U.S. patent application number 09/781490 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-24 for display rack for license plate frames and method of use.
Invention is credited to Spencer, Paul E..
Application Number | 20020008074 09/781490 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46277328 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020008074 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Spencer, Paul E. |
January 24, 2002 |
Display rack for license plate frames and method of use
Abstract
A display rack (20) for license plate frames (500) includes a
plurality of license plate frame receiving stations (24) which are
arranged in side-by-side relationship. The stations (24) are
separated by movable dividers (26) which may be laterally moved to
change the relative width of adjacent stations (24). Display rack
(20) also includes pegboard connectors (34) which are selectively
movable along a frame member (21) to effect alignment with holes
(504) in a pegboard (502) so that display rack (20) can be mounted
on a sheet of pegboard (502).
Inventors: |
Spencer, Paul E.; (Colorado
Springs, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Timothy T. Tyson
Freilich, Hornbaker & Rosen
Suite 1220
10960 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles
CA
90024
US
|
Family ID: |
46277328 |
Appl. No.: |
09/781490 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09781490 |
Feb 13, 2001 |
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29126639 |
Jul 21, 2000 |
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D446968 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/49.1 ;
211/106; 211/181.1; 211/41.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 7/148 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/49.1 ;
211/41.1; 211/106; 211/181.1 |
International
Class: |
A47F 005/08 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A display rack for license plate frames, comprising: a frame
having first and second license plate frame receiving stations,
said first and second stations arranged in side-by-side
relationship; said first and second stations separated by a
slidably movable divider; and, so that when said movable divider is
selectively moved from a first position to a second position, said
first station is dimensionally reduced, while said second station
is correspondingly dimensionally increased.
2. A display rack according to claim 1, further including: said
first and second stations shaped and dimensioned to receive a
license plate frame.
3. A display rack according to claim 2, further including: said
first and second stations each including a foot portion for
retaining the license plate frame within said stations.
4. A display rack according to claim 1, further including: said
display rack including a plurality of stations arranged in
side-by-side relationship, wherein each said station is separated
from an adjacent station by a slidably movable divider.
5. A display rack according to claim 4, further including: a second
plurality of stations stackably disposed beneath said plurality of
stations.
6. A display rack according to claim 1, further including: at least
two pegboard connectors for attaching said frame to a pegboard,
said pegboard connectors slidably connected to said frame; and,
said pegboard connectors selectively movable to align with holes in
the pegboard.
7. A display rack according to claim 1, further including: said
first and second stations shaped and dimensioned to receive a
license plate frame; said first and second stations each including
a foot portion for retaining the license plate frame within said
stations; said display rack including a plurality of stations
arranged in side-by-side relationship, wherein each said station is
separated from an adjacent station by a slidably movable divider; a
second plurality of stations stackably disposed beneath said
plurality of stations; at least two pegboard connectors for
attaching said frame to a pegboard, said pegboard connectors
slidably connected to said frame; and, said pegboard connectors
selectively movable to align with holes in the pegboard.
8. A display rack according to claim 1, the license plate frame
having a width and a height, the width being greater than the
height, said display rack further including: said display rack
having a width; said license plate frame receiving stations
oriented so that the height of the license plate frame is aligned
along the width of said display rack.
9. A method for displaying license plate frames, comprising:
providing a display rack for license plate frames, said display
rack including a frame having first and second license plate frame
receiving stations, said first and second stations arranged in
side-by-side relationship, said first and second stations separated
by a slidably movable divider, so that when said movable divider is
selectively moved from a first position to a second position, said
first station is dimensionally reduced, while said second station
is correspondingly dimensionally increased; providing a license
plate frame having a width W; slidably moving said movable divider
until a width W1 of said first station is slightly larger than
width W of the license plate frame; and, placing the license plate
frame in said first station.
10. The method according to claim 9, further including: said
display rack including at least two pegboard connectors for
attaching said frame to a pegboard, said pegboard connectors
slidably connected to said frame, and said pegboard connectors
selectively movable so as to align with holes in the pegboard;
providing a pegboard having a plurality of holes; placing said
display rack adjacent to the pegboard; selectively moving said
pegboard connectors to align with holes in the pegboard; and,
inserting said pegboard connectors into the holes of the pegboard,
thereby attaching said display rack to the pegboard.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a Continuation In Part of Design Patent
application 29/126,639, filed Jul. 21, 2000, which is included
herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention pertains generally to display racks
for products, and particularly to a display rack for license plate
frames.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Display racks for a multitude of different products are well
known in the art. These devices range from magazine racks to toy
racks, and from food racks to clothes racks. In the automotive
business, customized license plate frames are becoming very
popular. A variety of frame styles, designs, and sizes are
currently available. In order to effectively present these products
to consumers, a versatile display rack is a necessity.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0004] The present invention is directed to a display rack for
license plate frames. The display rack has a plurality of license
plate frame receiving stations which are disposed in side-by-side
relationship. A sliding movable divider separates adjacent
stations. The movable divider may be moved laterally in either
direction, thereby changing the width of the stations. This feature
allows license plate frames of varying widths, typically between
six inches and six and three quarter inches, to be placed in the
display rack. For example, by selectively moving the movable
divider toward an adjacent station, the width of the adjacent
station is diminished while the width of the present station is
increased. The present invention also incorporates movable pegboard
connectors which can be laterally moved to align with the holes in
a sheet of pegboard. This permits the display rack to be
conveniently installed upon the pegboard.
[0005] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,
a display rack for license plate frames includes a frame having a
plurality of license plate frame receiving stations, the stations
arranged in side-by-side relationship. The stations are shaped and
dimensioned to receive a license plate frame. The stations are
separated by a slidably movable divider, so that when the movable
divider is selectively moved from a first position to a second
position, the width of the one station is dimensionally reduced,
while the width of a second adjacent station is correspondingly
dimensionally increased.
[0006] In accordance with an important aspect of the invention a
bottom plurality of stations are stackably disposed beneath a top
plurality of stations.
[0007] In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the
invention, at least two pegboard connectors are slidably connected
to the frame. The pegboard connectors can be selectively moved to
align with holes in a pegboard, so that the display rack can be
mounted on the pegboard.
[0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by
way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display rack for license
plate frames in accordance with the present invention:
[0010] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the display rack;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the display rack;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a front side elevation view of the display
rack;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the display rack;
[0014] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a movable
divider;
[0015] FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevation view of a pegboard
connector for connecting the display rack to a pegboard;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a front elevation view showing the movable
dividers moved to a different position;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a front elevation view showing the movable
dividers moved to another position; and,
[0018] FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the pegboard connectors
moved to align with holes in the pegboard.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0019] FIGS. 1-5 are perspective, top plan, bottom plan, front
elevation, and side elevation views, respectively, of a display
rack for license plate frames in accordance with the present
invention, generally designated as 20. Display rack 20 includes a
frame 22 which, in a preferred embodiment, is fabricated from metal
rod segments which are bent and welded into a desired shape.
Display rack 20 includes a plurality of license plate frame
receiving stations 24 which are arranged in side-by-side
relationship, wherein each station 24 is separated from an adjacent
station 24 by a slidably movable divider 26. License plate
receiving stations 24 are shaped and dimensioned to receive a
license plate frame 500 having a width W. Width W typically varies
between six inches and six and three quarter inches. It may be
appreciated that a plurality of license plate frames 500 may be
vertically stacked within each license plate frame receiving
station 24 (refer to FIG. 5). In a preferred embodiment, a second
plurality of license plate receiving stations 25 are stackably
disposed beneath the plurality of stations 24. In the shown
embodiment, display rack 20 includes three top stations 24 and
three bottom stations 25. Stations 24 and 25 each include a foot
portion 28 for retaining the license plate frames 500 within the
stations. The shown embodiment includes three side-by-side stations
24 stacked on top of three other stations 25. However, it may be
appreciated that the present invention could include any practical
number of side-by-side stations 24 or number of vertical
layers.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 4, movable dividers 26 are laterally
movable in directions 30 and 32, thereby permitting the relative
size of two adjacent stations 24 or 25 to be altered.
[0021] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of movable divider
26. Movable divider 26 is selectively slidable in directions 30 and
32 along lateral members 21 and 23 of frame 22 which are parallel
to each other (also refer to FIGS. 1 and 2). The divider is movable
because of two features: a loop at the top which bends loosely
around the top lateral member 21 of the rack and parallel bars at
the bottom which are close enough together to fit securely on the
bottom lateral member 23. The angle of the bend in the middle of
the divider 26 can also be adjusted to press the bottom parallel
bars against the bottom lateral member 23. The divider is moved by
pulling the bottom parallel bars off of the bottom lateral member
23 and sliding the top to the left or right and then pressing the
bottom parallel bars onto the bottom lateral member at the desired
new location.
[0022] FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevation view of a pegboard
connector 34 for connecting display rack 20 to a pegboard 502.
Pegboard connector 34 is loosely captively connected to lateral
member 21 of frame 22 by a loop at its end. End portion 35 of
pegboard connector 34 is inserted into hole 504 in pegboard 502,
and retains display rack 20 in position on pegboard 502. The
position of the pegboard connector 34 on lateral member 21 can be
easily adjusted by sliding it to the left or right similar to what
is shown in FIG. 6.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a front elevation view showing the movable
dividers 26 moved to a different position. Frame 22 has first
license plate frame receiving station 24A and second license plate
frame receiving station 24B arranged in side-by-side relationship.
