Modular display rack system

#Modular display racks discussed herein generally relate to display racks for displaying merchandise items and, more specifically, to modular display racks that may be assemble and disassemble into different configurations.

#Display racks having one or multiple display ladders are widely used in retail shops and departments stores to display merchandise such as clothing, toys, and food. FIG. 1 is a semi-schematic isometric drawing of a prior-art ladder style display rack. Ladder style display racks, such as that shown in FIG. 1, are generally designed to be used with hangrail brackets 11 and shelf brackets (not shown). These hangrail brackets 11 and shelf brackets (not shown) engage the individual ladder steps 2 and provide extensions (similar to a shelf or an arm) to which hangers and folded clothing may be hung or spread out for display.

#There are several disadvantages with the illustrated prior art display rack 1. Among other things, the prior art display rack includes a welded upper rack portion 3 and a welded lower base portion 4. The welded upper portion 3 includes ladders 5 joined together by a plurality of lateral support bars 6. Because the joints between the lateral support bars 6 and the ladders 5 are welded, the upper portion 3 may be often quite large and heavy depending on the number of ladders used.

#These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

#FIG. 1 is a semi-schematic isometric drawing of a prior art display rack;

#FIG. 2 is a semi-schematic isometric drawing of a modular display rack in accordance with practice of the present invention;

#The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the modular display rack in accordance with the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the features and the steps for constructing and using the modular display rack of the present invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and structures may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. Also, as denoted elsewhere herein, like element numbers are intended to indicate like or similar elements or features.

#Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an embodiment of a triple tower or a three-ladder modular display rack (hereinafter “display rack”), generally designated 10. According to one embodiment, the modular display rack 10 may be disassembled into smaller components, allowing it to be portable and modular than prior art systems. The modular architecture of the display rack 10 allows it to be boxed up in small packages, assembled into a single ladder rack or multiple ladder racks, and inventoried by components instead of rack configurations since the single, double, and triple ladder racks do not have to be kept separately.

#The display rack 10 according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 includes an upper rack portion 12 and a lower base portion 14. For a three-ladder rack system 10, the upper rack portion 12 includes two end ladders 16 and a center ladder 18. Assuming the vertical direction is the lengthwise direction and the horizontal direction is the direction of width of the ladder, the end and center ladders 16, 18 are interconnected by a plurality of removable lateral support bars 20 along the horizontal direction and to the base in the vertical direction, by a plurality of fasteners 21. In an exemplary embodiment, there is an upper pair of lateral support bars 22 and a lower pair of lateral support bars 24. These lateral support bars 22, 24 are removeably connected to the ladders by a detent-like arrangement. Each individual pairs of lateral support bars permit hangrail brackets 11 and shelf brackets (not shown) to be hung on either a first side 26 and/or a second side 28.