vertical" and "substantially horizontal" refer to one direction and the terms "substantially perpendicular" and "substantially parallel" refer to two directions, it being understood that there could preferably be provided a deviation of 5 degrees, and more preferably 10 degrees, respectively, with respect to complete verticality, horizontality, perpendicularity and parallelism.

Brief description of the drawings

[0052] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be better appreciated from the description of a preferred though non-exclusive embodiment of the display stand according to the invention which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the appended drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the display stand according to the invention with a side wall in a first position;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of a wall of the display stand according to the invention, with the side wall in a second position, which is moved in translation vertically with respect to the first position shown in Figure 1;
• Figure 3 shows an enlargement of Figure 2;
• Figure 4 shows a detail, in accordance with a side view, of the side wall of the display stand of the present invention;
• Figure 5 shows a detail, in accordance with a plan view, of the side wall of the display stand of the present invention;
• Figure 6 shows a detail, in accordance with a perspective view, of a covering panel of the display stand of the present invention;
• Figure 7 is a side view, as a cross-section, of the display stand of the present invention.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

[0053] With reference to the cited Figures, there is generally designated 10 a display stand according to the invention.

[0054] The display stand 10 comprises a support frame 11, a support surface 12 which is supported by the support frame 11 and which is configured so as to display products to be displayed on the display stand 10.

[0055] In preferred embodiments, the display stand 10 may comprise refrigerating means, which are not illustrated and which are associated with the support surface 12 in order to cool the zone in which the products to be displayed are arranged.

[0056] The display stand 10 further comprises a side wall 14 which advantageously defines a front side of the stand and which is configured so as to confine the support surface 12 at least in the region of one side (in this case, therefore, the front side) and at least one peripheral portion 13 which, as will be illustrated in greater detail below, forms an additional side wall of the stand, advantageously at the rear side.

[0057] It will be appreciated that, in the context of the present invention, the term "front side" is intended to be understood to indicate the side at which typically the client approaches the stand, while the rear side is intended to be understood to indicate the opposite side, where the operator may instead be located.

[0058] Preferably, the peripheral portion 14 also develops in a direction away, in an opposite vertical direction with respect to the support frame 11, from the support surface 12.

[0059] The display stand 10 advantageously comprises guide means 15 of the side wall 14 which are configured so as to allow a translational movement of the side wall 14 in a translation direction T comprising at least one vertical component so as to move an upper edge 16 of the side wall 14 towards/apart from the support surface 12.

[0060] As illustrated, the side wall 14 comprises a transverse extension 17 which is configured so as to at least partially cover the support surface 12.

[0061] Preferably, the transverse extension 17 is configured so as to move in translation in a translation direction together with the side wall 14, as will be evident from a comparison between Figures 1 and 2.

[0062] In preferred embodiments, the support frame 11 comprises a reticular structure which is formed by tubular elements 18 with support feet 19 on the ground.

[0063] The guide means 15, preferably having a vertical development, may comprise guides 20 which are formed in at least one pair of the tubular elements 18 and a runner, which cannot be seen in the appended Figures and which is connected to the side wall 14 which is configured so as to move in translation in the guide elements 20.

[0064] It may be observed that the reticular structure 18 may comprise legs 18A, by means of which the stand is supported on the ground and which, where applicable, are connected by means of the support feet 19. Advantageously, the guides 20 are formed in the region of the legs 18A and preferably in the region of the legs which are directed towards the front side.

[0065] The guide means 15 comprises blocking means 21 which are configured so as to block the side wall 14 in the translation direction. In preferred embodiments, the blocking means 21 are configured so as to block the side wall 14 at least in a transport position in which the upper edge 16 of the side wall 14 is substantially aligned in the vertical position with a respective end of the peripheral portion 13 and in a display position in which the upper edge 16 of the side wall 14 is in an upper position with respect to the end of the peripheral portion 13.

[0066] Figure 1 shows the side wall in a first position which corresponds to the transport position, in which the upper edge 16 is advantageously aligned with the peripheral portion 13, therefore being at the same height or at least substantially at the same height.