First and second stations, 24A and 24B, are dimensioned to receive
license plate frames 500. First and second stations, 24A and 24B,
are separated by slidably movable divider 26. When movable divider
26 is selectively moved in direction 30 from a first position
(refer to FIG. 4) to a second position as shown, the width W1 of
first station 24A is dimensionally reduced, while the width W2 of
second station 24B is correspondingly dimensionally increased. This
feature of the present invention is important in that it allows
adjustment of display rack 20 to accommodate license plate frames
of different widths W. Additionally FIG. 8 shows the movable
divider 26 disposed between second station 24B and third station
24C moved in direction 32, thereby further enlarging the width W2
of station 24B. This configuration results in narrow outer stations
24A and 24C and wide inner station 24B.
[0024] FIG. 9 is a front elevation view showing the movable
dividers 26 moved to another different position. When movable
divider 26 is selectively moved in direction 32 from a first
position (refer to FIG. 4) to a second position as shown, the width
W1 of first station 24A is dimensionally increased, while the width
W2 of second station 24B is correspondingly dimensionally reduced.
Additionally FIG. 9 shows the movable divider 26 disposed between
second station 24B and third station 24C moved in direction 30,
thereby further reducing the width W2 of station 24B. This
configuration results in wide outer stations 24A and 24C and narrow
inner station 24B.
[0025] FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of pegboard connectors 34
moved to align with holes 504 in pegboard 502 (refer also to FIG.
7). Display rack 20 includes at least two pegboard connectors 34
for attaching frame 22 to pegboard 504. Pegboard connectors 34 are
slidably connected to lateral member 21 of frame 22. Pegboard
connectors 34 are selectively movable in directions 30 and 32 to
align with holes 504 in pegboard 502. One or both of the pegboard
connectors 34 may be moved. For example, the holes 504 may not be
perfectly spaced in the pegboard. Then one or the other of the
connectors can be put into a hole and the other moved slightly to
match another hole. Or the installer may discover that one or the
other of the selected holes is not available after trying to insert
a connector such as would happen if a mounting strip for the
pegboard were immediately behind the hole. The whole rack 20 can
also be moved in relation to the pegboard. For example, the
installer may install the rack on the pegboard and discover that
one end hits a wall, sign, or other rack. He can then slide the
rack to one side or the other without moving the connectors to
clear the obstruction or place the rack in a more aesthetically
pleasing location.
[0026] Another important feature of the present invention is that
more license plate frames may be displayed in a given area compared
to prior display methods which consist almost exclusively of two
hooks on a pegboard for each frame. As can be seen from FIGS. 1, 2,
and 4, the license plate frame 500 has a width and a height, the
width being greater than the height. The license plate frame
receiving stations 24 are oriented so that the height of the
license plate frame 500 is aligned along the width of the display
rack 20 which is a 90.degree. rotation from prior displays. This
means that in a store more license plate frames 500 can be
displayed along a given display area width. Also, the rack 20 has
two levels of license plate receiving stations: top license plate
receiving stations 24 and bottom license plate receiving stations
25. The plates in the top stations are fully visible while the
plates in the bottom level show enough to allow the potential buyer
to decide if he wants to pull one out. Approximately 33% more
plates can be shown using a rack 20 than using conventional
methods.
[0027] In terms of use, a method for displaying license plate
frames 500, comprises:
[0028] providing a display rack 20 for license plate frames 500,
display rack 20 including a frame 22 having first 24A and second
24B license plate frame receiving stations, the first 24A and
second 24B stations arranged in side-by-side relationship, first
24A and second 24B stations separated by a slidably movable divider
26, so that when movable divider 26 is selectively moved from a
first position to a second position, the width W1 of first station
24A is dimensionally reduced, while the width W2 of second station
24A is correspondingly dimensionally increased;
[0029] providing a license plate frame 500 having a width W;
[0030] slidably moving movable divider 26 until width W1 of first
station 24A is slightly larger than the width W of the license
plate frame 500; and,
[0031] placing the license plate frame 500 in first station
24A.
[0032] The method of using the present invention further
includes:
[0033] the display rack 20 including at least two pegboard
connectors 34 for attaching frame 22 to a pegboard 502, pegboard
connectors 34 being slidably connected to frame 21, and the
pegboard connectors 34 selectively movable to align with holes 504
in pegboard 502;
[0034] providing a pegboard 502 having a plurality of holes
504;
[0035] placing the display rack 20 adjacent to pegboard 502;
[0036] selectively moving the pegboard connectors 34 to align with
holes 504 in the pegboard 502; and,
[0037] inserting the pegboard connectors 34 into the holes 504 of
the pegboard 502, thereby attaching the display rack 20 to the
pegboard 502.
[0038] The preferred embodiments of the invention described herein
are exemplary and numerous modifications, dimensional variations,
and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve an
equivalent result, all of which are intended to be embraced within
the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *