Display pole support structure

Abstract

Support structure for securing a display pole to a conventional supermarket shelving unit. The structure includes a bracket adapted to be mounted to the front of a pre-existing shelf by fingers which are inserted through apertures in the top surface of the shelf. The other end of the bracket includes a jacket member for holding the display pole. A pair of such brackets are utilized for holding the display pole, with the brackets in vertical alignment and each being mounted to a respective one of a pair of vertically spaced shelves.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bracket for supporting a pole in a substantially vertical orientation from a substantially horizontal shelf, wherein the shelf has a planar top surface terminating in a front edge, a plurality of apertures through said top surface arranged at spaced locations along a line parallel to said front edge, and a lip which extends concavely downwardly and forwardly from said shelf front edge to terminate in a lip edge parallel to said shelf front edge, the bracket comprising: a substantially planar plate member having at least one finger extending from an edge of said plate member, each of said at least one finger being sized to fit within a respective one of said apertures and being displaced out of the plane of said plate member so that said plate member can rest on said shelf planar top surface with said at least one finger extending through said respective aperture;   .[.a jacket.]. .Iadd.an engagement .Iaddend.member adapted to .[.at least partially surround.]. .Iadd.engage .Iaddend.said pole so as to substantially limit lateral movement of said pole with respect to said .[.jacket member.]. .Iadd.bracket.Iaddend.;   coupling means for coupling said .[.jacket.]. .Iadd.engagement .Iaddend.member to said plate member in such orientation that said pole is oriented substantially vertically when .[.held.]. .Iadd.engaged .Iaddend.by said .[.jacket.]. .Iadd.engagement .Iaddend.member when said plate member rests on said shelf planar top surface; and   a stabilizer plate adapted to engage said lip edge when said plate member rests on said shelf planar top surface with said at least one finger extending through said respective aperture.   
     
     
       2. The bracket according to claim 1 wherein: said at least one finger is configured to extend away from and back towards the plane of said plate member as said at least one finger is traversed from said plate member edge to the distal end of said at least one finger.   
     
     
       3. The bracket according to claim 2 wherein said shelf apertures are equally spaced apart and there are two parallel fingers spaced apart so as to each extend through a respective one of a pair of apertures. 
     
     
       4. The bracket according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes: an elongated bar member secured at a first end to said .[.jacket.]. .Iadd.engagement .Iaddend.member and at a second end to said stabilizer plate;   an elongated coupling member secured at a first end to said plate member opposite said at least one finger and extending away from said at least one finger, said coupling member adapted for longitudinal overlapping sliding engagement with said bar member; and   adjustable securing means for securing said coupling member to said bar member with a desired overlap therebetween so that the position of said stabilizer plate relative to said plate member is such to insure that said stabilizer plate engages said lip edge when said plate member rests on said shelf planar top surface with said at least one finger extending through said respective aperture.   
     
     
       5. The bracket according to claim 4 wherein said adjustable securing means includes: an elongated longitudinal slot in said coupling member and overlying said bar member; and   clamping means extending through said slot for clamping said coupling member to said bar member.   
     
     
       6. The bracket according to claim 5 wherein said clamping means includes: a threaded opening in said bar member in registration with said slot; and   a threaded member extending through said slot and threadedly engaged in said threaded opening, said threaded member having an enlarged head which bears against said coupling member when said threaded member is threaded into said threaded opening.   
     
     
       7. The bracket according to claim 1 further including biasing means for resiliently biasing said stabilizer plate toward said plate member. 
     
     
       8. The bracket according to claim 7 wherein said coupling means includes a first elongated hollow bar member secured at a first end to said jacket member and at a second end to said plate member, with said .[.jacket.]. .Iadd.engagement .Iaddend.member closing said first bar member first end and said first bar member second end being open, and said biasing means includes: a second elongated hollow bar member open at a first end and secured at a second end to said stabilizer plate, with said stabilizer plate closing said second bar member second end, said second bar member being disposed at least partially within said first bar member for longitudinal movement therein; and   a compression spring disposed within said first and second bar members, said spring bearing against said .[.jacket.]. .Iadd.engagement .Iaddend.member at a first of its ends and against said stabilizer plate at a second of its ends.   
     