[0067] The blocking means 21 may comprise threaded elements which are configured so as to engage in the region of a first seat in order to carry out the blocking of the side wall 14 in the transport position and in a second seat in order to carry out the blocking of the side wall 14 in the display position. The elements preferably involve screws, which cannot be seen in the appended Figures because they are screwed in the provided seats. By removing the screws, it is possible to release the side wall 23 and to allow the translation thereof in the translation direction T.

[0068] As mentioned above, the display stand 10 comprises an additional side wall 22 of the support surface 12. In particular, the peripheral portion 13 is defined by this additional side wall 22.

[0069] The side wall 14 is preferably transparent and even more preferably made from glass.

[0070] The side wall 14 comprises a display surface 23 which is transparent, also preferably being made of glass. The display surface 23 extends in a direction substantially parallel with the transverse direction.

[0071] The peripheral portion 13 may also comprise an individual transverse surface 24 which is preferably transparent and which can be advantageously used by the operator as a work surface. In any case, it will be appreciated that the peripheral portion 13 may also not be in the form of a side wall, but instead simply define a support for the transverse surface 24.

[0072] It may be observed that the presence of the transverse extension 17 and the transverse surface 24 may advantageously allow the generation of a ventilation flow F, which is schematically illustrated in Figure 7, between opposite sides of the support surface 12.

[0073] In preferred embodiments, the ventilation flow F can be directed from the front side to the rear side, allowing a limit on the risk of forming condensation in the region of the side wall 14, that is to say, the wall through which the operator observes the displayed goods. Naturally, there may also be provided a ventilation flow in an opposite direction or another type of ventilation where applicable with several crossing or combined directions.

[0074] Furthermore, the present invention may also be used in stands which are not provided with ventilation.

[0075] In preferred embodiments, the side wall 14 extends in a cantilevered manner from the support frame 11. In other words, the side wall 14 is fixed to the legs 18A of the reticular structure 18 by means of arms 25 which extend from the guide means 20 in a direction away from the legs themselves. In this manner, the structure which is formed by arms 25, side wall 24 and transverse extension 17 generally has a substantially C-shaped form.

[0076] In some embodiments, there may be provision for a front portion of the side wall to be able to be opened in a folding manner. In other words, as illustrated in Figure 5, the front portion may comprise two movable portions 14A which open by means of rotation about two respective axes which are substantially vertical. This allows easier access to the support surface 12 of the stand 10.

[0077] For the additional benefit of the accessibility to the support surface 12 of the stand 10, additionally or alternatively to the possibility of opening the front portion of the lateral surface, there may be provision for the transverse extension 17 to be able to be opened, preferably by means of rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, as illustrated in Figure 4. This axis is advantageously arranged in an opposite position with respect to the front portion of the lateral surface 14.

[0078] As shown in Figure 1, the display stand 10 has a perimeter which develops substantially in a rectangular manner and the side wall 14 develops substantially in the region of a greatest side of the rectangle. This side corresponds to the front side with respect to a user who is directed towards the products which are displayed on the stand.

[0079] As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the display stand 10 can be provided with covering panels 26 which can be connected to the structure of the support frame 11 in a vertical position and in the region at least of the same side in which the side wall 14 is present. These covering panels 26 can be connected when the side wall is in a display position because in a transport position the side wall would be an impediment to the installation thereof.

[0080] It will be appreciated that, in this manner, the covering panels are not in turn an impediment to the positioning of the side wall in a transport position. Without the panels, it is possible to form a regular packaging and they can be applied directly at the installation location of the stand.

[0081] The covering panels 26 can be connected to the support frame by way of rapid pressure-coupling means 27 which are of the type known per se and are adjustable eccentrically so as to be able to allow limited adjustment movements of the panel 26 at least by translational movement in two mutually perpendicular directions and by means of a rotation about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the covering panel 26 itself.

[0082] Even more preferably, there may be provision for an additional adjustment by means of rotation, with in general the possibility of moving the covering panel in at least four directions so as to ensure excellent alignment of the panels 26 beside each other.

