U.S. patent application number 10/444915 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-23 for rotating bath bar and ceiling glass fixture display carousel system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Trade Source International. Invention is credited to Humphrey, Neall W..
Application Number | 20030196978 10/444915 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29216158 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030196978 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Humphrey, Neall W. |
October 23, 2003 |
Rotating bath bar and ceiling glass fixture display carousel
system
Abstract
A rotating bath bar and ceiling glass fixture display system
including a carousel having a main body portion having an upper
surface and an underside for receiving a plurality of glass fixture
on upper surface, a main body portion rotating means is mounted to
the underside of the main body portion whereby the main body
portion rotates about the rotating means. A plurality of the glass
fixtures are placed on the main body portion for display.
Inventors: |
Humphrey, Neall W.; (El
Dorado Hills, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP
SUITE 400E
2450 COLORADO AVENUE
SANTA MONICA
CA
90404
US
|
Assignee: |
Trade Source International
|
Family ID: |
29216158 |
Appl. No.: |
10/444915 |
Filed: |
May 22, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10444915 |
May 22, 2003 |
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08859332 |
May 20, 1997 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/163 ;
211/144 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/163 ;
211/144 |
International
Class: |
A47F 005/02 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A rotating lamp glass fixture display system comprising: a
carousel having a main body portion having an upper surface and an
underside, said carousel being adapted to hold a plurality of glass
fixtures on said upper surface; and a main body portion rotating
means mounted to the underside of said main body portion whereby
said main body portion rotates about said rotating means.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said main body portion includes an
upstanding annular peripheral rim interconnected by a plurality of
spaced dividers extending from said rim to a central hub.
3. The system of claim 2 including a plurality of spaced flanges
interconnecting said dividers.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein said flanges form a generally
planar surface and said rim extends substantially above the planar
surface of said flanges.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein said dividers extend substantially
above the planar surface of said flanges.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein said rotating means includes a
ball bearing assembly mounted to the underside of said main body
portion.
7. The system of claim 1 including a second main body portion
mounted above said first mentioned main body portion and rotatable
therewith.
8. The system of claim 1 including a plurality of main body
portions mounted above said first mentioned main body portion and
rotatable therewith.
9. The system of claim 7 including a support interconnecting
generally the mid-portions of each of said main body portions.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein said support is an open wire
frame.
11. The system of claim 1 including a plurality of carousels
mounted on said system, the lowermost one of said carousels being
mounted to said rotating means and each of said carousels spaced
from the other by interconnecting supports.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein said main body portion includes
an upstanding annular peripheral rim interconnected by a plurality
of spaced dividers extending from said rim to a central hub.
13. The system of claim 12 including a plurality of spaced flanges
interconnecting said dividers.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein said flanges form a generally
planar surface and said dividers extend substantially above the
planar surface of said flanges.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein said dividers extend
substantially above the planar surface of said flanges.
16. The system of claim 11 wherein said rotating means includes a
ball bearing assembly mounted to the underside of said main body
portion.
17. The system of claim 11 wherein each of said plurality of
carousels other than the carousel mounted to said rotating means
includes a second main body portion mounted above said first
mentioned main body portion and rotatable therewith.
18. The system of claim 11 wherein each of said supports are an
open wire frame.
19. The system of claim 1 wherein a plurality of glass shades are
disposed on said carousel main body portion, each one of said glass
shades being separated from another by one of said dividers.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein each of said glass shades are
wrapped in shrink wrap plastic.
21. The system of claim 19 wherein each of said glass shades is
mounted in a box.
22. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said glass shades is
bell-like in configuration having a wider portion at bottom and a
narrow portion at top forming a neck, said wider portion resting on
top of said main body portions, each respective glass fixture being
separated from another by said dividers.
23. The system of claim 22 wherein said glass fixtures are
shrink-wrapped in plastic.
24. The system of claim 22 wherein each of said glass fixtures are
mounted in a box, said box being generally square and encircling
the wider portion of said glass fixtures.
25. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said glass shades
includes at least a pair of said glass shades separated by one of
said dividers by another pair of said glass shades, each pair
comprising one of said glass shades stacked on top of another and
being bell-like in configuration having a wider portion at bottom
and a narrow portion at top forming a neck said neck tapering
downwardly to said wider portion, said wider portion being encased
in a box, said box resting on top of said main body portions.
Description
RELATIONSHIP TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation in part of Application
Ser. No. 08/859,332, filed May 7, 2001, now pending.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to product displays and, more
particularly, to a rotating bath bar and ceiling glass fixture
display carousel.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] Current display methods for bath bar and ceiling glass
fixtures include stacking the fixtures on top of one another and
then placing them on a shelf in a store or the like. In such
displays, the fixture is traditionally stacked on a shelf and
additional stock of the same fixture is stacked on the shelf behind
the first item. In warehouse or mass merchant types of retail
establishments, dust and debris collect on the shelves and on the
products which causes damage to the product and requires additional
maintenance.
