U.S. patent application number 10/259850 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-01 for watch display stand and support.
Invention is credited to Cohen, Randall P..
Application Number | 20040060879 10/259850 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32029568 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040060879 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cohen, Randall P. |
April 1, 2004 |
Watch display stand and support
Abstract
A watch display stand is formed by tiered platforms or shelves
which connect to a watch holder. The display stand has a number of
pairs of openings located in each shelf. The opening pairs are
spaced apart from one another to provide a desired display
configuration. The watch holder is formed by a C-shaped support
element and an engagement device. The engagement device connects
the C-shaped support element to the display stand by the use of a
pair of feet that removably engage the openings in the shelves. The
display stand permits easy viewing of the watches, and the watch
holder can be easily removed and replaced by the sales attendant.
The display stand also has a card holder mounted at the front of
each shelf, and a mirror located behind the watch holders. A wall
attachment allows the display stand to be secured to a wall
bracket.
Inventors: |
Cohen, Randall P.; (Newtown,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLANK ROME LLP
600 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Family ID: |
32029568 |
Appl. No.: |
10/259850 |
Filed: |
September 30, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/85.2 ;
206/6.1; 211/87.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 7/022 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/085.2 ;
211/087.01; 206/006.1 |
International
Class: |
A47F 007/02 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A display stand for displaying a product, the display stand
comprising a platform having at least one opening, a product holder
having at least one projection for removably engaging the at least
one opening, and a card holder mounted to said platform for
receiving a card having information about the product.
2. The display stand of claim 1, wherein the product is a
watch.
3. The display stand of claim 1, wherein said product holder
comprises a support element for retaining the product, and an
engagement device connected to the support element and the at least
one projection.
4. The display stand of claim 3, wherein the support element has a
C-shape for retaining a watch, and the engagement device includes a
connecting arm connected to the support element, a post connected
to the connecting arm, and a base connected to the post, the base
having the at least one projection.
5. The display stand of claim 4, wherein the C-shaped support
element has rounded ridges projecting from an outward-facing
surface to retain the watch.
6. The display stand of claim 1, further comprising a mirror
positioned behind said product holder.
7. The display stand of claim 1, further comprising a wall securing
device for wall-mounting the display stand.
8. The display stand of claim 1, wherein said card holder has a
base mounted to said platform and an upright portion having a
reverse bend forming a slot therebetween, wherein the slot receives
the card.
9. A watch display stand for displaying a plurality of watches, the
watch display stand comprising: a plurality of tiered platforms; a
plurality of pairs of openings located in each of the tiered
platforms; a C-shaped support element for retaining a watch; a
substantially horizontal connecting arm engaging said C-shaped
support element; a downwardly extending post connected to said
connecting arm; a substantially horizontal base connected to said
downwardly extending post; and, two projections extending
downwardly from said substantially horizontal base, wherein said
two projections removably engage one of the plurality of pairs of
openings to removably connect said C-shaped support element to one
of said plurality of tiered platforms.
10. The watch display stand of claim 9, further comprising a card
holder mounted to at least one of said plurality of tiered
platforms, said card holder retaining a card having information
about the watch.
11. The display stand of claim 10, wherein said card holder has a
base mounted to said platform and an upright portion having a
reverse bend forming a slot therebetween, wherein the slot receives
the card.
12. The display stand of claim 9, wherein the C-shaped support
element has rounded ridges projecting from an outward-facing
surface to retain the watch.
13. The display stand of claim 9, further comprising a mirror
positioned behind said C-shaped support element.
14. The display stand of claim 9, further comprising a wall
securing device for wall-mounting the display stand.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to stands for displaying
watches. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
watch display stand having a C-shaped watch support which connects
to shelves of the display stand.
[0003] 2. Background of the Related Art
[0004] Watches have been displayed for sale in a number of
different ways. Usually, however, the watch is either laid flat on
a table or shelf, or is placed about a C-shaped watch support
element, or watch holder. The watch support element simulates a
person's wrist, so that the customer can better envision what the
watch would look like when strapped to the customer's own
wrist.
[0005] Examples of C-shaped watch holders are shown, for instance,
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,181,608 to Herzog; U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,181 to
Hartman; U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,183 to Sturm; U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,775
to Crosslen; U.S. Pat. No. 2,925,907 to Grieve; and U.S. Pat. No.
2,253,212 to Rathbun. However, the watch holders involve a complex
connection to a box or case, which in turn is placed on a shelf.