     
       9. The bracket according to claim 8 wherein said biasing means further includes means for limiting the movement of said second bar member relative to said first bar member, comprising: an elongated longitudinal slot in said first bar member;   an opening in said second bar member in registration with said slot; and   a pin member extending through said slot and into said opening.   
     
     
       10. The bracket according to claim 9 wherein said opening in said second bar member is internally threaded and said pin member comprises a threaded screw. 
     
     
       11. A bracket for supporting a pole in a substantially vertical orientation from a substantially horizontal shelf, wherein the shelf has a planar top surface terminating in a front edge, a plurality of apertures through said top surface arranged at spaced locations along a line parallel to said front edge, and a lip which extends concavely downwardly and forwardly from said shelf front edge to terminate in a lip edge parallel to said shelf front edge, the bracket comprising: a substantially planar plate member having at least one finger extending from an edge of said plate member, each of said at least one finger being sized to fit within a respective one of said apertures and being displaced out of the plane of said plate member so that said plate member can rest on said shelf planar top surface with said at least one finger extending through said respective aperture;   .[.a jacket.]. .Iadd.an engagement .Iaddend.member adapted to .[.at least partially surround.]. .Iadd.engage .Iaddend.said pole so as to substantially limit lateral movement of said pole with respect to said .[.jacket member.]. .Iadd.bracket.Iaddend.;   coupling means for coupling said .[.jacket.]. .Iadd.engagement .Iaddend.member to said plate member in such orientation that said pole is oriented substantially vertically when .[.held.]. .Iadd.engaged .Iaddend.by said .[.jacket.]. .Iadd.engagement .Iaddend.member when said plate member rests on said shelf planar top surface; and   securement means coupled to said .[.jacket.]. .Iadd.engagement .Iaddend.member for engaging said pole to prevent longitudinal movement of said pole with respect to said .[.jacket member.]. .Iadd.bracket.Iaddend..   
     
     
       12. The bracket according to claim 11 for use with a pole formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures, wherein said .[.jacket.]. .Iadd.engagement .Iaddend.member includes an aperture and said securement means includes a pin member insertable through said .[.jacket.]. .Iadd.engagement .Iaddend.member aperture and a selected one of said pole apertures. 
     
     
       13. A pole support system for use with a pair of vertically spaced substantially horizontal shelves each having a planar top surface terminating in a front edge and with a plurality of apertures through said top surface arranged at spaced locations along a line parallel to said front edge, and including a pair of brackets each comprising: a substantially planar plate member having at least one finger extending from an edge of said plate member, each of said at least one finger being sized to fit within a respective one of said apertures and being displaced out of the plane of said plate member so that said plate member can rest on said shelf planar top surface with said at least one finger extending through said respective aperture;   .[.a jacket.]. .Iadd.an engagement .Iaddend.member adapted to .[.at least partially surround.]. .Iadd.engage .Iaddend.said pole so as to substantially limit lateral movement of said pole with respect to said .[.jacket member.]. .Iadd.each bracket.Iaddend.; and   coupling means for coupling said .[.jacket.]. .Iadd.engagement .Iaddend.member to said plate member in such orientation that said pole is oriented substantially vertically when .[.held.]. .Iadd.engaged .Iaddend.by said .[.jacket.]. .Iadd.engagement .Iaddend.member when said plate member rests on said shelf planar top surface;   wherein a first of said brackets is secured to a first of said shelves and the second of said brackets is secured to the second of said shelves in vertical alignment with the first bracket. .Iadd.14. The bracket according to claim 13 wherein said engagement member is adapted to at least   
     
     
        partially surround said pole..Iaddend..Iadd.15.  The bracket according to claim 1 wherein said engagement member is adapted to at least partially surround said pole..Iaddend..Iadd.16. The pole support system according to claim 11 wherein said engagement member is adapted to at least partially surround said pole..Iaddend.