[0083] For example, the rapid pressure-coupling means 27 may be of the type which are known as "Fitlock"^® and marketed by Daureka Srl.

[0084] The operation of the display stand according to the invention can be inferred from what has been described and illustrated and particularly it is evident how the side wall can be readily caused to move in translation in the vertical direction and blocked at least in the transport and display positions so as to allow the production of packagings which are regular and stackable.

[0085] The invention is capable of a number of modifications and variants in addition to those described, all being included in the scope of the inventive concept.

Claims

1. A display stand (10) comprising a support frame (11), a support surface (12) which is supported by the support frame (11) and which is configured to display products to be displayed on the display stand (10), at least one peripheral portion (13) which develops in a direction away, in an opposite vertical direction with respect to the support frame (11), from the support surface (12), a side wall (14) which is configured so as to confine the support surface (12) at least in the region of one side, characterized in that it comprises guide means (15) for the side wall (14) which are configured so as to allow a translational movement of the side wall (14) in a translation direction (T) comprising at least one vertical component so as to move an upper edge (16) of the side wall (14) towards/apart from the support surface (12).

2. A display stand (10) according to claim 1, wherein the side wall (14) comprises a transverse extension (17) which is configured so as to cover, at least partially, the support surface (12), the transverse extension (17) being configured so as to move in the translation direction (T) together with the side wall (14).

3. A display stand (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support frame (11) comprises a reticular structure which is formed by tubular elements (18).

4. A display stand (10) according to claim 3, wherein the reticular structure comprises support feet (19) for support on the ground.

5. A display stand (10) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the guide means (15), preferably having a vertical development, comprise a guide (20) which is formed in at least one pair of the tubular elements (18) and a runner which is connected to the side wall (14) and which is configured so as to move in translation in the guide elements (20).

6. A display stand (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide means (15) comprise blocking means (21) which are configured so as to block the side wall (14) in the translational movement direction (T).

7. A display stand (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the blocking means (21) are configured so as to block the side wall (14) in a transport position, in which the upper edge (16) of the side wall (14) is substantially aligned in the vertical position with a respective end of the peripheral portion (13) and/or in a display position, in which the upper edge (16) of the side wall (14) is in the upper position with respect to the end of the peripheral portion (13).

8. A display stand (10) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the blocking means (21) comprise threaded elements which are configured so as to engage in the region of a first seat in order to carry out the blocking of the side wall (14) in the transport position and in a second seat in order to carry out the blocking of the side wall (14) in the display position.

9. A display stand (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an additional side wall (22) of the support surface (12), the peripheral portion (13) being defined by the additional side wall (22).

10. A display stand (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the side wall (14) comprises a transparent display surface (23), the display surface (23) extending in a direction substantially parallel with a transverse direction.

11. A display stand (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the side wall (14) extends from the support frame (11) in a cantilevered manner.

12. A display stand (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the side wall (14) is fixed to legs (18A) of the reticular structure (18) by means of arms (25) which extend, from the guide means (20), in a direction away from the legs, the structure formed by arms (25), side wall (14) and transverse extension (17) overall preferably having a substantially C-shaped form.

13. A display stand (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, which has a perimeter which develops substantially in the manner of a rectangle, the side wall (14) developing substantially in the region of a greatest side of the rectangle.

14. A display stand (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising covering panels (26) which can be connected to the support frame (11) for covering at least one vertical face of the support frame, preferably in the region of the same side at which the side wall (14) is present, the covering panels (26) being connected to the support frame (11) by way of rapid pressure-coupling means (27), the rapid pressure-coupling means (27) preferably being configured so as to allow limited adjustment movements of the panel at least by translational movement in two mutually perpendicular directions and by means of a rotation about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the covering panel (26).

15. A display stand (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising ventilation means, wherein the transverse extension (17) and the transverse surface (24) define a ventilation flow F between opposite sides of the support surface (12), the ventilation flow (F) preferably being directed from a front side to a rear side of the display stand (10), the front side being defined by the side wall (14).

Drawing