The sales attendant must remove the watch holder from the box for
the customer to better view or try on the watch. It can often be
difficult and time-consuming for the attendant to remove several
different watch holders at the same time, resulting in boxes being
placed all about the display counter. In addition, it is
time-consuming for the attendant to replace the watch holder in the
box, and to properly place the box back on the shelf.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,828 to Au shows a watch display stand in
which the watch holder has a stand which is free-standing, and is
placed on the display shelf. As with the watch boxes, it can be
time consuming for the attendant to properly redisplay the watch
holder back on the shelf. The watch holder can be inadvertently
moved when the attendant is retrieving or replacing other watch
holders from the display stand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a
watch display stand which is simple, easy to use, and can display a
number of watches in clear manner. It is another object of the
invention to provide a watch display stand having a watch holder
which is easy to re-display in a proper manner. It is yet another
object of the invention to provide a watch display stand having a
watch holder which is directly connected to a display shelf.
[0008] In accordance with these and other objects, the invention is
a watch display stand primarily formed by tiered platforms or
shelves which connect to a watch holder. The display stand has a
number of pairs of openings located in each shelf. The opening
pairs are spaced apart from one another to provide a desired
display configuration. The watch holder is formed by a C-shaped
support element and an engagement device. The engagement device
connects the C-shaped support element to the display stand by the
use of a pair of feet that removably engage the openings in the
shelves. The display stand permits easy viewing of the watches, and
the watch holder can be easily removed and replaced by the sales
attendant. The display stand also has a card holder mounted at the
front of each shelf, and a mirror located behind the watch holders.
A wall attachment allows the display stand to be secured to a wall
bracket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the watch display stand with
a watch holder in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the watch holder;
and
[0011] FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the card
holder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention
illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted
to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended
to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be
understood that each specific term includes all technical
equivalents that operate in similar manner to accomplish a similar
purpose.
[0013] Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the watch display
stand 10 of the present invention. The watch display stand 10 is
primarily formed by tiered platforms or shelves 12 which connect to
a watch holder 20. The display stand 10 has a number of pairs of
openings 14 located in each shelf 12. The opening pairs 14 are
spaced apart from one another to provide a desired display
configuration.
[0014] In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the display
stand 10 has three shelves 12, each about 11 inches long, with 5
pairs of openings 14 on each shelf 12. The openings are about 1
inch apart, and each pair of openings is spaced approximately 1.25
inches from each other so that the watches are easy to view, and
the attendant can easily remove and replace the various holders 20
without interference from other holders 20. Though the openings 14
are shown arranged in a straight line, the openings can be arranged
in any manner, such that the watches can be displayed at various
angles to each other. In addition, the display stand 10 need not be
tiered, and can have a single platform.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows the watch holder 20 in further detail as having
a C-shaped support element 21 and an engagement device 22. The
support element 21 retains a watch and the engagement device 22
engages the C-shaped support element 21 to the display stand 10.
The engagement device 22 is formed as a single piece having a
connecting arm 23, post 24, base 25, and feet 26. The engagement
device 22 generally forms a sideways-facing U-shaped element. The
connecting arm 23 extends along the entire width of the
inward-facing surface of the C-shaped support element 21. The watch
holder 20 is preferably made of a rigid plastic or plexiglass, and
the connecting arm 23 is heat-sealed to the C-shaped support member
21. Alternatively, however, the connecting arm 23 can be adhered to
the support member 21 with an adhesive, or can be made integral
with the support member 21.
[0016] The top of the post 24 connects at one end of the connecting
arm 23, and extends vertically downward. The post 24 creates
sufficient space between the bottom of the C-shaped support element
21 and the base 25 so that a watch can be easily removed and
replaced on the C-shaped element 21, and so that the watch holder
20 can be easily removed and replaced on the display stand 10. In
the preferred embodiment, the post 24 separates the bottom of the
support element 21 and the base 25 by approximately 1 cm. The post
24 is shown as being substantially orthogonal to the connecting arm
23, but can be at any angle to achieve a desired display
configuration.
[0017] The base 25 is formed at the bottom of the post 24. The base
25 extends beneath the C-shaped support element 21, and is longer
than the width of the support element 21 to provide greater support
to the holder 20. Two round feet 26 are frictionally connected to
the base 25, and extend downwardly to selectively engage respective
openings 14 in the platforms 12 of the display stand 10.
[0018] Each of the watch holders 20 preferably have the same size
feet 26 and can be fitted to any of the openings 14. However, the
feet 26 and openings 14 can have different sizes, so that only
certain watch holders 20 can be displayed at certain areas on the
platforms 12. In addition, it should be recognized that the base 25
can have any suitable number of feet 26, including only a single
foot.
[0019] It should be further appreciated that the engagement device
22 need not have a U-shape, or a base 25. Instead, a foot 26 can be
connected to the bottom of the post 24. Alternatively, the feet 26
can be connected to the side of the post 24 so that the watch
holder 20 can be engaged to a vertical wall, such as the vertical
face 15 of the shelf 12, or can be displayed in a horizontal
manner, or the like. And, the post 24 can be connected directly to
the C-shaped support element 21, without the use of a connecting
arm 23.
