Merchandise display fixture

Abstract

A fixture for displaying merchandise and a method are provided. The fixture includes a generally vertical back panel having opposed lateral edges and opposed top and bottom edges. The back panel defines at least one engageable member extending in a generally horizontal direction between the lateral edges. In addition, the fixture includes at least one generally vertical partition having at least one cooperative engaging member removably attached to the engageable member of the back panel. The vertical partition extends substantially between the top and bottom edges of the back panel, and further extends generally orthogonal from the back panel and generally orthogonal to the engageable member on the back panel. The vertical partition is advantageously slidable in a lateral direction to define variable lateral positions on the back panel.

1 . A display fixture for displaying merchandise, the display fixture comprising: 
 a generally vertical back panel having opposed lateral edges and opposed top and bottom edges, the back panel defining at least one engageable member extending in a generally horizontal direction between the lateral edges; and    at least one generally vertical partition comprising at least one cooperative engaging member removably attached to the engageable member of the back panel, wherein the vertical partition extends substantially between the top and bottom edges of the back panel, wherein the vertical partition further extends generally orthogonal from the back panel and generally orthogonal to the engageable member on the back panel, and wherein the vertical partition is slidable in a lateral direction to define variable lateral positions on the back panel.    
   
   
       2 . A display fixture according to  claim 1 , wherein the back panel comprises a plurality of engageable members.  
   
   
       3 . A display fixture according to  claim 2 , wherein each engageable member comprises two generally parallel wires.  
   
   
       4 . A display fixture according to  claim 2 , wherein each engageable member comprises two adjacent slat boards defining a gap therebetween.  
   
   
       5 . A display fixture according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one generally horizontal shelving member having a cooperative engaging member removably attached to the engageable member of the back panel to define a support surface, wherein the horizontal shelving member is slidable in a lateral direction to define variable lateral positions on the back panel.  
   
   
       6 . A display fixture according to  claim 1 , wherein the back panel further comprises a generally vertical back panel extension defining at least one engageable member therein, wherein the back panel extension is joined to the top edge of the back panel such that the back panel defines an increased number of engageable members.  
   
   
       7 . A display fixture according to  claim 6 , wherein the vertical partition has a first cooperative engaging member removably attached to the engageable member of the back panel extension and a second cooperative engaging member removably attached to the cooperative engageable member of the back panel, such that the vertical partition overlaps a bottom edge of the back panel extension and the top edge of the back panel.  
   
   
       8 . A display fixture according to  claim 6 , wherein the back panel further defines an internal cavity having an opening in the top edge such that the back panel extension may be stored within the back panel in an inoperative position and raised out of the back panel and joined to the back panel in an operative position.  
   
   
       9 . A display fixture according to  claim 1 , wherein the back panel defines a front surface and a back surface generally orthogonal to the lateral edges and to the top and bottom edges, and wherein the engageable member of the back panel is capable of receiving the vertical partition on the front surface and the back surface of the back panel.  
   
   
       10 . A display fixture according to  claim 1 , further comprising a support base having a plurality of wheels attached thereto, such that the back panel is transportable.  
   
   
       11 . A display fixture according to  claim 1 , further comprising an end panel attached generally orthogonal to a lateral edge of the back panel, wherein the end panel includes at least one engageable member extending in a generally transverse direction to the engageable member defined in the back panel, wherein the engageable member in the end panel is capable of receiving at least one generally horizontal shelving member.  
   
   
       12 . A display fixture according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second back panel positioned adjacent to a lateral edge of the first back panel such that the first and second back panels are end-to-end.  
   
   
       13 . A display fixture according to  claim 12 , wherein a generally horizontal shelving member is removably attached to at least one engageable member in the back panel and the second back panel such that the horizontal shelving member overlaps adjacent lateral edges on the first and second back panels, wherein the horizontal shelving member is slidable in a lateral direction to define variable lateral positions on the first and second back panels.  
   
   
       14 . A display fixture for displaying merchandise, the fixture comprising: 
 a generally vertical back panel having opposed lateral edges, a top edge defining a generally horizontal surface, and a bottom edge opposite the top edge, wherein the top edge defines at least one groove that extends in a generally horizontal direction between the opposed lateral edges of the back panel; and    at least one generally vertical display panel removably inserted within the groove of the top edge such that the display panel is laterally slidable within the groove to define variable lateral positions on the top edge.    
   
   
       15 . A display fixture according to  claim 14 , further comprising at least one generally vertical partition removably attached to the back panel such that at least one display panel is positioned laterally proximate to the vertical partition.  
   
   
       16 . A display fixture according to  claim 14 , wherein the top edge defines a second groove that is substantially parallel to the first groove such that at least one display panel is removably inserted and laterally slidable within each groove.  
   
   
       17 . A display fixture for displaying merchandise, the fixture comprising: 
 a generally vertical back panel having opposed lateral edges and opposed top and bottom edges, the back panel defining at least one engageable member extending in a generally horizontal direction between the lateral edges;    at least one generally vertical partition having at least one cooperative engaging member removably attached to the engageable member of the back panel, wherein the vertical partition further extends generally orthogonal from the back panel and generally orthogonal to the engageable member on the back panel, and wherein the vertical partition is slidable in a lateral direction to define variable lateral positions of the vertical partition, and wherein each vertical partition defines at least one engageable member in a lateral edge of the vertical partition; and    at least one generally horizontal shelving member having opposed lateral edges and comprising at least one cooperative engaging member on a lateral edge of the horizontal shelving member, wherein the cooperative engaging member of the horizontal shelving member is inserted within the engageable member of the vertical partition such that the horizontal shelving member is supported by the vertical partition to provide a support surface.    
   
   
       18 . A display fixture according to  claim 17 , wherein the engageable member of the vertical partition comprises an elliptical recess defined within the lateral edge of the vertical partition.  
   
   
       19 . A display fixture according to  claim 17 , wherein the engageable member of the vertical partition comprises two generally parallel and horizontal wires defined within the lateral edge of the vertical partition.  
   
   
       20 . A display fixture according to  claim 17 , wherein the vertical partition extends substantially between the top edge and the bottom edge of the back panel.  
   
   
       21 . A display fixture according to  claim 17 , wherein the horizontal shelving member further comprises at least one cooperative engaging member on opposed lateral edges of the horizontal shelving member such that the horizontal shelving member is removably attached to an engageable member of the vertical partition on each lateral edge of the horizontal shelving member to provide a support surface.  
   
   
       22 . A method for assembling a merchandise display fixture, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a generally vertical back panel having opposed lateral edges and opposed top and bottom edges, the back panel defining at least one engageable member extending in a generally horizontal direction between the lateral edges; and    attaching at least one generally vertical partition to the back panel, wherein the vertical partition includes at least one cooperative engaging member removably attached to the engageable member of the back panel, wherein the vertical partition extends substantially between the top and bottom edges of the back panel, wherein the vertical partition further extends generally orthogonal from the back panel and generally orthogonal to the engageable member on the back panel, and wherein the vertical partition is slidable in a lateral direction to define variable lateral positions of the vertical partition.    
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising sliding the at least one vertical partition in a lateral direction from a first lateral position to a second lateral position on the back panel.  
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising attaching at least one cooperative engaging member on at least one generally horizontal shelving member to the engageable member of the back panel to define a support surface, wherein the horizontal shelving member is slidable in a lateral direction to define variable lateral positions on the back panel.  
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 24 , further comprising removing the vertical partition and the horizontal shelving member from the back panel, and attaching at least one cooperative engaging member on at least one elongated generally horizontal shelving member to the engageable member of the back panel to define a support surface, wherein the elongated generally horizontal shelving member extends substantially between the lateral edges of the back panel.  
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising inserting at least one cooperative engaging member on each lateral edge of a generally horizontal shelving member into at least one engageable member defined in a lateral edge of the vertical partition such that the horizontal shelving member is supported by the vertical partition on at least one lateral edge to define a support surface.  
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising connecting a generally vertical back panel extension to the top edge of the back panel, wherein the back panel extension extends in a generally vertical direction from the top edge of the back panel and defines at least one engageable member therein.  
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising attaching a first cooperative engaging member of the vertical partition to the engageable member of the back panel extension, and attaching a second cooperative engaging member of the vertical partition to the engageable member of the back panel, such that the vertical partition overlaps a bottom edge of the back panel extension and the top edge of the back panel.  
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising storing a generally vertical back panel extension having at least one engageable member therein in an internal cavity having an opening defined within the top edge of the back panel in an inoperative position, and raising the back panel extension out of the top edge of the back panel and joining the back panel extension to the back panel in an operative position.  
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising providing a second back panel positioned adjacent to a lateral edge of the back panel such that the first and second back panels are end-to-end.  
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 30 , further comprising attaching at least one cooperative engaging member on at least one generally horizontal shelving member to at least one engageable member in the back panel and the second back panel such that the horizontal shelving member overlaps the lateral edge of the first back panel and an adjacent lateral edge of the second back panel.