[0006] Problems inherent with these traditional methods of
displaying such fixtures include the fact that, first, the fixtures
take up a lot of valuable shelf space. When fixtures are stacked in
the traditional manner on a shelf, only a product of the same item
is stacked behind the front facing one which takes up valuable
space and only allows for one fixture style to be presented to the
customer. This limits the number of fixtures that can be presented
to the customer by the retailer.
[0007] Second, where a retailer has deep shelving, it is very
difficult for store personnel to bring stock from the back of the
shelves forward for presentation.
[0008] Third, traditional methods for displaying fixtures utilize a
flat surface which gathers dust and debris quickly, thus requiring
substantial effort by store personnel to frequently dust and remove
such debris to maintain a clean presentation to the customer and
prevent damage to the product.
[0009] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,819 to Klein, there is shown a
display stand for lamp shades. However, this display is a
self-standing display which does not accommodate itself to a
retailer's existing shelving. It is relatively expensive and the
shades are mounted on posts which might damage the same. The posts
allow only a certain amount and size of shades to be placed on the
display.
[0010] There is this need for a type of display unit that will
allow the customer to easily select a bath bar or ceiling fan glass
fixture and will not take up excessive amounts of valuable space in
the retail establishment nor require additional maintenance from
store personnel. Such a unit should be usable on the retailer's
pre-existing shelving or free-standing. It should be able to
accommodate fixtures of differing sizes.
INVENTION SUMMARY
[0011] It is an object of this invention to provide a rotating
glass fixture carousel system for product display.
[0012] It is further the object of this invention to provide such a
carousel system which does not take up an excessive amount of the
retail establishment's pre-existing display space.
[0013] It is another object to provide the retailer with the
opportunity to maximize the glass fixture selection to the customer
by providing a larger selection of fixtures within the same amount
of space.
[0014] It is yet another object to reduce the amount of maintenance
necessary to display such fixtures.
[0015] These and other objects are preferably accomplished by
providing a rotating glass fixture carousel for product
display.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single carousel system in
accordance with the teachings of the invention disposed on the
shelf of a rack;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the carousel system alone of
FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a view through lines 2-2 of FIG. 2;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carousel system of FIG.
1 showing a plurality of glass fixtures disposed thereon;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the carousel system of FIG.
4;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
invention showing a plurality of interconnected carousel systems
having shades disposed thereon;
[0022] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the system of FIG. 6;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a perspective shown in the view of another type of
carousel system in accordance with the teachings of the
invention;
[0024] FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a shrink-wrapped single
glass fixture; and
[0025] FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a single packaged glass
fixture.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a conventional store
display shelf 10 is shown on a rack 11. A glass fixture carousel
system 12 is mounted thereon in accordance with the teachings of
the invention.
[0027] Carousel system 12 includes a main body portion 200 having
an upper surface 201 comprising of a generally circular peripheral
outer rim 13 (see also FIG. 2) and a plurality of ribs 15
interconnecting rib 13 at the central hub 202 of carousel system
12. A plurality of arcuate flanges 25 extend between ribs 15 about
the carousel system 12. A divider 300 may be associated between
each set of ribs 15 extending upwardly from surface 201 to provide
separation between glass fixtures disposed thereon as will be
discussed further hereinbelow. The height thereof may be
substantially the same as the height of rim 13.
[0028] As seen in FIG. 3, a mounting board 14 may be mounted on the
underside 19 of carousel system 12. Alternatively, the underside 19
of carousel system 12 may merely rest on top of board 14'.
[0029] Carousel system 12 includes a plurality of ball bearings 17
mounted in races 18 retained between the undersurface 19 of
carousel system 12 by board 14'. Thus, carousel system 12 rotates
on ball bearings 17 on board 14'.
[0030] As seen in FIG. 4, rim 13 and dividers 300 extend above the
flanges 25 for reasons to be discussed.
[0031] As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plurality of glass fixtures 21
(which may be the same or different) are mounted on carousel system
12 between dividers 300 on flanges 25. Rim 13 keeps the glass
fixtures 21 from slipping off the carousel system 12. Such fixtures
21 are generally conically shaped and wider at bottom than at top.
Thus, the wider portion rests on flanges 25 between dividers 300
and is retained in position by the fact that rim 13 and dividers
300 extend above the plane of the flanges 25.
[0032] The fixture 21 in FIG. 4 is identical to fixture 11
described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,390. That is, a single
glass fixture as described therein may be mounted on carousel
system 12.
[0033] If desired, as seen in FIG. 9 herein, the assembly 500 may
include fixture 21 shrink wrapped by a shrink wrapping material 301
as shown in FIG. 12 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,390. Instead of a glass
fixture 21, as shown in FIG. 4, or a shrink wrapped assembly 500 as
seen in FIG. 9 herein, as will be discussed, the glass fixtures may
be packaged as shown in FIGS. 1 to 13 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,390,
the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. One
such package 302 is shown in FIG. 10 herein and is identical to the
packaged glass shown and described in FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No.
6,422,390.
[0034] Obviously, a plurality of such carousel systems 12 may be
disposed side by side on a shelf. In that manner, a plurality of
glass fixtures may be presented to the shopper.
[0035] Although a single carousel system 12 is shown in FIGS. 1 to
5, as seen in FIG. 6, wherein like numerals refer to like numerals
of FIGS. 1 to 5, a pair of carousel systems 12 may be mounted on a
shelf 10 interconnected by a column or support 30.
[0036] As seen in FIG. 7, column 30 may be a wire cage 31 having a
plurality of main supporting posts 32 connected at top and bottom
to a circular rim (rims 34, 35, respectively). Rims 34, 35 are also
interconnected by a plurality of vertical spaced members 36 forming
a cage. Posts 32, 33 may have conventional pipe nipples 37 at top
and bottom which extend at bottom to board 14' and secured thereto
by suitable nuts 38. Board 14' is secured to the bottom of lower
carousel system 12 by suitable bolts 39 and nuts 40. Nipples 37 at
top are secured to the upper carousel system 12 by suitable nuts
41. As can be seen, a second bearing plate system is not needed at
top since the entire assembly rotates about the bearing system in
the lower unit.
[0037] Referring once again to FIG. 6, it can be seen that a
plurality of glass fixtures 21 are mounted on each carousel system
12 presenting a variety of glass fixtures to the customer.
[0038] Dividers 300 separate the glass fixtures and extend above
the surface of flanges 25 to retain one glass fixture from the
other. Rim 13 acts as a lip to retain the glass fixture 21 on each
carousel system 12 as the customer rotates the same. Pricing,
advertising or other suitable labeling may be attached to rim
13.
[0039] A plurality of multilevel carousel systems, as seen in FIG.
6, may be disposed side by side on shelf 10. Further, although a
two-tiered system is disclosed in FIG. 6, obviously more than two
may be provided, depending on the storage space available.
[0040] Although column or support 30 has been shown as an open wire
cage, obviously it could be a solid cylinder, if desired. Also,
although a ball bearing assembly is disclosed for rotating the
carousel, any suitable rotating means may be provided.
[0041] As seen in FIG. 8, a multi-tiered glass fixture display
carousel system 100 may be provided. System 100 includes a base 101
which is otherwise identical to the base shown in FIG. 3 and
described above. A plurality of carousels 102 through 105 are
mounted on base 101. Each carousel 102 through 105 include a rim
106, dividers 107 and flanges 108 identical to aforementioned rim
13, dividers 300 and flanges 25, respectively.
[0042] A column, such as columns 109, 110 and 111, identical to
aforementioned column 30, interconnects adjacent carousels as seen
in FIG. 8. Glass fixtures 112 are mounted on each carousel 102
through 105. Instead of wire columns 109 to 111, solid cylinders
may be used. Also, base 101 may be placed directly on the floor, as
a stand-alone unit, or fixed to a pallet. System 100 could thus be
3, 4, 5 or 6 feet high.
[0043] It can be seen that there is disclosed a carousel system
having a flat surface appropriate for displaying a plurality of
glass fixtures, either bare, sealed in plastic or boxed. The
materials used may be plastic, steel, steel grid, perforated or
louvered steel, wood, or any other suitable material, mounted to a
ball bearing assembly.
[0044] The system may be made of wire grid material, louvered or
perforated material, either of metal, plastic, wood or other
suitable material, which greatly reduces the problem of dust
collecting on the same which can soil or otherwise damage the
shades and render them unable to be sold. This also reduces the
amount of cleaning and maintenance required by store personnel,
which is a significant problem in the industry.
[0045] The carousel system may include a lip on the outer edge of
the carousel base, which will prevent the glass fixtures from
falling off the carousel system when it is rotated by the
customer.
[0046] The carousel system also includes dividers of any suitable
material such as metal, plastic, cardboard, etc., to separate the
various glass fixture that are on the carousel. These dividers may
also assist in supporting the glass fixtures and preventing them
from falling over when the carousel system is rotated by the
customer.
[0047] The carousel system may include more than one level for
displaying glass fixtures. Additional levels may be supported by
any suitable support means, such as rods forming a cage, or a
support cylinder separating each level. Shelves 10 may not be at a
set height, depending on the spacing between shelves, the number of
levels of carousels may vary.
[0048] The carousel glass fixture displaying system of the
invention allows multiple glass fixtures to be clearly
displayed.
[0049] The carousel glass fixture displaying system herein is
designed to be used with conventional pre-existing retail type
shelving generally manufactured from 18" up to a 48" depth.
[0050] The carousel glass fixture displaying system of the
invention reduces the amount of shelf space necessary to display
glass fixtures by fully utilizing the wasted overstock space
traditionally found behind the first glass fixture placed on the
shelf. This carousel displaying system provides the retailer with
the opportunity to maximize the glass fixture selection to the
customer by providing a larger selection of glass fixtures within
the same amount of space.
[0051] Finally, the carousel glass fixture displaying system herein
utilizes a bearings unit which provides stability and smooth
operation when the carousel system is rotated by the customer.
[0052] Although there is disclosed herein a preferred embodiment of
the invention, variations of the invention may occur to an artisan,
and the scope of the invention should only be limited by the scope
of the appended claims.
* * * * *