[0020] Furthermore, the base 25 can be arranged at any position
with respect to the post 24 and C-shaped support element 21. For
instance, the base 25 can extend in the same direction as the
support element 21, so as to provide support against the watch
holder 20 moving forward and backward. The base 25 can have four
feet 26 forming an X-shape, to provide greater stability. The
preferred embodiment shown in the figures, however, provides
sufficient stability to the watch holder 20, while enabling the
watch holder 20 to be easily removed from the display stand 10. The
base 25 is about 3.2 cm in length, whereas the width of the support
element 21 is about 1.7 cm.
[0021] The connecting arm 23 and post 24 optionally have an
elongated rounded projection which extends along the center of
those elements. The projection increases the strength and stability
of the connecting arm 23 and the post 24.
[0022] The C-shaped watch support element 21 has rounded ridges 27
along its outward-facing surface. The ridges 27 better retain the
watch, and prevent the watch from slipping or moving with respect
to the support element 21. The watch holder 20 is preferably made
of a clear plastic which is sufficiently rigid to support a watch,
but is somewhat flexible to permit easy removal and replacement of
a watch. The watch holder 20 is clear so as not to obstruct viewing
of the watch, and so that watch holder 20 which do not have a watch
attached to them do not obstruction viewing of other watches.
[0023] The watch holder 20 allows clear viewing of the watches,
which can be arranged in any desired configuration. The watch
holders 20 can be easily removed from the display stand 10 by the
sales attendant pulling up on the C-shaped support element 21, or
at the base 25 and post 24. When the watch is to be replaced in the
display stand 10, the watch holder 20 can be positioned in any
available pair of openings 14, ensuring that proper display is made
of all watches. The feet 26 form a friction fit with the openings
14 to allow the watch holder 20 to be removably secured to the
display stand 10. The attendant can press down on the top of the
base 25, so that the feet 26 fully engage the openings 14.
[0024] When the watch holder 20 is fitted to the lower platforms 12
of the display stand 10, the top of the watch holder 20 extends
slightly above the next highest platform 12. Thus, the tiered
platforms enable all the watches to be viewed without obstruction
from the other watches, while maximizing the number of watches
displayed in a limited area.
[0025] As further shown in FIG. 1, an upright card holder 30 is
positioned at the front center of each display shelf 12. FIG. 3
shows the card holder 30 in greater detail. The card holder 30
essentially has a base 31 portion and an upright portion 32. The
upright portion has a reverse bend 33 which forms an elongated slot
34. A card can be placed within the elongated slot 34 to provide
information about the watches being displayed. The card holder 30
is preferably adhered to the shelf platform 12 along the base
31.
[0026] Returning to FIG. 1, a mirror is preferably adhered to the
back wall 15 of each step to further enhance the viewing of the
watches. In addition, a slat wall attachment 42 is mounted to the
display stand 10 so that the display stand 10 can be mounted to a
wall. An elongated plastic strip 40 is adhered to the back of the
display stand 10. The slat wall attachment 42 is adhered to the
plastic strip 40.
[0027] The slat wall attachment 42 has a front vertical leg, a
horizontal midsection, and rear vertical leg. The front vertical
leg is adhered to the front of the plastic strip 40. The rear
vertical leg and part of the horizontal mid-section are received in
a corresponding opening in a wall bracket (not shown) mounted to a
wall in accordance with conventional means. For instance, the wall
bracket can slide into a slot or engaging an opening by angling the
holder 10. Thus, the display stand 10 can either be placed on a
flat surface, such as a table, or can be mounted to a wall. The
front of the display stand preferably has a vertical face, to
retain information. For instance, a label having product
information or manufacturer information can be pasted or otherwise
secured to the front face of the display stand.
[0028] The display stand 10 is constructed with clear plexiglass
for each platform 12, and has an open bottom. Accordingly, multiple
the display stands 10 can be positioned above or around each other,
and light will be able to pass through one stand 10 to another
stand 10 located below it. This maximizes store lighting and
reduces the need for special or additional lighting. The display
stand 10 can be made in any desired width and length. Thus, for
instance, a single display stand 10 can be configured to cover an
entire wall, giving the illusion that the watches are floating.
Though the display stand 10 is preferably used for displaying
watches, any suitable product can be displayed.
[0029] The foregoing description and drawings should be considered
as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. The
invention may be configured in a variety of shapes and sizes and is
not intended to be limited by the preferred embodiment. Numerous
applications of the invention will readily occur to those skilled
in the art. Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to
the specific examples disclosed or the exact construction and
operation shown and described. Rather, all suitable modifications
and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *