U.S. patent application number 11/373753 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-21 for user configurable stackable display.
Invention is credited to Jack Chen.
Application Number | 20060207957 11/373753 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37009215 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060207957 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Jack |
September 21, 2006 |
User configurable stackable display
Abstract
A user-configurable display is provided. The display has shelves
that can be variable in length with shelf ends that fit within
corner pieces. The corner pieces can be arcuate-shaped, T-shaped,
and cross-shaped. A locking mechanism such as a cam engages each
shelf end such that the shelves are engaged to the corner pieces. A
cover piece covers the corner pieces and hides the locking
mechanism from view. Each shelf end will fit into the lips of the
corner pieces and has one or more bores for receiving a cam bolt
that engages the cams. A shelf end may include a raised section
that fits within the lips of the corner pieces.
Inventors: |
Chen; Jack; (Rockford,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
REINHART BOERNER VAN DEUREN P.C.
483 NORTH MULFORD ROAD
SUITE 7
ROCKFORD
IL
61107
US
|
Family ID: |
37009215 |
Appl. No.: |
11/373753 |
Filed: |
March 10, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60663343 |
Mar 18, 2005 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/188 ;
211/183; 211/194 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 47/0066 20130101;
A47B 47/0025 20130101; A47B 47/0091 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/188 ;
211/194; 211/183 |
International
Class: |
A47B 47/00 20060101
A47B047/00 |
Claims
1. A user-configurable display comprising: a plurality of corner
pieces having corner piece ends; a plurality of shelves having
shelf ends, each shelf end inserted into one of the plurality of
corner pieces; at least one locking mechanism engaging each shelf
end to the one of the plurality of the corner pieces within the one
of the plurality of corner pieces such that each shelf end is
engaged to the one of the plurality of the corner pieces; and a
plurality of covers covering the corner piece ends such that the at
least one locking mechanism is hidden from view.
2. The user-configurable display of claim 1 wherein the plurality
of corner pieces includes a plurality of curved corner pieces.
3. The user-configurable display of claim 2 wherein each curved
corner piece comprises an arcuate shaped material having a
plurality of bores along a length of the material, the arcuate
shaped material having a plurality of slots, each of the plurality
of slots connected to one of the plurality of bores, each slot
having lips for receiving one of the shelf ends between the
lips.
4. The user-configurable display of claim 3 wherein each of the
plurality of slots have grooves for receiving shelf ends that have
a tongue.
5. The user-configurable display of claim 1 wherein the plurality
of corner pieces includes a plurality of T-shaped corner
pieces.
6. The user-configurable display of claim 5 wherein each T-shaped
corner piece comprises a T-shaped material having a plurality of
bores along a length of the material, the T-shaped material having
a plurality of slots, each of the plurality of slots connected to
one of the plurality of bores, each slot having lips for receiving
one of the shelf ends between the lips.
7. The user-configurable display of claim 6 wherein each of the
plurality of slots have grooves for receiving shelf ends that have
a tongue.
8. The user-configurable display of claim 1 wherein the plurality
of corner pieces includes a plurality of cross-shaped corner
pieces.
9. The user-configurable display of claim 8 wherein each cross
corner piece comprises a cross shaped material having a plurality
of bores along a length of the material, the cross shaped material
having a plurality of slots, each of the plurality of slots
connected to one of the plurality of bores, each slot having lips
for receiving one of the shelf ends between the lips.
10. The user-configurable display of claim 9 wherein each of the
plurality of slots have grooves for receiving shelf ends that have
a tongue.
11. The user-configurable display of claim 1 wherein the plurality
of shelves includes a first set of shelves having a first length
and a second set of shelves having a second length.
12. The user-configurable display of claim 1 wherein the locking
mechanism is a cam and wherein each shelf further comprises at
least one cam bolt on each shelf end for engaging the cam.
13. The user-configurable display of claim 1 wherein each shelf end
includes a raised section that fits within lips of the corner
pieces.
14. The user-configurable display of claim 13 wherein each shelf
end further includes at least one bore for receiving a cam
bolt.
15. A user-configurable display comprising: a plurality of corner
pieces having lips; a plurality of shelves having shelf ends, each
shelf end inserted into one of the lips of the plurality of corner
pieces; a plurality of cam locking mechanisms engaging each shelf
end in the plurality of the corner pieces such that each shelf end
is engaged to one of the plurality of the corner pieces; and a
plurality of covers covering the corner piece ends such that the
plurality of cam locking mechanisms is hidden from view.
16. The user-configurable display of claim 15 wherein the plurality
of corner pieces are one of aluminum and plastic.
17. The user-configurable display of claim 15 wherein the plurality
of corner pieces include an arcuate corner piece, a T-shaped corner
piece, and a cross-shaped corner piece.
18. The user-configurable display of claim 15 wherein each of the
plurality of corner pieces comprises a material having a plurality
of bores along a length of the material, the material having a
plurality of slots therein, each of the plurality of slots
connected to one of the plurality of bores, each slot having the
lips for receiving one of the shelf ends.
19. The user-configurable display of claim 15 wherein each shelf
further comprises at least one cam bolt on each shelf end for
engaging one of the cam locking mechanism.
20. The user-configurable display of claim 15 wherein each shelf
end includes a raised section that fits within lips of the corner
pieces.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 60/663,343, filed Mar. 18, 2005,
the teachings and disclosure of which are hereby incorporated in
their entireties by reference thereto.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention generally relates to displays, and more
generally to stackable display shelves.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Office and home users use display shelves for a variety of
purposes. A wide variety of such products are available, including
shelves, racks, baskets, and like arrangements, which facilitate
convenient storage of articles where desired. Displays for storing
and merchandising a multiplicity of products having shelves which
are vertically stackably arranged in spaced relationship one above
the other are known. Although the known constructions have
attempted to provide a connection between the shelf members and the
upright support members which is durable, less susceptible to wear,
and more stable, such prior art constructions still suffer from
certain disadvantages and shortcomings. For example, all of the
features associated with the known prior art constructions have
made such units overly complex, expensive to manufacture, require a
large number of parts and/or components to assemble which is both
inconvenient and time consuming. Additionally, known prior art is
limited in that the display shelves are fixed in length and/or
width.
[0004] There also exists a need and demand for an economical
display unit which not only permits the spaced apart vertical
stacking of one shelf member above the other, but also has modular
capability in that it permits adjacent units to be arranged in
side-by-side relationship in any desired modular configuration.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Provided is a user-configurable display which can be both
vertically and horizontally arranged to achieve any desired
arrangement. In one aspect, the invention provides a display that
has shelves that can be variable in length with shelf ends that fit
within corner pieces. The corner pieces can be curve-shaped,
T-shaped, and cross-shaped. A locking mechanism such as a cam
engages each shelf end such that the shelves are engaged to the
corner pieces. A cover piece covers the corner pieces and hides the
locking mechanism from view. Each shelf end includes a raised
section that fits within lips of the corner pieces and one or more
bores for receiving a cam bolt that engages the cams.
[0006] Each corner piece consists of a shaped material having a
plurality of bores along a length of the material with a plurality
of slots. Each of the plurality of slots is connected to one of the
bores and has lips for receiving one of the shelf ends between the
lips.
[0007] Each shelf end includes a raised section that fits within
lips of the corner pieces. When the locking mechanism is a cam,
each shelf further comprises at least one cam bolt on each shelf
end for engaging the cam.
[0008] Other aspects and advantages will become more apparent from
the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part
of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present
invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the
principles of the invention. In the drawings:
[0010] FIGS. 1a-1k are views of various displays that can be
constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention;
[0011] FIG. 2a is an isometric view of a single corner piece with a
cover in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2b is a cross-sectional view of the corner piece of
FIG. 2a;
[0013] FIG. 3a is an isometric view of a T-shaped corner piece with
a cover in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 3b is a cross-sectional view of the corner piece of
FIG. 3a;
[0015] FIG. 4a is an isometric view of a +-shaped corner piece with
a cover in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view of the corner piece of
FIG. 4a;
[0017] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a shelf piece in accordance
with the teachings of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a different shelf piece in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a display in accordance with
the teachings of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 8a is a top view of a shelf piece in accordance with
the teachings of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 8b is a side view of the shelf piece of FIG. 8a along
the width of the shelf piece;
[0022] FIG. 8c is a front view of the shelf piece of FIG. 8a along
the length of the shelf piece;
[0023] FIG. 9 is an illustration of a corner piece being installed
on a shelf piece in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention;
[0024] FIG. 10 is an illustration of the corner piece of FIG. 9
installed on the shelf piece of FIG. 9 in accordance with the
teachings of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 11 is an illustration of the corner piece of FIG. 9
locked in place to the shelf piece of FIG. 9 with a cam in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 12a is an isometric view of the cam of FIG. 11 in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention; and
[0027] FIG. 12b is a side view of the cam of FIG. 12a.
[0028] While the invention will be described in connection with
certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to
those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all
alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] Turning to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals
refer to like elements, the user-configurable stackable display can
be configured in a variety of heights, widths, and lengths. For
example, FIGS. 1(a)-1(k) provide an example of the different shapes
that can be made using various corner pieces 100, 104, 108 with end
pieces 102, 106, 110 and various shelf pieces 112, 114. While two
shelf pieces 110, 112 are shown, the shelf pieces can be configured
to be any length. In the description that follows, shelf pieces
112, 114 shall be used to describe the user-configurable display
shelf. The corner pieces 100, 104, 108 may be made of various
materials, including plastic, aluminum, steel, etc. The shelf
pieces 112, 114 can be of any material, including wood, plastic,
metal, glass, fiberboard such as MDF (medium density fiberboard)
with a wood skin, and the like.
[0030] The end pieces 102, 106, 112 are typically made of the same
material as a corner piece, but could be made from other materials.
For example, if the corner piece is aluminum, the end pieces can be
aluminum, plastic, wood, etc. The shelves 112, 114, corner pieces
100, 104, 108, and end pieces 102, 106, 110 may be any color. For
example, the color of the corner pieces and end pieces can be gold,
silver, white, black, etc. Similarly, the sides may be clear or
stained, painted, or varnished in any color.
[0031] Turning to FIGS. 2a-2b in conjunction with FIG. 7, one style
of corner piece is a curved corner piece 100 that is covered by end
cap(s) 102. The curved corner piece 100 is used for outside corners
of the display. The curved corner piece 100 has slots 118 for
receiving shelf 112, 114. The slots 118 have lips 120 for receiving
shelves 112, 114. The slots 118 also have grooves 122 for receiving
shelves that have a tongue and a bore 124 for receiving a cam 200
(see FIG. 12). The bore 124 has a series of ridges 126 for helping
to hold the cam 200 in place as described hereinbelow. The curved
corner piece 100 may have sections 128, 130 of material removed to
cut down on weight and/or reduce cost.
[0032] Turning to FIGS. 3a-3b in conjunction with FIG. 7, another
style of corner piece is a T-shaped corner piece 104 that is
covered by end cap(s) 106. The T-shaped corner piece 104 is used
for inner connections of shelves 112, 114 of the display. The
T-shaped corner piece 104 also has slots 118 for receiving shelf
112, 114. The slots 118 have lips 120 for receiving shelves 112,
114. The slots 118 also have grooves 122 for receiving shelves that
have a tongue and a bore 124 for receiving a cam 200. The bore 124
has a series of ridges 126 for helping to hold the cam 200 in place
as described hereinbelow. The T-shaped corner piece 104 may have
sections 132, 134, 136 of material removed to cut down on weight
and/or reduce cost.
[0033] Turning now to FIGS. 4a-4b in conjunction with FIG. 7,
another style of corner piece is a cross shaped corner piece 108
that is covered by end cap(s) 110. The cross shaped corner piece
108 is used for inner connections of shelves 112, 114 of the
display where four shelves are joined. The cross shaped corner
piece 108 also has slots 118 that have lips 120 for receiving
shelves 112, 114. The slots 118 also have grooves 122 for receiving
shelves that have a tongue and a bore 124 for receiving a cam 200.
The bore 124 has a series of ridges 126 for helping to hold the cam
200 in place as described hereinbelow. The cross shaped corner
piece 108 may have sections 138, 140 of material removed to cut
down on weight and/or reduce cost.
[0034] Turning now to FIGS. 8a-8c, the shelves 112, 114 can have
any length L or width W. The length of the corner pieces 100, 104,
108 match the width W dimension of the shelves 112, 114. In one
embodiment, each end 150 of the shelves 112, 114 has a raised
section 152 in the center that fits within the lips 120. The outer
sections 154 of each shelf 112, 114 have a bore 156 that may have
threads. The bore 156 receives cam bolt 158 that is used to help
hold shelves 112, 114 in place.
[0035] Turning now to FIGS. 9-11, a display is made by connecting
the corner pieces 100, 104, 108 to the ends of the shelves 112, 114
such that shelf end 150 or the raised sections 152 fit within the
lips 120. A guide (not shown) may be used on the ends 150 (or the
raised sections 152) and corner pieces 100, 104, 108 to center the
corner pieces 100, 104, 108 in relation to the shelves 112, 114.
Once the shelf 112, 114 is in place, a cam 200 is put over each cam
bolt 158 and locked by turning the cam 200 with a screwdriver and
the like. The series of ridges 126 in the bores 124 match the
ridges on the cam 200 and help keep the cam 200 in place. Note that
other locking mechanisms may be used such as a slide wedge,
etc.
[0036] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar
referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in
the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover
both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein
or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising,"
"having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as
open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,")
unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are
merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring
individually to each separate value falling within the range,
unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is
incorporated into the specification as if it were individually
recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in
any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise
clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples,
or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is
intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not
pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise
claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as
indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of
the invention.
[0037] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described
herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying
out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may
become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading
the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to
employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for
the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically
described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all
modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the
claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover,
any combination of the above-described elements in all possible
variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise
indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
* * * * *